tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13486153814481380692024-03-05T14:17:55.486+00:00Sent Off From The BenchFrom the man who's still convinced that Nick Blackman is a good player.stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.comBlogger207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-10026962662334130452023-01-08T09:21:00.000+00:002023-01-08T09:21:00.745+00:00Starting the Year Renew<p>Ah, 2023. A new year. A time to take stock of what you have, and look forward to the twelve months ahead. The first thing on Paul Ince's plate is to renew Andy Carroll and Amadou Mbengue's contracts - something he's been very vocal about wanting to do.</p><p>Mbengue is a difficult one. Yes, he is undoubtedly an exciting prospect but this is a club with six other senior centre backs. He'd be useful cover elsewhere, namely at right back, but Kelvin Abrefa has also showed some promise in that position in his, albeit small, cameos so far. Ince has already said his preferred back three is Yiadom, Holmes, and Sarr. Mbengue could be first-choice backup on the right side of that three, but given Yiadom is captain and played more minutes than anyone outside of Ince and Hendrick, realistically he won't get much of a look in. Likewise TMc is probably ahead of him for Sarr's spot. Shifting Moore and Dann in the summer still leaves him in the same position - and that's before we even get to looking at what a Paul Ince back four looks like. (Does it look like a defender who is in the 97th percentile of aerials <i>lost</i>? I doubt it)</p><p>Realistically if there's a clear pathway, maybe he <i>is </i>a better right back option than Abrefa, then it probably makes sense. If he's going to sit on the bench and play a bit part for the next couple of years, we have an academy for that.</p><p>The one I'm more certain about is Andy Carroll. A bit of a cult hero, but not doing a whole lot on the pitch.</p><p>Let's start out with the big stuff. </p><p>A goal almost every other game is masking the fact he only scores about one in four when discounting penalties. Penalties obviously <i>do</i> need to be scored, but I think it's generous to count them in a discussion about how well a player is doing generally. 0.22 goals per 90 is still in line with Joao (0.26) and Meite (0.29) but when we look at non-penalty xG numbers there's some suggestions that Carroll won't remain level. Meite leads the team with 0.37 npxG p90, followed by Joao and Long at around 0.23 each. That makes Carroll the worst striker by this metric, with just 0.11 - or a goal every nine games.</p><p>He <i>is </i>currently exceeding his expected goals value, scoring an extra goal from open play so far. He did the same in his first spell with Reading, and maybe we're set up to get Carroll the 'right sort' of chances but overall fbref has him underperforming his xG in the since the start of 2017/18. Maybe that's because he was in the Premier League for four seasons - we can hope.</p><p>He's also not benefitting the team a lot in terms of chance creation. Shot creating actions are the two actions (pass, dribble, shot, fouled, or some defensive action) that precede a shot being taken. Carroll ranks below all but Long - though the Irishman still ends up having the highest expected assists value among the strikeforce, while Carroll's is lowest. When you look at <i>Goal </i>Creating Actions then, again, he's bottom of the pile. 0.11 GCA per 90 minutes, three times less than Yakou's 0.39. Though Carroll has admittedly been done a little dirty here by the fact the Hull's own goal didn't garner him anything, likewise Meite's penalty against Swansea.</p><p>But not only does Carroll not score or create <i>himself</i>, with him on the pitch the team is statistically poorer - a net 0.28 xG worse off than when he's not in the side. Has there been a clearer example of this than our victory in the FA Cup over Watford? Reading, in total control, replace Femi Azeez with Andy Carroll and to facilitate that switch Shane Long drops into midfield. All of a sudden Reading lack mobility, and lack hold up - particularly when Joao is then taken off for Michael Craig. That leads to Watford being able to keep the ball in their attacking third and Reading have a nervy last fifteen minutes before Long secures the tie.</p><p><b><i>But He's A Presence!</i></b></p><p>This normally comes alongside a stat about the number of aerial duels he wins, and he does win a lot. 96th percentile, an almost full green bar. 8.57 per 90. Though it must be said that Reading actually have two other decent aerial presences who are in the top 20th percentile for both aerials won and percentage of aerials won. Yakou Meite and Shane Long, who doesn't so much win aerial duels as just not lose them.</p><p>There's another part of headers - and that's how often does an aerial duel lead to possession for your team? Interestingly there's not a <i>lot </i>of difference between the strikers in terms of percentage of overall aerial duels that end up at the feet of a Reading player, but Joao is <i>much </i>better at maintaining the ball if he wins the initial header. There's a massive caveat to this data in that you do have to challenge to have it classified as an aerial duel, something that Joao particularly doesn't do often at all. Meite too is better than Carroll in this regard, and the number of aerials he partakes in is closer to Carroll's.</p><iframe aria-label="Scatter Plot" data-external="1" frameborder="0" height="400" id="datawrapper-chart-owsm5" scrolling="no" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/owsm5/1/" style="border: none; min-width: 100% !important; width: 0;" title="Reading Aerial Duels"></iframe><div><p>And there are downsides to being a presence, it's probably being a big guy that stops The Geordie from winning free kicks. For a big man he ends up on the floor <i>quite a lot</i>, but wins less than a foul per 90. Meite (1.84) and Joao (2.14) win over twice as many and in a side where 1 in 3 goals are from set pieces, that's important.</p><p><b><i>But He's a Target From Those Set Pieces!</i></b></p><p>Sure, he has been effective at times from set pieces. His header won us the game against Hull, and he picked up a goal and a penalty against The Swans at home. He's also helpful in our box, where he's managed to get first contact on a set piece roughly once a game.</p><p>And it's not so much that he's been <i>bad </i>from set pieces. It's just that is he adding enough benefit for the rest of his game to be below par? Does that Swansea goal not happen just because it's Lucas Joao on the edge of the box? Reading have plenty of big men to win headers at both ends - Holmes, Sarr, McIntyre, Loum, Meite. Take your pick - even Joao is half decent defending corners.</p><p><b><i>But He Works Hard!</i></b></p><p>This is absolutely fair, Carroll does work his socks off. The problem is twofold. One - he's an old, regularly injured (though maybe not in his Reading career), immobile centre forward. The guy failed a medical for Club Brugge over the summer, and while they may have higher standards than us, it's not great news either way.</p><p>And two, a lot of his charging around the pitch is largely pointless. I don't have access to individual players pressing stats, but the fact that he's only <i>attempted </i>three tackles all season shows he's not a pressing monster. It'll come of no surprise that he has the lowest total per 90 of the entire outfield squad. He fares better for interceptions and blocks, but he's still largely middle of the pack. </p><p>Admittedly, Carroll does end up with a lot of touches with the ball either way, but they tend to be in non-threatening areas. He's in the 99th percentile for strikers when it comes to touches in their own penalty area. And even with all these touches he doesn't do a lot, given that he only completes 1 pass in 2. The only two passing metrics he ranks well in are progressive passes and passes into the final third among strikers - but should that be his job? Isn't that what the midfield is for? </p><p>Even in the final third, he doesn't find a way to break into the box (to be fair, not his job), and only shoots an average amount - with a poor record of getting it on target. The immobility we mentioned earlier ends up costing us too - against Swansea Meite put a brilliant ball across the box from the left hand side, but Carroll wasn't quick enough to get there. Thankfully Ince scored seconds later from their botched goal kick.</p><p>Let's be fair, not all Reading's issues come from Carroll. Ince is a defence first manager, who would rather fit square pegs in round holes rather than give younger players any minutes at all. But Andy Carroll forces some decisions. You can't press high. You can't try to play passing football. He's likely not going to get into the box in time in open play. And you sacrifice all that, just for a guy that can head it? If Carroll was only being used in the last 10 minutes of games as a Plan B, I could live with that, but you seemingly have to remove the temptation for Ince to play him week in week out. </p></div>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-34524279811205828402022-04-05T11:35:00.002+01:002022-04-05T11:35:54.191+01:00Barnsley 1-1 Reading<p> A fairly low quality game, where Laurent's late goal saved Reading's season as much as a point.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_ljITIKdD5TWviH2loTFf6Z5g-J-_AmkbFBnIJ2cq172qoVDBnoiGj17nbcm9jS3CrnFib8cGWmyqXTZZSZxVNJX2joCRpE1kn_IpVM5OJBUXPIZYRKKumvlJ6O4teu0h4i1Bc9aPPCn35QFvoeI9Oof8twjyR3oLa3_Mh-FLDtJT6K2oZTjn6hQQA/s547/Barnsley%20Crossing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="547" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_ljITIKdD5TWviH2loTFf6Z5g-J-_AmkbFBnIJ2cq172qoVDBnoiGj17nbcm9jS3CrnFib8cGWmyqXTZZSZxVNJX2joCRpE1kn_IpVM5OJBUXPIZYRKKumvlJ6O4teu0h4i1Bc9aPPCn35QFvoeI9Oof8twjyR3oLa3_Mh-FLDtJT6K2oZTjn6hQQA/w400-h326/Barnsley%20Crossing.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>The one tweak to the shape Ince seems to have made is to push the wingers higher and wider. Reading, however, don't switch play quickly enough to take advantage, and when they do get the ball out wide there are no good crossers of the ball. Tom Ince and Ovie both have to check onto their strong foot, while Yiadom and McIntyre aren't particularly good at putting balls into the box full stop. That can be seen by the fact that they combined for one (or two, depending on who you trust) successful crosses all match, both relatively lucky passes by Ovie somehow finding players around the penalty spot. All exacerbated by the fact that Lucas Joao and John Swift aren't prolific from these situations either.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZnpa-t_Qb1AWhn_71Xq8xS2q1IEHIdmbbKQ0U9yaqA_kxVozT5bhOYwE2Xe2qqlGCNn_Y_yfFZl3tJ8HGsFCbW27SCTwuOp9_FomdynDTueObXIzRoVSZa-MdMe-M-_FEkKroyOqwL_qqCTsRt0oYjiu8uqDxTkJMhMPporRXnW1g0oWMwzvhzE8VA/s833/Reading%20Team%20Pass%20Map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="833" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZnpa-t_Qb1AWhn_71Xq8xS2q1IEHIdmbbKQ0U9yaqA_kxVozT5bhOYwE2Xe2qqlGCNn_Y_yfFZl3tJ8HGsFCbW27SCTwuOp9_FomdynDTueObXIzRoVSZa-MdMe-M-_FEkKroyOqwL_qqCTsRt0oYjiu8uqDxTkJMhMPporRXnW1g0oWMwzvhzE8VA/w640-h434/Reading%20Team%20Pass%20Map.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>It's also difficult for Reading to fully utilise the width that they set up to exploit. Holmes, Drinkwater, and Swift have the ability to switch play, but often the side were too slow to move the ball across the pitch. Reading's five most common pass combinations were all among the back five and DD. Ten percent of Reading's passes were between the trio of Nyland, Morro, and Holmes. For the talk of a more direct style, it's not necessarily shown on pitch yet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7koWgJae4sTVfPp3K0uOno3LTnXjtatVqW3UhUD7YSDuJRfHJRW5KKW93yIlWA2qRVvu5CTRiWjcttWI2sxPEIyOh7cPcjpDXu8PrJmeWpd-9P-UNOC364RpZRniLxZXHE0ronm50VafFbFMOgKC0Uy2jVfBMlJ4vFMot3IqOWSfvod4gfd8I-TWshQ/s720/export.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="720" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7koWgJae4sTVfPp3K0uOno3LTnXjtatVqW3UhUD7YSDuJRfHJRW5KKW93yIlWA2qRVvu5CTRiWjcttWI2sxPEIyOh7cPcjpDXu8PrJmeWpd-9P-UNOC364RpZRniLxZXHE0ronm50VafFbFMOgKC0Uy2jVfBMlJ4vFMot3IqOWSfvod4gfd8I-TWshQ/w640-h356/export.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>And it isn't just the passing that's causing issues, but the movement from those in the middle. On multiple occasions Reading moved the ball around the back from left to right, but only the four 'right sided' players - Morro, Yids, Drinkwater, Ince - were involved in play. That let Barnsley outnumber the away team and win the ball back with relative ease, particularly because Morrison isn't comfortable on the ball and isn't always a legitimate option.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqLtEq3QtnyM1DI6cVqyOaRaBWacH6noIAONq0E-wid3RnFUM6y3C7il2V1LSQUBn78qHL0HPqe3h-jmIEWDu6ZAisKpOIsh3Obt0C-Tqo22oeJxxe0vQ5vbfGgQLliWGtD1RKe9rB3z8Z1EkaWMSM9WHrimQRHeDs0at5z_HbVijKUplXP6Ko5yLIw/s720/export%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="720" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqLtEq3QtnyM1DI6cVqyOaRaBWacH6noIAONq0E-wid3RnFUM6y3C7il2V1LSQUBn78qHL0HPqe3h-jmIEWDu6ZAisKpOIsh3Obt0C-Tqo22oeJxxe0vQ5vbfGgQLliWGtD1RKe9rB3z8Z1EkaWMSM9WHrimQRHeDs0at5z_HbVijKUplXP6Ko5yLIw/w640-h356/export%20(1).png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ince gives the ball away down the line, but Reading are already in a good shape defensively</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Some of the movement issues seem to be about keeping the shape for when the team lose the ball and it effectively means that Swift and Joao, as the two players truly in the middle of the park, have to do a <i>lot </i>of work moving side to side. Currently they can be caught on the wrong side of the field when play moves across. One of the solutions is just to play more vertically - something that Holmes and Morrison did attempt toward the end of the first half. Morrison even set up a chance for Swift playing over the top.</p><p>Substitutions were again left late and, again, pushed us toward a 4-4-2. There seems to have been <i>some </i>lessons learnt from previous attempts, with Swift pushed out to left wing and TDB - who does have the ability to cover more ground - in the double pivot. Thank goodness we got a goal quickly and Morrison was able to drop back into central defence properly.</p><p>Laurent moving further forward also made it much harder for Barnsley to play out from the back. A one man pressing machine in the last ten minutes. We've so often seen those long runs chasing down defenders but leaving a giant hole in central midfield. Solution: just don't put him at CM. Genius. Doubt it'll be the last time we see it.</p>
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<div class="table-div">
<p><b>Ball Recoveries</b></p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr class="tbl-rdg">
<td>Danny Drinkwater</td>
<td>22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tom Holmes</td>
<td>21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Liam Kitching</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mads Andersen</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Josh Laurent</td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="table-footer"><i>Data from Wyscout</i></div>
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<div class="table-div">
<p><b>Successful Tackles</b></p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr class="tbl-rdg">
<td>Danny Drinkwater</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Callum Brittain</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Josh Laurent</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Callum Styles</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Remy Vita</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="table-footer"><i>Data from WhoScored</i></div>
</div>
<div></div><p>And it must be said that Danny Drinkwater was impressive throughout. His tenacity was crucial in keeping the ball in the attacking third late on - making more tackles and recovering possession more often than any other player. His passing, while still largely conservative, was improved from some of his displays this season. His one successful crossfield pass created a gilt edged opportunity for Tom Ince from Ovie's subsequent cross. The type of ball that Reading fans have been dying to see from a man who came with such a reputation.</p><p>There is a rather large caveat to the result - it's against Barnsley. In terms of points won this season they're second worst in the league, eleven points off the next nearest side (Reading). There are still questions over Ince, but that may be a moot point if he keeps us up and departs.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-30125016404644673042022-01-21T10:00:00.077+00:002022-01-21T10:00:00.181+00:00"We’ve never been so flat"<p>There have been some abysmal Reading performances this season, I don't really need to list them out. But in that dirge, there are two performances that I haven't fully come to terms with my feelings on. The visits of Sheffield United and Luton to The SCL are a clash between feeling like the concept behind the tactics was <i>reasonable </i>and the implementation clearly not working. But there's one issue with my reading of the game; Veljko himself wasn't happy with either performance. In fact, he used the exact same word to label both - 'flat'.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhi88uAF_fJG1IzHWwV7fvz-716jtGyfsrbjM-jGvMbqFsHTeCvsissL3IhLsE2rxT5qFfHZXQOKihrqYT5wE_hRqZwgTkDqcl28zr0VpOcJAmI2LW3boxdaJCKsH27OqtKV2B729Z25zRQ8_kk67nBRPtofWaNAt27gk5iX0ucNq9PFkrOsHoRLbJ4TA=s1920" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhi88uAF_fJG1IzHWwV7fvz-716jtGyfsrbjM-jGvMbqFsHTeCvsissL3IhLsE2rxT5qFfHZXQOKihrqYT5wE_hRqZwgTkDqcl28zr0VpOcJAmI2LW3boxdaJCKsH27OqtKV2B729Z25zRQ8_kk67nBRPtofWaNAt27gk5iX0ucNq9PFkrOsHoRLbJ4TA=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading's three in midfield meant they could cover SU attacking midfielders <b>and </b>wing backs</td></tr></tbody></table><p>And yet, the set-ups for both seem to perfectly explain <i>why </i>the team may be flat. Against The Blades they switched to a 4-3-2-1, with Ejaria dropping deeper to form the three alongside Drinkwater and Laurent. That trio were effectively tasked with stopping McGoldrick and Gibbs-White from being able to come central. On Wednesday we may have played 4-2-3-1 but TDB and Rino were clearly there to cover for the fullbacks first and attack second, at times almost forming a back six.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUjlbuaIw_GWAEAhSx32w3Pr_4hQOrS3WxIRE8AIdTlR5BtSU9LVKKD7ObyiFR_sdMHq7TMNRLvUbtU58IsnoD4YjsVBqvjgILA6EKyhYlPAJDIlsXhKlIkarGxJy3SeCClp7HPMN4IcH-VezpbgUhxFa4SgDly7-5Zau2IkXBuBya5CQCQqsCutKedA=s1920" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUjlbuaIw_GWAEAhSx32w3Pr_4hQOrS3WxIRE8AIdTlR5BtSU9LVKKD7ObyiFR_sdMHq7TMNRLvUbtU58IsnoD4YjsVBqvjgILA6EKyhYlPAJDIlsXhKlIkarGxJy3SeCClp7HPMN4IcH-VezpbgUhxFa4SgDly7-5Zau2IkXBuBya5CQCQqsCutKedA=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TDB presses slightly late allowing a ball into the ST, but the <b>plan </b>is here. TDB holds tight to not allow switch, and the presses when ball comes out to this side.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>And it feels hard to say it's not what Veljko wanted because it was actually fairly well-coached. In the first half when Luton moved the ball from left to right then TDB pushed out to the RCB, the team shuffled across and Bristow picked up Kioso. When the ball went across the other side something similar happened, though Rinomhota was more worried with Amari'i Bell at LWB than Naismith.</p><p>In both matches, the most important thing about Reading's defensive structure was the shape and maintaining it. It isn't a coincidence that the one time Rino failed to track Bell, things fell apart. The way they've been set out is not about pressing high, it's about compactness and closing off space. It's about making the game boring. It's about making the game... <i>flat</i>. And in both matches, I feel like we actually did an admirable job of that in the first halves. What did Pauno want if not exactly what he got?</p><p>As an aside, it also leads to a lot of static players. A lot of players that are more interested in being in the right place over charging into challenges. That's why it's slightly hard to critique players motivations when they're being kept in such a rigid structure. Everyone would like to see someone step up into a challenge, but that can also fundamentally unravel the whole plan.</p><p>The pay-off to keeping it tight early is that at some point you should then transition to attempting to win the game. When you concede goals before that switch, you completely negate what you're attempting to do. In fact, in both those games, it felt like the plan was to get to the hour mark and then 'go for it'. In November Carroll was introduced with 60 minutes played, on Wednesday it was Joao's proper return from injury. So to concede in the 57th minute against Sheffield and 58th this week just kills any good work done until that point.</p><p>Last season, did we really play so differently? Not really. The wingers didn't drop so deep, that is true, but there was still no real attacking cohesion outside individual skill or set pieces. Let's be real, the reason Reading won games last year is because the front four comprised of Joao, Swift, Olise, and Ejaria. This time it was Swift and three players who aren't first choice.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1pW7GtkB2HoveDKMyy5qPLRgBct8vgcFhlwn-G3bVU-LyVji5yc2GGH7ec_-TNTYOixw0TGIW7YwdJmI83odaTFcIJ4Rv-sLZgXmNG1ILEMNg_ZqHujX8MFDsKpngzFqYYSuRfEIhq7vyjvUK13O-dfuSKPLsG-p1XsNl4OWiy3PbXZ_ZZWKaXcs1kA=s1647" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="1647" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1pW7GtkB2HoveDKMyy5qPLRgBct8vgcFhlwn-G3bVU-LyVji5yc2GGH7ec_-TNTYOixw0TGIW7YwdJmI83odaTFcIJ4Rv-sLZgXmNG1ILEMNg_ZqHujX8MFDsKpngzFqYYSuRfEIhq7vyjvUK13O-dfuSKPLsG-p1XsNl4OWiy3PbXZ_ZZWKaXcs1kA=w640-h220" width="640" /></a></div><p>Ashcroft and Rinomhota carried next to no threat at all. Neither completed a pass into the box, and were more likely to look back down the line than to try to be incisive. That's not a surprise and not a slight. Ashcroft was the youngest starter in the XI, and Rinomhota is clearly not a right winger. Paunovic criticised the team for not having courage in the final third. Fine, but equally a 17 year old and a defensive midfielder are not going to take the game by the horns.</p><p>The opposition scoring the moment they're allowed some space is why it's slightly hard to accept the idea that being more offensive would<i> </i>have changed anything. Everyone was worried about the quality of the full backs going into the game, giving them less cover feels like it could have backfired just as easily.</p><p>Obviously, Camara was an option. By the time the youngster came on, the game was all but done. He has certainly looked bright, but a right side with 450 senior minutes also has its drawbacks. Would he have covered as well for his just-as-inexperienced colleague? It's doubtful. Luton were content with their two-goal lead and didn't even attempt to exploit it. Sometimes the grass really is greener, sometimes it isn't. I guess at some point you have to go and check the other field.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-d95VLaRxvQ7URV2-16DkWzr_k_isIyStzkyFxnt7p7I96ymmfDP9UUH5ae3iti5uHvRGO-vlLoQI6DePfNCFrFaLKrm0pyyS0h6J5vBjz5N7pGohzG0UE6fAo7J_gn-0xoA4L9KEaBGDSTQz_SorJi55tpWaBzWBL2m_5D4anX5U2ROtnkec4-Te_w=s1920" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-d95VLaRxvQ7URV2-16DkWzr_k_isIyStzkyFxnt7p7I96ymmfDP9UUH5ae3iti5uHvRGO-vlLoQI6DePfNCFrFaLKrm0pyyS0h6J5vBjz5N7pGohzG0UE6fAo7J_gn-0xoA4L9KEaBGDSTQz_SorJi55tpWaBzWBL2m_5D4anX5U2ROtnkec4-Te_w=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An opportunity Yiadom would make more of. Puscas spreads the ball wide well, but Ashcroft can't attack the defender and ends up passing to a Luton player.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Had Reading had Andy Yiadom on the right things may have been different. On a couple of occasions Ashcroft had space to drive forward but couldn't use it. Bristow actually had a fairly good game with the ball on the left, but obviously Rahman would also be welcomed back because the second goal isn't particularly convincing defending again. Had Reading had any of Meite, Azeez, Hoilett, or Halilovic who knows what gaps they could have opened up?</p><p>In the moment, I enjoyed the 3412 we switched to but after Luton adjusted it really didn't look any more threatening although Clarke probably deserves a go up front at some point. He certainly has better feet than Puscas, but whether he'd have any more joy is hard to know. The youngster didn't really stand out in the FA Youth Cup against United, where you would hope he would excel if he was ready for first team action. Realistically he's missed the boat anyway if Joao is back.</p><p>Mitigating circumstances or not, not many managers would have survived a late collapse at Derby, a loss to Kidderminster, and a 7-0 defeat to Fulham all when three points above the relegation zone. Despite only having a bench of six for the last two games he's now got Morrison, a semi-fit Joao, and the AFCON duo back (if not this week then next week - assuming he survives that long). There really are no excuses from here on out.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-63238741354028111722021-12-01T11:19:00.000+00:002021-12-01T11:19:27.994+00:00If Anything, Reading's Win In Wales Is Just More Of The Same<p>Paunovic has been under increasing pressure in recent weeks. Last Tuesday he received criticism from all quarters after a dire midweek defeat to Sheffield United, where he changed the shape of the team to nullify the opposition threat. Although there were some interesting takes by those who didn't seem to fully appreciate the formation, it was clear that it wasn't just the <i>opposition's</i> attacking threat that the manager put the mockers on.</p><p>And yet, one win seems to redeem all.</p><p>My personal view on The Gaffer is that, given the injuries in the squad, he's doing as well as could reasonably be expected. Obviously he's made errors, but he's also been handicapped by off field matters. The six-point deduction has made the gap to relegation closer than it ought to be, but the team are clearly good enough to comfortably pull clear over the course of the season and, indeed, have been achieving if Reading had started on minus 6. </p><p>So my issue isn't with him, but with the ridiculously reactionary nature of football fandom. </p><p>Reading have won eight games this season but, aside from a 3-1 victory over Peterborough, they've all been by single goal margins - as it was at The Swansea.com Stadium (I realise we're in no position to be taking the mickey about stadium names any more). The Royals are not putting opponents to the sword and, while matches often feel relatively comfortable, Luke Southwood has routinely been called into match-winning saves. He has shown himself to be an incredibly competent goalkeeper this season, but he shouldn't have to shoulder the burden of keeping the team's points safe week in, week out.</p><p>And even without Liam Moore, this was the tenth time this season that Reading have conceded at least twice in a match. The only difference being that Reading actually managed to score thrice. Moore has not played well this season, encapsulated by that horrible back pass against Birmingham, but the side were cut open too easily within the first five minutes... again. Holmes was a little too eager to press and Drinkwater lazily attempted to pass responsibility for Patterson, who wandered in to score the opener.</p><p>One of the things that has defined Paunovic's reign is clinicality (that's a thing right?) and flair - at least in the FM, doing something unexpected, sense of the word. I think it's reasonable to say that Reading have, on the whole, built a team with excellent finishing for this level. Lucas Joao can find the corner out of nothing, John Swift and Yakou Meite you would always back in front of goal, and even Hoilett and Ovie have won games this season where they've scored the only real chances afforded to them.</p><p>Hopefully, Andy Carroll continues the trend of strikers (barring the obvious) not needing many chances to find the net. Watching his goal on Saturday probably encapsulates where he is as a footballer. An intelligent run, a frankly unbelievable touch, and the composure to finish. But it was also a man whose legs clearly aren't there any more, and the cut inside was hardly like watching Joao's silky feet. At the end of the day, a goal is a goal, but I'm not sure a ball over the top was why he's been brought to The SCL to begin with.</p><p>Basically, this game is an absolutely typical Paunovic performance. If your opinion on him has changed based on it, maybe you never hated him to begin with.</p><p>I realise that getting carried away positively isn't really the issue. Sure, you can hope we'll make the play-offs this season if you like; it is, after all, nice to enjoy football. People are talking about Reading, and that doesn't often happen outside of the bimonthly They Call Us The Royals tweets. The problem comes when the results flip round without performances really changing. All of a sudden that inability to create consistently becomes a drawback and, likewise, good defensive displays end up soured by lucky bounces or unfortunate slips.</p><p>There's some misattributed Marilyn Monroe quote about this...</p><p>The next 18 months are going to be difficult. If Reading are playing Championship football going into 2023/24 that'll be an achievement in itself. Paunovic is meeting expectations, don't weigh him down being unreasonable.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-90855626891491756762021-11-23T11:55:00.028+00:002021-11-23T11:55:00.180+00:00The Big Man Cometh<p>In the grand scheme of things, I consider myself a bit of an Andy Carroll sceptic. Reading have a penchant for signing players that spend the majority of their time in the physio room, and Carroll aligns with that transfer policy to a tee. It must be said that given the lack of other options, and a short term deal that has no real risk for the club, there isn't any big downside in gambling on the Geordie.</p><p>With that being said, even I was calling out for the introduction for The Big Man at half-time on Saturday. Reading had a heap of possession just outside the box in the opening forty-five but couldn't translate that into chances. Drinkwater had a tame shot saved after good work from Yiadom, but the best chance of the half fell to Puscas after a fortuitous deflection off a Forest player. The flag went up for offside but it didn't matter as the striker couldn't convert anyway.</p><p>Both managers had done a fairly good job at negating the other side's strengths. Forest's man-marking of Drinkwater and Swift made the home side look significantly weaker, while Reading's press tended to force mistakes from the visitors. Of course, that took time to get going as early in the game Zinckernagel curled in from 20 yards after some suspect defensive play all round by those in the nice kits.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVQV2uf9gW-WEefQIwWegJvlky4Y0j0z7MajflZNdwA3C_zhca0U5fQcbzkloay8_yEj38B0npc4lxa7xwN05Wy_wrfMTDOlnEUtntVURGwO0r6qnm23yin099Dypmqzy_ISDG5NKlovO/s799/formation.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="799" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVQV2uf9gW-WEefQIwWegJvlky4Y0j0z7MajflZNdwA3C_zhca0U5fQcbzkloay8_yEj38B0npc4lxa7xwN05Wy_wrfMTDOlnEUtntVURGwO0r6qnm23yin099Dypmqzy_ISDG5NKlovO/w640-h446/formation.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading started in a 4-1-4-1, before moving to a slightly lopsided 4-4-2 diamond</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It was another fifteen minutes after the break before we saw a glimpse of that bun, but when it came it made a suitably impressive impact. Much like at Birmingham two weeks ago, the introduction of a striker was accompanied by a tactical tweak that was arguably as important. Yes, there were clearly now two centre forwards, but Reading also changed to something resembling the diamond seen sporadically last season.</p><p>In reality, this took a little bit of time to solidify and in the preceding chaos, Reading equalised. Ovie, now given more license to roam, dropped between the lines in a manner we haven't seen when playing the 4-1-4-1. Drinkwater made himself a little space to receive and immediately passed forward into Carroll. His first-time ball to the wing found Yiadom, still providing the width despite his move to right back, and it was his cross AC headed down to Swift. Though no shot was forthcoming, Nottingham could only clear for a corner, from which Dann levelled.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1J3e_4yIZ4N6lZMY5waFOwFH4UNUPAqs7ydpgVXNzbIElUUSvV-AWYVe0TCNwtehEz7fBbo9TLR-auhzcNX593yI8VM1MHKV1a0dsw25z3F8LjZS0qjhk9Zryt75sDSpTMMC36RQNTLk/s1920/DannyPt4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1J3e_4yIZ4N6lZMY5waFOwFH4UNUPAqs7ydpgVXNzbIElUUSvV-AWYVe0TCNwtehEz7fBbo9TLR-auhzcNX593yI8VM1MHKV1a0dsw25z3F8LjZS0qjhk9Zryt75sDSpTMMC36RQNTLk/w640-h360/DannyPt4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Cooper was forced to react and removed Lolley in favour of going to three at the back. All of a sudden, Drinkwater had space between the two wide forwards and could dictate play a little more. Had he not been booked, and lunging into some tasty challenges, then I think Reading would have been able to continue the momentum they'd built in that ten-minute spell. Unfortunately, his withdrawal meant that Laurent dropped deeper and, while excellent defensively, was never going to be able to pick the same passes.</p><p>Reading could also find pockets of space in the middle all throughout the pitch. Colback and Yates had to somehow cover off Swift, Ovie, and Laurent (or TDB in the final fifteen) which is hard enough at the best of times. Occasionally one would pick the wrong option and The Royals could break the lines quickly and, crucially, have at least two options in front of them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1FALCy0IgoaHlzEeawrdOwtMI2Ks-_IFa2NqSTM49GcsEPLAMPWMV3aJWIuzqC0VfACOhTsDpte22AmQz1YSb7_Kma9HFFwyr-SA-5JB2Ym9p5g4IQUmDeTgGLgyTfx7c2JQ_pJ3aB1B/s1920/Overload.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1FALCy0IgoaHlzEeawrdOwtMI2Ks-_IFa2NqSTM49GcsEPLAMPWMV3aJWIuzqC0VfACOhTsDpte22AmQz1YSb7_Kma9HFFwyr-SA-5JB2Ym9p5g4IQUmDeTgGLgyTfx7c2JQ_pJ3aB1B/w640-h360/Overload.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>It wasn't just in the middle that Reading were able to reap the benefits. Forest's attacking midfielders were no longer able to hold as wide and often had to retreat into the middle after Reading were past the initial pressure. On a couple of occasions, they were also able to work overloads with Swift and Ejaria drifting over to the right-hand side. Carroll tended to start wide on the left, allowing whoever found themselves with enough time to be able to stand a ball up to the back post.</p><p>None of this would be nearly as effective with two centre backs who panic every time they receive the ball, but in Dann and Holmes they have ball players on both sides who have the composure to recycle possession. Liam Moore is much safer on the ball, with all his passes tending to be across to his centre back partner, or out to the full back. That's okay, Morrison is hardly an excellent passer of the ball either, but with Laurent in front of the back four it requires the CBs to be more direct and bypass the DM, which he isn't as adept at doing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1AkXzPqQ-2QIcEaX-ndtgLRKrkkM2b7tf6R0aETevByOrFf97DPeTr9-esdAhIe5sJocdAUT6oRgJgzE-w6LqVErvMp7ntKoNWKyoWCa4DuSF6an-9Lg5qGQRmJczWs5EWc8YIeHxciM/s833/Andy+Carroll+Receiving.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="833" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1AkXzPqQ-2QIcEaX-ndtgLRKrkkM2b7tf6R0aETevByOrFf97DPeTr9-esdAhIe5sJocdAUT6oRgJgzE-w6LqVErvMp7ntKoNWKyoWCa4DuSF6an-9Lg5qGQRmJczWs5EWc8YIeHxciM/w640-h434/Andy+Carroll+Receiving.png" width="640" /></a></div>One of my worries Before Carroll was that Reading aren't a crossing team. Of course, that changed a little. Reading did attempt almost double the number they normally do but only four found their target. However, just having Carroll as an out ball was clearly beneficial. If Forest were able to push Reading backward, there was always the option to go direct. Even if his flick on didn't find Puscas or a supporting cast member, Reading could then press quickly to try to win the ball. It also stretched Forest vertically. As shown, they couldn't keep pressure on the ball carrier and didn't want to allow an easy flick on for Puscas or Swift to attack. That led to them dropping deeper, and trying to nullify the space in behind.<div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_HCb4UQbIHOOZEQfHPw-xkNNOP0pL32Qy87x-mQZh2IuuuUk28T7-5R0wUOyv-pQdESB1Z7oEQatQ8HhJ2dtGDPAHm19L3i8hKv-vK_Pwp4FJh6Juy645oaPKOEJUgJiiyAufocmsHAy/s1920/space.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_HCb4UQbIHOOZEQfHPw-xkNNOP0pL32Qy87x-mQZh2IuuuUk28T7-5R0wUOyv-pQdESB1Z7oEQatQ8HhJ2dtGDPAHm19L3i8hKv-vK_Pwp4FJh6Juy645oaPKOEJUgJiiyAufocmsHAy/w640-h360/space.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>As with everything, there's a pay-off. Forest had excellent chances to win the match themselves after the switch and none better than when Grabban rounded the keeper but hit the side netting. That move came about because Swift at the top of the diamond was a little late into position after a Forest free-kick, and they could break the lines easily without bodies in the passing lane. Garner turned well, and Grabban's excellent movement on Holmes' blindside meant that the defender was always in trouble.<br /></p><p>Another man in midfield probably cuts off that initial passing lane and means that Swift doesn't have as much space to cover horizontally - something that is clearly not his natural game. Yiadom also ends up pinching inside, as all four of Reading's defenders have men to mark with no wingers to help cover, but that actually leaves a man over (out of shot) on his side. Had Garner rolled to the outside, he may have been able to exploit that instead.</p><p>Thirty minutes After Debut is clearly too soon to make any real conclusions, but what is without doubt is that he was integral to the change made on Saturday. Not every manager may react in the way that Cooper did, ceding territory in order to keep tighter at the back (though that would just mean more space to work with if Reading did beat the initial press anyway), but Reading now have more options in the toolkit and that wouldn't be possible without him.</p></div>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-59404251046595733102021-09-11T11:00:00.058+01:002021-09-11T11:00:00.210+01:00Reading's Number 9 47<p>When you look at George Puscas, there is no doubt that Reading overspent when it came to bringing the Romanian striker to RG2. Particularly when you look at the type of striker that suits the system that successive managers have tried to build, but it's not something that should be held against the player himself. The lack of any addition in his area over the summer means we've ended up in a position where The Rifleman is our only fit senior centre forward. The question is, how do you get the best out of him? </p><p>Reading are a team that love to play the ball to feet. Puscas, however, clearly doesn't excel in that area. He's not as technically proficient as most of the squad, and that leads to him getting crowded out in tight spaces. Teams that double up on him will largely negate his influence deeper and in that sense, he almost couldn't be further from Lucas Joao. To make matters worse he's often too passive when waiting for the ball to come to him, especially when trying to hold off a defender, and his first touch is poor.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08Vy3L-kf-fq11I8Nm9kulIOZrEB-cqJLk13FQwLgH_EJ_xw7DNtUYL8gsObmx54uuKldmEXnOI06CuRXDj9PcpXZXWdiO5HiFnW7anZc5uPEWfpJw9TD6xkoT-xYu4aKk691oVTmcSCG/s1920/Run.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08Vy3L-kf-fq11I8Nm9kulIOZrEB-cqJLk13FQwLgH_EJ_xw7DNtUYL8gsObmx54uuKldmEXnOI06CuRXDj9PcpXZXWdiO5HiFnW7anZc5uPEWfpJw9TD6xkoT-xYu4aKk691oVTmcSCG/w640-h360/Run.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bristow never spots the run which would have seen him clean through</td></tr></tbody></table><p>But his continuous runs in behind open up a new avenue for The Royals. They won't have a player looking to stretch play vertically from the right for the foreseeable future with Meite and Azeez on the sidelines, instead, it'll be from central. First and foremost Reading need to be ready to play the ball for him. On more than one occasion there's been a delay in passing that has lost promising positions. One of the traits that may still hold him back is his lack of pace, against Coventry he managed to get himself between the centre backs but couldn't run away from them. His willingness to continue making runs though, even when not being found, is admirable.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdx_0vVgWclOJIfyiXbK9Ot0GbWI1NTXtm16BFkkJU0Ey1nNEkGOVjIsvi6MTBqlTSQM_Me0ZtV55f9VFos9O8Gqlukt05jL-HP-IwVXZjB3Gn-wwWASJOl2IdELdotbuxpRZG63YFyRQB/s1920/Space.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdx_0vVgWclOJIfyiXbK9Ot0GbWI1NTXtm16BFkkJU0Ey1nNEkGOVjIsvi6MTBqlTSQM_Me0ZtV55f9VFos9O8Gqlukt05jL-HP-IwVXZjB3Gn-wwWASJOl2IdELdotbuxpRZG63YFyRQB/w640-h360/Space.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puscas run opens space between the lines but nobody takes advantage</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Those runs also open space between the lines in a way that a more static Joao doesn't. Meite breaking from the right can go beyond the defence, whereas runs from a centre forward push the centre backs deeper. Currently, the team isn't really set up to capitalise on that, but add Ovie or Halilovic into the mix and their tendency to drift central could exploit those pockets. Or Swift staying higher could achieve the same result but would remove what has been, up until now, necessary ball progression from deep. Hypothetically, there are members of the incoming transfer class that may be able to take some of the strain in that department.</p><p>More attacking threats would also help Puscas isolate individual defenders, a position where he's much more likely to hurt opposition defences. So far this season there haven't been many such opportunities, but he won a foul against the touchline late on at Coventry and had the hockey assist on one of McIntyre's shots from a similar, albeit more advanced, position. That may sound like grasping at straws, and admittedly his dribbling figures aren't anything to write home about, but I think there's more to come.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdCobWVrw3rZu1GOvFpQXXh2t2P9Vc4gF3iw2n7ZhwiAlnUfVE8QzaMzBVMdVsFXbTLSjKJjZ4YVk6rsM6aExaRVM3Fi9_qsyH9O_vRwm9pYUUljLB78OUR_vysYHreeXHos8F9r_XUhR/s1920/Crossing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdCobWVrw3rZu1GOvFpQXXh2t2P9Vc4gF3iw2n7ZhwiAlnUfVE8QzaMzBVMdVsFXbTLSjKJjZ4YVk6rsM6aExaRVM3Fi9_qsyH9O_vRwm9pYUUljLB78OUR_vysYHreeXHos8F9r_XUhR/w640-h360/Crossing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The run is behind the Coventry defender, who clears easily. He was also caught by surprise by the quick cross.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Ultimately the Romanian will be judged on output. Up to now it's hard to fully lay the blame for lack of goals at his door; no service tends to mean no opportunities (unless your name happens to be Lucas Joao). One of the areas under his control is his movement when the ball is wide. Puscas' default run seems to be toward the middle of the goal, instead, he needs to start looking to go toward the near post in front of the goalkeeper. It's exactly the run he made for his second goal in <i>that </i>Cardiff match. We're not a side blessed with excellent crossers of the ball, so take the opposition out of it by being the first one able to make contact.</p><p>His physicality should be a real asset, and we're starting to see that more and more. Against Swansea, in what was his first real match of the season, he was bullied far too easily. The fact he was playing with academy kids and lacked any real support clearly didn't help but there was also times where he should have held up the ball better. In recent matches, he's started to find a little bit of fight, even if that occasionally leads to free-kicks going against him. I think ultimately that's going to be a side effect of a fully firing player.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7AxBJK6RAOnoJtwCF-eXpkDSR30-DLF2G0Db6OCS71dI66SIC-zJisjcESBoS9NFnp9yds83Q-oEDBXqxxfIxV2QQnHaZIIgVhXtWge1Btc8lGp34xO97uW54c5p_qp0o-cT9dytPXdN/s1920/Shoot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7AxBJK6RAOnoJtwCF-eXpkDSR30-DLF2G0Db6OCS71dI66SIC-zJisjcESBoS9NFnp9yds83Q-oEDBXqxxfIxV2QQnHaZIIgVhXtWge1Btc8lGp34xO97uW54c5p_qp0o-cT9dytPXdN/w640-h360/Shoot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He tries to step around the defender coming back, and then gets squeezed out</td></tr></tbody></table><p>What would also be nice, and will hopefully come with some confidence, is getting a shot off a bit quicker. A couple of opportunities at whateverTheRicohisnowcalled were either on his wrong foot or just didn't come down for him, but an in form striker might have just <i>found a way</i>. Even in that game, an ambitious Coventry shot from a similar position ended up striking the post.</p><p>Large parts of the fanbase have already made their mind up, and this will surely be his last chance with the rest. Puski clearly still needs to improve, but there are signs of that happening game-on-game currently. A run of games should benefit him, but just as important is that Reading as a team need to get used to a completely different striker to Joao. Hopefully with a clear plan for the next few months until the Portuguese is fit, that can play out. </p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-31470341038563220342021-06-25T12:13:00.000+01:002021-06-25T12:13:48.847+01:00Reading FC Season Review | 2020/2021<p>When your season starts with your manager having to watch your opening match from the hotel because he's not been hired in time to beat the quarantine, anything above getting relegated should probably be classed as a success. And Reading exceeded surely even the most optimistic of pre-season predictions.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Veljko Paunovic</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHrw5GCpQQGPLSONqrlU2Rxo_vQ3y1Vur13CTGvU8TusQIVEwnEsoOaYWTnma1ZmhupzOgQib_shtRbI1wfBuIZ-3pLAZtyjdcxVsEdD5EqCCZPiKsS-3Ve-ecIeOoS7Vxiqw652J_Lln/s640/minutes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHrw5GCpQQGPLSONqrlU2Rxo_vQ3y1Vur13CTGvU8TusQIVEwnEsoOaYWTnma1ZmhupzOgQib_shtRbI1wfBuIZ-3pLAZtyjdcxVsEdD5EqCCZPiKsS-3Ve-ecIeOoS7Vxiqw652J_Lln/w529-h397/minutes.png" width="529" /></a></div><p>Veljko Paunovic almost exclusively utilised a core group of players in a 4-2-3-1, only changing things when enforced. One of the consequences of that is that Reading had more players play over 3,000 minutes than any other side (roughly three-quarters of the season). That consistency is often seen as a good thing, but in a condensed season, it surely contributed to the injury woes.</p><p>It can't have helped that the manager also used the second-fewest number of players<b> </b>over the course of the season. His substitutions were often categorised as late (Reading's subs played just 16 minutes on average, only Norwich's played fewer) or non-existent (Reading were 19th for number of subs made).</p><p>On the flip side, despite being bare-boned, The Royals also have a promising squad for the future, being the third-youngest squad<b> </b>in the division. The youngsters have all improved, although how much of that is down to the manager vs their natural curve is impossible to say. That will become clearer with time as we start to understand Paunovic's strengths and whether he can consistently bring through academy grads. </p><p>In that sense there are still a few questions that just haven't had the time to be answered. Most of the youth in the side comes from players either already in the team (Olise, Ejaria, Richards) or enforced through injuries (McIntyre, Holmes). Obviously, Paunovic did give game time to those in the academy in the cups, but when the team was struggling for first team options over Christmas he chose to simply not use them. Given that there was a cull of academy players over the summer it's perfectly possible that the next generation is simply not ready and it's hard to criticise a manager who has still had to rely on guys in their early twenties, or even teens, but it would be nice to see him actively start promoting some players.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Defence</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcnI2pv_1wKR1D6A9IQ2mdmuHwbVK1r_yeki4E6vrIDX9UgoOa85A8uZ6HqGEmnvDDsSVBj-aIjpFaz7iIjt96BlTG0HSeb1W-ytUn0E_qv3_giH0XbJ_P-qGPxvudBTbWUuCvTTEvEJ2/s566/xgplot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="566" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcnI2pv_1wKR1D6A9IQ2mdmuHwbVK1r_yeki4E6vrIDX9UgoOa85A8uZ6HqGEmnvDDsSVBj-aIjpFaz7iIjt96BlTG0HSeb1W-ytUn0E_qv3_giH0XbJ_P-qGPxvudBTbWUuCvTTEvEJ2/w400-h318/xgplot.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>One of the major talking points all year has been xG and Reading's conversion rate. Nobody thought the pace set at the beginning of the season was sustainable, but those first eight games were built on a resolute defensive structure above all else which seems to have been lost a little bit. More generally, Reading rarely blow teams away but tend to create more than their opponents.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaEF1chDO98iHMLVN-ad8JKkQBRSHTkXI_I4kp2Lm_DvjQNwPbKA35vwe-MW9ejK5Xbfkzf191tCmtjA_asUoZFUKypnuO0ETkH1mjtDofqcSpTqpnozDtQNE6Nxrlq41dt5aZb3cL8EB/s547/ShotsAgainst.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="547" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaEF1chDO98iHMLVN-ad8JKkQBRSHTkXI_I4kp2Lm_DvjQNwPbKA35vwe-MW9ejK5Xbfkzf191tCmtjA_asUoZFUKypnuO0ETkH1mjtDofqcSpTqpnozDtQNE6Nxrlq41dt5aZb3cL8EB/w400-h326/ShotsAgainst.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>The defence, which only <i>truly </i>slipped in the abysmal November period and then when the play-offs were unrealistic, was designed to stop efforts from inside the box. Reading's opponents shot from outside the area 41% of the time, only Preston kept their opposition to a higher percentage. And that's also reflected in the xGA - only five teams performed better, though Reading actually conceded 10% more than the stat suggests we should have.</p><p>It is hard to overlook the fact that Rafael did not have a particularly strong season in goal. There were more than a few occasions where he conceded softly from outside the box, or put the team into bad positions with the ball at his feet. It must, however, be caveated with the fact that Rafael is largely comfortable with the ball in a way that this team require. Plus, despite lacking height, is good at coming for the ball from set-pieces and crosses to alleviate pressure. Any goalkeeper that replaces him needs to have the same composure.</p><p>And Reading are in a much stronger position than a year ago now that The Toms have proven themselves to be consistently viable options at this level. It will be interesting to see how the two progress given that phasing Morrison out seems like a sensible option at some point this season with his contract coming to an end, and Moore's high wages potentially coming off the book the year after may open both spots up.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Attack</h3><p>Going forward felt more of an individual endeavour. There were two clear standout performers, with Lucas Joao topping 20 goals (in all competitions) and Michael Olise being involved in 30% of the team's Championship goals.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Lucas Joao</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6KTWqjIiIeIhcu_CC850zD4zrDzzQnRfYDcVuejtHRuwfMQadMrYG1SqU79w1nBU_TxrWBZq_VNM8q74YY9tOaW2c4u5LX8BoCrKJ7k0NRpPOY-imfPtf5uc9uqD3oz_DJoK5FcilU8w/s1074/JoaoTouches.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="1074" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6KTWqjIiIeIhcu_CC850zD4zrDzzQnRfYDcVuejtHRuwfMQadMrYG1SqU79w1nBU_TxrWBZq_VNM8q74YY9tOaW2c4u5LX8BoCrKJ7k0NRpPOY-imfPtf5uc9uqD3oz_DJoK5FcilU8w/w640-h266/JoaoTouches.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>Joao's goalscoring dried up in the run-in, but a lot of that was because he was often stopped midway in the opposition half before he could progress into more dangerous positions. I think we saw that opponents realised that stopping Joao stopped Reading. Much of that was due to the lack of a secondary goalscoring threat for much of the season. Puscas and Meite were both sidelined for large parts, but when they played they scored at a decent lick (although Puscas played too few games to generalise too much)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pWiQkjHJ-qELDG94exMgPEu4mQpllCE2yf-X8FUDE-wlSrAbhPt0I4537be5zf9ncToYkoytGk2BrEZdmyXdZ3BKGHG3Gjhm2jawJcgHG_jcNwStQy6ESuPx6lsxJW-SNemfRxvGaHkf/s547/JoaoShots.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="547" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pWiQkjHJ-qELDG94exMgPEu4mQpllCE2yf-X8FUDE-wlSrAbhPt0I4537be5zf9ncToYkoytGk2BrEZdmyXdZ3BKGHG3Gjhm2jawJcgHG_jcNwStQy6ESuPx6lsxJW-SNemfRxvGaHkf/w400-h326/JoaoShots.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Ignoring his penalty misses, Joao did tend to put the big chances away (yellow/orange). Obviously toward the end of the season, his finishing did dip. Going into next season the point should still stand, create for Lucas and he'll reward you. Despite missing some easier chances, he still finished above his expected goals total. That just goes to show how he can create something out of nothing, and the team benefitted as a result. It could be argued that the key to fully unlocking Joao is to build a structure around him that allows him to get even more opportunities in dangerous positions, rather than relying on him to create for himself.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Michael Olise</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGbHwG3-r4GtZ2iqop_EYrv8Dpz3BKcr3hM8UkQ3AoOph5WJw6IFy2A0M_QisS4slUGC6luvowAKNk0utSwXZycyDfU652XMLJTlvY0p_xMrVdQEuv5B5mfMj007Kmm-FEa9nyw9l06nz/s547/OliseAssists.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="547" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGbHwG3-r4GtZ2iqop_EYrv8Dpz3BKcr3hM8UkQ3AoOph5WJw6IFy2A0M_QisS4slUGC6luvowAKNk0utSwXZycyDfU652XMLJTlvY0p_xMrVdQEuv5B5mfMj007Kmm-FEa9nyw9l06nz/w400-h326/OliseAssists.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Meanwhile, Michael Olise took the role as the side's primary creator. The majority of his assists came from set-piece opportunities, and will hopefully prove easier to replace than his raw ability. John Swift is the obvious candidate, but it's worth noting Olise has more assists from dead balls this season than Swift has in his career.</p><p>What is going to be harder is replacing his ball carrying and vision. Of those who played over 1,000 minutes, he played more key passes p90 than anyone bar Buendia. Again, John Swift is the most likely candidate but he seems to be the one to drop deeper, attempting to help with ball progression, rather than attempting to play the killer pass in and around the box. Whether that changes without Olise remains to be seen. </p><p>Olise is also able to glide past opponents with pace and open counter-attacking opportunities, best exhibited by his goal at Ewood Park where he drifted past the despairing dive of the last defender before slotting coolly home. If anything, that's something that would have been nice to see more often but his positioning out wide meant he was rarely running down the centre of the pitch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHE9oXX9j37ud1hhf4adPRNYHo5XmapY5cUZRCUvHntpiL0aidW5PQjKnzEb5Az7qmUo95Xaes8nUaJyyf_DNuxiokJztD-yvty0cM0lAofG54oYwNhtOl19KE1wdzWvsIdYMzzI-Zsyx9/s547/OliseShots.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="547" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHE9oXX9j37ud1hhf4adPRNYHo5XmapY5cUZRCUvHntpiL0aidW5PQjKnzEb5Az7qmUo95Xaes8nUaJyyf_DNuxiokJztD-yvty0cM0lAofG54oYwNhtOl19KE1wdzWvsIdYMzzI-Zsyx9/w400-h326/OliseShots.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>One area that Michael should improve as he gains more experience is getting into positions to provide more of a goalscoring threat. Currently he rarely gets into the box and, while he clearly has the ability to convert long shots, they're not quality scoring chances. It's hard to know if that's a Paunovic instruction. For instance, he tends to show for the short pass when the ball is in crossing positions rather than being central. That could be because that's where Olise feels most comfortable or it could be because, at 5'7", there's little point him going for a header. Particularly in a side that has Meite too.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Yakou Meite</h4><p>As touched upon earlier, had Pauno had Yakou for the entire season then who knows what would have happened. His 0.64 goals p90<b> </b>topped even Joao's output. In such a technical team, Meite is a bit of an anomaly but his goalscoring is undeniable. Plus his desire to run in behind often harmonises well with Joao wanting the ball to feet. </p><p>It does occasionally cause problems defensively when he's used in the hybrid RW-ST role (very similar to how Bowen deployed him), and there were a couple of goals toward the end of the season where he was late getting back into position. Although, to be fair to him, one of those was Tom Lawrence's peach from outside the box.</p><p>I'm still unconvinced by him playing as a lone striker in the current system. He doesn't have the same ball retention, or ability to beat a player close to their own goal. There is no such worry out wide where he's able to knock the ball past a man into space or cut across the box and shoot. The one place where he easily has the jump on Lucas is his heading ability, but that too can be aided by being up against traditionally smaller full backs. </p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Ovie Ejaria</h4><p>Ovie is a conundrum that I don't think any manager has been able to solve quite yet. He has undoubted technical ability that surpasses almost any in the division. He's able to win fouls all over the pitch that either relieve pressure in the defensive third, or create chances to put free kicks into the box - and given Reading's goalscoring from those situations it can be key. The way teams collapse on him opens space for others, which has resulted in goals for others but can also see him crowded out in good positions. Either way, his headline stats of 3 goals, 5 assists don't completely reflect his contribution.</p><p><i>But</i> he's often lacking a bit of directness, a bit of speed, to really cut open an opposition. He's hesitant to cross - especially on his weak foot - and he's the most obvious candidate to be dropped for that winger that everyone's crying out for, which would be a real shame. He may be saved by Reading's soft embargo, and the fact that Swift doesn't seem capable of playing every game so may be required at CAM whatever happens.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Playing Style In Possession</h4><p>In terms of playing style, Reading were one of the few teams to average over 50% possession and one of the top sides for passing accuracy. But that's at odds with the results, which are far superior with <i>less </i>possession. Joao and the rest of the team thrive with the space in transition, and as teams started to understand that they started to cede possession to The Royals. Next season it will be key to come up with a solution to teams who make it hard to play through the middle of the park, which happened more and more as the season wore on.</p><p>It's worth bearing in mind that this squad is still entirely inherited, and as a consequence, we saw Paunovic try various tactics to add to the attacking threat. Laurent and Rinomhota in the screen started to make runs beyond the strikers - and these seemed to work best with Tom McIntyre on the pitch who was more than willing to try those passes over the top. Different combinations in the attacking quartet were designed to balance threat and defensive rigidity.</p><p>The lack of any out and out wingers has been a source of much chagrin. To me, it's a slightly overplayed issue. Of course, it's important to have options to call upon but given that Meite will likely play off the right when fit, then you're really only looking for someone on the left. And it's possible to create that width in other ways, with different players moving out wide. We've seen previous Brentford sides have their central midfielders move wide to create that spacing. It is true, though, that Paunovic himself seems to want those sorts of players and they seem to align with how he sees the game.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKEd8k0ImeqqCXgmQ6bmgry8RYhb9YgSCgQKfwX6iVnqHV2J5XcY6hCZjwm4TGCG3F0Vh26eQBuHqVCAmEdcz8dYo7IdHsA-FShUFFYZquRQb8NEPFGuylAeOWrLvQ1p1UBEG8_cDd7g_/s547/CrossLocations.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="547" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKEd8k0ImeqqCXgmQ6bmgry8RYhb9YgSCgQKfwX6iVnqHV2J5XcY6hCZjwm4TGCG3F0Vh26eQBuHqVCAmEdcz8dYo7IdHsA-FShUFFYZquRQb8NEPFGuylAeOWrLvQ1p1UBEG8_cDd7g_/w400-h326/CrossLocations.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>When Reading have the ball out wide they tended to cross from less than ideal positions and usually as a last resort. Rather than attempting to get to the byline to cutback, they instead floated balls in from deeper. There seems to be a desire from Paunovic to put crosses in as much as possible, you can often hear him shouting for it, an I think that stems from a desire to be positive. However, Lucas Joao is actually not the best in the air despite his height. He's only got one headed goal to his name as a Reading player (in the league anyway), and that was from inside the 6 yard box.</p><p>Back when I was previewing Paunovic's style I mentioned that set pieces were crucial to his teams, and that's been the case at the Madejski too. The Royals scored 17 goals from set pieces, only bettered by Cardiff. Yakou Meite, Michael Morrison and Tom McIntyre were obviously the key threats from those sorts of situations, and without them in the team we did look a little less dangerous but it's unfortunate to have all three injured.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Midfield</h3><p>Clearly, the signing of Josh Laurent has been a major positive this season. The midfielder won player of the season and has been almost universally loved by fans. He dominated the team in terms of ball recovery; over 50% more than his nearest outfield rival (Rino, obviously), and only Fulton and Skipp made more tackles across the league in the DM/MC position.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJk4BbZpaSDZOXi2y3_bU3-NoMM5H8t0aERj9i5HakxPxKapSZxap4vdCePJ49uZOOe3Pwufe0rWFM5I0gFCD7RAi-wHSACBqQDa_aGuFpLexWsrF-dMo6k0p2OdHiTYH2wioLTDL2he0c/s1375/MidfielderData.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="1375" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJk4BbZpaSDZOXi2y3_bU3-NoMM5H8t0aERj9i5HakxPxKapSZxap4vdCePJ49uZOOe3Pwufe0rWFM5I0gFCD7RAi-wHSACBqQDa_aGuFpLexWsrF-dMo6k0p2OdHiTYH2wioLTDL2he0c/w795-h261/MidfielderData.png" width="795" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frequency of Actions. Source: smarterscout. John Swift benchmarked against CAM, Rino/Laurent benchmarked against DM</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>At times though, we have seen how playing two players primarily for their defensive attributes can hamper a side going forward. Neither Rino nor Laurent are particularly proficient at progressing the ball through the lines. Laurent, for much of the season, was tasked with dropping deeper to pick up possession before trying to play out of defence - you can see this in the percentage of balls he plays forward (33%). Trying to compare the graphs above is a little difficult, as they're benchmarked against different positions, but what is clear is that Swift attempts to progress the ball far more often than either DM.</p><p>It's unlikely that Swift could consistently play a deeper role due to his deficiencies defensively. He's not as bad as some make out, but he's clearly not got the same ability there as LauRino. I'd be surprised if we don't see a continuation of him rotating into the deeper role in possession to give the best of both worlds but that may be dependent on what happens with Olise this summer.</p><div><p>A seventh-placed finish contrived to be a disappointment. At the beginning of the season, you wouldn't have believed such a feat were possible. We have more of an idea about how Paunovic sees his team and with a decent summer (alas, it doesn't seem likely) maybe there'll be a more balanced squad to help him realise his targets next season.</p></div>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-13993381515130894332021-05-14T11:15:00.003+01:002021-05-14T11:15:52.292+01:00Reading 2-2 Huddersfield Town<p>It is frankly unbelievable that Reading managed to lose a match where they were so in control. Huddersfield didn't have a shot for the best part of forty-five minutes, and it's no real surprise that they only came back into the game after Paunovic's substitutions. It's likely that they're still managing Swift's minutes, there's no point injuring him in a game like this, and Olise was clearly struggling but to replace them with Tetek and Moore shows a depressingly defensive outlook. Sone or Camara was right there, Veljko.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9OrA-IAo87E6_ALW5EYrk2B76DxRrgQgYbnHvTaoM9bYuJDbOgN8fiS3_aYY_xgKT1tdOvXePfnQr5OLqj5YvN6pKpDX6LaK4gt3fc4Qoli4mdBSl3me0y97vRY9bRxrDL9SIeJzp-mu/s1920/Midfield.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9OrA-IAo87E6_ALW5EYrk2B76DxRrgQgYbnHvTaoM9bYuJDbOgN8fiS3_aYY_xgKT1tdOvXePfnQr5OLqj5YvN6pKpDX6LaK4gt3fc4Qoli4mdBSl3me0y97vRY9bRxrDL9SIeJzp-mu/w640-h360/Midfield.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading's midfield quartet ended up too deep, and too narrow.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It moved Reading to a 5-4-1, but with a quartet solely made up of central players who were clearly not completely comfortable in the role they were being asked to perform. Huddersfield had far too much time and space inside the Reading half, with all four midfielders largely looking to camp out in front of the defence.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo15wSjEyl41b9tFcZig2URACXRKNo-NI0gJtsfgBDc9DSEO0vKDtSWnNQWiM_axJeLLf4e5xr0jqHGGUqas8MRGsNNfmqAkVbnxmsEcgLTGvmStCzvp7fucpz4CQ2_iftbjbMtCMj82l8/s1920/FinalGoal.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo15wSjEyl41b9tFcZig2URACXRKNo-NI0gJtsfgBDc9DSEO0vKDtSWnNQWiM_axJeLLf4e5xr0jqHGGUqas8MRGsNNfmqAkVbnxmsEcgLTGvmStCzvp7fucpz4CQ2_iftbjbMtCMj82l8/w640-h360/FinalGoal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rinomhota hands across the Huddersfield player, but that leaves a 4-on-3. Semedo picks up the man Rinomhota lets drift, but that leaves the goalscorer free to find the space. Also, note how many players are expecting the cross to the far post.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Huddersfield's equaliser, with seconds remaining, could be traced back to that change in formation. The three centre backs all expecting the cross, and the team as a whole criminally allowing an overload on the left-hand side. Rinomhota hands across his man to the three out on that side (specifically to Richards, who then presses the man in possession against the touchline) but there are not enough players to cover all four opposition players, and that leads to the goalscorer's free run into the area. Semedo was a little lax with who he was picking up, but the damage was mainly done by Rino.</p><p>If Southwood's error for the first goal was at least understandable, the second is poor. It's close to him, it's not struck hard, and yet it still manages to go between his legs and in. Obviously, it's his first game, it's harsh to judge him, but it does raise some questions. The clubs he was on loan at seem to have a positive perception of him, and for that to be the case he must save shots like that - so we'll put this one down to league debut jitters for now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4aNt4L8HL_rTHZcGuMt-HFHZXiJtMTVDDmLFhXfE0_-sFFXvUpVxoME8eKSYIYRnATKo45cvVDG32NxGQv-ohRK3CAW4juQIyZg2HfpC6SGDKlJrabuO_RDMFf9SbanvotoFwpr9Aff3/s600/southwood.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4aNt4L8HL_rTHZcGuMt-HFHZXiJtMTVDDmLFhXfE0_-sFFXvUpVxoME8eKSYIYRnATKo45cvVDG32NxGQv-ohRK3CAW4juQIyZg2HfpC6SGDKlJrabuO_RDMFf9SbanvotoFwpr9Aff3/w640-h360/southwood.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>Likewise, his distribution was often nervy in the opening throes of the match. He was never caught in possession but was close on a couple of occasions. That seemed to rectify itself in the second half. At one point he did a nice little ball roll against the Huddersfield press and then played a simple pass. Again, hard to understand how much is down to first game nerves and how much is a fundamental flaw but what seems clear is that he's comfortable with the ball at his feet.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXwHhCZTrleQLTJlRioU9i6VHod2znnSPcPsHTjk_KgOR34wZFLONEAf1L2B14QIB181l-KLE4e253jn7KPagX-y3UgpW0B0r6hTvojDTFPuUTPZ1k03c43fS2NDq1bkhiS3lUZdm9JmD/s600/meite.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXwHhCZTrleQLTJlRioU9i6VHod2znnSPcPsHTjk_KgOR34wZFLONEAf1L2B14QIB181l-KLE4e253jn7KPagX-y3UgpW0B0r6hTvojDTFPuUTPZ1k03c43fS2NDq1bkhiS3lUZdm9JmD/w640-h360/meite.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meite got into these positions a couple of times early in the second half, and didn't have a way to get around the defence</td></tr></tbody></table><p>At the other end of the pitch, Yakou Meite had a decent enough game. His goal, and a fantastic goal at that, put a sheen on his performance. I think we largely saw a performance that didn't rely on him to build up, though he did hold the ball up and bring others into play well enough when required. There were just a couple of moments where his close control was a little suspect. Then two moments in quick succession where he had the defenders retreating, but didn't manage to make it past them. I wonder if negating his ability to push the ball past a defender and chase it will hamper him playing centrally.</p><p>One of the issues he had was the Huddersfield defence playing noticeably deeper in the second half, probably in large part because they could barely get the ball. That made his runs in behind more difficult and meant that he didn't have as much space to play in, with Huddersfield rarely caught in transition. It's telling that Meite's last shot of the game was his goal, he may have worked hard but he didn't create too much.</p><p>Reading's right side, with Esteves and Rinomhota, was surprisingly functional. Their movement in particular was effective in opening space down the flank. Not much point in diving into something that we'll never see again, but this loan has worked fairly well for Tomás. He's clearly becoming more confident, and this was probably his best match going both ways. His defensive frailties have always been slightly overstated, and he again made more tackles than any of his teammates bar Semedo. He also had a shot, a key pass, and a couple of dribbles - more than respectable output.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6fPbj9d51ggxXwDeqGc_GOTa8ZCVHIeuFaL2eOFlQgnF-ZBsoOh8ogO2frVLOIQQo5DQK9T9_7BIYy0KRdUQ7yI7rVyxpZx7Y2vIk_udG3mVVlp_ms0uU6yrm1Lk3yIk7hjM0V8DwbKD/s600/swifty.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6fPbj9d51ggxXwDeqGc_GOTa8ZCVHIeuFaL2eOFlQgnF-ZBsoOh8ogO2frVLOIQQo5DQK9T9_7BIYy0KRdUQ7yI7rVyxpZx7Y2vIk_udG3mVVlp_ms0uU6yrm1Lk3yIk7hjM0V8DwbKD/w640-h360/swifty.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If teams try to stay in shape and don't pressure Swift, then he can pick passes to hurt them. and Huddersfield's relatively high line left a lot of space for players to run into.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Yet again we saw the way a team with John Swift could play. He consistently played out to the flanks and stretched play in a manner that Reading have failed to do consistently this season. Those types of passes were largely seen in the first half before Huddersfield shut down. Similarly to Olise, he was instrumental in both goals, though he'll receive no credit in the statistics. His free-kick led to Semedo being brought down in the box for the first goal, and it was his diagonal out to Esteves that ended up leading to the corner for goal #2.</p><p>The man who did pad his stats is the youngster who we will likely not see in a Reading shirt again, Michael Olise. It is easy to say that he should have been on penalties for the whole season, but it must be said that Joao looked accomplished in his first couple; though the fact that Olise clearly has more than one option is obviously a positive. Meite may have done most of the heavy lifting with the second, but it was still a superb ball in.</p><p>Overall, a disheartening final match. Familiar deficiencies against packed defences reared their head, and that gut punch at the end just added insult to injury. Had the match ended a minute earlier then we could have at least gone into summer with a spring in the step. Instead, it seems to have raised some key questions that Veljko will have to look to answer quickly after the offseason.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-36984883669479755452021-05-09T09:30:00.001+01:002021-05-09T09:30:00.241+01:00Reading 3-2 Brighton & Hove Albion<p>The final home game brings about the first win in eight matches.</p><p>The 4-1-4-1 seen last week seems to have morphed into a 4-4-1-1, with Rowe given a freer role behind Harries and the Williams/James duo positioned alongside each other. The only real surprise was seeing Beth Roberts moved across to the left - presumably down to injuries given that Reading failed to name another LB on their short bench.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC0KZYLkYC8QK3jq-6gTGqiZuGpa57LNyGPJB3bR21zinkORP63Xv6Z8cohB6fX5utwr5t66oTRfpg7KwXI4HigWzos1YaY6KzcQQywyc7qQbKy2I2X514R3n9ncq_vNgOSzoeK0Ut35G/s1920/Reading+Goal+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC0KZYLkYC8QK3jq-6gTGqiZuGpa57LNyGPJB3bR21zinkORP63Xv6Z8cohB6fX5utwr5t66oTRfpg7KwXI4HigWzos1YaY6KzcQQywyc7qQbKy2I2X514R3n9ncq_vNgOSzoeK0Ut35G/w640-h360/Reading+Goal+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristine Leine overlapping leads to the first goal, with plenty of bodies in the box to aim the cross for</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Things looked a lot rosier than recent weeks after two first-half goals saw Reading in control. The first, a slightly dubious penalty won by Emma Harries. A cross from Leine saw the youngster bundled over and, not for the first time in her career, Williams coolly sent the woman between the sticks the wrong way. The soon-to-be-retiree had played her part in the build-up, but instead of James or herself taking a ridiculous long shot, the team opened up the right hand side and reaped the benefits.</p><p>For a side that played without wingers for much of the season, it's a tad surprising to see two goals effectively scored from crosses. Harding didn't give up on a ball that looked to be going out, with the Brighton defender's slackness giving her time to pick out Carter. Her control looped up but in one movement she span and placed the ball beyond Megan Walsh in the Brighton goal.</p><p>There was a version of the match at The Madejski where The Royals stroll to victory. Coming toward the end of the first half they were cruising. Leading 2-0 forty-two minutes in, with little threat coming the other way, they somehow conspired to throw away their advantage before half time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1KqK1L9bbGmgXbMnAf-0Q4_q0EQD6v3tT8kV4P3Bzx4Kb99dMV8_kx9U4zF1AeqPZ4rHtNj7MX32Z4XPrBukaqrVtt7lZ34nkrgULC4mdseNu7gg94fhYosyFyKJyaeUoenXEhi4oIex/s1920/Brighton+Goal+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1KqK1L9bbGmgXbMnAf-0Q4_q0EQD6v3tT8kV4P3Bzx4Kb99dMV8_kx9U4zF1AeqPZ4rHtNj7MX32Z4XPrBukaqrVtt7lZ34nkrgULC4mdseNu7gg94fhYosyFyKJyaeUoenXEhi4oIex/w640-h360/Brighton+Goal+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lee drifts between Cooper and Bartrip. Neither centre back covers themselves in glory</td></tr></tbody></table><p>A free-kick from deep was launched to the edge of the Reading box. Kayleigh Green won her header against Beth Roberts and managed to flick over Bartrip for Lee Geum-min to direct her own header past Moloney. When Bartrip loses track of Lee, Cooper has to be much more proactive in either communicating that fact or take control of the danger herself. She appears to do neither, trailing slightly behind the play. Bartrip herself should try to keep more open, to give herself the ability to see both the ball and the player.</p><p>The goalkeeper also doesn't seem completely free of blame. It's difficult to properly tell with some matches due to the single-camera angle but it was a fairly tame header that Moloney seems to collapse, rather than spring, toward. It doesn't seem to be right in the corner or clip the post on the way in. I imagine it's one she may want back.</p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="538" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0hUF0im9xnc?start=304" title="YouTube video player" width="956"></iframe><p>When it comes to Brighton drawing level there was absolutely nothing that the goalie could do. Even the great Fara Williams makes mistakes and it was her dallying on the ball, before trying to beat the Brighton player, from kick-off that meant Lee could take the ball away. From there she took a couple of touches to control the ball, before curling into the top corner from about thirty-five yards. </p><p>Half time probably came to Reading's rescue, allowing them to regroup and, in the words of every footballer on twitter, <i>Go Again</i>. The wide players in the new formation also allow more angles for balls over the top. Seconds after the break Harding went close after a chip from James played her through, and the keeper made the strange decision not to come to claim.</p><p>Ten minutes later she put Reading back into the lead, with a long ball over the top from Bartrip picking out the run, and Harding finished between the keeper's legs. The pass was probably meant for Harries, but the striker mistimed her jump and it ran through to the captain. The relief and passion was evident.</p><p>Eikeland and Chaplen had chances to put the cherry on top of things as the match drew to a close, but neither were able to capitalise on good positions. Likewise Lee had a chance from a cutback to complete her hattrick, but she totally mishit it.</p><p>Given how embedded Kelly Chambers is within Reading it's no surprise that she's managed to see out a poor campaign. A win rate of under 25 percent is not good enough when <i>five </i>teams in the league don't even reach a point per game. It's tough to see how next season improves with the churn in the squad, but Chambers will have to find a way (after a tricky final fixture away at... Chelsea needing to win to clinch the league).</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-1757972586145624392021-05-08T09:30:00.002+01:002021-05-08T09:30:00.222+01:00Norwich City 4-1 Reading<p>The last team that you want to play when your season has all but ended, is a side that have the opportunity to clinch something. Least of all the best team in the league that can win the title. With Moore and Rino injured there were surprise starts for Lewis Gibson and Dejan Tetek. Up front we saw the rare quartet of Ovie, Swift, EFL Young Player of the Season Michael Olise, and Joao.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAUDSYVUsTDA_aDAEdNI_NEtOWnBOsNGoJc-dneYZfzvLIPTh-kzrU3Gq5AncCred3nCVENqATnho990yb0EzCmKM-bclRQmZN1RmLwCySKLc-WJ7vOfWWRuKWhaOfxaX4ZIUED4eVMTq/s600/gibson.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAUDSYVUsTDA_aDAEdNI_NEtOWnBOsNGoJc-dneYZfzvLIPTh-kzrU3Gq5AncCred3nCVENqATnho990yb0EzCmKM-bclRQmZN1RmLwCySKLc-WJ7vOfWWRuKWhaOfxaX4ZIUED4eVMTq/w640-h360/gibson.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>Gibson and Tetek had differing games. The Everton loanee struggled at the back, gifting numerous opportunities to The Canaries. Within the first two-and-a-half minutes, he'd played a poor pass that was easily intercepted by Buendía but he did manage to cut out the Argentinian's pass. In fact, none of his mistakes cost The Royals on a day where he made more than a few.</p><p>His centre back partner, on the other hand, had a relatively good match outside of two horrendous mistakes that were punished. Holmes passing was crucial in playing out from the back again but, alas, it was two passes back to Rafael that his game will be remembered for. The first, half an hour in, gave up Reading's lead. He tried to play a no-look backpass to his goalkeeper but Pukki read it, forcing Raf to slide into a challenge. Dowell's first touch on the edge of the area wasn't great but allowed him to get there before Tetek, Holmes, or Rafael. His finish ricocheted off the diving keeper and ended up in the back of the net.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EmttpBriglpqnl6AL4cqEXWX2181lDI4_gN01dZzEYLbcqWVuIpEU8UmWTELWfr_cLXrzUNkfCPHQDf1H5pThtDEFfAW4Nx14_37EgRqY_IyocVcCoOFqSQXyvUF90bTvqodt7SNP4ed/s1920/Pukki.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EmttpBriglpqnl6AL4cqEXWX2181lDI4_gN01dZzEYLbcqWVuIpEU8UmWTELWfr_cLXrzUNkfCPHQDf1H5pThtDEFfAW4Nx14_37EgRqY_IyocVcCoOFqSQXyvUF90bTvqodt7SNP4ed/w640-h360/Pukki.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pukki is already expecting the pass Holmes is about to make</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Given the second came at 3-1 down, with five minutes left, it's almost unimportant. It was, however, almost the exact same mistake as the first. That time it stemmed from a longer backpass that he's not realised Pukki is again alert to. The Finn didn't need to rely on others, as he got to the ball first and rounded Rafael. The Championship's second top-scorer was almost literally able to walk the ball in.</p><p>In terms of Tetek, his best moments unsurprisingly came in the opening stanza when Reading were on the front foot. In fact, he had a large part in the opening goal. Cantwell had dribbled the ball away from an Ejaria penalty shout, and Tetek pressured him to keep the ball in Norwich's corner - blocking the pass for a throw. He managed to turn that over before winning a foul. Then it was as simple as Olise putting it onto the head of Laurent. Norwich's defenders seemed more preoccupied with Holmes (maybe that can counteract one of his mistakes), leaving the midfielder totally unoccupied.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2JKiitZ-ue_zyf4kOUuiMGCJ-0x5vTf1EBaZXbb7PLpVDDhOi-2ce3m68I5Xyl2YTWAMDgoHuXdHSAz5wU88ITCxmllV3r0XFZXxAcJit8PZjO0goJtQ9G5Hf43TdVoTk0cEIcXUZJOq/s600/tetek.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2JKiitZ-ue_zyf4kOUuiMGCJ-0x5vTf1EBaZXbb7PLpVDDhOi-2ce3m68I5Xyl2YTWAMDgoHuXdHSAz5wU88ITCxmllV3r0XFZXxAcJit8PZjO0goJtQ9G5Hf43TdVoTk0cEIcXUZJOq/w640-h360/tetek.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>It was interesting that Tetek came in on the right side. Given he's left-footed he's usually deployed on the left of that screen in the U23s alongside Pendlebury but it's presumably down to Laurent favouring the left side. Plus it's beneficial to keep him in the role he's played all season rather than needlessly move more players around. Whether it's Tetek or the opposition remains to be seen, but Swift also didn't drop as deep and Tetek picked a couple of nice passes that show a little bit of promise for next season.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A6w5BkQvYnQU6W24HcvqQb0kk1EZPARtXrYUIcnTxakC-w87R3n1CrEc3fJCDXQW2agB7G9crq_YVUxV43VRT1igMUwQpXjw962QAC8sTV81QrHXrD-VX79gG1A0akTvFnZgvwwWpEdc/s1920/Width.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A6w5BkQvYnQU6W24HcvqQb0kk1EZPARtXrYUIcnTxakC-w87R3n1CrEc3fJCDXQW2agB7G9crq_YVUxV43VRT1igMUwQpXjw962QAC8sTV81QrHXrD-VX79gG1A0akTvFnZgvwwWpEdc/w640-h360/Width.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading had the ability to stretch play against a Norwich side who focused all their attention on the centre, but didn't always manage it</td></tr></tbody></table><p>A lack of width has been killer for Reading on numerous occasions, but both Reading's fullbacks attempted to provide it. Norwich's defence narrowed as the play headed toward their goal to a remarkable extent, allowing space on the flanks, but unsurprisingly the away side never fully capitalised. Olise's late run toward the end of the first half was the closest they got, but his right foot has never been his strongest. That showed as he wildly missed the target.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGzJnwsN7i9FSfxHo7kfgCwaN0VOTh5kcrz8GJZJQ2EMBVVqAj4VEJgTQz_rxXfroYFUftNa-YcSwQKtonfQYAswxcVSzwE2KoCIyD2OQPyuhhNNr5BSkFqvnhE0IWriJy-lvvzI15gpf/s1920/NorwichGoal2Full.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGzJnwsN7i9FSfxHo7kfgCwaN0VOTh5kcrz8GJZJQ2EMBVVqAj4VEJgTQz_rxXfroYFUftNa-YcSwQKtonfQYAswxcVSzwE2KoCIyD2OQPyuhhNNr5BSkFqvnhE0IWriJy-lvvzI15gpf/w640-h360/NorwichGoal2Full.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ovie does spot the danger but isn't alert to Cantwell's skill level</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The second half was an onslaught right from the get-go. Rafael was forced into a seriously impressive save within the first two minutes from a similar position to where Norwich would go ahead not long after. On that occasion, Dowell gave Tetek the slip, for the goal it was Ejaria. Ovie did well to spot the danger but thought his task was done as the ball went wide to Cantwell. Instead, Blondie flicked the ball over the defender (Tetek again, maybe he could have been a tad more aggressive in closing down), and Dowell completed the job.</p><p>It's hard to be too critical of Rafael in a match where he not only kept us in the game, but was hung out to dry by his defence, but it's a bad angle to be beaten from. Had he stayed standing he probably would have got a foot on it. That said, I think he's slightly taken by surprise that the goalscorer manages to control his volley and get it to keep low.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SRewa4D10HMsgUx7YQbBkMt5oDOoiSSxM_N1shxohpCYxM5gGFUsqDsZqJrldj3Lxn2gFL2zhHWiXD3cFNozbjPR1oAUlwQ2WHjA1CaCKlFsurlakN3kE0tmi37umKXFPJ2nzUV7qoa1/s1920/Semedo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SRewa4D10HMsgUx7YQbBkMt5oDOoiSSxM_N1shxohpCYxM5gGFUsqDsZqJrldj3Lxn2gFL2zhHWiXD3cFNozbjPR1oAUlwQ2WHjA1CaCKlFsurlakN3kE0tmi37umKXFPJ2nzUV7qoa1/w640-h360/Semedo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think Semedo has stopped expecting to get the pass, and his body shape to receive the ball ends up being all wrong</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The third goal is another shambles. Richards played a ball across to Semedo which the midfielder miscontrolled. On first viewing, I thought it had a touch more venom than it did, but equally, it wasn't the nicest pass in the world - bouncing just in front of its target. Meanwhile, Semedo spent too long scanning and then wasn't ready to receive the pass. In the end, fouling Cantwell on the edge of the box.</p><p>It's always impressive when a free-kick goes in, but Quintillá's just looks <i>wrong</i>. It's not close to being in the corner. Despite clearly being in the zone of 'too close to get up and down' it's made easier by the fact the wall doesn't jump. The only reason for that can be that they're too scared of a shot underneath them, but in that case, put a man beneath the wall. Sure, it looks stupid, but I've yet to see anyone score that route while they're in use (I have seen very few goals beneath the wall either way). I'm gonna give Rafael the benefit of the doubt on this one and put it down to what seems like his smaller than average wingspan (for a Championship goalkeeper, at least).</p><p>These games mean very little, so if we can use them to give extra rest to players who aren't 100% and not risk aggravating injuries then perfect. If we can use them to give players like Tetek a bit of experience, that's even better. If Holmes can take lessons out of his mistakes, then that's just yet another positive.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-11163705149986611862021-05-08T09:30:00.001+01:002021-05-08T09:30:00.222+01:00Reading 2-2 Swansea City<p>Reading consigned themselves to another series in the Championship after failing to beat a lacklustre Swansea team.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYgo6Gjswj9W1CAX_e70wQxc1XsAL1izwj6hVECu3jvUW1scWxcygu8ZVD5jNiYikF4NQ8CwTdUukXK2kYfdFKXX94DRwbfv_qfTQp0KiXkaSQGv3a5qSmmzRaDMqrQbjryXYCY5kLrIj/s600/swift.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYgo6Gjswj9W1CAX_e70wQxc1XsAL1izwj6hVECu3jvUW1scWxcygu8ZVD5jNiYikF4NQ8CwTdUukXK2kYfdFKXX94DRwbfv_qfTQp0KiXkaSQGv3a5qSmmzRaDMqrQbjryXYCY5kLrIj/w640-h360/swift.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little pressure on the ball and packing the midfield may work for Reading's opponents sans-Swift, but he can pick passes with ease</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Swansea's lone striker meant that the home side's defence had plenty of time on the ball. Much was made of Moore's attempted long balls out from the back. I think that him taking responsibility for attempting to progress the ball is positive, even if he didn't get it right on this occasion. It must be said that he's normally got a better success rate. In fact, it was only one of two occasions this season where he's failed to make a single long ball.</p><p>The other way to progress the ball is through the midfield, and with John Swift back in the side, that was a much more realistic option. Rino and Laurent often looked to make runs forward to open space for Swift deeper. His range of passing and vision is superior to anyone else in the squad. We also saw a little set play with Holmes passing to Swift coming back toward his own goal, and the midfielder playing one-touch out to the right. It was a simple move, but one that helped move up the pitch.</p><p>One of the most frustrating aspects of Reading's play was the constant passing up of the overlap. It's something that the side have consistently done, using the overlap as a decoy while the man on the ball then has the space to put a cross in. It does, however, mean that they never end up getting to the byline. Meite is good at attacking the ball, as seen for the first goal, but Joao really isn't. He's only scored one headed goal in the league since joining and that was from all of about a yard out. </p><p>All of this came together for Reading's first goal. A Swift ball out to the left-wing from deep saw Richards win a throw. The left-back ended up on the ball and passed to Joao on the edge, who laid the ball back to Swift. Swansea put absolutely no pressure on The Royals best player, and he placed it onto Meite's head. It did help that the left back stayed ridiculously deep instead of stepping up with the rest of his team, but it's a perfect header in off the post.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8haBL7VpkXj-xBLhdxFCCA_S86xmMvfPZUo1ODpjx0wBrtBJ1-jBOZRHHC7FItnlGlHhehG66XtO3j5XMyuUgBU_CjyfcK2UfcPZRaKSL_Q9izWOdRqN1Go_8-RKXONVplpaVbLiFew6/s600/ayew.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8haBL7VpkXj-xBLhdxFCCA_S86xmMvfPZUo1ODpjx0wBrtBJ1-jBOZRHHC7FItnlGlHhehG66XtO3j5XMyuUgBU_CjyfcK2UfcPZRaKSL_Q9izWOdRqN1Go_8-RKXONVplpaVbLiFew6/w640-h360/ayew.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't let him do that to you. Even here you can see Holmes should probably engage (or at least look to stay in his position) rather than back off</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Reading were the better team right up until the introduction of André Ayew. From there the game turned on its head, and Swansea were level just a couple of minutes later. The Ghanian international received the ball against the touchline on the right-hand side, drew the attention of a trio of blue Royal blue, and rolled it through the captain's legs and into the path of the untracked Jay Fulton.</p><p>I think that Holmes was probably a little <i>too </i>worried about Lowe behind him, where Yiadom could have taken over, and that allowed Fulton a free run without resistance. Not for the first time, Rafael didn't deal with the shot and gave Lowe a tap in. It wasn't good enough to allow Ayew the opportunity to playmake with three around him, for none of those players to instead track Fulton, or by the goalkeeper at the end.</p><p>Between The Swans' goals, the game was fairly even - although a little bitty. Lucas Joao could (and probably should) have had a penalty for being dragged down in the box from a corner. Reading just haven't been getting those calls this season. Earlier in the season one of the procession of set pieces that Olise took may have been converted anyway, but there were some average deliveries, and some decent defending to stop the right players from getting on the end of things.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71hkm1gNBB5lvtim_vrcNuUcqtFhCj4hsRGN_u9NurjEEDXPVQEseukF55J8IkpcOZVN4L846CJNVTJqaLjL-lYipKEx4C8UUZnHnFI08sygfReDTYjw0gAjOkDYu4N6LKYPdFCJMqukV/s1920/SwanseaGoal2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71hkm1gNBB5lvtim_vrcNuUcqtFhCj4hsRGN_u9NurjEEDXPVQEseukF55J8IkpcOZVN4L846CJNVTJqaLjL-lYipKEx4C8UUZnHnFI08sygfReDTYjw0gAjOkDYu4N6LKYPdFCJMqukV/w640-h360/SwanseaGoal2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Semedo doesn't track the initial run, Moore goes into <b>block mode</b> and Ayew has an easy tap in</td></tr></tbody></table><p>And then everything truly fell apart. Bidwell took control of the ball out on the left, played a simple one-two with Lowe and raced into the area. A little feint saw Laurent protect the wrong passing lane, and Ayew had another tap in (that he decided to blast past the block of Moore anyway). </p><p>The biggest failing was Semedo's failure to follow The Swans' left back, or attempt to make up the ground. Laurent effectively tried to stop the cutback, which is his usual role, and Richards edged toward the same option. Combining all that with Moore getting far too deep - ending up behind Rafael at one point - allowed Ayew the space to take a touch and shoot.</p><p>That sort of play is one that Reading just don't have the ability to make. It's hard to imagine Joao ending up in Ayew's position - he normally likes to hang out for the cutback, or for Ovie to attack the area with that kind of pace. Admittedly, some of that is down to opposition crowding out the left wing but it's also not an option from the other side - particularly when Meite plays his hybrid role.</p><p>Esteves getting the goal he's been trying for all season was at least a nice way to end it. Olise drew a couple of players out, and then slid it across to Aluko. It was the closest to that proper cutback Reading got all game, and it found the Portuguese full back on the edge of the area. His finish with his wrong foot is the sort of thing I thought we'd see a bit more of this year, but expectations were probably a little too high for a nineteen-year-old playing his first full season.</p><p>Realistically the hope for Reading's season was already extinguished, but every time they've needed a result they've erred. The build for next year starts now (or at least started when this game ended, not when this is eventually getting posted).</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-7655350063857848202021-05-03T10:26:00.000+01:002021-05-03T10:26:46.674+01:00Birmingham City 1-1 Reading<p> Reading's season is effectively done, but there are some interesting stories still to delve into; mainly around the churn in the squad. Rachel Rowe and Brooke Chaplen have recently signed contract extensions, but there doesn't seem to be anyone to take the deeper role at present. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbneZfc40tm4h_ZKCRfsvTcnDfCPRP_hdg3PHxNxLeDQdtMO-pulBGW-NSAiHu9Wtpbr2xBrzZGVV3gthg8kJDEIHjot4WkOoNWykEc9MUSuwAsHIu48iCtFAtcfvxClOLE8ZbYn1em4EI/s1920/WilliamsDeeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbneZfc40tm4h_ZKCRfsvTcnDfCPRP_hdg3PHxNxLeDQdtMO-pulBGW-NSAiHu9Wtpbr2xBrzZGVV3gthg8kJDEIHjot4WkOoNWykEc9MUSuwAsHIu48iCtFAtcfvxClOLE8ZbYn1em4EI/w640-h360/WilliamsDeeper.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>With Fishlock having left, Williams seems to be tasked more with dropping deeper and progressing the ball. She completed 1,500 yards of passes - which is almost twice as much as any previous match. Likewise, the 600 progressive yards bettered her previous best of 350. It did admittedly help that Reading dominated possession, but Reading had a similar level against Bristol City earlier in the season, and Williams didn't hit those same numbers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgF52_knAPK_wnBAouIssOAnrz7HrizUVmg-GK5a5AE-VoQ5wL4eWkVfr2IM5lrzZRcJ8RVLKrKIjDyiOCr3z2_FvbNFUTmw7XfqUO0SJPvnR7N6lBbAfGkQRNfW0Arkvikllouie5-fT/s600/cooperpass.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgF52_knAPK_wnBAouIssOAnrz7HrizUVmg-GK5a5AE-VoQ5wL4eWkVfr2IM5lrzZRcJ8RVLKrKIjDyiOCr3z2_FvbNFUTmw7XfqUO0SJPvnR7N6lBbAfGkQRNfW0Arkvikllouie5-fT/w640-h360/cooperpass.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>On the whole, they used the same 4-1-4-1 system as during the FA Cup. James was the deepest midfielder again, but with the aforementioned Williams also looking to pick up the ball deeper. James' positioning allowed the full backs to push forward, particularly Woodham on the left who at one point made a run beyond Birmingham's defence with Cooper in possession at the back. The defensive midfielder dropped between the centre backs, splitting them and pushing them wider - giving cover across the pitch without the FBs having to play defensively.</p><p>It was largely down the left-hand side that The Royals attacked. Woodham and Carter combined for 108 open play touches, compared to 64 for Eikeland and Roberts down the other side. Carter often played in the half-space on the left, with Woodham overlapping on the outside. The attacking midfielder, despite only successfully controlling roughly 65% of passes into her (largely because of the balls into her, it must be said), received more progressive passes than anyone on the field (11).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JaEMXwxlvoUuE3VvSwiN8ZCVRZ_CVe-Q1bT3nJ-qqvDY7xQJ0CRvjue6ulhRKp4niydkuSIwCZCm5OYloNtW08mcO_Pe2wSt0XgTO02xmlIi_LcqAuVJyaUMtzhyphenhyphenhKNdx3fMV5y18Syb/s600/harding.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JaEMXwxlvoUuE3VvSwiN8ZCVRZ_CVe-Q1bT3nJ-qqvDY7xQJ0CRvjue6ulhRKp4niydkuSIwCZCm5OYloNtW08mcO_Pe2wSt0XgTO02xmlIi_LcqAuVJyaUMtzhyphenhyphenhKNdx3fMV5y18Syb/w640-h360/harding.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harding with no left foot struggles, and this highlights something talked about <a href="http://www.sentofffromthebench.co.uk/2021/05/reading-2-3-aet-tottenham.html">after Spurs</a> about Harries' running needing work</td></tr></tbody></table><p>One of the stranger decisions was the substitution of Woodham. It was 70 minutes in, at the same time that Chambers brought off Roberts from the right. Perhaps it was to manage the minutes of the youngsters but ended up with Harding playing at left-back. The Wales international seems to be Chambers' Swiss Army Knife, but without much of a left foot, she struggled to be incisive from that side. </p><p>Whoever was up front the main issue the side had was creating chances. Despite totalling 18 shots they only managed to accumulate 1.0 xG, with only four ending on target. Frankly, Reading are still too quick to shoot from terrible positions. Most of their shots still come from outside the area, with a third coming from twenty-four yards or greater.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6Pk0SIjCmjnfHmbO5dmHgMLJSgrJib4INIxDuIDnYe1gdoPoMtA0f8AU8K9jEob_LYijBAsz6ScwaXwjKSWYsxqLxPI8wjPR-j8xCrbRhW_eUAPkdtCq0Q6qZzSCaXdXbILFmJWtFmSM/s1920/vlcsnap-2021-05-03-10h14m40s355.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6Pk0SIjCmjnfHmbO5dmHgMLJSgrJib4INIxDuIDnYe1gdoPoMtA0f8AU8K9jEob_LYijBAsz6ScwaXwjKSWYsxqLxPI8wjPR-j8xCrbRhW_eUAPkdtCq0Q6qZzSCaXdXbILFmJWtFmSM/w640-h360/vlcsnap-2021-05-03-10h14m40s355.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On another day Litteljohn has a foul given against her for backing into Moloney</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Both goals in the game are actually fairly similar; Corners that were scored at the second opportunity. Birmingham took the lead early on. Sarah Mayling's inswinging corner almost caught Moloney out, with Ruesha Littlejohn causing a nuisance. The goalkeeper got fingertips to it but Cooper was still needed to clear off the line but that fell perfectly to Ruby Mace to smash home. The shot was almost straight at Moloney but she couldn't get a good enough palm to the ball to keep it out.</p><p>In the second half, it was Fara Williams' corner that unlocked things for The Royals. Her deep delivery was met by Cooper at the back post. The keeper's save came out to Rowe, sprinting to get to the ball first, and she seemed to leather it hoping it would find a way through - and it did. Reading have relied on set pieces a few times to get them into games, and here they needed one to save a point.</p><p>This was Reading's seventh 1-1 draw in 20 WSL matches, and next season they're going to have to find ways to win matches like this to start heading back toward that top four after a disappointing season. After twenty matches they have the same number of points as last season, which was cancelled after 14.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-71481093890951914942021-05-03T09:33:00.000+01:002021-05-03T09:33:13.124+01:00Reading 2-3 (aet) Tottenham<p>Reading and Tottenham had played out two draws in the league, so it's no surprise that it took an extra half hour to find a winner.</p><p>Without Fishlock, who returned to America after the West Ham match (not out of shame, it was always supposed to be that way), The Royals altered formation. James started alone between the lines in a 4-1-4-1 with Emma Harries up front. Bethan Roberts came in at right back to allow Harding to play further forward on that right-hand side.</p><p>The youngsters had a fairly tough outing. Harries has a tendency to run toward the ball, rather than making more intelligent runs. It means she often ends up in other players' way and culminated with her running <i>clearly </i>offside when she had the opportunity to effectively be played clean through. Before half-time, she also had the opportunity to beat the last player and pull across to Williams. The Tottenham player made a good block, but she shouldn't have been afforded the opportunity. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddZ73UKsvr_4Dj18xrtPllb1mdQcxhE7PBbVqR4KTJfXjB-0R0OMZSkEpPLE4opkcAvZ6Jmanq4QnEWjVq7qV5j5HPjZPpXGqgoF9S3rF3naaJvv4Ys6KhCyadYr6goye1e2SkIc6SU9p/s600/roberts.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddZ73UKsvr_4Dj18xrtPllb1mdQcxhE7PBbVqR4KTJfXjB-0R0OMZSkEpPLE4opkcAvZ6Jmanq4QnEWjVq7qV5j5HPjZPpXGqgoF9S3rF3naaJvv4Ys6KhCyadYr6goye1e2SkIc6SU9p/w640-h360/roberts.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roberts gets dragged inside from the right tracking the player, and then completely loses her bearings</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The issue with Roberts was actually quite similar but on defence, with her getting dragged out of position in relation to where possession was. Her almost-horror moment came around the hour mark. She pushed centrally to track the run then ended up completely lost as to where she should be positioned - leaving a Spurs player rushing through the middle, completely unmarked. On that occasion, Moloney bailed her out.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPkxsCb9c100-FKqCsflNsuCUyYReK8UXa8SiMtfVSAf4s6tCohQin5gmqJfQqI3uMZUHLqXkpMKr8eQCJK7dfNh9X3WQ_TWNvzOFsXIAr3f1tPy9lh0lScvWIOovq1LuWi6wLlHC-XkJ/s600/cooper.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPkxsCb9c100-FKqCsflNsuCUyYReK8UXa8SiMtfVSAf4s6tCohQin5gmqJfQqI3uMZUHLqXkpMKr8eQCJK7dfNh9X3WQ_TWNvzOFsXIAr3f1tPy9lh0lScvWIOovq1LuWi6wLlHC-XkJ/w640-h360/cooper.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This wasn't the only time a striker managed to get in behind Cooper, who didn't seem to have a full awareness of what was about her</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As with the game at Manchester City, Reading largely had Moloney to thank for keeping them in the game. She made a couple of <i>big </i>saves to keep the score at 2-2. Not that it was only the youngsters she rescued. Cooper had issues with players running behind her on a couple of occasions. That seems to show a lack of awareness of what's around her, but also poor communication from her teammates to make her aware of the situation.</p><p>Cooper was also the main culprit in Spurts equaliser, as her poor pass out of defence was pounced upon by Kit Graham. Bartrip had to bring her down and the referee, despite Tottenham being two-on-one and bearing down on goal, called for the free-kick on the edge of the D. No issue for Alanna Kennedy, who scored directly from the set-piece.</p><p>Fara Williams was involved in most of the afternoon's goals. She had opened the scoring with an exquisite 30-yard finish over the keeper, whose clearance had hit Harries and ricocheted off to the veteran. </p><p>In the second half, there was a manic minute where both teams found the back of the net. Initially, Tottenham got down the side of The Royals. Rachel Williams pulled the ball back to the corner of the box, but Fara Williams managed to intervene. Alas, she overplayed and R Williams managed to steal the ball, and exquisitely curl into the far corner. Fbref doesn't collect xG for the FA Cup but I imagine we're not talking about a great deal for either of Spurs normal-time goals.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U5Hx0YOUeTUwOirhJz84J6foScEhqve0BwOfCFNRpRTjb5r0DHsYn3xg39EN5mQsuhAgF1l7KS6o2yBvgES-b_lqdYXTy4SQRNy_3q0YeBeK0lJcH1nixn_uL0_51hwaYdAdTU6Nz6NC/s600/rowe.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U5Hx0YOUeTUwOirhJz84J6foScEhqve0BwOfCFNRpRTjb5r0DHsYn3xg39EN5mQsuhAgF1l7KS6o2yBvgES-b_lqdYXTy4SQRNy_3q0YeBeK0lJcH1nixn_uL0_51hwaYdAdTU6Nz6NC/w640-h360/rowe.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>The correct Williams helped make up for things seconds later though. A Spurs throw was nodded down to her, and she managed to pass through the legs of her marker to Rachel Rowe. Rowe's runs with the ball have become one of Reading's driving forces this season. She headed diagonally across the pitch, just creeping into the area level with the edge of the six-yard box on the left, and managed to slide her shot past three Spurs players and into the far corner. Perfect placement, and ever becoming more integral to the side.</p><p>In the inevitable extra time period it only took one more goal to settle the game. James tried to find Williams in the final third but Ashleigh Neville cut the ball out and immediately set off forward, facing no resistance. Those in midfield couldn't get back in time, and Woodham decided not to come across. The ball carrier chipped a pass that Bartrip couldn't cut out, and Jessica Naz picked her spot past Moloney.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gZbJObuNOEsUqJV-u3u0F9aHOy9hNt1cN9guSX6f_SMNFeTq_5RiB2uLVp_fnT2DDzQ9jeGHoAa82z5jyhcFe2azlG0QFg3nMux71W_neNfAq_QBbpU6t0M5VoN8E4A0IOButvpfGkPd/s540/handball.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="540" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gZbJObuNOEsUqJV-u3u0F9aHOy9hNt1cN9guSX6f_SMNFeTq_5RiB2uLVp_fnT2DDzQ9jeGHoAa82z5jyhcFe2azlG0QFg3nMux71W_neNfAq_QBbpU6t0M5VoN8E4A0IOButvpfGkPd/w640-h360/handball.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>Reading probably should have had a penalty at the end of extra time, but didn't do enough to get anything out of the game. There were some positives. The 4-1-4-1 provides more defensive solidity wide, something they've struggled with this year, and also gives extra options for balls into the channel, which The Royals did use in the opening half especially.</p><p>Realistically the FA Cup was the last avenue Reading had to put a stamp on this season. With Fishlock gone, Williams announcing her retirement, and James departing for America over summer, Chambers may find this an ideal situation to experiment.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-25986945710925557812021-04-28T13:02:00.000+01:002021-04-28T13:02:11.806+01:00Reading 0-5 West Ham<p> Reading won many plaudits after the game away at Manchester City, but realistically could have been on the end of a similar scoreline had it not been for some wayward finishing by The Sky Blues. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAu_V6CPEjMKd_qviA3Hl8pcf6WuOZqGny4lEYFU6IW22-mvZw-aeyMe9n3hGb0dPl_l2qg19FUafxexQDSgxKfsMVvg8lolh0N-O4DzxKuNCE0drn6CLQ6eFM05WPmg8o48lwQGBYBBln/s1920/WHPressure.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAu_V6CPEjMKd_qviA3Hl8pcf6WuOZqGny4lEYFU6IW22-mvZw-aeyMe9n3hGb0dPl_l2qg19FUafxexQDSgxKfsMVvg8lolh0N-O4DzxKuNCE0drn6CLQ6eFM05WPmg8o48lwQGBYBBln/w640-h360/WHPressure.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West Ham cut off options, Fishlock is forced to try a difficult pass out to Woodham on the left (out of shot) and turns the ball over</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Royals have attempted to play out from goal kicks pretty much all year, and Moloney tapping to Fishlock has been used on many an occasion. It's worked before - the team scored against Bristol after a similar move - but it does come with risk associated. There didn't seem to be many options out from the box, and the midfielder's pass was cut out. The ball ended up at the feet of Kenza Dali, with Deanna Cooper standing off her rather than engaging. Still, The Hammers benefitted from a healthy slice of luck as her cross (as it patently was) ended up lobbing Moloney and sneaking in at the back post.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEGucyCm0ETuBqJIorweilh2o8cTLx0IANDIlem5ntLG12Emzg-M9iObooi5jn5CxnH_Qy2gay9gdoitkkOPipQeQDelxOC4N_YBSDH6ZdHR1llcWiQXqCXJOIli1DwjFCv_wannr_HYW/s1920/Goal2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEGucyCm0ETuBqJIorweilh2o8cTLx0IANDIlem5ntLG12Emzg-M9iObooi5jn5CxnH_Qy2gay9gdoitkkOPipQeQDelxOC4N_YBSDH6ZdHR1llcWiQXqCXJOIli1DwjFCv_wannr_HYW/w640-h360/Goal2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading have seven players over, and two by the free-kick. Thomas races out to the opposite side to start the counter.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>That led to the floodgates opening. A Reading free-kick on the edge of West Ham's third saw seven hooped shirts attacking the box, with two more stood over the set-piece against the right touchline. Fara Williams delivery was far too simple for the goalkeeper, and West Ham instantly broke down the opposite flank. A ball to the edge of the box was cut out by Rachel Rowe but miscontrolled, allowing Longhurst to steal possession. She attacked the byline, and crossed to Katerina Svitkova to head in, completely unmarked, at the back post.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5DtcVAlVw4Q6BD9YQqxmEzokkY5pLloXInnaRRQtdAoq2tSjJSBMmz4eNokLBrI11Ax65lo-JicTEJJd7W0pUBqbFWe-5hu1nN4E4KBY2WxNVcY6hmaOfHXmAlk_rRzwzqwYBGU6MPbG/s1920/Moloney.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5DtcVAlVw4Q6BD9YQqxmEzokkY5pLloXInnaRRQtdAoq2tSjJSBMmz4eNokLBrI11Ax65lo-JicTEJJd7W0pUBqbFWe-5hu1nN4E4KBY2WxNVcY6hmaOfHXmAlk_rRzwzqwYBGU6MPbG/w640-h360/Moloney.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moloney is already on her way down when she could have stayed upright and saved easily - she does have a slight tendency to do this more generally.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It took thirty seconds from the kick-off for things to get even worse. West Ham's press was well-coordinated, and a mistake from Fishlock trying to lay the ball back to James was punished. West Ham were immediately four-on-two, and Dali fed through to Martha Thomas who chipped over Moloney. The woman between the sticks got a palm to it but I think she was expecting a shot across her, and her hand wasn't enough to stop it trickling into the net.</p><p>Three goals where West Ham just worked hard. Obviously there is a little more to it than that. They pressed well too, but it was that energy level that allowed them to in the first place, and combined that with a quick counter-attack. A sloppy Reading performance let them get a frankly unassailable lead after just ten minutes.</p><p>It wasn't over there, though. They may have navigate a quarter of an hour unscathed - a period where they were actually the better side - but they shot themselves in the foot again. A lazy pass from Rachel Rowe gave the ball to Cecilie Kvamme, who linked with Thomas to play around Woodham. Cooper came across to cover the right wing back, but Rowe couldn't make up the ground to cut out the ball across to Thomas.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozvgmGUXpg98VKwu-8mNOvGwsWJhvuE8ZcWCj8dVEebBjC0kx6Ra2Nan3L_1o87ULUpVtKBvyo0SCr5JxMB4IWqONvGrRraQ3OeKtIaxv-FCLENkNDRbsz0h4Xyidlv1OCNVg_ah7qPcg/s1920/Goal5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozvgmGUXpg98VKwu-8mNOvGwsWJhvuE8ZcWCj8dVEebBjC0kx6Ra2Nan3L_1o87ULUpVtKBvyo0SCr5JxMB4IWqONvGrRraQ3OeKtIaxv-FCLENkNDRbsz0h4Xyidlv1OCNVg_ah7qPcg/w640-h360/Goal5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper challenges in midfield, and the ball falls to Dali who clips it over the top. Thomas is just quicker than Leine, who doesn't get close in the end.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>37 minutes in and West Ham finished their rout. A long ball down field fell to Dali, who lifted over Reading's defence and Thomas completed her hat-trick by lobbing over Moloney from the edge of the box as the goalie tried to come for the ball. Leine looked to have the run mostly covered off, but just went backwards as Thomas breezed past her.</p><p>This isn't just a West Ham side that have only won three games all season, but one that - up until the game <i>at the Madejski - </i>had failed to score seven times or roughly 45% of matches.</p><p>We're at the point in the season where I can't even be bothered to fully critique the rest of the match. What's the point? Reading played their kick and chase brand of football. The only change made during the match was to bring on Emma Harries at half time. Understandable, and she did provide a bit more of a target but the game was gone.</p><p>Likely not the way that Fishlock wanted to end her stint on this side of the pond, and I'm in two minds about how it will affect Reading. She had moments that cost Reading, but that's because <i>everything </i>went through her. Just check out <a href="https://fbref.com/en/players/11cfa9d6/scout/365_wsl/Jess-Fishlock-Scouting-Report">how many stats she ranks in the top 15% of</a>. So it's obviously a blow overall, but maybe it will force a rethink. It will have to next season when both James and Williams have departed or retired.</p><p>Next up to watch Reading play 120 minutes with Spurs (it was truly no surprise that they needed extra time to find a winner) in the FA Cup. I will end this on the note that up until this point Reading had played nineteen matches and won four.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-12194490187871947012021-04-25T08:47:00.000+01:002021-04-25T08:47:41.816+01:00Luton Town 0-0 Reading<p>Without trying to put too fine a point on things, Reading were abysmal. When emotions are involved, things can seem much worse than they are, but 'at this stage of the season' results are more important than performances, and to barely trouble Sluga is not good enough. Olise didn't look his normal self, nor did Meite. Puscas didn't really find his rhythm either.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPW1SDctFROZgj5wfDXd1Da78hcgY913lqBp-hbEnqhw4HF9bt9qtKNub7TBJGo0AhRvG4S69l59ZSjQ9HitIn7ZNVySYDQCsAaNVTkaQ29Tc3t1hFv8eEsMPRwBAGYObRfhqA4B5C1Xk/s1920/Press.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPW1SDctFROZgj5wfDXd1Da78hcgY913lqBp-hbEnqhw4HF9bt9qtKNub7TBJGo0AhRvG4S69l59ZSjQ9HitIn7ZNVySYDQCsAaNVTkaQ29Tc3t1hFv8eEsMPRwBAGYObRfhqA4B5C1Xk/w640-h360/Press.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pressing from the front almost rewarded the away side</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As with Cardiff, I think the lack of <i>effort </i>is overstated (mostly). The clearest example of this is Reading's press paying dividends a couple of times in the opening forty-five. In fact, one of The Royals' biggest chances came with Puscas and Ejaria working to dispossess the home side in their own box, but Ovie's poke toward his forward partner ended up being difficult to control and saw Puscas handle before shooting wide anyway. (I think the ref gave it as handball, but the data sites have included it; even if they've included it now, it would have been ruled out because it hit his hand before scoring. I think? Does that happen in the Championship?)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfMyPpeRu5nbOvi0YHCNcYnBjfBrf7rr6LxsynGC8ayl5KjPuzB9I0LWUT1Lm4PUlrMUZoJ8mLC3PwPvPgrUVh0LKL91AXAgYWzRx7eqeD_ka-OfuBteAKDuTMxKLUI5o3dYIXEj3MELz/s547/Reading+Team+XG+Shot+Map.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="547" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfMyPpeRu5nbOvi0YHCNcYnBjfBrf7rr6LxsynGC8ayl5KjPuzB9I0LWUT1Lm4PUlrMUZoJ8mLC3PwPvPgrUVh0LKL91AXAgYWzRx7eqeD_ka-OfuBteAKDuTMxKLUI5o3dYIXEj3MELz/w400-h326/Reading+Team+XG+Shot+Map.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading's two shots within the box were from Puscas</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Our biggest chance also fell to The Romanian, but I think it was harder than people give credit for. A deflected shot from Rinomhota spun high and fell right onto Puscas head. It was coming at a strange angle, and he just seemed to lose his bearings a little bit. In the end, he probably had enough time to let it drop and strike, but it's a split-second decision. Should he have done better? Maybe. When that's the best chance a side has, though, maybe they need better chances.</p><p>At times Reading seemed penned into their own third, and that led to direct passes forward, that rarely found Meite or Puscas. They effectively played as a front two at points, with the other nine behind the ball. When they did work it up the field, a poor touch or pass would inevitably see the move collapse. Olise was a big culprit but, again, I think it <i>looks </i>worse because he uses his left foot for everything, so shifting it with the outside is seen as a bit fancy for English football anyway. Regardless, it's hard to argue he didn't look fully invested.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7BhV8oZ4Hjn4eljLAtmDXV3X5K6Az1Z8dkgw1d2D4ThenABSgpiR5i729YhOb2Z6xeExYAa2KX_BbQmA6z5Dt1WOFyKZc3UtMNIFksbrtKZTfOaQ5YBcqc7fc3MsD35zMXHa9iol6R7i/s600/luton-break.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7BhV8oZ4Hjn4eljLAtmDXV3X5K6Az1Z8dkgw1d2D4ThenABSgpiR5i729YhOb2Z6xeExYAa2KX_BbQmA6z5Dt1WOFyKZc3UtMNIFksbrtKZTfOaQ5YBcqc7fc3MsD35zMXHa9iol6R7i/w640-h360/luton-break.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>Another reason why it's harsh to say Reading weren't trying to win the game is just how many times they were then caught on the break pushing men forward in the second half. A more clinical side would have put us to the sword in that second period, but instead, Luton missed final passes to basically unmarked players.</p><p>Pushing players forward is not everything though. And here again we see Puscas' attribute of not being Lucas Joao caused a few issues around the edge of the box. Puscas is far more hesitant to have a pop from 18 yards, and that leads to... no shots on target until the 91st minute. You would have thought that Meite would rectify that, but he was completely anonymous. </p><p>I think the easy targets for those that don't think the team are trying hard enough are two players who will (likely) not be at The Madejski next season. Richards and Olise seem to bear the brunt given that their future presumably lies elsewhere. Olise has had a pretty average couple of matches, but it's worth remembering how he provided impetus against Watford or unlocked the game against Derby. That's to say nothing of the rest of the season.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5j-w1oPEjkP3l9mESx3T9PPXyx6g2NGvClCTjxhQ9jfiDVYEH0MvLiH9XrQIpIaTmJiYVuoCTWXvJ_9RyCNP4_e4CA3mRf9b-mGw-N1S8zH0YUxcVSc2C6QiDEwI2dU5Z7j7tYIaup5x/s1920/Richards.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5j-w1oPEjkP3l9mESx3T9PPXyx6g2NGvClCTjxhQ9jfiDVYEH0MvLiH9XrQIpIaTmJiYVuoCTWXvJ_9RyCNP4_e4CA3mRf9b-mGw-N1S8zH0YUxcVSc2C6QiDEwI2dU5Z7j7tYIaup5x/w640-h360/Richards.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earlier in the season Ovie would be predominantly attempting to interact with Richards, instead, he's forced to come inside</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Richards was one of the shining lights of the opening half of the season but has dipped in people's estimations since coming back from his injury. I think, in reality, Richards has been one of the most consistent performers but Reading have shifted away from having an over-reliance on the left side with Yiadom's reintroduction to the team. That leaves Richards in situations without the same kind of support. And even though Richards may offer width down the left, it doesn't necessarily end up finding him because.. you know, Reading and switching play.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPQYvwiIu_dW-Fkyo-Ay8Gn3_dUr9HI3fpOHXLWEZAjnCCQzj48UdmW_KQ_pSgVRNfgxBuNrCGFDd1g7lTA_iveQHpiqGi_jJt21S6i63XaTUOgpd80xsD-SttpEHJIyXNCl3bVOiv2ck/s833/Reading+Team+Pass+Map.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="833" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPQYvwiIu_dW-Fkyo-Ay8Gn3_dUr9HI3fpOHXLWEZAjnCCQzj48UdmW_KQ_pSgVRNfgxBuNrCGFDd1g7lTA_iveQHpiqGi_jJt21S6i63XaTUOgpd80xsD-SttpEHJIyXNCl3bVOiv2ck/w640-h434/Reading+Team+Pass+Map.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richards was virtually ignored on the left, while all the play went down the right</td></tr></tbody></table><p>In fact, with Meite, Yiadom, <i>and </i>Puscas that relegates Richards to effectively playing as a completely defensive full back. It is interesting that with the three of them on the pitch Paunovic has actually tended toward a system very similar to what Bowen was trying to produce, with Meite coming inside as a second striker and Yiadom being given the entire right-hand side - but that's to the detriment of getting Omar on the ball in dangerous situations.</p><p>This is all pointless, I can't wait for the sweet relief of May 9.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-29258476583229730212021-04-24T09:47:00.001+01:002021-04-24T09:47:55.957+01:00Reading 1-1 Cardiff City<p>The fact that this is a little late should tell you all you need to know about where my head is at with the the team right now.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3_jHGJiMwoMZpyCtd1UjnVUMslkvkYVS6d4hSuUGn8r8p4mCpRRG1Psd65djyODGhHjI1hnTUgrWwVarqaisL4ZZoXM_WLfzD3lJRYAgNJpfmOr-hgFgNBsZWf4p4QxSyE711THuxlQl/s1920/Rino.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3_jHGJiMwoMZpyCtd1UjnVUMslkvkYVS6d4hSuUGn8r8p4mCpRRG1Psd65djyODGhHjI1hnTUgrWwVarqaisL4ZZoXM_WLfzD3lJRYAgNJpfmOr-hgFgNBsZWf4p4QxSyE711THuxlQl/w640-h360/Rino.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rino stops a more dangerous pass into the middle of the pitch, instead Tom Holmes ends up passing long to Yiadom (which does almost come off, but is a much more difficult ball.)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Reading have often struggled to play out from the back against more than one striker, and that's where Laurent and Rinomhota need to improve. Either, they need to be able to turn on the ball - which is admittedly tough with pressure - or remove themselves from the passing lanes. All that ever happens is that they bounce the ball back to one of the CBs. It's impossible for the defence to pass through the lines.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHd6Qo7LcDWEOyPv6ZjJRBzAOwYghftVJQcp8Evrxxl_F4rgf0KQ5eYB56C1h_Lp5S6Judn9rKopTRv58q79B1XwHsOBrLjIiB14READHUh43Rc1pVGeYujlQcbDZL52mU-SounkYHpgG/s1647/Passing.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="1647" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHd6Qo7LcDWEOyPv6ZjJRBzAOwYghftVJQcp8Evrxxl_F4rgf0KQ5eYB56C1h_Lp5S6Judn9rKopTRv58q79B1XwHsOBrLjIiB14READHUh43Rc1pVGeYujlQcbDZL52mU-SounkYHpgG/w801-h275/Passing.png" width="801" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading in the second half - higher starting position, wider forwards, a little more direct.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Early in the second half, Reading just decided to bypass the midfield completely and instead go long into Joao. Unfortunately, his injury put paid to that tactic. It was especially effective given Cardiff were still positioning themselves fairly high and stretching themselves thin. To counteract that the away side started to sit deeper, and thus allowed Laurent and Rino to get onto the ball, facing forward. Neither is John Swift, but they're much more effective when not facing their own goal. Combined with Laurent, in particular, being happier to carry the ball, and voilá!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBnLbBa5q36xKOC8lXp1AbMAlvFnFv8MxezU3KhGj0I7ZogHq0w6TlbTiRKkOlMr4qWvP8egnUa7Wl-VH359XZB2B431wG-2-0bF5bQBL13m6EZ3gdlaFIYERcQJbguofChM7TpoBN7AZ/s1920/Open+Players.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBnLbBa5q36xKOC8lXp1AbMAlvFnFv8MxezU3KhGj0I7ZogHq0w6TlbTiRKkOlMr4qWvP8egnUa7Wl-VH359XZB2B431wG-2-0bF5bQBL13m6EZ3gdlaFIYERcQJbguofChM7TpoBN7AZ/w640-h360/Open+Players.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ovie is swarmed by Orange shirts, but Reading can't work the ball to the free man (Olise, who ends up unmarked on the edge of the box). This sort of thing happened over and over again.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>When Cardiff began sitting deep, it highlighted one of Reading's key shortcomings in that they have no way to draw opposition teams out of their shape. Ever since week 1 of the season, Reading can score goals in transition and from set-pieces. Otherwise they're up against it. Cardiff could swarm around attacking players in the knowledge that Reading didn't have the ability to find the men they left open.</p><p>I think that some of the criticisms levelled at the squad (for this performance, we'll get to Luton in another post) are unfair. There is often more to a football match than desire, or simply wanting to win more than your opponent. It's true that many had a largely disappointing first half, but it's also difficult to separate how much of that is 'wanting it' and how much is down to fatigue.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9leLudZ2Dp3bqpgg_qeHmjTvDL4LehWEWtDP5_FsCy-LS2qhGG-HlMyOwG0U2-GG-6qunEiy_aXZ9re2ESTHIpLexS1DVsu5N3dMLwD9QKOum6Q5d0xP7jNKRaesZ4JUfkwt_LBabKJqI/s600/holmes.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9leLudZ2Dp3bqpgg_qeHmjTvDL4LehWEWtDP5_FsCy-LS2qhGG-HlMyOwG0U2-GG-6qunEiy_aXZ9re2ESTHIpLexS1DVsu5N3dMLwD9QKOum6Q5d0xP7jNKRaesZ4JUfkwt_LBabKJqI/w640-h360/holmes.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>The one upside was the performance of Tom Holmes. It is ludicrous to me that anybody could look at the last two matches and think that lacking Michael Morrison is the issue, but here we are. Correlation does not equal causation. In fact, there's not even a correlation. "I think Michal Morrison should provide those intangibles just like he did in *checks notes* listless defeats against Middlesbrough and Wycombe." </p><p>And what difference people think Morrison would have made going forward... I don't know. Anyway, Holmes was excellent. His stretch to get to a cross first and stop a huge opportunity, in second-half stoppage time no less, is basically enough to give him Reading's man of the match in my eyes.</p><p>There's little point in dissecting the goals. Reading were chasing the game, and had thrown on Swift - which came back to bite The Royals (but was clearly not the wrong decision given the need to win the match). Sheyi Ojo - a target for Reading in the summer - breezed past the midfielder and was given license to run to the edge of the box. There was little Moore or Holmes could do, given they were occupied with The Other Moore and Murphy. The Liverpool loanee's shot from the edge of the box was parried back into danger by Rafael and Richards felled The Other Moore looking to clear. Penalty. Goal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQGJqpwESNn_pHPXNgsFbVukrelFYrhdI-5eQsuF4zsqNIU8q5XOAdq_IIlLBppM151inxDSQvdRjeVw392HJ5ez56yKKMMxwFbBQI2_sts8kvW-UAy03Zx5idnkC3QUN97kR-DJ7KKFe/s547/Crossing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="547" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQGJqpwESNn_pHPXNgsFbVukrelFYrhdI-5eQsuF4zsqNIU8q5XOAdq_IIlLBppM151inxDSQvdRjeVw392HJ5ez56yKKMMxwFbBQI2_sts8kvW-UAy03Zx5idnkC3QUN97kR-DJ7KKFe/w400-h326/Crossing.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>BBCRB had spent the entire match being progressively more annoyed at Reading dinking crosses into the box (for once, a very fair criticism), and maybe they managed to get a message down to Baldock when he was on the bench because he executed his cross from the byline to <i>perfection</i>. Fired straight onto Meite's head, giving the defenders no chance to get across, and giving all Reading fans thirty seconds of mindless belief.</p><p>That belief was obviously short-lived, and the game at Kennilworth Road truly signalled the end of this season. Oh God, I can't wait for it to be over.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-32327178198086073182021-04-16T11:15:00.000+01:002021-04-16T11:15:44.664+01:00Watford 2-0 Reading<p> An expected defeat, but one that leaves The Royals in a precipitous position in the play-off race.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMw0T9tx594W_WKU03DiZPqwmkxL17YVl51wLIi8chstEBkydvS04hi5a09EIKnh7KY6MGV5ibl017VQywMRLY2W1MNPkkqA_QAHg4mWAAald37zh-oEUFXU7c5jjFgQaXkgd6VxwQjj5B/s547/Watford+Team+XG+Shot+Map.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="547" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMw0T9tx594W_WKU03DiZPqwmkxL17YVl51wLIi8chstEBkydvS04hi5a09EIKnh7KY6MGV5ibl017VQywMRLY2W1MNPkkqA_QAHg4mWAAald37zh-oEUFXU7c5jjFgQaXkgd6VxwQjj5B/w400-h326/Watford+Team+XG+Shot+Map.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Size of event = xG. Sarr's goals totalled 0.11xG according to infogol.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>When the other team has an asset worth £40m then it's unsurprising that they provide moments of real quality. Ismaila Sarr was involved in all of Watford's best moves, including the two goals. Reading's defence has been predicated on forcing shots from bad angles - and you could argue they did that even despite their mistakes, but they didn't account for the Watford winger's finishing.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwdflLR2-PibgQ4H3a8iV1VSosBTBCzuD-m_2FcJldbxA4FpyB8BWyM2dDP-OZOBCl2fUe23F2hIfjj8Ark0t2JWkdcAvd6ZSy7uWx90LzxmnV8IU1aEtliIbXo4dkAuK9Wk5W5fcBV4_/s1841/Goal1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1841" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwdflLR2-PibgQ4H3a8iV1VSosBTBCzuD-m_2FcJldbxA4FpyB8BWyM2dDP-OZOBCl2fUe23F2hIfjj8Ark0t2JWkdcAvd6ZSy7uWx90LzxmnV8IU1aEtliIbXo4dkAuK9Wk5W5fcBV4_/w640-h352/Goal1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gibson needs to take out the passing lane to Sarr as he goes across, and at least force the pass down the line. Ovie needed to track back, and Laurent failing to track Sarr is a serious failing.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Goal one is a great example. The left side breaks down defensively - Ovie fails to track Zinckernagel down the right, which creates a knock-on effect with Gibson coming across (but in effect taking himself out of play by not pressing enough, and not even taking out the passing lane to Sarr). Laurent <i>should </i>spot the danger and take Sarr himself, but he's late to notice the free man. Still, at this point, Sarr cuts onto his left - his weaker foot - and is still the best part of eighteen yards out. No matter, he bends the ball into the far post.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDh9dXCvLqGLRJU7P56WECcAqvCdmkEl0sygQvrq0orhyphenhyphenB7c8tZmghcxjK29akHOzVf4aVmgLgfMBOMUsaDMa0HIloH62L8Cp6B0j9xNaDsnoB2sJGInzEZvt7k8m8rk-SSLH7BoMwe1oV/s1920/Moore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDh9dXCvLqGLRJU7P56WECcAqvCdmkEl0sygQvrq0orhyphenhyphenB7c8tZmghcxjK29akHOzVf4aVmgLgfMBOMUsaDMa0HIloH62L8Cp6B0j9xNaDsnoB2sJGInzEZvt7k8m8rk-SSLH7BoMwe1oV/w640-h360/Moore.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You don't expect Championship strikers to score from there, but Moore has stood off him a <b>long </b>way</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Likewise, goal two is another shot from an angle that The Royals would normally be quite happy to concede. Gibson, again, plays his part as he's caught in possession in the middle of the pitch. Zinckernagel picks up the ball and again plays to Sarr. This time the winger is basically against the edge of the box, running toward the byline and closing his angle with every step. Moore is clearly more worried about the cross, but that also gives Rafael a clear view of the shot - but there's no blame on him for not keeping out the absolute thunderbolt Sarr unleashes.</p><p>Do either of those goals happen with Omar Richards? It's hard to say - you would be surprised if he turned over the ball like that, but to put the blame squarely on Gibson is harsh. The first goal was a collective failure; the second, mainly individual brilliance. Liam Moore probably could have been more proactive with both, but his tendency to want to block shots is par for the course. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnnzHv88joJbKdd7DTW_jSbUCJsf_CxkuO6N0bBdAsKkDMbMvsgpetlx71FWMAqzdYgZNunN0oNw13fXOXrqiyNDXXVUbtn20NRQe3dSRI9ICjwP6vQ6R_8ok3vuzGBzYTp6OnKw7VZTN/s1920/Gibson.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnnzHv88joJbKdd7DTW_jSbUCJsf_CxkuO6N0bBdAsKkDMbMvsgpetlx71FWMAqzdYgZNunN0oNw13fXOXrqiyNDXXVUbtn20NRQe3dSRI9ICjwP6vQ6R_8ok3vuzGBzYTp6OnKw7VZTN/w640-h360/Gibson.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gibson allowed Sarr to get the wrong side of him but did seem to understand the situation<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Sarr was denied a hat-trick only by the linesman. Yids lost the ball against the touchline, and Watford worked Masina into a crossing position - one that Rino probably should have done more to cover off. Gibson at the back post was certain of the offside, but it was a touch worrying the gap that opened between himself and Sarr. Had he timed the run better, he surely would have scored under little pressure from the left back. </p><p>But, on the whole, outside of those horror two minutes, the defence actually played pretty well. Liam Moore made a few excellent tackles in the centre circle to stop moves from developing into anything else. Holmes looked solid, and the speed of his passing is a real asset; He shifts the ball quicker than Morrison is able to. Gibson looked better once he found his sea legs, but Watford were just ticking along by that point. And Yids set up a few dangerous attacks with his dribbling - the way he managed to slot between two Watford players in the second half was unbelievable.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_fav1tAaduxskqaODKtbqN-taf7snDH6gxIquTUHBLpFq14k_TGrmqo-V-Z6op4DbxTLUrw-EFzKst2CVEpG2Mc9vqLKJmN2XSorqat_vD_4ia2KzLnc5JE10jLCqSRspKSuifgwBbVr/s833/B+Def.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="833" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_fav1tAaduxskqaODKtbqN-taf7snDH6gxIquTUHBLpFq14k_TGrmqo-V-Z6op4DbxTLUrw-EFzKst2CVEpG2Mc9vqLKJmN2XSorqat_vD_4ia2KzLnc5JE10jLCqSRspKSuifgwBbVr/w640-h434/B+Def.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading had a clear plan to protect entries into the middle third, before largely looking to be compact in their own half</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Pauno set the rest of the team up to protect the middle third and make it difficult for Watford to play out of defence. The attacking quartet largely didn't press outside of that zone, instead, they relied on wayward passing when Watford defenders were in possession or looking to tackle quickly when the ball was moved forward. Olise picked up Hughes, the screen took the other two central midfielders, and the wide men looked to cover the full backs.<span> </span></p><p>And Reading were impressive in possession. Olise at times showed why he's too good for this club (and in some ways this division given the opposition) as he glided past players like they weren't there. Ovie, too, joined in. He was fouled <i>six </i>times, and on a couple of occasions showed the directness that people criticise his game for lacking. Toward the end of the first he danced past Hughes, cut past Sierralta, and then had his shot (that he had probably dragged wide, admittedly) blocked.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypkz16m1cF1Km-_ae5RB1c-l4wFwziaxs8DQ2ws4ns_0oUwEhIqZna6_frDKjbUfPQZdSrrMFQcouAcoJKvxH6uEartmvdw_aZdrxClyuY2XadBO7X0AnX_sew0dGXJ585XVSMy33ytc9/s600/output.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypkz16m1cF1Km-_ae5RB1c-l4wFwziaxs8DQ2ws4ns_0oUwEhIqZna6_frDKjbUfPQZdSrrMFQcouAcoJKvxH6uEartmvdw_aZdrxClyuY2XadBO7X0AnX_sew0dGXJ585XVSMy33ytc9/w640-h360/output.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>One of the most frustrating aspects of the game was just how poor Reading's deliveries were from those free-kicks they managed to win. They had two from almost identical positions on the left, where they passed into the centre circle and then played into the box. Once left-footed, once right; neither worked. And without Swift, they don't offer the same sort of threat from attacking free-kick situations - highlighted by Olise tame shot from the best part of thirty yards.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9r6QseXr98bUnQy1_adMZ3IN-cLoTvEbhD5HRB_6-8vs_CUWnAC0AO22bplnjv3Fl32-T0X89D217uUuiqr1HeIQapVKghlCHIIjccMZt3Dwy_JHNrS1lPL7zBtu1xA3gB7iA5i-98pp/s600/output1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9r6QseXr98bUnQy1_adMZ3IN-cLoTvEbhD5HRB_6-8vs_CUWnAC0AO22bplnjv3Fl32-T0X89D217uUuiqr1HeIQapVKghlCHIIjccMZt3Dwy_JHNrS1lPL7zBtu1xA3gB7iA5i-98pp/w640-h360/output1.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>It feels in some ways that Meite's game has been stripped back to basics. In each of the last two games he's completed three dribbles (he'd only done that once before this season), largely by knocking it past the opponent and beating them for pace. The only issue is that he still needs improvement on his right foot. He missed the target from a dangerous position at the end of the first half and vastly overhit a couple of crosses. </p><p>The one he got right was a pass inside to Puscas, but the deflection off the defender made it bounce a little and turned it into a harder chance. I think that he held onto that ball for a <i>fraction </i>too long, which meant that the Watford defender had a chance to make the block, and meant that Puscas ended up closer to the near post than I imagine he would have liked to be. Either way, it's still a chance that you would like to see him take.</p><p>Reading had opportunities to get back into the game, but it's hard to believe that Watford weren't playing within themselves. With results going against Reading the play-offs now seem like a hard task - but it'll only take one poor result from Bournemouth and Barnsley to reignite the belief. For any of that to matter, they must first see off Cardiff.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-81999726805859975522021-04-09T11:45:00.002+01:002021-04-09T11:45:37.076+01:00Reading 3-1 Derby County<p>Reading made it a four-point weekend. That may be a little better in ice hockey than football, but a satisfactory return nonetheless.</p><p>In the first half, there was a clear plan to try to play the ball quickly beyond the Derby defence, in a play reminiscent of how Reading scored at Oakwell just days before. Laurent was closest to making it work on a couple of occasions early on. A pass evaded Olise by millimetres before Meite was shrugged off a ball over the top. It's a low percentage, but high reward play that Reading were not far from making work. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gNh8jfT-uvs0nvzEKo5OJ5JJlgpqhAsuFn5s8w10EXeowKY3mpn8N53aIMcF-_lHlhgfBU9hu7SkSzAkdqdpdC-kWXXKuRWFy3-V36SOr6OAEUhEp1YOUa4p6mzv_4KnOFDN4VHUnaQE/s1920/Ovie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gNh8jfT-uvs0nvzEKo5OJ5JJlgpqhAsuFn5s8w10EXeowKY3mpn8N53aIMcF-_lHlhgfBU9hu7SkSzAkdqdpdC-kWXXKuRWFy3-V36SOr6OAEUhEp1YOUa4p6mzv_4KnOFDN4VHUnaQE/w640-h360/Ovie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five pink shirts are worried more about Ovie than Laurent or Olise. Knight (#38, on the D) runs past Olise to cut off Ejaria, giving Olise that split-second extra to pick his spot.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Obviously, Olise's beautiful strike to round out the first half didn't come from that sort of situation at all. Instead, Ejaria linked with Laurent well, first to move into the box, then to recycle possession. It's an area of the pitch that Ovie has consistently attacked during the season but often hasn't been able to fully capitalise on. He managed to draw multiple pink shirts toward him, but this time found a way to keep the ball - and it only took a simple pass to Laurent. It's obviously a bit easier when that option is available rather than having to force the play as he does occasionally need to do. Laurent then shifted play central to Olise and his technique showed why he won't be in a Reading shirt much longer (I'm not even going to speculate about the celebration). Both of those players had that extra bit of time thanks to Ovie's exploits.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqnhDahwArdK9wvgD9cRbqbxMEK_BNviGtzK8lJ3OfL56Sdl7ygiGOhd2Cjwpf8yMrtnmsSuR7T7ysHwgloGEO2hTHi42BcEIYnL7dUzXAs0ZbLT3Qy6fSi9AeYoUfb0qscdirZpqTW_s/s833/Yakou+Meite+Touch+Heatmap.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="833" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqnhDahwArdK9wvgD9cRbqbxMEK_BNviGtzK8lJ3OfL56Sdl7ygiGOhd2Cjwpf8yMrtnmsSuR7T7ysHwgloGEO2hTHi42BcEIYnL7dUzXAs0ZbLT3Qy6fSi9AeYoUfb0qscdirZpqTW_s/w640-h434/Yakou+Meite+Touch+Heatmap.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meite had twice as many touches in the opposition box than any other player (8)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Meite may not have been truly involved in the goals (he doesn't get an assist for Puscas'), but he was a handful after a quiet first half. More than anything it seemed like the plan in the opening stanza hampered his influence. Obviously, if he managed to get in behind with the ball under control, then there's a high chance he gets onto the scoreboard, but it meant he rarely attacked Forsyth 1v1. </p><p>Second half he was relentless, having two big chances just before Derby answered back. The first an out-to-in run where Olise between the lines dragged a centre back out of position and found Meite sprinting beyond the defence. His first touch was excellent, and a decent right-footed shot was well saved by the goalkeeper. He was in again moments later. Ovie, on the halfway line, played a ball in behind to the edge of the Derby box. This time Meite outmuscled Mengi, but theatrically threw himself to the floor when Wisdom came across. To be fair, it was almost a hip check but without the contact to fell Yak. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRkXTrpDp8qa5KLIadudM6giZNgHuOHc_YnpXjjNQh-Or3Cz5h9qutfUVjJMeZOZByKuBWCgF_RQ6dAtc1Cj6NIvT0wCjEFelBB9fQZaJB765mLneoIbCcVfm47PwNJby3Cu1ijHNVjyd/s1920/Lawrence.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRkXTrpDp8qa5KLIadudM6giZNgHuOHc_YnpXjjNQh-Or3Cz5h9qutfUVjJMeZOZByKuBWCgF_RQ6dAtc1Cj6NIvT0wCjEFelBB9fQZaJB765mLneoIbCcVfm47PwNJby3Cu1ijHNVjyd/w640-h360/Lawrence.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean, does this one even need to be captioned?</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Unfortunately, that left him out of position going the other way and the one thing you don't want to give Tom Lawrence is time and space - from any range. Yiadom came back to negate Kazim-Richards hanging around the back post, but he had no cover from his right-winger, who was still somewhere in the opposition half. It's also a bit sloppy from Olise, who was slow tracking back - and could have filled in for Yak had he been more proactive.</p><p>Rafael could do absolutely nothing with that goal, but, perhaps surprisingly, he was called into action on a few occasions. Most notably in the first when, despite controlling the game, Reading gave up a sequence of excellent chances when they were caught on the break. In many ways, quite a similar failing to the goal with Yiadom and Olise on the right side both failing to track Lawrence's run. In that move he got to the edge of the Reading box before playing back to Forsyth, who had too much time to pick a cross as both Yids and Olise had gone inside to cover Holmes pushing out. Kazim-Richards had two big chances, hitting the post with one and forcing Rafael into a good save with the other.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxY2RV_R3mNfwsSw8084QiAluI4oDTDnDlanqxJ-NAmsE5y0rfqRGZPxLJhSFEwvjK7-IewzNSms7XwrYXc1_wjAdNFmGoIy4u3KTueT5cJd7_VSJumxHZpVjh1PNCnux9Sms-9cVQ63m/s1920/Puscas.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxY2RV_R3mNfwsSw8084QiAluI4oDTDnDlanqxJ-NAmsE5y0rfqRGZPxLJhSFEwvjK7-IewzNSms7XwrYXc1_wjAdNFmGoIy4u3KTueT5cJd7_VSJumxHZpVjh1PNCnux9Sms-9cVQ63m/w640-h360/Puscas.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puscas was on the move as soon as Yakou shot, while the defence is ball watching</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Pauno's decision to rest Joao was unsurprising, but still a big call to have to make. Thankfully both his strikers showed it was the right call. Puscas goal came from some great movement following up Meite's shot, to give Reading only their third rebound off the keeper of the season - Morrison and McIntyre the only previous scorers in such situations before Monday. With someone like Meite on the outside, who's willing to shoot from basically anywhere, having someone so willing to look for those second chances could be a real benefit.</p><p>As for our usual striker, getting back amongst the goals was always the primary concern. Giving Joao ten minutes to try to find his shooting boots was good management by the gaffer. I think there's a legitimate question whether it was an own goal or not, but it almost doesn't matter. Fingers crossed that bit of luck is all he needed to kickstart his run in. I wouldn't be surprised for him to come straight back in for a match where Reading may sit back, but either decision can be easily justified.</p><p>There is a heavy caveat for all Reading'd good play; Derby were not particularly good. It's easy for the defensive unit when they're only up against one striker, as they were for the first half, with no pressure when on the ball. Or for Puscas when the defence gives him that extra bit of space to hold up the ball with. For example, people picked up on Holmes performance, but it was largely straightforward - though what he did, he did well.</p><p>Reading had a little bit of a false dawn dispatching teams they should beat before succumbing to a dismal loss at St. Andrews. Over the course of bank holiday weekend, they've picked up their first win in five, and showed they can hang with the play-off contenders. Any sort of point at Watford would be a bonus, but there needs to still be a performance.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-74221828189405050202021-04-05T11:05:00.001+01:002021-04-05T11:05:52.004+01:00Barnsley 1-1 Reading<style>
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<p>When does a side deserve to win a match? Is it when they outshoot their opponents? Or dominate possession? Or is it, quite simply, when they score more goals than they concede?</p><p>Lots of old school football folk would lean toward the last point, but it's obvious that the scoreline isn't always wholly reflective of the match it represents. It can feel like a team controlling possession is controlling the game, but the Stam Era shows how that is a fallacy. Instead, as with everything in life, it depends. And while the play may have been in the Reading third almost twice as much as it was in The Tykes', and while Barnsley had 2.5 times more shots than the away side, Reading should have won the game.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwou_-e0Y4eq8YUfiuLz-rhF8CTAYOkKAAi6HNay6NI4-Zv1QzX9bdrO5hVF6bxdWs5h1eRy0fvvPqqQTqBC9m7_qJrzSXCyen-672S8FLTYjve4iIX5teM3lNnivyiqVvdyMDa9ZiHcO/s547/Reading+Team+XG+Shot+Map.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="547" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwou_-e0Y4eq8YUfiuLz-rhF8CTAYOkKAAi6HNay6NI4-Zv1QzX9bdrO5hVF6bxdWs5h1eRy0fvvPqqQTqBC9m7_qJrzSXCyen-672S8FLTYjve4iIX5teM3lNnivyiqVvdyMDa9ZiHcO/w400-h326/Reading+Team+XG+Shot+Map.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading may not have created a lot of chances, but created <b>big </b>chances. I strongly believe xG displayed here is undervalued on all three big chances.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Unbelievable chances fell first to Meite, then Ovie, and finally Joao. Blazed over, converted, wide. Throw a completely avoidable penalty into the mix, and you have to ask yourself, even if Reading deserved to win the game were they the better team? Outplaying the other side is only half the battle, it <i>is </i>only the scoreline that matters at the end of the day. Moral victories mean little, especially during the cliché-filled run in. The manager may be able to come out and say that we're on the right track with performances, but performances mean nothing without points on the board.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1heVONS8mDL2jdTmB7sS0yq3b0Ic2YP-Y_C82zWq1ad-Lc6JaOexVT135Izoo_ZIhAgXrvpzv7FaFlVz4aGpI6f3w5mo7hEZSkz_9fpQb0TD2UXsNDHOhiVWoruxfBoeiZ6B1oVRZncx/s547/Barnsley+Team+XG+Shot+Map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="547" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1heVONS8mDL2jdTmB7sS0yq3b0Ic2YP-Y_C82zWq1ad-Lc6JaOexVT135Izoo_ZIhAgXrvpzv7FaFlVz4aGpI6f3w5mo7hEZSkz_9fpQb0TD2UXsNDHOhiVWoruxfBoeiZ6B1oVRZncx/w400-h326/Barnsley+Team+XG+Shot+Map.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Conversely, outside of Reading gifting them a penalty, Barnsley didn't create much. Their biggest open play chance (coming from xG we have admittedly already classed as flawed) was Andersen on the deck, hooking the ball toward goal. On another day that definitely goes in, and Reading can't be upset about it given another individual error - this time from Rafael - allowed the chance in the first place, but it was hardly of the same calibre as Reading's misses.</p><p>It feels like folly to analyse the match too much. Barnsley were exactly what you expect. Direct from every opportunity, with big physical forwards to disrupt Reading's backline. Moore, alongside Morrison and Holmes, dealt with everything. Not showing the same tendency to be bullied as in matches before the break, and making some big blocks that have been his trademark in a Reading shirt. But it was a true team performance, with even Ovie winning defensive headers from long throws against Andersen.</p><div class="table-div"><p class="table-header" style="text-align: center;"><b>Reading Longest Avg Passes</b></p><table><tbody><tr><th>Match</th><th>Avg Pass Length</th></tr><tr class="tbl-rdg"><td>Barnsley (A)</td><td>23.2</td></tr><tr><td>Blackburn (A)</td><td>21.9</td></tr><tr><td>Rotherham (H)</td><td>21.1</td></tr><tr><td>QPR (A)</td><td>20.5</td></tr><tr><td>Bournemouth (A)</td><td>20.3</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="table-div"><p class="table-header" style="text-align: center;"><b>Reading Deepest Matches</b></p><table><tbody><tr><th>Match</th><th>Team Avg Position</th></tr><tr><td>Swansea (A)</td><td>37.0</td></tr><tr><td>QPR (A)</td><td>38.3</td></tr><tr><td>Rotherham (H)</td><td>39.2</td></tr><tr><td>Watford (H)</td><td>39.4</td></tr><tr class="tbl-rdg"><td>Barnsley (A)</td><td>39.9</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>Reading fought fire with fire and looked to play over the top of Barnsley's high line. That worked to perfection as Rino managed to turn under no pressure and pick out Ejaria making a Meite-esque run in off the wing. It was noticeable that it wasn't completely off the cuff. Laurent, often under pressure, tried similar passes but with less success, and Gibson's match at left-back was largely predicated on playing long rather than trying to play his way out of trouble like the man he replaced.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxU1Or0bk3kyuUq7NBEqKGtUO26ORcNCU5i55FTU8svUIQxQY5bc5iWzRs1-A7VVTMd3Nj4pZor2qRrJbzHCpI8upEtHWKi97FiZykxMVkSL_ckHEY42hFthnBFJjiwnHMD8Q2cYembU0/s833/Michael+Olise+Touch+Heatmap.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="833" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxU1Or0bk3kyuUq7NBEqKGtUO26ORcNCU5i55FTU8svUIQxQY5bc5iWzRs1-A7VVTMd3Nj4pZor2qRrJbzHCpI8upEtHWKi97FiZykxMVkSL_ckHEY42hFthnBFJjiwnHMD8Q2cYembU0/w640-h434/Michael+Olise+Touch+Heatmap.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>That clearly can suit Joao and Meite, but it left Olise behind them almost surplus to requirements. It was the ninth time this season he had failed to register so much as a key pass, and in three of those games, he actually scored. Obviously, the decision to play direct, or over the top, bypasses Olise - and given that I can see the logic for bringing on someone with more 'presence', especially someone with a penchant for winning second balls - someone like Alfa Semedo. </p><p>I have two issues with that sub - </p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Olise had started to have a bit more room and time on the ball. In the ten minutes before he was withdrawn, he twice played through balls to Meite that were only fractionally overhit, and that pass only has to work once. If I were Olise I'd be asking why Joao gets a free pass, while I wasn't trusted in big moments. That's not to say that Olise had a good game, he clearly wasn't at his best, but he alone on this team feels like he has the potential to create something out of nothing from midfield.</li><li>It's not a change to go to try to win the game. Alfa's On-Off (i.e. goal difference while Alfa is on the pitch subtract when he's not) is one of the worst in the team, on a par with Sam Baldock. The goal difference when he's been on the pitch is one of only three players below 0 (alongside Baldock and Gibson). In isolation, a draw in this game is not the end of the world, but Reading will likely have to pick up points in games where settling for a draw seemed sensible earlier in the season. I appreciate that's largely personal preference given that giving Barnsley three points would also be less than ideal.</li></ol><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xrZD2Q0fpncLv3VQPBQSIQ-SqedgVaPNa6p43JVKVbXAzTFK4FwjIhxscx7zwNAF9lnjEUviwdg4SP7xRA4Na07zb7AkqRKW4fByFrdDIgu1Zo9rN_hwMmBR9EpBgzFG5RRx2iTnheYm/s1920/Rafael.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xrZD2Q0fpncLv3VQPBQSIQ-SqedgVaPNa6p43JVKVbXAzTFK4FwjIhxscx7zwNAF9lnjEUviwdg4SP7xRA4Na07zb7AkqRKW4fByFrdDIgu1Zo9rN_hwMmBR9EpBgzFG5RRx2iTnheYm/w640-h360/Rafael.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rafael takes the ball but loses it on the way down</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Final point, Rafael had an inauspicious game. It's unsurprising in the context of who he was up against that he was more error-prone when coming for the ball than normal. That Andersen chance came from Raf dropping the ball from a free-kick with Yiadom backing into his own keeper. Then there was Dike fouling for their disallowed goal - which <i>is </i>a foul and would have been handball regardless, so the point is a little moot. Usually claiming the ball is one of his best assets, but when consistently crowded out it's obviously a more difficult task and one that shouldn't be an issue going forward. He also almost saved the pen, so we'll allow him a bit of leeway.</p><p>Side note, that free-kick was given in the Reading half because it's where the offside player ends up touching the ball (or starts to attempt to play the ball or something). Offside is hard but commentators should probably know the rules before they start getting at the ref.</p><p>Anyway, four points from the bank holiday weekend is probably not a terrible return - so we're on our way toward that and we can worry about the last six after that.</p><p></p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-58227476435795732172021-04-03T13:09:00.005+01:002021-04-03T13:09:55.404+01:00Manchester City 1-0 Reading<p>The Royals fought valiantly against a superior Manchester City team.</p><p>Reading largely kept the 5-3-2 from facing Tottenham, but you could argue it was closer to a 3-4-1-2, with both James and Fishlock playing deeper. Cooper came back into the side to replace Emma Mitchell, and Rachel Rowe returned after suspension.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexqCBo4UhQCgH62DbmE6ljCHEjHQrl-419gG6_NF4jrvE2XJZPM3U6yj7RR8n3fRgrG-NXv8OkNC9QtWhN13a3DOoTCWJOthhR-NCXE-0-aK4CPz4-MkpuR1ZGx_L6ywXKgskax9OeFnw/s1920/Gaps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexqCBo4UhQCgH62DbmE6ljCHEjHQrl-419gG6_NF4jrvE2XJZPM3U6yj7RR8n3fRgrG-NXv8OkNC9QtWhN13a3DOoTCWJOthhR-NCXE-0-aK4CPz4-MkpuR1ZGx_L6ywXKgskax9OeFnw/w640-h360/Gaps.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City overloaded the wing in the 5-3-2, with the defence stretched</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The problem was that Manchester City's 4-3-3 stretched the three centre-backs, with Kelly and Hemp starting against the touchline. Reading's wing-backs offered little support as they pressed high, worrying far more about City's full-backs. When Reading gain possession further up the pitch they were liable to be countered on, with City getting numbers forward quickly. And that was coupled with the fact that some sloppy errors led to big chances too. Reading were lucky not to be three or four down by the time they had their first shot - 25 minutes into the match.</p><p>It was a change of shape that allowed Reading enough of a foothold to actually have that shot on goal. Chambers switched to a 4-2-3-1. That gave the two centre-backs less to worry about, as they were insulated from the wide forwards by Leine and Woodham, while The Royals' wide midfielders were the ones to focus on Bronze and Stokes. Those extra bodies in midfield contributed to Reading winning the ball high, with Fishlock able to slip through Eikeland. It's a chance that she, really, should have buried, but as we know Eikeland is not adept at finishing chances.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8fEYIz11WkvJhnvLG_Lau678aMXNR2H9tuctSOQQl_VYku0wYQ0eC7PjT-Skv2RdpsuWXKEv9fzHg4_zn0eQUoZyaC6ffEqXMENN2jlCm7RK_6ySJ4DJrXyAydLROLtDfHSOIhwH0JLk/s1920/Leine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8fEYIz11WkvJhnvLG_Lau678aMXNR2H9tuctSOQQl_VYku0wYQ0eC7PjT-Skv2RdpsuWXKEv9fzHg4_zn0eQUoZyaC6ffEqXMENN2jlCm7RK_6ySJ4DJrXyAydLROLtDfHSOIhwH0JLk/w640-h360/Leine.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leine isn't quick enough to track the run of Weir</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The change in formation also put less pressure on Leine. Reading's centre backs track players fairly high - slightly odd in a formation with two defensive midfielders - but they don't seem to have the pace to get back into position. Bartrip seems to put herself in the right position the majority of the time but maybe Leine hasn't had that consistent game-time needed to get up to speed. On a few occasions, she was lagging behind the play.</p><p>It must be said that it didn't seem to matter what the formation was, Chloe Kelly managed to find enough space to cause Reading problems, especially in the first half. No Reading defender seemed to be able to deal with her. It was only Moloney in goal that kept the score down. Moloney was impervious. She may have had an issue at Bristol, but she kept her team in the game for long stretches.</p><p>The goal, while a great piece of play by Hemp, was a defensive failing on the part of many players. James and Harding turned over possession before both made half-hearted tackles to stop Hemp's run. Maybe worried about giving a penalty away, and Leine could have felled the winger before she even got that far. I think Bartrip probably got a little too deep, rather than being in the right passing lane.</p><p>At the end of the day, a 1-0 loss is not a terrible result, but it was a score of Manchester City's making. Another tight game against the big four should have ended up more like games against Chelsea or Arsenal than </p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-85670341320689370622021-03-25T09:35:00.005+00:002021-03-25T09:35:57.805+00:00Reading 1-1 QPR<p>A good performance was marred by a nightmare ten minutes, and the fact that a point really wasn't enough.</p><p>Injuries to Yiadom and McIntyre, combined with the recoveries of Rinomhota and Ejaria caused a bit of a reshuffle. Reading returned to the 4-2-3-1, with Meite moving out to the right, Ovie coming in on the left, and the re-establishment of the Laurentino partnership. Instead of a natural right-back, like Esteves, the centre backs shuffled right. Holmes played at full-back and Moore RCB, with Gibson, making his first appearance in a month, taking up his position at LCB.</p><p>All of this seemed to actually work. Reading started the match much the brighter - not something that can be said on many occasions this season. In the first twenty-five minutes, Reading outshot the away side 7-2, including a Yoann Barbet 'shot' from 25 yards. Olise and Ejaria both tallied three key passes in that period, as they looked to provide the cutting edge.</p><p>Olise had a couple of passes that opened up space for the receiver. Had Meite taken a better touch then he would have been bearing down on goal, instead he slipped. As part of the same move, Olise passed over the top of QPR's defence to Joao but his tendency to look for the perfect opportunity meant QPR bodies got back in front of the effort. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcD_NG2O0KM8mmhFqX-1zSU3q6Tvj-lE1mlKWZS-8pAs5piU9fVL8yNoaPDcQO2T_35KAyfxCCu8UdB56sZevehr7JpiVC2VhCJFeoTfcRvd23io7YZzkzrdk_qf0ugMxSmAxdPNJwTOyL/s833/Michael+Olise+Touch+Heatmap.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="833" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcD_NG2O0KM8mmhFqX-1zSU3q6Tvj-lE1mlKWZS-8pAs5piU9fVL8yNoaPDcQO2T_35KAyfxCCu8UdB56sZevehr7JpiVC2VhCJFeoTfcRvd23io7YZzkzrdk_qf0ugMxSmAxdPNJwTOyL/w640-h434/Michael+Olise+Touch+Heatmap.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>More importantly were a couple of occasions when the youngster actually got himself into the box. Reading's best chance of the opening 45 fell to the playmaker around the penalty spot, but he blazed over the bar. It's the sort of position the teenager rarely takes up, tending to play outside of the box. In the diamond especially he drifts from side to side to help facilitate.</p><p>That chance was set up by our main threat on Saturday, Ovie Ejaria. He was in scintillating form, as he set up chance after chance. He should have had an assist with that cutback to Olise, his run just after half-time ended up with Moore's offside (who knows) equaliser, and then set up Joao to round the keeper... only to miss. With eight key passes (a Championship high this season) and six successful dribbles (tied Ovie's season-high), there's zero question about who the best player on the pitch was.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcEqPs0IhGku0IlyEjKGqiFqpL1iHlnEpAjvAqXs9B9bdvR62zDmnwG4543FThiGeeEI1HOPRSeFrJvb3-GlpGCaG_Xt6PTEHoBKUG7_9H7dFrXT4KIgi5_WT8_iR4_ZQWa6tqpN9I1Fp/s600/ovie.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcEqPs0IhGku0IlyEjKGqiFqpL1iHlnEpAjvAqXs9B9bdvR62zDmnwG4543FThiGeeEI1HOPRSeFrJvb3-GlpGCaG_Xt6PTEHoBKUG7_9H7dFrXT4KIgi5_WT8_iR4_ZQWa6tqpN9I1Fp/w640-h360/ovie.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>The cherry on top was seeing Ovie cross the ball! It's incredible to see a player both attack the byline for the cutback, and put in good looking crosses when that's not an option. Alas, that wasn't the case for everyone. Omar Richards does many things incredibly well, but crossing is unfortunately not one of them. He seemed to cross early and often, instead of trying to work a good opportunity or, like Ovie, get to the byline.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6LmGEduFhrPTZyeGrHdZfsBXnCnblN5H5HPeo6rGm6GbWiFs9JnJtwJUoe0mBOQ4SDgsLf6kcfmmYHGLjj6WnVaLWXOwSy3YYyslIBAdJEhsFeQawX9QSZBVq3TdNXvHlo4_psGeXXYv/s1647/FBs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="1647" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6LmGEduFhrPTZyeGrHdZfsBXnCnblN5H5HPeo6rGm6GbWiFs9JnJtwJUoe0mBOQ4SDgsLf6kcfmmYHGLjj6WnVaLWXOwSy3YYyslIBAdJEhsFeQawX9QSZBVq3TdNXvHlo4_psGeXXYv/w760-h261/FBs.png" width="760" /></a></div><p>With Holmes on the other side, it also meant that Omar <i>needed </i>to be the more attacking of the pair. That was certainly the case in the first half, the period in which all of Richards' final third passes came. The change of formation at half time left less protection for the back four, and so - despite being the width in the diamond previously - Omar was a little less offensive in the second half.</p><p>It must be said that Holmes did not have a great game. QPR were largely kept quiet in the first half but had two huge chances. The first, a cross that found Austin at the back stick, caught Holmes out of position. Partially because Moore got it all wrong against Dykes, who managed to get the better of him. His touch looped over Holmes, who had started to come across to cover, putting himself in no man's land and allowing Austin to shoot wide from the corner of the six-yard box.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdKYetWHGZWXTf3V6Tk3LF_PRlZgx554ou6v8P5pex2lmMFa3cmR8UzPpjjXG5Byq3lInZz25xsH5RV6hY7xau9dOJumgGN9z138vOsNb7s6wnfptLaTzQKkpEK8ZS_as-LpR_XmRogex/s1920/QGoal.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdKYetWHGZWXTf3V6Tk3LF_PRlZgx554ou6v8P5pex2lmMFa3cmR8UzPpjjXG5Byq3lInZz25xsH5RV6hY7xau9dOJumgGN9z138vOsNb7s6wnfptLaTzQKkpEK8ZS_as-LpR_XmRogex/w640-h360/QGoal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rinomhota and Olise do little to help Holmes, but likewise, Holmes allows the pass by picking neither option</td></tr></tbody></table><p>And after a last-ditch tackle saved an almost identical position earlier in the half, QPR took the lead just as it came to a close. Don't get me wrong - Holmes is by no means the only error on the goal, but he gets completely caught out again. Rinomhota takes up a position as if he expects Holmes to double up, instead, he drops off while simultaneously failing to track Wallace. Even Olise ends up hidden behind Rino and could have contributed a little more. From there, Dykes uses his strength to get across Gibson, and he was never going to miss.</p><p>To be fair, Reading came out in the second half and continued their encouraging performance. Veljko reverted to the 4-4-2 diamond, which was a little surprising given that the side had played fairly well pre-goal. </p><p>I'm fairly confident Paunovic decided just to make me look like a fool after <a href="http://www.sentofffromthebench.co.uk/2021/03/birmingham-city-2-1-reading.html">my last post</a> by having:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Meite score from the left with his right foot</li><li>Joao miss that aforementioned wide-open goal</li></ol><p>Meite's goal was actually the first with his right foot all season. Rinomhota, having a slightly more forward-thinking role after the change of shape, put the ball over the top. Meite used his body well, then his strength, before cleverly cutting past the defender and playing through the keepers' legs. The right-winger-cum-striker scores goals, and with a misfiring Joao it's crucial to have another goalscorer in the team. As an aside, you could tell the mentality when there was barely a celebration as the players sprinted back to halfway immediately.</p><p>Rinomhota's assist was impressive, but he needs to be more consistent. Even in the minutes before, he tried a fairly similar pass to Joao that was easily cut out. Then a quick free-kick gave him a perfect, though not simple, chance to square to Meite that he couldn't capitalise on. Sure, usually a defensive midfielder, but that's his first assist of the season. A little bit more, please.</p><p>As for Joao, he did good things outside of finishing, but, again, it's missing chances that matters in tight matches. It's hard to drop a striker who's scored 21 goals, but most Reading fans seem to be coming around to the idea that Puscas may be worth a go. There was still some good in his play; even when Torres-ing his shot. The run was good and the touch left the goal open but it was that last piece that was lacking. Sure, missing the penalties has become a pattern, but these sort of chances haven't become that <i>just </i>yet. Maybe that's predicated more on the heart than head, but it'll also be harder to justify dropping him after a rest for the international break.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJs32H8dd1tK0egPSbHvoNRlZRcU0taFkjejN1pGL9w7TsFQpZ1qhrEOMwZr91if8sXiWIYoh1xoPvDDAFFCpL_IdSnVmVEE8P9Vh1gJ1YBereQIQeEuoMXrDs7k3Z7CgNE1F8k87Fup6t/s1647/Rafael.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="1647" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJs32H8dd1tK0egPSbHvoNRlZRcU0taFkjejN1pGL9w7TsFQpZ1qhrEOMwZr91if8sXiWIYoh1xoPvDDAFFCpL_IdSnVmVEE8P9Vh1gJ1YBereQIQeEuoMXrDs7k3Z7CgNE1F8k87Fup6t/w765-h263/Rafael.png" width="765" /></a></div><p>The diamond inevitably means that Rafael looks long. We can criticise his distribution, but it has to be within the context that it's clearly a tactic, where we try to catch the opposition on the break. I'm not sure how efficient that ends up being if Joao and Meite can't win the initial header, and they rarely do, but there's the opportunity to win the second ball either way.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMOXgj2bm8h9HHzOodk4cwJGRhmX3zECpLQ6kLm0bpa023uFEdOrFGMLqCagNpUrlsIZoPVs2EDMRkvUJ0WNwWVZ5B2aUDV8LDIfgBouP7IvgVtO1IqoApoTWRSxti9YLlFm6JZ0TFdA2/s600/semedo.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMOXgj2bm8h9HHzOodk4cwJGRhmX3zECpLQ6kLm0bpa023uFEdOrFGMLqCagNpUrlsIZoPVs2EDMRkvUJ0WNwWVZ5B2aUDV8LDIfgBouP7IvgVtO1IqoApoTWRSxti9YLlFm6JZ0TFdA2/w640-h360/semedo.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Semedo fails to track the QPR player - and you can see Laurent being dragged across to cover </td></tr></tbody></table><p>And that is precisely where Reading's game seemed to nosedive going into the last fifteen minutes. With Semedo coming on, The Royals lost the ability to win the second balls and hold up play further up the pitch. It must be said, that was largely down to playing Semedo deeper than Ovie had done. Effectively we switched to a flat midfield three, with far too much space between midfield and attack. It's an odd substitution in a tied game that, realistically, you need to be winning. </p><p>Combine that with the fact the midfield trio didn't effectively protect the back four. Again, that's not even solely on Semedo, the double team of Laurentino falls apart if the pressured player can move the ball around them, as happened on occasion. It's the same midfield three that worked so well against Blackburn earlier in the season, but this was a horror show.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAC65idOMRc6VAyFjSpZQYkHB0JPstLww77aAk66poKCSo-JzlrDULFJxCQ6-ytKUZc3ixLp6KU9E4N6ro7kPNguWz4Fm_00rLk4xYwrlnoFC0iqwkjQ4ljEnfpWf3fVCo4Ipb6UUy9CbN/s600/esteves.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAC65idOMRc6VAyFjSpZQYkHB0JPstLww77aAk66poKCSo-JzlrDULFJxCQ6-ytKUZc3ixLp6KU9E4N6ro7kPNguWz4Fm_00rLk4xYwrlnoFC0iqwkjQ4ljEnfpWf3fVCo4Ipb6UUy9CbN/w640-h360/esteves.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Esteves seems to try to cover off the low ball across, leaving the back post open</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The other change with five minutes left was Holmes, who had again been the route QPR utilised for their best chance to win the game. Wallace breezed past the full back like he wasn't there before Rafael was called into action by Johansen coming in - very much like Olise in the first half but kept beneath the bar. It must be said, Esteves didn't fare too much better. A couple of poor touches, and a lack of understanding about his positioning. How easy it is for a player to improve when they're only given minutes in the single figures is hard to say, but the mere fact that Holmes started the game should highlight how Paunovic sees the loanee.</p><p>Afterwards, there was a lot about the team looking tired, largely because they weren't able to get near the ball in that last ten minutes, but it's such a cop-out. We focus on how many games Reading have played, but QPR have played an extra game since the turn of the year and took to the field once more than Reading in March.</p><p>Anyway, in the immortal words of Biffy Clyro - "Hit reset, reset. Time and time again.". Beating Barnsley might be the last chance Reading have to keep things in their own hands - which, even now, it is. Please, lads.</p><p></p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-44786511231115056092021-03-20T11:48:00.004+00:002021-03-20T11:48:32.156+00:00Birmingham City 2-1 Reading<p>How quickly football turns. Reading have gone from three wins in four, to one point in six. Form needs to turn around quickly to elongate our season.</p><p>One of the main issues raised for Reading's demise was Birmingham's high press, and Reading did struggle to move the ball into midfield. There was also a clear plan to get the ball to the front two as quickly as possible, as was evident from Rafael's quick distribution up to the strikers when taking the ball in open play. I think it's one of the areas where Ovie is majorly underrated, yes we get annoyed at him in attacking positions, but his skill on the ball allows Reading to play through the thirds a little easier. He has always been willing to drop deeper to pick up the ball centre-left and attempt to play forward.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EgrQao5sI2RL6qdJdQ03Z050QPnI7vaL5RFcQhfxys_0Mcu9k2pny0v4GXzvQiYwVMGvz3hifgF0sbzU5TytLZRkjPO1zNxcXq2rWO885q7T9x-IrpQQQGEbPJJvByk1AwGoQCImIswB/s1070/Comparison.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1070" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EgrQao5sI2RL6qdJdQ03Z050QPnI7vaL5RFcQhfxys_0Mcu9k2pny0v4GXzvQiYwVMGvz3hifgF0sbzU5TytLZRkjPO1zNxcXq2rWO885q7T9x-IrpQQQGEbPJJvByk1AwGoQCImIswB/w400-h325/Comparison.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p>One of the main issues with playing both Joao and Meite in this system is they both seemingly want to roam - often leaving a hole centrally. That's a particular problem when your team are attempting to play long into the centre, as they were often doing in the first half on Wednesday night. Puscas is quite happy to play against the defenders, but Meite seems to prefer to create separation by running diagonally, meaning he's either out of position at the start or end of the run.</p><p>And that was the cause of another issue, he seemed to be playing at times as the left striker. Whether by design or circumstance is hard to tell, but it meant he was running from left to right and would have been looking to take the shot with his wrong foot - had someone actually managed to squeeze a pass through for him. We saw how little he likes to shoot with his right in the first half when he had an opportunity to shoot but instead attempted to work it onto his favoured left.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNTkBqmmRZeiUltAElJM_j3VXPfG_4v0d_CGw5TRNriEYr4EO4cFSNVzMjG0CgToI-mjcZsFo1apFL6c8Bwyl_uMJM8Ag0QmyE0dhUU2YymUt-RjdB3nGlIgjo28-5DL9i98hqDRYjxDd/s1920/Gardener.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNTkBqmmRZeiUltAElJM_j3VXPfG_4v0d_CGw5TRNriEYr4EO4cFSNVzMjG0CgToI-mjcZsFo1apFL6c8Bwyl_uMJM8Ag0QmyE0dhUU2YymUt-RjdB3nGlIgjo28-5DL9i98hqDRYjxDd/w640-h360/Gardener.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josh began this move challenging against Gardener for a header, but after Richards is bundled over (a foul, no?) he's completely out of position</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Against Forest, the sides of the diamond did an adequate job defensively. At St. Andrews a little less so. It's been the case over the last few matches that Laurent is the more aggressive partner, with Semedo almost creating the defensive screen we've seen from the 4-2-3-1 at times, but that left Richards far more exposed than usual. Halilovic was also perfectly happy to cut back onto his stronger left foot, past Laurent coming back.</p><p>So, given the left side of the diamond was the aggressor you would naturally expect the goal to come from there. Obviously, not the case. A ball in from the right saw Birmingham take the lead. I don't particularly want to just hammer Semedo, but I do think he was a crucial part in both City goals.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCu-WqliFTfcxbTWBxUBcb-yZ5_nN6n06vNwYQtrFDu9oJc5_hiDKmsylAsaksza3Haq6D-hGQmsieML1K-WvRhDLdfvi5u8gqeBYjdtZWPURptk6dG-0JcXBvwSf_XLXhhKnXinkJ0QRk/s1920/Semedo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCu-WqliFTfcxbTWBxUBcb-yZ5_nN6n06vNwYQtrFDu9oJc5_hiDKmsylAsaksza3Haq6D-hGQmsieML1K-WvRhDLdfvi5u8gqeBYjdtZWPURptk6dG-0JcXBvwSf_XLXhhKnXinkJ0QRk/w640-h360/Semedo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Semedo should be roughly where the referee is, cutting off the pass out wide, but also close enough to press Harper</td></tr></tbody></table><p>For the opener, Reading cleared a corner well and pushed out. The ball bounced around for a bit, with Semedo in the correct position covering on the right before a header turned him and he had a second long tussle with Jutkiewicz. He seemed to think the job was done, and he held in that deeper, central position rather than resetting to a bit higher, and trying to cover the passes to his side of the field. A more experienced DM than McIntyre would probably be trying to move him into the right area.</p><p>Birmingham shift the ball round to Bela, via Harper. No real drama, Semedo comes across to double up on the winger and the danger should still be averted. Except Bela cuts onto his right foot - the one Semedo should be defending - and crosses like he's not there.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">But really, I was counting on you all to moan a whole lot more about the ref.<br /><br />Why is one of these not a foul and then right after the ensuing kickoff, almost exactly a minute later, the other is a foul? <a href="https://t.co/MEgk4bZWp0">pic.twitter.com/MEgk4bZWp0</a></p>— steven (@cabin__13) <a href="https://twitter.com/cabin__13/status/1372440064194703362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>Not that Reading's defensive woes end there. Rather than going for the header, Moore tries to block Jutkiewicz out - he puts himself in the position that the striker ends up holding him in. I think it's slightly hard to understand how the referee hasn't given a foul, but the captain has to do better. Sky commentary attributed some blame to Rafael, but I think that's harsh given the quality of the ball in. If he's taking them he's on his way to being a Premier League goalkeeper, and his lack of height doesn't help either.</p><p>This match wasn't about the positives, so we're going to lightly glide over Reading's equaliser that effectively equates to 'Michael Olise can take corners very well'. He could have had an assist seconds earlier, at the free-kick that preceded the corner, had someone properly attacked the ball. Reading have missed having someone with Morrison's heading ability at corners, but Yak might just be his natural replacement. Sky were right this time, the keeper has to do better once he commits.</p><p>In the second half red shirts tried moving the ball quicker, particularly noticeable from free-kicks behind the half-way line, but still couldn't work shooting opportunities. Reading's best chance was a volley from twenty-five yards that Puscas just couldn't follow up on.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLEfzLzmIGI3spxJDQDZuj55U2via-NEpjG9U1icc8qoyO-C8WmbvvEjeIS60pJVdjTckH3lAMZ1yPwThm60UQfhT5jTp2guV9OqkMJ8LGpu0vn93LO-1MY9Z3xQUG75AtzAophHJdeJP/s576/Joao.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="576" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLEfzLzmIGI3spxJDQDZuj55U2via-NEpjG9U1icc8qoyO-C8WmbvvEjeIS60pJVdjTckH3lAMZ1yPwThm60UQfhT5jTp2guV9OqkMJ8LGpu0vn93LO-1MY9Z3xQUG75AtzAophHJdeJP/w468-h372/Joao.png" width="468" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucas Joao's goals vs xG. At some points this season he's been scoring with almost every shot</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's slightly incredible that a player who has put themselves alongside Kermorgant and Long in terms of goals scored - with so many games left - is the centre of discussions about his form and whether he should be rested, but that's where many Reading fans are with Lucas Joao. I don't think the striker played badly, but he just wasn't involved. Whether it's Lucas' fault that other players can't create chances for him is up for debate, but supporters have been spoilt when he creates something out of nothing and it has occasionally papered over Reading's creative cracks this year.</p><p>There were positive signs for him against Forest, and there were positive signs against Wednesday, but you could read Paunovic's post-game comments at being directed at the striker. His Achilles heel is his temperament. When things don't go his way, you can tell. It comes across as selfish - which it is, but you could just as easily argue that that's the reason why he's tallied over 20 goals this year.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpbFyfhZsC5xedOJ0uYZj-1AhRkZi5gQif-d-FgAqfG9ZIDk2kMwmOYtY9Z61baRsW61Jtz_rx9MkTqikprQP1PPwJ8baeGY32h18HhDlITTn3U5__GaE4vB3JIeqv62cfHTrcvOTSd5Y/s1920/Semedo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpbFyfhZsC5xedOJ0uYZj-1AhRkZi5gQif-d-FgAqfG9ZIDk2kMwmOYtY9Z61baRsW61Jtz_rx9MkTqikprQP1PPwJ8baeGY32h18HhDlITTn3U5__GaE4vB3JIeqv62cfHTrcvOTSd5Y/w640-h360/Semedo2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The moment Semedo seems to realise he's not challenging for the ball unopposed, and hesitates</td></tr></tbody></table><p>And when your team aren't creating it always feels inevitable that the opposition will. A decent initial aerial challenge wasn't nodded clear by Joao and instead fell onto the head of Harlee Dean, who put power and direction on the ball to find the gap between keeper and post. Again there are questions around Semedo. Rather than going up for the header, he just holds back, putting Dean under no pressure.</p><p>It's a disastrous goal in the context of Reading's season. After grinding through wins against out of form opposition over the last few weeks it could have been seen as a platform. Reading are doing nothing but putting themselves under more and more pressure to chase results. Credit to Dean though, the celebration was pretty good.</p><p>Put this match down to new manager bounce, Reading tiring, whatever. What is sure is that the next two matches are going to be huge. Reading could allow Bournemouth a chance to move above them with anything other than a win against QPR (although The Cherries are playing in the FA Cup this weekend). Then we better rest up over the break ahead of travelling to the division's in-form team, Barnsley.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-28977146866330933672021-03-19T19:12:00.000+00:002021-03-19T19:12:12.109+00:00Reading 0-0 Tottenham<p> After the disappointment of losing to Bristol, a point gained will be seen as a positive. It was, however, not a comfortable performance.</p><p>For the first time since November, Reading moved away from the 4-2-2-2 - instead opting for three at the back. Mitchell and Leine moved inside from their usual fullback positions to flank Molly Bartrip. Harding remained on the right, with Lily Woodham her opposite. In the middle James played the deepest of a slightly staggered midfield trio. Fara Williams lined up alongside Fishlock, with the latter the most offensive. Up front, Eikeland and Harries provided the energy.</p><p>Not that any of it changed the overall flow of the game. Reading had a good first half before Spurs took control in the second.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DPsMbJu0wfshsEvjHMt8voXivFnAThZzITMMz-A1UYwkBDkSQNrErSi9qBjxTfFjIudqP-OwBwBuZtIfsz7qHlPd8PuLRgtcytp1fgscsbG-oTbqlShFxor3n82eRLp5hTxnvTMyxy_7/s600/mitchell.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DPsMbJu0wfshsEvjHMt8voXivFnAThZzITMMz-A1UYwkBDkSQNrErSi9qBjxTfFjIudqP-OwBwBuZtIfsz7qHlPd8PuLRgtcytp1fgscsbG-oTbqlShFxor3n82eRLp5hTxnvTMyxy_7/s600/mitchell.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plan seemed to be for Mitchell to find the runs of Eikeland and Harries in that left channel</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The defence were a bit of a mess. Early on Leine - starting her first game since her injury in January - began playing simple passes out of play. Mitchell, looking longer, did the same thing. The former Arsenal player was relied upon to be more direct, which she did fairly well, and looked either for Fishlock or the pass behind the defence into the left channel. Sometimes the three centre backs didn't even manage to get passes off, with Spurs' press causing issues, especially after half-time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Phiykn66bi6erj0jLE-Up836WE4TZksR-bRA5hGHzv-TQwq4Q4F0Xhw0ZYfRWCGxlCIIySU-ylqpOT1VsO-n-WbgMpOQ2MUiphw_OeFjGx0sNpyFeZ9d5IxVjdJOcSbqtuwPe1jG3JIJ/s1920/RunnersSpursWH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Phiykn66bi6erj0jLE-Up836WE4TZksR-bRA5hGHzv-TQwq4Q4F0Xhw0ZYfRWCGxlCIIySU-ylqpOT1VsO-n-WbgMpOQ2MUiphw_OeFjGx0sNpyFeZ9d5IxVjdJOcSbqtuwPe1jG3JIJ/w640-h360/RunnersSpursWH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>It wasn't just on the ball that the defence looked shaky. Mitchell pressed aggressively into midfield on a couple of occasions, leaving herself out of position and compromising the defence. Or Spurs' movement opened a gap between Bartrip and Mitchell that was almost exploited by a midfield runner James should have been tracking.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVUCTA19KJFQbH2v_EULGZiNB5vFbczXac2CKpkpL4BzX8uuNg6KKBVDLB-KSQYGy8Ho6Qbke_9cROfKcNVjOwaWK88dnPzHuK-IxNYJOMaCKr6Bt4o4JmgbiJUOiZ4moS6YgMFK8KnKq/s600/leine.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVUCTA19KJFQbH2v_EULGZiNB5vFbczXac2CKpkpL4BzX8uuNg6KKBVDLB-KSQYGy8Ho6Qbke_9cROfKcNVjOwaWK88dnPzHuK-IxNYJOMaCKr6Bt4o4JmgbiJUOiZ4moS6YgMFK8KnKq/w640-h360/leine.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leine makes an absolute hash of the situation</td></tr></tbody></table><p>All of this doesn't include easily the <i>worst </i>passage of play when Leine, coming into the area from the right side, tried to shield the ball out of play (or back to Moloney). The keeper, however, remained rooted in goal. The pressure from the Ayane caused Leine to touch the ball, so the defender, now in her own six-yard box, opted to pass it to the goalkeeper rather than give away a corner. The pass, going across the goal, missed Moloney's outstretched leg and ran to Mitchell, who was tackled as she attempted to clear from two yards. Thankfully Moloney made a decent save sliding in to stop what would have been a truly calamitous goal.</p><p>Obviously, the side should become more comfortable in the formation, but it definitely has teething problems. I think it's relatively clear that one of the issues is players in slightly unfamiliar positions, that haven't forged relationships with their teammates yet.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJmtdUZwbqFm_hvOdEah-yHOafIs4_a9KEFkqNMXnQsBBJv6JfSBtlhpuTX0AgNn7hs1nibxLwpdj3YgIF4DT1W6io-RRQo9ZMon-dVbG0uc8luyFDdKYW-dpSX0DyWEMfExJVl1XEuYi/s600/harries.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJmtdUZwbqFm_hvOdEah-yHOafIs4_a9KEFkqNMXnQsBBJv6JfSBtlhpuTX0AgNn7hs1nibxLwpdj3YgIF4DT1W6io-RRQo9ZMon-dVbG0uc8luyFDdKYW-dpSX0DyWEMfExJVl1XEuYi/w640-h360/harries.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harries tries cutting inside, into traffic</td></tr></tbody></table><p>And the choice of strikers was interesting. Both Harries and Eikeland are similar types of player, largely relying on their work rate over technical ability. When playing into the channels to run onto the ball then they're good choices, but neither has shown themselves to be particularly adept playing in front of the defence. In Harries' case, that may still come, but she runs into crowds with no solution currently.</p><p>One thing that definitely didn't help the strikers was just how poor the crosses coming in were, but there was one moment of promise as the two strikers took things into their own hands. Harries got down the side of the centre back before pulling the ball across to Eikeland, but her contact on the ball under pressure wasn't strong enough to beat the keeper. It's been clear for quite some time why Eikeland is tied as the worst underperformer of xG in the league this season.</p><p>Where you would be confident in the 3-5-2 is the midfield trio of England's most capped player, Wales' most capped player, and Angharad James. Williams is still trying to kick herself into gear after her health problems. She completed just 53% of passes and, despite being on corners and taking a couple of free-kicks, she failed to register so much as a shot-creating action (one of the two actions leading to a shot).</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">❌ <a href="https://twitter.com/ReadingFCWomen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ReadingFCWomen</a> were unable to find a way through at home to <a href="https://twitter.com/SpursWomen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpursWomen</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BarclaysFAWSL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BarclaysFAWSL</a> highlights ⤵️</p>— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarclaysFAWSL/status/1371415882015072260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>Through all this mess, there is one constant. It will come as no surprise that the home team's best chance fell to Fishlock. A pinpoint long ball from Bartrip midway inside her own half, found Fishlock breaking into the final third. Her first touch took her away from one defender, before touching it past a lunging challenge. Her shot on the angle, with just the keeper left to beat, ricocheted off the post and came back out. (Not confident the embedded video will play - but you can click the tweet above to see the chance!)</p><p>Sure, 0-0 is better than slipping to consecutive defeats, but there wasn't too many positives to take form the match as a whole. The formation works on paper, but that has to be translated to the pitch. These two sides will meet again in the FA Cup when, at the third attempt, there will have to be a winner.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-34904941059025860862021-03-17T12:40:00.001+00:002021-03-17T12:40:15.627+00:00Nottingham Forest 1-1 Reading<p>A point gained? Two points dropped? It's difficult to say, but I shade toward Paunovic's assessment that the side should have got more. Reading controlled the game, and only wasteful finishing kept them from adding to their goal tally.</p><p>The away side were only really caught out on one occasion, a long ball into the right channel. Ameobi beat Richards to the ball and shrugged off the defender. A mismatch in a fight Richards didn't need to take, allowing Ameobi to then attack the area. His ball across the six-yard box was turned into his own net by Tom Holmes to open the scoring. Moore initially looked to monitor Murray's positioning, before deciding to close down Ameobi - but failing to intercept the cross.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwULkfa_IzrsDGGnv4dsHRGguFlRD5YEuTvoBGRQ7DogFAE946qP2FdjYnlHQa755rYjnQjjMSTwN3jJDhC4SzTzBYmNBFaEBV5SS0RW7GLFG6IqveBkd13pnlTMf_7HB0_b8uWRzad9O/s1920/NFGoal.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwULkfa_IzrsDGGnv4dsHRGguFlRD5YEuTvoBGRQ7DogFAE946qP2FdjYnlHQa755rYjnQjjMSTwN3jJDhC4SzTzBYmNBFaEBV5SS0RW7GLFG6IqveBkd13pnlTMf_7HB0_b8uWRzad9O/w713-h401/NFGoal.jpg" width="713" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McIntyre is late into position watching the cutback, would have probably got over to Ameobi had he been there. Holmes fails to block out Murray, and plays the ball into his own net with his left foot.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>If we were nitpicking, McIntyre felt like he was slightly late coming back and, although he would have been monitoring the cutback initially, could have had an impact coming across to close down Ameobi after he had got past Richards. Then Holmes just needed to block out Murray, rather than attempting to play the ball. That may have been exactly what he was trying to do, but it's an odd goal in the sense that the striker had already missed the ball by the time Holmes chalked up his OG.</p><p>I've heard people put the goal down to the fact Reading's diamond meant less protection for the full backs, and that may be <i>part </i>of it, but in all likelihood, it wouldn't have made much difference. Laurent actually takes a defensive position on the left-wing covering the right back early in the move, but because he's never involved, it's all a bit irrelevant. The best thing that Laurent (or Olise who was also coming across) could have done was put more pressure on the pass into the channel to begin with.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfaejC0arM9sQ_w_wcaIDcjQMjIETlz44yvqAXFfEIeK0sWEpOq_pWfU4pBzPCKHS-63s-oBKRR76kwRDgLU1GNm7edpC6DfXx1vRlYfEcnvyMPw8qfcaTGbLbV65DAZ0fw0OKCDn_eK7/s1920/LaurentCover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfaejC0arM9sQ_w_wcaIDcjQMjIETlz44yvqAXFfEIeK0sWEpOq_pWfU4pBzPCKHS-63s-oBKRR76kwRDgLU1GNm7edpC6DfXx1vRlYfEcnvyMPw8qfcaTGbLbV65DAZ0fw0OKCDn_eK7/w640-h360/LaurentCover.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laurent attempts to cover the left from a central starting position, ends up tracking the ball carrier all the way to Reading's box.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's also slightly incorrect to say that the full backs get <i>no</i> cover. Either side of the diamond, Laurent and Semedo, do go wider defensively to provide a similar job to wingers in the 4-2-3-1, but given their starting position, they're asked to do a lot more work. Fifteen minutes in Reading lost the ball high, with Laurent in the middle of the pitch, but he sprinted first over to the right back, and then back with the run. On that occasion, he didn't actually get close enough to stop the cross (sometimes you can be asked to do too much) but it's an indication of his role.</p><p>It's noticeable, too, that those same players tend to sit into the full back area when Yiadom or Richards push forward. They may still be relatively advanced, but they definitely come out to the wing and sit for the pass backwards - also giving them a deeper starting position to cover if necessary.</p><p>Reading needed an impact, and Meite came up big. The Royals have always looked better with somebody running in behind, stretching play vertically and Meite is the perfect fit. On this occasion, the defender actually stuck with him fairly well but if Yak gets anywhere <i>near </i>goal you know he's going to shoot and was helped out by the man in goal. Joao's play in the middle of the park to hold onto the ball before playing a pinpoint pass shouldn't be overlooked either.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66KSnwMdU0dHN7J_aLYEBKrN5yZ-QS0Rel5r-whYurJK_mKiuMR8ON4uMxXdb-xP6n-9Z7nt6eZrb2-CLY6inIg_yqCTW6W-OR6nb_MZYDQfXEjlHwUUNPy7Cp5J-8vxsilIgQ2g-hUoZ/s600/samba.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66KSnwMdU0dHN7J_aLYEBKrN5yZ-QS0Rel5r-whYurJK_mKiuMR8ON4uMxXdb-xP6n-9Z7nt6eZrb2-CLY6inIg_yqCTW6W-OR6nb_MZYDQfXEjlHwUUNPy7Cp5J-8vxsilIgQ2g-hUoZ/w640-h360/samba.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>It almost goes without saying that Brice Samba had a bit of a nightmare. By the way he flapped at Meite's shot you would have thought the ball did something outrageous. Admittedly, it may have swerved a little, but that's why goalkeepers are taught to get their body behind it. Earlier in the half, he looked shaky under pressure from a deep Olise cross that was flicked high by Laurent. The keeper tried to outmuscle Puscas but ended up compromising his own positioning. It was a surprise that The Royals didn't try to manufacture the same sort of position more frequently.</p><p>Joao, who had a mixed game overall, went some way to redeeming himself with the assist for the goal. He again showed his hold up play and his dribbling created chances. Especially one move midway through the first half where he dissected two red shirts, before stepping around another on his run into the box but shot straight at Samba. It would be easy to say he chose the wrong option earlier in the move, but he put himself into a good position. Whether he <i>always </i>makes the right decision is probably up for debate.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSS2R9wbggv9JiVY4jjH2OzqAhAoN6N8K8H89vddJIdZqlQUcqWf8yhu-J_UVu5hHLw2YYgQHm4ZJfslJhwPI0qfAI-EusvWrHXYwipgaHcsrEngK0PFE_2fuKK1K8hfY4x1Lub6gZ_Sk/s520/Highlights_Forest_1-1_Reading_130312.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSS2R9wbggv9JiVY4jjH2OzqAhAoN6N8K8H89vddJIdZqlQUcqWf8yhu-J_UVu5hHLw2YYgQHm4ZJfslJhwPI0qfAI-EusvWrHXYwipgaHcsrEngK0PFE_2fuKK1K8hfY4x1Lub6gZ_Sk/w640-h360/Highlights_Forest_1-1_Reading_130312.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>How many other Reading players on the pitch at The City Ground would be both in the right position and able to control the ball under pressure, as he did, before shifting it right and left and finding Meite's run? Maybe only Olise. The goals may have dried up slightly, but two assists - on two big goals - in three matches is a good return. Considering the talent around him is improving if Joao doesn't score for the rest of the season, but morphs into facilitator for Meite and Puscas, then that will certainly be enough.</p><p>For many, though, it will be his glaring miss in the first half, from a corner routine reminiscent of Reading's opening goal of the year against Derby, that will live long in the memory. Rather than the corner going direct to Joao, McIntyre met the pass at the front post and touched it back for the striker to lash home. Except he got it completely wrong, as he sliced the shot wide of the post. Whether true or not it all builds into the idea that Joao is a frustrated striker out of form.</p><p>Puscas' game could be described in much the same way. His hold-up was decent but lacked a goalscoring touch. His big chance was from open play when Laurent prodded past Forest's defence, but the Romanian got underneath the ball and blasted over the bar. It seemed that Puscas' role was a little more static, with Joao given more license to go looking for the ball. Puscas the 9 to Joao's 10.</p><p>I guess one of the benefits of having three fit strikers is that it increases the likelihood you'll have at least one not having an off day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrYfY3_9nCZ6ARRmpD0eu_Cl_ycJmWqLx3DakvDrizh8Ngqw5zTYj-x1d-ztyNvjjfjiOao_ViuOj47hNeFTtzIVmPh5OqsiKZ_e0rzLkqm0faeOOpXxgSm4mnpdukSPZiBMRbPstVkyn/s600/holmes.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrYfY3_9nCZ6ARRmpD0eu_Cl_ycJmWqLx3DakvDrizh8Ngqw5zTYj-x1d-ztyNvjjfjiOao_ViuOj47hNeFTtzIVmPh5OqsiKZ_e0rzLkqm0faeOOpXxgSm4mnpdukSPZiBMRbPstVkyn/w640-h360/holmes.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p>One of the noticeable improvements having Holmes at centre back is the range of passing Reading can now expect from their central defensive partnership. Moore consistently managed to drive passes out to Yiadom to open up the right-hand side, while Holmes can play into midfield and bypass defending players well. The youngster didn't ever look for the crossfield pass, but perhaps that was due to the size mismatch between Ameobi and Richards.</p><p>The good part about the weekend is that even a point was enough to increase the gap to seventh. That's all that matters now - but getting points on the board ahead of tricky upcoming fixtures wouldn't go amiss either.</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1348615381448138069.post-81395760083049197112021-03-16T12:42:00.000+00:002021-03-16T12:42:07.723+00:00Bristol City 3-2 Reading<p>This was not what I had in mind when I talked about righting the wrong of earlier in the season. Reading, for the umpteenth time, failed to beat a team they should have dispatched.</p><p>Kelly Chambers shook the team up, with Emma Harries coming back into the side. That freed Harding to move back to right-back, and Mitchell across to her natural left side. Fishlock and Eikeland started on the bench for the first time this season, as Williams and Bruton came in to replace them.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZOcg0jP8GwnecHjalvsvrfokry58tE8ckAPtDtsjstiveiDEe6Y8yTbh7RNp0K4oZ0_OQ2GMqWYoUR5JdEoZ6kR8BdOA5OwC_AzDxp1SHqHPP3Pc8iGEdGDiOT5SRYKcWN0TnyOyQvAv/s1920/Goal1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZOcg0jP8GwnecHjalvsvrfokry58tE8ckAPtDtsjstiveiDEe6Y8yTbh7RNp0K4oZ0_OQ2GMqWYoUR5JdEoZ6kR8BdOA5OwC_AzDxp1SHqHPP3Pc8iGEdGDiOT5SRYKcWN0TnyOyQvAv/w640-h360/Goal1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading's direct goal kick routine. Moloney touches to James, who passes to Rowe. Her carries were pivotal in Reading's best moves.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It started well enough, Reading went 1-0 up after a direct move. Throughout the course of the game, Reading used James to play out from goal kicks, with Moloney tapping the ball to her and allowing her to carry the ball out of the six-yard box. The defensive midfielder was clearly tasked with being the progressor, also dropping deep to pick up the ball in open play. From goal kicks, she would look to pass up the middle of the pitch, usually to Rowe between the lines.</p><p>It's an interesting tactical shift, given that Reading's 4-2-2-2 tends not to have a defined central attacking midfielder. It was, however, where the space was and Mitchell was often found running down the left to replace the lost width. Rowe tended to turn and run at the defence, attacking the retreating Bristol defence. To sum up her game, she was top in the number of progressive passes received (15, next best 8) and progressive runs made (10, next best 5).</p><p>Rowe's pass was poor for the opener, but thankfully a mix up among the Bristol City defenders meant the ball fell to Harding inside the box, her shot deflected to Harries who scored her first senior goal. The teenager was definitely offside from Harding's initial effort, but I guess we'll let it go. Her finish wasn't the cleanest but taken early before any more players in red could swarm around her.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVL9ZLJpgUyQskqBoB523ursncDlBi2oa-o5HGPg-LEUAQREIBgKzZuYbu4m_-mlOIdn-JdFGnmvmOriK9-0nPKacVbmgdF8XPh2CY2xWW6YqUceHWX3xgCEC-79Qi-kjbS682CqgK7WU/s1905/BCGoal1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1905" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVL9ZLJpgUyQskqBoB523ursncDlBi2oa-o5HGPg-LEUAQREIBgKzZuYbu4m_-mlOIdn-JdFGnmvmOriK9-0nPKacVbmgdF8XPh2CY2xWW6YqUceHWX3xgCEC-79Qi-kjbS682CqgK7WU/w702-h395/BCGoal1.jpg" width="702" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniels intercepts the ball before Salmon has far too much space to pick her pass</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The away side had already had a warning about Bartrip's passes out to Harding after Yana Daniels nicked in to steal the ball away from the receiver before comically diving in the box (sans yellow card). They should have taken heed, as Bartrip pulled a pass, making it easy for Daniels to intercept again. Her touch fell to Salmon with time and space to slide in Wellings, whose first time shot nutmegged Moloney and levelled the match. Interestingly, Wellings has a goal and an assist this season, both against Reading.</p><p>Salmon was in the space vacated by James as she dropped centrally, but the defensive midfielder never pushed out to her - and you are going to be punished by Ebony Salmon if you give her the kind of room Reading did. James, as already touched on, was playing a slightly different role, one that would normally be Fishlock's domain. Potentially that lack of time in the position was a factor.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFVCiaK9cE4hWWcTSQ8K32sl37bey9EqMQzZu8xU17_os95vZse3q23dR7U31FbowE1AcQg9drgjex6PAyGouqocEvoJXQrdZnTF2mD8RsuEXkz_S8OGFFEYkq3W0t0h5P1noXovqZZpY/s1920/BCGoal2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFVCiaK9cE4hWWcTSQ8K32sl37bey9EqMQzZu8xU17_os95vZse3q23dR7U31FbowE1AcQg9drgjex6PAyGouqocEvoJXQrdZnTF2mD8RsuEXkz_S8OGFFEYkq3W0t0h5P1noXovqZZpY/w640-h360/BCGoal2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moloney's body shape is all wrong to try to jump straight up. While she is commanding in the area, she has trouble getting off the ground at the best of times.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Things got worse around the hour mark as the home side took the lead. A corner routine was initially dealt with by James before she was dispossessed on the edge of the box. Mitchell tried to get to the loose ball, but was beaten by Laura Rafferty. Her touch found Jemma Purfield, coming off taking the corner, and her shot looped over Moloney in the goal.</p><p>It's one where the goalie probably does have to take the majority of the blame. It's also one where the diminutive stature of Moloney does her no favours at all. She gets her body in the wrong position, rather than sidestepping across, she puts her left foot across her body to start going right. That makes it tougher to go straight up and makes the save harder.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1lQ0fCYolc-X3KTLLkSY76TzICO7ZncXw-9ZV-l0yschOxmMSEekTxFrf_DJiuEuYwqDcfImAbehTtleTUR3wnxfzAlK2OXrX4E4a8T35boBuSVSwlUkevrrAPZ2GqywZEMNgYNf2m7f/s1920/WilliamsAssist.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1lQ0fCYolc-X3KTLLkSY76TzICO7ZncXw-9ZV-l0yschOxmMSEekTxFrf_DJiuEuYwqDcfImAbehTtleTUR3wnxfzAlK2OXrX4E4a8T35boBuSVSwlUkevrrAPZ2GqywZEMNgYNf2m7f/w640-h360/WilliamsAssist.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>It was Reading's turn to answer back, with basically their first really good bit of play. Fara Williams hadn't been too involved in play up until the 70th minute. That was partially by design, with James' progressive passing effectively bypassing England's record caps holder. This time she picked up the ball on the halfway line, spotted Rowe's run, and put the ball expertly over the top of the defence, into the attacker's path. Rowe's finish was beautiful, being as close to a net-buster as any Reading player has managed this season.</p><p>But Reading were not done shooting themselves in the foot. In the last half hour Williams went into shoot from anywhere mode. With four shots (itself enough to tie the game-high ignoring her other hour of play) all from 28 yards or more. That would have been bad enough, given the away side should have been attempting to play through a Bristol defence that has so far conceded 57 goals, but one of her efforts, twelve minutes from time, was blocked with the ball falling to a red shirt.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRY-gpuiGOjtXr0ETa2UPjsjoV0_ns9-61-907CiwoeMIPr99IS2_16Y5H2FEBkONvvdGRtjbPLGNy7Sgz9Bv0CmvhcUkpZwA0KpGngvpJ1lIgtn1s1jBkOxNyKujw2GEtsqPoRkRM82D/s1920/Winner.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRY-gpuiGOjtXr0ETa2UPjsjoV0_ns9-61-907CiwoeMIPr99IS2_16Y5H2FEBkONvvdGRtjbPLGNy7Sgz9Bv0CmvhcUkpZwA0KpGngvpJ1lIgtn1s1jBkOxNyKujw2GEtsqPoRkRM82D/w701-h394/Winner.jpg" width="701" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bristol City strikers start wide, in the space vacated by the aggressive Reading defence, and nobody ever picks them up.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>A couple of touches later, and The Robins had worked the ball to Abigail Harrison, hugging the right wing on the halfway line. Again, the player on the ball had far too much space to pick a pass with Reading players caught upfield. Mitchell had joined the last attack, and James was tracking the player central. And Harrison punished The Royals for their mistakes, as her ball over Cooper found Salmon. The striker was in behind Harding, and Cooper couldn't get across quick enough as she finished into the far corner.</p><p>Reading looked a tired team, and they still don't have a response when teams break wide. Bristol City played it perfectly. Salmon is <i>rapid</i>, almost to the level where you have to see it to believe it. Chambers bemoaned the lack of consistency, but Reading only have one way of playing. A way of playing that seems designed to counter the opposition, rather than get the best of her players - that's why Reading are so often involved in 1-1 draws.</p><p>A second yellow in stoppage time for Reading's best player, Rowe, topped off a horrible evening.</p><p>Again, you could look at the chances missed, but you shouldn't be conceding three times to a team that have blanked on seven occasions - losing each one of those seven by at least four goals. And Bristol have only conceded less than three on five occasions, with two of those being in games against Reading.</p><p>Reading have been in midtable obscurity all season, and that's only set to continue. There has to be more to life than this, doesn't there?</p>stats94http://www.blogger.com/profile/13364063519529137062noreply@blogger.com0