Reading v Hard to Beat Aston Villa Post Match Thread.

[andyh]

The defence looked more solid.
McMinn could have died from exhaustion.

Poor otherwise.
El Ghazi particularly disappointing.

Why could McGinn have died from exhaustion?
Didn’t he have energetic support from his co midfielders to share the load and drive the team onwards.

I probably know the answer.

[AlexAlexCropley]

I said yesterday that people need to chill and I think they do. OK, we've lost lost our way a little from when Smith first came in but what do we do? Show some patience or make another change? I'll go for the former.

Whether you're chilled or not 3 wins from 12 is a cause for concern.  Not panic, but concern.

Agreed. I know Smith is trying to remain positive and spin it as 1 defeat in whatever it is. But if he keeps that up he’ll start to sound like Bruce. What was great when he came in is that it felt very much as if he saw the same things we did. But his constant picking of Whelan as an an example is bewildering. A player who offers literally nothing is now essentially one of the first names on the team sheet if fit.

The job is a massive one and I have no doubt his heart is absolutely in the right place. But in the end and he knows this he will be judged like all other managers on his results. Right now irrespective of whatever challenges he’s got it makes not good enough.

Bang on esp Whelan. He will be the downfall
Shouldn't start.

[Toronto Villa]

I said yesterday that people need to chill and I think they do. OK, we've lost lost our way a little from when Smith first came in but what do we do? Show some patience or make another change? I'll go for the former.

Whether you're chilled or not 3 wins from 12 is a cause for concern.  Not panic, but concern.

I think if we'd have had these two centre halves all.season, Bruce would still be in a job.

Makes packing off Elphick on loan all the more crazy. That and spunking all that cash on Bolasie and whatever we are paying El Ghazi when the defence needed to be right. I get he had his hands tied a bit by FFP but he spent what he had in the wrong places. Loads of goalkeepers, massively average RB’s and wingers. No CB’s, no LB. No real thought given to the style of play.

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To be fair, I don't recall seeing a midfielder in years as run as much as McGinn.

[KRS]

What was great when he came in is that it felt very much as if he saw the same things we did. But his constant picking of Whelan as an an example is bewildering. A player who offers literally nothing is now essentially one of the first names on the team sheet if fit.

What other options does Smith have in midfield though with Jack injured? There’s only so much he can do whilst being shackled sorting out the mess of his predecessors.

[rougegorge]

The football continues to be uninspiring and there is no change or improvement in tactics and the starting line up was questionable again.

I like Albert but he's clearly way off the pace and Kodjia might be selfish at times but a better bet than El Ghazi.

Some fans round us were very critical of Smith.

I wish it were otherwise,  but the last 10 games now have all been below par or poor. Bruce would have been crucified if we'd had a continuous run of underperforming like this, especially given the 'easy' run of opponents.

On the plus side, Mings played well.

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Albert is way off the pace indeed.

[Steve67]

To be fair, I don't recall seeing a midfielder in years as run as much as McGinn.

He desperately needs help in there. Our wide men are a disgrace and only Jack is up to the task. If Tammy doesn’t score, we need to work out where other goals are coming from.

[Toronto Villa]

To be fair, I don't recall seeing a midfielder in years as run as much as McGinn.

He's been great, simply incredible overall. What I couldn't believe was late in the game, right before he cramped up, he was still going. I feel bad for him and I have to think over the summer we need to limit or manage that by bringing in other younger, hard working, energetic players to help him, and give him a break every so often. Otherwise the wheels will fall off.

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El Ghazi stands off too deep in a starting position for me. I feel he ought to be really playing off the full back. That said he carries the ball and can create something. He's inconsistent.

Adomah is poor for me. I think he needs time out.

[adrenachrome]

To be fair, I don't recall seeing a midfielder in years as run as much as McGinn.

True. I have to go back as far as Frank Carrodus. Ron Saunders said he had five lungs.

[dave shelley]

James Milner could keep going a fair bit. 

[olaftab]

Bloody hell people need to calm down a little bit. There are far too many problem with the set of players Smith inherited and he can not fix those in one go. Those of us expecting a run of 10 wins are going to be disappointed in the short run. We need Jack and Axel back and new signings to bed in and we will be ok. We will make playoffs.

[Kimaster1976]

Is it law that every club in world football has to play this 4-2-3-1 system so in vogue?

With Grealish injured and him being the only one really any good for the no.10 role why not try the good old 4-4-2 with 2 actual out and out strikers, Abraham in tandem with Kodjia/Davis, what do you think?

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We've only played it the last two games.