We set off early for the game yesterday, with the lad his usual optimistic self, whilst I pretended to be upbeat, but I was in fact fearing the worst. We got to the ground by 10.45am hoping for the lad to get some autographs and watch the players arrive. However, they were already in and we had missed them all. So we set off for a leisurely walk around Shepherd's Bush and had an even more leisurely lunch. We got into the ground very early which was fine as the lad loves watching the players warm up. We quickly sussed out the team by seeing which subs were all warming up together and, to be fair, I was in agreement with Hughes in that he brought in Mackie for SWP. I never agree with Hughes's formations and again, he opted for 4-4-2 with Mackie playing up with Cisse and Hoilett shifted to the right (not how MOTD had us lining up, but you need to trust me on this). Strangely, as we kicked off, Mackie was over on the right touchline right next to Hoilett. I assumed this was some kick off routine, but it didn't matter as Grenaro simply whacked the ball to their keeper. That certainly set the tone for the first half. Rangers were simply awful.....by far the worst I've seen us play this season. We were second best all over the pitch and completely over-run in midfield. Every "2nd" ball fell to or was won by a Reading player and that was basically down to mathematics. With Hunt dropping into the middle to give them a midfield 5, we were, again out-numbered in there. Will Hughes never learn? Mackie ran about a lot but he certainly didn't drop deep to help the midfield and we had the annoying picture of Granero and Diakite chasing shadows for much of the half. Rangers were under pressure right from the off and conceded corner after corner. With every dead ball delivery that was swung into our area, the Rangers players completely failed to win any headers. Every time Reading players won the headers. It was inevitable that one of these occasions would lead to a goal and so it proved. The huge Reading centre back, Morrison I think, won a header that looped up into the air. The Rangers players all stood around and let him head it again, this time he sent it onto the cross bar. Nelsen was a little slow to react as the ball fell to Gorkks who inevitably scored with a well controlled volley. Although the ball took a slight deflection off Nelsen, Cesar should have done better, but he allowed the ball through his hands and in. Apart from a fantastic Granero free kick, which was thwarted by an equally fantastic save by McCarthy, who managed to finger-tip the ball onto the bar (Bosingwa followed up but put his volley over the bar) and a shot each from Cisse and Hoilett and a couple from Taarabt, Rangers were distinctly second best. Granero gave the ball away too much whilst in possession and we played hoof ball for most of the half. The half time whistle was met with boos and I turned and looked up at Goldhawk who simply shook his head slowly. It could only get better and, to be fair, it did. Reading looked nervous about the possibility of letting the lead slip and Rangers began to pile on the pressure. It wasn't anything tremendous, but we at least did look to have a lot more urgency about us. Well....everyone bar Bosingwa who, to be honest, was a disgrace all game. Taarabt forced a good save from distance and Rangers were looking likely to score. With Taarabt and Diakite probing and pushing, the equaliser finally arrived. After some good work on the right, Diakite gave the ball to Bosingwa, who actually managed to get a cross into the box. It was low and hard and Cisse took a good first touch to spin away from the defender before hooking the ball into the far corner. Relief and joy abounded in equal measure. With a good 20 minutes still to play, I was hopeful that we may just get all the points and the golden opportunity fell to no other than Adel. One of our better players on the day, Taarabt collected the ball from Cisse following a good through ball from Zamora (on for Mackie) did everything right by feigning to shoot with his left and cutting inside the last defender onto his right. It had to be 2-1 it just had to be........ but NO! He placed it firmly, but too near to the keeper who pulled off another excellent save. Well done to the keeper, but 19 times out of 20 Adel would bury that. A bad miss. Cisse made a great run down the right and put in a good cross towards Zamora, who probably should have done better than just allow the ball to hit him and roll to the keeper. Reading continued to look dangerous on the break and it wouldn't have been a shock if they had managed to pinch a winner, particularly via the pace of substitute Kebe. The game ended with both sides pushing for the winner and the ball was cleared to Cisse who got himself to within shooting distance and unleashed a fantastic drive that TV showed was heading into the corner of the net, but it swerved late and missed by a whisker. Sums up our season really. In conclusion, I'm afraid that, on balance, things are actually getting worse under Hughes and not improving as he and Fernandes would have us believe. Whatever your thoughts on his formations/tactics etc. and you all know too well my views on those, Hughes simply can't get these players to play anything like as well or effectively as they should be. Is it that they don't agree with or understand the instructions? No idea....but I will say it again.....if Hughes stays in charge, I believe we will be relegated. Every conversation I overheard on the way into the ground, at half time and on the way out at the end were centred around Hughes needing to go and Faurlin needing to play! Player ratings and comments: Cesar - 5 - His worst game imo. His kicking was poor and he should have done better for the goal. Bosingwa - 3 - Simply awful and doesn't look interested. At one point, he lost the ball and just walked back as Reading broke away into his vacated right back area. Looks to have lost at least a yard of pace and looks like he doesn't want to be here. Would have scored 1 if he hadn't have assisted the goal. Nelsen - 6 - Won a few headers from balls that were played directly forward, but failed to win ANY that were swung in from wide areas. Could have done better to react to Gorkks when he scored. Ferdinand - 5 - Not great at all. Won no headers that I can remember. Traore - 6 - Got forward quite well at times, although he was completely ignored for most of the first half as Rangers never found him, even though he was standing in acres of room time and again. Doesn't look anywhere near fully fit or at full pace which is a shame. Hoilett - 6 - Looked a threat at times but never really looked like achieving anything. Granero - 6 - Not one of his better games imo, apart from his sensational free kick. Technically very good, but I feel he gets caught in possession too much. Although this isn't helped by the fact we are always out-numbered in the middle. If he had Faurlin in there with him, he would have more options. I would like to see him further forward in the middle of an attacking midfield 3 (but then you all know that). Diakite - 8 - Very good and my Rangers MOTM. Broke up play when he could and always tried to get us moving forward. Taarabt - 7 - Would have been marked higher if he hadn't missed such a golden opportunity to put us into the lead. Played really well all game and linked the play well. Tested the keeper in the 2nd half with a rasping drive. Showed great attitude and looked totally gutted at missing that chance. Mackie - 6 - Plenty of energy but not much else. Probably better as an impact sub, but at least he looks like he gives a ****, unlike some. Cisse - 8 - Had a very good game. Linked the play well at times and took his goal brilliantly. Set up Taarabt's chance and also made a good run down the right before crossing for Zamora. Very unlucky with his last minute shot from distance. Must start imo as he is the most likely player to score for us. Looked lightning quick at times too. Subs: Zamora - 6 - Did ok and played a good ball through for Cisse which led to THAT Taarabt chance. Should have done better with Cisse's cross. Onuoha - 5 - Looked his usual inept self when going forward after replacing Traore. Thoughts?
Good write up, Col. Can't fault it or the player scores. Diakite, Cisse and Taarabt were definitely the bright spots on a pretty dull day. I hope MH sits down with Bosingwa and sorts out what's going on in that guy's head (and perhaps visa versa!). And as a general comment, I'd like Hoilett to be more robust in his tackles. If Taarabt can improve in that area - so can Junior. Personally, I'm going to give MH until and including Sunderland to show that he can turn this around. I feel I owe it to TF to do so. However, if performances haven't improved markedly by then, we either get a new manager in pronto or I'm going to be planning for the Championship next season.
Pretty much as i saw it, nice report again Col. First half was like deja vu, out numbered in the middle of the park, not seen that this season have we!! Should have been an easy adjustment for MH to drop another player into the middle to weather the storm but again way too slow to react. Good second half but to be honest draw at home to Reading is a poor result for team wanting to stay in the PL.
Thanks Col. Actually thought Traore was very very good considering that he is carrying an injury and is not fully fit. Really improving in my eyes. Also thought that this was one of Adel’s best games for us. In a dull game where so many of our players lacked energy or effort, Adel tried his best to drive us forward almost by himself at times. Diakite improved as the game went on. Amazing how bad we are at defending the high ball. Shocking and we just don’t seem to be getting better. Watched Morrison and was impressed by the difference a decent CB can make. Exactly what we are missing. Our players look lack lustre. No real commitment. Our team is not showing the characteristics that MH teams are renowned for. This is worrying.
Great write Col many thanks. Hard to find anything I don't agree with. I find your ratings a bit high given that we only drew at home to a relegation rival, but have to say again most of the blame lies with the management for failing to use the best players, best formation as you say, undermanned in midfield yet again, failure to adapt to the game, and for his abject failure to instill more fight and team work into our performance yet again. What about ratings for Hughes? If you give Bosingwa a 3, maybe Hughes was worth a 3 too - probably an improvement on what I would have given him many games as he at least left out Park and SWP - on second thoughts Park is injured and would have no doubt played otherwise, so make it a 2.
3 thigs to see in this gif 1.look in the penalty box and see how Taarabt grabs his knees and rest for a minute like he knew Bosingwa wouldn't do anything good, bad for team moral (both Adel's reaction and Bosingwa little dance) 2.for anybody that wants 2 strikers up front look at this and see how poor is our midfield positioning, we have 2 man in the box but don't have anybody to deliver them the ball, 4-4-2 now and never more (yeah right) 3. last but not the least you can see nice moves by Bosingwa, sadly he's not doing them in the sport he is paid to play
Really interesting to see how some of us saw Cisse in a totally different light to others. I was asking for him to be included and I wasn't disappointed. I felt he made a lot of good runs, linked the play well at times and always looked to try to score. He took his goal brilliantly and set up Taarabt for a great chance and Zamora for a good one. He also had a good shot in the first half and was sooooooo close with that last strike of the game. Not sure what more he can do to get praise from some tbh. I think he is the same as SWP for some....can do no right no matter what he does. If you want us to score goals, with the squad as it is now, he must start imo.
That's a fair position to take Goldie. I hear a voice in my head telling me to give him a bit longer for the sake of stability, but my eyes tell me that things aren't improving and that the position may well be unrecoverable soon. Also, don't you find it amazing how differently people see Cisse's performance. Not sure he could have done much more tbh.
Col, loved the write up..thanks for that. i watched it a day late and i have no intention of picking holes in what you saw. Just funny how 2 people can watch the same game and have differing opinions on players, ganme etc... dont disagree with anything you posted, just have differing views on incidents. for eg: you said Cisse flicked the ball to create a chance. you may well be correct, but to me it looked like an opportunist goal. not sure he actually meant to do it !? enjoy the reports mate./...keep them coming ...esp for us abroad !
Cheers queens. For Cisse's goal, it just appeared to me that his first touch was excellent. The ball was coming in pretty quickly and he cushioned it away from the defender, swiveled and hooked the ball into the corner. It could have been simply luck of course and he didn't mean that first touch. Suppose I was just pleased with his performance and wanted it to be meant.
I'm with Col on Cisse, while you see him standing around with hands on hips a lot most of the open play chances we had he was involved in some way. He held his runs better but to avoid the off side trap but a little too much for me, offside is probably 70% the strikers fault but everyone forgets that it also the pass coming too slow and people not spotting the quick enough that also causes the issue. Your never going to get the industry of say AJ from Cisse but what you will get is larger goal threat, he scares defenders, don't get me wrong I'm not saying his the best Striker since sliced bread but in our squad he is the nearest we have to a dough type mixture.
Yes agree with this...which was why I was excited by Mackie and Cisse together, industry and drive of Mackie...threat and poaching from Cisse, but it never quite came off. Said before worth a repeat....losing Johnson, was the worst thing that could have happened...we would have had many more goals (not necessarily from him) already
