MATCHWATCH : Bolton Wanderers (h)

[Snowflake Royal]

Away ATM missed match

Sounds like a great win!

Can someone do a btfg thread or ratings here pls for us pretend Reading fans who couldn't watch today?

From the TV

Button - 7 thought he might have done better on the goal, but pulled off some important blocks. Kicking was 10 yards too long mostly.
Yiadom - 7 fairly standard Yids.
Mola - 5 put in 1 good cross, otherwise let his man have way too much space and didn't do anything to stop crosses.
Binden - 6 first half all over the place, second much better
Abbey - 6 defence was chaos at times, holes all over the place, positioning a shambles. Mostly they did enough to recover
Hutch - 6 ok, usual cynical foul, escaped a yellow this time
Savage - 7 mainly for the goal. Him and Hutchinson just don't impose themself on the game. We need more in midfield.
Knibbs - 6 some good, he's a bit wasted on the wing, needs to be more involved. Took a knock fairly early.
Azeez - 7 oodles of quality, mostly doesn't work. But hit the bar and caused grief when moved upfront
Ballard - 7 quick, skillful and loves running at the defence. Always looking to make something happen. Won't always get it right, but I like him.
Ehibhatiomhan - 7 really strong and good feet, not slow by any stretch. Leads the line well. Struggles to last 90 and head dropped a bit.

McIntyre - 6 nothing spectacular did his job at LB
Elliott - 7 looks a class act, gave us so much more
Vickers - 7 so skillful and attack minded.
Mbengue - 7 set up a goal

[Hound]

Wouldn’t stray far from that

Mola looked decent quality but just seemed to be load of space down his side. Could have done better cutting out crosses certainly. Something to work with

Binden was rubbish first half but got a lot better second. Abbey was a 7 I think, he really is a good player. Made some vital blocks - but yeah the defence has periods of being a shambles

Knibbs was great but got knackered. Thought Kelv was quiet but did some good stuff

Elliot changed the game. He was top class. Vickers also v good

Work to do, and do think Wing and Smith will help a lot. But lots of very good signs and we have a cracking set of young players there, can’t help but like them all a lot. Great spirit and tenacity

Bolton didn’t impress me a great deal. Solid enough at times, put in some good crosses but thought we outplayed them overall. Their keeper looked excellent - he was the chap we tried to sign in the summer

[Crowbar6753]

Button - 7 Couple of vital saves, kicking poor, good with his feet, an upgrade on Lumley.
Yiadom - 6 Average at best, poor passing in general and not much going forward.
Bindon - 6 Looked shaky at first and at fault for their goal, but grew into the game.
Abbey - 6 The defence looked shaky whenever Bolton attacked, however, his pace helped out on numerous occasions.
Mola - 5 Seemed to go missing whenever they attacked down the left, out of position numerous times. Turning into a problem position!!
Hutch - 7 Thought he had a good game and was his usual combative self with some good passing going forward.
Savage - 7 His passing and set plays were were a bit all over the place, however, marked him up for a well taken goal.
Knibbs - 6 Plenty of running and endeavor but needs to create more going forward.
Azeez - 7 Thought he played well today, some good running play and a great effort that hit the woodwork, caused them problems.
Ehib - 7 Getting better all the time, great hold up play and some skillful trickery, just didn't get that chance in front of goal today.
Ballard - 6 There's a good player there, had a couple of scuffed shots in the first half and looked dangerous running at their defence.

Subs:
Elliot - 7 Love this guy, has great skill and awareness and has an eye for a pass. Bringing him on slowly turned the tide in our favour.
Mukairu - 7 Plenty of energy and pace and not afraid to run at the Bolton defence. Always looking to unlock their defence.
McIntyre - 7 Not his natural position but he never really lets anyone down and an upgrade on Mola.
Mbengue - 6 Took over from Hutch an did ok and put himself about, think it was him who set up Vickers!
Vickers - 8 Saved the best till last, a great cameo from a youngster with a big future!! A well taken goal from a poachers position at the near post. What impressed me the most was his closing down in injury time winning a couple of freekicks when Bolton were looking to counter.

Credit must go to Selles for bringing on the subs at the right time when Bolton were in the ascendancy and not being afraid to switch our top scorer for Vickers which proved a masterstroke.
The win was a bit harsh on Bolton who look a very good team who should be top three at the end of the season or at least thereabouts.

[Once were Biscuitmen]

Well it's great to see that we have already covered off next months points deduction....

[Royals and Racers]

13,155( 1,670 away)

[South Coast Royal]

The pleasing thing about today for me was that the fans are clearly giving the players their backing-I think we have come to terms with the fact that the club is in a mess and we might end up accumulating enough penalty points even to get relegated but are determined to try and enjoy performances from the youngsters thrown into the side.

As for the game it felt for much of it that Bolton might suffer for squandering so many chances and they did.
Once again Elliott showed why he has to be a starter and Azeez finally came alive after about 2 years of doing nothing much but when is he ever going to score again?
Too early to judge the Southampton lad as he seemed to be trying too hard to impress and nothing much was coming off.

I don't think the Dai chants really worked as they sounded too much like "We are going up" which, in view of everything, is most unlikely and it sounded just too nice and cheerful rather than a more caustic choice of chant and words.

[Royalwaster]

I was quite glad when Kelvin got subbed as he was starting to lose it a bit, with some petulant fouls and stuff ... but up until that point he played really well and looks like a class act, but he lost his head a bit second half.

[paultheroyal]

Average first half excellent second half.

Button is turning into an excellent signing. His positioning and presence alone prevented 2 goals although his kicking was very poor today ie too long.

Elliot was mom and changed the game totally. He was utter class. Vickers excellent coming off the bench. A lot better from Azeez and his best performance this season.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Not one to post too often these days but………..


LOL at the wetters who kicked-off about the potential prospect of the Button signing…….where are you know?

[Snowflake Royal]

Not one to post too often these days but………..


LOL at the wetters who kicked-off about the potential prospect of the Button signing…….where are you know?

Still thinking that I'd have liked to see Andersen or Southwood get a chance and what a thoroughly pointless signing Bouzanis was, but that after just 6 games Button has found the lower level easier enough to recover some form.

[Royal Rother]

As long as there’s a way that you weren’t technically 100% wrong.

[Hound]

Was slightly disappointed with Buttons passing yesterday, made the wrong decision far too often

Doesn’t take away from the fact he’s been a good signing and his general game was good

Not sure he actually made that many saves mind you, I’m struggling to remember all these Bolton chances. A few scrambles and blocks in the box but think our chances were more clear cut

[NathStPaul]

Think Button has been and will be fine long term, good League 1 keeper.

[Hound]

It was like his entire career was judged on a dozen poor games for wba rather than the other 300 games he’s played in his career

[Millsy]

Thanks Ian Hound and Crowbar. Really useful for pretenders like me.

Consensus view is that (again?) Mola is useless? Surely NGW can’t be a bad shout, unless wages are an issue.

Really pleased for Vickers. Next Lee Nogan sort of chap would you say?

[Royal_jimmy]

Away ATM missed match

Sounds like a great win!

Can someone do a btfg thread or ratings here pls for us pretend Reading fans who couldn't watch today?

From the TV

Button - 7 thought he might have done better on the goal, but pulled off some important blocks. Kicking was 10 yards too long mostly.
Yiadom - 7 fairly standard Yids.
Mola - 5 put in 1 good cross, otherwise let his man have way too much space and didn't do anything to stop crosses.
Binden - 6 first half all over the place, second much better
Abbey - 6 defence was chaos at times, holes all over the place, positioning a shambles. Mostly they did enough to recover
Hutch - 6 ok, usual cynical foul, escaped a yellow this time
Savage - 7 mainly for the goal. Him and Hutchinson just don't impose themself on the game. We need more in midfield.
Knibbs - 6 some good, he's a bit wasted on the wing, needs to be more involved. Took a knock fairly early.
Azeez - 7 oodles of quality, mostly doesn't work. But hit the bar and caused grief when moved upfront
Ballard - 7 quick, skillful and loves running at the defence. Always looking to make something happen. Won't always get it right, but I like him.
Ehibhatiomhan - 7 really strong and good feet, not slow by any stretch. Leads the line well. Struggles to last 90 and head dropped a bit.

McIntyre - 6 nothing spectacular did his job at LB
Elliott - 7 looks a class act, gave us so much more
Vickers - 7 so skillful and attack minded.
Mbengue - 7 set up a goal

A bit harsh on Button to say he could have done better. I'm not sure he could as it was a great finish and struck well. Think it was just credit to their goalscorer for putting it away.

Button had a good game and he's been an excellent signing for us. Showing the doubters wrong, he's also a likeable guy.

[windermereROYAL]

Away ATM missed match

Sounds like a great win!

Can someone do a btfg thread or ratings here pls for us pretend Reading fans who couldn't watch today?

From the TV

Button - 7 thought he might have done better on the goal, but pulled off some important blocks. Kicking was 10 yards too long mostly.
Yiadom - 7 fairly standard Yids.
Mola - 5 put in 1 good cross, otherwise let his man have way too much space and didn't do anything to stop crosses.
Binden - 6 first half all over the place, second much better
Abbey - 6 defence was chaos at times, holes all over the place, positioning a shambles. Mostly they did enough to recover
Hutch - 6 ok, usual cynical foul, escaped a yellow this time
Savage - 7 mainly for the goal. Him and Hutchinson just don't impose themself on the game. We need more in midfield.
Knibbs - 6 some good, he's a bit wasted on the wing, needs to be more involved. Took a knock fairly early.
Azeez - 7 oodles of quality, mostly doesn't work. But hit the bar and caused grief when moved upfront
Ballard - 7 quick, skillful and loves running at the defence. Always looking to make something happen. Won't always get it right, but I like him.
Ehibhatiomhan - 7 really strong and good feet, not slow by any stretch. Leads the line well. Struggles to last 90 and head dropped a bit.

McIntyre - 6 nothing spectacular did his job at LB
Elliott - 7 looks a class act, gave us so much more
Vickers - 7 so skillful and attack minded.
Mbengue - 7 set up a goal

A bit harsh on Button to say he could have done better. I'm not sure he could as it was a great finish. He had a good game today and he's been an excellent signing for us.

TBF to Ian he watched on TV and the camera is in the west stand, it maybe looked like Button could have done better from that angle
In truth it was an excellent finish.

[Snowflake Royal]

It was like his entire career was judged on a dozen poor games for wba rather than the other 300 games he’s played in his career

Players who start to decline towards the end of their career do tend to keep going that way.

[Snowflake Royal]

From the TV

Button - 7 thought he might have done better on the goal, but pulled off some important blocks. Kicking was 10 yards too long mostly.
Yiadom - 7 fairly standard Yids.
Mola - 5 put in 1 good cross, otherwise let his man have way too much space and didn't do anything to stop crosses.
Binden - 6 first half all over the place, second much better
Abbey - 6 defence was chaos at times, holes all over the place, positioning a shambles. Mostly they did enough to recover
Hutch - 6 ok, usual cynical foul, escaped a yellow this time
Savage - 7 mainly for the goal. Him and Hutchinson just don't impose themself on the game. We need more in midfield.
Knibbs - 6 some good, he's a bit wasted on the wing, needs to be more involved. Took a knock fairly early.
Azeez - 7 oodles of quality, mostly doesn't work. But hit the bar and caused grief when moved upfront
Ballard - 7 quick, skillful and loves running at the defence. Always looking to make something happen. Won't always get it right, but I like him.
Ehibhatiomhan - 7 really strong and good feet, not slow by any stretch. Leads the line well. Struggles to last 90 and head dropped a bit.

McIntyre - 6 nothing spectacular did his job at LB
Elliott - 7 looks a class act, gave us so much more
Vickers - 7 so skillful and attack minded.
Mbengue - 7 set up a goal

A bit harsh on Button to say he could have done better. I'm not sure he could as it was a great finish. He had a good game today and he's been an excellent signing for us.

TBF to Ian he watched on TV and the camera is in the west stand, it maybe looked like Button could have done better from that angle
In truth it was an excellent finish.

I never like to see one go in from that sort of narrow angle. Maybe do better is as far as I'd go, because it was definitely a very well struck shot.

[WestYorksRoyal]

13,000 fans yesterday. Not bad for L1, but a large away following boosted it. If this gutsy, likeable team gets going and the rumours of new investment are true, could we see us getting up to 17k - 18k most weeks? I remember the Pardew era starting at <10k and on pitch success boosted them, even in Div 2