Reading FC

Rodgers demands calmness under pressure from Reading FC

By Jonny Fordham
October 17, 2009

Brendan Rodgers has called for greater mental toughness from his Reading players following their 3-1 loss at West Brom.

The 36-year-old saw his side throw away the lead after Matt Mills’ fifth minute header quietened the vibrant Baggies fans at the Hawthorns.

But after a calamitous back-pass by Jobi McAnuff allowed Jerrome Thomas to equalise in the first-half, West Brom ran away with it through another Thomas strike and a third by Youssuf Mulumbu in the 86th minute.

And Rodgers admitted that his young Royals couldn’t handle the pressure after they lost the lead when looking to be in control of the game.

He said: “We struggle when we play under a bit of pressure.

“We’ve got to become much tougher mentally when we’re under pressure and the players are all very disappointed.

“We get in front and then just give teams the opportunity to score goals, all three goals were from us when we had possession and gave it away.

“We had a very good start and looked comfortable in the game and in the end it was a very disappointing result.”

Rodgers made three changes to the side that were beaten 2-0 by Middlesbrough with Matt Mills, Kalifa Cisse and Noel Hunt all coming into the side.

And the manager also rued the lack of chances that his 21st placed side created against the Championship favourites.

“It’s very frustrating as a coach and a manager watching, what is letting us down is the shots on target," added Rodgers.

“We have to become more efficient, the most efficient teams control the game with the ball and we just need to have a more ruthless streak in our game.”

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leicester it is - now all who are in agreement please post it here and lets startsomething big to save our club NOW

ajr111, swindon
19/10/2009 at 23:22

ajr111 is absolutely correct. Someone post a thread either here, on the BBC 606, or both, and choose one game for non-attendance. If everyone passes the word around then a real message could be sent to JM. Who's going to do it, and which game?

Meldrew
19/10/2009 at 16:40

The one who panics is Rodgers! We start with one forward and if by a miracle we go one up he pulls people back and invites the opposition on. Any substitutes are extra defenders. Playing with one up front away is poor but we play with one up front at home and Buck still talks about the play offs!! We needed him to have learnt off the great one at Porto where he didn't have the players, not off him at Chelsea. GO NOW.

Pete50
19/10/2009 at 16:17

Well Big Bev, I did envisage the destruction taking place. Back in August I posted a comment that William Hill were offering a generous 25/1 for Reading to go down. My bet is looking good. I hope some others took it too. Whether I will win, come end of season, depends on any changes being made to ownership, managerial or playing staff before then, but don't hold your breath.

NIK
19/10/2009 at 15:09

Enough is enough Action is needed now or we will get relegated FACT!

Danny Royal, Reading
19/10/2009 at 14:28

Enough is enough. I am fed up with the excuses and rubbish coming out of the club both on and off the pitch. If we dont act NOW we WILL BE RELEGATED - FACT. In 25 years of watching Reading home and away I know a team going down when I see one. Gutted.

Danny Royal, Reading
19/10/2009 at 14:28

It wasn't so long ago that being part of reading football club gave you a sense of belonging.With murts and his fellow professionals going out into the community,the players wives doing their charity work,it was like being part of an extended family.Sadly it no longer feels that way.My mates and i used to gather in the concourse and discuss our hopes and aspirations with a smile on our faces.No longer,now the mood is one of despondency and i can't see it changing in the near future.We all realised that there would be some changes,some of the high paid wage earners would have to go{because they wished to}and we would have to give the new manager time to implement his ideas and tactics.I don't believe anyone could have envisaged the absolute destruction that has taken place.The rapport with the supporters is very fragile,they feel they are being ripped off.No longer is there a sense of anticipation on match days.The trudge up to the stadium is getting harder.I normally don't like to be critical of the team but they seem to be lacking commitment,flair,ambition etc.Reading of two years ago played with pace,now they appear drained after 45 mins.I imagine the training is different with the new set up,apparently rogers prefers morel training with the ball and less emphasis on speedwork{it shows}.I really cant imagine what sir john's agenda is.He is never going to sell the club whilst it is hurtling towards league 1 and any aspirations he had of a return to the premiership are laughable.It is all so sad to witness the demise of our club this way. BigBev

big bev, reading
19/10/2009 at 14:18

Oh dear Judas your beloved club seem to be turning on you...what you have to understand Judas is life often throws up 'what goes around comes around' like lack of integrity....but it is odd that the chosen club expects you to perform ....maybe your mate Nicky could help? and only one game left before you are challenging for a play off position...btw Boro weren't up too much I guess you and Ras would agree and great back pass Jobi!!

chris the vic, Berkshire
19/10/2009 at 13:58

Yep, the Leicester game would be perfect, a cold Monday night and the game is live on Sky !

LOYAL ROYAL, A33
19/10/2009 at 13:55

DON'Y YOU ALL REALISE - STOP WHINING AND USE YOUR FEET, THE ONLY WAY TO GET SJM ATTENTION IS TO NOT GO. THUS HURTING HIS POCKET. PICK A GAME AND BOYCOTT - I WILL BE AT QPR TOMORROW BUT NOBODY WILL SEE ME AT MAD STAD UNTIL RODGERS GOES. SEASON TICKET HOLDERS - WOULD YOU PAY THE PRICE OF JUST ONE GAME TO GET SHOT OF RODGERS AND HIS 'CONSULTANCY STAFF' THAT HAVEN'T EVEN GOT THE GUMPTION TO COMMIT TO OUR GREAT CLUB

ajr111, swindon
19/10/2009 at 12:40

I dont see Rasiak as having done anything Wrong. We are in the Poo and BR has a couple games more to turn it around i reckon. If we lose the next couple of Matches without Marek in the Team he will be under so much pressure from the Fans he will be forced to resign.....

Brother Horus
19/10/2009 at 12:32

i personally think that rodgers picks the team he does because experienced pros look at him as if he is stupid when he tells them the tactics. and should they question them, he can't argue back with anything concrete as he hasn't 'done it' at this level. another theory i have is that he isn't confident enough to lead mature players and so wants youngsters around him to maintain that 'look up to the boss' thing. i also think the reason all the 'crown jewels were sold is cos rodgers went into the interview knowing how sjm works, and made claims to him on the lines of stripping the wage bill and how he will take the acadamy through into the 1st team, regardless of what effect that has on results. a case of get the job and we will worry about that later, but i think once he got the job, he didn't realise just how much of the team would have to be sold to meet the restrictions he put on himself with his claims.

ajr111, swindon
19/10/2009 at 12:32

We have a rookie Manager who looks completely out of his depth, his tactics and his selection of players beggars’ belief. If you got points for bulls** we would be top of the league by miles unfortunately that do not award points or that. Rodgers clearly will not fall on his sword so he needs to be sacked, on his way out take his big book tactics ‘the Worlds Class Vision’ and drop in the rubbish bin where it belongs. Oh and take Cummings, Howard, Rasiak and McNuff with you so they cannot do any more damage to Reading FC.

Andy Hay
19/10/2009 at 12:04

In situations like this, the manager usually carries the can. But is it solely Brenda's fault? Any idiot can se that Marek is a better player than Howard. There can only be two, maybe three possible theories why he isn't using Marek. a)A football reason, i.e Brenda doesnt rate him. If Brenda thinks that Howard is a better option than Marek, then he fully deserves the sack. b)A non football reason, i.e Brenda being given a completely unrealistic wage structure that puts using Marek unaffordable, when add ons like appearance money are factored in, In this case, the person responsible is higher up the RFC food chain.. Or c)possibly a lifestyle thing, a la Brebner.

Given what has happenned with the fire sale, the public pronouncements about cutting the cloth, the ridding of Harper and Rosenior to get them off the payroll, the subsequent signing of cheaper replacements, I think I know what theory I'd lean towards. I have found Brenda to be a man who talks a lot, but actually says very little. We could be looking at an emperor's new clothes job.

Much has been written about how Madejski has transformed the club, what a great stadium we have, nice hotel, and how well run RFC is. I hope that when old John walks away with his £100 million or so, he can look back at a vibrant football club, and not rue the fact that fixed assets, whilst all very good and saleable, are pointless unless you stay competitive on that patch of grass in the middle of the stadium. Darlington have a bigger all seater stadium than we do, but having a flash stadium is silly when grubbing around in the nether reaches of the football pyramid, with 20 odd thousand empty seats.

ray northstander
19/10/2009 at 11:24

I reckon we petition Sepp Blatter to allow games to only last 30 minutes, 45 at the most! What gets said at half-time we will never know - doesn't seem to be working though.

Getting tired of good first half / crap second half syndrome! Might help playing a settled side however......