Reading FC

McDermott: Reading FC lacked quality against Norwich

By Jonny Fordham
November 10, 2012

Brian McDermott admitted that Reading didn't show enough quality during their 0-0 with Norwich City.

Without a win in 10, history dictates that Royals will struggle to survive this season, with only three sides beating the drop having not won at this stage of the season in the 20-years of the Premier League.

However, McDermott is remaining positive with his team sitting in 18-th place and three points from safety.

He said: "We could have nicked it but there wasn't much in it, it was a tight game. I thought we were in the ascendancy and we kept a clean sheet which is something to build on.

"We didn't do enough with the ball, especially being at home, we didn't do enough quality-wise and we know that.

“Both teams were nervous at times but we move on with the clean sheet. “We've scored numerous goals at home but not today. Maybe we needed an extra touch or just to try a few more things in and around the box.

"Overall I'm not disappointed. We've had a few disappointments this season, for example being ahead against Arsenal and Swansea, but I can't be disappointed with the guys that have given us absolutely everything.

“The players are in the dressing room disappointed, but they needn't be. “

Next Saturday Royals face Everton at home with fans desperate for a win.

But McDermott added: “Out of ten games we've drawn six, which tells you how close we are.

"Everyone talks about 'the win' but we just have to concentrate on each game and dig in. We just have to keep going.

"Nobody has heavily beaten us, by definition in the six drawn games each of them could have gone our way.

"We're closer to the teams in front of us now and we look to forward to putting on a performance against Everton.

"Our players just want to do so well for the club and the fans, they've done that for me over three years and I've got nothing but praise for them."

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COL - I'm not a supporter of RFC because I don't think Brian should be sacked?

What sort of pathetic, childish reasoning is that?

I won't bother banging on about 'how long I've supported RFC' or '..been a season ticket holder' or even called for managers to leave when it was appropriate....I will simply resort to name calling.

YAC

Lester Crinklesack
14/11/2012 at 13:07

COL, The comments I've heard from BM haven't persuaded me that there'll be money available in January. Certainly not the substantial figures mentioned/speculated on in some quarters.

I have this uncomfortable vision of Chris Samuelson sitting in his lair (or possibly his house), twiddling with a villaineous Movember 'tache muttering 'my job there is done'. Followed by a dark chuckle.

Of course, in reality, this almost certainly won't be happening and he'll be mortified and appalled, in equal measure, along with JM and AZ that we're struggling.

Indeed, I'm sure, in reality, that they're formualting the January transfer plans (along with BM and the scouting staff, of course) and that they definitely won't leave any business until the last minute before making a couple of 'so what' signings.

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
13/11/2012 at 15:39

LC - you are patently not a RFC supporter.

We are meant to be one of the top 20 teams in the country playing in one of the best leagues (if not the best league) in the world and we are playing park football.

It's an embarrassment - McD is patently out of his depth. Did any of the 7 close season signings strengthen our first team? Prob only Shorey replacing Harte ( and even that took time for McD to realise!)

The quicker our Chairman shows some initiative the more likely we are to stay up.

Based on McD'd signings last summer would you trust him with £10 - £15m in Jan.

And still he's not giving any of the youngsters who have come through the academy even time on the bench.

come on lads
13/11/2012 at 14:19

Lester - totally agreed mate.

I'd also like to see Cummings in for Gunter (hasn't impressed me overall), Pearce in for Gorks and playing alongside Morrison (see if the partnership flourishes) and give Gurthie a chance to feed the ball to Roberts/Hunt/Le Fondre. I'd also like to see HRK on for Jobi and start with Mcleary replacing him with Kebe around 70-75 minutes.

When January comes, would be good to sign an attacking midfielder similar to Gylfi and also a good young striker who will ultimately replace Roberts.

Apart from all that, we're fine......

Southbank Dave
13/11/2012 at 12:11

So let me get this straight "the do something brigade" have come up with the following options: Sack Brian, Go 4-3-3, Put Roberts in charge, Mix up the starting 11, Do different subs to Brian. Complain about the players already bought and the one's on our radar.

Righto then.

I prefer the more realistic, positive and almost doesn't need to be said cos it's soooo obvious approach, keep Brian, let him continue to mix up the starting 11 and make whatever subs he see's fit and get a player or two once the window opens.

Lester Crinklesack
13/11/2012 at 11:42

@MDDC - To be honest I just want to know whether he's (Ledge) carrying a knock or not....I'm a fan of his when he's on his 'A' game and wouldn't want to give him stick if he's playing through the pain barrier.....alternativley, I want to give him stick if he isn't.

Lester Crinklesack
13/11/2012 at 11:23

Come on Lads,

Yes I see Reading in the Bottom Seven along with Norwich, QPR, Soton, Villa, Sunderland & Wigan & need 24pts from these matches. Next Five - West Ham, West Brom, Fulham, Stoke & Swansea & need 10pts from these & the 4 or 5 pts from the Top Eight. The objective is to secure more pts from the Bottom Seven than they do against us - that is ultimately what will decide what league we play in next season.

We need to improve, of that there is little doubt but I would also say from what I have seen, not by a great deal.

You can see the changes made have given us a more solid feel but the offset is that we will be less potent going forward - fact is if we don't let in goal we cannot be beaten.....

13pts from next 9 games is tough but far from impossible. A win will breed confidence.

Robsy , Reading
13/11/2012 at 09:48

Sorry Robsy, I see you are predicting Stoke and Fulham in "middle 5" - I agree.

come on lads
12/11/2012 at 23:22

Robsy,

Don't forget we are part of the bottom 7. So there are 6 other teams, 12 games and therefore you are suggesting we get 4 points of all our immediate competitors - sorry, no chance.

Also Fulham and Stoke are not bottom 7

come on lads
12/11/2012 at 21:07

First of all changing the manager now or before the window - I cannot see it happening & to be honest who for!!!

Agree that we need investment & that it was the transfer windows are for - I thought McD had bought well and while there is no doubt the squad is better than last year - there is also no doubt that it needs further improvement.

Where does the problem lie? In midfield we have a lack of depth, essentially we have Jem, Guthrie, Legs, Tabb & Gunnarsson - currently Jem & Guthrie are out injured & Bryn is closing in on forty! So need new players there or we need to shuffle the team about i.e McAnuff in the middle and Kanu on the wing in his place. I suspect that come January a couple of midfielders will be on the shopping list? I rate Tom Ince but so do about 10 other Premier League clubs but someone with that dynamism would be ideal.

I split the league up into sections - Top Eight - Next Five & Bottom Seven & as I see it we need 24 pts from the Bottom Seven - 10pts from the Next Five & 4 pts from the Top Eight.

On the face of it therefore the Norwich home game needed to be a win but as I see Fulham & Stoke as sides above the Bottom Seven the results against them are as expected as long as we get at least a point at their grounds (not inconcievable).

Despite the result on Saturday it is worth noting that Reading are unbeaten 5 times in the last 6 League games which does not constitute a disaster but there is no point sugar coating things we do need points from Everton, Wigan & Villa games.

By the way for what it is worth I thought that Morrison & Shorey were excellent on Saturday - the latter both in attack & defence. Really that many crosses and corners should have resulted in better.

Come on URZZZZZ!

Robsy , Reading
12/11/2012 at 16:07

My preference, as stated, would definitely be for BM to stay (I don't think his position is seriously in doubt).

The chances of Harry Redknapp pitching up here are approximately zero and that's being generous. It's a non story. It's about as likely a scenario as Shane Long returning in the January window.

Lester, it's irrelevant whether Ledge is carrying an injury. Unless he's unable to walk he'll play. Who's the alternative? Particularly taking into account that BM won't use Brynn and Guthrie is currently indisposed (or something)? We could use Shorey there, but that creates a hole elsewhere.

Smiffy, I agree be supportive on match days and back the team, but don't use the phrase 'positive energy'. You're straying uncomfortably close to Uri Geller territory. You don't own any crystals with alleged mystical properties, do you?

Dave, what's your plan for getting us to January in decent shape?

I'm all for being postive (no, really!), but can't even the most positive/deluded* (delete as applicable) fans appreciate we'll need to improve at some point before January? I expected a struggle, but I didn't think we'd be so inept that the owner, when attending games, would display all the signs of a man waiting to undergo a vasectomy without the comfort of an anaesthetic.

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
12/11/2012 at 15:39

@come on lads - I'm not sure anyone is suggesting that we do nothing. I have just suggested that we don't panic as we aren't in a panic situation yet. Also, changing the manager is an absolute last resort, and we are nowhere near that stage yet. It is sad that 'fans' are so shallow and want a new manager when the going gets a bit tough.

@LarryS - I admit it wasn't great on Saturday, but Norwich came for a point and that is what they got. Our failing is that we couldn't adapt and find ways to score, which is what we need to address. I guess when an opposing team doesn't come to play football, the match is never going to be a spectacle.

Smiffy, Reading
12/11/2012 at 15:00

Saturday's performance was far worse than any last season. It was a disgrace and the players and management should be ashamed and apologise to the fans. BM's post match trite comments only serve to add to the annoyance and frustration. He is a smashing bloke but he's now out of his depth. He has made some serious errors already this season. The first, and most glaring and one which could well come back to haunt pretty soon, was to put Bryn in the 25 man squad. Why? If he wasn't good enough last season how on earth is he gonna be up to it this season? Falling out with one, or maybe even two, players might be unfortunate, but four - Feds, Guthrie, Church & Pearce - is careless. Brian has done us proud the last 3 years but he's reached his limit. Sadly, if we are to stay up, he needs to go and sooner rather than later.

LarryS
12/11/2012 at 14:32

The lets do nothing brigade cannot possibly be RFC supporters.

Last season at home we watched 18 -20 out of 23 league games that were appalling in terms of quality. Most seemed like relegation dog fights. But we won them and by some miracle ended up promoted.

Now we are still playing the same way - but oddly we've signed some players who actually want to play football but we won't play them.

Jason Roberts for player/manager

come on lads
12/11/2012 at 13:25

Given all the talk of the "Reading way" carrying on into TSI's era from SJM's then I honestly think RFC would only ever hire a maverick idiot like 'Arry unless SJM was away and Anton was drunk during an interview. Assuming he even lowered his wage demands to grant giving him consideration!

People seem to forget the reality here. When have RFC ever been a "Spend spend spend" club?

So what does 'Arry seem to do at every club he goes to and annoys the owners which then also seems to nearly go under a few years later... that's right "Spend spend spend!"

Can you really see Sir John and 'Arry seeing eye to eye? Secondly do you really think RFC are going to hire a guy with a past like that (lets be honest we were all shocked he didn't get convicted!) and IF the FA were to call time on Hodgson face the fact of The Sun and every other "expert" saying he should jack the Mad Stad for England leaving RFC in the lurge...

I'd consider handing in my season ticket if that idiot got given the keys to Hogwood.