[Thurnscoe_OWL]

Joao was very good in our own box last night, clearing 4/5 balls that our CB's had been struggling to all game

[madsteve]

IMPOTENT BUT STILL PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE, IF WE REMAIN PATIENT

Patience is something we should have in abundance at S6 but some fans appeared to have none last night. From the fans calling for players to hump it after five minutes, booing players that retained possession by passing sideways through to two Wednesday fans fighting in the North Stand at the final whistle.

The game was poor but it was light years ahead of the dirge we produced last season. Sure, little worked but you could at least see that we were playing to a sensible plan & trying to do the right thing. Several of our key players played well below par but that will happen as we try to adapt to a new formation, a new playing style and largely a new team.

In many ways the team performed like their surroundings. The giant screen was a bright beacon shining across a pristine playing surface but the new plasma screens in the North Stand weren't working. It turned out that the match would be pretty much the same.

The early talking point was Reading's lilac kit with a couple of players having boots to match.

We started brightly with Wallace & Hunt prominent on the right. Very little went down the left & Joao became increasingly isolated up front. Lopez & McGugan had little influence on proceedings and Matias struggled to get involved at all. The first half was pretty much jostling for position but neither side threw any kind of punch in anger.

Reading should have scored when Price fumbled a shot but the rebound was hit over. Danny Williams (23) was by far the most outstanding player on the pitch so it was probably no surprise when he put Reading ahead. Wiggins made it easy for him by going to ground and I can't help thinking that a fit Westwood would have stopped his fierce shot.

Sasso seemed to be a more than adequate replacement for Loovens but we lacked any sort of penetration until Sougou replaced McGugan. Sougou offered more life and we immediately had a few minutes pressure before a Reading injury took the sting out of things.

Reading seemed to be coping comfortably as we tried to attack more down the left through Wiggins with Hunt & Wallace fading from the game. For all our possession, we hardly produced a worthwhile chance until the Reading keeper, Bond, fumbled a routine Wiggins cross and Sougou proficiently poked it home just as the stoppage time was being announced.

Price - 5 - had little to do but looked shaky
Hunt - 6 - bright opening but faded
Lees - 6 - not much to do but lacked urgency
Loovens - 5 - never really at the pace of the match
Wiggins - 5 - led a merry dance by Williams and partly at fault for goal
Hutchinson - 6 - brightest of the midfield and always offered a passing option
Lopez - 5 - struggled to get into the game
McGugan - 4 - no influence, same as Saturday
Wallace - 6 - bright start but faded
Joao - 5 - isolated, again bullied by big defenders
Matias - 4 - never got involved
..................................................................
Sasso - 6 - slotted in comfortably
Sougou - 7 - great impact substitution, pace, power & scored equaliser
Bus

It wasn't a great performance (far from it) but there was a lot that we could take from the game as promise for the future. We managed to get a point from a match where none of our key players were firing and we showed commendable spirit to keep going on the pitch when many fans had given up. The low crowd for a match with cheap tickets knocked the argument of those complaining about high ticket prices for the Bristol City match.

I have heard that some thought we didn't deserve a point. Maybe but Reading weren't any better (other than doing their homework and keeping our dangerous players quiet) - two decent chances to our one. I thought a draw was about fair. We played better on Saturday & lost.

We have to accept that there will be a fair few days like this in the first half of the season and that there is a job for the fans to support the team & not give up on them like many did last night. Thankfully there were still about 17,000 there to support the team at the death. I expect that we will improve as the season goes on & we may hand out a severe beating or two when we fire collectively.

Joao needs to be treated more gently and will surely be more effective coming on after an hour against tiring defenders than chasing for 90 minutes and being knocked about. CC needs to research how Wilko gradually introduced Hirsty into the first team & do the same with Joao.

Sougou is another game changer who can do a great job from the bench, who if handled sympathetically could be a big player for us in the second half of the season.

Hopefully Hutchinson has come through the game unscathed because we will need him against Leeds on Saturday. I liked the way that he dropped deep to pick up the ball, allowing the FBs to play as wing backs, effectively making us 352 in possession. It didn't work last night but it will work on other days.

Whilst the match was disappointing & the result "so so," I still believe that we are moving forward and will not be a million miles away from a Playoff spot by the end of the season.

[Owlkev71]

Some fans think it is a crime to pass sideways or backwards. I would rather keep possession than give the ball away unnecessary.

Nuhiu picked up a back injury yesterday and would have started by what CC was saying last night.

Did Sougou do enough to earn a starting place for satdi?

Wouldn't mind Seme getting a start, just to add some protection for the back 4.

[consilio]

We should remain patient and the majority will, but, the vocal minority will be all over CC if we take a beating at Leeds. There were already several shouts of "committee out" in the south stand last night.

Ridiculous!!!

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I think Soudou has shown enough in his apps so far and Matias hasn't.

[madsteve]

We should remain patient and the majority will, but, the vocal minority will be all over CC if we take a beating at Leeds.  There were already several shouts of "committee out" in the south stand last night.

Ridiculous!!!

---

I think Soudou has shown enough in his apps so far and Matias hasn't.

Sougou will be great from the bench for the last 20-30 minutes but probably average if he starts. Joao is probably the same.

Shouldn't get sucked in to judging players against L2 opponents.

[A57owl]

Some fans think it is a crime to pass sideways or backwards. I would rather keep possession than give the ball away unnecessary.

It was more the lack of movement that caused the passing sideways and back. Matias and McGuvan were off pace yesterday. I agree keeping possession is vital but we must be more mobile up front and give options of forward passes by making and spotting runs that penetrate the defense. All too often last night there was a lilac mass of players and a lack of movement on our part.

---

We should remain patient and the majority will, but, the vocal minority will be all over CC if we take a beating at Leeds. There were already several shouts of "committee out" in the south stand last night.

I really want our 'new dawn' to succeed. I just worry that after: 15 years of poor football, a new owner, 'better players' coming in, promised attack minded football and the debacle over pricing that some fans (not me I add) will become restless and frustrated too quickly. Booing and chanting negativity will not help Wednesday in the long run. CC needs time to get the balance right. I think Joao will be a good player but he needs support and is not ready to battle on his own against 2 hardened CBs.

[Thurnscoe_OWL]

Some fans think it is a crime to pass sideways or backwards. I would rather keep possession than give the ball away unnecessary.

It was more the lack of movement that caused the passing sideways and back. Matias and McGuvan were off pace yesterday. I agree keeping possession is vital but we must be more mobile up front and give options of forward passes by making and spotting runs that penetrate the defense. All too often last night there was a lilac mass of players and a lack of movement on our part.

---

We should remain patient and the majority will, but, the vocal minority will be all over CC if we take a beating at Leeds.  There were already several shouts of "committee out" in the south stand last night.

I really want our 'new dawn' to succeed. I just worry that after: 15 years of poor football, a new owner, 'better players' coming in, promised attack minded football and the debacle over pricing that some fans (not me I add) will become restless and frustrated too quickly. Booing and chanting negativity will not help Wednesday in the long run. CC needs time to get the balance right. I think Joao will be a good player but he needs support and is not ready to battle on his own against 2 hardened CBs.

I liked your post before the 2nd quote came up, however, I totally agree on both parts. No movement in midfield made us play through the centre and were outnumbered and out muscled. I recall in the 2nd half wallace had the ball centrally 25 yards from goal and was surrounded by 5/6 players yet no one in blue and white offered themselves and he ended up passing the ball straight to their centre back instead (looked to be on purpose to me as well).

For saturday I'd drop McGugan for Lee, Joao for Bus/Nuhiu, Loovens for Sasso and get Westwood back in if he's fit. Sougou would come on at HT if Matias still looks out of it

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And as for the booing and leaving early, I've never hidden away from the fact I often leave early if I'm not enjoying a game but I would never boo or moan towards the team during the game for trying to play their way.

I did shout out a few times that the players should be moving and providing options for the short pass but the majority round me were shouting for us to "gerr'it up top", "stop this tippy tappy bollocks" etc. Not constructive IMO.

I hate long ball as well so the way we're playing is not too bad, just improve the movement in midfield

[madsteve]

A few around me were calling for us to lump it forward. Unfortunately it will take time for these people to learn how football has evolves after years of Irvine, Megson, Jones & Gray.

[consilio]

Semedo has to play at Leeds, surely.

He has already stated that in some games he will use two holding players. This is the one for me, Semedo in alongside Hutch with Lopez more advanced.

Sougou looks quicker than Matias and if playing Nuhiu I would stick him on the opposite flank to Wallace. Matias needs a kick up the arse and could then be used from the bench.

[madsteve]

Semedo has to play at Leeds, surely.

He has already stated that in some games he will use two holding players.  This is the one for me, Semedo in alongside Hutch with Lopez more advanced.  

Sougou looks quicker than Matias and if playing Nuhiu I would stick him on the opposite flank to Wallace.  Matias needs a kick up the arse and could then be used from the bench.

It is difficult trying to second guess CC at the moment.

He clearly likes to throw out some red herrings as he was bigging up Wildsmith on Tuesday & then he picked Price.

I still think that Hutch will struggle to play twice per week so it is best to play Hutch on weekends and Semedo in midweek.

I think that McGugan's place is becoming vulnerable after two poor performances.

Still think that Sougou & Joao will be great impact players from the bench.