When will we ever learn?

[funkyrobot]

Are we gonna get this naval themed tirade every time we lose or draw?

[Zingari]

Are we gonna get this naval themed tirade every time we lose or draw?

it would have to be a titanic effort on his part

ps

how did Schlupp John B perform ?

[Thracian]

Despit it being long which initially put me off, I stopped reading after the start because we have played two league games and you are complaining that we are below other teams

Why don't we have a chance of finishing in the top two? Because we lost one game. When Reading went up under Steve Coppell they lost their first match of the season 3-0 away at Plymouth. I know we have no goalscorer, or wingers (except Vassell) but we have played two games.

This has nothing to do with how many games we've played or lost. If we'd been playing any sort of fluid, enterprising football in our first two games I'd have even accepted two defeats and acknowedged that some fine tuning was inevitable. But I've not seen that and don't believe we have a chance of finishing in the top two with this team for various reasons.

For a start we've sacrificed attacking capability in our efforts to shore up a leaky defence - a point emphasised by our needing to use Bamba as an attacking reinforcement yesterday with catastropic results for our defensive stability.

Furthermore, and even despite the inability of The Yak to close down quickly when we've lost possession, we've lost and not yet replaced his near guaranteed 20 goals a season, especially if Nugent lacks for the support of people like King and Gallagher (or effective goalscoring replacements) at the cost of another few goals depending on what time they actually get.

Either way that represents a lot of goals being taken out of the side with no signs of them being put back by any of the players we've got at the moment.

And even if we do sign a good striker and winger, where will the creativity come from and the runs into the box if we continue using Abe and Wellens. I just don't see it.

Yes, I accept we still might make the changes necesary to right the situation. But the season started a fortnight ago, we say that every season and, as per usual, we're fast falling off the pace already and it will take time to blend in still more newcomers.

Even with the envisaged changes mentioned so far - and so many of them have not materialised - I don't see us finishing better than in a play-off place because our full-backs aren't good enough to support attacks and our central midfield is not creative enough or strong enough to cope without being reinforced.

Vassell might be missed in some ways but he's not promised a lot of goals or assists so far and who else will? As for the left side if we don't play Gallagher we lose his goals/assists/set-pieces and I don't see Danns replacing all that, or Schlupp, though it might be interesting to see him at left-back cos I'm not much impressed by Konchesky, certainly in supporting our attack. Well, you did ask!

[liamsm]

You lost me within the first 2 lines. I didn't even read the rest. WE'VE PLAYED TWO LEAGUE GAMES NOT TWENTY.

True we have only played 2 league games but we didn't play very well in either of them, so if this is how the season is going to progress we aint going up, maybe the other away god forbid

[liamsm]

Just to point out we are a place below West ham...

Who giz a shite about West Ham?

[Thracian]

You have shot your load way too soon mate.

You will be looking back on this and cringing in a couple of weeks.

Nothing would please me more. Unfortunately there are other things that concern me too. First we've already lost the fear factor because anyone watching us against Coventry or Reading would believe they can deal with us.

Then there are these aimless crosses into the box I've mentioned. Reading impressed me by the way they drove the ball across goal but we just floated crosses towards or often beyond players who wouldn't have won them whatever. It smacks of a lack of preparation and understanding. If we've no-one to win floated crosses then we shouldn't deliver them.

We should do something else that does play to our strengths such as they are.

[MGLCFC]

Last season everyone moaned because our full backs weren't great defenders - from what I've seen of Konchelsjy and Pantsil they look very solid defensively. They don't offer as much going forward, but surely the primary role of a defender is to defend.

[Happy Fox]

Last season everyone moaned because our full backs weren't great defenders - from what I've seen of Konchelsjy and Pantsil they look very solid defensively. They don't offer as much going forward, but surely the primary role of a defender is to defend.

If that is case then we need to counteract that deficiency in their attacking role by getting wingers with pace to complement Konchesky and Pantsil's strengths.

[Guest shearfox]

I'm disappointed but far from concerned that we lost yesterday, the players are there to get us up, it would be difficult to buy so many players and get win after win so early.

We are still in the process of moulding a team together and that totally got exposed by Reading, they are one of the best sides in the league.

[morris1234]

surely the team who beat us are proof enough what can happen in 46 league games! they were nowhere near thoughts of promotion last season until they had that fantastic 10 game run ...always said the biggest problem would NOT be our striker 'problem' but would be the fans.

[Happy Fox]

I'm disappointed but far from concerned that we lost yesterday, the players are there to get us up, it would be difficult to buy so many players and get win after win so early.

We are still in the process of moulding a team together and that totally got exposed by Reading, they are one of the best sides in the league.

Not being critical or anything but if we are to get promoted surely we should be beating our promotion contenders as well?

[21st Century Fox]

[Guest shearfox]

Not being critical or anything but if we are to get promoted surely we should be beating our promotion contenders as well?

Sure but to play Reading only in the second league game of the season while the side hasn't gelled was always going to be difficult.

That Reading side have played together for far longer and it showed, we have the better players and once they have fully got to grips with how to play together we will be winning these games.

[Happy Fox]

Sure but to play Reading only in the second league game of the season while the side hasn't gelled was always going to be difficult.

That Reading side have played together for far longer and it showed, we have the better players and once they have fully got to grips with how to play together we will be winning these games.

Fair enough

[Chairman of the Bored]

Thracian nails it for me. It's an attitude, a state of mind, the will to impress and to be impressive. Not sure Sven is up for that. Gally and King on the bench say it all for me. First home game of the season and one up front (Schlupp playing as part of a diamond midfield and a little out of his depth for now). Very disappointing and not entirely sure where the cavalry are coming from. If we don't set up to blast Brizzle from the off, given their start and defensive capabilities (or lack of them), then that will be a depressing marker for a long, hard season. Things could get better (I really hope they do), but I did say at the start of the season that we could produce very little for a lot of outlay with Sven at the helm and the type of player he has brought in. If we're not in the top six by the end of ten games, I think the Thais will get rid. Then goodness only knows.....

[FoxyPV]

Some good points and I understand your frustration Thracian but as numerous posters have pointed out - it's only been two games and I've a further point to add - this is the most unpredictable league I've ever seen, so whilst being beaten by a good Reading team is disappointing, it's not the tragedy you're making it out to be.

Chin up, big man, it'll be alright by the end of the season.

[toms]

I see you forget all last season's potential building too. But why should I wait longer to express my disappointment? Or are you expecting the players' abilities to change overnight?

I'm not saying we can't grind out any wins I'm saying that I cannot see an 'appeth of flair or excitement's been added to our team.

In fact, with people like King, Gallagher and even Dyer reduced to bit parts there seems to be less potential than before.

For some reason people have screamed out for Abe and Wellens and, time and again, I've said they don't score enough or make enough runs into supporting areas yet how many goals did King and Gallagher account for last season? Lots. Plus a good few assists.

With no-one else making runs into the box or in suport we're just running out of ideas before we even get to our opponents penalty box. How many shots on target in the Reading and Coventry games? And you say it's just two games. It's two games and we're already four points off the pace - three plus the goal difference! A familiar story and one I'd rather not have repeated.

I've ben talking to one of my son's today. He's a Southampton fan. They've just sold what he describes as a fairly average player for £12m and bought a dangerous Belgian winger for £2m to doubtless boost their already considerable goals potential. That's the kind of management I like. We've gone for quanitity not quality from all I can see. Yes, there will be exceptions. Schmeichel and Fernandes may prove decent buys and perhaps one or two more. But that's nowhere near good enough to get us promoted given the players who've been so far displaced.

And, ironically, we seem to be displacing postive players and leaving more negative ones in situ! If you understand it, fine. But I don't.

Have to agree I see little or no extra quality added this season other than Schmeichel and Fernandes, we seem to have bought a ton of players who are little more than o.k. championship players, the really good ones we have tried for the clubs have said no, or they have gone elsewhere. For the 10m spent, we have added very very few attacking options. There also must be a big question mark on the tactics, I don't think anybody is clear on what they are supposed to be doing especially in the forward area's, Sven might know but he seems to be keeping it a secret!

On tactic's, Readings first goal was a carbon copy routine of one they scored in the play off final, doesn't anybody look at these things on a tactical board ? Surely the players must be made aware of this kind of thing, its all so very unprofessional.

[AyewJoking]

Fine post there Thracian although it has made me a little more depressed than I already was

[Rich Fox]

Load of verbal diarrea you moan only 24,000 there do you not live in reeal world we are in recession Leeds only got slightly more.

If nugents shot had gone in instead of hitting post it would be different.

You slag sven off but he only paid 300,000 for bamba and Schmiechel wad great buy. Got to give mills a chance, he will get better. You have made a fool of yourself writing this rant after 3 games especially when we've won 2out of 3 games!

[Happy Fox]

realmattmills5 Millsy

Stoke 0 Chelsea 0 does that mean there out of the title race ? Early days marathon not a sprint

[l444ry]

Wait until after the Bristol City game. For the money spent the side carry very little goal threat or pace. If things don't improve then the red warning will be obvious. One thing is for sure, if Martin O'Neill had taken the job we would be in a lot better shape than this for half the money. But there you are......

[Thracian]

Load of verbal diarrea you moan only 24,000 there do you not live in reeal world we are in recession Leeds only got slightly more.

If nugents shot had gone in instead of hitting post it would be different.

You slag sven off but he only paid 300,000 for bamba and Schmiechel wad great buy. Got to give mills a chance, he will get better. You have made a fool of yourself writing this rant after 3 games especially when we've won 2out of 3 games!

a) I don't give a toss about Leeds. And we were in a recession when we played against Real Madrid's exciting players.

b) Nugent's shot didn't go in. None of his few shots have gone in as yet, promising as he seems, and he needs far more support as he himself has indicated often enough on the pitch.

c) Have I complained about the signings of Bamba and Schiechel? No. I sincerely wish everyone else had made the same impact and showed the same passion and determination.

d) We'll see abut Mills but it will need a big change.

e) In the only one of those three games in which we showed any sort of attacking intent we left out two of the key components from the starting line-up yesterday and also our only naturdal winger.

[Thracian]

realmattmills5 Millsy

Stoke 0 Chelsea 0 does that mean there out of the title race ? Early days marathon not a sprint

As a result it won't do them any good, that's for sure. And that's presuming you mean Chelsea. But they might have played brilliantly and come away with a commendable point. I don't know. I didn't watch that game or read about it.

[Happy Fox]

As a reuslt it won't do them any good, that's for sure. And that's presuming you mean Chelsea. But they might have played brilliantly and come away with a commendable point. I don't know. I didn't watch that game or read about it.

It was not me who wrote that account it was Matt Mills I was simply just pasting his tweet in here

[tewkesbury-fox]

Thracian spot on post,yes its two games into the season,but it was the manner of the defeat,has Sven not learnt anything from last season ?