MATCHWATCH : Exeter City (h)

[Snowflake Royal]

The issue with him is that he doesn’t need to be playing. We've had a competent more experienced player on the bench for a few weeks now. So it's frustrating.

I really can't understand why Abrefa isnt getting on the pitch, or when he does why it tends to be as a forward! I could understand Craig starting over him but Rushesha? Doesn't make any sense to me

Perhaps Abrefa isn't fully fit (or likely to get injured again if he does play 60+ minutes)? He may have done a reverse-Craig and said he doesn't want to play RB?

Rushesha has been fine at right back and was being used as an outlet a lot by Pereira last night so seems to be a part of Hunt's game plan. The right side worked fine yesterday with Bodin looking a lot better than he did on Saturday - sharpness, fitness and understanding much improved.

Sounds extremely unlikely.

It's odd Rushesha coming out of nowhere to be ahead of Abrefa, but what's hard to understand is Garcia looking like a great prospect who simply isn't ready for starting first team football in an extended run, being played ahead of Abrefa who has proved competent at RB and adaptable enough to play RW, let alone LB.

I haven't been able to watch games for a while, but Garcia is getting a lot of criticism, and as much as I have to take Dellor's commentary with a massive pinch of salt, his name came up a lot with turnovers and errors.

I really think Abrefa should be starting.

Most concerning was Yiadom seeming having a dodgy cameo. But hopefully that was fitness based.

[RoyalBlue]

Official stats, 3 on target, Bodin first half cross that was going in before the keeper pushed it away, Savage and Kelvin straightforward saves and Wing late on that the keeper kept out.
I make that 4, not like it matters.

I thought the same when I saw the stats. It was at least 4 and I reckong if we were able to watch the whole game back (and really suffer) it was more likely 6. They're still shots on target even if they're pretty much hit straight at the keeper and are an easy take for him!

[morganb]

I haven't been able to watch games for a while, but Garcia is getting a lot of criticism, and as much as I have to take Dellor's commentary with a massive pinch of salt, his name came up a lot with turnovers and errors.

Last night with Garcia you weren't quite sure what you we going to get - he either did something quite good or kicked it at an Exeter player's legs/got tackled/tried to take on one too many and lost the ball. Fortunately we weren't punished as Exeter were so poor so it was probably a good game to try things in. I'm sure he's been far worse before

None of it seemed to affect his confidence, he remained positive and he kept on trying and there were a few times when what he tried to do actually came off. I guess his decision-making probably isn't quite there yet due to his age and inexperience.

[traff]

Part of the reason why attendances are dire even though we are in a play off battle is that the football on show is diabolical.

Also, the closure of Shinfield Park bus will not help the gate.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Could be the threadbare squad that leads to us struggling in weekday games that don’t leave much recovery time.

Though we also seem to fluff our lines in games that we presume should be an easier win (typically home games against the lower table). Might be that we thrive off being the underdog. Or that “weaker” teams really pick up their game against us as, despite our position, we aren’t really a top third side (which is to say our points are really hard fought for, rather than signs of being of a distinctly better team).

Never have confidence Reading will win games like this. We seem better at confounding low expectations than meeting high ones.

Ah well. Unbeaten and clean sheet and all that.

[leon]

Not sure a new owner will put up with performances like that for very long.

Sort out your tactics Hunt. And have a plan B when Wing gets nullified.

With a stronger squad they may not, but with what we currently have anyone who thinks a manager change will squeeze more out is kidding themselves.

+1

I'm acutely aware that we don't have a strong massively experienced squad.

I'm saying Wing's been less effective this season. Largely because oppositions have worked out a way to nullify him in the position that he plays. So.......think of a way to counter this. In game, if needs be.

[Hendo]

With a stronger squad they may not, but with what we currently have anyone who thinks a manager change will squeeze more out is kidding themselves.

+1

I'm acutely aware that we don't have a strong massively experienced squad.

I'm saying Wing's been less effective this season. Largely because oppositions have worked out a way to nullify him in the position that he plays. So.......think of a way to counter this. In game, if needs be.

Craig getting injured right when Yiadom is back is a bit of a blow. That would be the obvious change.

Hopefully it won't take too long for Carroll to get up to speed, as I would imagine he plays that deeper role, with Wing then able to move a bit further forward.

Also gives them the opportunity to rotate and rest Savage and Knibbs, especially if Elliot isn't too far away either.

[leon]

+1

I'm acutely aware that we don't have a strong massively experienced squad.

I'm saying Wing's been less effective this season. Largely because oppositions have worked out a way to nullify him in the position that he plays. So.......think of a way to counter this. In game, if needs be.

Craig getting injured right when Yiadom is back is a bit of a blow. That would be the obvious change.

Hopefully it won't take too long for Carroll to get up to speed, as I would imagine he plays that deeper role, with Wing then able to move a bit further forward.

Also gives them the opportunity to rotate and rest Savage and Knibbs, especially if Elliot isn't too far away either.

I think we've missed Elliot he was looking very promising before he got injured. Craig, agreed.

Can Carroll tackle? would be my first question.

[Snowflake Royal]

With a stronger squad they may not, but with what we currently have anyone who thinks a manager change will squeeze more out is kidding themselves.

+1

I'm acutely aware that we don't have a strong massively experienced squad.

I'm saying Wing's been less effective this season. Largely because oppositions have worked out a way to nullify him in the position that he plays. So.......think of a way to counter this. In game, if needs be.

It's tricky, because of the RB situation then Craig's injury. And the performances of Knibbs, Savage and Elliott further forward.

With Craig at RB or injured, there's very few options to cover that anchor role in midfield that Wing has been in.

Wing is undoubtedly more effective further forward where he can play more through balls and get more shots off.

But then if you do find someone for that deeper slot he's in to release him forward, you can only play one of Knibbs, Savage and Elliott alongside him.

Personally I think the balance has been a little wrong. With our weak flanks, I'd rather see Knibbs shifted wide and Wing paired with Elliott/Savage.

But would you want to play
Rushesha/Senga/Sackey
..........Wing.....Savage

I think that's a bigger risk than sticking.

It would be nice to have more option to put a second body upfront, but our options are limited and who do you sub off for them? The options are our top scorer in Knibbs, Wing or Savage. Not ideal.


I guess there's Carroll to sit... but how fit and good can he be?

[Hendo]

I'm acutely aware that we don't have a strong massively experienced squad.

I'm saying Wing's been less effective this season. Largely because oppositions have worked out a way to nullify him in the position that he plays. So.......think of a way to counter this. In game, if needs be.

Craig getting injured right when Yiadom is back is a bit of a blow. That would be the obvious change.

Hopefully it won't take too long for Carroll to get up to speed, as I would imagine he plays that deeper role, with Wing then able to move a bit further forward.

Also gives them the opportunity to rotate and rest Savage and Knibbs, especially if Elliot isn't too far away either.

I think we've missed Elliot he was looking very promising before he got injured. Craig, agreed.

Can Carroll tackle? would be my first question.

Yeah, agreed with that.

[leon]

+1

I'm acutely aware that we don't have a strong massively experienced squad.

I'm saying Wing's been less effective this season. Largely because oppositions have worked out a way to nullify him in the position that he plays. So.......think of a way to counter this. In game, if needs be.

It's tricky, because of the RB situation then Craig's injury. And the performances of Knibbs, Savage and Elliott further forward.

With Craig at RB or injured, there's very few options to cover that anchor role in midfield that Wing has been in.

Wing is undoubtedly more effective further forward where he can play more through balls and get more shots off.

But then if you do find someone for that deeper slot he's in to release him forward, you can only play one of Knibbs, Savage and Elliott alongside him.

Personally I think the balance has been a little wrong. With our weak flanks, I'd rather see Knibbs shifted wide and Wing paired with Elliott/Savage.

But would you want to play
Rushesha/Senga/Sackey
..........Wing.....Savage

I think that's a bigger risk than sticking.

It would be nice to have more option to put a second body upfront, but our options are limited and who do you sub off for them? The options are our top scorer in Knibbs, Wing or Savage. Not ideal.


I guess there's Carroll to sit... but how fit and good can he be?

I'd honestly say Wing isn't a deep lying midfielder especially as when he gets closed down he struggles. IF the opposition aren't pressing then yes it works, but depending on how it's going I'd consider either moving Savage back - at least he's mobile and can oppoerate the Harper style model (star jumps and pressing energy)

[Snowflake Royal]

I'm acutely aware that we don't have a strong massively experienced squad.

I'm saying Wing's been less effective this season. Largely because oppositions have worked out a way to nullify him in the position that he plays. So.......think of a way to counter this. In game, if needs be.

It's tricky, because of the RB situation then Craig's injury. And the performances of Knibbs, Savage and Elliott further forward.

With Craig at RB or injured, there's very few options to cover that anchor role in midfield that Wing has been in.

Wing is undoubtedly more effective further forward where he can play more through balls and get more shots off.

But then if you do find someone for that deeper slot he's in to release him forward, you can only play one of Knibbs, Savage and Elliott alongside him.

Personally I think the balance has been a little wrong. With our weak flanks, I'd rather see Knibbs shifted wide and Wing paired with Elliott/Savage.

But would you want to play
Rushesha/Senga/Sackey
..........Wing.....Savage

I think that's a bigger risk than sticking.

It would be nice to have more option to put a second body upfront, but our options are limited and who do you sub off for them? The options are our top scorer in Knibbs, Wing or Savage. Not ideal.


I guess there's Carroll to sit... but how fit and good can he be?

I'd honestly say Wing isn't a deep lying midfielder especially as when he gets closed down he struggles. IF the opposition aren't pressing then yes it works, but depending on how it's going I'd consider either moving Savage back - at least he's mobile and can oppoerate the Harper style model (star jumps and pressing energy)

Certainly an option.

I wonder if Wing's there because his training and fitness stats suggest he hasn't quite the legs to be more box to box and press from the front as required further forward.

Is it me, or did we tend to play more last season with one high midfielder (Knibbs) and two more tradition midfielders, versus this season we're playing a sitting midfielder and two more box to box traditional ones?

So we're strengthenin defence at the cost of attack?

[Pepe the Horseman]

Could be the threadbare squad that leads to us struggling in weekday games that don’t leave much recovery time.

Though we also seem to fluff our lines in games that we presume should be an easier win (typically home games against the lower table). Might be that we thrive off being the underdog. Or that “weaker” teams really pick up their game against us as, despite our position, we aren’t really a top third side (which is to say our points are really hard fought for, rather than signs of being of a distinctly better team).

Never have confidence Reading will win games like this. We seem better at confounding low expectations than meeting high ones.

Ah well. Unbeaten and clean sheet and all that.

Think it's also to do with weaker teams trying to stop up - doing a job on Wing/Knibbs etc, whereas the stronger teams leave us to it.

[bcubed]

I'm acutely aware that we don't have a strong massively experienced squad.

I'm saying Wing's been less effective this season. Largely because oppositions have worked out a way to nullify him in the position that he plays. So.......think of a way to counter this. In game, if needs be.

It's tricky, because of the RB situation then Craig's injury. And the performances of Knibbs, Savage and Elliott further forward.

With Craig at RB or injured, there's very few options to cover that anchor role in midfield that Wing has been in.

Wing is undoubtedly more effective further forward where he can play more through balls and get more shots off.

But then if you do find someone for that deeper slot he's in to release him forward, you can only play one of Knibbs, Savage and Elliott alongside him.

Personally I think the balance has been a little wrong. With our weak flanks, I'd rather see Knibbs shifted wide and Wing paired with Elliott/Savage.

But would you want to play
Rushesha/Senga/Sackey
..........Wing.....Savage

I think that's a bigger risk than sticking.

It would be nice to have more option to put a second body upfront, but our options are limited and who do you sub off for them? The options are our top scorer in Knibbs, Wing or Savage. Not ideal.


I guess there's Carroll to sit... but how fit and good can he be?

I'd honestly say Wing isn't a deep lying midfielder especially as when he gets closed down he struggles. IF the opposition aren't pressing then yes it works, but depending on how it's going I'd consider either moving Savage back - at least he's mobile and can oppoerate the Harper style model (star jumps and pressing energy)

Ah James Harper
What a guy
I miss those days!

[leon]

It's tricky, because of the RB situation then Craig's injury. And the performances of Knibbs, Savage and Elliott further forward.

With Craig at RB or injured, there's very few options to cover that anchor role in midfield that Wing has been in.

Wing is undoubtedly more effective further forward where he can play more through balls and get more shots off.

But then if you do find someone for that deeper slot he's in to release him forward, you can only play one of Knibbs, Savage and Elliott alongside him.

Personally I think the balance has been a little wrong. With our weak flanks, I'd rather see Knibbs shifted wide and Wing paired with Elliott/Savage.

But would you want to play
Rushesha/Senga/Sackey
..........Wing.....Savage

I think that's a bigger risk than sticking.

It would be nice to have more option to put a second body upfront, but our options are limited and who do you sub off for them? The options are our top scorer in Knibbs, Wing or Savage. Not ideal.


I guess there's Carroll to sit... but how fit and good can he be?

I'd honestly say Wing isn't a deep lying midfielder especially as when he gets closed down he struggles. IF the opposition aren't pressing then yes it works, but depending on how it's going I'd consider either moving Savage back - at least he's mobile and can oppoerate the Harper style model (star jumps and pressing energy)

Certainly an option.

I wonder if Wing's there because his training and fitness stats suggest he hasn't quite the legs to be more box to box and press from the front as required further forward.

Is it me, or did we tend to play more last season with one high midfielder (Knibbs) and two more tradition midfielders, versus this season we're playing a sitting midfielder and two more box to box traditional ones?

So we're strengthenin defence at the cost of attack?

it feels like that to an extent - although Wing could play the advanced MF role supplying the front 3