BFTG - Bolton (a)

[BenReadingFC]

Nick Blackman's first goal for Reading FC
Change quality to 720p
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12xht0_nick-blackman-s-first-goal-for-reading-fc-bolton-away-10-09-2013_sport

[Ian Royal]

Good penalty. I always worry a little about players who roll it in relying on having sent the keeper the wrong way. He got that right and knew what he was doing, but it doesn't take much to get it wrong.

[BenReadingFC]

Good penalty. I always worry a little about players who roll it in relying on having sent the keeper the wrong way. He got that right and knew what he was doing, but it doesn't take much to get it wrong.

It reminded me of Gylfi's penalty against Liverpool in the FA Cup.

[One8Seven1]

Nick Blackman's first goal for Reading FC
Change quality to 720p
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12xht0_nick-blackman-s-first-goal-for-reading-fc-bolton-away-10-09-2013_sport

That link is taking me to a rock concert.

To Blackman's credit, he was absolute dog shit in the first half but was a completely different player in the second. He held the ball up well, had a much better first touch, seemed a lot more confident and started winning balls in the air which made a big difference to us. His penalty was tidy, and I had confidence he would put it away as he was a regular penalty taker at Sheff Utd, and most of his goals actually came from pens. Hopefully that will boost his confidence now and he can push on, and fans can try a wee bit harder to get behind him. He like a number of our players are improving with every game!

[BenReadingFC]

Nick Blackman's first goal for Reading FC
Change quality to 720p
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12xht0_nick-blackman-s-first-goal-for-reading-fc-bolton-away-10-09-2013_sport

That link is taking me to a rock concert.

To Blackman's credit, he was absolute dog shit in the first half but was a completely different player in the second. He held the ball up well, had a much better first touch, seemed a lot more confident and started winning balls in the air which made a big difference to us. His penalty was tidy, and I had confidence he would put it away as he was a regular penalty taker at Sheff Utd, and most of his goals actually came from pens. Hopefully that will boost his confidence now and he can push on, and fans can try a wee bit harder to get behind him. He like a number of our players are improving with every game!

Sorry, The stupid filter obviously doesn't like his surname.(editing doesn't solve the issue) I'll delete the vid and reupload. *kin hell

[Royal91]

add 2 more players and we should def get play-offs

What areas would you say that we need strengthening in?

A striker is the main priority. Not sure what your views on the Pog are, I like him but his attitude/determination is just not there. Need a hungry Pog, with a bit more mobility. Vital we can get someone who can drop short so we can lay it into his feet!

Cover for Bridge. Kelly can play there but we would lose so much attacking threat if we don't have a left footed LB. We've missed overlaps so much over the past 3 seasons.

[NewCorkSeth]

A striker is the main priority. Not sure what your views on the Pog are, I like him but his attitude/determination is just not there. Need a hungry Pog, with a bit more mobility. Vital we can get someone who can drop short so we can lay it into his feet!

Cover for Bridge. Kelly can play there but we would lose so much attacking threat if we don't have a left footed LB. We've missed overlaps so much over the past 3 seasons.

I think a left back for the future should be our real priority!
How will we make POG hungry?

[Will95]

Good game, enjoyed the day.

Pretty much the same as Ipswich, good up until their goal, then not that good, then great after we scored. Some great saves from Bogdan stopped us winning the game, he really was top class. Bolton look a good side, coming away with a point is a very positive result.

Ref was appalling, they should have two penalties and we should have had one more, Drenthe's was a 50/50, there was contact but he was looking for it, not to mention a lot of other wrong decisions.

McCarthy - 7 - some good saves
Bridge/Morrison/Pearce - 7 - all did alright
Gunter - 6 - decent but the worst defender
Karacan - 7 - looked good, doing much better under Adkins
Guthrie - 8 - very good again
Drenthe - 8 - looks head and shoulders better than other players once again
McAnuff - 6 - meh
McCleary - 7 - put in a good shift
Blackman - 5 - Dogshit first half, much better after his goal though

Alfie - 8 - looked great after he came on, as usual better as a super sub, would have scored if not for some great Bogdan reflexes.
Robson-Kanu - 6 - still getting fit
Williams - 6 - not enough time

Fans singing for Alfie whilst he wasn't on was annoying to say the least, as was all the anti-McAnuff.

Drenthe's sister was a legend.

[Royal91]

A striker is the main priority. Not sure what your views on the Pog are, I like him but his attitude/determination is just not there. Need a hungry Pog, with a bit more mobility. Vital we can get someone who can drop short so we can lay it into his feet!

Cover for Bridge. Kelly can play there but we would lose so much attacking threat if we don't have a left footed LB. We've missed overlaps so much over the past 3 seasons.

I think a left back for the future should be our real priority!
How will we make POG hungry?

Cheeky bid for Bertrand when we get promoted.

Impossible to make Pog hungry now. Simply need a direct replacement now I feel.

[ManchesterRoyals]

add 2 more players and we should def get play-offs

What areas would you say that we need strengthening in?

A striker is the main priority. Not sure what your views on the Pog are, I like him but his attitude/determination is just not there. Need a hungry Pog, with a bit more mobility. Vital we can get someone who can drop short so we can lay it into his feet!

Cover for Bridge. Kelly can play there but we would lose so much attacking threat if we don't have a left footed LB. We've missed overlaps so much over the past 3 seasons.

I agree with all

I like Pog could be a great assist to the team because he could be awesome in the chump, but i agree his hearts not in it and he should go,maybe his prides gone and he thinks hes better than the chump. Maybe he should take a leaf out of Judge Drenthes book and knuckle down and play football where ever u are

[BenReadingFC]

Fans singing for Alfie whilst he wasn't on was annoying to say the least, as was all the anti-McAnuff.

Twats, end of.

[NewCorkSeth]

Bertrand seems a bit far reaching! Champions league medal and what-not! would love him tho!

[Will95]

Fans singing for Alfie whilst he wasn't on was annoying to say the least, as was all the anti-McAnuff.

Twats, end of.

Tbf, these are the people I go with, and they're good lads and do their best to make an atmosphere, but when they do this it does my head in and I refuse to join in. Quite often found shouting at them after the songs/shouts to give them the player a chance or announcing my love for the player they're hating on to try and even it out a little.

[BenReadingFC]

This should work.
Nick Blackman's first goal for Reading FC
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12xldq_nick-blackman-s-first-goal-for-reading-fc-bolton-away-10-09-2013_sport

[JS28ZoD]

What a great game, well worth the trip! It's a pleasure to watch your team dominate possession and bully the opposition, especially in the second half. The final piece of the jigsaw is a powerful, pacey centre forward in my opinion.

Mac - 8 solid saves, didn't put a foot wrong
Gunter - 6 some good positive runs but gave possession away cheaply at times
Bridge - 6 another generally solid performance, composed in possession. I think he might of been able to do more for the goal conceded, with Pratley getting the run on him and nodding in at the back post
Pearce - 7 solid and a real threat in the opposition box. Struggled with Ngog's pace in the first half but bossed the forwards in the second
Morro - 7 same as Pearce
Karacan - 7 pressed well with high energy throughout, reliable on the ball and didn't give anything away
Guthrie - 7 didn't grab the game by the scruff of the neck like last week, but good all round performance
McAnuff - 5 I'm a big fan of Jobi's but he struggled to get into the game today
Mcleary - 8 quiet first half but was the catalyst of our good play in the second. Regularly beating his man with the ball at his feet and in the air, pressed well, pinching the ball in good areas, created chances and was a real threat. I was disappointed to see him subbed
Drenthe - 8 MOM looked dangerous every time he got the ball, beat his man, got shots away, good deliveries into the box. He's a real talent and the special player we've lacked for a while. He'll get fitter and the goals and assists will come.
Blackman - 6 didn't really look a threat and struggled to get into the game. Very cool pen and after that he came alive and looked more dangerous. With a run of games, some goals and confidence he could become the striker we are so desperately crying out for. I'd like him to bulk up a bit and become more of a physical presence. He put himself about better in the second half though.

Alf - 6 looked lively and linked play better than last week. Missed a sitter though that would of won us the game
HRK - 6 didn't really do anything in his 5 mins on the pitch
Williams - 6 same as HRK

[JS28ZoD]

On a side note, I thought the fans that went today made a good effort, it was just a shame that there were only 600 or so of us. One day we'll become a big club and regularly sell out our away allocation, it might not be right now but either way these are exciting times!

[ManchesterRoyals]

On a side note, I thought the fans that went today made a good effort, it was just a shame that there were only 600 or so of us. One day we'll become a big club and regularly sell out our away allocation, it might not be right now but either way these are exciting times!

How much was a ticket for today?

[JS28ZoD]

On a side note, I thought the fans that went today made a good effort, it was just a shame that there were only 600 or so of us. One day we'll become a big club and regularly sell out our away allocation, it might not be right now but either way these are exciting times!

How much was a ticket for today?

£25, worth every penny.

[Royal91]

On a side note, I thought the fans that went today made a good effort, it was just a shame that there were only 600 or so of us. One day we'll become a big club and regularly sell out our away allocation, it might not be right now but either way these are exciting times!

How much was a ticket for today?

£25, worth every penny.

Definitely worth it.

The club is growing, the club has ambition and Reading is beginning to overtake the bigger clubs who won things 50 years ago. That's why we get so much abuse on twitter.

Success breads haters.

And yes as the club expands, we will get more away fans!

[WestRoyal]

What a great game, well worth the trip! It's a pleasure to watch your team dominate possession and bully the opposition, especially in the second half. The final piece of the jigsaw is a powerful, pacey centre forward in my opinion.

Mac - 8 solid saves, didn't put a foot wrong
Gunter - 6 some good positive runs but gave possession away cheaply at times
Bridge - 6 another generally solid performance, composed in possession. I think he might of been able to do more for the goal conceded, with Pratley getting the run on him and nodding in at the back post
Pearce - 7 solid and a real threat in the opposition box. Struggled with Ngog's pace in the first half but bossed the forwards in the second
Morro - 7 same as Pearce
Karacan - 7 pressed well with high energy throughout, reliable on the ball and didn't give anything away
Guthrie - 7 didn't grab the game by the scruff of the neck like last week, but good all round performance
McAnuff - 5 I'm a big fan of Jobi's but he struggled to get into the game today
Mcleary - 8 quiet first half but was the catalyst of our good play in the second. Regularly beating his man with the ball at his feet and in the air, pressed well, pinching the ball in good areas, created chances and was a real threat. I was disappointed to see him subbed
Drenthe - 8 MOM looked dangerous every time he got the ball, beat his man, got shots away, good deliveries into the box. He's a real talent and the special player we've lacked for a while. He'll get fitter and the goals and assists will come.
Blackman - 6 didn't really look a threat and struggled to get into the game. Very cool pen and after that he came alive and looked more dangerous. With a run of games, some goals and confidence he could become the striker we are so desperately crying out for. I'd like him to bulk up a bit and become more of a physical presence. He put himself about better in the second half though.

Alf - 6 looked lively and linked play better than last week. Missed a sitter though that would of won us the game
HRK - 6 didn't really do anything in his 5 mins on the pitch
Williams - 6 same as HRK

Excellent write-up JS2