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Saturday was possibly the perfect game for Reading to pick up their first back-to-back wins in just under a year, after the 3-2 victory against Bristol City last weekend. As much as Paul Clement played it down throughout last week, he would’ve surely seen Ipswich at home as a great chance for another three points, but Reading fell short once again.
I’m sure Paul Clement will be giving Yakou Meite a big thank you as the Ivorian’s brace probably bought him at least the Wigan game to try and get another win. Here’s how the Reading fans reacted on Twitter to some of the key talking points from another frustrating Saturday afternoon...
That first half
Even by the incredibly low standards Reading have set so far this season, the opening 45 against Ipswich was probably the worst yet. The Tractor Boys should’ve been out of sight by half time, and if there was one team that looked like they were bottom of the table, it wasn’t the visitors.
The second goal we conceded was just comical. A goal kick should never be able to travel that far at this standard, it was schoolboy stuff. Performances like that keep happening again and again, and the fans were rightly unhappy..
First half we were outpaced, outpassed and outpressed, second half an improvement but why does it take us to be a goal down to start playing with some form of pace? #readingfc
— Luke (@gibbsey517) November 10, 2018
Papering over cracks again that result. Ipswich should of buried us in the first half #readingfc
— JDM (@RFC_Smurf93) November 10, 2018
That first half has got to have been the worst defensive performance from a #readingfc side I’ve ever seen. So lucky to come out of that with a point. Shocking.
— James (@JCraggSport) November 10, 2018
Very fortunate to get a point out of that. Ipswich by far the better the side in the first half.
— Jack (@thesimpsonRFC) November 10, 2018
Once again Reading’s defence let themselves down again #readingfc
Yakou the saviour
The former PSG man has certainly had his fair share of critics this season, but his effectiveness in this team is clear for all to see at the moment. His first goal on Saturday was a piece of individual brilliance and a great finish. The stats don’t lie and if it weren’t for Meite’s goals in the last few weeks, we would be in an even worse position than we are now.
He still needs to improve his footballing brain and intelligence, but that will come with more and more experience. Yakou is a player that could be very important to us this season, and the fans seem to love him...
For everyone wondering why Meite got the new contract, it’s because he’s single handedly kept Clement his job so far. #readingfc
— Ryan Light (@ryandgl) November 10, 2018
Meite carries the team every time. Need better team mates it seems #readingfc
— Michael Kearns (mike) (@michael14kearns) November 10, 2018
Meite has definitely proven me wrong on that contract extension - not that I thought an extension was a bad idea but four years seemed excessive but he has been brilliant since he signed on #ReadingFC
— Sean Mobsby (@SeanMobsby) November 10, 2018
Was quite optimistic for watching #ReadingFC today and quickly learned why I usually don't.
— Marc Mayo (@ThatMarcMayo) November 10, 2018
Luckily, in Yakou Meite, we have an improving, hungry striker who can finish any chance at a moment's notice. A proper old school Reading player.
Clement on borrowed time
It’s a talking point after every game between the fans now, and the pressure on Clement is rising by the second. When your job is being saved by individual performances near enough every game, it’s not a good sign for the manager, or the club.
How long are the owners going to let Clement do the bare minimum for? Only they know the answer to that. It’s pretty safe to say that if it weren’t for Sam Walker’s last minute save against Bristol City, and Meite’s performance on Saturday, Clement wouldn’t be in a job. The fans are certainly losing patience...
You could sack Clement just on his signings to be honest. #ReadingFC
— Jack Strudley (@penguinjack2005) November 10, 2018
Sick & tired of people saying Clement's honest. Is suggesting that each game is a level playing field regardless of league position honest? If he was that honest he'd admit he's not up to this job. #readingfc
— Andy Charman #FBPE (@AndyRFCCharman) November 10, 2018
Ipswich wanted it a lot more than us today, they deserved the 3 points, should’ve put 4 past us in the first half, this result massively papers over the cracks, very very worrying times at the moment, I think Clement needs to go but who do we get in? ♂️ #readingfc
— George Blair (@GeorgeBlairr) November 10, 2018
Conclusion
The saying ‘papering over the cracks’ comes to mind at the moment. Clement is doing just enough to keep himself in a job, but with the likes of Leeds United, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough all on the horizon, it looks bleaker than ever for Carlo Ancelotti’s former right hand man.
We’re in a relegation dog fight, there’s no getting away from that. The players need to seriously buck their ideas up and quickly, because we are seriously running out of time.
URZ