Balham
S24SU Seer
Met up with Ollessendro to ride out to Reading. Google told me it was an epic 42-miler and I felt less than ready for it, to be honest.
Olle was late (standard). I crashed an burned at Bracknell, 29 miles in so cheated a bit and caught the train for 3 stops before finishing off the last 5 miles by bike with burning legs.
Quick swim later and it was time to go to the Madejski. I wasn't confident at all going into the game, even less so when I heard that Porter and Kitson were starting up front together.
United started and almost immediately after the minute's applause for Chris Armstrong Reading took the lead. United were slack down the right leaving Blackman to cover two, one of whom (Robson-Kanu?) swung in a deep cross to Noel Hunt, who got above Westlake to nod the ball back across Long into the corner.
Following the goal United took control without really threatening, with a series of half chances falling to the visitors. Blackman danced round Shorey and pulled the ball across the six yard box where Mariappa got a toe in to deflect the ball away from the waiting Porter before Kitson put a free header a yard wide and Murphy saw a 12 yard drive well saved by Federici.
The sucker punch came in the 40th minute as more slack defending saw Leigertwood given far too much time and space 25 yards out, with the former Blade rifling an unstoppable effort into the top corner. The goal sparked an argument between Long and McDonald with the keeper unhappy about McDonald's efforts to close down Leigertwood.
The second half started all Reading, with the two wingers finding far too much time an space. In particular, McCleary was having a lot of joy against Westlake and the right winger scored one and set up one in the first 10 minutes of the second half to put the game to bed.
The last 35 minutes saw three United changes with Flynn brought on for Porter, Whitehouse for McDonald and Collins - complete with mask - for Westlake.
United had a couple of chances with McDonald screwing a shot wide before Murphy's shot was cleared off the line in the mêlée following the subsequent corner (a poor decision from Chris Foy). The last chance fell to Flynn whose header from Blackman's cross was just wide when he should have done better.
United (ratings as per Foxy's system):
Long 10/20: one save from Le Fondre's effort, several sliced clearances. Not given much protection by the four in front of him.
McMahon 9/20: led a merry dance by Robson-Kanu with the first goal coming after he'd been pulled inside. Two free-kicks summed up his day - one over the top and the other into the wall.
Maguire 10/20: poor first half but kept Le Fondre fairly quiet. Seemed to gain confidence when Collins came on - I don't think Hunt won a header after that.
Higginbotham 9/20: slower turning circle than me and was beaten in the air by Hunt on too many occasions. Distribution left a fair bit to be desired and one risky backpass almost saw a repeat of Yeovil's goal.
Westlake 6/20: outclassed. Horror show; gave McCleary far too much space which resulted in two second half goals.
Blackman 14/20: the only United player who looked to attack his man every time he got the ball and showed good awareness on a couple of occasions to pick out a man in space. If he goes we'll miss him.
Doyle 10/20: got his foot in, used the ball fairly well but his lack of mobility in the middle of the park is holding us back.
McDonald 8/20: I've been defending McDonald for a while but he really struggled to impose himself today. Yes, the team's worse than last year - especially in terms of movement off the ball - but it's up to McDonald as probably the best player we've got in terms of dictating the game to take control.
Murphy 11/20: mixed bag from the Scot - poor first half but possibly should have scored towards the end. Better second half, including one run where he showed decent pace to beat Kelly easily. Needs to do that more.
Kitson 12/20: still looks disinterested a lot of the time but is still our most technically able target man. Won a lot in the air but had no-one to aim flick ons to. I wonder how much his heart is in this and if he went, will we really miss him?
Porter 8/20: again, won a lot in the air but really lacks mobility and anticipation. Is rumoured to be leaving for League 2 and it's difficult to argue that's not his level.
Subs:
Flynn 14/20: looked to make things happen after being unfortunate to lose his place. Lacks pace but makes up for that in work-rate. Showed some decent touches at times.
Whitehouse 10/20: seemed to be playing up front with Kitson dropping into centre midfield. His movement gives me hope for the future.
Collins n/a: good to see Collins back.
Tactics:
Why, oh why, did we start with Kitson and Porter up front? I despair. I also wonder whether we're going to play a back four of McMahon - Maguire - Collins - Higginbotham which smacks of Blackwell's keep-it-tight-and-try-and-nick-a-goal approach. I'm not confident that'll work; the sooner LJF is back the better.
Reading:
Clinical in the first half, spotted our weakness at left back in the second. They're the blueprint for what we should be trying to achieve: they've got an ethos which they stick to and more importantly, it's a long term approach. Finally, they don't give ridiculous contracts to limited 30-something journeymen which has been part of our downfall.
Their fans are pathetic...3-0 and you still don't sing. What a nothing club they are.
With a fair wind, we'd have equalised in the first half but I don't think that would have changed the outcome.
Olle was late (standard). I crashed an burned at Bracknell, 29 miles in so cheated a bit and caught the train for 3 stops before finishing off the last 5 miles by bike with burning legs.
Quick swim later and it was time to go to the Madejski. I wasn't confident at all going into the game, even less so when I heard that Porter and Kitson were starting up front together.
United started and almost immediately after the minute's applause for Chris Armstrong Reading took the lead. United were slack down the right leaving Blackman to cover two, one of whom (Robson-Kanu?) swung in a deep cross to Noel Hunt, who got above Westlake to nod the ball back across Long into the corner.
Following the goal United took control without really threatening, with a series of half chances falling to the visitors. Blackman danced round Shorey and pulled the ball across the six yard box where Mariappa got a toe in to deflect the ball away from the waiting Porter before Kitson put a free header a yard wide and Murphy saw a 12 yard drive well saved by Federici.
The sucker punch came in the 40th minute as more slack defending saw Leigertwood given far too much time and space 25 yards out, with the former Blade rifling an unstoppable effort into the top corner. The goal sparked an argument between Long and McDonald with the keeper unhappy about McDonald's efforts to close down Leigertwood.
The second half started all Reading, with the two wingers finding far too much time an space. In particular, McCleary was having a lot of joy against Westlake and the right winger scored one and set up one in the first 10 minutes of the second half to put the game to bed.
The last 35 minutes saw three United changes with Flynn brought on for Porter, Whitehouse for McDonald and Collins - complete with mask - for Westlake.
United had a couple of chances with McDonald screwing a shot wide before Murphy's shot was cleared off the line in the mêlée following the subsequent corner (a poor decision from Chris Foy). The last chance fell to Flynn whose header from Blackman's cross was just wide when he should have done better.
United (ratings as per Foxy's system):
Long 10/20: one save from Le Fondre's effort, several sliced clearances. Not given much protection by the four in front of him.
McMahon 9/20: led a merry dance by Robson-Kanu with the first goal coming after he'd been pulled inside. Two free-kicks summed up his day - one over the top and the other into the wall.
Maguire 10/20: poor first half but kept Le Fondre fairly quiet. Seemed to gain confidence when Collins came on - I don't think Hunt won a header after that.
Higginbotham 9/20: slower turning circle than me and was beaten in the air by Hunt on too many occasions. Distribution left a fair bit to be desired and one risky backpass almost saw a repeat of Yeovil's goal.
Westlake 6/20: outclassed. Horror show; gave McCleary far too much space which resulted in two second half goals.
Blackman 14/20: the only United player who looked to attack his man every time he got the ball and showed good awareness on a couple of occasions to pick out a man in space. If he goes we'll miss him.
Doyle 10/20: got his foot in, used the ball fairly well but his lack of mobility in the middle of the park is holding us back.
McDonald 8/20: I've been defending McDonald for a while but he really struggled to impose himself today. Yes, the team's worse than last year - especially in terms of movement off the ball - but it's up to McDonald as probably the best player we've got in terms of dictating the game to take control.
Murphy 11/20: mixed bag from the Scot - poor first half but possibly should have scored towards the end. Better second half, including one run where he showed decent pace to beat Kelly easily. Needs to do that more.
Kitson 12/20: still looks disinterested a lot of the time but is still our most technically able target man. Won a lot in the air but had no-one to aim flick ons to. I wonder how much his heart is in this and if he went, will we really miss him?
Porter 8/20: again, won a lot in the air but really lacks mobility and anticipation. Is rumoured to be leaving for League 2 and it's difficult to argue that's not his level.
Subs:
Flynn 14/20: looked to make things happen after being unfortunate to lose his place. Lacks pace but makes up for that in work-rate. Showed some decent touches at times.
Whitehouse 10/20: seemed to be playing up front with Kitson dropping into centre midfield. His movement gives me hope for the future.
Collins n/a: good to see Collins back.
Tactics:
Why, oh why, did we start with Kitson and Porter up front? I despair. I also wonder whether we're going to play a back four of McMahon - Maguire - Collins - Higginbotham which smacks of Blackwell's keep-it-tight-and-try-and-nick-a-goal approach. I'm not confident that'll work; the sooner LJF is back the better.
Reading:
Clinical in the first half, spotted our weakness at left back in the second. They're the blueprint for what we should be trying to achieve: they've got an ethos which they stick to and more importantly, it's a long term approach. Finally, they don't give ridiculous contracts to limited 30-something journeymen which has been part of our downfall.
Their fans are pathetic...3-0 and you still don't sing. What a nothing club they are.
With a fair wind, we'd have equalised in the first half but I don't think that would have changed the outcome.
