BFTG - Ipswich

[Maguire]

Scrappy game with little in the way of excitement for the spectator. Ipswich probably deserved a draw on balance so the win was a real bonus.

Hector was easily Reading's best player and in general the backline was positive. The midfield is a real worry though - not effective at all despite Taylor's opportunistic strike. Blackman anonymous, Akpan lost, Obita out of position, Taylor ineffective. We desperately need to some players back otherwise we're going to take some real spankings in this league.

[Maguire]

Possibly sounds a bit more negative than I intended - I was pleasantly surprised to be offered a choice of beer at halftime

[melonhead]

I'll add my praise for a decent pint in the concourse. And The service was quick for the first game of the season.

I'd also like to praise the ref, and the atmosphere.

[melonhead]

Pog I thought was awful. He didn't win a single heading challenge the entire game

He'd won two within about ten seconds of kick off you clown

And for the other 89 minutes and 50 seconds?

It was the usual Pog 'not win many in the air' performance - I'm not saying he had a bad game, just that as usual he didn't win much in the air. I even turned to my neighbour and pointed it out.

And if skipper had put it like that, I wouldn't have bothered arguing.

[melonhead]

Pog I thought was awful. He didn't win a single heading challenge the entire game

He'd won two within about ten seconds of kick off you clown

If you're right, two headers in 2 minutes, and nothing for the further 88 is still poor.

I'm not being negative, just point out, as a target man, he doesn't do that job for us. In my opinion, of course.

You didn't say poor though. You said didn't win a single header for the entire game
Hence why I disagreed

[sandman]

I'll add my praise for a decent pint in the concourse. And The service was quick for the first game of the season.

I'd also like to praise the ref, and the atmosphere.

I'd like to praise the ref and would if he hadn't missed so much of the rough stuff Ipswich were doing, Cox getting kneed in the back and him waving play on being a particular lowlight.

[Victor Meldrew]

Ok, then I am fairly simple. Because of injuries we put out a very inexperienced team, many of whom had single digit totals for professional appearances, and we won plus we kept a clean sheet. If people can't get excited about the future of the club getting a win in a home opener against a very solid and experienced side, with a good manager leading them, then maybe they should start following Chelsea or Arsenal because nothing this team will do will ever be good enough.

So the message those fans want to send the kids is, you won but you're still shit?

We had one decent chance which came about through a defensive error, and spent the last 50 minutes defending, barely touching the ball. Against Ipswich (not that good a team), managed by Mick McCarthy (not that good a manager).

Not sure why you're dressing it up as the best thing the club's ever done. A good 3 points imo, but no, I thoroughly disagree with your argument that "nothing this team will do will ever be good enough."

And where did I say, or even imply, that?

Like I said everyone is entitled to their opinion. Mine is that Saturday's game was nothing but positive because our kids showed they can do the job when called on to do so. And we will be a much stronger team for it when our more senior players return from their injuries.

I think you need to be there to understand how the game went.
The BFTG thread IMHO is about what happened on the day and not about the long term future of the club.
I don't think anybody is saying that we shouldn't anticipate a future where some of these players might come good-it's something I feel sure we ALL want.
What some of us are saying is that yesterday's game was poor entertainment with us having just the one shot at goal and still not playing the passing game that we were promised when Adkins was appointed nearly 18 months ago.

Incidentally, as another poster said, this was not a massively inexperienced side in that both Hector and Taylor have played many league games already elsewhere whereas Ipswich's left-back was the youngest and least experienced on the pitch.
Our young subs came on late in the game and it is very difficult to make any judgement on them and we know already that Edwards runs about a lot but I'm not sure what else he brings.

[melonhead]

I'll add my praise for a decent pint in the concourse. And The service was quick for the first game of the season.

I'd also like to praise the ref, and the atmosphere.

I'd like to praise the ref and would if he hadn't missed so much of the rough stuff Ipswich were doing, Cox getting kneed in the back and him waving play on being a particular lowlight.

I accept that this is a pretty physical league, and also that you never get every decision you think u deserve in any game

[SydenhamRoyal]

I thoroughly enjoyed that - the players really did seem to be up for it. Have to mention Federici's goal kicks though - almost every time he took one, he still had the ball in his hand when his feet were out of the area - the lino didn't notice because he'd run on ahead, but if he keeps doing it, it will get noticed at some point and could cost us.

I thought everyone had a pretty good game, I've always championed Simon Cox, and thought he did well - got into some good positions etc - surprised he was subbed tbh. For me, possibly the only weak link there yesterday was Jake Taylor - but he's young and the more this lot play together, the more they will gel. Looking forward to Tuesday now. When you consider the players we have out injured, then imagine would this squad will be like when they're all fit. #believe

I noticed the same as you Royal Lady, cos he has always done it; however tbf it doesnt matter where his feet are, but where the ball is

[sandman]

I'll add my praise for a decent pint in the concourse. And The service was quick for the first game of the season.

I'd also like to praise the ref, and the atmosphere.

I'd like to praise the ref and would if he hadn't missed so much of the rough stuff Ipswich were doing, Cox getting kneed in the back and him waving play on being a particular lowlight.

I accept that this is a pretty physical league, and also that you never get every decision you think u deserve in any game

I'd agree with that but other teams appear to be doing something that we aren't because season after season they get away with being overly physical whereas we don't appear to get the same. Also not sure I'd praise a ref who took the best part of a minute to spot a player lying on the floor with a head injury in the first half.

[Ian Royal]

We had one decent chance which came about through a defensive error, and spent the last 50 minutes defending, barely touching the ball. Against Ipswich (not that good a team), managed by Mick McCarthy (not that good a manager).

Not sure why you're dressing it up as the best thing the club's ever done. A good 3 points imo, but no, I thoroughly disagree with your argument that "nothing this team will do will ever be good enough."

And where did I say, or even imply, that?

Like I said everyone is entitled to their opinion. Mine is that Saturday's game was nothing but positive because our kids showed they can do the job when called on to do so. And we will be a much stronger team for it when our more senior players return from their injuries.

I think you need to be there to understand how the game went.

As evidenced by HNA most weeks, going is no guarantee of understanding.

[Victor Meldrew]

[In reply to Sandy,

It's a man's game Sandy, you weed.
About 50/50 I would say yesterday with Pog giving as much as he gets.

BTW Reading and Liverpool both winning (unimpressively)-not a bad weekend with Man Utd losing as well.

[AbovetheI]

3 points are 3 points. Great to start the season at home with a win. However....

Ipswich had 25 shots approx at goal. It's hard to tell whether or not our defence was shit enough to allow them that amount of shots, or whether their attacking prowess was just dump.

Midfield shape was non existent. Akpan was terrible. Gave the ball away countless times and his first touch was simply woeful.

Everything was too slow. Build up play, from Fedders upwards was just at a snails pace.

Michael Hector was brilliant in defence. For the first half he kept McGoldrick in his pocket. Midweek against Newport he was immense in midfield and it was fantastic to see him adapt to that role and play a similar game commanding central defence. Will be our player of the season for sure.

It was FANTASTIC to see the yoof get a game.

Suffice to say, a little bit more creativity and confidence, as well as some more direct, pacey attacking play and we'll be just fine this season.

[Mr.Swainey]

Don't know why people were having a go at McCarthy for not being capable with his distribution when Federici was just the same.

[Victor Meldrew]

3 points are 3 points. Great to start the season at home with a win. However....

Ipswich had 25 shots approx at goal. It's hard to tell whether or not our defence was shit enough to allow them that amount of shots, or whether their attacking prowess was just dump.

Midfield shape was non existent. Akpan was terrible. Gave the ball away countless times and his first touch was simply woeful.

Everything was too slow. Build up play, from Fedders upwards was just at a snails pace.

Michael Hector was brilliant in defence. For the first half he kept McGoldrick in his pocket. Midweek against Newport he was immense in midfield and it was fantastic to see him adapt to that role and play a similar game commanding central defence. Will be our player of the season for sure.

It was FANTASTIC to see the yoof get a game.

Suffice to say, a little bit more creativity and confidence, as well as some more direct, pacey attacking play and we'll be just fine this season.

Careful poster, you had bettered be prepared for the blinkered ones to now crawl out from their shells again.

[Trebor_Blue]

Federici 7 did what he had to do. I assume no one will be complaining about his poor kicks.. Near post weakness still there.

I will be. His kicking was poor today. In the second half he kicked three consecutive balls straight down the middle which were easily nodded on by their centre halves back to their keeper. He kept refusing to throw the ball short (especially to Gunter). The way he just kept hoofing onto their left back's head really started to frustrate me. Does he not have a brain? It felt like McDermott football again every time Federici got the ball

+1

[The Cap]

This thread has certainly brought a smile to my chops on this mostly overcast day, weatherwise, although let's not forget the sun is always shining . Personally I thought the youngsters did us proud yesterday. I shot - 1 goal - 3 points, "we move on" as our shiny plated gaffer used to say. Bring on the Uddersfield, although I suspect that the two away games after that will tell us a lot more about our young guns. Fulham next game at home after that. Should be interesting

[Victor Meldrew]

Federici 7 did what he had to do. I assume no one will be complaining about his poor kicks.. Near post weakness still there.

I will be. His kicking was poor today. In the second half he kicked three consecutive balls straight down the middle which were easily nodded on by their centre halves back to their keeper. He kept refusing to throw the ball short (especially to Gunter). The way he just kept hoofing onto their left back's head really started to frustrate me. Does he not have a brain? It felt like McDermott football again every time Federici got the ball

+1

In fairness to Feds it looked right from the off that he was under instruction to do that.
Blame the manager not him.

[Irvinchangeyaname]

Possibly sounds a bit more negative than I intended - I was pleasantly surprised to be offered a choice of beer at halftime

What was the choice??!

[West Stand Flash]

Ipswich should have won 3-1
Akpan & Taylor are not Championship level players.
We were lucky.
A decent team would have won at ease.