Ouroborosgrey_squirrel Obita at left back is a predictable, if belated, masterstroke by Adkins. !
How could it be a masterstroke if it was supposedly so obvious?
I bet the edge of your seat is nice and warm as usual.
Back From The Game - Bolton
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grey_squirrel
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I bet the edge of your seat is nice and warm as usual.
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kwik-silva
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When you manage to shut the guy behind me up, then you know we've played well.
Thought Bolton were dire though, and should probably have kept it to something lower. Still, I'm gonna ignore that and just bask in the glory of it.
blog post
Thought Bolton were dire though, and should probably have kept it to something lower. Still, I'm gonna ignore that and just bask in the glory of it.
blog post
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Cripple Creek
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Holy mackerel. It's 6.30am in the morning here in Australia. Rushed to look at the BBC News thinking "probably a bit of a dispiriting result with some lukewarm (at best) reports from the BFG posters". And I find this. Wonderful stuff. Best thing for me was to read the poster pointing out that at one stage there were five academy players out there (that is really fairly remarkable). I'm loving the fact that Pog is so dedicated to the cause when, let's face it, after relegation his heart must have sunk at playing in the Championship - it is after all not what he signed up for. Wonderful as well that Obita is doing so well at left back. I am a happy man.
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Millsy
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I am fairly happy with that win I guess.
Well - who saw that coming?!
What was most encouraging for me was to see our style of play change as the match wore on and we grew in confidence. The first 15 - 20 minutes were - to be fair - pretty forgettable. It was the same old passing around the back four before they (or McCarthy) launched a long ball up the field. However, Alf scored - arguably somewhat against the run of play as Bolton were doing most of the pressing in the opening minutes - and when the second went in we seemed to visibly gain in confidence and self-belief.
Gone were the hopeful hoof-balls as the midfield played the ball to feet and set up goal after goal. It was like the first half at home to Watford but this lasted until the end of the game and was more productive. We saw flick-ons, dummies, back-heels and one-touch football most of which came off and we ran Bolton ragged. It was a delight to watch.
We also defended with a higher line - something I noticed at our previous home game - and this denied the opposition mid-field space to set up their attacks.
In addition there was a sense of urgency and desire which has been sadly missing from our game. Now we were getting to the loose balls first; now we were harrying the opposition at every opportunity; now we were even taking our throw-ins more quickly. Everyone seemed eager for the ball and seemed to know where their team-mates were without looking. In short - we looked like a team at last!!
MOTM? I'm tempted to say - the team, but individually it is impossible not to give it to a man who scores a first-half hat trick. Alf also worked his socks off more effectively than of late but there were others who contributed as much, if not more, to the game as a whole.
I thought Jobi was immense! He was everywhere - in attack and in defence - and really led by example. He seems to have instantly found an understanding with Obita down the left-hand side and the Jordan/Jobi partnership worked well.
As did the Gunter/McCleary partnership on the right. Williams also put in a good shift despite being the recipient of some heavy, often unfair, tackles. Pog continues his march to be POTS (an accolade that seemed destined to go to Guthrie a few months ago) and he is now linking up well with Alf which showed particularly in his deft flick-on to set up Alf for his second goal.
Akpan was also a contender for MOTM. He is a revelation from his performances earlier in the season. I don't think he put a foot wrong all match and showed great pace and determination throughout. Gorkss scored again and was solid as a rock throughout. He even showed some clever footwork tight on the touchline to beat 2 players and lay the ball off to one of our front men. Blackman did well when he came on too.
Which only leaves McCarthy who, apart from one good save, had very little to do and had no chance with their scrappy consolation goal; and Pearce whose mistake led to McCarthy having to make that big save. He was the only one not to shine really yet he didn't have a 'bad' game. He was the only defender who seemed to retain the 'anywhere will do' attitude to clearing a ball which was disappointing.
I hope this will prove to be a turning point in our season. We can play good football; we can play the passing game; we do not need to resort to hoof-ball! We are, at last, a team!!
What was most encouraging for me was to see our style of play change as the match wore on and we grew in confidence. The first 15 - 20 minutes were - to be fair - pretty forgettable. It was the same old passing around the back four before they (or McCarthy) launched a long ball up the field. However, Alf scored - arguably somewhat against the run of play as Bolton were doing most of the pressing in the opening minutes - and when the second went in we seemed to visibly gain in confidence and self-belief.
Gone were the hopeful hoof-balls as the midfield played the ball to feet and set up goal after goal. It was like the first half at home to Watford but this lasted until the end of the game and was more productive. We saw flick-ons, dummies, back-heels and one-touch football most of which came off and we ran Bolton ragged. It was a delight to watch.
We also defended with a higher line - something I noticed at our previous home game - and this denied the opposition mid-field space to set up their attacks.
In addition there was a sense of urgency and desire which has been sadly missing from our game. Now we were getting to the loose balls first; now we were harrying the opposition at every opportunity; now we were even taking our throw-ins more quickly. Everyone seemed eager for the ball and seemed to know where their team-mates were without looking. In short - we looked like a team at last!!
MOTM? I'm tempted to say - the team, but individually it is impossible not to give it to a man who scores a first-half hat trick. Alf also worked his socks off more effectively than of late but there were others who contributed as much, if not more, to the game as a whole.
I thought Jobi was immense! He was everywhere - in attack and in defence - and really led by example. He seems to have instantly found an understanding with Obita down the left-hand side and the Jordan/Jobi partnership worked well.
As did the Gunter/McCleary partnership on the right. Williams also put in a good shift despite being the recipient of some heavy, often unfair, tackles. Pog continues his march to be POTS (an accolade that seemed destined to go to Guthrie a few months ago) and he is now linking up well with Alf which showed particularly in his deft flick-on to set up Alf for his second goal.
Akpan was also a contender for MOTM. He is a revelation from his performances earlier in the season. I don't think he put a foot wrong all match and showed great pace and determination throughout. Gorkss scored again and was solid as a rock throughout. He even showed some clever footwork tight on the touchline to beat 2 players and lay the ball off to one of our front men. Blackman did well when he came on too.
Which only leaves McCarthy who, apart from one good save, had very little to do and had no chance with their scrappy consolation goal; and Pearce whose mistake led to McCarthy having to make that big save. He was the only one not to shine really yet he didn't have a 'bad' game. He was the only defender who seemed to retain the 'anywhere will do' attitude to clearing a ball which was disappointing.
I hope this will prove to be a turning point in our season. We can play good football; we can play the passing game; we do not need to resort to hoof-ball! We are, at last, a team!!
Last edited by marlowuk on 18 Jan 2014 19:14, edited 1 time in total.
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Ian Royal
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ALF is crap starting.
Gorkss down the wing reminded me of Ivar in his heyday.
Fair play to the Bolton fans who stayed to the end and chanted "easy" when they scored.
Matthew Mills, your boys took one hell of a beating!
Fair play to the Bolton fans who stayed to the end and chanted "easy" when they scored.
Matthew Mills, your boys took one hell of a beating!
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MmmMonsterMunch
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Big kudos to the Bolton fans. They cracked me up - very good gallows humour given the circumstances & not once did they boo the team.
Pick the bones out of that one Dellor haha
Pick the bones out of that one Dellor haha
MmmMonsterMunch Big kudos to the Bolton fans. They cracked me up - very good gallows humour given the circumstances & not once did they boo the team.
Pick the bones out of that one Dellor haha
team without Adkins lovechild, playing a pressing game and getting the ball quickly down down the wings. hmmmmmm
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MmmMonsterMunch
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leonMmmMonsterMunch Big kudos to the Bolton fans. They cracked me up - very good gallows humour given the circumstances & not once did they boo the team.
Pick the bones out of that one Dellor haha
team without Adkins lovechild, playing a pressing game and getting the ball quickly down down the wings. hmmmmmm
Damned if he changes it, damned if he doesn't!!
FTR - Guthrie is without question one of our better players but I don't think there is the right blend in there for Guthrie to flourish at present. He & Karacan were great together at the start of the season.
I just think the bad run was a combination of factors i.e. injuries, no confidence, nervous players.
Really hoping we click now. I think it was always going to take Adkins a little while to figure out what makes the fans tick & the culture of the club i.e. high work rate, high tempo football & hopefully he is starting to understand that now.
Saying that however, we actually passed very well today. It was the complete performance. And I also think Adkins does mix the play up & he did do that at Saints. His ethos is quite clearly not to bore the fans to death - despite what whiners on here might say.
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winchester_royal
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Exactly. Whenever we play well and create chances it's 'Adkins has seen the error of his ways', as if he sends the team out with the expressed instruction to not create.
He's always looked to play with width and tempo, he's did that at Saints and Scunny, but he also wants the team to play with an element of control so that we don't end up having to spend most of the game defending. It's a balance, a balance that we've not found consistently thus far this season, but it's pretty clear that we're working towards to that goal.
So - when it all comes together like it did today it's not 'despite' the management, but because of the hard work that is taking place throughout the club to evolve. There'll be more bad days to come, that's for sure, but the same can be said for every club. But we can feel happy tonight because today was a vision of what we're looking to consistently produce, and if we achieve that then we're in for a treat.
He's always looked to play with width and tempo, he's did that at Saints and Scunny, but he also wants the team to play with an element of control so that we don't end up having to spend most of the game defending. It's a balance, a balance that we've not found consistently thus far this season, but it's pretty clear that we're working towards to that goal.
So - when it all comes together like it did today it's not 'despite' the management, but because of the hard work that is taking place throughout the club to evolve. There'll be more bad days to come, that's for sure, but the same can be said for every club. But we can feel happy tonight because today was a vision of what we're looking to consistently produce, and if we achieve that then we're in for a treat.
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St. Brynjar
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECdVMtSPoKM
He's cheesy as anything but Nigel's delight is infectious. Really happy for him that it all clicked today.
He's cheesy as anything but Nigel's delight is infectious. Really happy for him that it all clicked today.
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SHORT AND CURLY
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MmmMonsterMunchleonMmmMonsterMunch Big kudos to the Bolton fans. They cracked me up - very good gallows humour given the circumstances & not once did they boo the team.
Pick the bones out of that one Dellor haha
team without Adkins lovechild, playing a pressing game and getting the ball quickly down down the wings. hmmmmmm
Damned if he changes it, damned if he doesn't!!
I just think the bad run was a combination of factors i.e. injuries, no confidence, nervous players.
AND shit managerial decisions.
At last the buffoon realises what is required
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MmmMonsterMunch
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St. Brynjar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECdVMtSPoKM
He's cheesy as anything but Nigel's delight is infectious. Really happy for him that it all clicked today.
Bless his cotton socks pleased for him
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sandman
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leonMmmMonsterMunch Big kudos to the Bolton fans. They cracked me up - very good gallows humour given the circumstances & not once did they boo the team.
Pick the bones out of that one Dellor haha
team without Adkins lovechild, playing a pressing game and getting the ball quickly down down the wings. hmmmmmm
+1
Just like watching a "Reading way" McDermott or Coppell side today with a good mix of short and long passing and the energy and width that we've been sorely lacking under Adkins.
Well done to the players.
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P!ssed Off
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MmmMonsterMunch Just got back after some celebratory bevvies.
All you Adkins haters...........suck my hairy balls
Although Bolton were fcuking awful
All those that doubted that Adkins could get Reading playing entertaining possession based, passing football look silly now don't they?
Oh wait...
Possession: 48%
Pass Success: 65%
No. of short passes: Less than the team we beat 7-1.
The last 2 games have been great victories for Reading, and great victories for Adkins.
But victories for all those that championed Reading's transition to a possession based, slow tempo, tippy-tappy team? I don't think so.
Yeah, absolute LOL at all those that said Reading's tactics for the first 24 games of the season were boring and ineffective.
Fair play to Adkins for realising that his preferred style of play did not suit the players at his disposal. But I'm not sure how you can gloat at the people who have been saying exactly this all season.
Well done to Adkins for motivating the players after a horrific run of form and for making some decent team selections e.g. Obita at LB.
But today merely shows what an absolute waste the first half of the season was.
How many other horrendous teams came to the Madejski, but left unpunished?
Last edited by P!ssed Off on 18 Jan 2014 20:01, edited 3 times in total.
48% possession according to the BBC website. Slightly surprised by that.
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Barry the bird boggler
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Managed 8 shots on target - so on previous experience this season that's about 5 games worth - and seven went in!
Amazing, most scored at this level by Reading since 1931 (7-3 v Stoke)
Le Fondre and Williams were outstanding
Question is can we keep it up against the better teams like Ipswich next week?
Amazing, most scored at this level by Reading since 1931 (7-3 v Stoke)
Le Fondre and Williams were outstanding
Question is can we keep it up against the better teams like Ipswich next week?
3points 48% possession according to the BBC website. Slightly surprised by that.
I told you those stats were dodgy..
Best afternoon we've had down there though.
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