MATCHWATCH : Shrewsbury Town (a)

[Hound]

Good stuff. Didn’t think we were brilliant by any stretch but a nice goal from Kelv and an impt 3 points

[tidus_mi2]

Need to keep going though, Bolton and Huddersfield at home to sides well out of form next.

[LUX]

Need to keep going though, Bolton and Huddersfield at home to sides well out of form next.

Not according to BBC

[Brogue]

The best thing to take away from tonight’s game other than the 3 points is goals for WiFi and Campbell. If these two can find their shooting boots in this run in we have a tremendous chance. We don’t concede many now. If we can add goals to our game we are a match for anyone in the playoffs.

[tidus_mi2]

Need to keep going though, Bolton and Huddersfield at home to sides well out of form next.

Not according to BBC

Whoops, but yeah, Barnsley and Burton are well off form right now, but away, not home.

[Gunny Fishcake]

Brilliant win, This is getting serious. It’s almost surreal what we’ve been through. Talk of “in our hands” is unbelievable. With three away games a long way to go but what ever happens, all things considered, this is one of Reading FC’s greatest seasons ever.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Brilliant win, This is getting serious. It’s almost surreal what we’ve been through. Talk of “in our hands” is unbelievable. With three away games a long way to go but what ever happens, all things considered, this is one of Reading FC’s greatest seasons ever.

It does remind me of McDermott teams a lot. Coppell's team was do talented we just dominated, whereas under McDermott it was a more regular Championship side. In both 10/11 and 11/12 you could scarcely believe what they were achieving, and this is the same but on steroids. The fact that this squad is still going with everything else happening is unbelievable. I still think we won't quite make it being honest, but enjoying the ride anyway.

[East Grinstead Royal]

Among the statistics that Sky put up at the end of the game are some numbers on crosses and headed clearances. Apparently Shrewsbury made 38 crosses into our box and we made 37 headed clearances. That’s a neat illustration of how dominant we were at the back (Bindon in particular) but it also shows that we aren’t doing enough to stop balls into the box.

[stealthpapes]

F*CK me Kelvins turned up....Amazing goal.

Could someone describe it please.

On the left, two defenders covering. Ball out to him, lovely touch to control, then head down and takes on his man on the outside gettijg past him, gets into the box for the pull back, but not many options and cuts back inside, beats a cover man, keeps going past another I think, and then powers into the top far corner from around the centre of the goal.

Super pace and close control.

what got me was how fast he was

[From Despair To Where?]

Among the statistics that Sky put up at the end of the game are some numbers on crosses and headed clearances. Apparently Shrewsbury made 38 crosses into our box and we made 37 headed clearances. That’s a neat illustration of how dominant we were at the back (Bindon in particular) but it also shows that we aren’t doing enough to stop balls into the box.

That's partly a consequence of having to play inexperienced youngsters at full back.

I don't think missing Elliott helps either. He gives so much more balance and shape in midfield.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Could someone describe it please.

On the left, two defenders covering. Ball out to him, lovely touch to control, then head down and takes on his man on the outside gettijg past him, gets into the box for the pull back, but not many options and cuts back inside, beats a cover man, keeps going past another I think, and then powers into the top far corner from around the centre of the goal.

Super pace and close control.

what got me was how fast he was

If manager could unlock whatever it is that makes him so inconsistent and go missing at times, he could be an exceptional talent. Playing him in his best position would be a start.

[Greatwesternline]

Among the statistics that Sky put up at the end of the game are some numbers on crosses and headed clearances. Apparently Shrewsbury made 38 crosses into our box and we made 37 headed clearances. That’s a neat illustration of how dominant we were at the back (Bindon in particular) but it also shows that we aren’t doing enough to stop balls into the box.

That's partly a consequence of having to play inexperienced youngsters at full back.

I don't think missing Elliott helps either. He gives so much more balance and shape in midfield.

Who in midfield gets dropped for Elliott at the moment?

[Greatwesternline]

Among the statistics that Sky put up at the end of the game are some numbers on crosses and headed clearances. Apparently Shrewsbury made 38 crosses into our box and we made 37 headed clearances. That’s a neat illustration of how dominant we were at the back (Bindon in particular) but it also shows that we aren’t doing enough to stop balls into the box.

Better footballing teams have cottoned on to the statistical evidence that crosses into the box where attacking players are heavily outnumbered by defending players stand a low chance of resulting in a goal. It's limited team that just keep flinging balls hopefully into the box.

People watching football enjoy the anticipation of a cross flung in, but "better" managers bemoan possession given away in a potential dangerous attack.

[Snowflake Royal]

Brilliant win, This is getting serious. It’s almost surreal what we’ve been through. Talk of “in our hands” is unbelievable. With three away games a long way to go but what ever happens, all things considered, this is one of Reading FC’s greatest seasons ever.

It does remind me of McDermott teams a lot. Coppell's team was do talented we just dominated, whereas under McDermott it was a more regular Championship side. In both 10/11 and 11/12 you could scarcely believe what they were achieving, and this is the same but on steroids. The fact that this squad is still going with everything else happening is unbelievable. I still think we won't quite make it being honest, but enjoying the ride anyway.

Thing is, this is actually a very talented side for this level. Even the youth players are full of quality. What's limiting them is age and experience.

Pereira, Yiadom, Wing, Knibbs, Bindon, Mbengue - all top L1 players or above, most very experienced.

Dean and Button solid.

Ehibhatiomhan, Savage, Elliott, maybe Abrefa, all very good, but still low on experience.

Camara, Akande, Wareham, Garcia, Dorsett, Stickland, Kanu and Rushesha etc all have plenty of talent and potential, just aren't there yet. I mean if Garcia develops the way he should rather than just overflowing with arrogance he could well play in the Prem.

[katweslowski]

I still think we won't quite make it being honest, but enjoying the ride anyway.

My gut keeps saying this ... however, when I think about how absolutely mental this is (Dai issues, ownership, league explusion, transfer embargos, deductions, relegations and protests)... I kind of think that it would really be typical and aligned with everything else for us to actually get 6th place secured.

I think the same thing about the playoffs too. Initially "we'd be unlikely to win - look at our record" - but then I think how it would really round off everything by getting promoted.

It really would be Netflix worthy (at least for us) and one of the most unbelievable and surprising seasons of our entire history.

[Mr Angry]

Of the 4 teams in the play-off spots, Wycombe has the worst recent form, whilst us, Charlton and Stockport have identical records.

IF we do make it to the Play Off's, it is genuinely up for grabs, with none of the 4 (I am assuming Hollywood FC will take the 2nd auto spot) outstandingly better than the others.

[Mr Angry]

Watching the game on Sky last night, my view from Saturday that Garcia needs a rest was confirmed; Bindon and Mbengue immense - again (we will miss Bindon so much next season!) and, as on Saturday, we are becoming a lot more physical in the challenges than even a few weeks ago, and that was WiFi's best game for a while.

Luckily the Shrewsbury keeper was gash - the third goal was clearly comedy gold, a real own goal howler that will be shown in "Football's Funniest Cock Up" compilations in Years to come, hiding Campbells woeful shot which was going wide despite having literally the whole of the goal to aim at......

Scrappy performance against a team who are likely to be relegated at the weekend, but right now, 3 points are priceless regardless how they come.

[LUX]

It was a scrappy performance but some of the comments on here during the match were a disgrace (“ glue factory” being the worst).


I love this team.

[LUX]

Yeah, I’m an RTG

[Whore Jackie]

Among the statistics that Sky put up at the end of the game are some numbers on crosses and headed clearances. Apparently Shrewsbury made 38 crosses into our box and we made 37 headed clearances. That’s a neat illustration of how dominant we were at the back (Bindon in particular) but it also shows that we aren’t doing enough to stop balls into the box.

Kudos to Ehibhatiomhan. He rarely wins much in the air when played as a 9, but he made some absolutely crucial headed clearances. Really poor first-half, but exceptional second half, goal aside.