“Nottingham Forest...it’s happened again”

A decent performance in a match we pretty much controlled...interestingly I was told we only had 44% possession which is odd as it felt John Swift had the ball just outside our 18 yrd box most of the game!

My main issue is TEMPO - all good and well controlling the game in your own half but this team could be so much better if we played it at pace. I know we’d likely lose it more but we’d also create more space

Rafael 7 - didn’t really have much to do
Gunter 8 - played really well tonight, read the game well, some great interceptions
Blackett 7 - another sturdy display
Moore 8 - was very impressed by him tonight, led well
Morrison 7 - solid

Pele 7 - played well and some great Adam-esque balls to Obita
Ejaria 6 - stop dwelling on the ball mate
Swift 7 - beautiful to watch at times, awareness of those around him is getting better too
Obita 7 - got forward well tonight, plenty of space given to him by Cash, end product lacking slightly though
Olise 8 - what a player we have on our hands if he can keep playing like that. Glides through the pitch with ease at times. Seems to have more about him than Loader

Puscas 5 - starting to think it’s not going to work out for him here and maybe he’s not settled. He’s evidently got something there, but for £7m I’d expect him to have a better 1st touch and a much better awareness of the game. Was surprised we didn’t start with Baldock partnering him as that would suit him more. Still...he has to do more

Baldock 8 - great turn for the goal. He’s always lively. Should have come on earlier,although I understand why he didn’t as the game was finely poised before a they scored
Loader n/a - not enough time

An enjoyable evening overall!

Good write up. Bowen briefly explained that whilst he prefers playing a duo up top, he wants control in the midfield

Disappointed to see Ejaria not being at the races again tonight, he seemed to hit a good spell in the our winning run but not been at it since Fulham. Bit of a dilemma for next game because I’d look to bring Adam in but for who? By all accounts, Obita did quite well last night

It happened again!!
Excellent point and absolutely deserved. Although Forest created more, we always looked dangerous on the break. Super performances from the back 4 and Raf. Moore, Gunter and Blackett were particularly great. Olise was quality ! Gomes and Obita did well but faded into the 2nd half. Swift and Ejaria brilliant and frustrating....often doing both at the same time!! Obviously the only negative was the fact Baldock didn’t appear for so long. Puscas looked lost and unfit tonight. He clearly needs a partner up there....he just can’t hold the ball up. With time a space he played a couple of intelligent lay-offs...but he just won’t get that long in the Championship. Baldock must start in Cardiff in the league game.

Chant of the night “One nil and you fcuked it up”

When it wasn’t being a library The City Ground crowd was bloody loud.

Although Baldock put a stop to that

Definitely need to play with a bit more tempo very slow in the first half and I’ve never seen Swift drop so far back to bring the ball out he was behind the CB’s at times but we were just too sloppy and lost the ball too easily. Nothing went for Puscas he really struggled to hold it up but tbf Watson was absolutely glued to him a lot but a quality striker needs to be more mobile shake defenders off and create themselves some space.
Much better second half but why do we leave it so late to really start going for it normally after the opposition have scored! Baldock as usual was lively worked hard and scored what more can ask for in a 12 minute appearance. Thought he did really well to get that shot off with 3 defenders around him their keeper must be gutted he didn’t save it, it didn’t look like the hardest of shots.
Back 5 were all pretty solid for the most part thought Gunter had a really good game some really good tackles and interceptions. Bit disappointed Moore couldn’t stop that pass to Grabban for their goal their guy mis kicked it and it just seemed to go straight thru him. At the risk of upsetting the Olise love in I didn’t see a performance that was absolute quality worthy of the highest rating out of all our players as some have given. Yes he played very well for a young lad but I thought Obita was the better wide player got in some decent crosses in the second half and had a decent shot on goal that their keeper fumbled away at the end of the first. Olise twice in the second half had the ball on the edge of their box that I thought he could have got a shot off but he passed sideways out to the wing. I’m prob being a bit over critical now he’s a young lad and he did do well especially as he’s hardly been in the first team of late.
Great point overall against a team right up there going for promotion and great to shut them up within minutes for the second time in a couple of weeks.

Has Olise earned a start against Bristol City?

Olise is class, I'd like him to start every game so we can see as much as possible of him before he goes to a champions league club.
Does need to work on his fitness though and give a bit more defensively. Their goal came from the full back overlapping and Olise not going with him.

All the praise for Olise makes it all the stranger he didn't get a chance when Swift and Ejaria were out.

Would imagine he wasn't hitting the standards expected in training at the time and we were nearer the bottom of the table so more of a "risk" - with a 12 point buffer to that (13 now) and only a slim chance of a play-off push, better scenario to put him in and for him to perform. He also performed very well at Blackpool.

We may well see more of him over the next 17 games esp. if/when our play-off chances retreat further.

I'd say that time is already with us. Our playoffs strategy is essentially "Play as well as we can and see if something unexpected happens". We're not in a pressurized race for the top 6. If Olise is ready, throw him in and get some good experience. Should certainly be ahead of McCleary and Boye, neither of whom will be here next season.

Would imagine he wasn't hitting the standards expected in training at the time and we were nearer the bottom of the table so more of a "risk" - with a 12 point buffer to that (13 now) and only a slim chance of a play-off push, better scenario to put him in and for him to perform. He also performed very well at Blackpool.

We may well see more of him over the next 17 games esp. if/when our play-off chances retreat further.

I also think Bowen only having a contract until the end of the season played a little into it as well. Not really much of an incentive to plan for the future when you've only 6 months to establish your credentials in the job.

That said Bowen Has been pretty consistent in stating what the younger players need to show him to be in contention, mainly to do with work off the ball. Clearly Barrett didn't take it on board (or demonstrate to Bowen he had) but the penny has dropped with Olise.

Yes that Brum game where Bowen got his selection badly wrong. In fairness it was still early days for Bowen so he deserves a bit of slack.

Would imagine he wasn't hitting the standards expected in training at the time and we were nearer the bottom of the table so more of a "risk" - with a 12 point buffer to that (13 now) and only a slim chance of a play-off push, better scenario to put him in and for him to perform. He also performed very well at Blackpool.

We may well see more of him over the next 17 games esp. if/when our play-off chances retreat further.

I also think Bowen only having a contract until the end of the season played a little into it as well. Not really much of an incentive to plan for the future when you've only 6 months to establish your credentials in the job.

That said Bowen Has been pretty consistent in stating what the younger players need to show him to be in contention, mainly to do with work off the ball. Clearly Barrett didn't take it on board (or demonstrate to Bowen he had) but the penny has dropped with Olise.

Yes Bowen made it pretty clear why he wasn't playing - he wasn't working hard enough off the ball.

Nice to see Obita having a good game. I'm starting to feel a lot more optimistic about his long term future, and he might be starting to look at a new contract

2 goals and 3 assists I think since Bowen has come in

I also think Bowen only having a contract until the end of the season played a little into it as well. Not really much of an incentive to plan for the future when you've only 6 months to establish your credentials in the job.

That said Bowen Has been pretty consistent in stating what the younger players need to show him to be in contention, mainly to do with work off the ball. Clearly Barrett didn't take it on board (or demonstrate to Bowen he had) but the penny has dropped with Olise.

Yes Bowen made it pretty clear why he wasn't playing - he wasn't working hard enough off the ball.

Nice to see Obita having a good game. I'm starting to feel a lot more optimistic about his long term future, and he might be starting to look at a new contract

2 goals and 3 assists I think since Bowen has come in

I think the move to a more attacking role is suiting him and helping him manage his workload better - can only be helping his recovery. Blackett's emergence as a dependable LB has definitely helped Obita.

Yes Bowen made it pretty clear why he wasn't playing - he wasn't working hard enough off the ball.

Nice to see Obita having a good game. I'm starting to feel a lot more optimistic about his long term future, and he might be starting to look at a new contract

2 goals and 3 assists I think since Bowen has come in

I think the move to a more attacking role is suiting him and helping him manage his workload better - can only be helping his recovery. Blackett's emergence as a dependable LB has definitely helped Obita.

Its playing to his strengths, and where he can best help the team.

He is probably the best crosser of the ball we have, and has a decent shot on him as well. It does look like we are starting to up his game time gradually - and he is getting to play 2 games a week now (if not the full 90 in both). Watching again, the work he did for Baldock's goal was very good

I said ages ago I could see us moving to a midfield with Yiadom and Obita on the flanks - particularly under Bowen. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's where Yiadom comes back into the team - ie

Yiadom Ejaria Pele Swift Obita
Puscas/Baldock/Joao

Less goals in it possibly but very solid. Would work best with Joao of course

I think the move to a more attacking role is suiting him and helping him manage his workload better - can only be helping his recovery. Blackett's emergence as a dependable LB has definitely helped Obita.

Its playing to his strengths, and where he can best help the team.

He is probably the best crosser of the ball we have, and has a decent shot on him as well. It does look like we are starting to up his game time gradually - and he is getting to play 2 games a week now (if not the full 90 in both). Watching again, the work he did for Baldock's goal was very good

I said ages ago I could see us moving to a midfield with Yiadom and Obita on the flanks - particularly under Bowen. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's where Yiadom comes back into the team - ie

Yiadom Ejaria Pele Swift Obita
Puscas/Baldock/Joao

Less goals in it possibly but very solid. Would work best with Joao of course
Would work very nicely indeed with Joao. A point of interest would be how well will Gunter overlap. We know he is capable of it but one of the strengths of the Blackett/Obita paring has been both are willing to cover/tuck inside/overlap/run an angle into the box. The potential to mix it up on that flank, with Swift and Ejaria inside, has been fantastic to watch.

tbf to Gunts, noticed he was in the box for our goal yesterday

He can do it, and I think he would be braver with Yiadom in front of him. And yeah the idea of that nice little triangle and overlap is good. Sort of thing that Adam is very strong at as well, in terms of threading those balls through for the overlap

Was thinking with Gunter - any idea of a new contract has been written off, but I wonder if they are potentially reconsidering offering another year. He isn't old, and he has been pretty bloody good since he has come back in and suits the Bowen style

I'd be quite happy if he signed a new 1 or 2 year deal to be honest.

He has shown he still has the ability to come in and perform after being out for ages. You'd have to say that Yiadom was a more sellable asset, so bids are probably more likely to come in for him than Gunter, so rather than being just left with Howe, it would be sensible to keep him.

He absolutely can do it. Himself and Yiadom are both so fit as well that the 2 of them sharing a flank could be exhausting for our opponents.

I think a new contract should be offered. He deserves it now.

I'd be quite happy if he signed a new 1 or 2 year deal to be honest.

He has shown he still has the ability to come in and perform after being out for ages. You'd have to say that Yiadom was a more sellable asset, so bids are probably more likely to come in for him than Gunter, so rather than being just left with Howe, it would be sensible to keep him.
Don't think Gunter will be short of offers if he lets his contract run down. If I were advising him I would just tell him to play it cool until the summer, reckon he will end up with offers from some decent Championship teams and abroad.

I hope they offer him a year but would also be happy with 2 - more likely he would sign the latter given his age.

He was excellent yesterday and thought it was the best defender on the pitch in the 2nd half, barely put a foot wrong and was trying to get things moving further forward. The way we are set up now really suits him and he looks a different player - defence almost picks itself at the moment.

He absolutely can do it. Himself and Yiadom are both so fit as well that the 2 of them sharing a flank could be exhausting for our opponents.

I think a new contract should be offered. He deserves it now.

I agree he deserves it, but I wonder would he have any interest in it?

Before all this happened, no matter how well or badly we played, Gunts would always make a point of thanking the fans (remember Stevenage away where he had to tell our captain to go and clap). But I've noticed the last few games, although he's clearly delighted for his team-mates when we score/win, he doesn't seem to have much interest in clapping the fans. E.g., after Forest at home, he gave a cursory spin-round-the-centre-circle 20 second clap, and then spent the rest of the time saying hello to the Forest coaching staff. Similarly, he's never been huge on social media, but he'd post something after a big win. Now, it's pretty much tumbleweed.

Seems like an employee who gives their all for a company, and is devastated to find there is no loyalty in return - I think he's probably pretty disillusioned with ReadingFC and Reading fans now.

He absolutely can do it. Himself and Yiadom are both so fit as well that the 2 of them sharing a flank could be exhausting for our opponents.

I think a new contract should be offered. He deserves it now.

I agree he deserves it, but I wonder would he have any interest in it?

Before all this happened, no matter how well or badly we played, Gunts would always make a point of thanking the fans (remember Stevenage away where he had to tell our captain to go and clap). But I've noticed the last few games, although he's clearly delighted for his team-mates when we score/win, he doesn't seem to have much interest in clapping the fans. E.g., after Forest at home, he gave a cursory spin-round-the-centre-circle 20 second clap, and then spent the rest of the time saying hello to the Forest coaching staff. Similarly, he's never been huge on social media, but he'd post something after a big win. Now, it's pretty much tumbleweed.

Seems like an employee who gives their all for a company, and is devastated to find there is no loyalty in return - I think he's probably pretty disillusioned with ReadingFC and Reading fans now.
I would understand if he felt that way bit its football. Happens every day.

Not to be rude about him as he was treated poorly but not many fans were shouting for them to stay. He proved us wrong for the time being. I think it's fair to say this period has been his most consistently (he has mostly been consistent throughout his career) good in his time at the club.

Will he want to stay? No idea. I probably wouldnt want to. He will have offers. If he leaves then so be it.

I agree he deserves it, but I wonder would he have any interest in it?

Before all this happened, no matter how well or badly we played, Gunts would always make a point of thanking the fans (remember Stevenage away where he had to tell our captain to go and clap). But I've noticed the last few games, although he's clearly delighted for his team-mates when we score/win, he doesn't seem to have much interest in clapping the fans. E.g., after Forest at home, he gave a cursory spin-round-the-centre-circle 20 second clap, and then spent the rest of the time saying hello to the Forest coaching staff. Similarly, he's never been huge on social media, but he'd post something after a big win. Now, it's pretty much tumbleweed.

Seems like an employee who gives their all for a company, and is devastated to find there is no loyalty in return - I think he's probably pretty disillusioned with ReadingFC and Reading fans now.
I would understand if he felt that way bit its football. Happens every day.

Not to be rude about him as he was treated poorly but not many fans were shouting for them to stay. He proved us wrong for the time being. I think it's fair to say this period has been his most consistently (he has mostly been consistent throughout his career) good in his time at the club.

Will he want to stay? No idea. I probably wouldnt want to. He will have offers. If he leaves then so be it.

As a club, I do think it's time to move on from the likes of Gunter and McCleary and I personally would be against giving Gunter a new contract

But Gunter has always been underrated here and is showing up some of the idiots who criticized him on a weekly basis

I would understand if he felt that way bit its football. Happens every day.

Not to be rude about him as he was treated poorly but not many fans were shouting for them to stay. He proved us wrong for the time being. I think it's fair to say this period has been his most consistently (he has mostly been consistent throughout his career) good in his time at the club.

Will he want to stay? No idea. I probably wouldnt want to. He will have offers. If he leaves then so be it.

As a club, I do think it's time to move on from the likes of Gunter and McCleary and I personally would be against giving Gunter a new contract

But Gunter has always been underrated here and is showing up some of the idiots who criticized him on a weekly basis
Feels as bad to say it now as when I said it earlier in the season but McCleary shouldnt be retained. Weird as I know we need wingers.

yes certainly think McCleary's time is up at the end of the season.

Gunter's a couple of years younger though

The team have so much faith in Olise that they let him take the free kick by the penalty area.

How many other teams would give it to the 18 year old?

Wasn't far off the top corner with it either.

Would imagine he wasn't hitting the standards expected in training at the time and we were nearer the bottom of the table so more of a "risk" - with a 12 point buffer to that (13 now) and only a slim chance of a play-off push, better scenario to put him in and for him to perform. He also performed very well at Blackpool.

We may well see more of him over the next 17 games esp. if/when our play-off chances retreat further.
Good thought. Not the call I'd make, but does seem logical.

Would imagine he wasn't hitting the standards expected in training at the time and we were nearer the bottom of the table so more of a "risk" - with a 12 point buffer to that (13 now) and only a slim chance of a play-off push, better scenario to put him in and for him to perform. He also performed very well at Blackpool.

We may well see more of him over the next 17 games esp. if/when our play-off chances retreat further.
Good thought. Not the call I'd make, but does seem logical.

Listening to the interviews with Bowen and Baldock on youtube just now, it seems that Olise has really matured of late - Bowen talks about being able to trust him now as he has shown he won't slack on the defensive side and Baldock alluded to the fact that Olise's attitude has changed in recent weeks and has shaken off the tendency to be lazy and has gained the respect of his colleagues - so if his attitude wasn't right a few weeks/months back would show why he wasn't getting the chance his talent perhaps deserves.