PNE fans shouting for a change in management need to get real. It was an exciting 5 goal match that we unfortunately came out on the wrong side of. We are in the Premier league division 2 which has fantastic quality football against massive clubs some of which have won European trophies. We are one of the smallest clubs punching most weeks above our weight. Reading lost a playoff against Huddersfield and could quite easily be a Prem. club. Expecting to beat them just because they are lower in the league is misguided. The manager had 3 influential midfielders to replace and tried a couple of permutations to win the game. He didn’t want Barky to lose possession before their winner or to hit the bar with a cracking header early on. He can only do so much and relies on the players to carry out his tactics. Think positive and you might just enjoy the football we’re playing, I do, and it’s great to sit in a great stadium watching Championship football, win lose or draw.
Neil in !
Exciting? What game were you watching?
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2005
- Messages
- 111,048
In fairness i didnt fall asleep but i think that was because how angry i was!
If you thought that was exciting today sat in a deadpan atmosphere you’re easily pleased!
Reading were possibly the worst team in a league game at Deepdale for some time.
Shall we extend Barkys contract as well?
I was furious. Can't remember the last time North End fans booed a manager for making (what they felt was) the wrong substitution
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2005
- Messages
- 111,048
I didnt boo but my head was helfdfirmly in my hands.
I think, for me, that was my turning point with Neal.
Still a lot of time to put it right but i doubt fans are going to be patient much into October if we dont see any change.
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2007
- Messages
- 413
I agree with most of what you say mr psb... but don't expect too much support on here from the loud ones.
I didn't boo either but the only person I applauded off the pitch was CR7
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2012
- Messages
- 10,068
Ditto
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2015
- Messages
- 1,941
On another day we could have had 6 or 7. In the past I have been frustrated with AN and how he only has one plan. This season he's tried two different formations to his usual one. Against Norwich it didn't work and today we created more chances than in any other game this season. Woodwork, last ditch defending and Barky not gambling at the back post cost us today. Also, we should have had a free kick just before they scored the opener. Our position in the table is not good, but I think we shouldn't be worrying yet. Look at the players we have out injured / suspended. I am confident that we will not be relegated this season. If AN can see his way to reinstating Maxwell then I'll be optimistic for a top half finish. I feel that Maxwell's distribution and confidence would be beneficial to the team during our current poor run.
Last edited:
I agree. Trouble is it is obvious that it is demoralising. Neil very thinly tried to hide it two days pre-season, but the injuries to Bodin and Maguire completely demoralised him. To the extent it is only because QPR were a shambles we have one win to our tally. Neil is a proud man and, in my opinion, thought he could have us challenging again despite the ludicrous financial constraints. When those two went down though it was game over. Now I fear he won't be able to turn it around.
Spot on, we could easily have won that game with a small amount of fortune. Reading were a poor team who got very lucky
Should've been backed and wasn't. Seems in malaise along with the players, who won't have forgotten that some of their most talented colleagues were sold for big money with not much of it put back into the playing side. Could be a very tough season really.
Absolutely.
And not just to work on a shoestring but to do it without a striker. Absolutely idiotic. Impossible task.
I can't imagine how thoroughly demotivated he must be.
I fear we're close to losing both an excellent manager and our Championship status.
Presumably he was aware he hadn’t taken the Man City job.
If he really is demoralised he should do one immediately.
Reading were the worst team I have seen at Deepdale since we won promotion back to this division, I expect them to be fighting relegation, where does that leave us ?????
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 24, 2016
- Messages
- 5,141
Such a massive exaggeration that. Massive difference to expecting a Man City budget, and expecting just a bit of the Hugill and Cunningham money (2 key players gone).
Seems he couldn’t get Moore from Barnsley or Jerome on loan sanctioned. That’s hardly asking for multi-million superstars.
If he ‘did one’ I suspect we wouldn’t come close to finding someone of similar calibre.