Reading FC Match Report: 2017/2018 Season - Championship
SHEFF UTD 2 READING 1
Reading: R Beerens (85)
Sheff Utd: P Coutts (19), B Sharp (37)
Post Match Fans' Opinion
strap
Not me, my boy who was scouting Sheff Utd for upcoming game v LUFC, (he's an RFC fan and former ST holder)
"Woeful. Men against boys. Only shining light was Swift who made a huge difference. No other positives whatsoever. Pathetic."
Rather think I trust a professional's view on the performance rather than the cr@p Stam spouts.
"Woeful. Men against boys. Only shining light was Swift who made a huge difference. No other positives whatsoever. Pathetic."
Rather think I trust a professional's view on the performance rather than the cr@p Stam spouts.
Kitsondinho
Been back a little while, the short trip home was possibly the best thing about it!
Anyway, we looked ok for the first 10 or so, a couple direct attacks (that came to nothing) and Barrow’s pace chasing long balls looked to be an outlet......then they scored. After that there was only one team in it. That was the most frustrating thing. As soon as we went 1-0 down, we never looked remotely like getting back in to the game (even at 2-1, that just papered over the cracks). An example of this is Aluko. I thought he had a decent showing, if his job was to chase down their midfielders, make tackles and hold the ball up by the corner flag (at 2-0 down). However, clearly that isn’t why we bought him. So what exactly was he meant to be doing? I could say the same sort of thing about Blackett...because he was often the furthest player forward on the left, but was then caught chasing back to defend. Equally Illori, who couldn’t decide if he was play CB or as a number 10. Gunter returned to his usual Reading self and JVdB was just thuggish in the middle of the park. For me, Vito was probably our best player....but he didn’t have masses to do and possibly could have done better with their first. That and Billy Sharp being the best player on the pitch summed today up. We look lost.
Anyway, we looked ok for the first 10 or so, a couple direct attacks (that came to nothing) and Barrow’s pace chasing long balls looked to be an outlet......then they scored. After that there was only one team in it. That was the most frustrating thing. As soon as we went 1-0 down, we never looked remotely like getting back in to the game (even at 2-1, that just papered over the cracks). An example of this is Aluko. I thought he had a decent showing, if his job was to chase down their midfielders, make tackles and hold the ball up by the corner flag (at 2-0 down). However, clearly that isn’t why we bought him. So what exactly was he meant to be doing? I could say the same sort of thing about Blackett...because he was often the furthest player forward on the left, but was then caught chasing back to defend. Equally Illori, who couldn’t decide if he was play CB or as a number 10. Gunter returned to his usual Reading self and JVdB was just thuggish in the middle of the park. For me, Vito was probably our best player....but he didn’t have masses to do and possibly could have done better with their first. That and Billy Sharp being the best player on the pitch summed today up. We look lost.
NewCorkSeth
Ok. Here we go.
Much of this is obvious for the attendees and Ifollow viewers but I shall proceed none the less.
Our shape is working against us. We have too many players in our own half for too long during the games. Usually we are great at pondering about on the ball without doing anything meaningful but we struggled to do that this game. In fact we struggled to much at all until the final quarter of the game. Sheffield were a perfect match for our chosen tactics today. They pressed high and played with real intensity. They took full advantage of their set pieces and were unlucky not to score 2 more minimum for free kicks positions. Our fouling played right into their hands today allowing them to control the pace of the game, taking breathers when needed and taking quick balls at the right time. This was in stark contrast to us, who for the most part, took quick free kicks in a seemingly desperate attempt to apply some pressure or attack on the break. In reality I think we would have been better off by stopping and evaluating our position more often, perhaps passing it back and trying to get back to our calm passing at the back.
Our defenders were all over the shop today. Easily led around by the Sheffield attackers. I think our man marking left us dragged about by some simple but effective passing (not to disrespect our opponents, what they did worked but wasn't difficult) Blackett in particular struggled in this regard, with the first goal being mostly his fault as his positional ill-discipline created as much space as Sheffield would ever need down the wing. This is probably because hes not a natural LB or even a natural FB/WB. I agree we should never have changed the defensive line-up from the previous match.
The midfield was isolated and I cant blame them for anything this game. JVDB was his usual over-enthusiastic self who I was surprised didn't get a second card after making 3(I think?) obvious fouls. Edwards was more isolated given his tactical instructions but was often chasing after the ball and trying to put in tackles. He looked frustrated through out and I believe I'm correct in saying he too often lost the ball after making a fair challenge.
Our front 3 may as well not have played for the first half. Barrow and Aluko are clearly very good players but the tactics did them no favours. I couldn't even take notes on them for the first half as they barely played. Not their fault as I said before, a lack of a link is our major issue here (hopefully solved by Swift and a formation change)
The last part of the second half we finally kicked it up a gear. The introduction of Swift made a hell of a difference. He created a different problem for the Sheffield defenders, in fact his introduction made it even more obvious that when we set up with a 5-3-3 we are easy to defend out of a game as there is only one attack to defend against.
The goal was taken well and for the 10ish minutes that followed it actually looked like we might get another goal (undeservedly) Clement in particular looked lively and desperate to win.
Mannone - 6 - Not good, not bad. One good save at close range but positionally was worrying a few times. His passing was standard.
Gunter - 5 - Maybe should consider switching flanks? Was often too central in defense.
Moore - 6 - Hard to think of anything he did wrong but equally hard to think of anything he did well.
Illori - 5 - Looked entirely disinterested at times. Lazy movement after a clearance while the ball was still in play.
Bacuna - ? - I couldn't quite tell what position he was playing and couldn't figure out what he was up to for long periods.
Blackett - 4 - Again better in attack than defense. Not something you want in a starting defender in a team struggling to win.
JVDB - 6 - Movement was more positive. I don't think his vision is great with many passes doing nothing for the team.
Edwards - 5 - Like a slightly worse Evans at the moment. Often hard to spot doing anything but necessary none the less.
Beerens - 6 - Took a shot from the distance in the first half and at least tried something to get a goal.
Barrow - 6 - Its hard to rank these guys higher despite the assist and the goal as the first half they were barely in the game. I like him.
Aluko - 5 - I'm marking him down because of how much he cost.
McShane - 4 - Not his fault he was the worst player to bring on. *Cough Richards Cough* Deserved yellow.
Swift - 7 - A player we have missed badly. Can see him leaving in January for a smaller fee than we would like to see. MOTM.
Clement - 6 - Shortish cameo but actually tried. something a lot of players haven't been doing.
Ref - Fook me this guy didn't like to let small fouls go. Made the awful football on display worse by penalising every tiny indiscretion.
DISCLAIMER
Yes Sheffield are in better form and I think most people would say were realistically likely to win anyway but much of my bitterness comes from how poorly we played. I honestly think that was the worst performance under Stam. It might not have had any stand out moments of awful but the whole thing left me so disinterested and depressed about the future of this team (that I have been genuinely excited about seeing progress) I would have more happily watched The Big Bang Theory.
Much of this is obvious for the attendees and Ifollow viewers but I shall proceed none the less.
Our shape is working against us. We have too many players in our own half for too long during the games. Usually we are great at pondering about on the ball without doing anything meaningful but we struggled to do that this game. In fact we struggled to much at all until the final quarter of the game. Sheffield were a perfect match for our chosen tactics today. They pressed high and played with real intensity. They took full advantage of their set pieces and were unlucky not to score 2 more minimum for free kicks positions. Our fouling played right into their hands today allowing them to control the pace of the game, taking breathers when needed and taking quick balls at the right time. This was in stark contrast to us, who for the most part, took quick free kicks in a seemingly desperate attempt to apply some pressure or attack on the break. In reality I think we would have been better off by stopping and evaluating our position more often, perhaps passing it back and trying to get back to our calm passing at the back.
Our defenders were all over the shop today. Easily led around by the Sheffield attackers. I think our man marking left us dragged about by some simple but effective passing (not to disrespect our opponents, what they did worked but wasn't difficult) Blackett in particular struggled in this regard, with the first goal being mostly his fault as his positional ill-discipline created as much space as Sheffield would ever need down the wing. This is probably because hes not a natural LB or even a natural FB/WB. I agree we should never have changed the defensive line-up from the previous match.
The midfield was isolated and I cant blame them for anything this game. JVDB was his usual over-enthusiastic self who I was surprised didn't get a second card after making 3(I think?) obvious fouls. Edwards was more isolated given his tactical instructions but was often chasing after the ball and trying to put in tackles. He looked frustrated through out and I believe I'm correct in saying he too often lost the ball after making a fair challenge.
Our front 3 may as well not have played for the first half. Barrow and Aluko are clearly very good players but the tactics did them no favours. I couldn't even take notes on them for the first half as they barely played. Not their fault as I said before, a lack of a link is our major issue here (hopefully solved by Swift and a formation change)
The last part of the second half we finally kicked it up a gear. The introduction of Swift made a hell of a difference. He created a different problem for the Sheffield defenders, in fact his introduction made it even more obvious that when we set up with a 5-3-3 we are easy to defend out of a game as there is only one attack to defend against.
The goal was taken well and for the 10ish minutes that followed it actually looked like we might get another goal (undeservedly) Clement in particular looked lively and desperate to win.
Mannone - 6 - Not good, not bad. One good save at close range but positionally was worrying a few times. His passing was standard.
Gunter - 5 - Maybe should consider switching flanks? Was often too central in defense.
Moore - 6 - Hard to think of anything he did wrong but equally hard to think of anything he did well.
Illori - 5 - Looked entirely disinterested at times. Lazy movement after a clearance while the ball was still in play.
Bacuna - ? - I couldn't quite tell what position he was playing and couldn't figure out what he was up to for long periods.
Blackett - 4 - Again better in attack than defense. Not something you want in a starting defender in a team struggling to win.
JVDB - 6 - Movement was more positive. I don't think his vision is great with many passes doing nothing for the team.
Edwards - 5 - Like a slightly worse Evans at the moment. Often hard to spot doing anything but necessary none the less.
Beerens - 6 - Took a shot from the distance in the first half and at least tried something to get a goal.
Barrow - 6 - Its hard to rank these guys higher despite the assist and the goal as the first half they were barely in the game. I like him.
Aluko - 5 - I'm marking him down because of how much he cost.
McShane - 4 - Not his fault he was the worst player to bring on. *Cough Richards Cough* Deserved yellow.
Swift - 7 - A player we have missed badly. Can see him leaving in January for a smaller fee than we would like to see. MOTM.
Clement - 6 - Shortish cameo but actually tried. something a lot of players haven't been doing.
Ref - Fook me this guy didn't like to let small fouls go. Made the awful football on display worse by penalising every tiny indiscretion.
DISCLAIMER
Yes Sheffield are in better form and I think most people would say were realistically likely to win anyway but much of my bitterness comes from how poorly we played. I honestly think that was the worst performance under Stam. It might not have had any stand out moments of awful but the whole thing left me so disinterested and depressed about the future of this team (that I have been genuinely excited about seeing progress) I would have more happily watched The Big Bang Theory.
NewCorkSeth
Yeah.. Its not like Spain won the Euros with a false 9....
Queue everyone saying "we're not Spain"
I know we don't have the same quality players as Spain but we're not playing international quality teams. It's not an excuse. Playing tactics that require a striker while not having a striker on the pitch is an issue.
Royal_jimmy
The reason why we've been struggling this season and why we were awful for 80 minutes today are so evident. We're playing a team with no balance in midfield and we signed 2 midfielders more than we needed. We're so much better in midfield with Swift, Kelly and Evans. Swift links into forward areas well. Evans breaks up play and Kelly is quick and mobile who plays good long balls forward. Maybe Van Den Berg, Swift and Edwards can work, time will tell but we looked far better when Swift was on.
We need to stop 5 at the back right now. It's negative and invites teams to come on to us. 5 at the back only works if our full backs are good at getting forward and although Blackett got good crosses in, he lacks pace. Stam has to return to a 4-3-3 vs Boro.
We've played so many different formations which means that we have players who don't know what they're doing. Aluko today in centre midfield i mean wtf? He's playing Grabbans old midfield role which clearly doesn't suit him. So Grabban plays up front for Sunderland and he's actually scoring! Wow.
The striker situation isn't great either. But why didn't Stam give Sam Smith a go? If Kermie or Bod aren't fit then Smith has to play. Even so, Stams naivety, stubbornness and arrogance is making me feel less like I won't care if he gets sacked
We need to stop 5 at the back right now. It's negative and invites teams to come on to us. 5 at the back only works if our full backs are good at getting forward and although Blackett got good crosses in, he lacks pace. Stam has to return to a 4-3-3 vs Boro.
We've played so many different formations which means that we have players who don't know what they're doing. Aluko today in centre midfield i mean wtf? He's playing Grabbans old midfield role which clearly doesn't suit him. So Grabban plays up front for Sunderland and he's actually scoring! Wow.
The striker situation isn't great either. But why didn't Stam give Sam Smith a go? If Kermie or Bod aren't fit then Smith has to play. Even so, Stams naivety, stubbornness and arrogance is making me feel less like I won't care if he gets sacked
Sutekh
Dont need to be a professional to know that plan A (i.e. dont play strikers but play a load of wingers) does not work and makes for nothing more than utterly pathetic football and zero threat. We all knew what to expect as soon as the lack of Bod was revealed yesterday.
Wonder if itll be the same next week or will there be an experienced striker available?
lightning strikes
Yeah.. Its not like Spain won the Euros with a false 9....
Queue everyone saying "we're not Spain"
I know we don't have the same quality players as Spain but we're not playing international quality teams. It's not an excuse. Playing tactics that require a striker while not having a striker on the pitch is an issue.
Exactly, as I said in the match thread, we were excellent against Villa playing with a false nine.
CountryRoyal
Half the reason we were good against Villa is because they decided not to press us. That's one thing we have demonstrated over the last year, if you give us time and space to play then we will invariably punish you. Unfortunately it doesn't take a huge amount of defensive nous to nullify our threat, and we haven't yet come up with answers on how to deal with that. Personally I don't think we are technically good enough to be able to, and I don't think, at this level, we ever will be.
The more teams realise how to play against us its only going to get harder and as long as that's the case I think we will need a change of approach, I don't think we will get it under Stam though however.
The more teams realise how to play against us its only going to get harder and as long as that's the case I think we will need a change of approach, I don't think we will get it under Stam though however.
Hound
Don’t really agree with the pressing. Other teams have not pressed and sat back, and actually nullified us more (Norwich and Hull imo didn’t really press up Top)
Think that’s a big oversimplification
In a way you play the possession style expecting the oppo to press, the aim is to tire them out and pick out gaps.
Simple thing is we just need to play better. Tactics going forward need to be better, movement needs to be better and we need to stop conceding every bloody game
Think we have to be looking at getting Swift and Kelly back involved. Technically they are our best midfielders and can pick the gaps and runs that Barrow and Aluko should be making
Think that’s a big oversimplification
In a way you play the possession style expecting the oppo to press, the aim is to tire them out and pick out gaps.
Simple thing is we just need to play better. Tactics going forward need to be better, movement needs to be better and we need to stop conceding every bloody game
Think we have to be looking at getting Swift and Kelly back involved. Technically they are our best midfielders and can pick the gaps and runs that Barrow and Aluko should be making
under the tin
+100000.
TBF, Stam was sussed out by most of the other managers in this league towards the tail end of last season.
Sure, we were on a bit of a roll, and edgy, scrappy wins back then in front of a lukewarm Madstad audience only served to paper over the cracks.
The expensive additions to that squad have not added very much to the team's football product, with players being shoe-horned into unfamiliar positions, and you get the feeling that the chemistry in the dressing room has been soured as a result.
Brain McDermott's skill was in maximising what he had available, and getting the best out of that group by utilising a style that played to the available staff's strengths.
Brendan Rogers, on the other hand, decided that his system was more important than staff morale, results, and fan approval.
We all know what happened to him.
glenroyal
Haven't seen many games this season, but what I saw seemed typical of recent stats. Couldn't work out Aluko and Barrow - too lightweight, back to goal, try to win possession under pressure, then what? Unless Beerens was there to run onto something, nothing. (Clarke made the difference for them, and Sharp's goal was worth the ticket.)
Thought Moore was solid, Gunther solid enough, and Illori got better as the game went on, as did JvdB. But in general where were our midfield and our passing (on that narrow pitch)? Beerens would have been MotM until Swift came on. Swift and Clement totally changed the game. Last 10 or 15 mins were as exciting as any game we've seen in recent years. Swift a joy to watch.
glenroyal
Yeah, forgot to mention the ref - bad form to do so in a losing game - but yeah, made it an awful game to watch either way.
Mrs G's comment was "Completely up himself." constantly correcting positions of kicks and throws and retaking for movement etc.
Only good thing we got from him was 5 mins stoppage time for no obvious reason.
Hound
A year and a half and Stam hasn't worked out that if teams press us, we're oxf*rd.
Sheffield utd are everything I wish we were.
Last year, think it was the second game we played, Wolves presses us and battered us. Actually 1st game of season va Preston , second half they did it. It’s hardly a new tactic and one which we countered when playing well
NewCorkSeth
Yeah, forgot to mention the ref - bad form to do so in a losing game - but yeah, made it an awful game to watch either way.
Mrs G's comment was "Completely up himself." constantly correcting positions of kicks and throws and retaking for movement etc.
Only good thing we got from him was 5 mins stoppage time for no obvious reason.
Yeah forgot about the free kick in the first half taken 3 times. We were lucky there. Think your missus is probably spot on. Fancied himself the most important man in the world for those 90 minutes.
Woodcote Royal
I thought we’d turned a corner last week but now it appears it’s back to square one.
My bottom line was don’t start without a striker whilst having one fit and ready to go on the bench or sat in the stand.
Well, fair enough, Bod was injured, but last week was also about a defence that didn’t leak like a sieve. So, having stumbled upon such a rare beast thanks to our mounting injury crisis, surely more of the same should have been the order of the day.
Don’t be silly. All that seemed clear on Radio Berks about yesterday’s defence was that it wasn’t the same as last weeks. Tim and Kev seemed to spend much of the afternoon trying to work out who was playing where.
Frankly, I feel like saying a big FFS
If yesterday’s match day squad and tactics are the best he could achieve from an uninterrupted week of training with this talented and expensively assembled bunch, what is left to say
In every walk of life management is about getting the most out of the resources at your disposal and whereas Stam did extremely well last season this one is turning into a disaster all of his own making.
What we really needed this summer was a keeper and a striker and he was given enough resources to acquire the required quality in both departments. Instead we got enough midfielders to prevent the highly talented Kelly and Swift playing a full role (I could handle some initial failure in order to sacrifice for the future)
He also sold/loaned out existing strike options before acquiring replacements. No one will tell me, at the very least, that Dominic Samuel would not have been a welcome addition for the cup games nor that, given a huge summer outlay, giving him another year to prove himself would not have been a comparatively cheap and worthwhile punt.
I know our national game is littered with prematurely off loaded managers but surely those given more time need to be barking up the right tree. Nothing I’ve seen from Stam this season suggests this is still the case and every week that passes the hole he’s digging gets deeper.
Thanks for all the match reports
My bottom line was don’t start without a striker whilst having one fit and ready to go on the bench or sat in the stand.
Well, fair enough, Bod was injured, but last week was also about a defence that didn’t leak like a sieve. So, having stumbled upon such a rare beast thanks to our mounting injury crisis, surely more of the same should have been the order of the day.
Don’t be silly. All that seemed clear on Radio Berks about yesterday’s defence was that it wasn’t the same as last weeks. Tim and Kev seemed to spend much of the afternoon trying to work out who was playing where.
Frankly, I feel like saying a big FFS
If yesterday’s match day squad and tactics are the best he could achieve from an uninterrupted week of training with this talented and expensively assembled bunch, what is left to say
In every walk of life management is about getting the most out of the resources at your disposal and whereas Stam did extremely well last season this one is turning into a disaster all of his own making.
What we really needed this summer was a keeper and a striker and he was given enough resources to acquire the required quality in both departments. Instead we got enough midfielders to prevent the highly talented Kelly and Swift playing a full role (I could handle some initial failure in order to sacrifice for the future)
He also sold/loaned out existing strike options before acquiring replacements. No one will tell me, at the very least, that Dominic Samuel would not have been a welcome addition for the cup games nor that, given a huge summer outlay, giving him another year to prove himself would not have been a comparatively cheap and worthwhile punt.
I know our national game is littered with prematurely off loaded managers but surely those given more time need to be barking up the right tree. Nothing I’ve seen from Stam this season suggests this is still the case and every week that passes the hole he’s digging gets deeper.
Thanks for all the match reports
Kitsondinho
What is coming through from each one of these posts is the same thing. Those of us who were there, those listening on the radio and seemingly the players too, all wondering who was playing where! As I said in my post, I was dismayed with the number of times Blackett was the furthest player forward on the left. Equally Aluko, Beerens and Barrow spent more time in central midfield, chasing shadows, than creating anything. The big question is now, can Stam simplify the tactics and return to basics? I really want him to, because I don’t want him to be sacked. However we have clearly been found out this year and something needs to change.
WAZZOCK
I think Stam is getting a bit of unfair criticism regarding the transfer activity over the summer, and it is in fact Gourlay and Tevreden who should be on the receiving end of it. No doubt it was identified we needed one or two further additions up top, but at the end of the day Jaap isn't the man who is tasked with picking up and phone and negotiating deals with clubs and players. These two failed Jaap in this regard, so I would be very disappointed if he was the man who got the chop as a result.
He's also been a tad unlucky that of the two strikers that can lead the line, one hasn't kicked a ball and the other has been out for at least half the season so far. I get fans' frustrations about not playing Smith, but we have to respect that fact that Jaap an his numerous coaching staff see these guys day in day out - if these guys don't think he's ready then it's very likely he isn't. Let's not forget there were similar murmurs about Samuel last season, and when he did get the opportunity he flattered to deceive.
He's also been a tad unlucky that of the two strikers that can lead the line, one hasn't kicked a ball and the other has been out for at least half the season so far. I get fans' frustrations about not playing Smith, but we have to respect that fact that Jaap an his numerous coaching staff see these guys day in day out - if these guys don't think he's ready then it's very likely he isn't. Let's not forget there were similar murmurs about Samuel last season, and when he did get the opportunity he flattered to deceive.
RG7Fan
Dont need to be a professional to know that plan A (i.e. dont play strikers but play a load of wingers) does not work and makes for nothing more than utterly pathetic football and zero threat. We all knew what to expect as soon as the lack of Bod was revealed yesterday.
Wonder if itll be the same next week or will there be an experienced striker available?
Why the hell didn't he play Smith?
WAZZOCK
Dont need to be a professional to know that plan A (i.e. dont play strikers but play a load of wingers) does not work and makes for nothing more than utterly pathetic football and zero threat. We all knew what to expect as soon as the lack of Bod was revealed yesterday.
Wonder if itll be the same next week or will there be an experienced striker available?
Why the hell didn't he play Smith?
Because clearly he feels he's not ready yet. He did take a goal well (almost two hours into a game against Millwall's second string), but aside from that he got absolutely bullied in his limited appearances this season.
windermereROYAL
After signing a five year contract in the summer, no chance. Would take big bucks
Just a bit worried that some of our better players and even some of our good players not getting much game time will be thinking about jumping ship.
That was always the danger bringing so many midfielders in.
This Championship game took place 2619 days ago in the 2017/2018 season.