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Again, Reading fail to back up a good result with another. It was a pretty flat performance overall on Tuesday night against Birmingham City, especially in the second half. The Royals looked comfortable in the first half and could have made more out of a couple of half chances, but it was the same old second half syndrome that effected them once again.
It’s also clear to see that a lot of the fans have lost patience with everything that is going on at the club at the moment, whether that be Paul Clement, Ron Gourlay or the players.
Goals from Gary Gardner and Lukas Jutkiewicz summoned Reading a third defeat in four games, and here’s how the fans reacted to some of the key talking points...
The defending
You can prepare a team for certain situations and set pieces, but when your team go out on the pitch and concede goals like Reading are doing now, there’s not much Clement can do about it.
The opening goal on Tuesday night was a classic case of Reading shooting themselves in the foot. Liam Kelly inexcusably misplaced a pass for a corner and then the ludicrous marking from Tyler Blackett led to Gardner tucking home.
It just keeps on happening. It happened against QPR, Norwich, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn just to name a few. Awful defending will only see you go one way, and the fans aren’t happy about it...
I know clement isn’t the greatest, but not even he can legislate for Kelly conceding a corner from 50 yards and our defenders not being able to actually defend!!! #readingfc
— stuart edmonds (@ednoni) October 23, 2018
How vulnerable does our defence look? They’re lost at sea under pressure. Can’t string two results together which is a real concern. Drab 2nd half performances tonight and got what we deserved. Big point to prove on Saturday @willow1871 #ReadingFC
— Sam Spencer-Ades (@SamSpencer001) October 23, 2018
Our defending for the goal was the most tragic thing I've seen tonight until Blues fans got their phone lights out #readingfc
— Becki White (@MissBeckaEllen) October 23, 2018
Pathetic defending from us there, absolute shambles, Ilori at fault in the main. Game over by all accounts #readingfc
— Tom Maynard (@ttmaynard) October 23, 2018
Second half syndrome
Reading’s second half performances have been woeful this season. We’ve only been losing at half time twice in the league all season, but have now lost eight of our 14 matches. What is Clement saying to them at half time? Are they getting complacent when they aren’t losing? Or is it just they are so used to losing that they don’t know what to do when they aren’t?
Again, it’s a trait that Reading need to get rid of. You cannot go through the season being two different teams in both halves. Here’s how the fans reacted on Twitter to another awful second 45 from the Royals.
Oh bugger. #readingfc #URZ. Another defeat. Another very poor second half.
— Karz From The 'Ding ☕ (@FFSKarz) October 23, 2018
Depressing second half display. Literally not one positive #ReadingFC
— Zammo (@Zammathon) October 23, 2018
Again #readingfc concede early in the second half, a good first half left me pretty optimistic about getting something from the game. But . . . .
— Mick Day (@MickDay99) October 23, 2018
What goes on at half-time?
The manager
It’s going from bad to worse for Clement, and the voices demanding him to leave got even louder after Tuesday night. I’ve said before that what’s going on at our club isn’t all down to the manager, but it cannot keep going on like this.
I’m sure a lot of the Reading faithful want Clement to turn this around, including myself, but that’s looking less and less likely by the game. Is he the man to get Reading out of this complete mess? Many of the fans don’t seem to think so, and it’s clear to see the former Derby County boss is on borrowed time at the Madejski...
Bin off Clement as soon as possible and bring in an EXPERIENCED manager who has strong motivational skills!! @ReadingFC Clement will only take us down! #ReadingFC @willow1871
— Jamie Gorman (@OfficialJGorman) October 23, 2018
Clement just go please and give Gourlay a lift, this is the most gutless bunch I’ve seen in my 42 years watching Reading #readingfc
— andyp (@andrewPilling1) October 23, 2018
The only maths that Paul Clement should be worrying about at this stage is points per game played since his arrival. It's absolutely dire. #readingfc
— Andy Charman #FBPE (@AndyRFCCharman) October 23, 2018
Clement has got to go he’s not gonna turn things around so he’s NOT the right man for the job #Readingfc
— GS (@_GeorgeRFC) October 24, 2018
Conclusion
I can’t see any way out of this rut, with or without Clement in charge. The news that Modou Barrow has breached disciplinary rules just tops it all off and for me, sums up the poor state of our club.
As ever in the Championship, it doesn’t get any easier as Reading travel to Swansea on Saturday afternoon. Every game right now is a must win, but I think most fans are heading to games now in desperate hope rather than expectation.
URZ