quickwingerswife Yeah, good point, but he had some good players in the youth set up who were farmed out. If you remember, the ball never got carried or passed much in the middle third. The tactics became so raw I just got fed up and bored I stopped going. Oliver Norwood has been the only star this season, I'm sure his time will be up.
Armadillo Roadkill Yes he was. And that manager was Brendan Rodgers.
Lower Westquickwingerswife When McDermott was here before he used the long ball a lot and the team was crying out for a ball playing midfielder.
We had Matejovsky.
Trouble was he was on a different wave length to the rest of the team. Nor did he contribute enough to the team. Too lightweight for English football in the lower leagues.
McD used that the players that were available effectively. Hopefully he will do the same this time. .
SCIAGLower Westquickwingerswife When McDermott was here before he used the long ball a lot and the team was crying out for a ball playing midfielder.
We had Matejovsky.
Trouble was he was on a different wave length to the rest of the team. Nor did he contribute enough to the team. Too lightweight for English football in the lower leagues.
McD used that the players that were available effectively. Hopefully he will do the same this time. .
The problem with Matejovsky was that he wasn't as good as Gylfi, so we sold him. Then we sold Gylfi too.
The other major problem he had was with injuries, he missed the start of both his seasons here.
He was no Carrico, but he was also no Cywka.
quickwingerswife I coached as well. If you remember I offered to cure Alex Pearce of his flat footed running. Nobody took me seriously then but wonder what's keeping him out of the Derby side??
AthleticoSpizz Thought we did this Matejovski thing eons ago....but
Totally clueless Reading player, totally out of our league, a luxury that we tried to carry for a while....after that initial flash of excitement...he ended up passing all of our procession away.......eventually seen for what he was and dropped in favour for the programe seller.
LibertineRoyal Farmer I don't post on here much (I'm sure to the benefit of the board's overall IQ), but for my part I can't help but feel Brian gets a lot of undue stick over his "long ball style". [Puts on RTGs] In his first half season after Brendan's dismissal, during which time he arguably had a squad that contained the most talented individuals of his tenure, he played some fantastic football that was a joy to watch. I remember sitting in the sun watching us shred an admittedly already relegated Peterborough 6-0 and just loving every second of it. The subsequent seasons saw us constantly ship out any player who'd been a shining light for us previously, often at short notice, and Brian constantly having to adapt as quickly as possible to find a means of getting the team up and running. He wasn't in a position to bring in new players to replace the likes of Gylfi or Long. His hands were seemingly tied financially early on or forced by a football manager chairman during our premiership stay. Both scenarios meant we couldn't pursue the kind of players we needed to recreate the 'pretty' football that Brian encouraged early on and which some of us I feel have subsequently forgotten. In short, I think we really shouldn't criticise Brian's playing style from his first stint in charge, and rather simply laud the fact that he found a means of making each squad play to and beyond their potential each season. A argument could even be made for him doing this in the Prem, given how weak that squad really was.
As to the op, I think that Brian has shown in his previous time at Reading that he can be tactically flexible, and favours not long ball football but simply a style that gets the best out of the collective group. People are saying Guthrie is proof that he can't play passing football, but I'd say Guthrie was sacrificed under this philosophy due to the lack of overall ability in the squad.The squad we have now is I think the strongest Brian will ever have managed at Reading, and thus I hope we'll see football which reflects that. Norwood is a key component of what we do now and has been one of our players of the season. I can't see Brian ignoring that, at least I certainly hope not anyway.
Thank you for this post!
This is exactly how I remembered things. And each time one of our better players were sold suitable replacements were not provided because of cost resulting in Brian having no choice but to play the style that he is so derided for around here...and still managed to get us promoted.
And once promoted one of his first moves was to get an Ollie Norwood type of player for the midfield. Unfortunately that player turned out to be a lobster thermadore chucking pcunt of a mistake. Norwood is exactly the type of player Brian wants. If anyone suffers from Brian's return it will be Danny Williams, once Tish and Quinn are deemed fit to play.
sandman Norwood is exactly the type of player Brian wants. If anyone suffers from Brian's return it will be Danny Williams, once Tish and Quinn are deemed fit to play.
3pointssandman Norwood is exactly the type of player Brian wants. If anyone suffers from Brian's return it will be Danny Williams, once Tish and Quinn are deemed fit to play.
Agree with this. Norwood looks much more effective (and more dangerous) slightly further up the pitch rather than picking the ball up 10 yards from his own penalty box. Hopefully he'll be finding Vydra's runs this afternoon rather than having to pass to Gunter or Taylor
quickwingerswife Jonathan Bond is such a nice bloke, and he's another one who will suffer under McDermott cos he can't punt it 200 yards.
Royal With Cheesequickwingerswife Jonathan Bond is such a nice bloke, and he's another one who will suffer under McDermott cos he can't punt it 200 yards.
If he could punt it 200 yards you'd have to pick the ball up form the B&Q car park.
+1 The team is greater than the individuals.Royalwaster On the other hand Norwood has played every game this season and even though he's played pretty well, like the rest of the team he's not been amazing .... so if a different combination works better, maybe this is the end of him.
Forbury Lion+1 The team is greater than the individuals.Royalwaster On the other hand Norwood has played every game this season and even though he's played pretty well, like the rest of the team he's not been amazing .... so if a different combination works better, maybe this is the end of him.
I believe, as was stated elsewhere, That Brian picks a formation to suit the players at his disposal but also to get the best results. Being a great passer of the ball is a great if the rest of the team get into good positions to receive the ball and capitalise on it, However if they do not and more importantly if we are leaking goals it might be better all round to have two defensive holding players in the center of the field.
I personally hope Norwood has a future at the club but it may be that he gets benched until the we become stronger at the back and more threatening up front..... January transfer window?
leon3pointssandman Norwood is exactly the type of player Brian wants. If anyone suffers from Brian's return it will be Danny Williams, once Tish and Quinn are deemed fit to play.
Agree with this. Norwood looks much more effective (and more dangerous) slightly further up the pitch rather than picking the ball up 10 yards from his own penalty box. Hopefully he'll be finding Vydra's runs this afternoon rather than having to pass to Gunter or Taylor
I've been critical of him in the past because of his decision making but Williams had a great game today. He showed exactly what he's good at. He closed down quickly, tackled and on the ball got forward quickly. Plus he scored an absolute cracker of a goal.
blueroyals The moderators have clearly given up on "off topic posts will be removed"
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