by Mr Angry »
03 Aug 2009 10:33
My views fwiw.
I think to start off with we were a little in awe of the Superstars on the pitch, but when we settled I was really encouraged by our display and especially by the youngsters (hopefully) coming into the first team; players like Pearce, Robson-Kanu, and Davies don't have the baggage of last season around them and played with an exuberance that was great to watch.
Chelsea: clearly experimenting as had no width and a shocking lack of pace between Carvalho and Terry - I know its "only" a friendly but how did either Terry or Carvalho NOT get a red card for the foul on Shane Long from which Scott Davies scored? Or Obi Mikel not get at least a yellow for hacking down Davies when last man earlier in the first half?
Reading: Style - 451 in attack with width and support from Davies coming from deep in the middle - could be exciting... in defence the formation morphed into a 4231 with Gunnar and Tabb sat in front of the back 4, with the other 3 midfielders forming the first line of defence; even Chelsea found that hard to break down, so the majority of Championship sides UNLESS they have very pacy/skilful wingers, will struggle. A lot more passing than last season - is the fact that the pitch looked like the top of a snooker table a factor, and will it change once the rugger buggers cut the surface to ribbons? Who knows.
Player scores:
A Fed: Good shot stopper, but looked hesitant and uncertain under the high ball swinging in - 6
Betrand: Raw but great potential - a season with us will benefit him greatly and will give cover optins - 6
Pearce: Solid leader, great save off the goal line in the 1st half, generally got the better of Drogba - 8
Cisse: Gave solid defensive cover to Pearce in the first half, less comfortable with high balls coming into the box. Played ok as a DM in 2nd - 7
Rosenior: More of the same; gave good options to Kebe going forward, exposed defensively. ANOTHER slip nearly led to a goal - 6
Gunnarsson: Solid DM role in the 45 he was on, got caught in possession a couple of times. can he last 90 mins? Unlikely. 7
Tabb: battled away well, though short of positive end results. Would become anonymous from time to time. 6
Kebe: More of the same - LOTS of potential, hugely frustrating end result. Took his chance well though. 7
Robson-Kanu: Excellent 45 mins; ran Cashley ragged and created the panic which led to the first goal. got back well defensively as well. Encouraging. 8
Davies: Sidwellesque. Very well taken free kick, and lots of pace. One for the starting 11 more often than not IMHO. 8
Long: Great run which led to the free kick, but generally struggled in lone striker role up against the England captain. 6
Subs:
Bikey: I was surprised to see him in a Reading shirt again tbh; offered a bit more solidity in the air, but casual and sloppy as per last season. 6
NHunt: Ineffective being played out of position. 5
Mooney: Ineffective with no service. 5
Church: Ineffective with no service. 5
Henry: Made space well for a half chance. By passed for most of the time he was on the pitch but gave away a silly free kick which led to the equalizer. 6
Conclusions?
1. We need another Centre Half. We have 3 currently - 1 is crocked, 1 is raw and inexperienced and 1 is a liability - we also have to draft a midfielder into the role which isn't good.
2. We need a 20= goal a season striker - urgently. Is this not the most obvious issue at the moment??
3. We need a quality full back - Rosenior worries me and there doesn't appear to be anyone pushing him for the shirt. Unreliability + complacency = problems.
Thoughts a week before we start the season:
Positivity due to the youngsters coming through, but I don't expect us to get into the play-offs this season. A top 10 finish in what is clearly going to be a transition season would be success imho.
