MATCHWATCH : Lincoln City (h)

[Greatwesternline]

You coach routine decisions as second nature.
Decision making also much harder if tired and under pressure.

Let's face it. League one players have an upper ceiling of how good they are ever going to get at making football decisions. We don't know how many of our players are at that ceiling. Given most of them are halfway through their careers or more, I don't think there is much upwards room for them as players individually.

Collectively yes there is. But you are going to struggle to cut out poorly directed passes from players at this point. There is a reason these players are 25 years old plus and are still in League one.

There is still hope for Savage, and Doyle especially.
Less so for Fraser Nyambe and O'Connor.

Luckily there are literally no examples of players starting at say, League one, and going on to do better.
Nor entire squads.

And the Reading FC history page does not exist.

I'm not saying players in league one can't be better than league one, I'm saying our current league one players aren't going to do better than league one.

[Greatwesternline]

Here's a top bit of football knowledge. Most players above a certain level are actually about as good as each other when it comes to passing a ball about 10-15 yards. You get the odd person who can properly spray it, you can players much more comfortable closer in. What differentiates things is the ability to pick out a player, pick out their foot, and communicate to them, while completing one of the most basic skills available.

So when we say someone is good at passing, what we really mean is that they're good at this whole other set of skills that have nothing to do with kicking a ball.

God this week off will kill me.

They're good at making decisions. So much of what i see that is wrong at RFC is the decision making involved. Players making bad decision after bad decision. And the frustrating thing is, I'm not sure players get much better at that.

Two threads in which 'coaching is not a thing' is the central plank of the posts.
It's a bold strategy, cotton.

Well let's bring them together in one post then. Yes fitness coaching is a thing. But we're not talking about a complete absence of fitness coaching at RFC compared to other clubs who do do it.

We had Noel Hunt, Leighertwood, scott marshall as our coaches. All Premier League players in their time, presumably all have done their UEFA coaching badges. They know that players need to be fit.

So the only excuse that we are unfit because of them rests on the idea that their fitness training regime is materially worse than any other manager at this level. And that the players signed late in the window were also at clubs who had bad fitness regimes. Does that sound plausible?

It's hard to really believe that Leam RIchardson defensive sit back conservative football philosophy is going to lead to some revelatory fitness regime this pre-season compared to what our existing pros had. He's not exactly an innovator. Quite the opposite.

The number of football coaches you see who actually improve a team are extremely rare. Hence why roughly half the managers in the football league are sacked each season. Some managers can introduce new tactics which bring the best out of players. Managers that actually coach players into making fewer unforced errors and make better decisions? Extremely rare indeed.

This is why managers like Guardiola and Pochettino have such high reputations, they make players better, whereas other managers who also have high reputations are better known for the good tactical structures they bring in, Mourinho Dyche Conte Ancelotti. In this regard I'd say Ruben Selles actually was able to do it. And controversially, i think Paunovic actually did too, at the beginning.

I won't hold my breath that Leam RIcahrdson will be able to.

[Hound]

I don’t think LR can improve this group of players a great deal more

I do think he has a vision in mind, inc new players lined up, that will improve us next season

[Snowflake Royal]

How old was Kitson when we signed him?

Ian Wright and Jamie Vardy got into the top 2 divisions pretty late didn't they?

Was it L1 or L2 Ian Harte joined us from? He was definitely over 25.

Jimmy Quinn stepped up with us pretty well in the mid-90s. He was over 25.

These are examples of good players playing in League one. Yes it happens. Our current squad are not those good players, and I don't think have much capacity in them to improve.

Doyle, Savage, Kyerewaa, Kelvin E, Abrefa, Ward, Roberts don't have capacity to improve? Yeah, ok.

[Greatwesternline]

How old was Kitson when we signed him?

Ian Wright and Jamie Vardy got into the top 2 divisions pretty late didn't they?

Was it L1 or L2 Ian Harte joined us from? He was definitely over 25.

Jimmy Quinn stepped up with us pretty well in the mid-90s. He was over 25.

These are examples of good players playing in League one. Yes it happens. Our current squad are not those good players, and I don't think have much capacity in them to improve.

Doyle, Savage, Kyerewaa, Kelvin E, Abrefa, Ward, Roberts don't have capacity to improve? Yeah, ok.

Earlier on i said Savage and Doyle actually did. Abrefa? No chance. he's been as good as he is now for 3 seasons.

I'm amazed how much faith you all have in our manager to improve our players. If he does good. But last time i checked, he bought a load of his own preferred players in in January rather than attempting to work with what he's got. Our academy appearances have plummeted under him.

[Orion1871]

I don’t think LR can improve this group of players a great deal more

I do think he has a vision in mind, inc new players lined up, that will improve us next season

He doesn't have the capability as a manager to improve players. Judging by his lack of interest in the academy and the comment about lack of experience in L1 we won't be signing many, if any, younger players in the summer. It will likely be experienced players in their late 20s early 30s who will hopefully improve us and won't be jobs for the boys signings like his mate Keane.

[tidus_mi2]

I don’t think LR can improve this group of players a great deal more

I do think he has a vision in mind, inc new players lined up, that will improve us next season

He doesn't have the capability as a manager to improve players. Judging by his lack of interest in the academy and the comment about lack of experience in L1 we won't be signing many, if any, younger players in the summer. It will likely be experienced players in their late 20s early 30s who will hopefully improve us and won't be jobs for the boys signings like his mate Keane.

Our academy was gutted quite significantly to pay the bills though, so maybe the remaining players just aren't good enough yet.

[Snowflake Royal]

These are examples of good players playing in League one. Yes it happens. Our current squad are not those good players, and I don't think have much capacity in them to improve.

Doyle, Savage, Kyerewaa, Kelvin E, Abrefa, Ward, Roberts don't have capacity to improve? Yeah, ok.

Earlier on i said Savage and Doyle actually did. Abrefa? No chance. he's been as good as he is now for 3 seasons.

I'm amazed how much faith you all have in our manager to improve our players. If he does good. But last time i checked, he bought a load of his own preferred players in in January rather than attempting to work with what he's got. Our academy appearances have plummeted under him.

Abrefa was one of our better players under Hunt and was improving. He's 22. Not 26.

Our academy talent is tapped out. Stickland was the next best CB we had and he was nowhere near this level. Ahmed shows great potential, but not ready. Sackey showed no L1 quality. Borgnis, Osho, Kanu, Tuma and Spencer show potential but aren't ready. Camara has never looked good enough. Okine-Peters certainly isn't ready. Ryan wasn't up to it either.

There is no one, other than Ehibhatiomhan, Dorsett and Abrefa, from our Academy for Richardson to use this season. KelvinE obviously currently leading the line for us and Dorsett is first choice LB.

Garcia went. Wareham went. Craig went. Vickers went. Bindon went. Some went before they even made the first team.

The Academy has still delivered 80(58) appearances this season. By any reasonable measure that's still good.

[From Despair To Where?]

Yes, I think a lot of our issues stem from the lack of pace at the back

Nyambe was decent yesterday though. Would be happy enough if he signed

It's definitely an issue. The slower the defence, the deeper we play, the more pressure we invite, particularly if we don't have anyone with a bit of pace up front that we can target as an outball rather than just hoofing clear to ease pressure.

[Snowflake Royal]

I don’t think LR can improve this group of players a great deal more

I do think he has a vision in mind, inc new players lined up, that will improve us next season

Depends on what you mean by this group.

We have plenty of Academy players on the cusp for next season or the one after. He can certainly improve those. Savage, Abrefa, Ehibhatiomhan, Doyle, Ward, Roberts, Kyerewaa.... all could improve.

[Hound]

I don’t think LR can improve this group of players a great deal more

I do think he has a vision in mind, inc new players lined up, that will improve us next season

Depends on what you mean by this group.

We have plenty of Academy players on the cusp for next season or the one after. He can certainly improve those. Savage, Abrefa, Ehibhatiomhan, Doyle, Ward, Roberts, Kyerewaa.... all could improve.

Ie improve this squad enough to get it promoted without significant signings

He has already improved them from where they were imo. Esp KE and DK

[stealthpapes]

How old was Kitson when we signed him?

Ian Wright and Jamie Vardy got into the top 2 divisions pretty late didn't they?

Was it L1 or L2 Ian Harte joined us from? He was definitely over 25.

Jimmy Quinn stepped up with us pretty well in the mid-90s. He was over 25.

These are examples of good players playing in League one. Yes it happens. Our current squad are not those good players, and I don't think have much capacity in them to improve.

Doyle, Savage, Kyerewaa, Kelvin E, Abrefa, Ward, Roberts don't have capacity to improve? Yeah, ok.

Haven't you heard, coaching is futile.

[Snowflake Royal]

I don’t think LR can improve this group of players a great deal more

I do think he has a vision in mind, inc new players lined up, that will improve us next season

Depends on what you mean by this group.

We have plenty of Academy players on the cusp for next season or the one after. He can certainly improve those. Savage, Abrefa, Ehibhatiomhan, Doyle, Ward, Roberts, Kyerewaa.... all could improve.

Ie improve this squad enough to get it promoted without significant signings

He has already improved them from where they were imo. Esp KE and DK

Really don’t think it takes much to get this squad a few points higher and playing better.

[stealthpapes]

These are examples of good players playing in League one. Yes it happens. Our current squad are not those good players, and I don't think have much capacity in them to improve.

Doyle, Savage, Kyerewaa, Kelvin E, Abrefa, Ward, Roberts don't have capacity to improve? Yeah, ok.

Earlier on i said Savage and Doyle actually did. Abrefa? No chance. he's been as good as he is now for 3 seasons.

I'm amazed how much faith you all have in our manager to improve our players. If he does good. But last time i checked, he bought a load of his own preferred players in in January rather than attempting to work with what he's got. Our academy appearances have plummeted under him.

Some of us might have predicted that over the Summer, before any one of us had heard of Richardson.

The only egregious 'old boys gig' we've seen is Keane

[stealthpapes]

Depends on what you mean by this group.

We have plenty of Academy players on the cusp for next season or the one after. He can certainly improve those. Savage, Abrefa, Ehibhatiomhan, Doyle, Ward, Roberts, Kyerewaa.... all could improve.

Ie improve this squad enough to get it promoted without significant signings

He has already improved them from where they were imo. Esp KE and DK

Really don’t think it takes much to get this squad a few points higher and playing better.

Yeah, firm agree.
Oddly I think it will boil down to details around match fitness and situational coaching, which might explain the stance I've got here.

[Hound]

Depends on what you mean by this group.

We have plenty of Academy players on the cusp for next season or the one after. He can certainly improve those. Savage, Abrefa, Ehibhatiomhan, Doyle, Ward, Roberts, Kyerewaa.... all could improve.

Ie improve this squad enough to get it promoted without significant signings

He has already improved them from where they were imo. Esp KE and DK

Really don’t think it takes much to get this squad a few points higher and playing better.

I think we’re 4-5 short (if Doyle stays on that would reduce that by 1) of being comfortable play off/challenging auto.

A right back. A quick strong striker. A CAM. A left winger. Possibly a CB.

[Snowflake Royal]

Ie improve this squad enough to get it promoted without significant signings

He has already improved them from where they were imo. Esp KE and DK

Really don’t think it takes much to get this squad a few points higher and playing better.

I think we’re 4-5 short (if Doyle stays on that would reduce that by 1) of being comfortable play off/challenging auto.

A right back. A quick strong striker. A CAM. A left winger. Possibly a CB.

I can't recall exactly what I said our additions should be last time I posted it, but not too disimilar...
AM (Doyle), RB, LB and the rest a bit dependent on who goes/stays can sort fitness.

[Clyde1998]

I don’t think LR can improve this group of players a great deal more

I do think he has a vision in mind, inc new players lined up, that will improve us next season

He doesn't have the capability as a manager to improve players. Judging by his lack of interest in the academy and the comment about lack of experience in L1 we won't be signing many, if any, younger players in the summer. It will likely be experienced players in their late 20s early 30s who will hopefully improve us and won't be jobs for the boys signings like his mate Keane.

Our academy was gutted quite significantly to pay the bills though, so maybe the remaining players just aren't good enough yet.

I've watched a number of academy games this season (U21s/U18s) and I'd say there's basically no-one obvious who's got the potential to reach the first team who isn't ~16 or younger. Those players aren't going to be close to ready for first team football for at least another couple of seasons.

You look at the performances of our U21s and U18s in the past few seasons and you'll see us typically towards the bottom of Category One standings.

Most players who could've potentially reached our first team (or progressed beyond) were picked off by other clubs.

It will simply take a few seasons of stability for us to full recover from the damage of the past few seasons.

[Snowflake Royal]

He doesn't have the capability as a manager to improve players. Judging by his lack of interest in the academy and the comment about lack of experience in L1 we won't be signing many, if any, younger players in the summer. It will likely be experienced players in their late 20s early 30s who will hopefully improve us and won't be jobs for the boys signings like his mate Keane.

Our academy was gutted quite significantly to pay the bills though, so maybe the remaining players just aren't good enough yet.

I've watched a number of academy games this season (U21s/U18s) and I'd say there's basically no-one obvious who's got the potential to reach the first team who isn't ~16 or younger. Those players aren't going to be close to ready for first team football for at least another couple of seasons.

You look at the performances of our U21s and U18s in the past few seasons and you'll see us typically towards the bottom of Category One standings.

Most players who could've potentially reached our first team (or progressed beyond) were picked off by other clubs.

It will simply take a few seasons of stability for us to full recover from the damage of the past few seasons.

These mostly went out on loan I think, but how do you rate the first team chances/readiness of:
Kanu
Ahmed
Borgnis
Spencer
Osho
Patton
Evans
Boyd Beacroft
Duah


The first three at least seem to me to have potential for squad players next season. And I'd rather see Patton out there than Keane, right now.

[Clyde1998]

Our academy was gutted quite significantly to pay the bills though, so maybe the remaining players just aren't good enough yet.

I've watched a number of academy games this season (U21s/U18s) and I'd say there's basically no-one obvious who's got the potential to reach the first team who isn't ~16 or younger. Those players aren't going to be close to ready for first team football for at least another couple of seasons.

You look at the performances of our U21s and U18s in the past few seasons and you'll see us typically towards the bottom of Category One standings.

Most players who could've potentially reached our first team (or progressed beyond) were picked off by other clubs.

It will simply take a few seasons of stability for us to full recover from the damage of the past few seasons.

These mostly went out on loan I think, but how do you rate the first team chances/readiness of:
Kanu
Ahmed
Borgnis
Spencer
Osho
Patton
Evans
Boyd Beacroft
Duah


The first three at least seem to me to have potential for squad players next season. And I'd rather see Patton out there than Keane, right now.

It can be a little hard to judge the level of U21 football, it seems the typical players are National League standard or lower. Anyone above that level who would be in an U21 team is probably out on loan at an EFL team; or simply being kept for first team squad depth purposes. The loans are indicative of this, imo.

1. Kanu - one of our most likely candidates, although he'd be behind Derrick Williams; Benn Ward; and Jeriel Dorsett as a left-centre back and that's notwithstanding any additional signings. Haven't seen him play at Forest Green to know how he's developing specifically though. Perhaps a loan to League Two next season would help him.
2. Ahmed - seems too far off at the moment; not starting regularly at Forest Green now and is only getting twenty minutes tops from the bench. Probably needs another season in the National League before we seriously consider him again.
3. Borgnis - probably too old to improve now whilst staying here. He's twenty-two in September and currently on loan in the National League South.
4. Spencer - again, probably too old. He's twenty-two and playing in the National League.
5. Osho - seems decent enough, but needs a season out on loan. I reckon he'd be of lower National League level right now; not convinced he's got the technical ability for us (yet). He turned nineteen today (happy birthday in the very unlikely event you're reading this!).
6. Patton - will be interesting to see if he gets more game time for us before the end of the season. Absolutely agree he should be out there rather than Keane, but he's not (yet) at League One level. Obviously did exceptionally well at Aldershot in his short time there. Would expect us to sign at least two strikers in the summer though, but that would give us the potential to loan him out to a League Two club to test him there. He turns twenty in the summer.
7. Evans - just gone on loan to Torquay in the National League South, so will have to assess more. Was definitely behind Patton before going out and has only started regularly since his loan. He's got another year left, but is twenty-one in September. Would hope he gets a National League loan next season.
8. Boyd Beacroft - he's spent the second half of the season in the National League South at relegation-threatened Farnborough. Would be surprised if he makes it here given he's already twenty and has been behind players like Ahmed.
9. Duah - he's probably the oldest of those currently at the club who I think has the potential the reach first team level. Got mistakes to iron out though (so would need a loan somewhere), but absolutely stands out among our current U21 side. He's currently nineteen, so should keep improving.

Those in red are out of contract in the summer (to my knowledge), although a few many have one-year options. I think Kanu's in that boat. I would give a year to Kanu; Osho; and Duah.

Overall, I think only Kanu and Patton have a potential of being in the first team picture next season and I can't see either being anything else than squad options - they'd need to go out on loan to keep improving if they're not regularly involved in the first team.