jim mk2

It's not the players; it the manager. He doesn't know how to coach or set up a solid defence.

The problem of giving away late goals and conceding under the slightest pressure has been ongoing under Mowbray. Dalglish would have sorted out our defence by now.

We won't be going down so that's job done as far as Mowbray's concerned. He said in a recent interview he wanted to secure his family's future (despite already being a multi-millionaire after nearly 40 years in the game) - so, another guaranteed season at Ewood will help towards that goal. Don't raise expectations, play down fans' hopes, keep it ticking it over by not getting too high in the league and not too low, and play the long game by talking about a multi-year project. BRFC = a pension fund manager's dream.

Yes it has. In recent years foreign coaches have come in, such as at Wolves, Huddersfield, Norwich etc, with great effect. They understand the game much better than our managers. Even last night, Mowbray was out-thought by another foreign coach. He'd get more respect from the fans if he'd acknowledge we have a defensive problem. As it stands, I think his stock is rapidly going downhill. Fans were getting very frustrated at last night's game.

And if he doesn't have the money to spend can't he improve what we have with good coaching and tactics and managing the team better ? Isn't that his job?

I watched Brereton closely last night. The lad can play a bit but not with his back to goal like Danny Graham. He's big and has all the attributes but is weak physically. One Reading player literally knocked him off the ball at one stage and Brereton just fell over. His miss was unforgivable too - all he had to do was side-foot it with his left foot. Also, why does he keep fiddling with his socks ?

Really ? One maybe, when Brereton and Armstrong made a mess of a breakaway but their keeper didn't have alot to do. We had alot of possession but no cutting edge.

You're excused. I was streaming mad the long drive home. I won't do it again - not until Mowbray sorts out this team or goes. It's painful to watch. Big thing for me last night was the fans. Very quiet and have mostly given up I think. Quite a few were kicking the seats after both goals went in. Fans are getting fed up with Mowbray Reading were dire first half but played much better the 2nd thanks to Bell's gift before half time. Mowbray should have taken him off for going to sleep like that. It shows players can make stupid mistakes in this team and get away with it.

What did he say Tyrone ?

The manager of the month curse has well and truly struck again for our Tony. The thing is, he should never have won it in the first place. Because the truth of the matter is Mowbray is Hopeless. The continuing defensive frailties are beyond a joke., and he hasn't a clue how to solve the problem. Rovers won't get anywhere with him in charge, but apparently he's unsackable because he's honest, and he's a nice guy, and he's "steadied the ship", and the tea ladies all love him. In that case, shove him upstairs as director of football or Coventry / Middlesbrough liaison officer, or something, and bring in a coach who knows and understand football. Writing this very teed off after a 450 mile round trip and another abject and gut wrenching defeat that should not have happened

Just back ....... bloody hell, that was hard to take. Reading comfortably the worst side I've seen, won once since November 5, haven't scored 2 since the Second World War yet we still managed to gift them a win. Rovers fans at the match very quiet. They've given up and lost heart, and I don't blame them Reading fans couldn't believe their luck, they never expected to win. One or two observations: Brereton actually played well but for a big strapping lad he's soft as mush. He'll never score many goals because he's not brave enough. Travis had a good 1st half but got steadily worse. Rothwell showed what the team desperately needs - pace and direct running I do not enjoy watching this team. It's too easy to beat and at least 4 of tonight's starting XI aren't good enough for this division. The club will go nowhere under Mowbray

450 mile round trip for that Mowbray out

Brereton playing well in link up play but no goal threat. Is he prepared to get where it hurts?

If we don't win this Mowbray has questions to answer. Reading are probably the poorest team I've seen this season

Reading fans here can't believe their luck they're a poor poor team and they're beating us

Reading haven't had one attack of note and we hand them a goal. This is a soft side Rovers fans here seem resigned to defeat mowbray out

Big test tonight - I'm looking for a reaction after 2 lamentable defeats. No doubt Tinkerman Tony will be moving his chess pieces around throughout the game but it will be the attitude of the players that will be most important, a bit of pride and passion in the performance.

Bristol City won again. They're on a fantastic run yet they looked nothing spectacular on Saturday, just well drilled and organised and solid in defence. Why can't Mowbray set up Rovers in the same way?

RIP Gordon Banks. Lovely man, gentleman footballer, like Ronnie. The present generation wouldn't understand.

Don't know why and have no enthusiasm whatsoever after the debacles in the last 2 matches but took the decision to attend some time ago and will make the long journey. Hope it's better than the last time at Reading 2 years ago in the relegation season when Rovers looked like they couldn't be bothered, particularly Steele in goal. We' re very unlikely to make the playoffs so Mowbray ought to pick his best players in an attacking line-up and tell the them to go out and enjoy themselves. Worked for Matt Busby and would be better than Mowbray's daft formations and tactical mis-steps that confuse players and fans alike. It won't happen though. Reading 1 Rovers 0

People saying the Championship is better than the PL is sour grapes because we are not in Burnley's league (literally) at the moment - I'd love is to be up there again dining at the top table with the best best teams, giving them a the occasional tweak on the nose and with the whole world watching. The Championship is for losers and also-rans.

Their stadium is irrelevant. Burnley won't go down and have been playing in Europe this season after finishing 7th last year. If you think we're in a better place financially, in the boardroom and on the pitch than them you need to open your eyes.

The fact Mowbray is able to keep spinning his long term plan line also means he is probably under no pressure at Ewood to achieve promotion - or in fact achieve anything at all. It could well be he and his superiors (?) are happy to bumble along in this league in their well paid jobs while at the same time keeping the owners happy by telling them it will all come right in the end. That's today's conspiracy theory anyway. What cannot be denied is that this team is worse than the one under Bowyer yet with better management than Mowbray's might still be in the top 6 and that from the outside there appears to be a clear lack of ambition - eg, the lack of activity in the January window when we were well placed to have a shot at the top 6. Watching Burnley demolish Brighton on MotD last night was heart breaking really. That could and should be us. It's horrible to say it but Burnley are a brilliantly run club with an excellent manager and a fine example of what we should be aiming for

High expectations and spending means risk and puts his job on the line. Mowbray's probably on his last decent job - he's going to spin it out as long as possible. I don't know how much he is on but if he can spin a line about "consolidating" and "slow but sure progress" then he should eke out another 2 seasons and boost his bank balance by £x million. Cynical view but this is football

Yep, a tipping point. Downwards