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No time to hide says Federici - Reading Official Site
Right after the Bournemouth game and another atrocious and disappointing performance, Adam Federici gave an honest and frank interview. He simply said regardless of the age or experience of the squad, there is no hiding from the horrible form we are in, and what he describes as a "devastated" squad have to "stand up and be counted" in Saturday's game against Blackpool. He picks up on the fact the team can never recover once they concede, saying going a goal down "is not the end of the world" and "we should be able to come back from that".
Defensive lapses again cost us - Reading Official Site
Nigel Adkins believes that we were the better side in the first half against Bournemouth, and looking to push on in the second with the score at 0-0. However he says football is "a game of inches" and other teams are getting away from us. Adkins says this will change if we iron out the "lapses of concentration" that are costing us. He says the team are "working hard" and will get through this, adding he has told them to "take responsibility and embrace the challenge, not wilt away."
Akpan's view on the disappointing run - Reading Official Site
Similarly to Adam Federici, Hope Akpan explains that first goals are very important in football but we shouldn't "lose our way" once we concede it. He can't put his finger on why this happens but says "we've got to have a long hard look at ourselves for the reason". He says the team have to "dig in and stay in the game", but the thick and fast nature of the Championship means they can go out and prove themselves and turn things around.
Adkins not worried about being sacked - Reading Post
After 7 games without a win in all competitions, Nigel Adkins has been subjected to murmurings about his future at the club. He brushed these aside when faced with tricky questions after the Bournemouth game, saying any manger is under pressure following a few losses in the Championship. He says he is mostly looking at the long-term footballing aims of Reading Football Club, but in the short term he accepts he needs a few wins to stop questions being asked. He explains that with games every few days in this league, there is plenty of opportunity to pick yourself up. He still sticks to what he has said all year about the "foundations" being in place "to move forward", and a grind is needed from everyone to ensure this happens.
Norwood: We owe the fans – Reading Official Site
Ollie Norwood says the fans have every right to be frustrated and could easily have turned on the players, so they owe us in the game against Blackpool. Norwood also mentions the inexcusable trend we are setting of being in games and then having some "bizarre" minutes and going out of a game. He adds that everyone makes mistakes in life, but that as a group, the players have to stop it by helping each other out.
Mackie praises the supporters – Reading Official Site
In tough times in recent weeks, Jamie Mackie describes the supporters as "quality", thanks us for recognising that the players are prepared to put in the hard work, and says the players need us to keep being loud. The close quality of many teams in the championship means Mackie thinks a couple of wins could get the confidence flowing and send us on a good run.
A much needed boost – Reading Post
Garath McCleary, Anton Ferdinand, Danny Williams and Danny Guthrie al played 45 minutes in a match at the training ground, and Guthrie should be available for selection at the weekend. Glenn Murray will also be back for the Blackpool game.
Reading after Bury centre-back – Vital Football
With the shocking defensive performances stacking up this season, Nigel Adkins is unsurprisingly looking for another defender. 22 year old Bury centre-back, Nathan Cameron, who came through the Coventry youth system before being released two years ago, is the man he may be turning to. Cameron is out of contract in the summer, so Bury will almost certainly succumb to the pressure of bigger clubs sniffing around their star defender. Vital football comment that although Cameron may have great potential, what we need is more experience and this should be our focus in the transfer market.