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Post by greydad on Mar 4, 2015 13:54:08 GMT
The time might have arrived for the manager to employ Ream in the defensive midfield role he recently hinted at as being a possible option... Moxey was solid enough at 'Boro, and adds a bit of height when defending set pieces. Such a role for Ream might help alleviate the wasteful punting too. The late goals conceded recently have largely occurred when possession has been lost cheaply, and unless the absent new signings suddenly show that they are ready to step in and improve things an answer needs to be found from within those who were involved last night , and those players who manage to effect a recovery from injury. The manager also made reference to further use of the Loans market, but as he pointed out only so many loanees can be utilised at any one time...let's hope for a good deal more luck and cohesive play at Blackburn, and a bit of optimism regarding the growing injury list. I think Bannan played well last night, his and Ream's overall positional play and passing was more productive than those around them, so I would veer more towards Andy L's assessment of their performances..Bannan's first half shot was worthy of a a goal too...had others shown more of their composure on the ball the Wanderers might well have seen the game out.
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Post by andyl on Mar 4, 2015 14:36:56 GMT
I've now watched the replay of the equalising goal. Bannan mistimes a challenge in midfield, Dervite is all over the place but yet again it's Ream who has lost concentration and allowed his man to be ahead of him and that makes three or four recent goals Ream has been at fault for.
And yes it's a poor effort to save it by Amos. And if Saturday begged comparison with Lonergan re the early volley and Rotherham,in the interests of fairness we've seen Lonergan save quite a few like this one- he's good at getting down low to palm shots wide. We've also seen Bogdan save those.
So we had several bites at it.
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Post by realtrottersforever on Mar 4, 2015 14:55:24 GMT
I am a bit of a mixture of AndyL and davidm in my opinions on last night.
Unfortunately I missed their equaliser, so can't comment on the mistakes that led to it, but it doesn't surprise me that both say the defence went a bit AWOL in the lead up to it.
Earlier Dervite had backed off and backed off one of Reading's attackers and the ensuing play could quite easily have led to an equaliser at that point. In his time on the pitch he didn't make one tackle not good enough for a centre back, he is in my mind becoming the next Zat Knight, (with his if I am not involved, I can't be blamed type attitude), he was our worst outfield passer of the ball making 41 passes, 9 of which were long balls, only 2 of which were accurate with a pass percentage of 61%. He was only marginally worse that Mills who made 35 passes, 15 LB of which only 6 were accurate and a pass percentage of 65.7%.
Compare that to Wheater who in his 24 mins on the pitch, made 11 passes 3 of which were LB all successful with a percentage of 100% and Ream who made 60 passes, 7 LB of which 5 were accurate and a percentage of 83.3%, even Vela had a better percentage of 76.3%, 38 passes, 5 LB, 4 accurate.
Amos's passing stats are awful 21 passes each one a LB only 8 of which were accurate a percentage of just 38.1%.
All this long punting, is just ridiculous when we last night we must surely have had one of the smallest front lines going.
Mills must learn to control his temper he was treading a fine line last night and was lucky not to get booked for all his remonstrating with the referee, who in my opinion was one of the worst referees I have ever seen in my life.
Feeney once again was just a passenger for most of the game he made 28 passes 9 of which were crosses but only 3 of those were accurate, what is the point of having a winger who cannot cross the ball? I am not quite sure how he came to have a pass percentage of 85.7%. He made no tackles which means he wasn't covering Ream who I thought had an excellent game last night and I too wish NL would play him in midfield, in an Ivan Campo type role, and utilise Moxey at left back, this would provide extra cover for the back 4 and allow him to get forward and would bridge the gap between the back 4, midfield and the forwards.
Danns I thought ran about like a headless chicken most of last night and I am sure had subs been available would have been subbed in the second half, he too made no tackles not good enough for a defensive midfielder.
I thought Bannan had a better game than the weekend, but can get caught in possession to easily.
Last night we were too lightweight and allowed Reading to out muscle us, as NL has said previously we need to toughen up.
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Post by davidm on Mar 4, 2015 15:17:06 GMT
I've now watched the replay of the equalising goal. Bannan mistimes a challenge in midfield, Dervite is all over the place but yet again it's Ream who has lost concentration and allowed his man to be ahead of him and that makes three or four recent goals Ream has been at fault for. And yes it's a poor effort to save it by Amos. And if Saturday begged comparison with Lonergan re the early volley and Rotherham,in the interests of fairness we've seen Lonergan save quite a few like this one- he's good at getting down low to palm shots wide. We've also seen Bogdan save those. So we had several bites at it. Hi Andy, Yes I've just watched the highlights too. I originally thought that it was Dervite who was sleeping but, you are right, it was Ream who is standing marking no one while Mackie is on his own inside him. I can't quite decide on the keeper - it would have been a cracking save if he had made it. I still think that a lot of the problems come from our midfield standing off and allowing the opposition to control the ball and pass it without any pressure. Looking at the highlights, do you think that Le Fondre was offside when he got clear late on? I had my doubts at the match and I still can't decide now.
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Post by andyl on Mar 4, 2015 15:47:45 GMT
We most certainly need a combative presence in midfield. When Wheater went off I thought NL would move Ream inside with Mills and bring Moxey on. Mills and Ream last year had a half decent partnership for a while ( or was it the year before). Yes Ream in midfield has to be an option if we have anyone left fit enough to play at centre back
I agree with everything you say rtf save that Dervite increasingly reminds me more of Gerald Cid than Zat Knight! I seriously doubt he would have lasted long with Big Sam!
Re Le Fondre at the game I am head on, albeit quite near but when the flag went up I didn't think it was an outrageous decision but it must have been marginal. Highlights are inconclusive..but he'd probably have missed...
And what a goal line clearance from Bannan. Couldn't tell what happened at the match!
Re NL he's had a good run in terms of absence of criticism and he certainly brings good communication,positivity, passion and credibility to the role. All this in marked contrast to his predecessor who peddled waffle, negativity, an inanimate demeanour and seemed like an Emperor with no clothes. Yet NL is attracting lots of injuries ( just sheer bad luck or asking too much of returners too early or shortcomings in training or medical care or seeking too high a tempo from the off?) He rotates to a fault ( why no Vela last night- no-one called that after Vela's midfield cameo on Sat) and why nothing of Twardzik, Rochina or Slavchev in a context where allegedly we had a superabundance of midfielders and now don't seem to have enough.Yes we have 5 loanees already in the team - that being the case why have so many and release Medo and loan Wilkinson? And why in interview does NL speak of more loaneees being desirable- they wouldn't be able to be selected any more than the missing three would they? And if Eagles was Freedman's blindspot for ages till they fell out how come NL can't apparently see how dreadful Feeney is at much of what he does and even plays him at full back on occasion. Do his transfer window dealings look effective? There are answers to all this of course- not least the horrendous toll of the injuries? And the loanee rules? At present I maintain hope of better things to come but am I right to do so?
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Post by davidm on Mar 4, 2015 16:02:49 GMT
At present I maintain hope of better things to come but am I right to do so?
I think that better things are to come because we have a good manager. I do, though, tend to agree with Whites63 and his regular comments about the quality of existing players. I believe that Mr Lennon has done wonders with a relatively average set. On the assumption, and maybe this is an over-ambitious assumption, that he will be able to get rid of many of the existing group and bring in his own players, I have high hopes for next season. Beat Millwall in a fortnight and we will be safe and can then use the rest of the season to sort out his preferred players for next season.
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Post by greydad on Mar 4, 2015 18:20:24 GMT
It is difficult to defend Ream's position for the goal on watching the highlights, it was for me a rare lapse but one which occurred at the most inopportune moment. Perhaps he thought Dervite was favourite to cut out the through ball, if so he was naïve, and the consequences severe. Reading the stats provided by RTF regarding successful passes, the case for Ream to be deployed away from full back seems persuasive, either as a central partner with Mills or in the 'Campo' role. Andy L is right in recalling the partnership with Mills , it was the season before last I think...they complemented each other quite successfully, and although I would love to see him in the 'Campo' role, if Wheater is going to be out for any length of time Ream might offer a better alternative at centre-back rather than a palpably off form Dervite.
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Post by Pedro on Mar 4, 2015 22:29:33 GMT
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Post by Pedro on Mar 4, 2015 22:46:22 GMT
Possession53% 47% Shots 19 14 On target 8 3 Corners 10 5 Fouls 6 13
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