jimtastic56

Graeme Shinnie would be good, still only 32.

Did anyone notice Bird receive a pass in the last 5 minutes, only to give it straight back to the same player like it was a live hand-grenade?

Hourihane is an ageing midfielder who scores a few and nearly scored tonight 
Bird is younger but just as slow and although can be be neat  and tidy he doesn’t score or seem to want to get involved …you can only have one of them in mid for me and it wouldn’t be young max I’m afraid felt for Thommo tonight because I thought he did quite well and has more energy 

I know he didnt sign them all but when PW talks about needing to sign players with the right character - what does he mean exactly? As it doesnt seem to be strength and a winning mentality.

I am just so fed up. There are just so many depressing questions about tonight, I dont know where to start really but as a starter what is going on with Wildsmith? 

Kevin Hector at 70 odd would have done better than Collo tonight.

I just don’t think Bird and Hourihane really have the attributes needed to control and impose themselves on enough games at this level.
Reading had the exact profile of players that they don’t like to come up against.
How can we play through midfield if we don’t have the players to keep and recycle possession?
Bird and Hourihane are both too lightweight to hold off challenges or win a physical battle, too slow to cover ground and too much in need of an airfield of space to spread the ball in midfield and maintain possession.
You don’t ‘actively bypass’ something if it can be used to your advantage.

Then lose in the final because we’re knackered and inept?

Silly receuitment. One league goal at Port Vale (lucky strike for me) and we wanted him for the whole season.
Genuinely struggle to see what he is. So yep - probably £100-150k wasted on him now.

We need a massive end to this window, but I just don’t see it happening. Strap in for an awful next few months 

Got to be worth a go.
I wouldn't be sad to see Bird go. I really don't think we will miss him.

Agreed. All heroic. 2000 there even with prospect of an abandoned match but in hindsight that would have been preferable. And in this weather also - safe travels everyone

Midfielder needed more than a striker. Cannot stand hourihane and bird anymore, they are dreadful. 

More likely he’s a 31 year old player who’s being over-played   Not the only player in his 30s who struggles with the Sat/Tues routine   And then the manager blames the players for lacking intensity. 

The players are knackered. Just like last year. 
Tactically inept. Just like last year.
This year I think we will hang on to a play off spot.
 

The thing that annoys me so much is, I have no doubts that if we brought in Neil Warnock as manager, he would have this squad/team top by the end of the season.
We have the players, maybe light on 2 or 3, but there are no excuses for Warne, we should be blowing this division away.

Totally agree. I've never hated a manager as much as this t***. An absolute charlatan 

It’s a totally brainless comment from him in my opinion. Why would you do that unless you accepted that your own midfield was crap !? And if that’s so, then why not look to strengthen that as your priority!?
All the good teams build from a strong midfield - I am seriously wondering about his tactical nous. His one trick/game plan is pass it out wide and cross into the box. It’s frankly pathetic imho. 

He (along with others, especially Bird), had an absolute shocker.

Hourihane is what he is an ageing but decent enough player who will score a few goals but I don’t see what Bird does apart from the odd bit of nice play he just seems like he doesn’t want to get overly involved doesn’t score but is ok against the weaker teams 

To be honest if Joe isn’t put back in it just smacks of PW being stubborn and wanting to play the keeper he brought in on principle and nothing more …

Too many of these players stealing the cash, but really have no other ambition than short term cash for a 90 min jog around the pitch in first gear. Yep Bird and Hourihane I’m mostly talking about you idle barstewards …

'Let's not overeact' , that's half the problem it's time someone overreacted and kicked ass and kicked it b****y hard. Grrrr😠

Can’t help wondering whether he’s been unsettled by the transfer window 

That has been coming. We haven’t been convincing away for a while. The midfield issue needs addressing. On to the next one.