Reading FC

Brian McDermott says that no Reading FC player is undroppable
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McDermott doesn't have Reading FC "favourites"

By Jonny Fordham
November 27, 2012

Brian McDermott responded to vocal fans claiming he has his "favourites" by stating that no Reading player is undroppable.

Supporters who gave their player ratings following Royals' 2-1 win over Everton were critical of the performances of skipper Jobi McAnuff and experienced centre-back Kaspars Gorkss.

McAnuff, who scored 5.5 out of 10 and Gorkss (5.4) were then on the receiving end of even harsher marks following the 3-2 defeat at Wigan with just 4.5 and 2.9, the lowest rating all season, respectively.

However, Royals boss McDermott stated: "No one is undroppable."

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McDermott is unlikely to drop his captain for tonight's trip to Aston Villa (8pm kick-off), but Gorkss is walking a thin line - despite starting every single Premier League game this season.

"He's up for selection," said McDermott.

"I would never talk about an individual's performance levels, I talk about that team. That wouldn't be right."

Reading will again be without injury-hit midfielders Jimmy Kebe (groin), Jem Karacan (knee) and Danny Guthrie (thigh).

And goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has also tweeted that he expects to be out for two more weeks at least.

He said: "Won't be back for a couple of weeks, shoulder getting better but still not right."

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no problem scoring goals, but we do have a problem late second half of games we have given the lead away what about 6 times this season!. we need to see games out for gods sake Brian later in second half of games pack the midfield take off a centre forward and get some points, learn from the 6 times we have made a mistake already! take a look at your players unfortunately Gorks isn't performing there are 2 centre halfs ready to do better give thema chance, look at what giving morrison a chance did, best player at the moment. Gunter sadly is in the same boat he has the will but not always the skill. Please think on Brian we love you at this club and as others have said theere is alot of goodwill for you but you need to learn quickly.

Russell B
27/11/2012 at 10:40

If the rumours are true that we have a low January transfer budget then I think we are doomed. It is shame that we cannot compete with even the likes of Southampton.

Perhaps we should just prepare for the Championship. I like what TSI are doing. In that they are working on the clubs infrastructure (needed) including training, scouting and eventually stadium (even Brighton are extending theirs) but now we are in the Premier League shouldn't we do all we can to stay in it? We will get a lot of money and parachute payments for going down. We have to go for it. Our current squad is short of at least 3 quality signings. Can we get them in January? Not sure we could even if the money was there. We are likely to be on say 15 points with more than half the season gone... needing about 40 to stay up..

It is a must win tonight. Need a 90 minute performance with 100% concentration throughout. Something we have not done all season. Prediction? Sadly a draw.

poru, Bournemouth
27/11/2012 at 10:09

Do you know what would be the most annoying thing to happen tonight.... Paul Lambert picks Darren Bent tonight and he scores a goal or two... That would really hurt...that they can keep a player like that out off the squad whilst we are dieing for a decent partner up front to Alfie..oh and a defence..

A. XYZ
27/11/2012 at 09:58

and im the tooth fairy whos gonna watch the game tonight with father christmas and the easter bunny :)

last chance saloon
27/11/2012 at 09:56

Haaa.. Someone has said that December is a big month! Last thing I heard November was a big month!!

Dazza1871
27/11/2012 at 09:37

Dog Leg - Reference your kind enquiry concerning our intentions toward Arshavin. I personally would love him to join us. Possibly as assistant groundsman or kit man.

As a player, he appears congenitally lazy. How interested/engaged would he be here, particularly in full sulk mode?

Is it possible to actually gain weight during a match? I fear the little, red faced fella could achieve this less than glorious non objective.

As an aside, why does he always look so confused?

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
27/11/2012 at 09:33

It was so disappointing on Satuday for me and my son to be freezin our balls off @ Wigan to see us give the game away during added time at the end of the match.

I would like to see McD adopt a plan that if we are away from home, and we are drawing or (dare I say) winning, during advance stages of the match, we get 11 men behind the ball, we keep possesion, we park the bus. Instead, he tries to win the match as per saturday, and we got caught out.

Now as we got no points on satuday, McD has put himself under great pressure to deliver a win against fellow strugglers, and my feeling is that again, we will get caught out due to the frailties of our defence.

Not wanting to get 0 points from 2 games, he'll probably go 4-5-1 tonight, and that will make scoring even harder !

Danny0367, Chorley, Lancashire
27/11/2012 at 08:59

Nice sound-bite, Brian.

You know what they say about thr proof of the pudding........

ray northstander
27/11/2012 at 08:49

Brian you have so much goodwill behind you, but you do need to make tough decisions.

Grokss has been shocking recently, and must be dropped for Pearce preferably or if you aren't allowed to pick him for whatever reason then Mariappa. Gunter has to go in favour of Cummings. It's not rocket science.

Personally I would even try Bryn in place of Legs. Who knows, he may be another Jay!

Realistically we need all the points today, and unless the others put in the same work rate as Shorey, Tabb and Morro then we won't.

Common Reading let the fight back begin this evening!

GwentRoyal, Pontypool
27/11/2012 at 08:43

Time to prove it McD...

Mcanuff has been poor along with Gorkss and just because he is captain (wrong choice in my opinion) doesnt guarantee a game every week. Let's make Roberts skipper at least he leads by example.

Getting bored of watching Jobi jog back when he should be sprinting back to help his full back.

Gorkss should have stuck with Gomez after he passed to Kone for the third goal and just left him and worried about Shorey's man, school boy defending...

Don't get me started on Feds, bring Taylor in how many chances can one man get, he split for the first goal and almost gave another mins later...

December is going to be huge for Reading and the future of McD..

RFC4EVA, reading
27/11/2012 at 08:35

Gorkss has been awful recently, time to give Mariappa a chance. McAnuff being captain is probably saving him from being dropped, but for how much longer?

Uncle Buck, Reading
27/11/2012 at 07:41

When are you going to take Arshavin off our hands?

Dog Leg
27/11/2012 at 02:46

I listened to BM's Radio Berks interview concerning a variety of topics.

In summary - don't expect the squad to be strengthened in January (at least not significantly). If anyone genuinely believes that we'll survive with our current squad (I certainly hope that we can) then I admire the abundance of your confidence, if not your judgement. l fully intend to willfully and childishly ignore any of the predictable 'if we get relegated, it's not a big thing, as we'll be promoted at the first attempt'. I feel it only reasonable to warn you of my potentially, not to say inevitably, petulant response!

As for selecting certain players, seemingly regardless of performance. Well, he's not going to acknowledge any favouritism/misplaced loyalty, is he?

What should be apparent to the players (hopefully) is that several of their number owe the man a big performance at Villa tonight (whether they're capable of producing the necessary display is another matter entirely).

I feel some sympathy for BM from the perspective that we've been force fed the 'rich owners, take us to the next level blah, blah and so on'. In reality he's working with a budget considerably lower than any of his rivals and ultimately you can't expect miracles.

However, even taking into account the lack of quality available, is he getting the best out of the limited talent at his disposal and, most importantly, learning from his mistakes?

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
27/11/2012 at 00:08

He has to make hard decisions. If you are not performing then you are out. Some need a shake up. I fear that we will be changing poor cards for little better options though. If you have a bad hand gamble on new cards working!