by bikinired »
29 Aug 2013 11:48
Another Posh fan here with my thoughts on Tuesday. I have a soft spot for Reading having been at University in Reading and spent many a cold wet night at Elm Park (yes, I'm that old!). Anyway, here goes:
Firstly, a bit of credit for the Posh. We lost the first 7 games of last season. Even if we had only picked up one point from those games we would have stayed up. In the last game at Palace we were 2-1 up with 7 minutes left. With 1 minute left it was 2-2 and we were safe. We got relegated. In retrospect this may not have been a bad thing. On our form in 2013 we were a top 8 Championship team. When we've been in the Championship previously I think the team has viewed it as a novelty and didn't really think they belonged. After performances in 2013 in the Championship I think the players have divested this mindset and realised they are now a Championship team in the wrong League (and this is no disrespect to the other decent "proper" football clubs in League One). In the first 5 games of the season we've been playing OK in places, banging in a few and then seeing the game out. On Tuesday we played full on for 90 minutes possibly because you are a Championship team and Posh wanted to show they were half decent. Having said that here's my comments on Reading:
1. The goals. Having a slow day at work I read all the posts in this thread. I don't understand the background to why a few posters seem to have it in for Federici. He could have done better for the first but the defender should never have let Assombalonga turn him so easily. For those of you who weren't at London Road, believe me, without him it would have been 9 not 6. Lee Tomlin's goal for the second was a "worldie" and I don't think you can blame the keeper. The 3rd goal was a shocker - you let a guy run 70 yards with a 3 in 1 in your favour and if you watch the highlights the attempted challenges are so pathetic he has time to take a step back to get the shot away. No.4 - stonewall penalty. No.5 - personally I wouldn't have given it as our 15 stone 6ft 3 forward went down like a sack of spuds but, having said that, he was having his shirt tugged. No. 6 - I think blaming Federici is harsh as it was a belter.
2. Your application. This is the real issue. I've seen Posh v Reading games for over 30 years and you always think "This ain't gonna be easy". You always know Reading are gonna turn up and compete. After we beat you 3-1 in your promotion season to the Prem our centre half, Gaby Zakuani, tweeted afterwards "need to rest for 24 hours - just been in a boxing match with Jason Roberts for 90 minutes". Tuesday night was the first time I've seen a Reading team at London Road who didn't put in a shift. The thing our team learned in the Championship last season was that teams close you down fast when you lose the ball. We've retained that knowledge and, yes, we have goals in us, but we're beating teams by closing down and getting possession back. on Tuesday the Royals were woeful at this. No effort, no application. I'm aware you get more possession in the Premiership but you won't win many games if you can't be bothered to get the ball back.
3. The Players. On the basis of that team you need to shift at least 5-6 out. I didn't even notice Pogrebnyak was playing until the 90th minute. Total waste of a shirt. Ferguson made 4 changes from Saturday and I can't see that team changing now. We had more pace in midfield than earlier in the season.
4. Britt Assombalonga/Lee Tomlin - Britt is definitely black! The picture on this thread is Lee Tomlin. Britt will be gone from us next summer. He cost £1.25m (allegedly) and will score 30 for us if he stays fit. Tomlin is mercurial but if you think he's fat now you should have seen him in previous seasons. he'll also be gone next summer for upwards of £4m.
5. Adkins. His previous record at London Road was played 4. Won 3. Drawn 1. I''m pretty sure he won't have enjoyed Tuesday night.
Anyway, I wish you all the best and hope you get promoted but unless you put in a shift it will be difficult.
maybe we did get the short straw 
