by SCIAG »
15 Dec 2016 22:00
I think things were closer than 4-0 would suggest but there's no doubt that City deserved to win on the night.
First 30 minutes were very close with Driscoll making a couple of great saves (another goalkeeper for the future!) and Reading players fluffing a few chances after good build-up play. Loader took a couple of touches when he got on the end of a cross and then hit it high and wide - should have just stuck his leg through it. Rollinson had another chance but couldn't control it. City scored two goals in quick succession around the 35 minute mark and then we struggled to get back into it. Their third was a good strike from range and similarly Driscoll had no chance with the fourth.
The team was not put together well at all, all five in the midfield were creative or attacking players and it left us exposed (although the forwards did chase back). I think they must have tried to shoehorn the best eleven in without any regard for how they'd fit together. Frost didn't look his usual self in the centre, so I would have shifted him out to the right and dropped Rollinson to the bench in favour of Shokunbi. Combine that with McIntyre in for one of the centre backs and we'd probably have had a fighting chance.
No ratings because they're young, but some quick commentary on the players (bear in mind that I'm going to keep this positive in case any of the youngsters haven't learned to stay off HNA?):
Driscoll - several good athletic saves reminiscent of AAH. Good distance to his kicks. Looked fairly comfortable on the ball but no Federici.
Howe - extremely quick, one incredible chase down of a lost cause to create a scoring chance. Defended well.
Odimayo - athletic and made good decisions with the ball. Sometimes sucked into the ball when forwards dropped off.
Philby - very brave and strong, made a couple of crucial blocks, and a vocal leader at the back, but some concentration issues.
Medford-Smith - probably the highlight. Very good defensive left back who provided good cover a few times when the centre backs got caught out. Good on the ball and a good physical presence.
Rollinson - quick, direct, and made good runs, but sometimes let down by his touch. One excellent low delivery from a free kick.
Coleman - kept things ticking over and showed good work rate, but wasn't given much support defensively.
Frost - not sure what he was doing in midfield. Some good link play, particularly early on, but didn't threaten.
Holsgrove - classy. Clearly very talented but ran into a few dead ends. Good movement, intelligence, and awareness.
Loader - started brightly and won a few free kicks but not at his best and was isolated when he moved up front.
House - worked hard, a real physical presence up front. Unfortunate slip when through on goal.
Subs:
Shokunbi (for Coleman) - strong and rangy and should probably have started. Reminds me a bit of Tshibola with his combination of presence and effortless grace.
Nolan (for House) - the game was lost by the time he came on and we didn't get the ball to him very much. Also only 15?
Balogun (for Odimayo) - some good runs up from defence.