marbelladave Posted 26 October 2009 Posted 26 October 2009 Just got home, the Madejski about a 30 minute drive for me. Defense as a unit was poor, McGivern started really badly but sharpened up somewhat as the game went on. Brown is as inept on the floor as he is commanding in the air and the whole back 4 played hoofball for the entire first half. Distribution improved somewhat after the break but our passing game was simply not present tonight. Oakley hit his best corner of the season and Waghorn glanced it in, in isolation it was pretty damn good but otherwise our attack, particularly Fryatt was a long way off the pace. Second half was more of the same, though encouragingly we were more solid in midfield and defense. Bringing on Howard and Campbell changed little except to give Campbell the chance to exercise the linesman and Howard the chance to.......err......do very little. Gallagher stayed left side for much of the game, a cunning plan to limit his effectivenes, Waghorn and Fryatt (and later Howard and Campbell) were poorly served by ball played in mainly from deep positions. When, on a few occasions they were played in with balls to feet both Waghorn and Fryatt looked likely to score but Fryatt could not beat the keeper on a couple well constructed 1 on 1's. It was difficult to work out any kind of a game plan for us tonight, a decent goal from a set piece (have not said that for a while) gave us a win we barely deserved, in a performance that lacked cohesion and purpose. :dunno: Mediocre performance and 3 points, continue like this and we are promotion candidates, scary. :cry:
caz123 Posted 26 October 2009 Posted 26 October 2009 Oakley might not do corners especially well generally but it was his cross which Waghorn steered into the corner of the net for our winner.
Raj Posted 26 October 2009 Posted 26 October 2009 :dunno: Mediocre performance and 3 points, continue like this and we are promotion candidates, scary. :cry: Imagine us in the Premier League??? It'd be fcuking scary!!! Mind you look at the likes of Stoke and what a good start Burnley have made and you never know!!
DJ Barry Hammond Posted 26 October 2009 Posted 26 October 2009 We'd sussed them out after 15 and played at their level for most of the first half and soaked up the attacks nicely. We then hit them on the break having threatened in spells earlier and scored. The perfect away performance in the first 45. One clear cut chance, one goal.Were it not for miss-a-lot, greedy Fryatt we'd have been 3-0 up by 60. We backed off as we knew they couldn't hit a barn door from 2 yards and continued to play in 1st gear. The game fizzled out into nothing and were it not for Howard missing a sitter at the end we could have scored 4. I don't care if Reading had 80+% of the ball, we used it better but could and should have taken the chances more clinically. Fans like you annoy me, and most tend to support Manchester Utd. To see the game through such rose tinted specticles is un-believable. We sussed them out and played at their level? Well clearly we didn't because we kept giving them decent scoring chances, and couldn't pass the ball for toffee. We backed off? Most of Readings chances were created by them through neat play - the one thing they were lacking was someone like a Fryatt, who would actually take a chance. (possibly bad example consider his two misses, but had he been given Church's chances I could have seen him grabbing 2 or even 3) Ok, three points and 5th in the league is great, but if we're not performing to 5th in the table standard consistently then we are just flattering to decive. Personally, I want a team and performance to be proud of, whether that be through a battling well earned victory or a wonderful attacking and pacey display, and unfortunately that performance didn't cut the mustard, and one i have seen too many times before on the TV. (Crystal Palace at home, Barry Hayles' backside in the 90th minute comes to mind)
Bert Posted 26 October 2009 Posted 26 October 2009 We'd sussed them out after 15 and played at their level for most of the first half and soaked up the attacks nicely. We then hit them on the break having threatened in spells earlier and scored. The perfect away performance in the first 45. One clear cut chance, one goal.Were it not for miss-a-lot, greedy Fryatt we'd have been 3-0 up by 60. We backed off as we knew they couldn't hit a barn door from 2 yards and continued to play in 1st gear. The game fizzled out into nothing and were it not for Howard missing a sitter at the end we could have scored 4. I don't care if Reading had 80+% of the ball, we used it better but could and should have taken the chances more clinically. Up the tempo Friday against QPR and aspire to be more clinical in the final third and we will win the game there as well. I don't see why everyone should be moaning about tonight. Great away performance. In Fryatt's defence, the greasy surface didn't really help too much. We played well on the counter tonight, we knew that they wanted to come out all guns blazing and we knew that if they did this, they'd leave holes for us at the back and although we were under pressure for most of the game our game plan which could've easily failed, worked a treat. Typically, we'd have lost tonight and they would've got their first win of the season at home, but with some solid defending (at times), their inability to score, and some decent counter attacking football I'm delighted with the win.
Lisburn Fox Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Not very good but 3 points all the same, the positive has got to be the fact that playing that poorly, we would have lost this game in days gone bye; but we didn't, agree that Mcgivern, Niellson scared me and King did nothing, I thought Howard did OK when he came on, Reading shows what happens when you change the team too much to often. So Nigel will have to work over the next 3 days to get the same (ish) team ready for Friday. I will here gloves to save on the nails.
Soar Fox Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Fans like you annoy me, and most tend to support Manchester Utd. To see the game through such rose tinted specticles is un-believable. We sussed them out and played at their level? Well clearly we didn't because we kept giving them decent scoring chances, and couldn't pass the ball for toffee. We backed off? Most of Readings chances were created by them through neat play - the one thing they were lacking was someone like a Fryatt, who would actually take a chance. (possibly bad example consider his two misses, but had he been given Church's chances I could have seen him grabbing 2 or even 3) Ok, three points and 5th in the league is great, but if we're not performing to 5th in the table standard consistently then we are just flattering to decive. Personally, I want a team and performance to be proud of, whether that be through a battling well earned victory or a wonderful attacking and pacey display, and unfortunately that performance didn't cut the mustard, and one i have seen too many times before on the TV. (Crystal Palace at home, Barry Hayles' backside in the 90th minute comes to mind) Fans like you annoy me. We didn't play well, we didn't take most of are chances, but the most important things is we came away with 3 points without playing well. I remember back in the 2002/03 season when we went to Brighton on a cold friday night played awfull but won 1-0 them kind of performances show character. A couple of years ago we would have lost this type of game.
Guest Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 That second one on one with Fryatt and their keeper, in all honesty there was no way he was getting to that so I'm a little perplexed as to some of the comments on here. Okay the first one he probably should have done better with but there we go.
Koke Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Could we please be a bit more entertaining when the whole nation is watching. Couple of Sheffield Wednesday fans texted me to say how horrifically boring we are. Happy with the 3 points - we used to be on the receiving end of those kinda result in the past. Reading are Leicester of 07/08. Can't defend, and can't score.
Guest Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Could we please be a bit more entertaining when the whole nation is watching. Couple of Sheffield Wednesday fans texted me to say how horrifically boring we are. Happy with the 3 points - we used to be on the receiving end of those kinda result in the past. Reading are Leicester of 07/08. Can't defend, and can't score. I think it's a cunning plan, play rubbish when we're on national media thereby avoiding any interest in our players from other clubs and duping the following clubs into a false sense of security that they can walk all over us before we really turn it on. Classic hustling.
DJ Barry Hammond Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Could we please be a bit more entertaining when the whole nation is watching. Couple of Sheffield Wednesday fans texted me to say how horrifically boring we are. Happy with the 3 points - we used to be on the receiving end of those kinda result in the past. Reading are Leicester of 07/08. Can't defend, and can't score. Chris Coleman was more entertaining than us and he looked in a massive grump! One highlight for me was during the half time. Did anyone else see the kid in the background find the top corner - what an effort! - sign him up reading
Thracian Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Babs. King breaks up so many attacks and nearly always passes to a player with some time and space. Oakley was the weak link tonight in midfield. I've heard that said several times in the pub too. Our team might have had an iffy half-hour - and our midfield might have been partly responsible for that - but in the end they squeezed the life out of Reading to the point where they virtually surrendered. In the end we had the sight of a Reading player nearly tripping over himself and the ball as he ran it out of play with no-one in sight. Then there was a free kick which they rolled across field into nothing but open space and almost out of play before a home player realised he could just about race back and catch it. It was the definition of frustration because Reading had ran out of ideas and didn't know what to do next. As I mentioned earlier we soaked them up and with a little more composure - along with some pace on the wing - we might easily have scored again because the gaps in their defence just grew wider. Last time I saw a City team at Reading the 2-0 defeat bore no reflection on the degree to which City were destroyed with barely a whimper. Tonight I think we deserved some credit for losing an early skirmish or two but winning the battle emphatically. No it wasn't pretty but we had chances and might easily have scored from three to six goals taking account of Waghorn' winner, Fryatt's two mischips, Gallagher's curling snapshot which wasn't far wide, the similar effort by King and Howard's cross-shot which shaved a post.
FilboFox Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Why are people rating Brown so highly for this match in the ratings? He made some excellent tackles and headers yes, but at times he made massive blunders that could easily have cost us a goal or two against more competent attackers!
Smudge Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 We were driving South from Boston today and all I could do was to check how the game was going was to read the Sky Sports "commentary" from time to time. My misses read out your comments as I drove. She doesn't swear so hearing hear say "Fook me what a load of shoite" had me chuckling for many a mile.
Thracian Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Why are people rating Brown so highly for this match in the ratings? He made some excellent tackles and headers yes, but at times he made massive blunders that could easily have cost us a goal or two against more competent attackers! Maybe because the mistakes didn't cost goals and the blocks/interceptions might well have saved goals. The kindest thing you can say about Brown's finesse as a footballer is that he's agri-cultured. But he is always a presence when the muck and bullets are flying and that mattered a lot today. Pearson may be frustrating as a managerial stylist but he does fill his team with people who can stick with a disciplined battle plan and not go their own way when they find themselves exposed and under pressure. Brown epitomises this.
Ozwin Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Brown is a strange player, one match he'll be unbeatable, the next he'll be crap qne then the next he'll be amazing again. He's one of the best defenders we've had in years though tbf so I can hardly complain. Good to see ex players like Gareth McAuley where they belong though.
Bert Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Brown is a strange player, one match he'll be unbeatable, the next he'll be crap qne then the next he'll be amazing again.He's one of the best defenders we've had in years though tbf so I can hardly complain. Good to see ex players like Gareth McAuley where they belong though. The thing is, most people thought McAuley was awesome and such a massive loss. I wouldn't choose him ahead of any of our 4 central defenders that we currently have.
lildave3 Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Bloody glorious. They were absolutely shit tbh, shaky at the back and couldn't finish their dinner. Could have easily been down by 3 at half time, their finishing was fucking woeful, and Weale(son) made a class save. Not too fond of McGivern, much rather have Bruno back in on friday. Brown and Hobbs were decent, Neilson was...better than usual. Wellens was beautiful at times, Waghorn was class and Fryatt was shit. Liked DJ when he came on, decent movement and pressured the defenders, just needs that bit of luck I guess. And Steve was exactly what we needed at that stage of the game, did everything wonderfully. Had quite a good time actually, more standing than expected, better atmosphere than I expected and a decent game. I will take a season of wins like that
Ozwin Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 The thing is, most people thought McAuley was awesome and such a massive loss. I wouldn't choose him ahead of any of our 4 central defenders that we currently have. I never rated him too highly personally, he always came across a bit of a bellend and it was proven when he left the second we got relegated. He did alright and I liked the fact we gave someone from a lower league a chance but at the end of the day he didn't set the world alight. I did like Kisnorbo though.
Koke Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 For a freebie McAuley was actually pretty decent for us. And we got a £1.6m profit on him - can't complain with that. Never quite understood what Jim Magilton saw in him.
Koke Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Boom boom boom now let me hear you say Waghorn I say boom boom boom now everybody say Waghorn I say boom boom boom now let me hear you say Waghorn I say boom boom boom now everybody say Waghorn
syston_fox Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Not sure how we got away with that but will take it. Very enjoyable night considering but I think we owe Readings strikers one for that as it could easily have been a rout if they could hit a barn door. Rasiak's miss in particular was a thing of beauty even if it did clip McGiverns heel.
Edmund Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 And Steve was exactly what we needed at that stage of the game, did everything wonderfully. Agreed. They resulted in fouling him at every opportunity as they just couldn't handle him. I thought that last effort was heading in from him. Not sure how we got away with that but will take it. Very enjoyable night considering but I think we owe Readings strikers one for that as it could easily have been a rout if they could hit a barn door. Rasiak's miss in particular was a thing of beauty even if it did clip McGiverns heel. Yep still don't know how we won that. Was a very painful game to watch but glad for once it's not us on the receiving end.
lildave3 Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 Agreed. They resulted in fouling him at every opportunity as they just couldn't handle him. I thought that last effort was heading in from him. So did some guy behind us! He was celebrating and jumped down a row Ended up people getting shoved over, I banged my shin on the seats, absolutely killed. Wouldn't have minded if it'd have actually gone in!
Raj Posted 27 October 2009 Posted 27 October 2009 So did some guy behind us! He was celebrating and jumped down a row Ended up people getting shoved over, I banged my shin on the seats, absolutely killed. Wouldn't have minded if it'd have actually gone in! Missed again then did he??? Good Olde' Steve......
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