BRIAN MCDERMOTT SIGN HIM UP

[Pseud O'Nym]

I think a Howard/Karacan partnership is too lightwight and if those had played and we had still lost (which we probably would have done) then I could be on here saying the same thing.

But I'll go with thw person who has been in football for over 30 years and who has worked with Cisse ever since he joined the club over someone who thinks they know better on the Internet.

The person who has been in football for over 30 years and who has worked with Cisse ever since he joined the club, who replaced Cisse with Howard today when it became clear it wasn't working? Fair enough.

[andrew1957]

To be fair I expected us to get stuffed today and in the end if Howard had slotted the penalty we may well have had a draw or even a win against 10 men.

It is ridiculous for anyone to criticise the manager today. I think we were playing the champions elect as I think Forest will overhaul Newcastle by the end of the season and it was always going to be difficult to get the guys up again after Wednesday.

We have had some incredibly tough games since McD took over and in my book he has done well so far.

Bristol A - good result
Swansea h good result
Plymouth A poor result
Liverpool H great result
Liverpool A superb result
Forest A the best we could realistically expect - I thought we may get thrashed

We have played Liverpool twice, two teams in the top 6, another team in the top half plus Plymouth. Only the Plymouth result is a blot on McD's record so far and to be fair I think the players were knackered after giving their all against an excellent Swansea side on Boxing Day.

I think Sir John should wait until the end of the month by which time we will have a better idea but if we carry in making progress I think we should then make the appointment permanent.

[Jackson Corner]

Just a thought from last season.
Norwich sacked Worthington promted Bian Gunn from within RELEGATED
Charlton sacked Alan Pardew promoted Phil Parkinson RELEGATED
Southampton sacked Jan Poortvilet promoted Mark Wotte RELEGATED

[Arch]

Forest A the best we could realistically expect

That's just not true.

[PEARCEY]

Forest A the best we could realistically expect

That's just not true.

Totally agree. It says a lot about how far we have fallen that some of our fans happily accept defeat against a team two divisons below us two years ago.

[Royal Lady]

It may all have been a lot different yesterday if Gylfi had been fit. But he wasn't. We had Thorvalsson and Griffin who haven't played in the team until yesterday - give McD a break guys - he's using what he's inherited plus his two new loan signings. I like McD, he doesn't spout rhetoric, name drop or bulls*** the fans. He seems a genuinely nice guy - he now needs time - time that many on here wanted to give BR - I still reckon the job is his until at least the end of the season - there is NO ONE available, who would realistically want to come here, that I believe is any better than McD. He knows the players inside out, he's been thrown in at the deep end somewhat - he and the players need our support. I saw some flashes of the old RFC in the Liverpool game on Wednesday - and I do believe we can get some of that brilliance, team work and fighting spirit back. If we don't get results from end of January onwards, however, I'll have to concede that we're in deep doodoo.

[winchester_royal]

LOL @ the HNA backlash.

We almost nicked a point away from home against the form team in the division, after playin 120 mins in midweek, and with arguably our best player injured.

Get over it.

[Wycombe Royal]

But I'll go with thw person who has been in football for over 30 years and who has worked with Cisse ever since he joined the club over someone who thinks they know better on the Internet.

That's the nonsense kind of argument that was made redundant when we went down from the Premiership.
That people are still using it now is ridiculous.

My argument is that he is basing his opinion that Howard should have started ahead of Cisse because we played better against Liverpool when the substitution was made. He is using the second half yesterday to further back it up (something that McDermott didn't have the benefit of).

Managers do not change teams just because they played better after one substitution in one match, but it is easy for someone to say it onm the Internet when their future in the job does not depend on it.

It is argument of a Football Manager playing keyboard warrior.

[Ian Royal]

I think the winner to the argument here, is that having watched both Liverpool games, several fans said we'd be in trouble against Forest if Karacan & Cisse were paired.

By all accounts we were pretty poor first half until Cisse was subbed and Howard came on in the second. Given those saying we'd be in trouble with Cisse and Karacan would not work, but Karacan and Howard would be better were proved right by the second half improvement.

I'd say it's pretty bloody obvious to go with the fans who predicted what would happen and how it would be improved before the game, over the manager who made the pick and then had to change it because it wasn't working.

That doesn't mean we know more than McDermott, or should be manager. It just means we were right and he was wrong on this occasion.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Yeah we can change the manager, but we can't change this squad.

I still say unless we sign a 3 - 4 players who go straight into the team, we will be very luck to stay up.

[Ian Royal]

We need to pick a very specific combination of players regularly to stay up IMO. We have the players, but not the depth if one or two aren't picked correctly / get injured.

The squad is good enough going into a season. But half way through with poor form and suspect confidence it's fragile and full of weaknesses.

At least McDermott seems to be able to identify weaknesses in games and make positive changes. He just needs to work on getting his starting line up a bit better.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Defensive midfield and centre half really worry me. You cant trust Cisse to play such an important role, he plays in a box, good teams like Forest did yesterday just play around him. As much as I love Ivar he is too slow and no he's never been fast, but he's always had a Bikey or Sonko type to cover him.

I also think we'd look a much better side with Sig in the middle and I dont think we have astriker to score the goals we need.

[Ian Royal]

Defensive midfield and centre half really worry me. You cant trust Cisse to play such an important role, he plays in a box, good teams like Forest did yesterday just play around him. As much as I love Ivar he is too slow and no he's never been fast, but he's always had a Bikey or Sonko type to cover him.

I also think we'd look a much better side with Sig in the middle and I dont think we have astriker to score the goals we need.

Karacan is the defensive player we need.
Ivar has looked far improved with Mills next to him, though tbh Ivar would be fourth choice for me behind Pearce, Mills & Cisse. Mills & Cisse might not be organised enough... Personally I'd play Pearce and Mills. Someone needs to smack Bertrand about and keep him in formation. I think Pearce is our best organiser from what I've seen.

I'd like to see Sig in the middle, but Kebe is too unreliable, HRK is unproven and Howard & Tabb are fairly poor wide. That leaves us with no one on the left. Unless Davies were to play right and McAnuff left. Which I'd be happy with.

[Ian Royal]

First 6 games comparison: Rodgers vs McDermott

Rodgers: Played 4 league and 2 cup. Won 1, lost 3, drawn 2. For 7 (5 against Burton), against 9 (cup games against Burton Albion (2 divs lower) and Barnsley (same div) 2 points
McDermott: Played 4 league and 2 cup. Won 1, lost 2, drawn 3. For 7, against 10 (cup games against Liverpool) 2 points

[Royal With Cheese]

The only way to find out is to wait another month. Today's match at Nottingham Forest is no guide, there is no expectation on Reading, nor in the Cup tie against Burnley and following league match at Bramall Lane. But in the fortnight from 30 January Reading play four clubs in the Championship's bottom 10 and will be expected to win. If they win most of them, McDermott should get the job.

g.moore@independent.co.uk

That is so spot on it hurts.

I read that too. What they are forgetting is even if McD is not the man for the job I cannot see anyone else turning the season around without some major personnel changes which simply ain't going to happen.

I think we're stuck (for want of a better word) with the best possible option in the current financial situation.

[West Stand Flash]

This team will go down, there isn't any point arguing it.

The only reason Rodger/Austin/Lampard were sacked is for financial reasons, employing from within means no extra cash required as he will stay on the same salary in his 'caretaker' role. Week on week it gets more depressing as a Reading fan. One win against a p*ss poor Premier League team counts for nothing. The fact Baldy hasn't won a League game and managed the worst performace of the season @ Plymouth speaks volumes.

[Ian Royal]

This team will go down, there isn't any point arguing it.

The only reason Rodger/Austin/Lampard were sacked is for financial reasons, employing from within means no extra cash required as he will stay on the same salary in his 'caretaker' role. Week on week it gets more depressing as a Reading fan. One win against a p*ss poor Premier League team counts for nothing. The fact Baldy hasn't won a League game and managed the worst performace of the season @ Plymouth speaks volumes.

This team may go down. Nothing else is certain. Other than you being as tiresome as ever. Can we have Dodger back in exchange for you?

[Pseud O'Nym]

My argument is that he is basing his opinion that Howard should have started ahead of Cisse because we played better against Liverpool when the substitution was made. He is using the second half yesterday to further back it up (something that McDermott didn't have the benefit of).

Managers do not change teams just because they played better after one substitution in one match, but it is easy for someone to say it onm the Internet when their future in the job does not depend on it.

I was basing my opinion of Cisse's abilities over the two and a half years he's been at Reading. My opinion of the pairing of Karachan with Cisse and it's relative success versus the Howard alterative, I can only base on the Liverpool games as I have no other data.

It is argument of a Football Manager playing keyboard warrior.

I have had neither the time, nor the inclination, to play computer games since Jet Set Willy came out for the Spectrum. I would be interested to know what you consider the purpose of forums like HNA? to be, if not for "keyboard warriors" to express their opinions about the players and management of football clubs?

[Millsy]

BM has done absolutely nothing.

The Liverpool games have little to do with him as any fool can be supercharged against such opposition

The league is all that counts and the most accurate reflection of his abilities.

He has done nothing in the league despite having a honeymoon period.

That we're even considering the guy is a joke.

WE NEED A MANAGER.

NOW.

[Sir Rodger Doyle]

Just a thought from last season.
Norwich sacked Worthington promted Bian Gunn from within RELEGATED
Charlton sacked Alan Pardew promoted Phil Parkinson RELEGATED
Southampton sacked Jan Poortvilet promoted Mark Wotte RELEGATED

That has slackened the old dirt box a bit.

Thanks!!!!