A footballing lesson, but Gary is still the man for Bristol City

I'VE spent about an hour trying to think what I would write this week after the mauling at the hands of Reading on Saturday. Walking out of the ground I asked two lovely ladies and friends of mine in the Atyeo, if they would like to write this weeks column, as I knew I would struggle to be positive.

These ladies are City through and through and we actually met when I was booing a City team off the pitch at the end of a poor performance many, many years ago and they told me to support the team.

We had a few choice words (for which I later apologised), we became friends and from that day on I've never booed the team off. Don't get me wrong any one who pays their money is entitled to an opinion and that is what football is all about but what does booing the team off achieve? Nothing.

I have little doubt that Gary Johnson let all of his players know how poor they were.

Only Adriano Basso and Stern John came out of the game with any credit. Had this been a boxing match, the Ref would have stopped it long before John's consolation goal.

So how much was down to City's ineptitude and how much was down to Reading's football?

We have to learn that last season was last season and that it counts for nothing this year.

I have no idea why but time and time again this season and in particular at home we have been slow to start and have been punished and never more was that the case than against Reading.

The strong defensive display that had been evident over the past four games was gone and we could easily have been four down before half time had it not been for a couple of decent saves from Basso.

Reading were quicker all over the pitch and had a midfield which closed the ball down at every opportunity and had two strikers who are performing at the top of their game and refused to let the City defence settle.

As a football fan, the way Reading played is just how the game should be played and I take my hat off to them on what was a very good team performance.

Their short, sharp, incisive passing was impressive to watch and the speed at which they attacked caused City problems all afternoon. Reading were good but were not unplayable and we were our own worst enemies.

Once again we struggled to maintain possession of the football and unfortunately when we lost the ball with sloppy passages of play, Reading punished us.

Too many City players were off their games. The full backs had a tough afternoon and playing Brian Wilson at left back shows our lack of strength in depth. Jamie McCombe and Liam Fontaine were not at their best and got punished. It is the midfield that is causing the most concern to the majority of the fans. As has been well publicised, Lee Johnson is struggling for form and in need of a break and Marvin Elliott is some way short of the exceptional standards that he set last season. Ivan Sproule is an option as an impact player but for me does not provide enough end product and offers very little from wide right from which the strikers can feed. Michael McIndoe, like Elliott, is struggling to find last season's form and is drifting all over the pitch with little impact.

Sadly, the end result is that who ever is played up front has very little to work with and it is this which is the biggest factor behind our lack of goals, and not the lack of effort or end product from the strikers. Reading proved that playing the goal on the ground and in front of the strikers will cause problems and we have to improve the service to the strikers to get back on the scoring trail.

City should look to sign a quality ball-playing creative midfielder on loan and also look at signing a winger as a priority as we do not have enough quality at this moment.

Up front Stern John at least made Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hanneman work. Nicky Maynard is short on confidence and is finding the stronger, physical, fitter defenders of the Championship too much for him.

David Noble and Lee Trundle retained the ball when they came on and for me need to get an extended run in the side but this will be dependant on Noble staying fit

Driving home I had the local radio station on and a certain Scouse presenter read out a number of text messages from City fans calling for Gary Johnson to be sacked after the defeat, I ask you?

I cannot believe there is a City fan alive who thinks anyone else could do a better job than Gary and can only think that perhaps it's a couple of fans from the blue and white side of town, having a laugh at our expense.