News and Views
Royals Scrape Past MK Dons
24 August 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Jordan Obita hammered home the crucial fourth spot kick to send Reading through to the third round of the EFL Cup on penalties after the Royals had made hard work of a match they should have won comfortably. Both managers used the tie as an opportunity to take a look at new and relatively inexperienced players. Jaap Stam included debutants Liam Moore, Danzell Gravenbach and Liam Kelly in his starting eleven in a team loaded with promising youngsters and recent signings. It was far from Reading's strongest team but still far superior to a similarly experimental MK Dons eleven.
For over half an hour the visitors found it hard to get out of their own half as Reading played the same system as in recent games passing the ball patiently across the back, retaining possession and looking to pass their way through and around their opponent's defence. Everything was going to plan apart from the final ball and the quality of finish. Harriot looked particularly sharp going past his man and firing in a couple of fierce shots from wide positions. Reading were forced to make a change when Rakkels sustained a nasty injury in a challenge on a Dons defender near the corner flag. Beerens came on to replace him on the left. On the other flank Harriot and Watson were combining well and getting behind the visitors defence. MK Dons were gifted the lead on thirty-five minutes when Cooper sold 'keeper Jaakola short with an unbelievably sloppy back pass. Jaakola did his best to recover the situation as Tshimanga raced through, but appeared to clip the Dons forward and miss the ball on the edge of the box. The referee's verdict was a penalty and a yellow card. (It might have been worse as there was no cover behind Jaakola.) The experienced Bowditch stepped up and confidently put the penalty in the net. Read More...
Discussion On This Story:
Armadillo Roadkill
First twenty minutes it looked like just a matter of time until we started to notch up a cricket score. Then Cooper makes one of his calamities - woefully undercut back pass, we're lucky the keeper didn't go off.
To be fair to MK, they carried on trying to make chances all the way through as well as defending deep. It's a bit harsh on them overall. They looked a lot fitter than us.
Kelly looked like the best player on the pitch until his injury. Hope he's OK - it happened just in front of me and it was a sickener.
Harriott was good. Evans was good. Watson was good until he faded. Quinn worked hard. Mendes lacks confidence. Bereens showed flashes of brilliance in fits and starts. Moore looks class.
MK were actually rather more effective at playing out from the back - they showed more purpose and didn't look like they were just passing it around because they didn't know what to do.
We're a work in progress. And we're in the next round of the league cup. And that, for tonight, is enough.
To be fair to MK, they carried on trying to make chances all the way through as well as defending deep. It's a bit harsh on them overall. They looked a lot fitter than us.
Kelly looked like the best player on the pitch until his injury. Hope he's OK - it happened just in front of me and it was a sickener.
Harriott was good. Evans was good. Watson was good until he faded. Quinn worked hard. Mendes lacks confidence. Bereens showed flashes of brilliance in fits and starts. Moore looks class.
MK were actually rather more effective at playing out from the back - they showed more purpose and didn't look like they were just passing it around because they didn't know what to do.
We're a work in progress. And we're in the next round of the league cup. And that, for tonight, is enough.
John Madejski's Wallet
I managed to get weirdly angry at Stamp's tactical f*ck up in that game. Still struggling to understand
Apart from the first 5 min we were aimless dogsh*t just slowly and obviously passing it around the back with no purpose, until the all too predictable backpass from Cooper for the pen. Still nothing after that until Kelly got injured.
Weirdly Kelly was one our best players, but we got so much better when he got injured. We went 3-5-2 with Gravenburch playing it nicely out from the centre of defence. Quinn got more involved, and Obita & Watson were playing high up the field. I thought we looked class from then on and it was only a matter of time before we scored. The system really suited us. So what did Stam do straight after the goal? Go for jugular? No....... he brought on Williams and reverted to 4-4-2.
Cue aimless passing around at the back and utter dogs*t for the rest of the game. Just WTF Stam 
Fair fooks to our Keeper for that awesome double save thing in the first half of extra time. Like the look of him so far.
And I particularly enjoyed the fact that our penalty takers seemed to consist of the ONLY 5 players that could still walk. Seriously, players going down with cramp 5 min into extra time is just mental. Quinn's layoff for the 2nd in ET came purely because he was blowing out his arse, wasn't looking and didn't actually want the ball
Still, some good entertainment for the money
Apart from the first 5 min we were aimless dogsh*t just slowly and obviously passing it around the back with no purpose, until the all too predictable backpass from Cooper for the pen. Still nothing after that until Kelly got injured.
Weirdly Kelly was one our best players, but we got so much better when he got injured. We went 3-5-2 with Gravenburch playing it nicely out from the centre of defence. Quinn got more involved, and Obita & Watson were playing high up the field. I thought we looked class from then on and it was only a matter of time before we scored. The system really suited us. So what did Stam do straight after the goal? Go for jugular? No....... he brought on Williams and reverted to 4-4-2.
Cue aimless passing around at the back and utter dogs*t for the rest of the game. Just WTF Stam Fair fooks to our Keeper for that awesome double save thing in the first half of extra time. Like the look of him so far.
And I particularly enjoyed the fact that our penalty takers seemed to consist of the ONLY 5 players that could still walk. Seriously, players going down with cramp 5 min into extra time is just mental. Quinn's layoff for the 2nd in ET came purely because he was blowing out his arse, wasn't looking and didn't actually want the ball
Still, some good entertainment for the money
Armadillo Roadkill
No, we aren't. We would have been unlucky if he had been sent off as it would have been against the new rules.
Not quite a clear cut as you make out. Refs may choose to only give a yellow if it's not dangerous or was accidental. It was't dangerous, but it was pretty cynical, and could have earned a red. It's not automatic, but then neither is it no longer a red card offence if the referee deems it so.
bracksroyal10
Yes we are a work in progress and yes we got a result tonight.
Let's not forget, this was MK Dons second/youth team pretty much.
How can we go from battling against top of the league Brighton to a draw to scraping through against MK Dons? (Credit to themselves tonight)
Some people might call me short sighted but regardless of our team that we played tonight, that game should have been a forgone conclusion by half time.
With the exception of Harriot and a couple of other occasions, it seemed that no one wanted to take responsibility and make something happen particularly beyond the second half.
We move on to Cardiff, with some very unncessarily tired first team starters.
Let's not forget, this was MK Dons second/youth team pretty much.
How can we go from battling against top of the league Brighton to a draw to scraping through against MK Dons? (Credit to themselves tonight)
Some people might call me short sighted but regardless of our team that we played tonight, that game should have been a forgone conclusion by half time.
With the exception of Harriot and a couple of other occasions, it seemed that no one wanted to take responsibility and make something happen particularly beyond the second half.
We move on to Cardiff, with some very unncessarily tired first team starters.
John Madejski's Wallet
No, we aren't. We would have been unlucky if he had been sent off as it would have been against the new rules.
Not quite a clear cut as you make out. Refs may choose to only give a yellow if it's not dangerous or was accidental. It was't dangerous, but it was pretty cynical, and could have earned a red. It's not automatic, but then neither is it no longer a red card offence if the referee deems it so.
But it also in no way denied a goal scoring chance as their player had booted it so hard it was almost out for a goal kick when the pen occurred
//fwiw definitely outside the box
LWJ
Our formation didn't change
The formation is what we line up as at kickoff or when defending, not when we are attacking. Kelly played the exact same role in the first half by dropping between the two centre backs and the fullbacks pushing up. We were 4-3-3 the whole game.
Also Williams came on because Gravenbirch was exhausted, he went into his natural role with Evans dropping deeper. Who would you have bought on to continue us playing the same way? The reason we had aimless passing was because Evans didn't pick the ball up enough and spread it.
Royality creeps In
Mendes is dreadful
Cooper a liability
Obita runs backwards
Rakels WTF
Jakola What on earth happened for their equalizer
Watson OK
Quinn OK
Beerens frustrating
Williams OK
Graven Big bloke was average
Harriet OK
Kelly Star man until injured by Cooper
Liam Moore looked OK
I'm sure theres others but I cant be arsed
STAM WE NEED A STRIKER, A FOX IN THE BOX. A GOAL SCORING CENTRE FORWARD, God were screaming out for one so bloody frustrating
Cooper a liability
Obita runs backwards
Rakels WTF
Jakola What on earth happened for their equalizer
Watson OK
Quinn OK
Beerens frustrating
Williams OK
Graven Big bloke was average
Harriet OK
Kelly Star man until injured by Cooper
Liam Moore looked OK
I'm sure theres others but I cant be arsed
STAM WE NEED A STRIKER, A FOX IN THE BOX. A GOAL SCORING CENTRE FORWARD, God were screaming out for one so bloody frustrating
urz13
Jaakola - 7 did fine really, a few good saves.
Watson - 6.5 one of our better players until he got knackered.
Moore - 5.5 put in the two best crosses all night but wasn't that impressed defensively
Cooper - 4 liability, always looked for the sideways pass first
Obita - 4 he's turning from a decent attacking fullback into a poor mans version of Gunter
Quinn - 5 runs around a lot and covers for players out of position well but lacks any real talent
Gravenberch - 6 was quite tidy and impressive bar his awful shooting
Kelly - 6 nice on the ball but delivery from corners was very poor
Rakels - 5 nothing to say really
Harriott - 6.5 two good goals but lacks a football brain; far too often he didn't see easy passes, played the wrong option, passed to offside players or slowed the play down unnecessarily. Still, could be a useful signing.
Mendes - 1 absolute carthorse. Missed 3 sitters, hold up play was very poor, every time a low cross came along the 6 yard box he was nowhere to be found - usually just plodding around the edge of the box. Seriously dreadful.
Watson - 6.5 one of our better players until he got knackered.
Moore - 5.5 put in the two best crosses all night but wasn't that impressed defensively
Cooper - 4 liability, always looked for the sideways pass first
Obita - 4 he's turning from a decent attacking fullback into a poor mans version of Gunter
Quinn - 5 runs around a lot and covers for players out of position well but lacks any real talent
Gravenberch - 6 was quite tidy and impressive bar his awful shooting
Kelly - 6 nice on the ball but delivery from corners was very poor
Rakels - 5 nothing to say really
Harriott - 6.5 two good goals but lacks a football brain; far too often he didn't see easy passes, played the wrong option, passed to offside players or slowed the play down unnecessarily. Still, could be a useful signing.
Mendes - 1 absolute carthorse. Missed 3 sitters, hold up play was very poor, every time a low cross came along the 6 yard box he was nowhere to be found - usually just plodding around the edge of the box. Seriously dreadful.
paultheroyal
You can't even compare that to Brighton. We made 10 changes ffs!!
We had more possession, more shots and we bloody won.
Carlisle took Derby to penalties, Northampton beat West Brom
Etc etc
Why are the players unnecessarily tired? It's Tuesday and the first teamers were in bar 1871 or played 60 mins of football.
Thomas L'Heureux
I do find these back from the game threads odd at times. I can't say I really agree with the take on player ratings thus far, and here's as to why:
Jaakkola seemed pretty assured to me. He made some decent saves, one particularly towards the end of the game when it came through a crowd and he tipped it around the post. The equaliser seemed to be a very good first save from him, one he had no right to make, and given the close proximity it's no surprise their player got a second bite. I said to the person I was with that he'd save a penalty. And he did.
Moore looked a serious upgrade on McShane. Not that I think he is an upgrade on the aforementioned as they'll begin playing together, but he looks by far a more rounded player. Could hear him talking throughout and he looked comfortable on the ball, playing out from the back.
We had a decent shape and tempo to us until Kelly's injury. Evans didn't come on and demand the ball which is what upset that. Long spells of passing along the back five and not going anywhere were largely down to him not dropping into pockets or coming deeper to receive the ball. He seemed to just stand and watch it without being the option most of the time.
Gravenberch looked very capable on the ball, which is no surprise for his size. He can receive it under pressure and turn his man quite easily. I don't think we'll quite know how or where to play him right now, but he showed decent potential from what I saw.
Rakkels lost the ball every time he touched it. And unfortunately for him got injured doing the only good thing he did in the match.
Harriott is decent. Even as the final whistle blew after extra time he was carrying the ball forward, looking to be positive. A comment suggesting he lacks a footballing brain is harsh. He works incredibly hard, and is always looking to make something happen which is more than can be said for most. Two quality finishes too, which again, most aren't capable of. I honestly wouldn't mind seeing him pushing the first team.
Jaakkola seemed pretty assured to me. He made some decent saves, one particularly towards the end of the game when it came through a crowd and he tipped it around the post. The equaliser seemed to be a very good first save from him, one he had no right to make, and given the close proximity it's no surprise their player got a second bite. I said to the person I was with that he'd save a penalty. And he did.
Moore looked a serious upgrade on McShane. Not that I think he is an upgrade on the aforementioned as they'll begin playing together, but he looks by far a more rounded player. Could hear him talking throughout and he looked comfortable on the ball, playing out from the back.
We had a decent shape and tempo to us until Kelly's injury. Evans didn't come on and demand the ball which is what upset that. Long spells of passing along the back five and not going anywhere were largely down to him not dropping into pockets or coming deeper to receive the ball. He seemed to just stand and watch it without being the option most of the time.
Gravenberch looked very capable on the ball, which is no surprise for his size. He can receive it under pressure and turn his man quite easily. I don't think we'll quite know how or where to play him right now, but he showed decent potential from what I saw.
Rakkels lost the ball every time he touched it. And unfortunately for him got injured doing the only good thing he did in the match.
Harriott is decent. Even as the final whistle blew after extra time he was carrying the ball forward, looking to be positive. A comment suggesting he lacks a footballing brain is harsh. He works incredibly hard, and is always looking to make something happen which is more than can be said for most. Two quality finishes too, which again, most aren't capable of. I honestly wouldn't mind seeing him pushing the first team.
urz13
Not saying Harriott isn't any good, he did play fairly well tonight. What I meant by the 'lack of a footballing brain' comment was that he picked the wrong option far too often - ie in the second half he lead a counter attack with Beerens in support, delayed playing Beerens in on goal for ages and when he did play the pass it was underhit, behind him and Beerens was already offside. Chance gone. Another example would be in injury time when he Williams made a run behind a defender down the line, again he delayed the pass until Williams was offside and coming back for a short pass.
It was just basic stuff like that that was frustrating and makes me question his footballing intelligence. Also he failed to see many other passes and had his head down a lot running into trouble.
Still, he was dangerous and scored two good goals. And it was only one game, that's just how he came across to me.
K.URZ13
Good end result against a fit and motivated MK side. The fitness levels of our players was a little concerning but other than that it was ok.
Some of the negativity on here is just outstanding. Urz13, royalty creeps in; I hope you get aggressive bollock cancer so you actually have something justifiable to whine about.
Some of the negativity on here is just outstanding. Urz13, royalty creeps in; I hope you get aggressive bollock cancer so you actually have something justifiable to whine about.
LWJ
Our formation didn't change
In that nice section between Kelly getting injured and Williams coming on we were playing with Grav right in the middle of a back 3
I think you are confused as to what a formation is.
When we lined up against a goal kick, kick off or set piece from inside their half. Were we 3-5-2? No.
Brum Royal
Third game of the season for me last night (Plymouth, Wolves and MK) and my overall verdict remains the same - the passing system is fine and I can see how Stam is trying to get us to play, but it needs to have a) a lot more off the ball movement, and b) a higher tempo to make it work. When that has happened we look decent, but when the movement dries up it becomes very nervy and lots of passing between the two centre backs, the keeper and a deep lieing centre mid.
Losing Rakkels first half was a blow as his movement up top was helping to create opportunities for others and we didn't look as effective from the centre forward position after he went off. Felt sorry for Cooper last night, an awful back pass for the opening goal, a really nasty clash of heads with Kelly and then having to limp around up front for about 40 minutes after picking up a leg injury as we'd used all our subs - I still he'll come good in time but there's still that one major howler per game in him at the moment. Gravenberch looked decent as a centre mid, had good feet, used the ball well and linked play, when he came off I didn't think we looked as effective in the middle until Quinn moved across later on. Quinn I thought had a very good game last night, probably our MotM. Two good goals from Harriott.
Losing Rakkels first half was a blow as his movement up top was helping to create opportunities for others and we didn't look as effective from the centre forward position after he went off. Felt sorry for Cooper last night, an awful back pass for the opening goal, a really nasty clash of heads with Kelly and then having to limp around up front for about 40 minutes after picking up a leg injury as we'd used all our subs - I still he'll come good in time but there's still that one major howler per game in him at the moment. Gravenberch looked decent as a centre mid, had good feet, used the ball well and linked play, when he came off I didn't think we looked as effective in the middle until Quinn moved across later on. Quinn I thought had a very good game last night, probably our MotM. Two good goals from Harriott.
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