Leyton Orient Fans Verdict: Bad Day At The Office
The fans weren’t too happy with what they saw on Saturday afternoon at the SCL.
Up until Saturday, it had been so far so good on home turf for the Royals. A comfortable win against Wigan Athletic was followed up with another 2-0 against Charlton Athletic. Add in the Papa Pepperoni Meat Feast Trophy win against West Ham United’s under-21s and you’d forgive the fans for being in a confident mood going into the game.
However, we should know by now that there’s a reason we as a fanbase don’t feel confident very often: it’s because when we do we invariably get let down. And Saturday was no different.
It was a really poor showing, and the fans weren’t pleased at all. Here’s what they had to say about some of the big talking points...
Coniah Boyce-Clarke
Going into the game, the fans were in two minds about who should get the nod in place of Joel Pereira. Ruben Selles opted with Coniah Boyce-Clarke, but it was a difficult afternoon for him.
Moments after making a great save to keep the score to 0-0, a snapshot from outside the box went straight through him - which of course ended up being the match-winning moment.
Although Boyce-Clarke wasn’t the only problem in a flat display, moments like that will always shine the spotlight on a player unfortunately, and the youngster got a bit of flak after the game...
I think what today showed is that CBC needs a loan, probably to a league 2 club. #readingfc
— Stevie p (@stevie_p1871) September 14, 2024
CBC backers, genuinely what do you see in the lad beyond the hype he's had for the last five or so years? Needs a loan badly, and probably not EFL quality yet imho #readingfc https://t.co/5xo3wcUUZu
— Sean Mobsby (@SeanMobsby) September 14, 2024
Fans actually wanted CBC to start over Button, Selles made a big error today
— Reece Palmer (@Reeceyboi147) September 14, 2024
CBC needs a loan in a lower league to get the feel for mens football#readingfc https://t.co/0vGLvAmf9Y
CBC failed to impress today but it wasn't just him, it was the whole side today. Not good enough by all. Failed to do basics and play how we usually do. No keeper was fixing that outfield performance.
— Reading FC (@bluewhitewall) September 14, 2024
We looked like we were playing our first match in over 3 months.#ReadingFC
CBC not ready yet, if he'll ever be ready. Button to start at Bolton. Steady but nothing special, he's a better bet than CBC #readingfc
— Neil Palmer (@neilpalmerphoto) September 14, 2024
The more you see the CBC clanger, the worse it gets #readingfc
— Ben (@BenParsons89) September 14, 2024
The situation CBC is in is so unique. Any other gk his age would’ve been out on loan for at least a season. He’s hardly played any professional football and been chucked in the deep end. He should’ve done better, but he’ll know that so no need to keep battering him. #readingfc
— Joel (@Jdh72Joel) September 14, 2024
Selles doesn't tend to get much wrong these days, but CBC over Button seemed like the wrong call and so it's proved so far. Button not a great option either but no way he lets that in. Feel for CBC, but he's nowhere near ready and we've seen that before #readingfc
— George Flood (@GeorgeFlood24) September 14, 2024
Would love to know CBC minutes to mistake ratio. So predictable. Button is a solid enough league one keeper, especially as number 2, CBC is nowhere near ready and likes to remind us of that every time he pulls on the shirt. #ReadingFC
— Alex Sheppard (@Alex_Shep_Urzz) September 14, 2024
A sub-standard showing
While Boyce-Clarke’s error has got the headlines, he wasn't the only problem, not even the biggest one. Otherwise we wouldn’t have lost 1-0.
There was no fluidity, no creativity, no anything going forward. It was as flat as it’s been in a long, long time. All in all, it was just a really bad day at the office and one that we need to put behind us as soon as possible.
The fans were not happy at all with what they saw...
Such a flat display yesterday for #readingfc. Have to feel the takeover saga dragging on will eventually find it's way on the pitch. That seemed evident against Orient. A weird, disjointed, slightly half hearted performance. Hopefully just caught sleeping after the break.
— Anthony Kendrick (@AJKendrick) September 15, 2024
That was the most 0-0 game, only difference, we've made a shocking goalkeeping mistake. Both teams so poor going forwards, we couldn't string 2 passes together. Utterly painful watch that game #readingfc
— Matt Lansley #SellBeforeWeDai (@mattlansley97) September 14, 2024
Shocking football. Why are these “professionals” not RUNNING to get the ball back. 2 weeks off and look like it’s the first game of pre season. Hope Selles tells them straight how poor they were #readingfc
— Michael Kearns (@Mike_Kearns24) September 14, 2024
Very disappointing performance today. Never looked like scoring. Personally, I think Selles got it wrong with his selections. We all know CBC isn’t ready & 1st impressions of Campbell were too slow & weak. Not the end of the world! On to the next #readingfc
— Cal Miller-Reed (@milleR27H) September 14, 2024
It was a dreadful performance from everyone today, I really hope CBC doesnt take the brunt of it. Yes it was an awful error but made a great save just before it so ♂️ Still a far better option then Button. #ReadingFC
— Sam (@_Ludicolo) September 14, 2024
Properly turgid performance. A nothing game, a flat atmosphere, a goalkeeping mistake that was a bad as it was inevitable. Most frustrating was how isolated our players were in attacking positions. We need to get so much better at facing teams who come to spoil games #readingfc
— Matt Williams (@mattwilliams100) September 14, 2024
#readingfc The fortress has been breached by a poor performance
— Michael Hunter (@Michael_BHunter) September 14, 2024
Abysmal performance this afternoon. The worst for absolutely ages actually. #ReadingFC
— Milo (@MiloRoyal1871) September 14, 2024
Defeats on Selles today. Line up subs all wrong. Poor performances all over but especially Smith & Dorsett. #readingfc
— Gwb15 (@Gwb15195453) September 14, 2024
Absolutely embarrassing ‘performance’. Diabolical. #readingfc
— Jacob Potter (@pott95) September 14, 2024
Boyce-Clarke will get all the attention for his howler. Sadly it became the decisive moment although we still had plenty of time to change the outcome. Campbell missing that golden opportunity just before the hour mark summed up the performance today #ReadingFC
— Sam Spencer-Ades (@SamSpencer001) September 14, 2024
Regardless of Calamitous Bloody-Crap, it’s an appalling team performance.
— Greg Double (@Dubstep1988) September 14, 2024
Need a Selles hairdryer treatment. #readingfc
Conclusion
It’s a shame that Boyce-Clarke will and is taking most of the flak from Saturday’s game. It was a bad error, but not a match-defining moment. You don’t lost games 1-0 if the goalkeeper is the biggest problem. It’s just when a player makes a glaring mistake, particularly goalkeepers, they get the stick for it - that’s just how it works.
I think at the moment we’re a bit of a product of our environment in that we’re not going to get consistency, or anything close to it, with the club in the state it’s in.
We’ll win games, enough to be okay, because we’re a good team with good players who should be too strong for most in this league. But we’ll also have days like Saturday.
We just need to put it behind us as soon as possible. Next up, a tough trip to Bolton Wanderers.