(not yet) BFTG: Watford (H)

[DaveBanana]

5 points from 9 isn't awful, especially against such (expected to be) strong opposition - against Bolton I felt we were more likely to win, and the first half today sounds like we were unplayable. Obviously promotion is the target, but given how appalling we were for large parts of last season, the way we're currently playing is really exciting.

[sandman]

Can people stop saying Guthrie was unlucky for the penalty? He admitted himself that it was a foul.

[winchester_royal]

First half - Tactically Nigel did Zola
Second half - Tactically Zola did Nigel

Good game though, and real signs throughout the match that we have something pretty special building here. Thought Blackman was excellent first half but unfortunately tired and finished the game very weakly, highlighting the need for another striker if Pog is off. The midfield 2 of Guth and Karacan were fantastic.

Watford play a very different system, and have some quality players. A point against them is not a bad one....but it certainly feels like it tonight.

[W&E Royal]

Who's the bloke who sits behind me in the replica shirt, RFC beanie hat and scarf who shouts off, off, off ALL the time when ever there is any kind of foul. To quote Noel Gallagher, If I had a gun......

I have a headache because of him. Anyway.

McCarthy's kicking is woeful.
Fullbacks were ok today, spec Bridge who is getting better and better.
Centre backs shouldn't play with each other, Mariappa back in or a new one please, look how comfortableon the ball Watfords No.4 was.
Jem was great today. Guthrie loves not working for Brian McDermott.
Drenthe has got the best first touch of any Reading player I've ever seen.
Blackman I'm not sure about, did some good hold up play but we won't get promoted with him in our starting 11 every week.
Alfie, great goal but missed two chances.
Jobi was good in the first half i thought and the subs were meh apart from Williams who I lilke, who doesn't like a German, we should sign more.

But it was the best game at the Madejski for years, first half was a excellent example of second division football. Loved it, shame there wasn't a winner (for us).

On a side note, imagine this team with Long, Gylfi and Khizanishvili in it.

[Will95]

I think the trip to Vicarage Park this year could easily be the toughest game we face this season.

Also, fair play to bringing 3460 fans, we won't take much over 1000 there even if we're doing well!

[Readallaboutit]

I thought he was good defensively and did well against their winger, despite him having no help whatsoever. He got forward a lot and I just generally think he was worthy of an 8. He was certainly our bets defender today

Absolutely not! Karacan ran his nuts off covering and helping out Gunter today. How can you say Gunter had no help?!
Watford played with wingbacks today and hence Gunter should not have required help from Karacan as much as he did.

[Royal Ginger]

I think the trip to Vicarage Park this year could easily be the toughest game we face this season.

Also, fair play to bringing 3460 fans, we won't take much over 1000 there even if we're doing well!

Decent bunch too. Nothing against Watford fans, shame their owners are cheaters (morally speaking).

[Will95]

I think the trip to Vicarage Park this year could easily be the toughest game we face this season.

Also, fair play to bringing 3460 fans, we won't take much over 1000 there even if we're doing well!

Decent bunch too. Nothing against Watford fans, shame their owners are cheaters (morally speaking).

There were some oxf*rd in the crowd to be fair, but then again these 20 or so stick out because the decent ones are quiet so you don't notice them so much!

[Cureton's Volley]

Nothing against Watford fans

Dunno, they had a fair few idiots getting thrown out for fun.

[sandman]

Two of the most inoffensive fan bases in the country actually managed to make a close to half decent atmosphere which was probably more to do with what was going on on the pitch tbh. LOL at the Watford fans acting the hard men towards the west stand. Even the prawn sandwich brigade wouldn't be afraid of Watford fans.

[chilipepper91]

First half we were very good, getting the ball forward and creating good chances. Great finish from ALF and a well-worked set-piece falling to Jem to finish.

Their back 3 played into our hands, as we regularly tried to knock in behind their LM to Le Fondre, and he had a one-on-one you'd have put the house on him scoring - he fired straight at Almunia. Good tactics and we looked comfortable.

Second half, I just can't understand. We looked to have no shape, and no out ball. They were continually pounding it down their left/our right, and Gunter was overloaded. I've been critical of him as he's suspect defensively, but he got next to no help from whoever was meant to be on that flank (possibly Karacan?). If it was Kara, we should have looked to bring on McCleary much quicker, or put McAnuff out there, because it was just too easy for them to overload us on the left.

The front three were becoming far too isolated from the other players and Watford mopped it up far too easily. Blackman held the ball up well, but he always takes one too many touches and can't attack effectively enough to justify selection for me. Meanwhile they were flooding forward and we just couldn't contain them, players didn't seem sure of their positions. HRK still doesn't look fit and Drenthe (so shoot me) was far too anonymous. Even the normally industrious Jobi hardly saw the ball.

I think the players are still adapting to Adkins too. A couple of times we had great chances to counter but eventually we slowed it up and tried to pass it around again. But we couldn't cope with the pressure and Watford won the ball back.

I'm deflated because at 2-0, at 3-1, and - honestly - at 3-2 I thought we should have seen the game out. For all we look good in attack, we're very suspect defensively - something which in 2011/12 was our real strength. It's all good flicking the ball around when we have time and space, but when the pressure is there and we need calmness and (dare I say it) direct counter-attacks, there just doesn't seem to be a plan B.

[windermere_royal]

9 games so far (including friendlies) and no clean sheets. sorry not at the game today because I`m travelling away on me holidays. so do we need new faces at the back?

[Royal Ginger]

9 games so far (including friendlies) and no clean sheets. sorry not at the game today because I`m travelling away on me holidays. so do we need new faces at the back?

We need Mariappa and Kelly back.

[blueroyals]

TBF the Southampton fans are always telling me to not expect any clean sheets under Adkins

[NewCorkSeth]

9 games so far (including friendlies) and no clean sheets. sorry not at the game today because I`m travelling away on me holidays. so do we need new faces at the back?

We need Mariappa and Kelly back.

I honest to god agree with this.. Maybe a sneaky defensive signing would go down well tho!

[Royal91]

Should of won and I'm completely pissed off at Adkins for late substitutions.

Split them a new arsehole first half and we were comfortable up until 5 mins before they scored. Everyone in the crowd knew Watford were gaining momentum and turning the match (Swamping Karacan/Guthire). Karacan and McAnuff should have been taken off much sooner.

Williams must must must start instead of Karacan!!
McAnuff slightly better (only because of Watford) then completely shit 2nd half. He's to slow on the ball, decision making is shit and his crossing is oxf*rd!!!


Get a ST in and we will come top 6 easily!

[Royal91]

9 games so far (including friendlies) and no clean sheets. sorry not at the game today because I`m travelling away on me holidays. so do we need new faces at the back?

We need Mariappa and Kelly back.

I honest to god agree with this.. Maybe a sneaky defensive signing would go down well tho!

Agreed Kelly can still get forward a sufficient amount, but is far better at defending. It's not like Gunter is going to be like Dani Alves getting loads of assists and making us that more dynamic in the final 3rd. Gunter gets sucked in and is positionally shocking.

Mariappa should come in and although Pearce and Morrinson are getting better, mariappa is needed for the pace.

[winchester_royal]

Gunter was absolutely fine today.

The goals conceded were a free header from a corner, a daft penalty, and one that resulted from a big deflection. Goals are goals, and I'm not saying we were unlucky, but it's not like they were carving us open creating chance after chance. They had plenty of the ball but weren't massively effective with it.

We threw it away...but at least we're getting in the positions to throw games away. Need to be more clinical in both final thirds though.

[MrWatford]

Hey guys, Watford fan in peace here. Just wanted to give my thoughts on today's game.


Thought Reading were very good 1st half, outplayed us and played some lovely football. You were a bit on the 'rough side' but were allowed to get away with it by an incompetent ref, who was absolutely awful for both sides. 2nd half you started pretty much the same as the 1st, going at us and really pushing for it. However, after about an hour or so, Fabbrini changed the game. You simply didn't know what to do and couldn't cope with him.

Your goals were good, especially the first. What a cracker that was. But the other two could have been avoided from our point of view, due to some poor defending. Our second, the penalty. From I was it seemed a pen, but what got me was that the ref was about to book Fabbrini for diving, but saw his linesman had given it and so had no choice but to give it too. Will need a second and maybe a third look at it to determine if it was a pen or a dive.

After that, we were gunning for it. You effectively crumbled, apart from a few moments where you looked like you could have got a decisive fourth. Crazy moment at our third! Thought the atmosphere was good today, from our seats we were very vocal, even at 3-1 down. Whether that was the same in the Reading end I don't know. The 'banter' between us and you was funny.

Anyway, I think you will be up there hovering around 1st/2nd/3rd come April, and absolutely wouldn't mind if you went up with us. Good luck for the rest of the season guys, well played today!

Oh, and the Drenthe looked class, he will be one of the ones to get you to the top of the table.

[winchester_royal]

Fair play Mr. W, I think you'll win the league quite comfortably if you play like you did in the second half for most of the season. Whatever people think about the way you've gone about bringing them in, you have some serious players in that squad of yours.