BFTG - Rotherham - Sponsored by Steve Evans Big White shirt

[ZacNaloen]

Thought both full backs played well and Gunts could have scored if he hadn't completely shat himself when he got into Rotherham's box.

I really want Akpan to do well, but he can't tackle and he looks so uncomfortable on the ball it's unreal. If Williams can stay fit it'll make a huge difference in performances and results.

But Williams needs to hit the weights, got shoved off the ball too easily on a couple of occasions.

Luckily looks like he hasn't forgotten how to play football though, so that's good news.

[Sanguine]

Compared to Cox's more clinical finishing, which now stands at 7 goals from 25 shots, Murray's last 9 starts have seen him average over 10 shots per goal!

Please don't become one of those guys, because you're a good poster. We don't need daily updates on Murray's goals to shots ratio. Most important thing is that his partnership with Cox looks a very good one, and he is a step up on Pog as a strong 'target man' striker.

Impressed last night, and Adkins should get some credit for changing the team and getting a result.

Ferdinand looks an obvious class above our other defenders - just a shame he looks barely fit to play. One everything in the air for the first 30 minutes and a few classy passes out of defence.

As already said, having Williams back in the side seemed to make our midfield more solid; Danny and Norwood are both so comfortable with the ball at their feet that we actually looked in control in the middle of the park. Mackie was outstanding, Cox's finishing was brilliant - haven't seen a replay of his second yet, but it looked top quality from a few rows up in the West.

Kelly slotted straight back into the team and was comfortable, and captain Gunts a bit of a revelation at left-back.

All in all a good, solid performance and a welcome three points. Rotherham were poor though - how has that team won 4 games this season?

Their assistant manager was hilarious. As was Akpan when he came on - he missed his first three tackles by a yard. He's clearly got 'it', as his subsequent passing and running told, and he's quick too. But he doesn't seem to have much of a football brain.

[Sanguine]

Thought both full backs played well and Gunts could have scored if he hadn't completely shat himself when he got into Rotherham's box.

I really want Akpan to do well, but he can't tackle and he looks so uncomfortable on the ball it's unreal. If Williams can stay fit it'll make a huge difference in performances and results.

But Williams needs to hit the weights, got shoved off the ball too easily on a couple of occasions.

Luckily looks like he hasn't forgotten how to play football though, so that's good news.

Might have been imagining it, but a lot of the team looked slimmed down. Pearce looked skinny, Williams and Kelly too. And Cox has definitely lost weight since he joined.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Thought both full backs played well and Gunts could have scored if he hadn't completely shat himself when he got into Rotherham's box.

I really want Akpan to do well, but he can't tackle and he looks so uncomfortable on the ball it's unreal. If Williams can stay fit it'll make a huge difference in performances and results.

But Williams needs to hit the weights, got shoved off the ball too easily on a couple of occasions.

Luckily looks like he hasn't forgotten how to play football though, so that's good news.

He'd still beat fcuk out of you.

[ZacNaloen]

Thought both full backs played well and Gunts could have scored if he hadn't completely shat himself when he got into Rotherham's box.

I really want Akpan to do well, but he can't tackle and he looks so uncomfortable on the ball it's unreal. If Williams can stay fit it'll make a huge difference in performances and results.

But Williams needs to hit the weights, got shoved off the ball too easily on a couple of occasions.

Luckily looks like he hasn't forgotten how to play football though, so that's good news.

He'd still beat fcuk out of you.

That's cos I'm a oxf*rd pussy.

[ZacNaloen]

Might have been imagining it, but a lot of the team looked slimmed down. Pearce looked skinny, Williams and Kelly too. And Cox has definitely lost weight since he joined.[/quote]


Hal looks half the size he was as well, suspect they've gone for promoting lean muscle over power in the training regime.

[Royal Rother]

Murray was a constant thorn in the opposition's defence but he commits so many niggling and unnecessary fouls which gift the ball back to the other team.

What with Roberts and Pog we've had a lot of that in recent years. Irritating as hell.

[Hendo]

Most of it has been said already on this thread but it was a much better performance last night.

Looked like we controlled the midfield when it was Williams and Norwood.

Cox and Mackie both top draw tonight, in their general play and their goals.

Federici actually came for a few crosses and commanded his box much better IMO, although the ironic cheers when he did this drew a from me.

A special mention has to go to the nob who sits behind me. "Obita clearly isn't a natural left winger, he has not got the pace" ........

[Sanguine]

Tbf Obita can have games where it looks that way. He didn't take on his full-back much last night. Tony Rougier was devastatingly quick, he just rarely used it. McCleary (isn't he a sub-11 seconds runner?) rarely looks lightning quick either.

[ZacNaloen]

I thought Obita was actually very good on the wing, and used our left wing a lot more than we have been. He must have put his fair share of crosses in.

he's much better when using another player to create space so he can use his pace to get in behind rather than tricks though.

[PieEater]

A special mention has to go to the nob who sits behind me. "Obita clearly isn't a natural left winger, he has not got the pace" ........

I'd say he's got decent pace, just not the magical ball skills to drop a shoulder and skin the defender.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Tbf, Frazer Richardson is a very decent player at this level, so Obita was never gonna have an easy night.

[Zana Badawi]

I really want Akpan to do well, but he can't tackle and he looks so uncomfortable on the ball it's unreal. If Williams can stay fit it'll make a huge difference in performances and results.

Agree with both these statements.
I really don't know what Akpan's best position is supposed to be tbh. If Williams can stay fit, he is going to become surplus.

[GH Royal]

Last night was probably the best overall 90 minutes I've seen from us this season -

Cox's finishing was superb and his work rate and grit is great to see, something the fans can relate to and feel lifted by. Particularly enjoyed his second goal which looked great from where I was, haven't seen the replay yet though.
Gunter looked suprisingly comfortable on the left and I think he may have actually got more decent balls into the box by playing on that side than he does when on the right, wish he would have taken a shot when he found himself in the box after a really good run instead of shitting himself and trying to square it.
Murray's hold up play was spot on, you could tell he was getting frustrated that he hadn't score yet though but unfortunately wasn't finding any real clear cut chances and was exhausted by the end of the match. Should have done better with the cross into him which he then done a few keepy-uppys trying to control it and ran out of time.
Ferdinand had a great 45 minutes, looked really assured considering he hasnt played for so long and was basically still injured, hope he's not out for too long.
Williams looked decent, him and Norwood compliment eachother well but took them a 15 mins or so to get a good understanding. Great seeing him back though, really drives the team on and a fan favourite, hopefully we can keep him fit but he looked good for the 70 mins he played.
Think Kelly deserves a mentioned for adding a calming presence defensively and allowed Mackie to terrorise down the wing as he usually does. End product from Mackie which was great to see as well.

All in all I thought it was a good game, will really help the players confidence aswell. Also, even though quite a bit of the play was remiscent of hoofball and wing play we did see glimpes of Adkins style, especially for the first goal where there was a number of passes and patient possession all over the pitch before getting to Mackie.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Murray did brilliantly for the first goal. Dropped deep, nice touch, then knocked it out wide. If there's a link to the goals out there, please can someone stick it on here? Ta x

[melonhead]

decent game, terrible atmosphere, really good goals.
what a difference a midfield and a defence makes

Feds. 7 one decent save
gunts 7 looked more comfortable at back, decent going forward
kelly 7.5 solid.
pearce. 7 assured
Ferdinand 7.5 proper defender while he lasted.
williams 7 kept things ticking over good energy, broke up play and some good simple passing
Norwood 7 Usual stuff. good passing, and great energy
Obita 7 much better on the wing, and worked well with gunts
Cox 8 two great goals.
Mackie. 8 gr8 energy AND end product
Murray 7. worked hard, and held up/flicked on well

Hector. 6 decent enough when he came on, did nothing wrong
Akpan. 6 same

[GH Royal]

Who are those adolescent twats three rows from the back of Y25. The one with the ginger guy and his friends who looked about 16 but acted about 10.

They cared more about the arsenal score than reading.

Utter cuuuunts

They are directly infront of me, and everygame I wonder why they bother coming as they rarely look interested, constantly on their phones and add nothing to the atmosphere.. Might aswell be cardboard cutouts.

[Martin41]

Who are those adolescent twats three rows from the back of Y25. The one with the ginger guy and his friends who looked about 16 but acted about 10.

They cared more about the arsenal score than reading.

Utter cuuuunts

They are directly infront of me, and everygame I wonder why they bother coming as they rarely look interested, constantly on their phones and add nothing to the atmosphere.. Might aswell be cardboard cutouts.

Maybe you should have a word with them on sat.....

[Royalwaster]

Link to goals here:

http://www.goalsaim.com/reading-vs-roth ... mpionship/

All 3 are quality finishes - the third by Cox is probably cream of the crop, stunning ...

[Schards#2]

Much improved performance that augers well for the rest of the season. As players return from injury, the likes of Kuhl, Taylor, Edwards, Tanner etc can take a step back but will have benefitted from the first team experience. With the addition of Williams and with Obita pushed forward, we looked a far more balanced and potent attacking force and could easily have scored 5-6 despite not turning up for 30 minutes. The defence is still a concern but if Ferdinand could get and stay fit I'm sure he'd improve it as he's likely to be solid at this level and bring some lacking experience.

15 goals in the last 6 home games, if we can tighten the defence up (which is an easier job than finding a way of scoring) and take the game to teams more away from home, there are potentially good times ahead. Interesting to note that Williams, Cox, Murray, Ferdinand and Mackie, all Adkins signings, all looked the part last night. Maybe 'fans' should stop moaning, start coming to games and get behind the manager and team as we come out of a period of uncertainty, rebuilding and injury problems and look to kick on with a decent squad. I've not been to many away games this season but at home it's entertaining, exciting football with lots of goals from a team that appears united and committed, what's not to like?