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?
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?
