Saints 1 Reading 3 - The Wake

[Chez]

They have Jason Roberts. The guy oozes class and is clearly a Premiership player.

According to the Reading fans he also does some of the team talks and is an incredible motivator, catalyst in the dressing room.

I just saw his after-game interview and it was brilliant 'result never in doubt' - really Jason, you were thinking that in the ten minutes after we equalised??!!

couldn't understand why Blackburn sold him, but perhaps that shows the gap between Prem and championship

[supersonic]

They have Jason Roberts. The guy oozes class and is clearly a Premiership player.

According to the Reading fans he also does some of the team talks and is an incredible motivator, catalyst in the dressing room.

I just saw his after-game interview and it was brilliant 'result never in doubt' - really Jason, you were thinking that in the ten minutes after we equalised??!!

 

I think his main attribute is he is a natural on-field leader, we don't have one. Hammond goes hiding too much to be a captain

[S-Clarke]

They have Jason Roberts. The guy oozes class and is clearly a Premiership player.

According to the Reading fans he also does some of the team talks and is an incredible motivator, catalyst in the dressing room.

I just saw his after-game interview and it was brilliant 'result never in doubt' - really Jason, you were thinking that in the ten minutes after we equalised??!!

 

The sort of signing that changes a season. Just a shame Sharp isn't that sort of character!

 

He'll make a great manager when he retires.

[Legod Third Coming]

I think you can get short-term success from it, but after a while (as we saw with Debry to a more extreme level) you get found out and once teams are better at coping then yo have no chance.

 

If we stick our principles we will have a more sustained successful future, I'm sure of it.

 

The nice thing if that SKD went long but so accurately last night. When we did hit Rickie, we really hit him, bang on the money every time. There was no aimless ball forward.

We are a bloody good football team.

We base our football on posession.

This is the basis of the best football team in the world.

It can't be a bad thing to love and want the football...

[Thedelldays]

our style would see us do better than reading in the prem

 

against the better teams in this league, reading have conceded 20 chances a game...that will get them punished in the prem

[Dig Dig]

our style would see us do better than reading in the prem

 

against the better teams in this league, reading have conceded 20 chances a game...that will get them punished in the prem

 

But how would we fair when teams seem to score all 2 or 3 of their chances against us?!

[S-Clarke]

our style would see us do better than reading in the prem

 

against the better teams in this league, reading have conceded 20 chances a game...that will get them punished in the prem

 

This.

 

We don't let teams have a great deal of oppertunites against us because we often have the ball, that's the most important thing. Unfortuntltley they took the 3 chances they had. Bang.

 

They kind of reminded me of Derby in away, but not as bad. Alot of their balls were long and aimless, just looking for an area rather than a particular player, and the ease at which we moved the ball and switched the play will be worrying for them (Same happened in the brighton game).

[supersonic]

12 shots on target and 1 goal vs. 4 shots on target and 3 goals

 

that's why we lost the match

[scotty]

I keep hearing this............. but we're the top scorers in the league and we had something like twenty shots last night to Readings 6 so I'm not sure it's a valid criticism to be honest

 

Yep. and 12 on target compared to Readings 4.

 

Theres a reason they've won 14 of their last 16.

[Amazing Hangover]

Who Posh scored three against.

 

I think we'll win but its going to be a long night.

 

Come on genius Gus, your wonderful team and charming supporters.

 

agree....create like that and NO WAY will POSH keep us to 1 goal.

reading have the meanest defence in the league..and you can see why

[doddisalegend]

Yep. and 12 on target compared to Readings 4.

 

Theres a reason they've won 14 of their last 16.

 

Alot of free kicks though for them (when was the last time we scored from a frre kick?) probably explains Jason Roberts willingness to go down so easily just to give Harte a crack at goal.

[sadoldgit]

We knew we needed another decent stricker and midfiler in the January window and if we had got both we would have gone us as champs I am sure. For all of his huff and puff Sharp is no Maynard as as for the fella from Spurs, is he seeling programmes now?

Reading are better than us not just because of last night but because of their form in the second half of the season.

They brought a match winner off the bench and we brought on Guly!

Defensively we are not good enough and all too often our play in the final third is not incisive enough.

Still, I am not going to complain at being second best this season.

[S-Clarke]

We knew we needed another decent stricker and midfiler in the January window and if we had got both we would have gone us as champs I am sure. For all of his huff and puff Sharp is no Maynard as as for the fella from Spurs, is he seeling programmes now?

Reading are better than us not just because of last night but because of their form in the second half of the season.

They brought a match winner off the bench and we brought on Guly!

Defensively we are not good enough and all too often our play in the final third is not incisive enough.

Still, I am not going to complain at being second best this season.

 

We got the striker we needed in Lee, but ultimately injury put paid to that. He'd probably have taken us over the line as we looked so dynamic with him in the team. So it's a bit harsh to say we didn't bring in the additions we needed, because we did.

[badgerx16]

"But Nigel Adkins' side can take huge credit for the way they played and if they perform like they did tonight in each of their final three games there will not be a team that can live with them.

 

Reading's victory was secured courtesy of some fine goalkeeping from Adam Federici....."

 

That's how the BBC saw it. So blue line and take it out on the Posh. There is no reason for Wet Sham's results to matter.

[DJ_TOAST]

Just woken up, horrible hangover and then remember last nights result.

Thanks for ruining my weekend Saints FFS.

[DT]

Rewatched Pompey game this morning. Can't help feeling foul on Morgan could be the pivotal moment in our season.

[IFHP]

At the beginning of the season we were playing some of the best football I’ve seen a Saints side play, creating lots of good chances and goals were coming from all round the team.

Now we seem to play the ball out wide to our full backs to lob it into the box for lambert to either head towards goal or head back across goal. It’s a tactic that has worked well in the past, now against better teams it’s getting too predictable. More worryingly the goals from around the team have dried up a little.

Only getting 4 points from Blackpoll away, Portsmouth home, Palace away and Reading home is poo. At the same time Reading have picked up 12 points from West Ham away, Leeds home, Brighton away and Saints away arguably a lot harder set of fixtures.

Congratulations Reading worthy Champions.

[OldNick]

To me Reading seem to fluke results, but they do it too many times for it to be a fluke. Away to WHU, BHA and us, they have been battered but won all three. That makes them deserved champions.

I back the manager but I dont get his decisions, Sharp should have been taken off and Guly put up alongside RL to give us something different. Guly has scored qwuite a few this season and is sadly some fans whipping boy. Chaplow was missed when he was injured and has now been put in the team on the wing, not where he was earlier in the season when he was more effective and scoring. Note that Cork who is in his position has not scored.

As for SDR, how anyone can make him MOtM is beyond me, did he do anything telling? yes he ran back after knocking our defender over and getting the ball off Roberts but creatively i cant recall a dangerous ball.

After an ight of bad sleep and reliving the game over in my head im still agitated. The last 2 home games, 6 real attacks and 5 goals conceded!!!

 

Jason Roberts was a master signing, apart from him Reading were just average, he is their talisman and whilst Le Fondre scored 2 well taken goals, Roberts is the reason they won last night.

[aintforever]

We played some superb footie, had the chances to win it but you have to give credit to Reading's defence and keeper.

 

It's still very much in our hands even if West Ham win all their games. I'm not concerned at all, i would be confident going into the play-offs playing like that anyway.

[Toadhall Saint]

Thought we outplayed them TBH. One of the best Saints performances in a long time which makes it all the harder to deal with but hey we move on - 2 tough(ish) away games and then the final home game. I'd like to think we have enough about us to make it across the line in an auto place but there will still be a few surprises i.e. Reading cannot keep getting away with day light robbery.

 

COYRAWM

[rooney]

Feeling down this morning. We played well for most of the game but were let down by those 3 individual mistakes and some good goalkeeping . In saying that, Danny Fox seems to give his winger too much space in all the games I have seen this season. Furthermore we still seem to stand off and not make a tackle as in the seconed goal and this too has been a problem all season. If we do go up, we shall have to buy quite a few players if we wish to remain in the Premiership.

[Window Cleaner]

To me Reading seem to fluke results, but they do it too many times for it to be a fluke. Away to WHU, BHA and us, they have been battered but won all three. That makes them deserved champions.

I back the manager but I dont get his decisions, Sharp should have been taken off and Guly put up alongside RL to give us something different. Guly has scored qwuite a few this season and is sadly some fans whipping boy. Chaplow was missed when he was injured and has now been put in the team on the wing, not where he was earlier in the season when he was more effective and scoring. Note that Cork who is in his position has not scored.

As for SDR, how anyone can make him MOtM is beyond me, did he do anything telling? yes he ran back after knocking our defender over and getting the ball off Roberts but creatively i cant recall a dangerous ball.

After an ight of bad sleep and reliving the game over in my head im still agitated. The last 2 home games, 6 real attacks and 5 goals conceded!!!

 

Jason Roberts was a master signing, apart from him Reading were just average, he is their talisman and whilst Le Fondre scored 2 well taken goals, Roberts is the reason they won last night.

 

You're wrong about Chaplow, he has never played instead of Cork, only instead of either Guly or Adam.

Chaplow is not a central MF and hasn't started there for us this season.Those posts have been occupied in the main by Morgan,Cork and Hammond. I think you may well find that Chappers was at his best when he was replacing Adam.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

Some good assesments of the game on here but far,far too many bed wetters throwing in the towel and posting some complete garbage...PATHETIC...

 

Thank god i will be at London road on tuesday and not have to witness the utter garbage spouted by alpine and his post -a- likes

 

COYS

[sadoldgit]

We got the striker we needed in Lee, but ultimately injury put paid to that. He'd probably have taken us over the line as we looked so dynamic with him in the team. So it's a bit harsh to say we didn't bring in the additions we needed, because we did.

 

I didn't see Lee as an out and out striker but I agree he could well have made a difference if he hadn't got injured. But where is the depth in the squad?

 

We have dropped points this season because we have badly missed Lambert and Chaplow.

 

Reading were not lucky last night. They do what teams that win Championships need to do. We can't or rraely do what they did which is soak up lots of pressure and hit teams on the counter.

[Thedelldays]

 

Reading were not lucky last night. They do what teams that win Championships need to do. We can't or rraely do what they did which is soak up lots of pressure and hit teams on the counter.

but we have done this many many times too

 

millwall away

leeds away for example

[S-Clarke]

I didn't see Lee as an out and out striker but I agree he could well have made a difference if he hadn't got injured. But where is the depth in the squad?

 

We have dropped points this season because we have badly missed Lambert and Chaplow.

 

Reading were not lucky last night. They do what teams that win Championships need to do. We can't or rraely do what they did which is soak up lots of pressure and hit teams on the counter.

 

Don't agree with that, we've played this way lots of times. Leeds away being the main stand out smash and grab of the decade.

[Charlie Wayman]

Not surprised at all. Reading were much the better organised footballing side; they defended resolutely throughout the match and when they needed to strike they did so with speed, penetration and purpose. Let's be honest although we gave a very workmanlike performance we were second best on quality all night without inspiration or imagination. Any decent PL side would have cut us to pieces just as Reading's attack did last night.

 

We can't be disappointed with the outcome because for all our huffing and puffing and trying to ram our way through the middle we never looked like we could ever prise open their defence. Battering away time after time at a closed and barricaded door is not the answer. This team is not good enough for PL duties as it stands as the sheer pace of Reading's attacks now testifies, all was laid bare with their second goal.

 

Blame silly mistakes on Fox & Harding all you like but to do so totally misses the point, Reading were so quick to take advantage of our slips that we were caught out flatfooted and chasing shadows not once, not twice but three times.

 

We were found out by the only team in this league that will have any chance of staying up in the PL at the end of next season.

 

Sadly, it has always seemed to me since Christmas that Reading were going to win this leaugue and have said so o here many times. Who can stop them? Big ****! The one and only Alan Pardew spotted their manager at Woking and gave him his first 'real' job in league football at Reading... wouldn't you just know it!

[madruss]

Don't agree with that, we've played this way lots of times. Leeds away being the main stand out smash and grab of the decade.

 

Exactly. In that game we had two shots on target and scored 1 goal. They had about 1 million shots and scored none. The same people on here praising Reading to the hilt for their victory last night are the same ones deriding Saints for being 'lucky' at Leeds

[saintbob40]

Chaplow doesnt suit our system. He is neither a winger nor a central midfielder who can sit behind the ball and maintain possession.

[Appy]

Not surprised at all. Reading were much the better organised footballing side; they defended resolutely throughout the match and when they needed to strike they did so with speed, penetration and purpose. Let's be honest although we gave a very workmanlike performance we were second best on quality all night without inspiration or imagination. Any decent PL side would have cut us to pieces just as Reading's attack did last night.

 

We can't be disappointed with the outcome because for all our huffing and puffing and trying to ram our way through the middle we never looked like we could ever prise open their defence. Battering away time after time at a closed and barricaded door is not the answer. This team is not good enough for PL duties as it stands as the sheer pace of Reading's attacks now testifies, all was laid bare with their second goal.

 

Blame silly mistakes on Fox & Harding all you like but to do so totally misses the point, Reading were so quick to take advantage of our slips that we were caught out flatfooted and chasing shadows not once, not twice but three times.

 

We were found out by the only team in this league that will have any chance of staying up in the PL at the end of next season.

 

Sadly, it has always seemed to me since Christmas that Reading were going to win this leaugue and have said so o here many times. Who can stop them? Big ****! The one and only Alan Pardew spotted their manager at Woking and gave him his first 'real' job in league football at Reading... wouldn't you just know it!

 

I very much doubt anyone will be blaming Harding last night, seeing as he didn't play.

[FarehamRed]

I thought it was a cracking game, worthy of the Premier League. Very little between the teams if we're honest. If we carry on playing like that, we'll be fine.

 

Over the season, teams end up where they deserve to be, but in individual games, lady luck does play a part. Had SRL stuck that header away at the end of the 1st half and if Adam had scored his chance, things would be very different this morning. Fine margins, and it just wasn't our night.

 

Personally, I wouldn't have taken Hammond off, as I think he makes Cork a better player.

 

Thought the ref was poor, so no surprise there.

[sadoldgit]

but we have done this many many times too

 

millwall away

leeds away for example

 

Twice, Reading do it constantly away from home and with real purpose. And we didn't soak up the pressure against Leeds, they battered us as did Blackpool.

[graveworm]

The nice thing if that SKD went long but so accurately last night. When we did hit Rickie, we really hit him, bang on the money every time. There was no aimless ball forward.

We are a bloody good football team.

We base our football on posession.

This is the basis of the best football team in the world.

It can't be a bad thing to love and want the football...

 

 

That is very true, however the basis stops there when you consider the defending part. There is no doubt that against a team less organized than Reading we would have probably stuff them. Our record without West Ham/Brighton games to ponder is pretty poor against our Rivals. Still I am looking at this as a work in progression and hopefully to finish with promotion.

[Thedelldays]

Twice, Reading do it constantly away from home and with real purpose. And we didn't soak up the pressure against Leeds, they battered us as did Blackpool.

good luck to them trying that in the prem

 

if they let teams like saints, west ham and brighton have 20 chances per game....they will get very heavily beaten in the prem

[Frank's cousin]

Just a thought.... we had 12 chances - on another day we might have had a bit of luck and scored 3 or 4! Yes we still had defensive lapses, but had those gone in and we had played as we did last night, would those miserable feckers still be dolling out the stick to players and the side? Mistakes will always happen, even the best get beat, but I think you are letting the result cloud your judgement of the performance. We are still a championship side, not fricken Barcelona, yet some of you expect faultless performances week in week out...

Edited 14 April, 2012 by Frank's cousin
apalling spelling

[Friday's Legacy]

Hi guys

 

First of all I'd like to say your fans are a credit to you! The noise both sides of the away support was superb, although it took you scoring a goal to be heard, but boy were you load when you woke up.

 

I don't think the score flattered us. If you much of us this season you would know we are workman like team, especially away from home. Backs to the wall doesn't faze us, and we can break with pace, and we don't tire.

 

I thought the first half you were superb. If you play like that in the Premiership next season then I can see you staying up! Lallala (or however you spell it) is immense, and the big lump Lambert is a handful too. If not for Federici (best keeper in the league - actim --- but you apparently would only have Kebe in your tea...) then you would have won the game by half-time! He was superb!!

 

Second half you started well but soon tired. We got more involved and then did what we do best, we upped a gear and hit you on the break for two well taken goals. Yes I can see you feel a bit aggrieved, but that's our style. We have the best defence in the league (best keeper and best centre back in Pearce), and we managed to keep you out. Then it's all about you tiring, getting frustrated, lacking ideas and us using our fitness to exploit the space available.

 

I genuinely hope you go up. You play a cracking style of football, and your fans are a million times better than the arrogant management, fans and owners found at Upton Park.

 

Here's hopefully to 3 points to Brighton today and the league table ending as it stands

 

Good luck!!

[Window Cleaner]

Just a thought.... we had 12 chances - on another day we might have had a bit of luck and scored 3 or 4! Yes we still had defensivve lapses' date=' but had those gone in and we had played as we did last night, would those miserable feckers still be dolling out the stick to players and the side? MIstake will alwyas happen, ven the bets get beat, but I think you are letting the result cloud your judgement of the performance. We are still a championship side, not fricken Barcelona, yet some of you expect faultless performances week in week out...[/quote']

 

But the thing is not taking our chances has become a bit of a recurring theme with us.None too sure how many times Nigel has pointed it out in his post-match interview but it's certainly nigh on every time we've lost.We are not clinical finishers more often than not.

[S-Clarke]

Hi guys

 

First of all I'd like to say your fans are a credit to you! The noise both sides of the away support was superb, although it took you scoring a goal to be heard, but boy were you load when you woke up.

 

I don't think the score flattered us. If you much of us this season you would know we are workman like team, especially away from home. Backs to the wall doesn't faze us, and we can break with pace, and we don't tire.

 

I thought the first half you were superb. If you play like that in the Premiership next season then I can see you staying up! Lallala (or however you spell it) is immense, and the big lump Lambert is a handful too. If not for Federici (best keeper in the league - actim --- but you apparently would only have Kebe in your tea...) then you would have won the game by half-time! He was superb!!

 

Second half you started well but soon tired. We got more involved and then did what we do best, we upped a gear and hit you on the break for two well taken goals. Yes I can see you feel a bit aggrieved, but that's our style. We have the best defence in the league (best keeper and best centre back in Pearce), and we managed to keep you out. Then it's all about you tiring, getting frustrated, lacking ideas and us using our fitness to exploit the space available.

 

I genuinely hope you go up. You play a cracking style of football, and your fans are a million times better than the arrogant management, fans and owners found at Upton Park.

 

Here's hopefully to 3 points to Brighton today and the league table ending as it stands

 

Good luck!!

 

Nice post.

 

The run you're on is very reminiscent of the run we went on last year, so credit to you for that. You've got yourselves a bunch of experienced winners there who know how to lead you over the line.

 

I hope we make it up with you, and I'd be surprised if we didn't. We can both give it a good crack next year.

[eurosaint]

That was poor last night, on all accounts. I've been saying it for months, we aren't good enough to go up, and I still don't think we will. My reasons are as follows.

 

- Lack of goals - Same for Pompey & Blackpool game, we didn't convert our chances into goals.

- Poor Defending - I can think of 10 poor goals we've given away in the past 3 weeks (3 v Blackpool, 2 v Pompey, 2 v Millwall) Fonte and Hooiveld just don't seem the players they were at the begining of the season, the midfield are slow at helping out and we aren't close enough to opposition players.

- Injuries - Can't be helped, I know, but they've cost us. Lee and Morgan are key players who are missing, but players who have been injured haven't come back and played anywhere near good enough (Chaplow/Guly etc)

- Not enough urgency - It frustrated the living daylights out of me last night when at 80 minutes + we were still passing the ball around the back four and only had 2 players in the box when we got in a crossing position. If you see Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal etc when they need a goal, it's relentless, we just didn't look like it.

- Wobble - we're bottling it. There were no leaders on the pitch last night. Hammond isn't a captain, we need a defender/midfield leader, someone like Roberts, who inspired the team and you could see the other players looked to him for motivation, we don't have anyone like that. It's the reason why 14 days ago we were 5 points ahead of reading, and now we're 3 behind them

 

Anyway, fair play to Reading, they have the 3 key attributes which make up a successful team: They defend well, Take their chances in front of goal when they get them, and they have luck on their side. They'll do well in the Premiership.

 

Strange comment for a team which has scored 77 goals this season, more than any other team in the league !!

Mind you, I don't agree with most of the rest your post either !!

[Frank's cousin]

But the thing is not taking our chances has become a bit of a recurring theme with us.None too sure how many times Nigel has pointed it out in his post-match interview but it's certainly nigh on every time we've lost.We are not clinical finishers more often than not.

 

Agree to a point, but we cant magic up some extra strikers who can do this - sometimes things work out sometimes they dont with transfers - we all jump on Guly's back but he scored some vital winners in teh eraly seaosn... Sharp has had an horrendous year - that puts football into perspective, so the fact he is hit an miss right now is understandable - he should be getting our support not ridicule - he will come good. Its impossible to ever get over teh loss of a child, but I wish him all teh very best and football can help him focus on something, but it will take time.

 

Lee is the sickener because he was just starting to gell with the side - had we had him fit for the run in, I believe we would be home and dry now. This is an honest grafting group of players that that have out performed the sum of their parts and for me, the mistakes are just that, we all make em, the best make em and you sometimes need the footballing gods to be smiling on you.

 

My criticism is of the fans that seem to expect faultlessness form a side that was promoted last year. Yes we have obviously some players who may not be the standard for the prem... so its natural we will see mistakes more often than not, so why get on their backs?

[Frank's cousin]

Wayman and Supersonic... why dont you just FO and support someone else - you obviously enjoy walling in self pity and miseray when we lose far more than supporting a side that has out performed all expectations so far this season... feckin do one, will you, I am fecking sick and tired of those that seem to relish our negatives more than enjoying our positives - absolute feckin w @nkers the lot of you.

[up and away]

I don't know about anyone else but I was more than gpb smacked when the final whistle went and we had lost 3-1. I could not accurately figure out what had actually happened for us to lose that 3-1. It was a very good game and there is no way I imagined a Championship side turning us over when we have that amount of midfield control, but it was no fluke as others have explained. I watched the whole game this morning and things were a lot clearer. Readings defence and defensive midfield set up to stop anyone getting in behind them with Federici well protected. Federici was the difference between the two sides, swap him over and the result would go with it. Really impressed with Federici, allowing Reading to easily set up a sound defence. After Lallana's first attack and the space he was afforded by Cummings on the outside, I could sense easy pickings. But Cummings had an excellent game showing Lallana the same route time and again, ensuring players were not getting in behind the defence as first priority. We are normally so good at picking holes in the opposition I am surprised we never targeted Hart much earlier, forcing them to double up at least in that position.

 

Our attack was left muzzled by Reading, with Lallana being shown a safe corridor away from the danger zone and Sharp and Ricky are just not working as a unit. For what ever reason, Lallana is not the same effective player as he was, although still a good player. There was a time when he would take hold of a game such as this and drive the team onto victory. Just missing that extra spark since his foot then groin injury. Ricky kept a lot of the moves and possession going by coming back to get the ball, but too far away most of the time to be effective. Get the right partner for Ricky and we could see a completely different Ricky. When SDR came on he did brighten things up but after watching the replays he leaves a lot to be desired. His short passing would deny the team any chance of developing the ball because of the time and space denied to the team mate with the quality of the pass. He seemed to wait until two defenders were lined up in front, rather than go early and attack the lone defender. One reason why the midfield were playing well being they would turn and face the opposition upon receiving the ball, then drive the opposition onto the back foot. Something SDR lacked but generally he tended to waste the first second or two once in possession. Seems harsh on someone who did make a difference when he came on, but could have done a lot better.

 

Overall that performance would have produced a result against nearly every other Championship side but not Reading. We got a glimpse into the future there and there will be more days like that for our defence who would just not be good enough in the Premier. God knows how many points Federici is worth to Reading but it has to be significant double figures.

[Wade Garrett]

The sort of signing that changes a season. Just a shame Sharp isn't that sort of character!

 

He'll make a great manager when he retires.

 

I started a thread about him when Reading signed him. I got slagged off, and told he was crap!

[Professor]

12 shots on target and 1 goal vs. 4 shots on target and 3 goals

 

that's why we lost the match

Obviously if a couple of those chances had become goals we wouldn't have lost, but it wasn't the only reason we lost the match. Having seen it again on TV this morning, we also lost because we let in two goals as a result of poor defending. If we do get promoted to the Prem some serious surgery will be needed to stay there because having a fantastic group of players all working very hard, isn't going to be enough to compete with premier level players and regular internationals, some of them world class, on a weekly basis if we cant avoid losing at home to a team like Reading and can't beat a relegation side like Portsmouth.

[Window Cleaner]

Obviously if a couple of those chances had become goals we wouldn't have lost, but it wasn't the only reason we lost the match. Having seen it again on TV this morning, we also lost because we let in two goals as a result of poor defending. If we do get promoted to the Prem some serious surgery will be needed to stay there because having a fantastic group of players all working very hard, isn't going to be enough to compete with premier level players and regular internationals, some of them world class, on a weekly basis if we cant avoid losing at home to a team like Reading and can't beat a relegation side like Portsmouth.

 

We will need at least 6 players for the PL.

 

Keeper,1CB,2FB,1RM,1 striker and that's the bare minimum,we're probably looking at 10 to 12 players.

[Ohio Saint]

Ouch! The next morning after the game is very painful. Can't I go back to sleep and wake up when the season is over?

[Webby]

Yep. and 12 on target compared to Readings 4.

 

Theres a reason they've won 14 of their last 16.

 

And by my quick calculation we've dropped 17 points in the last 16 games. They've dropped 5.

[Window Cleaner]

Can't I go back to sleep and wake up when the season is over?

 

Need to head off to the Catskills for that to happen.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Dominated possession, couldn't convert that into goals.

 

Never fancied us to win last night, Reading have been flying - deserved the 3 points for taking their chances last night & probably deserve to win the league for this run they are on. Fair play to them, I'd much rather them over WHU - that's for sure.

 

Saints played OK, if some of the chances we created went it it would be considered a good performance. Midfield were caught in possession FAR too many times, I lost count of how many times Hammond & Chaplow were caught in possession. I like the pair of them, but judging on last night, they may not be near the first XI IF we do get promotion.

 

Anyway, time to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down & move on to Pboro. 3 points is a MUST. A win will make everything look a lot better.

 

No time to dwell on this game now.

[Window Cleaner]

And by my quick calculation we've dropped 17 points in the last 16 games. They've dropped 5.

 

31 points from 16 games is good, really good.It's the 4 from the last 4 that's snookered us a bit.

I just hope we will not bitterly regret the inability to finish off the Skates because even if they go out of existence the day after the season ends that rabble will hold that over us for ever,much like their title wins in the 50s.