Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on October 19, 2025, 01:53:17 pm
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Probably one of the few times ever that a team sitting 12th in the league playing third from bottom in the division will start the game complete outsiders in a game, with current form and history completely against us.
We are beginning to look like a team bereft of confidence and in some players case completely out of anything resembling form, which has got to be worrying but hopefully can be put right.
Inevitably some supporters are beginning to question the management, I am not one for change at all, and have confidence in the club and team to come out of it, and start to build again which is what I expected this season thinking before the start of the season with the players we have got near half way in the league and a couple of cup runs at the end of the season are as much as I hoped for from the start.
We need to get over the hump, find our best team until the January window when we can re evaluate the position, but need to be doing our homework now, and am sure the management will be on it.
We have questions all over the pitch at the moment from front to back, soft down the centre of the pitch at the back, mid field who are looking as though they have just met that weekend, and powder puff up front, and a game that goes from side to side, and even backwards in the passing movements and a lack of pace in our game, out wide the wingers and full backs our most consistent performers, but being forced down blind alleys.
Our opponents also have had a poor start to the season, seen as one of the bigger clubs in the division and successful in the not too distant past, they have started poorly.
Winning two drawing one and losing two of their five league home games would be not what they expected but have Marriott in the top twenty division goal scorers, and only lost a tight game at Cardiff 2-1 on Saturday. They have also not been great over their last six games in the league only managing one victory, so will be looking at our form and thinking they could get back on track against us.
What team we put out is anyone's guess, and at the moment how we play probably the same, but we can be far better than what we have shown the last few games and we need to get back on it and quickly.
A game if we get back to performing as a team and playing well we can get a result from which will boost the confidence of the players with some big fixtures in cup as well as league coming up to Christmas.
What are your thoughts?
What would your line up be?
I would play O'Riordon and Bailey central defence, would you?
Can we get a result?
Lot's to discuss please have your say
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Back to very basics for me. Id play 5 at the back 4 in midfield and 1 uptop. Let not get beat and play on the counter attack
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Let's stay in the game and try and try and have a game free of glaring errors.
Reading don't tend to score many but stay in games. Our record against them is iffy, albeit we don't meet that often.
This is the first time in many years when we should go in with some optimism against them.
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Let's stop messing with thoughts of giving Hanlan a 'run of games', or playing Osanyu, Crew, Ajayi.
We're struggling for some 'calm' in the back four, that's clear in the soft goals we are giving away. However, Grant has the dilemma there of not having a recognised right back to call on. He gave Grehan a go on Saturday & may well do so again (he didn't disgrace himself), but it's the central pairing we're struggling in getting right. In my opinion Jay needs a rest. He appears to be struggling 'mentally' at present, Grant alluded to him 'over thinking' his role so let's pair O'Riordan with Pearson, youth with pace & experience with age.
Billy needs the wide pairing to get closer to him & I would start with Middleton & Mols. Gibbo could be used at some point in an impact sub role.
I'd persevere with the same midfield but if Grant preferred Broadbent over Close fair enough.
We can win this one, it's not Orient.
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First how many players are injured and won’t be available
Pearson went off limping yesterday
Nixon appears to be injured and could be out weeks??
Broadbent not in the squad at all yesterday is he injured or ill
Clifton will he be ready for Saturday
Sterry appears he won’t be ready
Hanlan not in the squad at all yesterday left out or injured
Was Molyneux benched or had he been ill
Supporters make their own mind up if information is not available and with us not winning then they blame the manager for his selection.
Grant was asked after the game by Free Press why changes were made for starting eleven yesterday. His answer was “The team changed a couple of times in the week due to injury and illness so that was the team we felt could go and get a result.”
Try and get a settled 11
Supporters ask questions why said players not in the squad as yesterday ie Nixon and Broadbent we still don’t know if they were injured or ill or just left out for others.
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Pearson has a back issue.
Molyneux was ill in the week.
Nixon will be possibly a couple of weeks
Sterry is long term - problems with both shoulders
Broadbent injured but not sure how long
Add to the a complete loss of form with McGrath and possibly one or two others.
I have to take issue with Grehan - no way he had a good game on Saturday. The stats for crosses were something like 4 for us and 24 for them and that was only half time. We got worse in the second half!
Grant has quite a few problems to solve this week.
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If we manage to get something on Saturday it will be on par with that insane win at Sunderland when Reo scored the winner. Very, very low expectations for Reading.
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have to take issue with Grehan - no way he had a good game on Saturday. The stats for crosses were something like 4 for us and 24 for them and that was only half time. We got worse in the second half!
He had a good first half but his second half was not.
In fact the right side was poor in an attacking sense all game. Every time Ajayi got the ball on the right he passed it backwards and so did Grehan
When Molyneux replaced Ajayi he hardly ever crossed the ball forcing Grehan to try and he was over hitting them.
The right side needs sorting without Nixon and most of all Sterry we do not have a player who can put in good crosses in from the right byline.
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have to take issue with Grehan - no way he had a good game on Saturday. The stats for crosses were something like 4 for us and 24 for them and that was only half time. We got worse in the second half!
He had a good first half but his second half was not.
In fact the right side was poor in an attacking sense all game. Every time Ajayi got the ball on the right he passed it backwards and so did Grehan
When Molyneux replaced Ajayi he hardly ever crossed the ball forcing Grehan to try and he was over hitting them.
The right side needs sorting without Nixon and most of all Sterry we do not have a player who can put in good crosses in from the right byline.
Bailey is an option.
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Reading play Northampton on Tuesday night.
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have to take issue with Grehan - no way he had a good game on Saturday. The stats for crosses were something like 4 for us and 24 for them and that was only half time. We got worse in the second half!
He had a good first half but his second half was not.
In fact the right side was poor in an attacking sense all game. Every time Ajayi got the ball on the right he passed it backwards and so did Grehan
When Molyneux replaced Ajayi he hardly ever crossed the ball forcing Grehan to try and he was over hitting them.
The right side needs sorting without Nixon and most of all Sterry we do not have a player who can put in good crosses in from the right byline.
Bailey is an option.
We need a right sided midfielder who can cross the ball with the right foot not cutting to use the left foot I don’t understand and I haven’t for some time why Gibson can’t play on the right as he is right footed
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Go one goal down and Rovers are finished, I will give it 20 minutes before game is over.
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Go one goal down and Rovers are finished, I will give it 20 minutes before game is over.
We need supporters like you BR like I need piles.
Thanks for your positive contribution.
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A game is never lost until it's won BR. and that is the attitude our team needs to take into every game.
I have seen players not play well, we all have, but never stop trying.
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Back to very basics for me. Id play 5 at the back 4 in midfield and 1 uptop. Let not get beat and play on the counter attack
And the one up top being??
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I don’t see us as outsiders more as down spirited and with a downbeat fan base .
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I can understand the feeling that we go to Reading in fear of a repeat of history. It’s a ground where I’ve seen Rovers lose twice to considerably superior teams in the days when they were only just out of the PL or about to return there.
Yet if you’ve followed their fortunes more recently they are no longer the force they were, so is our fear just “in the mind”?
If they were not Reading I think we’d believe we might have a good chance of 3 points, so memories of past must be firmly repressed.
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My concern is nothing to do with our history at Reading, it's the fact that we've lost 5 and drawn 1 of our last 6 league games.
I honestly don't know what GM can do to turn this around.
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I'm hoping against hope, one of our biggest bogey teams ever. Since 1950 they have beaten us 30 times, while we have won the grand total of 5, & drawn 9.
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McCann has had an easy ride ride since he returned and he lived up to his ability to set out his stall and stabilised the team . How much influence or input he had with recruitment is unknown but I find it hard to see what he thought of Hanlan and Olusanya when brought them in . We are now dropping like a stone because of these decisions as the entire team looks lost beyond the halfway line . McCann is falling out with Middleton games shouting at him , yet he’s struggling to find any player in scoring position to convert his hard work . Injuries are taking there toll ( yet we are supposed to have enough cover for every position) this was clearly a tall story . Unless McCann rally the players back to believing in themselves and create the team spirit needed to grind out results , it’s going to be a hard road back ..
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Watching Reading V Northampton although 0. 0 at halftime been a good game Reading being the slightly better side so far. We will have a hard game on Saturday.
Reading who have been the best side have made it 1 0 should have been in front before now.
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Watching Reading V Northampton although 0. 0 at halftime been a good game Reading being the slightly better side so far. We will have a hard game on Saturday.
Reading who have been the best side have made it 1 0 should have been in front before now.
They’re playing in an near empty stadium could help us ..
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Yes I wonder if they will more there on Saturday
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Watching Reading V Northampton although 0. 0 at halftime been a good game Reading being the slightly better side so far. We will have a hard game on Saturday.
Reading who have been the best side have made it 1 0 should have been in front before now.
The question is, Steve, how solid was the Reading defence, and will it be able to cope with the dynamic, lethal attacking force of the Rovers' pacey, exciting forwards?
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Having your tongue extracted from your cheek can be quite painful, Scawsby ;) :lol:
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They are not great spiralled down the pecking order for the last few years and are in the bottom half of the league.
If we get back a little form play well and strengthen our central defence we have every chance of getting a result as man for man playing our best team we are more than a match for them, and its about the players having the will and ambition to show it.
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They are not great spiralled down the pecking order for the last few years and are in the bottom half of the league.
If we get back a little form play well and strengthen our central defence we have every chance of getting a result as man for man playing our best team we are more than a match for them, and its about the players having the will and ambition to show it.
They are still suffering from having a rogue owner previously.
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Watching Reading V Northampton although 0. 0 at halftime been a good game Reading being the slightly better side so far. We will have a hard game on Saturday.
Reading who have been the best side have made it 1 0 should have been in front before now.
The question is, Steve, how solid was the Reading defence, and will it be able to cope with the dynamic, lethal attacking force of the Rovers' pacey, exciting forwards?
He ha yes SS . Pinched directly from TV s The List , I will say "Name them"
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I see from the report that some excellent saves from the Northampton goalkeeper kept the score down, so let’s hope that TLT regains some of his best form to do the same for us.
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Let's stay in the game and try and try and have a game free of glaring errors.
Reading don't tend to score many but stay in games. Our record against them is iffy, albeit we don't meet that often.
This is the first time in many years when we should go in with some optimism against them.
Probably the understatement of the year
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Let's stay in the game and try and try and have a game free of glaring errors.
Reading don't tend to score many but stay in games. Our record against them is iffy, albeit we don't meet that often.
This is the first time in many years when we should go in with some optimism against them.
Probably the understatement of the year
Optimism? mmm!
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Listen to Grants interview the 4 players that are recovering from injury all involved with the squad trainin today. We have missed Sterry Clifton and Broadbent and even Nixon last game. We will have to see if any of those 4 will be ready for Saturday.
Grant said Saturday might be too early for three out of the four.
Pearson should be ready for Saturday and Broadbent as trained all week.
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Away tickets almost sold out, we must get mad lol
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Need to get back to winning ways, this is the game. 1-2.
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Need to get back to winning ways, this is the game. 1-2.
All runs come to an end.
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Need to get back to winning ways, this is the game. 1-2.
All runs come to an end.
I’ll let my wife know hound, it’ll be of some comfort to her.
She’s had a ‘tummy bug’ for two days now.
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I think Jack Marriott is out injured for today’s game. He’s been in the goals for them.
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Dave Kitson is at today’s game doing a fanzone Q&A if anyone is interested…
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Give him one. Right on his nose.
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Dave Kitson is at today’s game doing a fanzone Q&A if anyone is interested…
Do you know that you’re so disliked in Doncaster for your pathetic cheating that your surname is considered the worst possible swear-word / insult, replacing the four-letter ‘c’ word with some ease?
Then the nose thing, as suggest by Bob.
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A point in the right direction. I'd have taken that before the game.
Still work to do but bit by bit we can get back to building confidence and go and win games.
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A point in the right direction. I'd have taken that before the game.
Still work to do but bit by bit we can get back to building confidence and go and win games.
How can we win games when we don't score enough goals, and we don't have a decent keeper in the squad?
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A point in the right direction. I'd have taken that before the game.
Still work to do but bit by bit we can get back to building confidence and go and win games.
How can we win games when we don't score enough goals, and we don't have a decent keeper in the squad?
We created chances today in the second half. Another day we win that.
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A point in the right direction. I'd have taken that before the game.
Still work to do but bit by bit we can get back to building confidence and go and win games.
How can we win games when we don't score enough goals, and we don't have a decent keeper in the squad?
We created chances today in the second half. Another day we win that.
We said that after the Huddersfield game, and the Burton game. We make chances but can't put them away.
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A point well earned and looked more like they should with total commitment from everyone!!
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It should have been 3 points. I hate to criticise 1 player but how many points has TLT cost us this season so far?
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Feels like a defeat that. Yet another defensive howler costing us points. I just don’t know where we go with TLT. His confidence looks totally shot. Let’s not forget the howler pre season with Blackpool.
It’s just mistake after mistake.
We did play much better than previous games albeit against a very poor Reading team
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It should have been 3 points. I hate to criticise 1 player but how many points has TLT cost us this season so far?
Maxwell with a poor clearance, scorer not closed down or even a tactical foul and then Timmys mistake.
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Feels like a defeat that. Yet another defensive howler costing us points. I just don’t know where we go with TLT. His confidence looks totally shot. Let’s not forget the howler pre season with Blackpool.
It’s just mistake after mistake.
We did play much better than previous games albeit against a very poor Reading team
It’s mistakes that create goals , the purpose is to get your opponent to make more than you .
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Performance was much better today. Hopefully we've turned the bad form patch around.
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Until they scored we were okay I thought. First half was a snooze fest mind.
Olusanya is Street until he's got the ball. Makes these same runs in behind from long balls but then doesn't do anything good with the ball
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Performance was much better today. Hopefully we've turned the bad form patch around.
Exactly. Agree with McCanns comments after the game. We have to take the positives and build from it.
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It could have got a deflection, I can give him the benefit of the doubt.
Moly looked knackered after an hour and cramped up before he went off. Is he not fit?
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It should have been 3 points. I hate to criticise 1 player but how many points has TLT cost us this season so far?
Maxwell with a poor clearance, scorer not closed down or even a tactical foul and then Timmys mistake.
Highlighted this on another topic. Not closing down or tackling runners through the middle is something that really frustrates me and happens frequently. As you say, even a tactical foul and a yellow card will do the job!
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Thought some of our passing today was very good, although we didn’t make it count in front of goal, but we seemed to be more positive today with the general play. We challenged for the ball well in midfield, just unfortunate TLT made the mistake.
For me we should’ve a penalty, their number 10 had his elbow stuck out so not in a normal position, but also not sure if he also moved his elbow towards the ball.
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Very good performance from the team today. Looked solid in defence and better balance in midfield. The wingers looked creative and dangerous which in terms helped Billy too.
Not sure what the GK department is doing, it's not just with TLT either. I've mentioned it before even watching the sub standard warm ups. The levels and standards need increasing.
Overall a 8/10 today.
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Thought some of our passing today was very good, although we didn’t make it count in front of goal, but we seemed to be more positive today with the general play. We challenged for the ball well in midfield, just unfortunate TLT made the mistake.
For me we should’ve a penalty, their number 10 had his elbow stuck out so not in a normal position, but also not sure if he also moved his elbow towards the ball.
There was a stuck on penalty for the challenge when Molyneux was clean through after 40 mins. He was caught late by a reckless challenge. That is a foul and a yellow card everywhere else on the pitch, but the ref bottled it.
He was clearly aware of having bottled it. He gave a yellow card immediately afterwards for a nothing foul on Molyneux.
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Thought some of our passing today was very good, although we didn’t make it count in front of goal, but we seemed to be more positive today with the general play. We challenged for the ball well in midfield, just unfortunate TLT made the mistake.
For me we should’ve a penalty, their number 10 had his elbow stuck out so not in a normal position, but also not sure if he also moved his elbow towards the ball.
There was a stuck on penalty for the challenge when Molyneux was clean through after 40 mins. He was caught late by a reckless challenge. That is a foul and a yellow card everywhere else on the pitch, but the ref bottled it.
He was clearly aware of having bottled it. He gave a yellow card immediately afterwards for a nothing foul on Molyneux.
Was that the one where he got his shot away and the keeper saved it?
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How many times have we seen this from poor…..no, shocking referees in this division & the one below.
‘Professional’s refereed by donkeys’.
Unfortunately it’s not going to change until referees are able to be interviewed post match about their remit prior to the game, their post match ‘instructions’ to the teams/managers, their stance on their own performance.
It ain’t gonna happen.
We have what we have, a ‘closed shop’ on refereeing decisions, how their performance is judged then assessed & what sanctions they face afterwards.
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It could have got a deflection, I can give him the benefit of the doubt.
Moly looked knackered after an hour and cramped up before he went off. Is he not fit?
Agree, for whatever reason (illness?) Moly doesn't look 100% fit.
Watched on TV today, could we have had a pen from George's shot, first half? Defender raised a wing before it hit his elbow for me.
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Dave Kitson is at today’s game doing a fanzone Q&A if anyone is interested…
Saw a cock in the corporate area
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It could have got a deflection, I can give him the benefit of the doubt.
Moly looked knackered after an hour and cramped up before he went off. Is he not fit?
Agree, for whatever reason (illness?) Moly doesn't look 100% fit.
Watched on TV today, could we have had a pen from George's shot, first half? Defender raised a wing before it hit his elbow for me.
Mols hasn’t been his usual self since he was kicked out of a match a few weeks back and was forced into going off.
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It could have got a deflection, I can give him the benefit of the doubt.
Moly looked knackered after an hour and cramped up before he went off. Is he not fit?
Agree, for whatever reason (illness?) Moly doesn't look 100% fit.
Watched on TV today, could we have had a pen from George's shot, first half? Defender raised a wing before it hit his elbow for me.
Mols hasn’t been his usual self since he was kicked out of a match a few weeks back and was forced into going off.
Grant said in his interview that Mols has been dealing with some personal issues recently but felt like he was getting back into form after todays performance.
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A point gained at a place in the past we’ve got nowt. Hope it raises the confidence in the squad.
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It could have got a deflection, I can give him the benefit of the doubt.
Moly looked knackered after an hour and cramped up before he went off. Is he not fit?
Agree, for whatever reason (illness?) Moly doesn't look 100% fit.
Watched on TV today, could we have had a pen from George's shot, first half? Defender raised a wing before it hit his elbow for me.
Mols hasn’t been his usual self since he was kicked out of a match a few weeks back and was forced into going off.
Grant said in his interview that Mols has been dealing with some personal issues recently but felt like he was getting back into form after todays performance.
I hadn’t heard that.
Interesting and something that fans don’t consider.
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We’ve missed that little bit of class in midfield for a few seasons at least now. In league two you can get away with it, but if you want to go any higher up you have to have control of the midfield. As we all know since Street went back from his loan we are light up front.
Great that Billy scored and the draw stops a bad run of losses. For me we are two or three players away from being capable of beating anybody in this league. A midfield creator and two forwards are needed.
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I'd imagine Molyneux will be down to illness. I go to the gym every morning week days. It's took me over a fortnight to do what I was doing before since illness stopped me going for a week.
Second half he looked like himself or closer to anyway
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I thought had a good game. He was finding space and making positive things happen.
Middleton contributes with outstanding crossing, and we just need to keep piling players into the box to get on the end of them.
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Thought some of our passing today was very good, although we didn’t make it count in front of goal, but we seemed to be more positive today with the general play. We challenged for the ball well in midfield, just unfortunate TLT made the mistake.
For me we should’ve a penalty, their number 10 had his elbow stuck out so not in a normal position, but also not sure if he also moved his elbow towards the ball.
There was a stuck on penalty for the challenge when Molyneux was clean through after 40 mins. He was caught late by a reckless challenge. That is a foul and a yellow card everywhere else on the pitch, but the ref bottled it.
He was clearly aware of having bottled it. He gave a yellow card immediately afterwards for a nothing foul on Molyneux.
Was that the one where he got his shot away and the keeper saved it?
Yep. That one. The one where he had to get his shot off early before he got wiped out by the late challenge.
Just a thought. If a player got a pass away in the centre circle then got wiped out, would you be appealing for a foul?
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Thought some of our passing today was very good, although we didn’t make it count in front of goal, but we seemed to be more positive today with the general play. We challenged for the ball well in midfield, just unfortunate TLT made the mistake.
For me we should’ve a penalty, their number 10 had his elbow stuck out so not in a normal position, but also not sure if he also moved his elbow towards the ball.
There was a stuck on penalty for the challenge when Molyneux was clean through after 40 mins. He was caught late by a reckless challenge. That is a foul and a yellow card everywhere else on the pitch, but the ref bottled it.
He was clearly aware of having bottled it. He gave a yellow card immediately afterwards for a nothing foul on Molyneux.
Was that the one where he got his shot away and the keeper saved it?
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It could have got a deflection, I can give him the benefit of the doubt.
Moly looked knackered after an hour and cramped up before he went off. Is he not fit?
Agree, for whatever reason (illness?) Moly doesn't look 100% fit.
Watched on TV today, could we have had a pen from George's shot, first half? Defender raised a wing before it hit his elbow for me.
Yes definitely, that the incident I mentioned in my post.
Also agree with others regarding mols, high possibility VAR would have given both.
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Looking at the handball again, I think it would have been harsh. The defender has his lower arm across his stomach, precisely so as NOT to run the risk of handball. In doing so, his elbow has gone maybe 6 inches past his waist. I don't think you can give a penalty for that.
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Happy we have got something out of the game and were tighter at the back now to push on.
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Reading sack their manager.
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I notice from watching the extended highlights that we were guilty of leaving a massive amount of space between the midfield and defence. No wonder there were so many shots from distance! We’ve got to pick up on that and put it right.
I thought the late challenge on Mols was dangerous and should have been given. The handball, imho, their defender moved his arm toward the ball. 2 decisions that could have seen us put daylight on the scoreline.
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Thought some of our passing today was very good, although we didn’t make it count in front of goal, but we seemed to be more positive today with the general play. We challenged for the ball well in midfield, just unfortunate TLT made the mistake.
For me we should’ve a penalty, their number 10 had his elbow stuck out so not in a normal position, but also not sure if he also moved his elbow towards the ball.
There was a stuck on penalty for the challenge when Molyneux was clean through after 40 mins. He was caught late by a reckless challenge. That is a foul and a yellow card everywhere else on the pitch, but the ref bottled it.
He was clearly aware of having bottled it. He gave a yellow card immediately afterwards for a nothing foul on Molyneux.
Was that the one where he got his shot away and the keeper saved it?
Yep. That one. The one where he had to get his shot off early before he got wiped out by the late challenge.
Just a thought. If a player got a pass away in the centre circle then got wiped out, would you be appealing for a foul?
I don’t disagree. It’s like an unwritten rule in football that as long as a player gets a shot away you can leave anything you like on them.
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Thought some of our passing today was very good, although we didn’t make it count in front of goal, but we seemed to be more positive today with the general play. We challenged for the ball well in midfield, just unfortunate TLT made the mistake.
For me we should’ve a penalty, their number 10 had his elbow stuck out so not in a normal position, but also not sure if he also moved his elbow towards the ball.
There was a stuck on penalty for the challenge when Molyneux was clean through after 40 mins. He was caught late by a reckless challenge. That is a foul and a yellow card everywhere else on the pitch, but the ref bottled it.
He was clearly aware of having bottled it. He gave a yellow card immediately afterwards for a nothing foul on Molyneux.
Was that the one where he got his shot away and the keeper saved it?
Yep. That one. The one where he had to get his shot off early before he got wiped out by the late challenge.
Just a thought. If a player got a pass away in the centre circle then got wiped out, would you be appealing for a foul?
I don’t disagree. It’s like an unwritten rule in football that as long as a player gets a shot away you can leave anything you like on them.
It was also a far more deliberate, reckless and dangerous challenge that the stupid one that got Rowe sent off a couple of years ago.
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Before they equalised, the Reading keeper came 3 yards out of his box and the ball hit his left arm, it should have been a hand ball decision from the ref when the goalie chose to leave his box.
Did anyone else see it?