WHAT a difference a week makes.

The performance I watched at Carrow Road after a three-hour journey was abysmal, dire, lacklustre, frustrating and anger-inducing.

Our defence looked like it would rather be elsewhere, our midfield didn’t get off the team coach, and our tactics were left behind in Berkshire.

I was livid not only with the players, but with Jaap Stam. I don’t want to take away his achievements or forget we’re still in the play-offs. However, Stam got it badly wrong on Saturday.

Or was it a blessing in disguise?

After three wins on the bounce there could have been a tad of complacency going into the remaining few games, which could prove fatal going into the play-off semi finals.

So perhaps Saturday was the perfect time for a take-a-look-at-yourself thrashing. It may also force Stam to devise a ‘plan B’ for when things aren’t going to plan.

Reading Chronicle:

Garath McCleary shows his disappointment after last weekend's 7-1 mauling at Norwich City.

 

When we went 5-0 down after 35 minutes, what Stam did was indefensible – he did nothing.

He could have stuck Yann Kermorgant in defence like we do when holding onto a lead ourselves, shut up shop until half time, then tried to change things.

On-loan Crystal Palace midfielder Jordon Mutch has his critics and I can understand why. Since his arrival, he has looked off the pace, slow and awkward. He looks shaky in central midfield.

The same can be said of Bournemouth loanee Lewis Grabban. He has been playing on the left wing for reasons nobody I know can explain.

When we signed Grabban I am in no doubt the intention was not to play him on the left wing. He was insanely successful at Norwich back in 2014 when he played as a central striker.

I don’t see Stam’s mentality on this, but Grabban’s effort also leaves a lot to be desired. He looks like he doesn’t want to play.

We should start Roy Beerens on the left against Rotherham on Monday, bring back Joey van den Berg to shore up midfield and push Liam Kelly or John Swift forward.

Tyler Blackett should be rested for his woeful defensive errors of late. Only a fool would not make significant changes now and I hope Stam agrees.

We could still drop out of the play-offs if we aren’t careful.