* The Unofficial "Official" Reading V Boro Match-Day Thread *

That means one of two things. Either every team playing us does better than normal when attacking or we defend more poorly than expected so that it is easier to score against us than it should be. By all ways of looking at it we currently have the worst defence in the league.
It’s more like your first point. We’re not giving away anywhere near as much good chances, general chances or even possession compared to other teams, yet goals are going in from all angles/situations where the keeper and defenders aren’t in bad positions.

Take that goal for example, it was probably a 1 in 50 chance of going in, if you replayed that strike 50 times. The guy who scored hasn’t even scored in 100 games.

We have made a couple of minor mistakes, every team does, but a lot of them are going in, plus the inevitable good chances we give away, they’re largely going in as well.

We were not great that half but don’t deserve to be 1-0 down.
 
Well if managers suss us out as Paul Ince has then we're in for a struggle this season, awful to watch today, no creativity at all
Both West Brom (first half at least)and Sheff Utd played the same way by defending very deep and suffocated the space, but today Reading have taken that to a crazy level - we had over 80% of the possession at the point they scored.

We've not been sussed out I don't think at all, teams plays this way at times against us, but we need to move the ball a lot quicker and be far more decisive.

Still fancy us to win.
 
Why do we keep persisting with playing McNair in midfield when it has never worked? I hope it’s because there are no other options. It is clear as day we need more quality midfielders through the door. Then McNair can revert back to where he is good playing in defence.
 
Both West Brom (first half at least)and Sheff Utd played the same way by defending very deep and suffocated the space, but today Reading have taken that to a crazy level - we had over 80% of the possession at the point they scored.

We've not been sussed out I don't think at all, teams plays this way at times against us, but we need to move the ball a lot quicker and be far more decisive.

Still fancy us to win.
Maybe sussed out was the wrong saying, restricting out wide outlets

One thing we are though is very slow, pass, pass & getting nowhere
 
I'm pretty sure Wilder ball works around the 3 CBs driving into CM when in possession? These 3 don't seem to want to.

Also.... Every Brentford and Hull fan said you can't play Forss up top on his own. Strange that we think he's alright at it 😂
 
Can't say we've played well, but I don't think that goal was anything to do with the system.

Bola made a poor clearance from a nothing ball and a defensive midfielder scored an absolute worldie from outside the box.
That was his first ever goal.
Just a freak occurrence.
 
The problem is that there are a lot of teams in this division who will play this way against us. We need to find a way to break them down or we have no chance of going up. Pretty, passing football is very nice to watch but winning games against teams like Reading is what we need to learn

It’s also easy as **** to setup against too

If they want to play out from the back , press them like **** to make mistakes

They want a high defensive line to attack us ? Play direct as **** and hit them on the counter with some pacey wingers and forwards. This was what pulis did historically

Unless you have great players who can play that way , then you will be found out
 
The issue, for me is that we ae not taking any chances in possession. Reading are keeping their shape because we are allowing them to.

You beat a packed defence by either, beating a man and focing another player out of position, creating some space. Or, quick passing that the defenders can't follow easily.

We are just playing it really safe today. Take a risk, play a pass to someone who is marked and trust them to move it on quickly. At 0-0 when you are controlling the game, you tend to think the chance will come. At 1-0 down you have to start forcing things a bit.

One of the reasons I like McNair in defence. He'll step out into midfield better than anyone else and suddenly we have an extra player there and a dangerous one because he has an eye for a pass, you can't give him time on the ball. It makes them break their shape to go out to him.

Wilder probably feels needs must given the squad and injuries, but the sooner McNair is back in there the better.
 
Watmore has to come on , we need some speed and a body to play it to
I don't think it's speed were lacking, there's literally no space to run into. We need to pass the ball quicker and pull them about the pitch more.

Fry has been a passenger, far too deep and we've been outnumbered as a result.
 
Big half coming up.. need to salvage something. Even if we only draw then it’s only 1 defeat in 5 which is something to build on.
 
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