BFTG - Ipswich

[LoyalRoyal22]

Delighted with the 3 points, was better in the second half when we moved the ball quicker. Really hope we have a striker lined up though, Le Fondre struggled which was predictable. The 3 signings we have made so far look to be awesome though

Some of our fans need to learn how this system works, we are playing a possession game and sometimes its better to go back than play a percentage pass. The groans from the crowd were embarrassing at times. Go back to the centre half's and sometimes the keeper or play a hopeless percentage ball, i know which i prefer.

Guthrie MOTM, he will be really important to us this season. When there is no pass on, he has the ability to move with the ball and find one which most of our players struggle with.

My ratings

McCarthy- 7 (needs to improve his kicking though)
Gunter- 6.5
Bridge- 7
Morrison- 7
Pearce- 6.5
Robson-Kanu- 5.5
Karacan- 6
Guthrie - 9
McCleary- 7
Drenthe- 8
Le Fondre- 6

Subs

Williams - 8
Jobi - 6.5
Pog- 5


Still think Jobi will have a big part to play this season and don't understand the hate.

[Handsome Man]

McCarthy 8 he was fine - one great save and some well-intentioned distribution

Gunter 7 attacked well
Bridge 7 looked polished and composed
Morrison 8 good captain's performance
Pearce 7 nearly back to the form of 18 months ago

Karacan 6 not as omnipresent as usual
Guthrie 8 really hungry for the ball

McCleary 8 attacked well
HRK 8 all over the pitch
Drenthe 8 good debut

LeF 7 scored

Williams 10 - the best debut since Mass Sarr
Pogrebnyak 0 - touched the ball more than normal, but still completely out of his depth: I don't see why we should be bothered about offering him £2-3 million to accept a cancelled contract and disappear; shit managers get sacked and paid off all the time.
McAnuff 6 - OK

[yappy]

I think the main difference between first half and second half was Guthrie, Karacan and Williams (when he came on) started playing a little higher up the field.

First half it was almost we were playing a back 6 and front 4, trying to play balls in behind, but to be fair to Ipswich they were very organised and dealt with it well. Second half they pushed a little higher and we tried to pass our way behind, with some success.

Think it was evident that there is alot of quality in this side, Bridge, Drenthe & Williams are definite improvements to the squad, however I still have reservations over whether 4-2-3-1 will get the best out of the players. However it's still early days and I'm sure we'll continue improving.

Quite pleasing seeing Mick McCarthy saying he couldn't be happier with Ipswich's performance, if we can beat Ipswich at their best then it bodes well for the coming season!

[Optimist]

Booing Pog was unfair. Booing Jobi was utterly ridiculous. So what if last season they were both inconsistent, neither deserved that.

Shame I'm having a moan on what was a great start to hopefully a great season. Really impressed with the new signings, liking the Adkins style of play, and starting to grow ever so slightly fond of Danny Guthrie.

[Divvy]

If there was booing for Jobi then it was very small numbers of idiots, so he wouldn't have heard them. Most cheered, and chanted his name at the corner. He was very poor when he came on though. Poor touch and ran it out of play, then got his feet mixed up and some how kicked the ball off the defender and won a corner. He was looking at his feet is despair not realising he won the corner..

[LoyalRoyal22]

If there was booing for Jobi then it was very small numbers of idiots, so he wouldn't have heard them. Most cheered, and chanted his name at the corner.

I was in the north stand and didn't hear any booing

[AthleticoSpizz]

Reading fans booing any Reading player


Pathetic

Stop it!

How far have we come?....

...would've loved to have seen anybody boo Percy Freeman or Terry Hurlock at Elm Park....

they would've brained them senseless

get back to your PC's bravehearts

[SLAMMED]

Why isn't the football league review on tonight?

[One8Seven1]

Why isn't the football league review on tonight?

The Football League Show is.

[yuomi]

Why isn't the football league review on tonight?

11.35pm BBC1.

[SLAMMED]

Cheers. TV guide on my TV is showing no information.

[Lower West]

I'll forgive the shocker of a first half and put it down to nerves. We will grow in confidence and move it about better as we get a few games under our belts.

McCarthy switched Ipswich's formation. Which resulted in Readings back four having plenty of possession and only a long ball out as an outlet.

[jellytot]

Both sides looked ordinary in the first half. They rarely threatened
and we lacked any ideas or confidence. We looked desperate.

The second half we played on the front foot. I was impressed with Williams when he came on.
He made tackles, runs and off loaded quickly. He looks very good and could be the missing cog in
The
Midfield. He reminds me of Sidwell. Hope he can be consistent. Drenthe looked dangerous in the 2nd half. Williams should start so who should not?

Thought tabb was the best man on the field in the first half. Ipswich will be hard
To beat but will not challenge.

[SouthSmallRoyal]

One thing I shall say about today was the team selection. I'm not sure if many would agree but I thought the team and substitutes that Adkins chose were brilliant, absolutely brilliant. He managed to get McCleary, who has been very impressive during pre-season, HRK AND Drenthe all on the same pitch, sacrificing McAnuff to the bench, and choosing Morrison as captain which came as a shock but excited me at the same time to see how the young lad would cope, and I don't think he did too badly today, considering he's never played in the championship before. I'm still in the dark as to whether ALF can play up front on his own but I think in order to get those 3 wingers mentioned above all on at the same time it's something that we are going to have to cope with for now. Williams, Bridge and Drenthe ALL looked like pure quality with and without the ball.

But more than anything this team today was, at times, exciting to watch. We've got the blend of youth, quality and experience just about right and with any luck this season I reckon we could go a long way.

By the way, great goal from Guthers today, even if it took a slight deflection!

[SydenhamRoyal]

Williams 10 - the best debut since Mass Sarr

You really oxf*rd jinxed it there

[Royal Lady]

Glad to see so many fans giving kudos to Guthrie, considering so many dissed him last season - I knew he'd be important for us if he was given a proper chance with us...

[AthleticoSpizz]

He's had one good game

Even Mass Sarr managed that

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

Glad to see so many fans giving kudos to Guthrie, considering so many dissed him last season - I knew he'd be important for us if he was given a proper chance with us...

i always rated him and i think he was given somewhat of a bad rep last season, even if at some points he did deserve it. he just needed a proper chance and for someone to believe in him. it looks like everyone on the team and adkins love him so im happy he stayed and has a chance to prove himself!

[Royal91]

I assume nobody has footage of Royston splitting those two Ipswich players a new arsehole today, in front of the west stand!

[sputnik]

Fairly boring first half, much better second. Our new signings were good, Drenthe and Williams brought a little excitement to the game, whilst Bridge though rarely tested looks like an improvement on last season's LBs. MOTM for me though was Guthrie, always wanted the ball, more often than not looked to move it forward and his goal was well deserved.