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Reading v Saints Post Match Reaction


Jimmy_D

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If the cold light of day I feel that our back line were excellent and we had superb chances to win it.

 

If we can play poorly and still say that then things are looking good.

 

Guly does my nut in away from home. Corky Morris and I were exchanging texts throughout the game and we both agreed that taking DC of at HT, pushing Guly up behind Lambert and letting SDR run at them would change the game and stop their high line.

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Under real pressure for most of the game from a very decent Reading team all accounts, but we still got a point even when down to only 10 men. I'll take that 7 days a week and twice on Sundays thanks very much.

 

Perhaps other teams are starting to work us out now and find ways of stopping us, so time to shake things up and give more opportunity's to the likes of De Ridder and Lee Holmes maybe ? On another point, is was kinda good to see how rapidly 'Fish' Mills has secured himself a starting place at this level and - to my mind anyway - I must say that the wisdom of letting him go and spending good money on a replacement (who seems little or no better) is open to question.

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If the cold light of day I feel that our back line were excellent and we had superb chances to win it.

 

If we can play poorly and still say that then things are looking good.

 

Guly does my nut in away from home. Corky Morris and I were exchanging texts throughout the game and we both agreed that taking DC of at HT, pushing Guly up behind Lambert and letting SDR run at them would change the game and stop their high line.

 

Agree with that, we were saying the same thing, we certainly needed to change it and once SDR eventually came on he was a handful for them. Tough 7 days and still top by 3 points, sweet aint it...

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Agree with that, we were saying the same thing, we certainly needed to change it and once SDR eventually came on he was a handful for them. Tough 7 days and still top by 3 points, sweet aint it...

 

Connolly has been off the pace since the Burnley game. Thought SDR's chance had come at Cardiff and he got a start against Watford before going missing again.

 

Connolly's form (and we don't have any forward options), Lallana's absence (and we don't have anyone who can beat a player) and the general lack of pace in the team make SDR a no-brainer.

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Yep.

 

We were awful.

Are all our away games like this ?

Sooner or later out home form will crack; keep up this sub-standard b*ll*cks away from SMS and we can forget promotion.

Welcome back our little ray of sunshine. I was worried about you after your almost positive post-WHU comments, but all is well again now I see...

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Connolly has been off the pace since the Burnley game. Thought SDR's chance had come at Cardiff and he got a start against Watford before going missing again.

 

Connolly's form (and we don't have any forward options), Lallana's absence (and we don't have anyone who can beat a player) and the general lack of pace in the team make SDR a no-brainer.

Thought Connolly was superb vs WHU - worked his socks off - and has been in most games. Need his guile and experience. Wasn't great yesterday, but few were - also he didn't get any service as we lost the midfield battle. SDR was exactly what we needed as an impact player, and got us out of jail. Reckon he'll start Tues, but NA will revert to RL-DC on Sat.

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SDR does seem to have a tendency for needless bookings. Just wonder if he'd stay on if attempting to play a full 90 minutes. We are short of striker options, could really do with another 2 on the bench. Roll on January with us still in the lead!

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Yep.

 

We were awful.

 

Are all our away games like this ?

 

Sooner or later out home form will crack; keep up this sub-standard b*ll*cks away from SMS and we can forget promotion.

 

It's a decent away point against a decent side which has been achieved against adversity in the game situation. Were still proving hard to beat away from home and I really don't see our St Marys form going tits up. By all accounts we got lucky v Reading but were very unlucky v Derby so a couple of points against two tough sides seems alright.

 

Keep the faith.

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Its a fantastic away point - Reading are looking like they might do what they did last season. They lost a few players in the summer but have a system and are finally managing to integrate their new additions within it.

 

Surprised that Fox didn't take more corners - we're a threat from them esp when he's taking them from the left; yet duties were shared between him, Chaplow, Guly etc. Similar story at Derby.

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Davis saved the game for us. Hooiveld, what a player, MUST sign him in January.

 

As for De Ridder,I say it every week, he is a different class, once again single handedly lifted the team and turned the game around when he came on.

I don`t understand this because this forum was full of suicialists who were underwhelmed with his signing. After all, he couldn`t get in the Celtic team and their fans said that he was sh1t. Funny game - football- isn`t it?

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Nigel says everything in his post match interview, if you have all read it.

 

Not happy with Hammond to be honest that challenge was stupid being on a yellow, but Reading deserved all 3 points anyways they didnt let us play and we let them play when they had the ball, signs of fatigue from players like guly DC and Lambo IMO, shows how much we really need Lallana.

 

Positive is that we do have Lallana missing and when he comes back him and Steve on the wings look promising quick tricky wingers who our top championship players.

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I don`t understand this because this forum was full of suicialists who were underwhelmed with his signing. After all, he couldn`t get in the Celtic team and their fans said that he was sh1t. Funny game - football- isn`t it?

 

Not really. It was an initial reaction based on the available evidence. No one was suicidal.

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Connolly has been off the pace since the Burnley game. Thought SDR's chance had come at Cardiff and he got a start against Watford before going missing again.

 

Connolly's form (and we don't have any forward options), Lallana's absence (and we don't have anyone who can beat a player) and the general lack of pace in the team make SDR a no-brainer.

 

I think you nailed it previously with Reading did their homework but we're easy to set up against without pace and options in behind them. Teams can play a high line and press with impunity, knowing everything will be played in front of them. And how many of our players can genuinely beat a man in a one on one situation?

 

What I don't fully agree with is starting with SDR a no-brainer, as we saw previously it never turned out as expected. Don't get me wrong as I do believe SDR is the answer, but I believe he can be more effective coming off the bench when the opposition are tired. The lack of penetration we showed at Reading means we need SDR going for goal alone as I don't believe he will have much joy on the wing waiting for others to join.

 

I thought Reading had shot their bolt with all the hard work in pressing us into errors, but we defended well and still played football. Maybe if we had a few more days rest the penetration may have been there. We need that pacey striker leading the line that won't allow defences to push us back without threat on their goal and I am sure the club will find one. Just imagine that scenario. To me SDR is a very good player but he does not fill that role and I think Adkins has got it spot on.

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Reaction or usual knee-jerk over-reaction built on a complete lack of any real knowledge of the player concerned?

 

Reaction. Show me one person that actually wrote him off before he played, and wasn't prepared to wait until he actually played before making a decision, and I'll agree with you.

 

Edit: And what difference was it to the de Ridder signing; no-one had seen him play, there was only limited youtube videos and fans' views of his previous clubs to go by how good he was. Yet, because the news was favourable (i.e. his previous clubs rated him) it was perfectly acceptable to form an opinion on him based on that? double standards, no?

Edited by The Kraken
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Reaction. Show me one person that actually wrote him off before he played, and wasn't prepared to wait until he actually played before making a decision, and I'll agree with you.

Trawl back through the threads. There were a number who were expecting a "name" CB signing and were very disappointed with the "cheap option" and had made their mind up that he was crap based on the fact that they had never heard of him and that he was put down on the Celtic forums.

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?32340-Jos-Hooiveld-signs-on-loan

Edited by miserableoldgit
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Trawl back through the threads. There were a number who were expecting a "name" CB signing and were very disappointed with the "cheap option" and had made their mind up that he was crap based on the fact that they had never heard of him and that he was put down on the Celtic forums.

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?32340-Jos-Hooiveld-signs-on-loan

 

I think it was more a case of people being cautious due to what was being said by the Hoops fans. He has however, answered his doubters with some cracking performances and I hope he stays past January.

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Trawl back through the threads. There were a number who were expecting a "name" CB signing and were very disappointed with the "cheap option" and had made their mind up that he was crap based on the fact that they had never heard of him and that he was put down on the Celtic forums.

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?32340-Jos-Hooiveld-signs-on-loan

 

Yep, I wouldn't doubt many people were "underwhelmed" by the signing. I know I was, I really wanted Gorkss to sign.

 

But you say people had "made their mind he was crap". That's what I disagree with, although I can only speak for myself, of course. What was heard about him of his time at Celtic certainly wasn't great, that's for sure. I personally also asked a couple of mates about him, celtic supporters one of whom is a ST holder; again, the reports were unfavourable. So yes, a certain opinion was starting to be formed. But that doesn't mean he was written off and that people weren't going to wait until he played a few games before making an actual informed decision.

 

Again I use the de Ridder analogy; no-one had seem him play, but the available evidence from former clubs' fans opinion led to many speculating that he could be brilliant, and that people couldn't wait to see him play to see how good he actually was. Why is that considered different to the Hooiveld situation? No-one got uppity about anyone forming an opinion about de Ridder before they had seen him play, did they?

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I think you nailed it previously with Reading did their homework but we're easy to set up against without pace and options in behind them. Teams can play a high line and press with impunity, knowing everything will be played in front of them. And how many of our players can genuinely beat a man in a one on one situation?

 

What I don't fully agree with is starting with SDR a no-brainer, as we saw previously it never turned out as expected. Don't get me wrong as I do believe SDR is the answer, but I believe he can be more effective coming off the bench when the opposition are tired. The lack of penetration we showed at Reading means we need SDR going for goal alone as I don't believe he will have much joy on the wing waiting for others to join.

 

I thought Reading had shot their bolt with all the hard work in pressing us into errors, but we defended well and still played football. Maybe if we had a few more days rest the penetration may have been there. We need that pacey striker leading the line that won't allow defences to push us back without threat on their goal and I am sure the club will find one. Just imagine that scenario. To me SDR is a very good player but he does not fill that role and I think Adkins has got it spot on.

 

I agree - my point about SDR is that given the options we have at the moment, he's a no-brainer. He's only the one who offers a bit of pace, directness and guile -but as you allude, that's a weakness rather than a strength, underlining our lack of depth and hopefully the Jan window will see the arrival of a proper pacey striker.

 

What I would say about SDR is that he's versatile and is comfortable playing up top - was excellent against Cardiff in that position, though surprisingly more subdued when he began on the right against Watford (don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is a long-term answer).

 

As we're likely to rotate the squad on Tuesday and Forte et al. are likely to feature, I would like to see Forte to start on the right (most Scunny fans think he's more effective there) and De Ridder go up top rather than the other way round which has been the ploy to date.

Edited by shurlock
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Good point, Reading tested us more than anyone else this season by my reckoning.

Most biased commentary team i've ever heard, Reading could do no wrong in their books.

 

I could not agree more. Boothroyd deserves a slap - biased c o ck. His job is to offer punditry not big up Reading and have a bloody love in with Jobi Mcnotgoodenough...

 

Poor. Very.

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SDR Played very well when he came on. However lots of hype about playing him from the start but when we did ala Watford he was very ordinary......However again he might be worth considering up front to start with Connely being so out of form......On the wing though - from the start - it doesn't seem to work.

 

Three players badly need a few games out - Connely, De Prado (big time) and Cork to a lesser extent.....Ummmmm perhaps to a lesser degree Fonte after all Martin did play very well when he came on.

 

I would play the out of form players against Palace and then rest them against Boro etc etc for a little while.....

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I can't help feeling that the best option with regards to Connolly, Guly and De Ridder would be to play Guly up front with De Ridder on the right. I feel Guly would do more than Connolly is doing up front at the moment, whilst not having the chance to lose the ball in dangerous situations. Then De Ridder adds some pace on the wing.

 

Just depends whether or not De Ridder can do the defensive side really.

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Trawl back through the threads. There were a number who were expecting a "name" CB signing and were very disappointed with the "cheap option" and had made their mind up that he was crap based on the fact that they had never heard of him and that he was put down on the Celtic forums.

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?32340-Jos-Hooiveld-signs-on-loan

 

There really wasn't. A very small minority but you are incorrect. Anyone can post a link and then state something as fact. That doesn't make it so. Kraken has made the point better than I could with his reply.

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Yep, I wouldn't doubt many people were "underwhelmed" by the signing. I know I was, I really wanted Gorkss to sign.

 

I was the same. He did actually look really good yesterday in fairness!

 

But you say people had "made their mind he was crap". That's what I disagree with, although I can only speak for myself, of course. What was heard about him of his time at Celtic certainly wasn't great, that's for sure. I personally also asked a couple of mates about him, celtic supporters one of whom is a ST holder; again, the reports were unfavourable. So yes, a certain opinion was starting to be formed. But that doesn't mean he was written off and that people weren't going to wait until he played a few games before making an actual informed decision.

 

Totally this. I'm not sure why some person continue to peddle the myth that he was written off before he played a game for us. He wasn't (possibly one person wrote him off like that but no one else.)

 

Again I use the de Ridder analogy; no-one had seem him play, but the available evidence from former clubs' fans opinion led to many speculating that he could be brilliant, and that people couldn't wait to see him play to see how good he actually was. Why is that considered different to the Hooiveld situation? No-one got uppity about anyone forming an opinion about de Ridder before they had seen him play, did they?

 

Exactly! Why is it so difficult to understand?

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Yep.

 

We were awful.

 

Are all our away games like this ?

 

Sooner or later out home form will crack; keep up this sub-standard b*ll*cks away from SMS and we can forget promotion.

 

I really can't help laughing at you Alpine, although I can understand why other people get p****d off with you: you pounce on the negative like a primary school bully pounces on the nice kid.

 

It wasn't brilliant, we're missing our best player who can unlock defences, we looked tired, had a man sent off, Reading had done their homework and we didn't play well but still got a point away. What the F do you expect every week? I hope you noticed the result in Manchester, and does that tell you anything?

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I can't help feeling that the best option with regards to Connolly, Guly and De Ridder would be to play Guly up front with De Ridder on the right. I feel Guly would do more than Connolly is doing up front at the moment, whilst not having the chance to lose the ball in dangerous situations. Then De Ridder adds some pace on the wing.

 

Just depends whether or not De Ridder can do the defensive side really.

 

I'm sure Guly was touted as an attacking central midfielder when he came here not a winger, he always looks much better in the middle than he does on the wing. De ridder seems ideal for the wing IMO.

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I was more annoyed by Hammond giving away the free kick on the edge of the area than his second yellow (had a feeling the red was bound to come given the rate at which the ref was handing out the yellows.) Before we gave them that, i felt the momentum was finally starting to shift; Reading worked very hard but were starting to run out of ideas.

 

Delighted with SDR when he came on and despite a poor performance on the whole by the team, we still claimed a point away to a team that could well be up around the promotion places come may. Blue line drawn.

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but we don't play with wingers though

 

We do just that Guly/AL have license to cut inside. While the role allows Guly to come more central, its still v.v. different from that of an attacking CM where you have options/runners to your right and left and you're more likely to be played in rather than playing others in.

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