BFTG - Ipswich

[P!ssed Off]

Useful posts for us who couldn't be there thanks. Any clips of goals anywhere?

BBC normally put them up on Tuesday I think. Reading fc Player will have them on Sunday.

Football League Show is up on BBCIPlayer now, you're getting confused with MOTD2 which is usually up on Wednesday I think, and MOTD which never gets put up.

[Royal91]

Felt the midfield was unbalanced yesterday making us very predictable, easy to defend against and easy to counter attack. Drenthe, HRK and McCleary all impact players on the pitch at the same time doesn't work as effectively, Williams to start next week instead of HRK.

Promising signs but still work to do.

I think Williams will play against Bolton.

Either HRK or Karacan will get dropped I guess. Having someone of his pace, power and ability to pass will be essential. Getting him driving from deep is almost impossible to mark.

[St Pauli]

People who moan about standers are only beaten In the cnut stakes by people who don't sit down when asked

At away games I'd agree, at a home game in Y26, no. In any case I think it was the stewards asking them to sit down not other fans.

[P!ssed Off]

I didnt understand the team selection.

Who was playing on what wing? Was it total football?

Surprised that Alfie would start instead of Pog, but hey he started and he scored, is that a first. :p

The three attacking midfielders were very fluid, constantly interchanging/swapping wings. I found it very exciting personally.
When the ball was on the left wing, we might have two left wingers, and vice versa if it was on the right.
This was very effective at times, as their RB or LB simply couldn't cope at handling two quality wingers at once. McCleary and Drenthe combined perfectly on the left wing for Drenthe to cross to HRK for an almost goal in the 2nd Half.

When we decided to stop wacking it at ALF's head and give it to his chest/feet instead 2nd half we brought him more into the game, and he was able to link up well with attacking moves, as a deep lying forward type. I won't get too carried away about this, but at times ALF was able to be effective in our fluid attacks.

This was when we were at our best, but for some reason in the 1st half when we were at our worst for a time our only winger was Chris Gunter on the right which was pretty baffling.

But I'm very excited about our attacking midfield. After yesterday I'm confident that Drenthe/HRK/McCleary might each get 10 + goals this season with moves such as the one described.

[Jano]

not getting the guthrie love in. his passing was wayward at best and still too many mistakes and strops for my liking - still two moments of class driving forward did lift the crowd. karacan looked out of sorts, hrk unfit, gunter caught forward too often and the centre back pairing unbalanced.

thought everything good we did went through drenthe and he is going to be different class this season. He's far too good for this division. Williams cameo was also very promising.

my main concern is how we reverted to the bad stuff of hit and hope football from last season when we went a goal down. despite how good we looked when we got the ball down and played football, we looked equally bad playing long ball.

[winchester_royal]

not getting the guthrie love in. his passing was wayward at best and still too many mistakes and strops for my liking - still two moments of class driving forward did lift the crowd. karacan looked out of sorts, hrk unfit, gunter caught forward too often and the centre back pairing unbalanced.

thought everything good we did went through drenthe and he is going to be different class this season. He's far too good for this division. Williams cameo was also very promising.

my main concern is how we reverted to the bad stuff of hit and hope football from last season when we went a goal down. despite how good we looked when we got the ball down and played football, we looked equally bad playing long ball.

Can't blame them given the hostility of the crowd in the first half. If you want the players to cut out the percentage football, then they have to feel comfortable on the ball knowing that the crowd isn't going to get on their backs as soon as they mishit a pass.

The biggest challenge facing the players this year will be the atmosphere inside the stadium when they're a goal or two down.

[Avon Royal]

my main concern is how we reverted to the bad stuff of hit and hope football from last season when we went a goal down. despite how good we looked when we got the ball down and played football, we looked equally bad playing long ball.

It's going to take some of the players a bit of time to get the McDermott instilled habits out of their systems. We just need to be patient while they internalise a new style of play.

[Royal91]

It was good to see we had a very British influenced team out yesterday!

[melonhead]

not getting the guthrie love in. his passing was wayward at best and still too many mistakes and strops for my liking - still two moments of class driving forward did lift the crowd. .

100% agreed. Did less than nothing first half except give easy ball away and moaning. Tbf he improved massively 2nd half, and the extra effort from him and Roy was key in getting the win,but I was/am amazed to hear he was mom

[sandman]

Look if Reading had a more, for want of a better word, committed fans rather than a nice middle class, synchronised clapping, second team supporting fanbase then I dare say it would've required far more for Guthrie to be forgiven for his actions last season. According to the Post's sports reporter he himself has admitted he thought he'd have had to do a lot more than he has done to gain trust again.

If he has a good consistent season then I may consider forgiving him but right now he still hasn't done enough.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

not getting the guthrie love in. his passing was wayward at best and still too many mistakes and strops for my liking - still two moments of class driving forward did lift the crowd. .

100% agreed. Did less than nothing first half except give easy ball away and moaning. Tbf he improved massively 2nd half, and the extra effort from him and Roy was key in getting the win,but I was/am amazed to hear he was mom

Really? IMO he was quite clearly MOM - in 1st & 2nd half. He did ping a few out of play but nearly every one almost came off - he had the right idea & was always looking for an incisive pass I thought.

On yesterday's showing he'd be the first name on the team sheet.

[P!ssed Off]

not getting the guthrie love in. his passing was wayward at best and still too many mistakes and strops for my liking - still two moments of class driving forward did lift the crowd. karacan looked out of sorts, hrk unfit, gunter caught forward too often and the centre back pairing unbalanced.

thought everything good we did went through drenthe and he is going to be different class this season. He's far too good for this division. Williams cameo was also very promising.

my main concern is how we reverted to the bad stuff of hit and hope football from last season when we went a goal down. despite how good we looked when we got the ball down and played football, we looked equally bad playing long ball.

Can't blame them given the hostility of the crowd in the first half. If you want the players to cut out the percentage football, then they have to feel comfortable on the ball knowing that the crowd isn't going to get on their backs as soon as they mishit a pass.

The biggest challenge facing the players this year will be the atmosphere inside the stadium when they're a goal or two down.

Tbh crowd hostility was due to the back 3 not passing it out from the back. They were simply either hoofing it straight away or passing it amongst themselves and then hoofing it. Case in point, Guthrie and the crowds reaction to Pearce snubbing a simple forward pass for the nth time and passing it square, to inevitably be hoofed, instead.

As for the atmosphere. Drenthe will do wonders for it. Every time he takes a man on with a bit of classy skill the crowd as well as the team will be boosted, as they were yesterday.
At one point in the 2nd half at a corner he was actually waving his arms about trying to lift the crowd. I like him a lot already.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Look if Reading had a more, for want of a better word, committed fans rather than a nice middle class, synchronised clapping, two team supporting fanbase then I dare say it would've required far more for Guthrie to do to be forgiven for his actions. According to the Post's sports reporter he himself has admitted he thought he'd have had to do a lot more than he has done to gain trust again.

If he has a good consistent season then I may consider forgiving him but right now he still hasn't done enough.

Forgive him for what exactly - has he killed someone? Was it the lobster thermador incident @ his wedding?

[P!ssed Off]

not getting the guthrie love in. his passing was wayward at best and still too many mistakes and strops for my liking - still two moments of class driving forward did lift the crowd. .

100% agreed. Did less than nothing first half except give easy ball away and moaning. Tbf he improved massively 2nd half, and the extra effort from him and Roy was key in getting the win,but I was/am amazed to hear he was mom

This is incorrect, quite simply.
For one he did a great long pass to set Gunter away in to the penalty area. He also did many other decent passes.

[Schards#2]

Didn't hear any booing, but heard the moron behind me telling Drenthe he was shit after about 20 minutes.

Sadly, like most teams I suspect, we have a proportion fans who are just plain idiots. When we are losing and passing it, they will moan we should be playing it long, when we are playing it long, they will be saying we should be keeping possession, they will always moan and have no understanding of the game whatsoever.

Was bitterly disollusioned at half time as our play was no better or effective than last season. Second half was much better but overall, I expected a bit more in terms of quality and possession.

Loving the look of Williams and Drenthe though, as they settle in, if they stay fit, we should dominate games and, hopefully, that will lead to getting the ball to Le Fondre's feet in dangerous areas and getting him into the game more. If we could do that, I'm confident he'd score a hatful.

[Allyh84]

McCarthy 7
Bridge 7
Pearce 7
Morrison 7
Gunter 7
McCleary 6
Karacan 7
Guthrie 6
Robson-Kanu 6
Drenthe 8
Le Fondre 7

Team: 7

[Royal Prince]

Enjoyable game, nervy at times as we tried to settle into our new system, but overall I think we deserved the win.

Second half you could tell Adkins wanted to go for the win, he switched formation ever so slightly, having played a 4-2-3-1 he moved Guthrie further up the field leaving Karacan as the sole holding midfielder which changed the dynamics of the game entirely. I guess the new formation could best be described as a 4-1-4-1 of some sorts, but it really did help us take the game by the scruff of the neck. I think we'll see this tactic deployed again several times this season, with a fluid trio of centre midfielders the option will always be there when we are trying to see out / chase games.

Drenthe was exciting to watch, involved throughout, created chances and most importantly seemed to really be enjoying his football (key to him settling down).

Bridge was steady and reliable, his experience will be key in a relatively young back four. Also made me chuckle when he tried teeing himself up with one foot for a cheeky volley with the other, which unfortunately travelled all of two yards!

Williams was the one that impressed me the most. He looks like a real box to box midfielder, technically good on the ball and happy to carry it forwards, plus he holds pace in abundance. He also showed a little bit of niggle, grit and determination at times without overstepping the mark, we could do with a few more winners like him in the team. Just to put it in some context...... Adie Williams > Danny Williams > Martin Williams > Marcus Williams

[St. Brynjar]

Brett Williams?

[Drew_3]

not getting the guthrie love in. his passing was wayward at best and still too many mistakes and strops for my liking - still two moments of class driving forward did lift the crowd. karacan looked out of sorts, hrk unfit, gunter caught forward too often and the centre back pairing unbalanced.

thought everything good we did went through drenthe and he is going to be different class this season. He's far too good for this division. Williams cameo was also very promising.

my main concern is how we reverted to the bad stuff of hit and hope football from last season when we went a goal down. despite how good we looked when we got the ball down and played football, we looked equally bad playing long ball.

Can't blame them given the hostility of the crowd in the first half. If you want the players to cut out the percentage football, then they have to feel comfortable on the ball knowing that the crowd isn't going to get on their backs as soon as they mishit a pass.

The biggest challenge facing the players this year will be the atmosphere inside the stadium when they're a goal or two down.

+1

Crowd has such an important part to play now we have switched to a more patient build up style. It was so frustrating to hear the restlessness when we went backwards in order to maintain possession, this is how NA intends to play/is the modern style of football, so get used to it.

Personally I favour this style and very much enjoyed yesterdays game. There will be times this year where it's frustrating and it doesn't come off, but better to watch this than our previous approach (Don't get me wrong I like McDermott and thank him for our successes during his time here, but it was never great football to watch)

The team can only continue to improve under Adkins in the coming months as they get used to his tactics and the change in style, but the biggest influence and indeed factor in how quickly we make this transition will be the atmosphere, a positive one will give the team the confidence to remain patient and adhere to the tactical plan set out for them.

[Royal Prince]

Brett Williams?

Lol, easily forgotten!