BFTG Stevenage

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Sutekh
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BFTG Stevenage

by Sutekh » 19 Aug 2023 18:00

Well that's a first! The first time that I've seen Reading play entertaining and effortful football at home in a league game in almost a decade.

Great to have a bunch of youngsters playing with a bit of belief and confidence and not frightened to try things. Absolute credit to Selles for also getting the message across about what a forward pass is.

WiFi unlucky not to get the senior first hat-trick, the Professor worked really hard but perhaps a bit too hard - he should have scored himself and should have put it on a plate for two or three others but I'm sure that end product will appear eventually and when it does, watch out!

Knibbs did superbly for the first half hour and managed to cost Stevenage a man as a result, Carson was a much better left back than we've been used to over the last couple of seasons and though he dropped a couple of clangers (which he probably wouldn't have done with more experience) the team worked hard to cover it.

My motm was Mbengue, thought he was outstanding and his pace was causing immense trouble down the right, trouble was it caused him problems too and he had to depart with cramp but at least he should be back for the next battle.

Word for Selles to, very animated on the touchline and very shouty, seemed permanently annoyed. Hoping that's a good thing as he certainly seems to be a considerable step up on the dreadful waste of time spent under Gomes, Clement, Paunovic and Ince.

Finally the central defensive partnership was excellent and they look so much better than Holmes and McIntyre or anything we've seen in recent years, that said I expect them to have their first real challenge of the season at Exeter next week so hope they keep working on their partnership and that they may become a bit like their namesake:


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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by Royal_jimmy » 19 Aug 2023 18:11

Yay. Won easily. Sending off helped

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by Snowflake Royal » 19 Aug 2023 18:14

Elliott and Mukairu looked to have some quality about them in their cameos.

Couple of good saves from Button. Abbey and Carson were off the very high standard they set themselves but still decent. Binden comfortable. Mbengue good.

Savage had a few wobbles but good. Hutch was solid. Knibbs and Camara bring bags of enthusiasm, running and pace. Ehib and Vickers work well together. Great to see Kelv bag some goals.

Azeez was involved plenty but continues to fluff his lines. Solid cameos from Yiadom and McIntyre.

We were close to engineering our own downfall a few times with poor attempts to play out. Stevenage were a physical and niggly side, and probably deserved a second yellow at some point, I do think the onethey got was a bit on the harsh side tho.

Concerned that there were clear signs to take Knibbs and Mbengue off earlier and we ignored them for both.

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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by Ark Royal » 19 Aug 2023 18:51

There will be sterner tests to come, but Bindon looked as impressive a centre back I have seen since Dariusz Wdowczyk. So calm and collected on the ball and rarely went to ground. A burgeoning partnership with Abbey promises much. Will be a good test for them both at Exeter next week.

Wifi deserved a hat-trick; Azeez is still all buzz and no end product; Mbengue great down the right until the cramps; Hutchinson was quietly effective and the full 90+ minutes will do him good; Mukairu did well and expect him to start next week instead of Knibbs if the injury is worse than expected. Finally, very very impressed with Elliott in his brief cameo. Could have a real diamond there.

Nice to leave the stadium with a smile on the face again. The kids are alright!

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John Madejski's Wallet
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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by John Madejski's Wallet » 19 Aug 2023 19:05

Adding Hutchinson into the middle of Tuesday's team really made the difference for me. Just gave us a bit more steel

Also, LOL at his mad run through the middle that no-one bothered passing to. I think he got carried away around all the fast kids :lol:


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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by Royal_jimmy » 19 Aug 2023 19:26

Regardless of the opposition who have started the season well to be fair to them it's nice to get back to back wins and Kelvin E to get among the goals.

This team is definitely one to watch. Could be a championship side in a couple of years if it keeps improving. Lots to improve up front and hopefully Sam Smith can do a great job there scoring once back fit.

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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by RoyalBlue » 19 Aug 2023 19:34

Snowflake Royal
Concerned that there were clear signs to take Knibbs and Mbengue off earlier and we ignored them for both.


Fully agree. We have enough injury issues without the medical/management staff being reckless like that. Absolutely no reason, particularly given the state of the game, that both could not have been subbed a lot earlier. If the players are insisting they are OK, despite them clearly having had an issue, then the medics have to step up and make the call in the best interests of club, team and player.

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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by Millsy » 19 Aug 2023 20:07

Only 2-0 against Stevenage with 10 men? Just kidding you can only play what's in front of you and that sounds like it was a comprehensive win. Well done to the boys and well done to Selles. Not least for having the balls to be the first manager in forever to realise Holmes+Tmac have been the centre of total shit for several seasons.

Well done Selles keep it up. Noone is bigger than Reading FC.

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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by blueroyals » 19 Aug 2023 20:29

Vickers is special, need to get him tied down to a longer contract asap


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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by PieEater » 19 Aug 2023 21:17

It was nice watching the end of the game without the hanging on feeling, as Sutekh says it's years since we've had a comfortable win.

That said we looked solid and hats off to Selles -we really don't need last years first team to hold our own in this league.

Just wondering now if the trains will work out for Exeter.

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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by Esteban » 19 Aug 2023 21:17

Good performance today, despite Stevenage doing their best to bully us. I don't mind that though, we'll come up against plenty of very physical sides in this league and we have to get used to it.

Hutch made a difference coming into the side and nobody played badly. Ben Elliott looks a player, at one point he played a lovely reverse pass that caught out the Stevenage defence and put us in on the keeper. Looking forward to seeing him play a bigger part in coming matches.

Mebengue or Ehibhationmahn motm for me. Special mention for Button though, who made two sharp saves at crucial times.

Finally, Azeez continues to frustrate. Got everything except an end product. Really hope it clicks for him soon, he could be a good player if he can put everything together and I'd love for him to do it

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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by Pepe the Horseman » 19 Aug 2023 21:29

As I said on the other thread, haven't seen a team as dirty as Stevenage since Warnock's Leeds. I know they had 10 men for most of the game, but no idea how they won their first three. Would expect them to be fighting relegation come the end of the season.

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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by Pepe the Horseman » 19 Aug 2023 21:31

Not much more to say about our lot that hasn't already been said, other than it's easy to forget that on top of all of our kids, Charlie Savage is also only 20. Plays like a seasoned pro.


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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by Gunny Fishcake » 19 Aug 2023 21:57

Well done the kids, another great result and a tremendous performance. In the last twenty mins you could almost feel the confidence flooding back to the players who once again gave it their all. I thought Vickers had a great game and looks an exciting prospect. We will only get better , we’ll probably lose more than we win, but carry on with this effort, mindset and confidence I’m sure we’ll comfortably finish mid table . Can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a game as much and indeed time at the Mad Stad for a long time

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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by Snowflake Royal » 20 Aug 2023 01:04

Millsy Only 2-0 against Stevenage with 10 men? Just kidding you can only play what's in front of you and that sounds like it was a comprehensive win. Well done to the boys and well done to Selles. Not least for having the balls to be the first manager in forever to realise Holmes+Tmac have been the centre of total shit for several seasons.

Well done Selles keep it up. Noone is bigger than Reading FC.

But he lost every game in preseason and the first two league games so he must be shit right?

You going to own your shit or pretend it never happened.

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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by blythspartan » 20 Aug 2023 06:22

The red card obviously helped, but that was the most comfortable I have felt watching us play football in ages. Maybe Blackburn at home last season too.

Ehib is definitely developing and has all the attributes to become a very good striker. I would also like to see J Clarke given a chance once fully fit.

It was a good solid team performance today. I am expecting some ups and downs but I just feel these lads will give everything even in defeat.

Selles is talking about 2 additional signings so I am hoping Bowen and co can do their magic. I don’t want to get too carried away, but if this all goes well for the next couple of years this group of players could be running teams ragged in the Championship.

Sutekh
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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by Sutekh » 20 Aug 2023 07:19

Snowflake Royal
Millsy Only 2-0 against Stevenage with 10 men? Just kidding you can only play what's in front of you and that sounds like it was a comprehensive win. Well done to the boys and well done to Selles. Not least for having the balls to be the first manager in forever to realise Holmes+Tmac have been the centre of total shit for several seasons.

Well done Selles keep it up. Noone is bigger than Reading FC.

But he lost every game in preseason and the first two league games so he must be shit right?

You going to own your shit or pretend it never happened.


:roll:

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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by Orion1871 » 20 Aug 2023 07:39

Snowflake Royal
Millsy Only 2-0 against Stevenage with 10 men? Just kidding you can only play what's in front of you and that sounds like it was a comprehensive win. Well done to the boys and well done to Selles. Not least for having the balls to be the first manager in forever to realise Holmes+Tmac have been the centre of total shit for several seasons.

Well done Selles keep it up. Noone is bigger than Reading FC.

But he lost every game in preseason and the first two league games so he must be shit right?

You going to own your shit or pretend it never happened.


The Ian Royal method.
Last edited by Orion1871 on 20 Aug 2023 09:43, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by NewCorkSeth » 20 Aug 2023 09:41

What kind of player is Vickers? I havent been able to watch any games.

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John Madejski's Wallet
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Re: BFTG Stevenage

by John Madejski's Wallet » 20 Aug 2023 09:48

NewCorkSeth What kind of player is Vickers? I havent been able to watch any games.

small, fast, excellent dribbler, always looking to turn and run through defenders.

Along with the rest of the team being fast and always looking to turn defenders, I can see a lot more red cards against us this season

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