After three away defeats on the trot culminating in that at Reading last weekend, Alan says:
"I have had time to reflect on it and I am still very, very disappointed - similar feelings to after the Millwall game.
"It was even more disturbing that we didn't perform on the day.
"We have a young team that is getting to grips with a difficult run that we are on, especially away from home.
"We are showing good form at home and that is what we have to look to this Saturday.
"We have been inconsistent and we need to find a consistency, so we need to get a win before going to Palace on Monday.
"I have been surprised by our lack of competitiveness in the three away games - we never showed any indication of that.
"The Sunderland game I didn't think was too bad a performance - I thought both teams were poor and they just got the goal at the right time.
"If it had been us it might have been a different story up there.
"But the other two games left us found wanting, for whatever reason, and I have to make sure that when we go to Palace we have a team that will earn the right to play - and you have to say in those last two games we didn't."
As for the substitution of Marlon Harewood in the first half at the Madejski stadium, Alan explains:
"I just felt that our two wide players on the day were too wide and too open, and I wanted to narrow our midfield a little bit by bringing Adam on and pushing Nigel to the side.
"Marlon was the one who got sacrificed in that situation but by the same token I was looking for some inspiration and I wanted my team to be performing better than it was - and I felt a change was needed.
"In hindsight he knows his reaction was wrong and you have to accept those decisions - but it is hard for anyone to come off at that time as it would be for anyone - and he has been terrific for us.
"His goals have been a big plus of our season, and I might add that I have been a big fan of his.
"I have played him in a wide right position that perhaps isn't what he feels is his best position - having said that, he has taken that on and done very well with it."
Regarding his thoughts about team selection this weekend, he adds:
"I know there have been reports of me having an interview with a fanzine suggesting that Marlon would be a substitute, but I have not made that decision yet - I have not actually picked the team.
"I will mull that over after I have seen the reserves tonight, but certainly I am questioning whether to play him on that right side, and that is probably where the speculation has come from.
"If I feel the lad isn't comfortable playing there I am not going to force him to play there - as simple as that.
"He would then come into the pool of strikers and compete for a place up top.
"We needed to threaten the goal more on Saturday and I am looking at the strikers we have got, with Brian Deane waiting in the wings, and Bobby and Connolly with the shirts at the moment.
"I have shown good faith in those guys, and I still maintain that they have got a lot to offer us.
"It might well be that they get another opportunity on Saturday to do the business for us - on paper they have got everything we want.
"But with Marlon coming into that, if he we start looking for him to play up front, then he can obviously add to the equation - as well as Hutchison, who is playing tonight.
"He is still getting up to speed and him and Steve Lomas are two I am casting a careful eye over.
"Deano has been on the bench and I think he is desperate to play - maybe his chance will come over Easter."
So, is Alan glad that his return to Reading is over and done with?
"I am just very, very disappointed about the day - I really was," he says.
"I have made that clear to the players and as West Ham manager, standing on the sidelines at Reading and Millwall wasn't comfortable.
"Neither was it for our fans, and neither was it for the families of the players that represent this club.
"But it is only up to us a squad to put things right - and that is what we aim to do in the next six games."