First game of the season

[Shinfield]

Having been a season-ticket for 21 years I decided not to renew this season basically because I felt that Sir John had ripped me off throughout the Premiership seasons with his promises of investment in the squad etc etc. Also I had a feeling that this season might be a disaster. Relatives of mine did renew and are regretting it now. I stupidly accepted a free-ticket from one them for the Palace game.

Thought I'd share my observations on the team and management:

Federici - at best this lad is an average keeper. The first time I saw him play was when he played for Maidenhead. Ok he was teenager then but they had him for a couple of games but soon realised he wasnt up to the standard even for them. Unfortunately he has not mastered the basics of goalkeeping. His reactions are decent but they should be in a young man.

The defence - I got to say I feel sorry for Jay Tabb. I have a feeling Rodgers doesnt like him. Throughout the game he was too tight to Moses, leaving him easy to roll and with space in behind to expose his lack of pace. I thought going forward in the opening 30 mins he was Reading's best player but he's not a defender and at no point did I see any evidence of the coaching staff helping him out with his defensive positioning. Ivar and Pearce solid enough but too far apart as a pair and not close enough to support full-backs (particularly Tabb). They are being asked to be footballing defenders - sorry not either of their strengths. Let them concentrate of defending first before trying to develop other skills. Bertrand - I thought this guy was the new Ashley Cole? Sorry no evidence of that tonight. Defensively not really tested because Palace knew that Tabb was the weakest link because he's not a defender and was up against Moses.

Midfield - If you are playing one up front you must have midfielders who are willing to run past the centre-forward. Gunnar was the only player to do this late in the first half, so only one run in the whole match!! They allowed Palace to much room to trigger Moses at will and were ineffective with ball. For me not enough energy in there coupled with a lack of ambition going forward.

McAnuff and Kebe - Are these guys being given a defensive job? If they are not they didnt do it tonight especially for the 1st goal where the right full-back (Kebe's man I presume?) picked the ball up on the half-way line ran unchallenged for the 30 yards and drilled home a shot (admittedly the Keeper should be saving it). They are too far apart from Rasiak to be a threat on goal and far too often they beat themselves - one good run/cross per game is nowhere near good enough!

Rasiak - has a thankless task. No supply; nobody within 25 yards to support and nobody running off him to either work him a bit of space or to benefit from a flick on.

Tactics/management - in a word CLUELESS. The excuse of it being a young side is rubbish tonight. Only Pearce and Bertrand fall into that catergory (and Bertrand has pretty much a full season's experience from Norwich under his belt). We had SEVEN full internationals in the starting line-up (Feds; Ivar; Cisse; Gunnar; Marek, Rasiak and Kebe) and to me they just didnt seen to understand their jobs. I saw no evidence of this WORLD-CLASS model or any world-class football, in fact I thought the football played was slow and pretty predictable and in the end Reading were lumping it in the 2nd half. To sum it up for me when Rodgers decided on going 3 at the back for a good five minutes after the players were looking across and at each other trying to workout what was going on!

Three years ago had someone said to me Reading would be back in the Championship and struggling I would have laughed my balls off................tonight we were beaten by a very average Crystal Palace team who clearly understood their jobs, had been briefed well on Reading's weaknesses and played effective football to win the game....................oh dont things change quickly? But I know Sir John wont make the changes that the majority of fans want and deserve because that will cost him money. RELEGATION? Quite possibly yes

[Focher]

although i couldn't really be arsed to read all that, your observations are pretty much spot on.

[Royal Monk]

I am pretty much in the same boat ... having had a season ticket for 14 years and going to pretty much every game for a few years before that.
I too got fed up splashing the cash and decided to give it a break this season

Its the best decision i've made for years ....

[(.)Boobies(.)]

I'm with these gents. A hardened faithful supporter; from a by gone era or rusty roofs and tinny tannoys, barely missing games home or away, even when I have spent some months abroad on work, I'd fly home for a weekend and the football. But now, working more from home and in town, and less travel, I see less of the football and for the same reasons. The lack of investment in the Premier League was criminal. We talked the talk, had a magnificent season where we all over achieved, and our Chairman was short sighted enough to believe we can get away with that every year. ___ It's harsh however to lay blame because of the fire sale last summer. That had to happen; we gambled on a near Premiership budget to get us back up, and it failed. Sadly, there are still a couple of players here that still have to go! Worrying isn't it. ___ The future doesn't look at all exciting in all honesty. A new owner with an eye on investing in the playing staff is a must. Until then, it's all about getting by on the tighter Madejski business model budget. The supporters here have to a point been taken for granted, and if you excuse my choice of wording, been taken the p**s out of. You can understand the many not wanting to put their hard earned into something that isn't putting back out.

[RobRoyal]

Nothing can say it as well as "+1".

We'll have better days than tonight, but the problems with the squad are manifold.