Back from the sofa - Ipswich (H)

[MeMeMe]

Last night we were a completely different team to what we have seen previously. It seems we built from the back then added decent attacking options and introduction Vydra was the catalyst to surge forwards with devastating effect.
The entire team moved up a level, passing was accurate and at speed, Ipswich couldn't keep up and we undid them with a quick and confident attack.
Every player on the pitch last night gave it their all. Great performance and one of the best games I have seen a Reading team play since the McGhee days, long may it continue.

[RoyalBlue]

Buzzing, atmosphere was great, so was the game. Ipswich made a real go of it until it was 4-1 when they clearly gave up and it became a training match.

Pace in attack...it's been a while. Ipswich defense was clueless once the ball got behind their full-backs.

Early goal of the season contender from Norwood, but Blackman's was my favorite. The ball was pinging around, he gave it to Sa who fluffed it, tried again to Vydra who flew at it and missed, then almost reluctantly thumped it in as a sort of 'like that you dicks'.

It was a good goal. However, you are completely wrong to accuse Vydra of missing. It was actually his persistence that created the second opportunity for Blackman who buried it so well. Sa completely misconnected, the ball spun up in the air and landed between the keeper and defender. As they dithered, Vydra flew in between them with a challenge that knocked the ball back out to Blackman who completed the job.

Vydra was impressive all night, with an incredibly high workrate, closing their defenders down very quckly and then moments later doing the same to their strikers as he helped out at the other end. I really like the way that from the outset both he and Sa dished out some pretty physical stuff to their defenders. Nice to see the boot on the other foot (in all respects) and the defenders getting bullied rather than the other way around!

[RoyalBlue]

McShane close run for MOTM in my eyes, think he lost 2 headers all game. Yeah he plays on the edge, but boy does he do it well.

That's a very strange eye you have. Whilst he was good as the whole team was, he missed a few passes, including a 6 footer that went straight out of play, and although the goal was all about tricky feet, it was his missed tackle that allowed the shot that was parried.

McShane was good, but nowhere near MOTM.

The 6-footer straight out of play was immediately after his second hospital pass to Tish. He did a lot right tonight, but the goal and these things worried me a bit ..... that was before Blackman netted our 3rd and it turned into party time

But at least he showed he cared and was frustrated by the 6 footer. Nice to see a player acknowledge his mistake, put it behind him and work even harder to make up for it.

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

To stick five past Ipswich takes some doing, we were class last night with the players all performing well as a unit.

Been out around Sandhurst this morning and got stopped four times, as people wanted to talk about Reading FC,.... Amazing what a comprehensive by the local team can do to lift spirits.

[Man Friday]

Last night we were a completely different team to what we have seen previously.

Not true, we've been playing like that since the season started. Terribly unlucky against Brum (hit woodwork X3, goal ruled out, missed penalty, could have been 6-0 up at half-time against Brentford but for their keeper and the woodwork. We've been threatening that scoreline all season. This side/squad looks the best we've had for nearly ten years. Well done (so far) Steve Clarke and his henchmen, Squeaky, SJM and the Thais.

[Royal Ginger]

Buzzing, atmosphere was great, so was the game. Ipswich made a real go of it until it was 4-1 when they clearly gave up and it became a training match.

Pace in attack...it's been a while. Ipswich defense was clueless once the ball got behind their full-backs.

Early goal of the season contender from Norwood, but Blackman's was my favorite. The ball was pinging around, he gave it to Sa who fluffed it, tried again to Vydra who flew at it and missed, then almost reluctantly thumped it in as a sort of 'like that you dicks'.

It was a good goal. However, you are completely wrong to accuse Vydra of missing. It was actually his persistence that created the second opportunity for Blackman who buried it so well. Sa completely misconnected, the ball spun up in the air and landed between the keeper and defender. As they dithered, Vydra flew in between them with a challenge that knocked the ball back out to Blackman who completed the job.

Vydra was impressive all night, with an incredibly high workrate, closing their defenders down very quckly and then moments later doing the same to their strikers as he helped out at the other end. I really like the way that from the outset both he and Sa dished out some pretty physical stuff to their defenders. Nice to see the boot on the other foot (in all respects) and the defenders getting bullied rather than the other way around!

Yep i concede that. I had only seen it live and not the replay when i wrote that, Vydra set that up, he didn't fluff it.

[genome]

Vydra looked very quick too. Not seen pace like that from a Reading striker in a quite some time. He did look knackered when he came off though!

[paultheroyal]

Gunter had the right hump with the "how shit must you be..." - repeatedly shouting "no" to the east stand, and nodding his head. Not happy.

To be fair, it's an awful chant.

[Royal_jimmy]

Wow. All I can say is that was absolutely brilliant. No one put a foot wrong between Sa and Tshibola for MoM for me. What was more pleasing is we took apart a decent ipswich side without our 3 best midfielders in Mccleary, Williams and Hurtado

It's only one game but if we play consistently like that them top 6 is the minimum we will achieve this season.

[Royal_jimmy]

What was the Nick Blackman chant?

[Westwood52]

Trying to take a balanced view of last night and not go overboard.
Firstly there were a couple of 5-10 minute periods when a pretty good Ipswich team could have taken something from the game-however despite our defence failing , their strikers weren't up to it. Despite McCarthy's disappointment with his team; what killed them was not his team's ability or effort-but rather our ability to score goals (and a lot of them). Prior to Brentford we did not have this-now we clearly do.

It's amazing that our squad is now so strong that last seasons three best outfielders could be safely left on the bench and two of our top class Summer acquisitions couldn't even get in the match squad (how happy are they going to be with that ?).

For what its worth in an amazing night:

Bond 7: Some good saves & his kicking did not let him down.A good night for him.
Gunter 7: The usual above average performance-after his efforts for Wales he must be very very fit.
Obita 7: Back near to his best. Very solid performance.
McShane 5: For the first time this season he and Anton were put under stress & at at times he struggled in the 1st half.
Ferdinand 6: Ditto but reacted by always taking the safety first option.
Norwood 9: MOM(just) & what a goal. Lets hope unlike last season he can keep it going.
Tish 8: The "glue" that joins the team together very good at filling in defensively.
Quinn 6: Looked knackered 1st half but it is a tribute to him that he kept going.
Blackman 9: A player transformed from the last three seasons.
Sa 8: Missed a sitter but two exceptional goals-we now suddenly have potentially the best strike fore in the league.
Vidra 6: Um don't know-unbelievably quick & him & Sa might be the dream pairing-shirked out of some of the heavy duty stuff.

Subs: John looks like he might have something about him.

Ref was probably OK - but the lino on the East Stand was terrible -how did he miss the pull back on Anton in the 1st half ?

It will be interesting to see who starts on Tuesday -Williams for Quinn ? Macca for Vidra ?

Let's hope we can continue in this vein of form.

[blueroyals]

Gunter had the right hump with the "how shit must you be..." - repeatedly shouting "no" to the east stand, and nodding his head. Not happy.

To be fair, it's an awful chant.

fcuking mongs

[genome]

What was more pleasing is we took apart a decent ipswich side without our 3 best midfielders in Mccleary, Williams and Hurtado

How can you judge Hurtado as one of our best midfielders when he's not actually played yet?

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Following a much appreciated delivery from Fortnum & Mason, our Adkins Diet has been officially terminated.

Amen

Fair to say that losing a few more of McDermott s players was a help. ..
And that big Russian who wasn't any managers choice.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

I wonder if our three departing stars of yesteryear, that we wouldn't be able to survive without, were watching from their benches last night ?? with their Premiership, Champions league dreams etc.....grass greener on the other side and all that ?? maybe not.........................................

Pleased they left, they were stale here.

[Man Friday]

Gunter had the right hump with the "how shit must you be..." - repeatedly shouting "no" to the east stand, and nodding his head. Not happy.

To be fair, it's an awful chant.

fcuking mongs

What, people with learning difficulties in the crowd making love? Didn't see that on the telly.

[Man Friday]

Gunter had the right hump with the "how shit must you be..." - repeatedly shouting "no" to the east stand, and nodding his head. Not happy.

To be fair, it's an awful chant.

Agreed. Hardly motivating for the team.

[Man Friday]

Following a much appreciated delivery from Fortnum & Mason, our Adkins Diet has been officially terminated.

Amen

Fair to say that losing a few more of McDermott s players was a help. ...

Like Blackman.

[RoyalBlue]

Following a much appreciated delivery from Fortnum & Mason, our Adkins Diet has been officially terminated.

Amen

Fair to say that losing a few more of McDermott s players was a help. ..
And that big Russian who wasn't any managers choice.

He wasn't perhaps chosen by any manager but Clarke spoke pretty well of him.

[Ian Royal]

Gunter had the right hump with the "how shit must you be..." - repeatedly shouting "no" to the east stand, and nodding his head. Not happy.

To be fair, it's an awful chant.

It's a demonstration of how sheeplike, spoilt and unimaginative some of our support is. That short of chant should be reserved for second half of the season relegation battlers who've barely won at home all season.

Just seen the extended highlights on RP. Some really good stuff played by the looks. Hopefully I'll be able to actually start making some games now the summer is over and work should be quieter. Looks like I'm in for a treat. Peaches from Norwood and Blackman.

Surprised Sears didn't go down for a penalty when he blazed over, the way McShane slid through right in front of him.

Some cynical challenges from the Ipswich lot.