Blackpool - back from the game

[Brum Royal]

First game for a while for me last night, and what a difference a bit of confidence makes compared to the side over Christmas! Width, tempo, pace - all the hallmarks of the sides that have been so successful in the last 8 or so years.

Danny Williams - I posted a thread about a month ago asking what Danny Williams "does" - well last night showed me. A bit of everything, ball winner, ball carrier, link man. A good all round game, and it looks like he's starting to adjust to English football.

Also, is that really the same central midfield pairing that I last saw play together in the debacle at Peterborough? Unrecognisable!

[Maguire]

I thought Reading were excellent last night. Okay, beating Blackpool is no great shakes but the manner in which they did it was very impressive.

I can't remember the last time RFC looked so dynamic and up tempo prior to the last two homes games. Finally look like we're committing players forwards and actually stretching the opposition rather than getting up the pitch so slowly we have their whole team dropped behind the ball.

Now to do it against a decent side.

[AkpansBFF]

Love how we're always attacking games now and Pog and Alf are linking well as are McCleary and Alf. Just would of preferred Jobi to pass across! Alf was unlucky when he went through and just put it wide too.

Mccarthy 7 didn't have anything to do but he couldn't of saved that shot.

Gunter 7 Didn't have much to do
Pearce 8 made some good interceptions when needed
Gorkss 8 same as Pearce
Obita 8.5 good at defending and good on the attack again

McCleary 8.5 great again and funnily enough he doesn't see a huge amount of the hall but when he does he makes it count
Akpan 7 not much to say
Williams 8 just for his work rate
Jobi 7.5 a lot went through him and he done OK

Alf 9.5 great again got 3 goals and an assist his runs and link up play are brilliant
Pog 8.5 great link up play again good goal too

Hrk 8 great goal and good work rate for it
Blackman 6 wasn't involved
Hector 7 didn't see much of him but was impressed with the 1 or 2 things he done

[Pepe the Horseman]

Any links to the goals?

[PieEater]

I don't know where that performance came from but we seemed to be intent at attacking with pace and that just created chances. Jobi could of had goal of the season but for a fine save from Gilks. Pog shows what he's good at, if we give him through balls to feet he's clinical. Similarly Alf with his 3rd, he could of had another from the other side earlier. Alfs first looked lucky/that's what he's does (and maybe offside?), his second looked like a training ground routine that worked with a cushioned header from Pearce after Gorkss ran in early to take the defenders away.

McCleary seems to have renewed confidence to run at people and played some great through balls, he lost it a few times too but you have to allow for that and encourage him to keep doing it.

Williams didn't seem to do a lot but was everywhere tracking players, closing down and nibbling for the ball and making simple passes. I think that's his best role rather than a play maker.

Even the usually hapless Pearce looked comfortable on the ball.

I'm not sure on the tactics though, it seems to be to knock it around the back then hoof it forward to Pog or the wings, we didn't play much through midfield except when the wingers were breaking forward. It does seem like we've started to get the makings of a team that should do well in the second half of the season.

[bobby1413]

Really enjoyed the game, and can't really say much else other than what people have already posted.

I noticed the electronic advertising board was saying about shirt printing at the RFC Oracle store - but I thought that was shut?

Also thought the Blackpool fans were decent - don't take themselves too seriously, the umpa lumpa guy seemed up for a laugh and so did "baldy" who made a point of clapping us at the end which I think was mirrored back to him.

[madstadblues]

Great performance, you can see the confidence coming back through out the team. I wonder what the impact of a ball playing centre back might be - someone like Chris Casper / Darius Wdowczyk. IMHO I think we could create more opportunities by keeping possession when releasing the ball from the back.

[P!ssed Off]

Can't agree re Macanuff
He is a good foil for Obita and they work well in combination but he still flatters to deceive far too often.

He beats a few and then loses it. He gets in a great position but the final pass isn't there. It was criminal he didn't pass it to Alf, no excuses.

And he lost the ball on several occasions, wanting too long, once leading to their goal.

This was not McAnuff specific. McCleary lost the ball on the other side of the pitch a few minutes earlier.
That's the danger of wingers cutting in and the fullback's overlapped, you may well get caught in possession.
Mistakes were made in this part of the game because we were 3-0 up and the attacking midfield became a complacent, running in to trouble when they probably should have passed.

[Croydon Royal]

I noticed the electronic advertising board was saying about shirt printing at the RFC Oracle store - but I thought that was shut?

Was definitely open when I walked past a fortnight or so ago. On the main scoreboard...wish they'd make their mind up deciding whether the clock should count up from 0:00 or down from 45:00 - seems to have jumped from one to the other over these past few games. Shocked me yesterday when it felt early in the second half yet apparently we only had 15 mins to go!

[Norfolk Royal]

Really enjoyed the game, and can't really say much else other than what people have already posted.

I noticed the electronic advertising board was saying about shirt printing at the RFC Oracle store - but I thought that was shut?

You say you haven't got much to add but the revelation that the RFC Oracle store is shut is invaluable to people planning to go there. Be sure to let everyone know when it opens again.

[On High]

Really enjoyed the game, and can't really say much else other than what people have already posted.

I noticed the electronic advertising board was saying about shirt printing at the RFC Oracle store - but I thought that was shut?

You say you haven't got much to add but the revelation that the RFC Oracle store is shut is invaluable to people planning to go there. Be sure to let everyone know when it opens again.

It was open on last friday.

[bobby1413]

I noticed the electronic advertising board was saying about shirt printing at the RFC Oracle store - but I thought that was shut?

Was definitely open when I walked past a fortnight or so ago. On the main scoreboard...wish they'd make their mind up deciding whether the clock should count up from 0:00 or down from 45:00 - seems to have jumped from one to the other over these past few games. Shocked me yesterday when it felt early in the second half yet apparently we only had 15 mins to go!

Really enjoyed the game, and can't really say much else other than what people have already posted.

I noticed the electronic advertising board was saying about shirt printing at the RFC Oracle store - but I thought that was shut?

You say you haven't got much to add but the revelation that the RFC Oracle store is shut is invaluable to people planning to go there. Be sure to let everyone know when it opens again.

The reason I thought it had shut was because about a week ago I walked past, and the shutters were down - it was about 1pm.

The staff inside had removed a lot of the stock, and there were boxes all over the place. I assumed they were removing the stock, boxing it up, to take back to the stadium store.

[loyalroyal4life]

Mcanuff was class, if he can keep that level up along with Mcleary then we have a chance for top 6

Just need somone better than League 1 quality sitting in the middle next to Danny Williams

[maffff]

The reason I thought it had shut was because about a week ago I walked past, and the shutters were down - it was about 1pm.

The staff inside had removed a lot of the stock, and there were boxes all over the place. I assumed they were removing the stock, boxing it up, to take back to the stadium store.

It was closed for a day, for stock take.

[BraisingsteakRoyal]

^ How long does it take to count 30 odd shirts on hangers and a few scarves?

I've always* wondered why shops did that. Given that the stock is probably worth < 20k, the fact that they're paying a few staff to count boxes must eat into their monthly profits.




* Once when I used to do a paper round in 1992, and once just now.

[LoyalRoyal22]

I missed the Bolton game, my first game since Forest at home. Was well worth pulling a sickie for

Just moving the ball quicker into wide areas which is what we are good at, but not much long ball, its all pretty short and crisp. I don't remember us getting these scorelines under Brian when we got promoted which suggests the team now is stronger than that team and we have better balance in terms of tempo and when to keep the ball. Individually if you look at it, we now have better full backs that push on, Williams is an upgrade on Ledge and we have Pav rather than Roberts/Hunt, also better squad depth. It is all set up for a late push.


McCarthy- 7
Gunter- 7
Obita- 7
Pearce- 7
Gorkks- 7
McCleary- 9
Jobi- 8
Akpan- 7
Williams- 7
Pav- 8
Le Fondre- 9

[readingroyal01]

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/footb ... er-6641031

[WoodleyRoyal]

[Extended-Phenotype]

1.56 am - I have arrived back at uni.
Today's game was quality.

We had the free-throwing attacking greatness that we saw against Watford at home, with virtually none of the defensive frailties.

Pearce's best game of the season for me. And the stats agree. 11 aerial duels won. 79% passing accuracy, including 2 key passes, an assist and 7 out of 8 long balls being accurate. He was a beast all game long,

Rest of the defence and keeper were solid.

Attackers were quality.
Le Fondre, Pog, McAnuff and McCleary all had excellent link up play and movement absolutely taking Blackpool to pieces.

McAnuff imo is playing the best I've ever seen him. Can't blame him for shooting when he should have squared it, if it had gone in that team move would have been goal of the season, he would have squared it if we weren't already 2-0 up anyway.
Not to mention that McAnuff is doing wonders for the progress of our wonderkid Jordan Obita.

Williams was the driving force through the centre of midfield that we so desperately needed against Ipswich. Akpan was good for the majority of the game but was a bit sloppy in the 15 minutes or so just before HT.

Great cameo from HRK. Showing all the doubters on here who whine that he's 'overrated'. He can score from absolutely nothing. His goal from 25 yards was no fluke, he came very close to scoring from the same position 5 minutes earlier. He'll be vital as our 3rd choice striker for the rest of the season.


McCarthy 7
Gunter 7
Gorkss 7
Pearce 9
Obita 7
McCleary 7.5
Akpan 7
Williams 8
McAnuff 8
Pog 8
ALF 10

HRK 7.5

Can't agree re Macanuff
He is a good foil for Obita and they work well in combination but he still flatters to deceive far too often.

He beats a few and then loses it. He gets in a great position but the final pass isn't there. It was criminal he didn't pass it to Alf, no excuses.

And he lost the ball on several occasions, wanting too long, once leading to their goal.

Funny shit, football. I thought Jobi was close to MOTM last night. Superb.

[M Brook]

Mcanuff was class, if he can keep that level up along with Mcleary then we have a chance for top 6

Just need somone better than League 1 quality sitting in the middle next to Danny Williams

Funny how we all see things differently. I agree about McAnuff (apart from the Blackpool goal when he clumsily got caught in possession) and McLeary but can't agree with your second point. For the first time in months I thought Akpan actually looked quite good and linked up v well with Obita, who also had a much improved game. The one disappointment for me was Williams, who I rate v highly, who wasn't quite as good as he has been. McLeary was my MOTM - he has come on leaps and bounds this season and is gradually showing a consistency that could well see him playing in the Prem before too long.