Back from the game - Derby

[CayeneMatt]

Can't believe he's being knocked.

Neither can I. He had a good game. Can only assume "Big Mike" had his face in some pies for most of the night.

For the first, he chased it to the bye line, and whipped in an outswinging cross to the back post who Jem (I think) knocked back for Alf to lob it in.

[Schards#2]

6 points from a possible 18 at home. Is that right?

Yeah it really is abysmal, can't understand the optimism honestly. Whats even more worrying is that nearly all the teams bar boro have been really poor.

Southampton last season were a division below us, on paper we should be stronger. That won't stop people logging on here on saturday if we hang on for a 0-0 and claiming its a good point. Sign of the times im afraid.

Oh FFS go & top yourself and end it now. Jesus. We are averaging 2 pts per game, playing ball to feet, front 2 look lively & are scoring. What exactly do you want?

Why do you watch Reading if you nit pick at everything? They are playing arguably the best footy we've seen for a long time & we are starting to get results with young hungry players. I just don't understand the negativity on here at all. We were great tonight & the wins at home will come sooner rather than later.

Some bright points last night, especially Le Fondre's performance, but that comment is ludicrous.

[Royal Prince]

Southampton are top because they have momentum, just like norwich did. Their squad isn't spectacular other than lallana and lambert, we should be looking to beat them at home. Its 12 games gone and they are far from runaway champions. 6 points out of a possible 18 at home is abysmal, how does that rank in the home form table anyone know?

Does it really matter? Look at the away league table! I dont care where the points are coming from as long as they keep coming!

On Mills - he looks good for his age. Yes a couple of positioning issues to iron out but definitely has potential. Also, lots of people saying he's wasteful with set pieces and to bring back Harte?! I know Harte has a lethal left foot on him but how many times did we used to moan about him wasting set pieces (especially corners) too?!

Lastly, Church is improving! Watching him and ALF over the last couple of weeks you can really see the partnership forming. As soon as the ball comes down to one of them the other is on the move making the next pass/flick on available. Sounds like such a little thing but unto recently they were standing watching eachother like statues!

[ayjaydee]

A few more random observations.

Kebe was THAT close to getting a touch on Alf's first that I thought is was going to be disallowed.

Church, whilst not to the standard of his immediate predecessors is certainly not "shit".

I believe Jem played himself back into the starting XI last night. A bundle of energy and no misplaced passes.

Woodcote has not lost the art of bringing his old prejudices into current topics.

[paddy20]

I agree with that poster that says Church did nothing all night. He overhit the cross for Al;fie who did brilliantly to retrieve it. All he does is run around like a headless chicken chasing no hoper situations. Then when there are good crosses into the box he is nowhwere to be seen .Unfortunately I cant se him getting 15 goals. Dont like saying this as I believe he is a model professional and a good bloke to boot. But to become a decent team and challenge we need a forward and a left back.

[bigmike]

Can't believe he's being knocked.

Neither can I. He had a good game. Can only assume "Big Mike" had his face in some pies for most of the night.

For the first, he chased it to the bye line, and whipped in an outswinging cross to the back post who Jem (I think) knocked back for Alf to lob it in.

Ok your right Church is outstanding how dare other people question the ability of Church to score.. After all he has a world class record of 2 goals Last season which he has matched this season but to be fair has come nowhere near getting a 3rd this season so far..

All Hail Simon Church

[Vision]

Mixed feelings really.

There is a massive improvement in the general play from earlier in the season so long term that bodes well and to twice come from behind to get a draw against a high flying side isn't something to necessarily be sniffed at. However Derby were poor,we utterly dominated so to drop two points is very disappointing.

Mills is ok. Not great but nowhere near as bad as some are making out. His passing is actually pretty good,he always makes himself available and although you could put the 2nd goal down to him on another day it could have been given as a foul. Like Cummings he is still learning about how to judge positional play at full-back. Generally the back four looked very solid but we gave away two of the softest goals you'll ever see. First was a very soft free-kick and the second from their throw where we made it far too easy to get a cross in.You could point the finger solely at Mills if you want but the blame would lie equally with making litle or no attempt to stop the cross coming over from the right hand side.

I like Cummings. He's decent on the ball, has pace and defends well. My criticism is that not once did he overlap to anywhere near the byline. Sure he made himself available and put a couple of crosses in from deep but seems to freeze once he gets to certain point in the opposition half. Griffin for all his lack of pace would actually overlap and get beyond the winger to the byline 2 or 3 times a game. Cummings didn't do it once. Again like Mills he's still learning how to judge this and understandably probably erring on the side of caution but at home I think he needs to take that risk from time to time especially if we effectively play with two holding midfielders to cover.

Church and Le Fondre are looking like a promising partnership.They are linking up well together and seem to complement each other. Church did help to create the first goal as he made a terrific run behind the full back and put over the (slightly overhit admittedly) cross that Karacan headed back for ALF. However they are polar opposites in the penalty area. You never get the impression Le Fondre will miss while you never get the impression Church will score. Hopefully Le Fondre scoring will ease the pressure on Church somewhat which will help him contribute more goals rather than the other way around.

FWIW LOL@ anyone saying they can prove a player had a bad game by looking at 90 mins of football and picking out half a dozen bad things they did. Most would concede Le Fondre and Gorkks were excellent last night but there were easily half a dozen times they lost possession,misplaced passes,sliced clearances etc.

Evidence so far we're a solid mid-table team but as this is the championship it might only take someone having a breakthrough season or an influential loan signing and we could be knocking on the play-offs again. Likewise a couple of injuries and we might be looking over our shoulders.

One final positive note its still earlyish but its starting to look as though with Le Fondre and Gorkks we've replaced Long and Mills about as well as could possibly be expected given our budget.

[Warfield North Stand]

If we carry on drawing at home and winning away we will be just fine!!

[Schards#2]

A few more random observations.

Kebe was THAT close to getting a touch on Alf's first that I thought is was going to be disallowed.

Church, whilst not to the standard of his immediate predecessors is certainly not "shit".

I believe Jem played himself back into the starting XI last night. A bundle of energy and no misplaced passes.

Woodcote has not lost the art of bringing his old prejudices into current topics.

Credit to Woodcote, he managed to go a whole post without mentioning Coppell or people inhabiting his backside.

Hopefully the therapy's working.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Some bright points last night, especially Le Fondre's performance, but that comment is ludicrous.[/quote]

Come on then smart ass. When have we played like that under BM before this season? We are trying to get ball to feet & I am enjoying it rather than watching us lumping it up the channels all the time. Derby in fact were the team doing that yesterday.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

The return to form of Leigertwood makes such a huge difference. We just look a totally different team with him on form. Dont worry about dropped points tonight, if his forms continues like that, along with the never say die attitude of the whole team, we will be winning more than we lose thats for sure.

Biggest downside is Mills for me. I have'nt seen anything to like about him yet im afraid. If he loked like a young player with talent but playing very "green" id say stick with him. But he doesn't. 2 goals conceeded from the left back area and very poor set plays throughout. Who was that on the bench again....?

[Schards#2]

Come on then smart ass. When have we played like that under BM before this season? We are trying to get ball to feet & I am enjoying it rather than watching us lumping it up the channels all the time. Derby in fact were the team doing that yesterday.

We haven't this season, but you said "They are playing arguably the best footy we've seen for a long time".

I would suggest most people's definition of "a long time" extends beyond the start of this season.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Well 2 years is long enough for me!

[Basingstoke Royal]

Church looks 100x the player he was before with Alf. He's done a lot better this season, but imo he'll never score more than 15 in a Championship season.

Things are ticking along nicely though and our heads never dropped.

Chased everything and put in a quality cross for the first goal.

There's 2.

Quality cross for the first goal???? Is that the goal that was scored By Le Fondre from OUTSIDE the box.. Church did not set this up.. Also if you can only pick out 2 good things about a player from last night theres obvioulsly something up. Mansett did more in the time he was on last night than Church did. How many shots did Church have in his time on the pitch??? I cant remember 1 of note

Totally agree. You could say that Le Fondre didnt really get any service either but he was willing to come looking for the ball and make things happen. Church on the other hand was lazy and stood on the last defender (mostly in an offside position) all night and never jumped for the balls when they came forward to him - he just whinged about being fouled each time. His lack of pace is also worrying. I dont see any improvement in him this season and if I was Hunt or Manset I will be rather pissed off that he seems to get in the team.

[Basingstoke Royal]

Can't believe he's being knocked.

Neither can I. He had a good game. Can only assume "Big Mike" had his face in some pies for most of the night.

For the first, he chased it to the bye line, and whipped in an outswinging cross to the back post who Jem (I think) knocked back for Alf to lob it in.

Ok your right Church is outstanding how dare other people question the ability of Church to score.. After all he has a world class record of 2 goals Last season which he has matched this season but to be fair has come nowhere near getting a 3rd this season so far..

All Hail Simon Church

I'm totally with you Big Mike. Picking out chasing as the big thing Church did all night is funny. Andy Hughes chased everything.....

[Basingstoke Royal]

I agree with that poster that says Church did nothing all night. He overhit the cross for Al;fie who did brilliantly to retrieve it. All he does is run around like a headless chicken chasing no hoper situations. Then when there are good crosses into the box he is nowhwere to be seen .Unfortunately I cant se him getting 15 goals. Dont like saying this as I believe he is a model professional and a good bloke to boot. But to become a decent team and challenge we need a forward and a left back.

+1

[Basingstoke Royal]

Church looks 100x the player he was before with Alf. He's done a lot better this season, but imo he'll never score more than 15 in a Championship season.

Things are ticking along nicely though and our heads never dropped.

Give me one positive thing church did tonight?

he was subbed..

I kinda wish that they left the Chair on the pitch instead of Church oxf*rd usless

as for the people saying Mills was poor and hes worse than Ian Harte.. What the hell??

Mills wasnt fantastic however he certainly wasnt as bad as your making out.. He was blatently being pulled back for Derbys 2nd goal however you probably see that as him being at fault for the goal. How dare he be fouled. All in all Mills is getting better every game. I am starting to remember what its like to have a left back who has a bit of pace.. Remember Harte was being skinned at will by all the oposition who have been against him this season and I dont think he got forward once in any of the games he played this season. Not including the piss poor penalty he missed.

I thought the chair was left to help Church get off the floor and try and win a header.

[Vision]

It's good to see we're trying to mix things up a bit. Been a while since the critcism is that we're over passing.

Too early to tell at the moment but could this be McDermott yet again identifying his main player and working towards a style of play built around this one player. Petty much did the same with Gylffi, then again with Long. We ceratinly seem to be adapting to suit Le Fondre.

[PieEater]

Mixed feelings really.

There is a massive improvement in the general play from earlier in the season so long term that bodes well and to twice come from behind to get a draw against a high flying side isn't something to necessarily be sniffed at. However Derby were poor,we utterly dominated so to drop two points is very disappointing.

Mills is ok. Not great but nowhere near as bad as some are making out. His passing is actually pretty good,he always makes himself available and although you could put the 2nd goal down to him on another day it could have been given as a foul. Like Cummings he is still learning about how to judge positional play at full-back. Generally the back four looked very solid but we gave away two of the softest goals you'll ever see. First was a very soft free-kick and the second from their throw where we made it far too easy to get a cross in.You could point the finger solely at Mills if you want but the blame would lie equally with making litle or no attempt to stop the cross coming over from the right hand side.

I like Cummings. He's decent on the ball, has pace and defends well. My criticism is that not once did he overlap to anywhere near the byline. Sure he made himself available and put a couple of crosses in from deep but seems to freeze once he gets to certain point in the opposition half. Griffin for all his lack of pace would actually overlap and get beyond the winger to the byline 2 or 3 times a game. Cummings didn't do it once. Again like Mills he's still learning how to judge this and understandably probably erring on the side of caution but at home I think he needs to take that risk from time to time especially if we effectively play with two holding midfielders to cover.

Church and Le Fondre are looking like a promising partnership.They are linking up well together and seem to complement each other. Church did help to create the first goal as he made a terrific run behind the full back and put over the (slightly overhit admittedly) cross that Karacan headed back for ALF. However they are polar opposites in the penalty area. You never get the impression Le Fondre will miss while you never get the impression Church will score. Hopefully Le Fondre scoring will ease the pressure on Church somewhat which will help him contribute more goals rather than the other way around.

FWIW LOL@ anyone saying they can prove a player had a bad game by looking at 90 mins of football and picking out half a dozen bad things they did. Most would concede Le Fondre and Gorkks were excellent last night but there were easily half a dozen times they lost possession,misplaced passes,sliced clearances etc.

Evidence so far we're a solid mid-table team but as this is the championship it might only take someone having a breakthrough season or an influential loan signing and we could be knocking on the play-offs again. Likewise a couple of injuries and we might be looking over our shoulders.

One final positive note its still earlyish but its starting to look as though with Le Fondre and Gorkks we've replaced Long and Mills about as well as could possibly be expected given our budget.

I pretty much agree with all of this. I'm not a fan of Church but his partnership with Alf is improving which probably means he'll keep his place, but as a front man he seems to need too much tine to do everything and gives up too easily. I'd much rather have Manset starting and give him time to get a partnership going with Alf. Alf on the other hand has been a revelation, his hold up play is better, he can turn and beat his marker and he scored two cracking goals. My MOTM.

[Alan Partridge]

Thought Reading played some decent stuff at times and now in Le Fondre they've got a proper centre forward. 2 chances 2 quality finishes also his first touch and link up play is superb he was the best player on the park by an absolute street, if those other chances had fell to him Reading probably would have won 5-2. Woeful defending twice at the back post by Mills who I have to say didn't impress. Both defensively and in posession was pretty average, set piece delivery also was poor and predictable. The only thing Derby did better than Reading last night were those two superb crosses from Davies in particular the first one which is the perfect dead ball cross. Whipped in at pace just above head height aiming at the penalty spot, gets the flick, goal. Mills could learn something from that instead of just chipping it in all the time giving the attacker no chance as he has to do all the work from a cross like that.

Church did ok, alright he never really looks like he's going to score but he compliments ALF well and you are going to be lucky to have two 20 goal a seasoners in your side at this level. I think Reading's side isn't a lot worse to last season's side, I'd be tempted to recall Harte as with Cummings playing you can get away with 1 slow full back and his quality on the ball far outweighs Mills, also central midfield lacks invention again if you were looking to really go to the next level you'd want someone in there that can create chances for ALF instead of solely relying on wingplay.

Whilst on the subject of full backs, just how bad was their right back Anderson? Couldn't stop chuckling all game, worse distribution than Sonko post injury.