Guess most on here saw the game through sky etc.. but after having calmed a little here goes. THE GAME Well I thought Hughes got it spot on with the team tbh. SWP rightly dropped and both Mackie and Cisse came into the starting XI. However we began poorly and let them get the early foothold in the game which seemed to galvanise them and spur them on. We were poor throughout the first half with a couple of opportunities, but we barely tested McCarthy in the Reading goal (bar a superb free kick from Granero). We were poor in possession and poor without. Defensively were all over the place and yet again concede from a set piece with NOBODY challenging the second ball. No one. And to let their CB (Gorkss) turn like that in the box is quite ridiculous. Second half we came out with much more intent and tried to affect the game (Im sounding like MH here!). Taarabt and Diakite were at the centre of it and created our best chances. Reading were still in it and had some good opportunities, but we shaded the second half imo. Cisse could have won it right at the end, but in truth Taarabt should have won it for us when he was through 1 on 1. THE RATINGS CESAR - 6 - not his best game. I was right behind the goal they scored and imo even with the deflection he should have done better. His kicking was also suspect today as it often fell into reading players. TRAORE - 6 - got forward a number of times but didnt deliver and defensively was a bit dodgy. NELSEN -6 - strong as usual and won most of the battles with their strikers. but as a unit the defence wasnt good. FERDINAND - 5 - very poor game. Roberts run him ragged and he looked half asleep in the first half. lost so many headers. BOSINGWA - 4 - neither good going forwards or defensively (bar the cross for cisse to score). in first half he was beaten so many times down the right wing and at one point in second he had made a complete hash of trying to cross the ball in the reading box. they subsequently attacked and he WALKED back. very poor. DIAKITE - 8 - MOM - close between him and tarbs but for me he affected the game in both halves very well. won a number of tackles and had very good footwork on a number of occasions to move into space away from 2/3 reading players. made some great runs and was at the centre of our play. GRANERO - 7 - did the simple things well but a little quiet. passed the ball into space to set up attacks and had a great free kick saved. TAARABT - 8 - worked very hard. always there to receive the ball and try to attack the reading defence and was unlucky on a number of occasions. should have scored in the second half when put through by cisse though. HOILETT - 7 - again always there to receive but did not do that much with the ball really. but linked well with the other forward players nevertheless . MACKIE - 6.5 - went a bit quiet at times but his energy and effort goes a long way and is much more worthwhile to the side than SWP is. CISSE - 7 - scored at a vital time for us to give us that bit of extra momentum to find the winner, and he almost did in some style. great haircut as well! always around but in the first half he wasnt involved enough for me but in the second he was always in space and linked well with taarabt. SUBS: ZAMORA - 6 - didnt do an awful lot really but did have one decent chance to score but it went straight at the reading keeper. ONUOHA - N/A - not on for long enough to give a fair score THE FINAL WORD I said to nines at full time we were lucky to get a point, but after reflecting on our chances in the second half I will revise that to 1-1 being the fair result. They certainly had the better of the first half but we had the better second. If only taarabt could have stuck that chance away... However it wasn't a great performance by any means, and that first half display in a game like this gives much to be worried about tbh. As a defence unit we were abysmal and our defending from set pieces is shocking - no one attempted to win the second ball. I find it hard to believe that they actually do work on them during the week as it wasnt just once this happened. They also seem to fall asleep when they did short corners. Hoilett was screaming for help from one in the first half but granero was far too late. I am losing my patience now after watching that tbh. I still stick by my end of November deadline though as we need to give MH a fair crack at the season. But the time is ticking.
The point was made elsewhere that Reading played as more of a team with greater spirit and application. Hard to disagree with that. With the players at our disposal Reading shouldn't be able to live with us. Frustrated is exactly how I feel (and that has nothing to do with Mrs Ciarrai).
They did your right there Ciarrai. Reading had much more heart and desire about them. I cant help but think MH may be starting to lose certain players support? Just noticed a few players not putting their all in at times. Bosinwa namely.
Agree with most of that judo....EXCEPT.....the most important thing of all and that is that Hughes most certainly did not get the team right. 4-4-2 is so outdated and he is playing it against 4-5-1 repeatedly and expecting a different outcome each time. Faurlin needs to start in the centre and I'd quite like him to play alongside Granero, with Diakite in front of them in a central midfield 3. Hughes can't see it though....he's taking us down.
Good point Col. I agree Faurlin should be in the side, but not sure who I would have dropped from our midfield/attack today really.
The hypocrisy from Tony Fernades is what really gets me. Sack warnock rightly or wrongly for dropping down to 17th position, yet Hughes gets all the time in the world to make a balls up.
Good write up mate. That's pretty much how I saw it too, but then I would as I sit not far behind you. I find it quite bizarre that we seem to start every game with a complete lack of urgency. Hughes had eight days to prepare the team for this match and what with Reading having a long-winded tough encounter with the Arse, you would have thought we would of started this one in a high tempoed up and at 'em fashion. Just what the tired Royals wouldn't of fancied. It seemed like half of the team slept walked through that first half.
For fear of being told off by Brix for repeating myself: No Mackie.... ---------------------Cesar--------------------- Bosingwa------Ferdinand---Nelsen--------Traore --------------Granero----Faurlin---------------- Hoilett--------------Diakite-------------Taarabt ------------------Cisse------------------------
Isn't it strange how our best performances came with faurlin in the team and now he can't get a sniff. I have never hated (and that's a strong term for me) a manager more than Mark Hughes. He is pathetic in every way.
That's how I've always thought it should be too Bob....I just wonder whether Diakite would be a revelation further forward? All pretty pointless though eh? Hughes ain't gonna do it.
No he won't do it. Mrs asked if i was going to the footy next week and i told her that's it for me until we get a new manager!! Its a shame i feel like that but its like throwing money away with these away games!!!!
I'm tired of the back 4. I really am. Play 5, I mean why not? You really like Diakite in front? Yeah OK I suppose it's better than him bungling another tackle as he tracks back....... Why don't we just make it 4-3-3, then? They'd have to work harder, but hey - we can't be as lethargic as we were today, ever again, anyways.
The backfour will be better with M'Bia back...5 is too defensive...we need to score goals. Diakite further forward yes..... esar--------------------- Bosingwa------M'Bia---Nelsen--------Traore --------------Granero----Faurlin---------------- Hoilett--------------Diakite-------------Taarabt ------------------Cisse-------------- That'll do...but won't happen for another two matches...when it will be too late
Your posts are becoming increasingly bitter and personal - this and your 'hate' one below. Warnock was sacked after half a season after the players turned against him and he presided over a shameful performance against MK Dons. He is history. Move on.
4-3-3 is a few positional yards away from 4-2-3-1. Either one would be better than what we saw yesterday, but I don't believe Hughes will ever be drawn away from his out-dated views.
