Season 20/21

[Snowflake Royal]

Not bad. Drifted away as more of the first XI went off.

Don't know who all the subs were. Assume it was Holmes on for Moore at RCB. He looked decent.

Think Holsgrove was the one with hair tied up. Ok ish, some small errors, tidy but uninspiring.

Crossing still way too long too often. Quite aimless. But it's a friendly.

Rino and Laurent gave us a fantastic engine in the middle early on.


Bit concerned by the shape. At times it seemed like we were playing with 1 centreback playing as a centreback, 2 centrebacks playing as fullbacks and 2 full backs playing as wingers.

That's the sort of thing that saw us horrendously exposed through the channels and middle on the break early doors under Gomes last season.

About 500 watching on Facebook too so about 1000 viewers maybe.

[Hound]

Just scanned through jlows blog. Couple of nice goals. No sign of Aluko? Otherwise seems everyone else got a game

[Lower West]

Late logging on YouTube. Around 3,280 viewing though at peak.

[Hendo]

Late logging on YouTube. Around 3,280 viewing though at peak.

More than would’ve gone, for sure. Maybe putting PSF games on YouTube might be the way to go?

[Simon's Church]

Quite liked the shape, though Gillingham didn't really offer anything so it's hard to judge, played some nice stuff with that midfield in the first 3rd.

Don't want to be too harsh as he's barely played and it's only preseason but araruna looked miles off the pace, especially compared to yiadom.

[Sutekh]

And Aluko was an unused substitute

[Snowflake Royal]

Quite liked the shape, though Gillingham didn't really offer anything so it's hard to judge, played some nice stuff with that midfield in the first 3rd.

Don't want to be too harsh as he's barely played and it's only preseason but araruna looked miles off the pace, especially compared to yiadom.

Yeah, he looked lost.

[Zip]

Not bad. Drifted away as more of the first XI went off.

Don't know who all the subs were. Assume it was Holmes on for Moore at RCB. He looked decent.

Think Holsgrove was the one with hair tied up. Ok ish, some small errors, tidy but uninspiring.

Crossing still way too long too often. Quite aimless. But it's a friendly.

Rino and Laurent gave us a fantastic engine in the middle early on.


Bit concerned by the shape. At times it seemed like we were playing with 1 centreback playing as a centreback, 2 centrebacks playing as fullbacks and 2 full backs playing as wingers.

That's the sort of thing that saw us horrendously exposed through the channels and middle on the break early doors under Gomes last season.

About 500 watching on Facebook too so about 1000 viewers maybe.

Did Laurent play box to box?

[Snowflake Royal]

Not bad. Drifted away as more of the first XI went off.

Don't know who all the subs were. Assume it was Holmes on for Moore at RCB. He looked decent.

Think Holsgrove was the one with hair tied up. Ok ish, some small errors, tidy but uninspiring.

Crossing still way too long too often. Quite aimless. But it's a friendly.

Rino and Laurent gave us a fantastic engine in the middle early on.


Bit concerned by the shape. At times it seemed like we were playing with 1 centreback playing as a centreback, 2 centrebacks playing as fullbacks and 2 full backs playing as wingers.

That's the sort of thing that saw us horrendously exposed through the channels and middle on the break early doors under Gomes last season.

About 500 watching on Facebook too so about 1000 viewers maybe.

Did Laurent play box to box?

Fairly.

Early days, but he seems like exactly the sort of midfielder I like. Strong, direct, fairly quick and purposeful. Keeps it simple, but is perfectly comfortable driving forward into space or past someone.

[Notts Royal]

Not bad. Drifted away as more of the first XI went off.

Don't know who all the subs were. Assume it was Holmes on for Moore at RCB. He looked decent.

Think Holsgrove was the one with hair tied up. Ok ish, some small errors, tidy but uninspiring.

Crossing still way too long too often. Quite aimless. But it's a friendly.

Rino and Laurent gave us a fantastic engine in the middle early on.


Bit concerned by the shape. At times it seemed like we were playing with 1 centreback playing as a centreback, 2 centrebacks playing as fullbacks and 2 full backs playing as wingers.

That's the sort of thing that saw us horrendously exposed through the channels and middle on the break early doors under Gomes last season.

About 500 watching on Facebook too so about 1000 viewers maybe.

Did Laurent play box to box?

Fairly.

Early days, but he seems like exactly the sort of midfielder I like. Strong, direct, fairly quick and purposeful. Keeps it simple, but is perfectly comfortable driving forward into space or past someone.

Yea the midfield was great to watch. Rino was more advanced than Swift which was interesting. As I’ve stated before, when you have 2 box-to-box midfielders theres less of a need for a specialist DM. The tempo was much better. Would’ve been interesting to see if that would still be the case if a certain Mr Ejaria was in the team...

[3points]

I’d have like to have seen a more Man City like 3-4-3 for a bit with Rino and Laurent in the centre of the four, with Meite and Baldock in the attacking three with Joao. Think that’s got potential.

Thought Araruna looks very tidy on the ball and could develop with more game time. Needs to concentrate on delivery of his final ball and seems to lack pace (or desire) when tracking back.

Just don’t see how McNulty fits in to any system other than a 2 up front.

[Hound]

looking forward to watching Laurent. Mentioned a few days back I liked the sound of him and Rino as a base with a Swift/Ejaria/Olise ahead of them. Way forward I think

[Zip]

looking forward to watching Laurent. Mentioned a few days back I liked the sound of him and Rino as a base with a Swift/Ejaria/Olise ahead of them. Way forward I think

I just don’t think that gives us width and we will be trying to play the ball through the middle most of the time I really want to see some pace down the flanks and see us get behind teams.

[URZZZZ]

looking forward to watching Laurent. Mentioned a few days back I liked the sound of him and Rino as a base with a Swift/Ejaria/Olise ahead of them. Way forward I think

I just don’t think that gives us width and we will be trying to play the ball through the middle most of the time I really want to see some pace down the flanks and see us get behind teams.

Looked a bit better at that yesterday

So many times last season Yiadom and Richards would just cut in and try and play intricately through the middle. Looked more willing to get it into the box yesterday

[URZZZZ]

Quite liked the shape, though Gillingham didn't really offer anything so it's hard to judge, played some nice stuff with that midfield in the first 3rd.

Don't want to be too harsh as he's barely played and it's only preseason but araruna looked miles off the pace, especially compared to yiadom.

Yeah, he looked lost.

Reminds me of Pelle Clement in his few appearances so far, not awful but doesn’t offer too much

Thought it was noticeable that Bowen said Yiadom was the only player that can play on the right side. Not exactly reassuring for Araruna

[royalp-we]

looking forward to watching Laurent. Mentioned a few days back I liked the sound of him and Rino as a base with a Swift/Ejaria/Olise ahead of them. Way forward I think

I just don’t think that gives us width and we will be trying to play the ball through the middle most of the time I really want to see some pace down the flanks and see us get behind teams.

Looked a bit better at that yesterday

So many times last season Yiadom and Richards would just cut in and try and play intricately through the middle. Looked more willing to get it into the box yesterday

Agreed. The 3 centre backs are quite far apart and we played with flying full backs. 3-5-2 with the ball and 5-3-2 when under pressure.

With some cover for Yiadom and Richards, it’s seems a logical approach with all the options we have in the middle.

[Hendo]

New official ‘Back of Shirt’ Partner for 2020-21 - Rapidz. Financial technology firm and digital wallet specialists.

Nice bit of extra sponsorship money, will hopefully ease things a little bit in the immediate future.

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2020/a ... or-2020-21

[Hound]

New official ‘Back of Shirt’ Partner for 2020-21 - Rapidz. Financial technology firm and digital wallet specialists.

Nice bit of extra sponsorship money, will hopefully ease things a little bit in the immediate future.

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2020/a ... or-2020-21

seems a decent deal, and thankfully not more betting company sponsorship

[Stranded]

New official ‘Back of Shirt’ Partner for 2020-21 - Rapidz. Financial technology firm and digital wallet specialists.

Nice bit of extra sponsorship money, will hopefully ease things a little bit in the immediate future.

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2020/a ... or-2020-21

Good news - no idea what it's worth but could certainly help cover some wages or a transfer fee.

[Hendo]

Agreed with both ^^