14/01/12 - WFC vs Reading: Poll, Preview, Discussion & Reaction

****inson didn't leave him free really because he was chasing back from way way way up the pitch, but still did it at other times and just had a poor day.

 

Leighton spot on about ****o for their first, forgot to put that. His cross was an awful decision. JUST before he did the same, when clearly the cross wasn't on, luckily got it back, then as I was saying just keep it there's no need he did it again, they countered then scored. Didn't realise Yeates slated him, rightly so.

 

Pretty poor all round. First game i've managed to see since the Boro debacle. Can't really say that either team particularly deserved to win. As bad as each other really. With Hogg and Kightly, I think we'd have had enough to win.

We looked short of ideas going forward. Deeney worked hard to no avail, but I like him in the side. Sordell looks like the only player capable of making something happen. His touch is good. Bearing in mind that this is the first time i've seen him in a while now, he looked to be working harder and getting himself involved a lot more. In terms of skill, thought he was the best on the pitch.

****inson has been getting some stick for the first goal, but in fairness, I think it was Marriappa who left him unmarked. Hodson and ****o had both pushed forward, Nosworthy started to move towards their winger and Aidy followed him, leaving Kebe unmarked behind him. So to me, there were a number of mistakes made by the defensive unit. We can't afford to have both full-backs going forward at the same time and Nos + Aidy needed to communicate better as the situation unfolded.

I think we'll have enough to stay up with relative comfort, but we really need some pace in the side this transfer window.

 

Too many passbacks to Loach (which, tbf he dealt with) which just resulted in smashing the ball long to give back to Reading. We really missed Hogg coming short to fill the gap between defence and midfield and pass it about.

We need two more wingers also, some of Yeates deliveries are ok, but the man couldn't beat an egg, and I don't see Fozzy as a winger. Even Bradford managed some dangerous looking crosses against us, but the only people putting dangerous balls in for our strikers are... Deeney and Sordell!
I also think that Yeates and Forsyth lack the ability to track back, they leave our full backs very exposed. Im sure ****o and Hodson are good enough for this level, but they need more support from the men infront of them.

 

Was Forsyth actually offside from that truely awful header, does anybody know? Superb cross by Eustace, who was fantastic today. Only player who seemed to be able to knock the ball around with a bit of confidence and precision.

Very frustrating result. Would have preferred to see Garner get the last 10 mins rather than Imu.

Tidy finish from Le Fondre, if only...

 

for what its worth....my views (some have been said i agree)

Loach much improved, yes it was only one game but its seemed its been worked on his decision making on coming out and collecting. Thought he looked much more solid and error prone today. Well done to him

Have a lot of respect for Dyche in his interview didnt just moan about decisions as the boys hadn't played well enough to get a win. And more wanted to mention what we need to do better which is a good sign in a manager I think. However the Robson Kanu tackle was disgusting if you ask me straight red and just typical we dont get it oh and he sets up the goal 5 minutes later. Up against 10 men its different story, thanks again referee for consistently making awful decisions both ways but the first big decision of the game you mucked it up! Not suprised at all :dismay:

Hogg was obviously a big miss today and it would have been much better if he was availiable for the game. Not a fan of Prince liked him when he first came in, it was like a breath of fresh air an attacking midfielder. But didnt and doesnt get involved enough for me played a great ball to set up the move for the goal however. Im unsure on him but he needs to act more of a playmaker for me!

Never have been a Forsyth fan and before the game I said he couldnt be on more of a high due to the cup again but i said today he will flop as he isnt good enough at this level. And my word didn't he do just that, he can't pass...he can't dribble...he has no pace for a winger... lastly he can't cross. Why bother?

Yeates didnt have a great game set pieces werent consistent good enough, did put a few great deliveries in but today he had too many set pieces wasted. I think he is good despite what some others say we just need a pacey or even just a good dribbler down the other week like kightly was. They compliment each other well, good delivery down one side from yeates and then a pacey or dribbler threat down the other.

Im surprised more people haven't mentioned hodson on the 1st goal I thought he had a good game. But ****o was up field, supporting like people would wanna see, they won the ball back and hodson for some reason comes all the way inside when we lost it to Noel Hunt on the ball coming as far over as the other side of the centre circle. They pass forward then out wide to robson kanu down the left wing....imo he has no need to go try win the ball in their if you ask me, leaves the wing wide open and pacey attack..bang goal, great play by reading has to be said.


And lastly something i havent heard this mentioned yet which is very similar pattern every game. What a negative bench Dyche picks?! we have iwelumo, garner, jenkins as our attacking options. Its fine if we are winning and can bring on some new faces, but subsitutions are there to change games. I couldnt see any of them changing it for us, have a flair player on the bench we lack an experienced one so put a youngster on there! massey murray whichelow?!!! cant do any worse than the rest!
I'd be interested in hearing peoples views on that....we cant bring on an attacking threat especially one with pace!

 

Forsyth was onside, I just finished watching the game after having to work all day. IMO, nobody in a yellow shirt had a bad game, but nobody forced anything from the reading players. Loach did nothing wrong and actually looked ok communication wise. Dyche sets us up to be hard to beat, but we really need to look at taking drab games by the scruff of the neck.

 

Oh and despite sky making an issue of it, there were no fouls worthy of a red, no penalties despite readings players whining and moaning.

Miss kightly massively and if sordell goes we could well be in trouble. "Hard to beat" can become "don't know where next win cones from" pretty easily.

 

Reading had everything we didn't, pace, physical power and quality. They way they packed the midfield it meant that we just didn't have the guile to break them down.

Once we scored we looked comfortable. Their first was just a complete disaster. Once Hodson, who coped well all afternoon, lost his challenge why didn’t one of the centerbacks go across to cover ? Hodson should never ever have had to run so try and close the winger down. As for ****inson, Forsyth, Eustace or Prince not getting back to cover the back post, that is just pish poor defending.

The second half Reading did absolutely nothing for the first half an hour. The whole game was being played in their half. Deeney had two good chances, Forsyth one, Sordell failed to lay an easy ball off choosing to shoot instead, Prince had a half decent chance but none resulted in testing the keeper at all. Our biggest problem was we failed to put away our chances and failed to capitalise on our position and pressure.

The game totally changed with Forsyth’s lung. Another day he might have been sent off for the lung its self, certainly for his second tackle. That incident swung the game and woke Reading up. We knew and they knew that they could do what they wanted down the right, Forsyth was in effect taken out of the game. I bet Dyche will never leave himself in a position where he doesn't have cover for every position on the bench again. The reason the substitution took so long was because he didn't have anyone who could play on the left. His only option was to go 4 3 3.

Loach looked better today, fair play to him. Nosworthy looked shaky, Hodson is getting better and better and developing well, Deeney and Sordell worked hard but lacked quality. The three players that stood out as being extremely poor, ****inson who apart from losing his man at the back post for both goals, also for some reason thought the bloke in the front row of the lower rouse was out left winger. How many times did he put the ball out of play ? He also clattered their forward from a corner in the first half. Reading had every right to be angry that they didn't get a pen. It was worse than the push on Sordell in the second half, which was also a pen by the way.

The other player that went missing was Prince Bauben. Where was he today ? Apart from one pass to Deeney he went missing. I appreciate that we missed Hogg but when you’re reliant with Eustace against 3 reading midfielders then we were always going to get over run. I read that a couple of people have said that the midfield was too far away from the forwards, well there's your man. He was nowhere to provide any outlet to the defence or midfield which meant that we ended pumping the ball over the top far too many times.

As for the ref, let’s be grateful that two big decisions went with us, A - Forsyth should have gone, B - Reading should have had at least 1 pen for the push, the handball would have been very harsh. Both of those decisions would have killed us off a lot lot earlier.

 

There were no challenges or handballs in the game that shouted gave been penalties. Forsyth made two fouls in the entire match, robson kanu also "could" have seen red, Kompany's red card wasnt a precident, it was a mistake and a blight of modern football where a slow motion replay can make a fair challenge look like assault. Another modern problem is the crowding of refs, waving imaginary red and yellow card.

overall a poor game with neither side really deserving to win.

 

we didnt play very well at all yesterday, i think Forsyth and Yeates were terrible. everytime we seem to pump it up to forsyth for him to knock it on, its getting a bit to obvious. i really do think we need to sign a winger, and soon at that.

 

Im surprised more people haven't mentioned hodson on the 1st goal I thought he had a good game. But ****o was up field, supporting like people would wanna see, they won the ball back and hodson for some reason comes all the way inside when we lost it to Noel Hunt on the ball coming as far over as the other side of the centre circle. They pass forward then out wide to robson kanu down the left wing....imo he has no need to go try win the ball in their if you ask me, leaves the wing wide open and pacey attack..bang goal, great play by reading has to be said.

He could have been helped by Nosworthy, who could have moved over to close the space down - made it easy for the wide man to get his cross in. Deffo that ****inson cost us the game today - he was awful, he knew it as well - as instead of staying on the pitch afterwards, as is the nor, he was down the tunnel like a shot...

 

Not able to make the game yesterday or watch it until this morning. Disappointing that we played so poorly live on TV after playing well recently. I see Dyche has said we had several players not performing in the game. My question to him would be, having noticed this why did we did we only make two subs in the 81st and 88th mins then ?

 

Robson-Kanu should definitely have gone after that challenge on Yeates, horrific challenge, it was half way up his leg.

Am I the only one who thought Buaben had a good game?

 

He was ok considering it was such a poor game. You can see that technically he is a very good player and can make things happen, the only issue is he can dip in and out of games.

 

What a sh it game between two sh it teams. Reading were awful, how any goals were scored in that game is a mystery. How Reading are in the Play Offs is also a mystery. Should both be deducted points, that was a footballing travesty.

We simply must buy two wingers. We are quite strong in most other positions, but Forsyth simply isn't a winger and Yeates is very slow. Yeates is OK, but needs competition. On the left we simply have to get somebody in, move Forsyth to LB when ****o is playing crap or something. He just isn't a winger, he is too slow and its unfortunate because it means he is getting a lot of unnecessary hate from the fans. He puts in 100%, I just don't see how he can ever beat a man. He can cross, dribble, shoot and pass, so surely we can find a better use for him than throwing him into a position where he seems to have no ability?

We mostly have a good team - the lack of natural wing play and wing ability is killing us. Our whole game plan is based upon getting forward quickly, yet by the time our wingers have broken up the pitch the move has ended.

 

He couldn't even outrun a 34 year old full back. He is amazingly slow. He is a nice guy and I think has a lot of ability, but not on the wing. McGinn struggled of course, but he didn't have to gain yards of pace to play in midfield.

 

By "adjusting to the Championship" is he suddenly going to become pacey, agile and learn how to control a football and take people on? It's not about him adjusting to this league, he simply doesn't have ANY of the attributes a winger should have and that won't change with experience. As I said before, maybe he'd be OK in some form of central attacking role, maybe even left back, but as a winger he is absolutely abysmal.

 

Agree with this ^^

 

Forsyth seems to be getting a lot of stick on here.

I personally thought he was one of our better players yesterday; definitely better than Yeates.

I agree that winger may not be his position due to him not being the paciest of players and not exactly having a great cross on him but he is definitely one of the best headerers of the ball that I have seen play for us in years and he showed that yesterday.

I wouldn't write him off just yet.

 

Must have been watching a different game to most of you as I thought Reading were decent and worth the win while we were in the main very poor. Jimmy Kebe was class and I am surprised that they have managed to keep hold of him. It may have been a different game with Hogg in midfield but I doubt one player would have made that much difference. Mariappa continues to impress me and wins balls in the air he has no right to.

The Ref lacked consistency and I was furious at the way that he allowed the Reading players to influence him ... particularly on Forsyth's yellow card.

It was bloody cold and took the heated front seats of my car a full 10mins to thaw the cheeks of my arse (just thought I'd add that).

 

I was thinking the same as you. I think he'd be better at LB than on the wing. The game for me was summed up by the difference in the two Left backs. Ian Harte was tremendous and Sean Dyche has just rung Jimmy Kebe to ask him if he could take ****o out of his pocket now!
Agree with everyone who says we need a couple of wingers. Kightly played for Wolves yesterday so his return looks highly unlikely. I would also really like to see a set piece specialist come in we haven't had one since Ashley Young and the lack of effect from set-pieces highlights this.
I thought Hodson and Deeney were our best players. Deeney was full of running and endevour, whilst Hodson was solid at the back (1st goal aside).

 

Forshyte is getting a lot of stick because he was useless..... kept giving the ball away, and if he wasn't doing that he was running it off the pitch.

 

Very witty. This is the same player who scored two goals (one from 25 yards) last week and is young and adjusting to football in England and a higher league. Can't say I noticed him running the ball off or giving it away more than twice either.

Nothing like supporting your own players eh? Thank God he hasn't got Twitter.

 

Well I think Forsyth at left back is out of the question, seeing as he proved he can't tackle for **** in the second half, he probably should've had a straight red, and if not then a certain second yellow. Very lucky boy.. The only position he should be playing for Watford is Left Back (in the dressing room). Mind you, Robson-Kanu should also have been sent off, in the current climate. Shocking tackle. Also I reckon their second goal was offside, but it's inconclusive on the telly so no point complaining.

Bauben and Deeney played well. Nosworthy pulled a Wayne Brown and ****o was nowhere to be seen all game. Watched the game with a Brighton fan who also pointed out we need wingers, and said Yeates was awful. Then started gloating about Buckley... who scored yesterday...

 

I think you may be right JB. GT did say at the fans forum that he see's a good payer in there, but its going to take him time. I must admit I do trust GT's judgement over ,ost of ours

 

The one saving grace Forsyth does seem to have so far is that he can pop up with a goal...in a low-scoring side, at least he's netted 4 so far.

We were never going to replace Danny with another foward hitting 25 a season but it was to be hoped we could at least get somebody in capable of scoring 10-15, in the same way Ady replaced Helguson with King/Hendo. Instead we signed Iwelumo and Garner and it's costing us dearly because Dyche has done well to improve other areas of the team but up front there is little support /back up for Marvin.

 

Reminded me of Southampton away performance, and for me Hodson did well, but there was a gulf between the defence and the strikers.

Thought we would lose when Hogg not in the team, nothing against Eusty who was ok - but Hogg makes the team tick, in the same way Cowie used to.

Forsyth and Yeates were poor which affected the front two.

The former is more of a natural striker, and could grow into being a valuable player, whereas Yeates is almost a luxury squad player for cameo appearances.

This transfer window is crucial as if we lose the wrong players without adequate replacements it could be a long hard season.

 

Why did Le Fondre get booked when celebrating?

 

Because the referee and his assistants were not very good.

 

Forsyth is **** poor. Says he wants to work hard to regain his place in the team, he gets a chance, and is utterly, utterly useless for 90 minutes. No faith in him. Get 2 wingers in ASAP please Dyche.