The Reading players are on the floor as if they have just narrowly missed out on something. They're eight chuffin points off the playoffs. Get off the grass and have a word with yourselves.
We're a very strange side to play. The last few games I've seen, our press has hardly happened. Ismael hasn't been utilising the subs like he was, and rotation apart from the front 3 and Sollbauer/Sibbick hasn't happened. But we can win when we're garbage. And even when we press and defend well, our attacking play doesn't have the fluency or quality the other 3 teams have. I must admit, I don't fancy us at all. I don't know why. I think if we're going to succeed every player is going to have to be at their best and more to counter us being so wasteful with the ball. But we now enter the lottery where anything can happen. As for pressure. I don't really buy the argument with parachute payments. The authorities and the fans maybe, but the players have different pressures and it could impact us all the more being so young and this being new territory. We just don't know. Anything can happen and it likely will. It's an incredible achievement. It's not been pretty at all mind you, but credit to Ismael for doing what he's done.
I don't disagree with any of that. Who would have thought we would be having this discussion when VI took over? I'm not a Struber basher, as without him we would not have had the chance to play in the Championship, but VI is a massive upgrade. A lot of credit needs to go to Dane Murphy for his appointment & for the signing of Dike, Brittain & Morris, who have been unbelievable additions. We lacked a cutting edge up to January & now we have it in spades.
I think more than anyone, James Cryne deserves a massive amount of credit. Coming up with a data system for coaches and to the effectiveness he's managed is genius. How long we can keep that edge, I'm not sure, football is a very small pool of people many of which openly share ideas and projects. We've also lucked out beyond belief that we had no markets to sell players to, no fans to get on the backs of young players and allow Ismael to cement his style by audibly barking orders during games. None of which would have been possible if March 2020 hadn't occurred.
Wow, no pleasing some folk. It’s not been great the last few games, but overall, we’ve been great. I ‘ve really enjoyed it.