Match Report vs Bournemouth

Wed 23 July 1997 (FRIENDLY)
READING 1 BOURNEMOUTH 1

Att: 1,740

Report from Dean White...

Well I was at the gane last night and I had expectations of at least a 3-0 win, stupid me !

Line up consisted of

1. Hammond
2. Booty
3. Swales
4. Codner
5. Macca
6. Thorpe
7. Glasgow
8. Houghton
9. Roache
10. 'Didn't catch his name and never seen him before' anyone know ?
11. Lambert

So the youngsters were given a run out to shoe what they can do. We played the whole game with a 4-5-1 formation and passing tactics.

First half was dire, Bournemouth looked by far the better team and seemed to keep us pinned in our own half for the most. Swales looked and more than adequate replacement for Bodin as he made surging runs forward and played a few good passes up the wing, likewise Lambert looked his better self and like he wanted to make an inpression with some good runs and passes, but we only got to see this on the few occasions we made a break into the Bournemouth half. Bournemouth evetually scored from a corner.

Second half was better, we came out looking like we wanted to win and the tables turned, we still had the same players and formation but were pinning Bournemouth in their half. Problem was we seemed to lack any forward penetration, all our possesion was spent passsing the ball around midfield looking for an opening and when it didn't come passing it back into defence then tryng again until we lost possesion. Williams (Skittles) replaced Glasgow on the wing and thing began to look better as we threatened the Bournemouth defence more with Williams attacking runs forward. We eventually scored when the ball was played into the Bournemouth box and after a small scuffle Roache was there to tuck away a loose ball. Freeman replaced the number 10 and Ben Smith replaced Lambert ten minutes before the end.

Ratings :

1. Hammond - look a capable understudy for Mautone, not a bad game, looked confident. 7/10
2. Booty - Looked impressive, good runs out of defence and good passsing 8/10
3. Swales - Good runs and passing, looks a goos alternative to Bodin 8/10
4. Codner - Remove the 'ner' and you've got it. Flapped around like a wet fish. 4/10
5. Macca - His usual solid self in defence 8/10
6. Thorpe - Looked capable but maybe needs another couple of years 6/10
7. Glasgow - Looked unhappy on the wing and struggled badly 4/10
8. Houghton - Good passes, fairly pacey, good tackling, Phew ! a very good performance from avery good player 9/10
9. Roache - Played well and looks like he could be an extremely good striker 9/10
10. Unknown - poor passes and looked uncomfortable the whole time he was on 3/10
11. Lambert - Played well with good runs and passes 8/10
15. Williams - Good runs and passing 8/10
14. Smith - Didn't make much of an impact and looked a bit lazy when he did get the ball 5/10
16. Freeman - Looks like he could be good midfielder, good tackling and passing but maybe needs a year or two 7/10

So overall not a very good performance but we did run out a lot of youngsters, 4-5-1 formation does not look a good bet, we badly lacked any serious attacks on the Bournemouth goal and panzied around ina crowded midfield too much.

But hey ! thats just my opinion !

Deano


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