Reading FC

Reading FC manager Brian McDermott questioned Danny Guthrie’s attitude after the Reading midfielder declined to be involved in last night’s 3-0 defeat at Sunderland
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McDermott questions Danny Guthrie's attitude

By Jonathan Low
December 12, 2012

Brian McDermott questioned Danny Guthrie’s attitude after the Reading midfielder declined to be involved in last night’s 3-0 defeat at Sunderland.

Guthrie, a summer signing from Newcastle United, was due to be part of the match-day squad, but McDermott revealed: “His head wasn’t right to travel.

“Everyone has to be going in the same direction and that’s really important for me as a group and we’ve had that over a period of time.”

Royals’ boss continued: “You have to put yourself up to be selected for each and every game, and that means every player.

“Danny Guthrie made a decision that his head wasn’t right to travel. He would have been travelling (with us). Any player has to be a part of what we’re about.

“We’re very much about the group and we can’t deviate from that. It’s not a question for tonight – it’s something we need to address in the week.

Guthrie’s absence meant Mikele Leigertwood and Jay Tabb were again the central midfield pairing at the Stadium of Light.

But they were powerless to prevent Reading crashing to their heaviest defeat of the season.

James McClean and Steven Fletcher gave Sunderland a 2-0 half-time lead and a stoppage-time goal from Stephane Sessegnon sealed Royals’ fate.

The result leaves McDermott’s men six points adrift of safety, having taken just nine from 16 games.

It was Reading’s fifth consecutive defeat and question marks will be raised over the future of the manager.

However, asked whether he feared for his job, McDermott replied: “I’ve been in football for 30-odd years now. I know this club is in a far healthier position than it was a year ago, and two and three years ago.

“I’m just disappointed with the results. I’ve been used to winning over that period and at the moment we’re not winning games,” he added.

“I know we’re in a results business and the boys have given me everything. I can’t ask too much more from them.”

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Question his breath first Bri!

Unison Matty
14/12/2012 at 10:00

@well well well - I watched it on the box, plenty of effort, just little quality, not a disgrace...just a rubbish game and we looked like we lacked confidence to play the ball.

Lester Crinklesack
13/12/2012 at 19:38

Good post big P. One of your best.

ray northstander
13/12/2012 at 09:37

@Big P

Who are you and what have you done with the real Big P!

:-)

Robsy , Reading
13/12/2012 at 09:36

Here's a sound bite.

Wally Downes has left West Ham so that he can renew his partnership with Steve Coppell at Reading.

Danny0367, Chorley, Lancashire
12/12/2012 at 21:50

Just spoken to an RFC supporter who was at the match last night. Apparently only about 100 RFC fans there.

RFC were a disgrace with no effort.

McD has created his own monster!!

well, well, well
12/12/2012 at 21:09

Cav, what about Shorey? Another, if he was not so young could be Morrison. Pearce would also be a contender, if he stays. It looks as if it's Shorey then. Who would have thought that, when he re-signed in the summer?

Forest Royal, Forest of Dean
12/12/2012 at 20:26

I'm not interested in what a wonderful job Madejski or McDermott has done previously.The past is the past, be it one day or one year. All that matters now is the next game.

There should be no room for sentiment in any industry. In football there is even less. It's a result driven business. Nothing less.

I am not calling for McDermott's head (just yet). Nothing to do with his previous achievement, but that I cannot see anybody doing any better with the players he (largely) has assembled.

TSI/Zingarevich? Well their hands are tied until January. So no real reason to have a pot at them either right now. Whether they under funded McDermott's choice of transfer acquisitions in the Summer, or that McDermott purely sourced his Christmas Turkeys too soon, we will probably never know. Again, anyway that is all history.

Fans are quite rightly venting their spleen, because lessons from 2007/8 have patently not been learnt. They/I are quite obviously angry at us literally throwing away our cherished status, without it would seem there being any commitment, leadership or hope.

Don't be fooled though, if we go down, with that squad there is literally no hope of immediately bouncing back.

So I guess the best option is to see it through to the end of the year and re-appraise the situation and the options. Yep, it might be too late for us (to retain Premiership status) by then, but the predicament we have got ourselves in offers no real realistic alternative.

(All this coming from a sceptic).

Big P, Reading
12/12/2012 at 19:24

All support should be given to McD and the team on Monday night. Based on the result/performance, maybe some venting to AZ is in order, he came into this spouting that he will take Reading to the next level, where's this cash ? Chant for Monday Anton, wheres the cash, Anton Anton where's the cash, Anton.......

Danny0367, Chorley, Lancashire
12/12/2012 at 18:19

Fair enough REDBLUFF.

TBH...whilst most fans are downhearted right now, I don't think the majority are calling for his head, or completely lost hope in the team.

The proof will be on Monday night when they play in front of the fans and what the reaction between the two are....not the reaction of the few on this website.

Chin up....there's still a chance that we can stay up and enjoy the rest of the season.

Lester Crinklesack
12/12/2012 at 18:09

There does not seem to be player to step to the plate as a captain for the side. There is alot of egos at that club need sorting out and it needs a big clear out at the end of the season.

cav007, Caversham
12/12/2012 at 18:04

The team captain needs to bang a few heads together and help get this sad situation sorted. Maybe a stronger character needs to be Captain? There's clearly unrest in the Royals camp. Goodbye Mr Guthrie if you can't be bothered; you're going to have to pull all the stops out if you eventually are selected to convince us you're as good as you think you are. Surely it would have been better to travel and then get some pitch time if / when required? Have a word with Tabby, he clearly knows something about taking his chances when they come. It's the complete lack of consistent performance which is mystifying (or not). How do we play so well against Chelsea, Everton, Newcastle and Man Utd, but switch off against our main (relegation) rivals QPR, Sunderland, Villa, and Southampton? On that basis maybe playing Arsenal next is not such a bad thing. Maybe we can contact Parky for a few tips (or better still pop him in midfield)!! Fans have been fairly patient thus far, but yet another bad performance at home at home next Monday could see some venting of negative feelings from the stands.

Uncle Buck, Reading
12/12/2012 at 17:37

REDBLUFF. For the record, I am all for McD, the guy hasn't put a foot wrong in 3 years. Now he's having "a bit of a wobble" and I'm sure he will come out the other end a better manager.

Guthrie was a huge gamble. Its causing us problems and not working out for us...(yet).

I'm sure Pog would be scoring goals if we had players that could slot it through to his feet.

We've got alot of injuries all of a sudden and for some reason the players performances have been getting worse and worse (bar man u) culminating in yesterdays shocker.

I dont doubt that the players are giving their all out there. Whatever you say, these guys are pro sportsmen and want to win. They know they are embarrasing themselves out there....

Something is going on and the fans deserve a formal statement from the club telling us what is going on and their plan for the rest of the season.

Fishlips
12/12/2012 at 17:30

Heres what the gaffer said last night after the match, same old same old...LOL

http://youtu.be/hY_2QrEitg0

Danny0367, Chorley, Lancashire
12/12/2012 at 17:07

Its a funny old game using a well known quote. In May BMcD was the saviour even god like in some quarters. Well, well, well how times change!!! I agree people pay good money to encourage success by forking out their hard earned cash to see top football at the Madejski. I am also sorry to be saying that a lot of fans are fickle and calling for BMcD' head. Come on how can he be a messiah one minute and a few months on a villain. You should be showing solidarity because last year at this time you would never have dreamed of being champions let alone promotion. It all happened in the second half of the season so lay off him and get behind him. He and the players must read these comments and it cannot be very good for morale. Just to add , yes there have been some signings which have backfired and yes the wages are pretty obsene, but that is the way of premiership football. Its no longer a "working mans" pleasure