BFTG Walsall

[Winnershroyal]

Really enjoyed the banter today, small crowd but Y26/Y25 top drawer.

Walsall fan in white will not sleep tonight.

The game was shocking for 30 minutes, as bad as I've seen but well taken goals.

All that for a tenner.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

£15 for me

Boring 25min after Tish went off, but professional enough job after that
Hector's passing is just appalling (mind you, Norwood was rubbish in that bad 25 min)
HRK... I'm a huge critic, but he can stay on the right now. 2 very good performances on the wing

Everyone did ok.

[Sutekh]

Same old dreadfully slow start to a game, really need to get that fixed like urgently.

One of the most tedious performances/games for the first 40 minutes or so then a couple of quick goals meant we could cruise as Walsall's heads went down and aside from their best player (Sawyers) hitting the bar they offered nothing at all

All did ok, Williams and Vydra were everywhere, Hector just cannot pass.

Hoping now to avoid a PL team in the next round.

[RG7Fan]

£15 for me

Boring 25min after Tish went off, but professional enough job after that
Hector's passing is just appalling (mind you, Norwood was rubbish in that bad 25 min)
HRK... I'm a huge critic, but he can stay on the right now. 2 very good performances on the wing

Everyone did ok.

Nervous first 25 mins (certainly for the spectators). Walsall had a lot of possession and seemed well organised in the first half. Losing Tish was a pain, and Hector didn't look all that great. Great goals - HRK smash at a tight angle, would like to see more of those. Vydra goals were exactly what we would expect from a player like him. Thought Williams was going to fluff it but managed to nutmeg the goalie. We could have had 6/7 today.

Cooper and Hector the worst two on the pitch for me - but still 6/7's, everyone else 7/8+

Great confidence booster. Walsall looked better than some we've had this season and are clearly no pushover.

[andrew1957]

Reading very professional and Walsall offered very little.

HRK was excellent on the right. Vydra seems to like the FA Cup and Williams did very well in the number 10 role and took his goal well. Everyone did a job today. But for me Cooper was stand out at the back and my MOTM.

I thought Tshibola looked really good and such a shame he got injured again.

I just hope we get another home draw - we are due a few.

[Ian Royal]

Was sat at the top of Y23 today. Great view, awful atmosphere. The only people who opened their mouths first half were me and some moany old goat full of bile.

Walsall were tidy and first half mostly stifled and frustrated us, but whilst we're always open to a soft one, they never really threatened to beat us. Powerful finish from Hal and a poacher's goal for Vydra as our quality told.

Vydra looks shot mentally. He's a great player and if he doesn't have time to think it shows, but as with that first half miss, give him time and he gets lost in his own head before fouling up. Relax Matej!

Bizarre really. I came away thinking both that 4-0 flattered us and that we could have easily had 7. They could easily have had two off as well, though they'd have been soft reds, by the book they could definitely be given.

Al-Habsi 7 not much to do, good kicking
Gunter 7 still too cautious and dithery with his first touch for me, but good game and unthreatened
Obita 7 good game
Ferdinand 7 mostly untroubled
Cooper 7 same
Norwood 7 radar off a lot today but always quality.
Tish 7 real shame about the injury he looked class in his few minutes
Williams 8 struggled with his position first half but found his feet later on
Hal 8 MotM found his form and position
Quinn 7 solid as always and good to have him in
Vydra 7 confidence shot, not having his runs found much - still got 2.

Hector 7 casual and languid, not his best game by any stretch but good enough.
McShane 7 straight back in please
John 7 usual impact performance.

5th round again then!

[paultheroyal]

How can you say and how do you know vydra is mentally shot? That's such a lazy throwaway comment.

Oh and a tshibola 7 for a few minutes is worth the same as a vydra or a Norwood - good one!!

[Jack Celliers]

I thought the few minutes of Tish were going to be the highlight of the day as halftime approached. Maybe he is as good as some of you think!

Other than that it was just a good win. Vydra worked tirelessly for his two goals, HRK was brilliant a Williams played well in a more advanced role.

I think we are due a giant-killing so would like Arsenal at home next.

[paultheroyal]

I thought the few minutes of Tish were going to be the highlight of the day as halftime approached. Maybe he is as good as some of you think!

Other than that it was just a good win. Vydra worked tirelessly for his two goals, HRK was brilliant a Williams played well in a more advanced role.

I think we are due a giant-killing so would like Arsenal at home next.

Didn't work tirelessly. He is mentally shot!!

[Royal Ginger]

Expected more of Walsall, midfield stifled them excellently.

HRK's goal was excellent, showed real strength and accuracy

Norwood man of the match, Obita, Williams and Vydra also stood out for me.

Sad to see the Walsall GK injured like that, you could tell from his reaction it was very bad.

Hector showed 'oooh' moments and then utter dross. Frustrating player.

That Vydra chap looks worth every penny eh? 6 in 4 is it now?

[DaddyKuhl]

Only reading fans can accuse a striker who has 5 goals in 3 as having his confidence shot, sheesh!

[marlowuk]

A very satisfactory result but not a very inspiring performance! Walsall looked tidy and were the better team and bossed possession until we scored. Luckily they lacked sharpness up front although Sawyers, who caused us problems throughout the first half, hit our bar with a thunderous shot from distance.

Amazingly, having just recently scored from a corner, we now scored from a throw-in!! Gunter to HRK who rolled the defender, took a touch and slammed the ball into the top of the net. That was against the run of play but a few minutes later it was 2 - 0 as Williams made a defence-splitting pass to Quinn on the left and his pass into the box was tapped in by Vydra (with HRK there had he missed it). Vydra had a golden chance to rap it up in the last minute of the first half but, with only the keeper to beat, he made a terrible hash of it and missed the goal by a considerable margin!

I'm not convinced by Vydra. He was not as busy today as usual and made little or no effort to win headers against his marker. He may not have won those headers but by at least contesting them he makes it harder for the opposition.

We owned the second half without playing brilliantly. Williams was first to a loose ball and ran half the length of the pitch to slide it expertly past the keeper (Matej take note!). However, Vydra scored his second (and 5th in two cup ties!) to head in a superb cross from Gunter. That made it two assists for Gunter although it was his mistake that gave Walsall their best chance in the first half when Cooper managed to divert their shot inches past the post.

Negatives were the injury, after 10 minutes, to Tish who had looked class in those 10 minutes; the many (less in the 2nd half) misplaced passes and schoolboy errors; the amount of 'head tennis' and hoofed clearances that dragged us down to League 1 level at times.

Williams and HRK tie for MOTM for me. Good to see McShane on for the final 20 minutes although he looked short of match fitness unsurprisingly! Cooper was reasonably solid although guilty of some of those errors mentioned earlier; Ferdinand also solid although he picked up an unnecessary yellow card for kicking the ball away; AAH was solid with no 'although's! Norwood was not at his best with several passes going astray. I didn't notice Quinn as much as usual but he did little wrong. Ola John replaced him for the last 10 minutes and did well. He and Obita seemed to form a good understanding and the two of them could make an excellent pairing. Hector replaced Tish and was composed although he sometimes tried to be too clever when the simple option was the safest!

Still - a clean sheet, a confidence-booster and into the 5th round! I'd have settled for that before the match!

[Kitsondinho]

We were shite for 45 mins...scored 2. Much better in 2nd half and got two more! Williams MIGHT have scored 2, dunno if Vydra's offside goal would have spun in before he tapped it over the line. It certainly looked to bobbling that way after their keeper parried it! Vydra did go straight to Williams to apologise to him.....

[Westwood52]

Not great today; but pretty comfortable throughout-surprised at the gulf in class.

Al Habs 6: Nothing to do.
Gunter 8: MOM peach of a cross & up against one of their better players.
Obita 7: Caught out badly once in 1st half-but generally carried on at the level of last week on his return. So much better going forward than Taylor.
Anton 6: Very steady no real problems.
Cooper 5: Sweet left foot but no right & looks ungainly at times.
Norwood 6: Few passes off the radar-but was up against their best player. Best bet as captain & the heart of the team
Hector 4: Poor
Williams 8 : One of his better games; his driving runs are almost unique in this league for midfielders.
Kanu 8: Great performance
Quinn 6: Rusty start -but he eventually got on his game-a real pro
Vydra 6: Bit of an idiot on the disallowed goal & poor effort when clear in 1st half

John 5: Thought he would have come on earlier
McShane 5: Looked a bit rusty

Ref : Choked on a few big decisions.

Feel very sorry for their goalie-it looked so innocuous ; but he was in agony

[tidus_mi2]

I felt bad for their keeper as I was in the same year at school with him so was looking forward to see him play against Reading, so it was predictable that he got injured.

[Hoop Blah]

Decent enough performance after such a drab start to the game.

I'm a but gUtted that Tshibola picked up yet another injury but was also very surprised that McDermott brought Hector on in the middle when he could've been a bit more attacking and gone with John or Piazon.

Some good goals and a nice clean sheet so can't really complain too much.

[Lower West]

At least the formation of the team is taking shape. Must be difficult for McD to work on the shape of the team in competitive matches. Rather than have the luxury of pre season. Hopefully Evans will be back in next week and replace Hector in the defensive holding role.

Team Spirit 10. There was a real bond between the players on the pitch today. McD seems to achieved at least one of his objectives.

[paultheroyal]

I felt bad for their keeper as I was in the same year at school with him so was looking forward to see him play against Reading, so it was predictable that he got injured.

Injury not as bad as feared although looks nasty. Basically had his knee sliced open in two open wounds presumably from the blades of his defender? 12 stitches.

[Hendo]

Vydra 6: Bit of an idiot on the disallowed goal & poor effort when clear in 1st half

Don't care to mention his two goals though? The second being a particularly good header.

[If you still hate Futcher]

I didn't think we started too slowly but Tish going off really affected us, without that it would've been a much more straight forward win than the scoreline suggests.

That said we do have to thank the Walsall RB for having a go at Obita as it riled up or lot and made them more determined.

I can't believe Walsall beat Brentford as they didn't offer very much