Reading seemed destined to succumb to a third successive home defeat without scoring until Jon Dadi Bodvarsson came off the bench to salvage a point with a superb late strike, and had Liam Moore made better contact with the last kick of the match, would have taken all three points. It was however not a Reading performance worthy of a victory in spite of a staggering seventy-four percent possession. In fact Tomori came close to wrapping the game up immediately before Bovarsson’s equaliser running through Reading’s defence with relative ease before dragging his shot wide. A draw was fair result mainly because neither side played well enough to deserve to win.
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Late Draw As Royals Continue To Struggle
From the Discussion
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JM John Madejski's Wallet 23 Sep 2017 · 5:25pm
Christ we're really not very good right now. No movement, no cutting edge, no vision. Just monotonous passing that is more muscle memory than thought. I know Brum were rubbish, but what has happened since that game? That said, got out of jail against an average team that always had a bit of threat. I think they were on for a monster booing from the boo boys around me but managed to dodge that at least. Blackett and Joey had awful games. Hadn't looked at the team sheet and didn't notice McCleary was playing until the last 30 min Sucks that the only time their keeper needed to actually touch the ball was denying us with the last… More →
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SU Sutekh 23 Sep 2017 · 5:26pm
Well that was awful In my mind Jaap's team selection cost Reading the points as i feel that if you have a fit striker then you should play that striker and not stick them on the bench. Playing a ton of wingers up front just seemed to confuse the hell out of the team as they didn't seem to be on the same wavelength or have any understanding. I do not understand why Aluko is in the team or why he was bought at all. He seems to slow everything down and when he does get a chance the ball misses the goal completely. He wasnt the only one either, McCleary struggled to get in the game at all and when he did try to make a run the ball went… More →
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JM John Madejski's Wallet 23 Sep 2017 · 5:31pm
Anyone know what is up with Obita? I didnt see him fall
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ST starbug 23 Sep 2017 · 5:31pm
Awful game, clueless performance and now Stam is having a go at the fans for booing a negative substitution. He's deluded and starting to look out of his depth.
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HO Hound 23 Sep 2017 · 5:33pm
I really don't know what to make of the thinking behind that display. We were so ridiculously static, the front 3 especially The last time I watched Aluko he was an absolute live wire who didn't give our fb a moments peace. Today he wandered around in central midfield trying and failing Hollywood passes. Just baffling. And again, last time I watched us, Clement, Popa and Barrow interchanged, moved into space and pulled the Villa defence all over the place. Today Dawson and Hector could barely have had an easier game As usual we looked solid defensively until we didn't. Midfield knocked it about nicely until they inevitably gave it… More →
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HO Hound 23 Sep 2017 · 5:34pm
Went over ankle right at the end. Almost exactly what he did at Fulham last year
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JM John Madejski's Wallet 23 Sep 2017 · 5:36pm
It always seems to me that we play better in Stam's preferred system with 3cb's but Stam also doesn't seem to want to play that way.
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GE genome 23 Sep 2017 · 5:37pm
Definitely got out of jail today. One paced, ponderous, uninspiring and to be honest, dull. I was as unimpressed with the performance as I was with Stam's words after the game. I am no fan of booing, but he surely has to understand the fans want to see exciting football and that taking off top goal scorer and chance creator Kelly for a defender when you're chasing them game is a little bit ridiculous. Players didn't clap the supporters at the end, nor did they come over to celebrate the goal with Bodvarsson, who by the way, was awesome when he came on. Weird.
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MU muirinho 23 Sep 2017 · 5:44pm
Dave Edwards came over and clapped at the end. He comes across as a really nice guy actually.
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RO Royalwaster 23 Sep 2017 · 5:45pm
Very similar to the play-off final - can't really blame the players for having to play a system that is just a joke; totally negative, defensive formation with no obvious outlet going forward. No wonder the players look confused. It reminds me of the quote by Mourinho a few seasons ago when he said that maybe in time there will be a new rule that the team that keeps the ball the longest wins ....
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HO Hound 23 Sep 2017 · 5:47pm
Yep no idea what that was about. Seemed a genuine lack of effort or enthusiasm at times as well which is unlike us. As said, Aluko just wandering around the pitch was awful
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SR Snowflake Royal 23 Sep 2017 · 5:50pm
Mannone 5 at fault for the build up to the goal (i think). Bowled it out to McShane when our entire half was flooded with Hull and there was no break on. We defended it for a while but ultimately conceded. Gunter 2 awful, negative to the point of telling McShane to slow down and not pass to him when in space. Stood off to allow crosses, involved in the goal. Fuk off. Blackett