They didn't create one proper chance! Freedom of Vicarage Road is a massive overreaction IMO, we got sloppy at points and they had periods with the ball but didn't threaten at all apart from corners. We got in behind a few times, Choudhury should've scored I thought when he had a chance to shoot through bodies into an empty but passed instead. Pedro had a good effort deflected just wide. That final pass/ball/decision hurt us a few times, we didn't get it right but I'm really quite surprised by the reaction. I judge a game sometimes by "stand up" worthy moments, when you get out your seat (might be a Rookery thing) because you think we might score, happened plenty today and has done under Billic far more than it did under Edwards, Ranieri, Hodgson or QSFII, it's fun again!
Thought Choudhry was MOTM by country mile. Thought he was brilliant tonight. Cannot play Asprilla in that position again. Out of position and too lightweight - was surprised he was not subbed at halftime
Let's be clear: Sarr was GARBAGE. Despite setting up the second goal and bombing down the wing and the centre all match he was dreadful. Because price tag. Get a grip and enjoy him for what he is. I hope he ****ing destroys England in the last 16.
That’s one of those games that won’t stay long in the memory. Routine 2-0 win. Reading were probably the weakest team we’ve played all season. They had absolutely nothing about them at all. Having said that, we made very hard work of it, but deserved the win and were clearly the superior side. Nice to see a penalty actually converted. Pedro’s second was a brilliant strike. How did a back line of Kabasele, WTE, Sema, Gosling and Bachmann keep a clean sheet? I don’t know, maybe it will be featured next week on William Shatner’s The Unexplained show. Even though I do try, I really can’t take to Kayembe. He takes too many risks and is not skilful enough to get out of danger. Good performances from Pedro, Choudhury, Davis (in spells) and Kalu did well when he came on. Say it quietly, but that’s 5 wins from our last 7 games. We’re sitting in 5th just 4 points from 2nd. How did that happen?
What he is being painfully overrated, horribly inconsistent and often too lazy/unmotivated to fully utilise the talent (physical much more than technical) that he does possess. He's just really not that good. Even at this level he only plays a genuinely good game once in every four or five, at best. He'll look unstoppable and then return to looking like he's got two left feet for the next month. Rinse and repeat.
I would have enjoyed that more if we hadn't been made to wait to the 87th minute for the second goal. Until then I was convinced Reading would scuff in an equaliser. 3 more points on Saturday and we'll be in good shape going into the break. Was Reading's shirt one of the worst ever designed?
Glad that Bachmann had his weetabix today and actually came to claim crosses when under pressure. Long may it continue.
He didn’t have that much to do, and was solid tonight. But I think if men gave birth, they would sound like Daniel Bachmann every time the ball comes near.
Well. A win. Somehow. Not a classic but finally my son has seen us win a match at the Vic. He'll remember that one! One very happy 8 year old Hornet
I thought it was a very similar performance to the Coventry match. Difference was we did get shots on target this time and Reading had nobody up front worth cleaning the boots of the Coventry 17.
Thought we actually played worse tonight but luckily were up against a far poorer team. Started quite well for once then dropped off alarmingly after the first goal and played in second gear for most of the match. Kept expecting them to have a spell of pressure late on but they didn't really. Worst team that's been to the Vic I think.
Overrated by whom? Seems most our fans don't rate him at all. Anyone would think he wasn't one of best 3 players for about 4 seasons in a row and pretty much the first name on the team sheet when fit. Did we need to buy him for £35m when we did? Questionable. But clearly his performances are appraised against that backdrop and not what is actually happening on the pitch. I'm happy to dig up his scarily good stats again if needed.
I actually think the league is notably better than the last time we were in it - one of the main reasons why sides are struggling to put a run together is because there's a decent amount of quality spread throughout the division making bumps in the road more likely. Plus most teams have at least one player who if you happen to meet when in form can hurt you.
Can't say we ever really looked in control of the ball or the game. Gave away possession a lot and had a couple of spells where we just couldn't get two passes together. Clearly missing Louza in central midfield. Although we did deserve to win. I'd expect us to need a better performance most weeks to maintain top 6.
I think compared to 2020/21 while the quality isn't necessarily greater (although the total number of goals is looking to be considerably more) it's more interesting. That season there were only four sides of real quality - Norwich, us, Brentford and Bournemouth (who finished 6th but should've been pushing for autos). Swansea, Reading and especially Barnsley all overachieved and it was strange Swansea got to the play-off final given their style of play and quality of squad, which was basically built on Ayew + a good defence. No one else really looked like getting to the play-offs at any point (Cardiff had a really good run but in the end fell way short). This season it looks like at least a dozen sides are capable of getting to the play-offs or higher.
I doubt many would agree with me but I look at the goal difference and I would say that Sheffield United and Burnley are most likely to fill the top 2 spots. If we continue as we are then we are likely to finish in the play-offs. It's certainly possible for us to put in a post world Cup run for the top 2 but we will have to improve substantially and have a few incoming signings.
Overrated by the media, overrated by opposition fans, overrated by the club. He's the first name on the team sheet because of the money he cost us, the lack of alternative options, the fact we need to keep his value as high as possible if we want to recoup anything like what we paid for him and because he is capable of being unplayable on his day, he just more than often isn't and that day comes once every four to six games if we're lucky. None of his stats are "scarily good", even at this level. They're decent, but for by far the most expensive player to ever play in the division they're nothing like scarily good and there have been a lot of players over the years who have statistically contributed more. His touch is all too often poor, his final ball and finishing is far too often worse than poor, he's too negative on the ball and plays it safe far too frequently rather than using his pace and taking the game by the scruff of the neck, he makes poor decisions with the ball because he lacks vision and composure, and he repeatedly looks disinterested and lazy. There's a reason he's playing in this division again. It's the level he belongs at.
Cov were many times more threatening, and overall I thought we were about the same going forward comparing Saturday with today
Never thought I’d hear the words “the glory of Reading” in pretty much any context! Never seen that before, despite working in their stadium (not for them - we just rent spare office space) and living in a town that’s about 30% Reading, 30% Oxford, 39% premiership plastics and 1% Orns - there are at least 4 of us in Wallingford!
Not sure I can remember Dan actually having to make a proper save. There was one dipping effort in second half that he dived backwards to wave over the bar, but I suspect if it’d been on target he wouldn’t have kept it out - was so far behind him that I couldn’t see any keeper having the strength to tip over when fully extended.
Regulation championship win. Not at your best but still beat a mid table team who barely lays a glove on you . That’s how you get promoted from this league . 20/21 we were unspectacular but won 14 of our last 18 games . Not sure what the complaints are about .
Gave away the ball far too much and would have been punished by a better team. However, considering our extensive injury list we are doing remarkably well atm and long may it last. I have high hopes for the rest of the season, especially if we strengthen in the January window and also get most of our players back to full fitness. My biggest fear is that I think there will be some big guns coming in for Pedro and that Gino might let him go. however, if push comes to shove and Gino wants to cash in on someone, then I would much rather see Sarr leave than Pedro, but let's hope we can hang on to them both.
That game really was just like watching a lot of those games 2 seasons ago, here's hoping the end result is the same (minus the defeat to the scum of course!)
We defended well. Sarr did run and do some good things but often got outnumbered. I've decided if he was young and English and had come through our youth team (ie no 35m transfer fee) we would all love him and hope he developed that extra 15% he needs to be a great player. Control was bad though with at least two just bouncing off into touch. I'd be switching the two wingers much more often during the game to keep the defenders honest and the 2nd came from a good cross from Sarr on the right. He can't cross with his left. Pedro is the one, he needs games like that where he picks up a couple of cheap goals more often because his touch and build up play is worth a lot. Kalu is better than I hoped for. Might be tempted to start him? Generally we were 6.5/10. Good but 1 pass too slow to move the ball into attacking areas. Sometimes I think we need to take a risk and try the quick longer pass into the channel as Davis and Sarr and others did make some good runs, but we make 2 passes into the winger who then isn't facing the right way and needs to do something extra. Hamza was decent. With some good through balls as well.
We might be lining up but after Gino makes his usual low-ball offer the bloke will sign for someone else for a fee well within our means. Meanwhile we’ll end up with another Bayat special for the same fee as the Coventry bloke.
Yep. What makes this league so enjoyable is that there is not a huge difference in quality between top and bottom. Unfashionable teams can beat the favourites as happened last night to QPR and SU. Teams can suddenly come from nowhere by hitting a confidence-fuelled run of wins, or just as easily, hit a poor run and fall away completely. Weren’t that Reading side near the top a few games ago?
Big shout out to Gosling, and likewise Sema. Neither are Prem standard, but go about their game with zero fuss and 100% effort. Whether you like them or not, they are the sort of players that are integral to getting out of this league
Giarretta is sacked when we play with only 2 recognized defenders and win? Surely winning with only 2 defenders is a total vindication of Giarretta's entire recruitment policy?
