MATCHWATCH : Luton Town (a)

[Zip]

One of the biggest problems is the chronic lack of movement. Too often Olise or Ejaria will be on the ball with no options. Baldock made a difference when he came on by running in behind Luton which actually stretched them. Neither Puscas or Meite did anywhere near enough in this respect.

We also need to get away from using wingbacks. How many goals have Richards and Yiadom scored or created?
Yiadom cannot cross. He has never been up to much in this respect.

[PremAddict]

I have written on this subject before and after last nights game many of you have voiced similar comments .
PLAYING OUT FROM THE BACK ! I believe in retaining possession , the only team that can score is the one with the ball , but your chances to score are greater , the nearer you are to the oppositions goal . But what we do is NOT PLAYING OUT FROM THE BACK ! It is retaining possession in our own half . Is this threatening the opposition ? As the ball is nearer our goal I don’t think so . What are the opposition doing while we are passing sideways or back ? Are they concerned or threatened , or might they be regaining positions , recovering energy , or even picking up our players .
It seems to be the general opinion that Raphael is not a good passer of the ball , yet we give it back to him and hope that he can find a player , when he’s 25/30 yards further back than the player who passed it to him . Are they saying ‘ here you have it cos you’re better at passing than I am , although it’s part of my job and we’ve been fiddling around with it for a while here and can’t make a forward pass ‘ . As a mid-field player I would be ashamed to do that and fear for my place in the team . ——— But we do it. !
My main impression of last nights game was that , when we got near the Luton goal , we had difficulty getting shooting space , and if we did have a shot m it hit a defender , there were so many of them ! Could that have anything to do with the above ?

Brings to mind one Brenden Rodgers and his never-ending plaudits of possession and passing stats...

[Millsy]

The issue absolutely isn't the passing it around in our own half. its the lack of a decisive ball in the opposition half

Spot on.

Can't remember where I posted my bedwetting but I ranted about how the players seem unable to differentiate their half from the opponent's.

Do you remember when Ejaria and Rino were on a break and passed to each other FIVE times, standing 6' apart with noone around them?

Or the 4v3 break we had which we decided to squander by passing it around.

Last night they were intent on getting into the opposition half then passing it around like they do in defence.

Ejaria sadly woeful, as others have said but at least he got shots off on target unlike others.

To be nice to the team and to Pauno I've concocted the following excuses:

1) Against Cardiff we had that spell where we took 76,431 shots in the space of 3 seconds. All of which were blocked by defenders. So Pauno probably said don't just shoot into a wall of defenders but try to pass it around to find an opening. (Moore forgot that advice with the FK)

2) The players were just under pressure and noone had the balls to cock it up. Apart from Puscas , who cocked it up spectacularly twice.

[Doolittle]

I

IMO Pauno has criminally under utilised Aluko (and to a lesser extent Baldock) who we are all moaning about as bloating the wages of the squad. These guys are gagging for minutes and show some real urgency and endeavour to reach the by-line in the 5 minutes they are given each week. Aluko in particular put in some superb performances earlier in the year but Pauno has continued to persist with Ejaria/Olise/Meite in the last few months and it just hasn't been working.

This. We looked bereft of ideas, with Ejaria & Olise cutting inside all the time, and Puscas and Meite not suited to their tippy-tappy style. We'd be better balanced if we had either Puscas or Meite paired with Baldock (who is good at finding space, and can link better with the midfield), and Aluko (who can provide much-needed width, and better crosses than Yiadom or Richards) in for either Ejaria or Olise.

[Mr Optimist]

Quote from Josh Laurent

"These are three cup finals that we have to win. So now we need to make sure it’s all-out, and all-in."
While there's any hope remaining, midfielder Josh Laurent wants the team to battle on...

I think somebody needs to explain the definition of the word `battle`. to the players. he`s living on cloud cuckoo land if he still thinks we are in with a shout.

Waking up two games late sadly. We had five cup finals to play and shit the bed for the two so far. I am normally quite a calm and placid watcher but last night my wife thought I was going to have a heart attack I was getting that worked up. A game we had to win being played like a pre-season friendly in terms of urgency. By the time Baldock and Aluko arrive on the scene it is as if Pauno is doing it to take the piss, you know the race is run. When Baldock avoided a header near the end I swear I nearly put my foot through the screen in an attempt to kick his sorry arse. Why not play Onen and Tetek instead, they should be the future of this club. Olise with his five yard square passes too last night, the only player that can hold his head high is Tom Holmes after that nothingness last night.

[windermereROYAL]

You only need to look at Barnsley, player for player inferior to us but have deservedly earned their play-off place by aggressive in your face style of football, almost the exact opposite style to our game, maybe there is something to be learnt there.

[Hendo]

You only need to look at Barnsley, player for player inferior to us but have deservedly earned their play-off place by aggressive in your face style of football, almost the exact opposite style to our game, maybe there is something to be learnt there.

If Barnsley play every week like they did against us, then that is football I do not want to watch every week. Thought they were shocking and really poor to watch. Effective? Maybe. How I want Reading to play? No chance.

[Stranded]

You only need to look at Barnsley, player for player inferior to us but have deservedly earned their play-off place by aggressive in your face style of football, almost the exact opposite style to our game, maybe there is something to be learnt there.

If Barnsley play every week like they did against us, then that is football I do not want to watch every week. Thought they were shocking and really poor to watch. Effective? Maybe. How I want Reading to play? No chance.

No it's not pretty to watch but given the bulk of that squad played last year that should have gone down (and bar a late goal at Brentford on the final day, would have done regardless of the Wigan deduction) they have found a system that fits what they have and have to be applauded for it. They know their jobs and do it well. Fair play.

[Coppells Lost Coat]

One of the biggest problems is the chronic lack of movement. Too often Olise or Ejaria will be on the ball with no options. Baldock made a difference when he came on by running in behind Luton which actually stretched them. Neither Puscas or Meite did anywhere near enough in this respect.

We also need to get away from using wingbacks. How many goals have Richards and Yiadom scored or created?
Yiadom cannot cross. He has never been up to much in this respect.

I am a firm believer that Puscas movement is decent. But the way we play, the game passes him by.
Everyone has been saying that Baldock and Aluko looked far busier and urgent when they come on. How about with out Ejaria and Olise in the team we stopped pissing about with the ball and forced Baldock to run onto the ball, played the balls in behind to make defenders...you know .... defend.

[Zip]

One of the biggest problems is the chronic lack of movement. Too often Olise or Ejaria will be on the ball with no options. Baldock made a difference when he came on by running in behind Luton which actually stretched them. Neither Puscas or Meite did anywhere near enough in this respect.

We also need to get away from using wingbacks. How many goals have Richards and Yiadom scored or created?
Yiadom cannot cross. He has never been up to much in this respect.

I am a firm believer that Puscas movement is decent. But the way we play, the game passes him by.
Everyone has been saying that Baldock and Aluko looked far busier and urgent when they come on. How about with out Ejaria and Olise in the team we stopped pissing about with the ball and forced Baldock to run onto the ball, played the balls in behind to make defenders...you know .... defend.

If you took Ejaria and Olise out of the side you would need a fully fit Swift to play those balls in behind which he is more than capable of doing. He has been a big miss. He can probably start on Sunday and maybe play sixty minutes.

Pauno has to look at the formation. We can’t play one upfront if Joao isn’t fit or off form. Whether you play Puscas and Baldock or Meite and Puscas something has to change. We don’t stretch opposition defences. The wingback thing isn’t working either. Yids can’t cross. That’s an issue for next season.

[URZZZZ]

One of the biggest problems is the chronic lack of movement. Too often Olise or Ejaria will be on the ball with no options. Baldock made a difference when he came on by running in behind Luton which actually stretched them. Neither Puscas or Meite did anywhere near enough in this respect.

We also need to get away from using wingbacks. How many goals have Richards and Yiadom scored or created?
Yiadom cannot cross. He has never been up to much in this respect.

I am a firm believer that Puscas movement is decent. But the way we play, the game passes him by.
Everyone has been saying that Baldock and Aluko looked far busier and urgent when they come on. How about with out Ejaria and Olise in the team we stopped pissing about with the ball and forced Baldock to run onto the ball, played the balls in behind to make defenders...you know .... defend.

If you took Ejaria and Olise out of the side you would need a fully fit Swift to play those balls in behind which he is more than capable of doing. He has been a big miss. He can probably start on Sunday and maybe play sixty minutes.

Pauno has to look at the formation. We can’t play one upfront if Joao isn’t fit or off form. Whether you play Puscas and Baldock or Meite and Puscas something has to change. We don’t stretch opposition defences. The wingback thing isn’t working either. Yids can’t cross. That’s an issue for next season.

That's the point I was making pre-season under Bowen when he was using 5 at the back with Yiadom and Richards as wingbacks. Neither really have the ability to play the role of a wingback. It's quite a specialised position

The way our attacking midfielders play so narrow creates an extra emphasis on Yids and Richards to do the work out wide. I'm not sure Yiadom's return from injury has really boosted us in the way we wanted

[Hound]

I am a firm believer that Puscas movement is decent. But the way we play, the game passes him by.
Everyone has been saying that Baldock and Aluko looked far busier and urgent when they come on. How about with out Ejaria and Olise in the team we stopped pissing about with the ball and forced Baldock to run onto the ball, played the balls in behind to make defenders...you know .... defend.

If you took Ejaria and Olise out of the side you would need a fully fit Swift to play those balls in behind which he is more than capable of doing. He has been a big miss. He can probably start on Sunday and maybe play sixty minutes.

Pauno has to look at the formation. We can’t play one upfront if Joao isn’t fit or off form. Whether you play Puscas and Baldock or Meite and Puscas something has to change. We don’t stretch opposition defences. The wingback thing isn’t working either. Yids can’t cross. That’s an issue for next season.

That's the point I was making pre-season under Bowen when he was using 5 at the back with Yiadom and Richards as wingbacks. Neither really have the ability to play the role of a wingback. It's quite a specialised position

The way our attacking midfielders play so narrow creates an extra emphasis on Yids and Richards to do the work out wide. I'm not sure Yiadom's return from injury has really boosted us in the way we wanted

Kind of agree - and I know I was one who said we dont need wingers as the FBs should be able to do the job

Richards has disappointed me recently. He should be good enough to do that role, and he won't last long at Bayern if he can't. Yiadom isnt a crosser as such, more a driver with the ball. Its ok on one side, but doesn't work with both FBs doing it.

Tbh I'd have liked to have seen a bit more of Esteves at times. Think he had a decent cross on him. Other than shoving Olise or Swift out wide, no one else really does.

Still not convinced on the need for a 'plan b winger' but we desperately lack someone who can put in a quality cross regularly.

[URZZZZ]

If you took Ejaria and Olise out of the side you would need a fully fit Swift to play those balls in behind which he is more than capable of doing. He has been a big miss. He can probably start on Sunday and maybe play sixty minutes.

Pauno has to look at the formation. We can’t play one upfront if Joao isn’t fit or off form. Whether you play Puscas and Baldock or Meite and Puscas something has to change. We don’t stretch opposition defences. The wingback thing isn’t working either. Yids can’t cross. That’s an issue for next season.

That's the point I was making pre-season under Bowen when he was using 5 at the back with Yiadom and Richards as wingbacks. Neither really have the ability to play the role of a wingback. It's quite a specialised position

The way our attacking midfielders play so narrow creates an extra emphasis on Yids and Richards to do the work out wide. I'm not sure Yiadom's return from injury has really boosted us in the way we wanted

Kind of agree - and I know I was one who said we dont need wingers as the FBs should be able to do the job

Richards has disappointed me recently. He should be good enough to do that role, and he won't last long at Bayern if he can't. Yiadom isnt a crosser as such, more a driver with the ball. Its ok on one side, but doesn't work with both FBs doing it.

Tbh I'd have liked to have seen a bit more of Esteves at times. Think he had a decent cross on him. Other than shoving Olise or Swift out wide, no one else really does.

Still not convinced on the need for a 'plan b winger' but we desperately lack someone who can put in a quality cross regularly.

It's noticeable that Aluko has evolved from playing as a "RAM" to a "LWB" which may correspond with what you're saying that Richards' performances have dropped off since his move to "Bayern"

Not sure about Esteves - not sure I've really seen him deliver a decent cross into the box either. Certainly would have given him more game time ahead of Holmes at RB though when Yids was injured. Recall Araruna doing a decent cross (against Colchester?) earlier on in the season but have never really properly seen him to difficult to gauge whether he could be a solution

[Snowflake Royal]

You only need to look at Barnsley, player for player inferior to us but have deservedly earned their play-off place by aggressive in your face style of football, almost the exact opposite style to our game, maybe there is something to be learnt there.

If Barnsley play every week like they did against us, then that is football I do not want to watch every week. Thought they were shocking and really poor to watch. Effective? Maybe. How I want Reading to play? No chance.

No it's not pretty to watch but given the bulk of that squad played last year that should have gone down (and bar a late goal at Brentford on the final day, would have done regardless of the Wigan deduction) they have found a system that fits what they have and have to be applauded for it. They know their jobs and do it well. Fair play.

The lesson from Barnsley isn't to play the same way. It's to be organised, have a clear straightforward way of playing and know how you are going to get goals.

Was it Pards that said if you cross into the box x times a gameyou'll average y goals a game and win matches?

Our philosophy is that if you pass it around midfield enough, sooner or later a flair player will create a goal.

[Hound]

Our philosophy is that if you pass it around midfield enough, sooner or later a flair player will create a goal.

Yes, and for a lot of the season that’s worked ok

Problem is when you get injuries or those players go off the boil then you’ve nowhere much else to turn

Is it my imagination or have we stopped scoring from set pieces as well?

[Snowflake Royal]

Our philosophy is that if you pass it around midfield enough, sooner or later a flair player will create a goal.

Yes, and for a lot of the season that’s worked ok

Problem is when you get injuries or those players go off the boil then you’ve nowhere much else to turn

Is it my imagination or have we stopped scoring from set pieces as well?

We've pretty much just flat stopped scoring.

[Ascotexgunner]

I

IMO Pauno has criminally under utilised Aluko (and to a lesser extent Baldock) who we are all moaning about as bloating the wages of the squad. These guys are gagging for minutes and show some real urgency and endeavour to reach the by-line in the 5 minutes they are given each week. Aluko in particular put in some superb performances earlier in the year but Pauno has continued to persist with Ejaria/Olise/Meite in the last few months and it just hasn't been working.

This. We looked bereft of ideas, with Ejaria & Olise cutting inside all the time, and Puscas and Meite not suited to their tippy-tappy style. We'd be better balanced if we had either Puscas or Meite paired with Baldock (who is good at finding space, and can link better with the midfield), and Aluko (who can provide much-needed width, and better crosses than Yiadom or Richards) in for either Ejaria or Olise.

Baldock is utter gash.......Useless.
As for Aluko, too little too late. Been garbage since the day he arrived.
Big wages being released, I hope we can bring in a decent wide man who can provide a damn site better all round support for the front men than Aluko. It's one thing crossing a ball but it's another thing getting to the byline and playing a killer ball/pass.

[Snowball]

Our philosophy is that if you pass it around midfield enough, sooner or later a flair player will create a goal.

Yes, and for a lot of the season that’s worked ok

Problem is when you get injuries or those players go off the boil then you’ve nowhere much else to turn

Is it my imagination or have we stopped scoring from set pieces as well?

Sort of "very Arsenal"... so frustrating