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After submitting the Wycombe Fans Verdict the day after the 1-0 loss, there was a little silver lining as I thought “well, at least I won’t have to write one as negative as that again this season” - boy, oh boy was I wrong. This one’s probably going to be even worse.
Similarly to the Wycombe Fans’ Verdict, I don’t think there are three set key talking points. I just think we were all so full with anger, frustration, disgust, disbelief and shock that we didn’t have the capacity to contemplate key moments of the game. The reaction from the fans wasn’t aimed at particular events from the game, more so just a huge outpour of anger. And I think that’s completely fair enough.
The performance was bad, the result was even worse. But, as fans, the least we deserve and the least we expect is to watch our players fight and show hunger and determination to win the game. Just put in everything you’ve got. And I don’t think every player who played on Wednesday can honestly say they did that - which is heartbreaking.
I’m not alone in that opinion. You fans will back me up on that too, as you’ll see shortly from the Twitter reaction - but Pauno also criticised the fight and the mentality from the players in his post match interview, too. Which is more significant than you think. From what I can remember that’s the first time he’s publicly gone after the players like that.
Anyway, here’s the best(?) bits from Twitter after the game. If there are any players who happen to read this, then either close your eyes now or read and take it on the chin...
That is a typical Reading Football Club result. Things are getting tough and we are getting weaker. Such a poor performance. Are we scared of success or something? #readingfc
— Luke (@Luke1871_) March 17, 2021
So incredibly poor when it matters most as usual with us. Killing my mental health off atm this club #readingfc
— Alex (@alexr1871) March 17, 2021
I think we can call that a disaster. What a nightmare. Bullied, outfought and out muscled. Got the basics all wrong. One step forward, two steps back. Have to dispatch teams down the bottom of the league and we've consistently failed to do that this season. Awful. #readingfc
— Anthony Kendrick (@AJKendrick) March 17, 2021
Really, really poor tonight. Another team we should be beating if we want to make the playoffs. We had so much of the ball without creating any clear chances. Give Joao a rest on Saturday, he needs an opportunity to just watch the team play #readingfc
— Joel (@Jdh72Joel) March 17, 2021
It’s like the players don’t care. Attitude on the pitch is awful. No one looking like they want to challenge for anything. Worst performance I’ve seen in a long time. Players have a lot of making up to do. #readingfc
— Marcus Withers (@MEJW45) March 17, 2021
That’s poor - few experienced players want to be taking a long hard look at themselves tonight #readingfc
— Dave McCormack (@davemc_exile) March 17, 2021
The dip in form is alarming. Not getting play-offs now. We can dominate possession all we want but when we can’t defend simple crosses and are complacent at the back it ends invariably ends badly. Is it the managers fault or players? I think the players got too cocky #readingfc
— Everything Reading FC (@EverythingDing) March 17, 2021
horrendous result. even worse performance. play offs feel unlikely now after bottling points in 2 of our easiest games left, but it’s still in our hands. need to seriously improve if we want to stay in the top 6. feels worse than wycombe this #readingfc
— ً (@_jord19x) March 17, 2021
Do we actually want to go up or not?
— Sam Hudspith (@samhudspith24) March 17, 2021
That’s the question I’d be asking the players if I were Pauno.
Also feel that this whole ‘take each game as it comes stuff’ is actually detrimental. There are big games that we need to win. Play them up.#readingfc
Yes. It wasn’t a good time to play Birmingham. But we should have known that and imposed ourselves, shown more desire. It was obvious they’d be up for it. We looked lost for the first 20 mins, and even in the 2nd half we hardly worked their keeper. Depressing. #readingfc
— Jonathan Richards (@JR_1871) March 17, 2021
Pauno isn't to blame. It's the players that didn't seem to care and want to win. Big reaction needed Saturday #readingfc
— AidenRFC (@AidenRFC_) March 17, 2021
How can you be wanting top 6 and produce such a gutless performance? Birmingham were first to every 50/50 and wanted it so much more than us. Shameful #readingfc
— Harrison Mitchell (@harrison1871rfc) March 17, 2021
last night was horrific, no passion no desire to try and create anything. but stick behind Pauno, regardless of bad results so far he’s done a brilliant job #rfc #readingfc
— j (@RFCJAAY) March 18, 2021
So disappointing against a side battling relegation again. Lacking fight and passion, where’s the leadership from Moore when we need it? Badly missing Morro and Rino but simply not good enough for a playoff spot right now #readingfc
— James Burrell (@james_burrell) March 17, 2021
So disappointing against a side battling relegation again. Lacking fight and passion, where’s the leadership from Moore when we need it? Badly missing Morro and Rino but simply not good enough for a playoff spot right now #readingfc
— James Burrell (@james_burrell) March 17, 2021
Doesn’t matter if we are still 6th. Keep playing like that and with our run in we won’t finish in the top 6. That im certain of. #readingfc
— Dan Hindmarsh (@DanHindmarsh9) March 17, 2021
Poor second half, sloppy passing and no desire #readingfc
— Michael (@Emjay8989) March 17, 2021
Conclusion
As you can see, if you’ve had the mental strength to go through all of the above tweets, the fans weren’t happy. To find the tweets I use for Fans’ Verdicts, I usually type in the #ReadingFC into the search bar accompanied with a keyword, i.e. “#ReadingFC joao” if Joao’s had an absolute worldie. Tonight, I’ve accompanied the hashtag with words such as “fight”, “determination”, “hunger” and “attitude” - and not in a good way. And that’s what hurts the most for me.
We’ve seen some outstanding performances this season, but we’ve also seen some really, really bad ones. Arguably none worse than the one on Wednesday at Birmingham. I honestly can’t believe what I saw - losing to the worst home team in the league is one thing, but losing it in the manner we did is a hammer blow.
It’s up to the players now. We said that after the Wycombe again, we’re saying it again now but I guarantee if they get it wrong this time, we won’t get a chance to say it again. It is now really make or break. And by that I mean we need a win on Saturday. Need.
The teams below us are ready and waiting for any slip up, we can't slip up. We just can’t.
Time for the players to show us what they’re made of. And this time I mean that.