MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

[leon]

Did any Reading player other than a defender win a header all game?

We just looked like we got bullied off the ball too easily by a bigger and stronger team. If we'd looked a bit less knackered we might not have been so wasteful with our passing, and given them a bit more to think about. Not having a confident squad in the team doesn't help.

The fact is that despite being 8th, this is still a makeshift team, with many players coming in and having to learn their jobs the hard way. About the only thing we can expect is inconsistency.

Every single throw in goes to the opposition. Every single one. It's baffling how bad we are at it. Just don't do it.

I know we can't criticise the team because a) they're young b) Hunt is doing a great job but really this team is actually quite good but we've not played well apart from Tuesday (which was a glimpse at we what we could be) for some time now.

When we are on the front foot we look potent - as soon as we get pressurised the midfield disappears and the gap between the front 3 and the rest of the team looks enormous and we shrink as a team.

And Campbell is an absolute waste of space. What exactly does he add?

[Snowflake Royal]

Do you ever have anything good to say leon?

[leon]

Do you ever have anything good to say leon?

Try reading my post you weird little man.

[El Diablo]

Did any Reading player other than a defender win a header all game?

We just looked like we got bullied off the ball too easily by a bigger and stronger team. If we'd looked a bit less knackered we might not have been so wasteful with our passing, and given them a bit more to think about. Not having a confident squad in the team doesn't help.

The fact is that despite being 8th, this is still a makeshift team, with many players coming in and having to learn their jobs the hard way. About the only thing we can expect is inconsistency.

Every single throw in goes to the opposition. Every single one. It's baffling how bad we are at it. Just don't do it.

I know we can't criticise the team because a) they're young b) Hunt is doing a great job but really this team is actually quite good but we've not played well apart from Tuesday (which was a glimpse at we what we could be) for some time now.

When we are on the front foot we look potent - as soon as we get pressurised the midfield disappears and the gap between the front 3 and the rest of the team looks enormous and we shrink as a team.

And Campbell is an absolute waste of space. What exactly does he add?

Agreed on Campbell. Think we're a better team when we press high, against teams who try and play it out . For the hoofing teams ( and there are many) - that's where we struggle, winning second/third balls in midfield.

BTW, thought Stevenage's no. 10, Daniel Kemp had a great game, man marked Lewis Wing all day, looked lively on the ball, and provided the cross for their goal.

[leon]

Did any Reading player other than a defender win a header all game?

We just looked like we got bullied off the ball too easily by a bigger and stronger team. If we'd looked a bit less knackered we might not have been so wasteful with our passing, and given them a bit more to think about. Not having a confident squad in the team doesn't help.

The fact is that despite being 8th, this is still a makeshift team, with many players coming in and having to learn their jobs the hard way. About the only thing we can expect is inconsistency.

Every single throw in goes to the opposition. Every single one. It's baffling how bad we are at it. Just don't do it.

I know we can't criticise the team because a) they're young b) Hunt is doing a great job but really this team is actually quite good but we've not played well apart from Tuesday (which was a glimpse at we what we could be) for some time now.

When we are on the front foot we look potent - as soon as we get pressurised the midfield disappears and the gap between the front 3 and the rest of the team looks enormous and we shrink as a team.

And Campbell is an absolute waste of space. What exactly does he add?

BTW, thought Stevenage's no. 10, Daniel Kemp had a great game, man marked Lewis Wing all day, looked lively on the ball, and provided the cross for their goal.

The smarter teams have worked that out. And it's been a recurring theme this season. In the absence of Elliot it's one which we haven't seemed to have an alternative plan for.

[Greatwesternline]

I know we can't criticise the team because a) they're young b) Hunt is doing a great job but really this team is actually quite good but we've not played well apart from Tuesday (which was a glimpse at we what we could be) for some time now.

I agree with this. Everyone is so quick to say how makeshift our squad is, but with the exception of expensively assembled sides such as Birmingham and Wrexham surely every club in league 1 is makeshift.

It's league 1, everyone is making do with what they can find of odds and sods journeymen.

If anything our cat1 academy players (cat1 academies are supposed to be the finishing school of players capable of playing for England.....) should be better than most other sides.

Anyone can see knibbs wing savage Pereira and Bindon are the spine of a capable lower championship side. How many other L1 squads have that?

I'm all for praising a 10 match unbeaten run, but it's quite possible this is top 4 capable squad underachieving...

[traff]

Think Abrefa has done well in the last two games but why does Noel keep insisting on swapping him with Garcia on the left.
He cannot use his left foot,.

[stealthpapes]

I know we can't criticise the team because a) they're young b) Hunt is doing a great job but really this team is actually quite good but we've not played well apart from Tuesday (which was a glimpse at we what we could be) for some time now.

I agree with this. Everyone is so quick to say how makeshift our squad is, but with the exception of expensively assembled sides such as Birmingham and Wrexham surely every club in league 1 is makeshift.

It's league 1, everyone is making do with what they can find of odds and sods journeymen.

If anything our cat1 academy players (cat1 academies are supposed to be the finishing school of players capable of playing for England.....) should be better than most other sides.

Anyone can see knibbs wing savage Pereira and Bindon are the spine of a capable lower championship side. How many other L1 squads have that?

I'm all for praising a 10 match unbeaten run, but it's quite possible this is top 4 capable squad underachieving...

I would be reasonably certain our average age is lower than most and we've played the last handful of games with a starting defence mostly under the age of 21.

And the main weaknesses all seem to be related to a lack of experience rather than any lack of skill or effort - failing to hold on to leads, late goals conceded.

That said, imo, we've lost more points we could/should have won than gained points unexpectedly, so maybe there's something in your argument.

[leon]

I know we can't criticise the team because a) they're young b) Hunt is doing a great job but really this team is actually quite good but we've not played well apart from Tuesday (which was a glimpse at we what we could be) for some time now.

I agree with this. Everyone is so quick to say how makeshift our squad is, but with the exception of expensively assembled sides such as Birmingham and Wrexham surely every club in league 1 is makeshift.

It's league 1, everyone is making do with what they can find of odds and sods journeymen.

If anything our cat1 academy players (cat1 academies are supposed to be the finishing school of players capable of playing for England.....) should be better than most other sides.

Anyone can see knibbs wing savage Pereira and Bindon are the spine of a capable lower championship side. How many other L1 squads have that?

I'm all for praising a 10 match unbeaten run, but it's quite possible this is top 4 capable squad underachieving...

I would be reasonably certain our average age is lower than most and we've played the last handful of games with a starting defence mostly under the age of 21.

And the main weaknesses all seem to be related to a lack of experience rather than any lack of skill or effort - failing to hold on to leads, late goals conceded.

That said, imo, we've lost more points we could/should have won than gained points unexpectedly, so maybe there's something in your argument.

Its not necessarily the defence - the front 3 get too isolated by playing too far up to provide an out when we are under pressure espc away (eg Crawley). As a result the midfield gets overrun and can't provide sufficient cover to the defence. And we concede goals where the opposition seemingly walks through unhindered.

[stealthpapes]

That's also to do with on-pitch leadership. We've a talented, young side and a very thin squad. It has positives and it has negatives.
It could be so much worse.

[Stranded]

That's also to do with on-pitch leadership. We've a talented, young side and a very thin squad. It has positives and it has negatives.
It could be so much worse.

Human nature though isn't it? To look at a team performing mostly well and saying, yeah well they should be doing better - even though a large bulk of the team are only in their first or second season of professional football and at a basket case of a club. Its a bit of a strange situation as if we weren't in bad shape off the pitch, a lot of these players wouldn't be playing but they have shown that if we were stable and able to bring in a couple of players to add depth, we would probably be much closer to Wrexham now than we are.

[Snowflake Royal]

Think Abrefa has done well in the last two games but why does Noel keep insisting on swapping him with Garcia on the left.
He cannot use his left foot,.

I thought he still did OK out there.

Presumably Hunt thinks he'll do better there than Rushesha

[leon]

That's also to do with on-pitch leadership. We've a talented, young side and a very thin squad. It has positives and it has negatives.
It could be so much worse.

Human nature though isn't it? To look at a team performing mostly well and saying, yeah well they should be doing better - even though a large bulk of the team are only in their first or second season of professional football and at a basket case of a club. Its a bit of a strange situation as if we weren't in bad shape off the pitch, a lot of these players wouldn't be playing but they have shown that if we were stable and able to bring in a couple of players to add depth, we would probably be much closer to Wrexham now than we are.

All valid points. We do need more experienced leaders in the team. And for players to be playing in their preferred positions. If (that word again) we get the ownership sorted out and secure key players next season could be very interesting.

[stealthpapes]

Just try to enjoy the run-in, I guess.
There will be more duff performances, at least one late equaliser or worse, a Burton (A).
If we get into Top 6 at end of season, it's a massive bonus.

[Hound]

I reckon we’re roughly where we should be with the players we have on the pitch. But then throw in all the nonsense off field and they’ve done well to perform to that level

Knibbs, Savage and JP haven’t played champ level afaik without checking, Wing not for ages. Bindon is obviously quality and Mbengue before injury has shown he can play that level

But then a number of players who I think (at this stage of their careers) arent really Div1 players either - Camara, Dorsett, Wareham, Campbell, Bodin, Rushesha, Holzman/Kanu/Stickland and no doubts a few more

But yeah I’m pretty comfortable with where we are, the team put in the effort and have ups and downs as we’d expect with the inexperience. Happy to call out when we play shit and not go overboard when we play well

[Esteban]

I reckon we’re roughly where we should be with the players we have on the pitch. But then throw in all the nonsense off field and they’ve done well to perform to that level

Knibbs, Savage and JP haven’t played champ level afaik without checking, Wing not for ages. Bindon is obviously quality and Mbengue before injury has shown he can play that level

But then a number of players who I think (at this stage of their careers) arent really Div1 players either - Camara, Dorsett, Wareham, Campbell, Bodin, Rushesha, Holzman/Kanu/Stickland and no doubts a few more

But yeah I’m pretty comfortable with where we are, the team put in the effort and have ups and downs as we’d expect with the inexperience. Happy to call out when we play shit and not go overboard when we play well

+1. I don't think we're a top 6 League 1 side yet.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I reckon we’re roughly where we should be with the players we have on the pitch. But then throw in all the nonsense off field and they’ve done well to perform to that level

Knibbs, Savage and JP haven’t played champ level afaik without checking, Wing not for ages. Bindon is obviously quality and Mbengue before injury has shown he can play that level

But then a number of players who I think (at this stage of their careers) arent really Div1 players either - Camara, Dorsett, Wareham, Campbell, Bodin, Rushesha, Holzman/Kanu/Stickland and no doubts a few more

But yeah I’m pretty comfortable with where we are, the team put in the effort and have ups and downs as we’d expect with the inexperience. Happy to call out when we play shit and not go overboard when we play well

+1. I don't think we're a top 6 League 1 side yet.

At the end of last season, I thought a takeover would happen and even then I said top 10 this year followed by promotion in 25/26 was a reasonable target. As it is, Dai is still here but Azeez, Smith and Selles aren't, plus we've barely signed anyone. It's a great achievement, and had the takeover gone through I genuinely think we could have been fighting for 2nd.

If we do finally get taken over this time, we're well set up for top 6 next season, followed by top 2 in 26/27 if we're ultimately unsuccessful.

[Snowflake Royal]

I reckon we’re roughly where we should be with the players we have on the pitch. But then throw in all the nonsense off field and they’ve done well to perform to that level

Knibbs, Savage and JP haven’t played champ level afaik without checking, Wing not for ages. Bindon is obviously quality and Mbengue before injury has shown he can play that level

But then a number of players who I think (at this stage of their careers) arent really Div1 players either - Camara, Dorsett, Wareham, Campbell, Bodin, Rushesha, Holzman/Kanu/Stickland and no doubts a few more

But yeah I’m pretty comfortable with where we are, the team put in the effort and have ups and downs as we’d expect with the inexperience. Happy to call out when we play shit and not go overboard when we play well

+1. I don't think we're a top 6 League 1 side yet.

I think people over estimate a lot of our better players. I'm not sure (m)any of them are good Championship players bar Bindon who is no longer ours anyway.

Pereira - maybe lower Champ
Yiadom - no more, I fear
Mbengue - lower Champ - played there for a relegated defence with us
Bindon - probably, but untested
Craig - maybe lower Champ but untested
Wing - maybe lower Champ, but he's not getting better and he's been in L1 for years for a reason
Savage - maybe lower Champ with potential for higher, but untested and he's not even certain to start for us in L1 with the whole midfield available
Knibbs - maybe lower Champ, but realistically a good L1 player.

We've got players who could get there in time, but I don't see them as there yet, or we'd be doing better in L1 than we are.

[leon]

Oh well.

[Hound]

I reckon we’re roughly where we should be with the players we have on the pitch. But then throw in all the nonsense off field and they’ve done well to perform to that level

Knibbs, Savage and JP haven’t played champ level afaik without checking, Wing not for ages. Bindon is obviously quality and Mbengue before injury has shown he can play that level

But then a number of players who I think (at this stage of their careers) arent really Div1 players either - Camara, Dorsett, Wareham, Campbell, Bodin, Rushesha, Holzman/Kanu/Stickland and no doubts a few more

But yeah I’m pretty comfortable with where we are, the team put in the effort and have ups and downs as we’d expect with the inexperience. Happy to call out when we play shit and not go overboard when we play well

+1. I don't think we're a top 6 League 1 side yet.

I think people over estimate a lot of our better players. I'm not sure (m)any of them are good Championship players bar Bindon who is no longer ours anyway.

Pereira - maybe lower Champ
Yiadom - no more, I fear
Mbengue - lower Champ - played there for a relegated defence with us
Bindon - probably, but untested
Craig - maybe lower Champ but untested
Wing - maybe lower Champ, but he's not getting better and he's been in L1 for years for a reason
Savage - maybe lower Champ with potential for higher, but untested and he's not even certain to start for us in L1 with the whole midfield available
Knibbs - maybe lower Champ, but realistically a good L1 player.

We've got players who could get there in time, but I don't see them as there yet, or we'd be doing better in L1 than we are.

Agreed

Bindon definitely good enough despite no experience there but otherwise not convinced

Elliott similar - has potential but not consistent or proven. 2 Kelvins likewise and both need to push on now.

Garcia will be good enough I expect if he keeps improving and growing.

And imo most of the rest are nowhere near at this stage. Many I don’t think are really div1 either