MATCHWATCH : Port Vale (h)

[Esteban]

I think Hunt is still setting up as if Smith was here, who could do that role asked as well as anyone in this division

Otherwise I think Wareham actually did the role pretty well. Better suited to it than the 3 we have now

Completely agree. I think Hunt basically took last season's system and dropped it on this squad, which isn't equipped for it. There are signs he's trying to adjust it to suit the players we have, but it's going to take time.

O'Mahony is slowly improving, but I'm not sure if he'll ever really be effective in this system.

[West F]

The PV medical duo were excellent today, 30 seconds attention and a player seemingly at death's door would be right as rain again. I particularly enjoyed their first half cameo, three visits in a couple of minutes, without ever quite managing to get back to the Tech Area before having to come back on again.

I am struggling with dishing out the MotM award - I'm increasingly thinking that without a couple of top draw saves from Perreirererers we could have lost that.

The big pos for me today though (apart from actually winning) was seeing beginnings of familiarity between the players eg Wing and Jacobs trying to create space for Kyerewaa to exploit which seemed to be our principal tactic in the first half at least. Although I now also recall Lane giving Ahmed an on-field bollocking early on in the second half during a break in play, can't recall why mind.

Some teams make it a policy to break up momentum in a game. When under pressure, or if the opposition are playing at a high tempo, a player will go down immediately after a miss or narrow escape. It provides teams with a window to reset and regroup especially if the game has become stretched or become chaotic.
The advent of a policy regarding added time has all but removed the notion of time wasting as this time can be reallocated at the referees discretion. But, a referee cannot restore momentum.

[leon]

I think Hunt is still setting up as if Smith was here, who could do that role asked as well as anyone in this division

Otherwise I think Wareham actually did the role pretty well. Better suited to it than the 3 we have now

Completely agree. I think Hunt basically took last season's system and dropped it on this squad, which isn't equipped for it. There are signs he's trying to adjust it to suit the players we have, but it's going to take time.

O'Mahony is slowly improving, but I'm not sure if he'll ever really be effective in this system.

Absolutely. I think Smiths contribution was underestimated when he was here and it took Wareham a bit of time to adapt plus we miss Knibbs.

I liked Marriott’s lay offs and general decision making. MoM would benefit coming on from the bench. It would take the pressure off him.

[Snowflake Royal]

Well I enjoyed it. High energy, direct. Running at them, created chances. Solid defending to see it out.

If you can't enjoy that after 5 games without a win, I don’t see the point in watching.

I did enjoy the game and great to get 3 points

I don’t think we were good though and PV matched us pretty much. They could easily have scored

We could also easily have scored more. MOM air kick, Savage and Camara at the back post, Lane near post.

Moore did a good job switching it up at HT to nullify the joy we'd be getting with the press and out wide.

But then our game management was much better. Still too easily undone by a straight ball over the top thanks to Burns poor positioning and lack of pace.

Things are starting to come together.

[Snowflake Royal]

Shut up dick.

I'm with Windermere here, Ahmed was awful, should have been hooked 20 minutes earlier (even if it did mean Dorsett coming on)

He certainly wasn't "awful". Whether you agree with me, or Mick Gooding who also picked him, choosing him as MOTM or not is a different matter.

He put the best cross in of the game that should have got him an assist, played a great ball down the line to win the early corner that Elliott screwed up, and made some good runs out of defence.

The only obvious mistake I can recall him making was when Pereira played a hospital pass to him with three Vale players surrounding him and he gave the ball away.

He wasn’t awful, but he did take a number of unnecessary risks trying to go forward, mostly riding challenges and bundling out the other side which could very easly have bounced unkindly and triggered counters with him way out of position. And I think he finally got caught out on his constant foul throws.

But the only one who was actually terrible was Elliott. Not sure who I'd give the nod too, probably Lane for the goal and his pressing.

Stats wise, and I know you'll love this, it was Jacob.

[Extended-Phenotype]

FWIW I thought Ahmed was good today too.

Aye, me too. Put in a good shift, got involved, made some things happen, tracked back, held shape. Like him, not sure why his performance was particularly polarising.

[MartinRdg]

I must say I have enjoyed reading this thread.

At the end of the day, football is all about opinions and I can see that many people on here disagree about a lot of aspects of Saturday's match from individual player's performances to the team performance.

I can't comment personally as I was only listening to the online commentary but, from their commentary, it sounded like a balanced game with a lot of attacking intent from Reading but maybe I would have had a different opinion if I was present or, indeed, watching rather than just listening.

It certainly sounds like we have played better this season so far and not won but there seems to be some promise there, some improved performances by individual players and more understanding between team mates.

Hopefully, a 2-week league break can help to gel the team more and provide better performances and results going forward.

I still think the loss of Gibbs is a huge blow and hope we can replace is knowledge and experience.

[Whore Jackie]

Thought Ahmed did fine. Love his positivity, but he should have been replaced earlier. Think if Abrefa had been on the bench he would have been. Shout out to Jacob, who's not impressed me at all, didn't have a great first-half, but really stepped it up in the second.

Not sure Burns will get much action when Paudie's fit. He really needs to cut out the 2-3 mistakes he makes every game. Williams is looking our best signing, by some distance.