MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

[Extended-Phenotype]

A rare live game for me. Great result, but the quality of football from both sides was dire. Wasn’t exactly overwhelmed by the differences between Noel’s Reading and Leam’s Reading; looked to me like Leam just picked up where Noel left off. Feels a bit unfair to reel off a bunch of criticisms after a win - and a win against a (supposedly) top side no less - but it’s just so depressing to see how far we have fallen performance-wise.

It’s telling that one our best players - JP - is capable of kicking it out for a throw in 5-6 times in one game. It’s just woeful to watch. Defence did a good job of shepherding the few attacking moves made by Stevenage into the wilderness, but in possession (if you could call it that), all four of them just immediately hoff the ball into the sky with their eyes closed. Between our backline and JP booting everything long to a frontline who can’t jump, it’s no wonder we can’t create any passage of play where we are under control of the ball.

I really don’t know what Lewis Wing is doing anymore. Leam seems to agree with Noel that he’s a centre-back now, fine - make it official and drop one of O’Connor or Williams. We are so congested in front of our own box they are literally tackling each other by accident.

Ehibatioman is worse in real life. He looks drunk. All he does is lummox around like a cartoon cat who just stood on a rake. When he jumps he is somehow lower in the air than he was when he was standing. It’s like he jumps inside himself like a oxf*rd accordion.

Other than the goal the only real ray of light was Kyerewaa. People have given him a hard time on here, but every time I watch a game he’s the one doing something exciting. It might not often come off, but he’s trying something. He’s taking risks and playing some actual football. He runs at people and he’s so fast. Man, he deserved a goal last night. But well done to him for actually playing like a winger. Feels like a decade since we’ve had one of them.

Ah, feel so harsh pissing and moaning after 3 points. I guess I was more interested in seeing a different performance than a different result. With performances like we’ve been churning out this season, results are just random. Get your performances right, and results will actually be under your control.

Happy with the result, but it’s the same poor football at the moment. I hope with time we see some improvement.

[RoyalBlue]

Why on earth did Ritchie decide to pick up his fourth yellow card of the season for what was, basically, pissing about with the ball? If I was Richardson, I'd have been fuming with that. It was fully deserved and I mean seriously Ritchie, wtf?

Agreed. Exceptionally unprofessional, particularly from such an experienced, senior, player. Gained us no advantage whatsoever by doing it.

[RoyalBlue]

Is that Steve Evans in the studio?wow he’s lost a ton of weight

7 stone!

In just 6 months through diet and exercise! They were joking in the studio about him having to get up early for his swimming the next day. Fair play to the guy. Literally a shadow of his former self.

[RoyalBlue]

The first 30mins is as well as we have played all season, slightly better than Cardiff. It was a pity we couldn't get a second goal but we dominated a team who were second in the table before the game - quite how I'm not sure as they offered nothing except to pounce on the mistake from Abrefa.

It was great to have Periera back, his save was the difference. With Stevens we draw or lose that game.

The ref was terrible, officious, inconsistent and card happy. I'm still bemused why he gave a free kick to the keeper when we tried to close him down taking a kick - the ball was in open play and there was no contact.

From where we were sat, it did look like his and DK's feet made contact with the keeper making the most of it. Given how card happy he was (apart from the White challenge on MoM when he only gave a yellow, when it could well have been a red), I guess we're lucky he didn't book DK for it!

[Hound]

A rare live game for me. Great result, but the quality of football from both sides was dire. Wasn’t exactly overwhelmed by the differences between Noel’s Reading and Leam’s Reading; looked to me like Leam just picked up where Noel left off. Feels a bit unfair to reel off a bunch of criticisms after a win - and a win against a (supposedly) top side no less - but it’s just so depressing to see how far we have fallen performance-wise.

It’s telling that one our best players - JP - is capable of kicking it out for a throw in 5-6 times in one game. It’s just woeful to watch. Defence did a good job of shepherding the few attacking moves made by Stevenage into the wilderness, but in possession (if you could call it that), all four of them just immediately hoff the ball into the sky with their eyes closed. Between our backline and JP booting everything long to a frontline who can’t jump, it’s no wonder we can’t create any passage of play where we are under control of the ball.

I really don’t know what Lewis Wing is doing anymore. Leam seems to agree with Noel that he’s a centre-back now, fine - make it official and drop one of O’Connor or Williams. We are so congested in front of our own box they are literally tackling each other by accident.

Ehibatioman is worse in real life. He looks drunk. All he does is lummox around like a cartoon cat who just stood on a rake. When he jumps he is somehow lower in the air than he was when he was standing. It’s like he jumps inside himself like a oxf*rd accordion.

Other than the goal the only real ray of light was Kyerewaa. People have given him a hard time on here, but every time I watch a game he’s the one doing something exciting. It might not often come off, but he’s trying something. He’s taking risks and playing some actual football. He runs at people and he’s so fast. Man, he deserved a goal last night. But well done to him for actually playing like a winger. Feels like a decade since we’ve had one of them.

Ah, feel so harsh pissing and moaning after 3 points. I guess I was more interested in seeing a different performance than a different result. With performances like we’ve been churning out this season, results are just random. Get your performances right, and results will actually be under your control.

Happy with the result, but it’s the same poor football at the moment. I hope with time we see some improvement.

Some interesting takes there! Guess all opinions etc

DK played well last night but my main criticism previously is he is way too safe and never puts a cross in. Not actually that fast and about as exciting as the Coronation Street omnibus. Definitely signs that as a CF / CAM coming in from the left there is a bit more about him, but not a proper winger at all imo.

Wing is 100% playing a different role. Check out heat maps for last night compared to say Mansfield. He is very much playing a RCM, Savage a LCM and no longer playing between the CBs

I’d say there are already quite a few tactical changes happening.

In terms of quality - yeah it’s L1 isn’t it? It’s just not a great league for quality. We were hardly peak Barcelona under Selles or Hunt last year either. You have to find other ways to win

[Extended-Phenotype]

Where can I find the heat maps? Because all I saw was Wing stuck in the trenches yet again with midfield just a big pinball machine pinging the ball out in random directions.

What tactical changes did you see? I really couldn’t see any.

[RoyalBlue]

A rare live game for me. Great result, but the quality of football from both sides was dire. Wasn’t exactly overwhelmed by the differences between Noel’s Reading and Leam’s Reading; looked to me like Leam just picked up where Noel left off. Feels a bit unfair to reel off a bunch of criticisms after a win - and a win against a (supposedly) top side no less - but it’s just so depressing to see how far we have fallen performance-wise.

It’s telling that one our best players - JP - is capable of kicking it out for a throw in 5-6 times in one game. It’s just woeful to watch. Defence did a good job of shepherding the few attacking moves made by Stevenage into the wilderness, but in possession (if you could call it that), all four of them just immediately hoff the ball into the sky with their eyes closed. Between our backline and JP booting everything long to a frontline who can’t jump, it’s no wonder we can’t create any passage of play where we are under control of the ball.

I really don’t know what Lewis Wing is doing anymore. Leam seems to agree with Noel that he’s a centre-back now, fine - make it official and drop one of O’Connor or Williams. We are so congested in front of our own box they are literally tackling each other by accident.

Ehibatioman is worse in real life. He looks drunk. All he does is lummox around like a cartoon cat who just stood on a rake. When he jumps he is somehow lower in the air than he was when he was standing. It’s like he jumps inside himself like a oxf*rd accordion.

Other than the goal the only real ray of light was Kyerewaa. People have given him a hard time on here, but every time I watch a game he’s the one doing something exciting. It might not often come off, but he’s trying something. He’s taking risks and playing some actual football. He runs at people and he’s so fast. Man, he deserved a goal last night. But well done to him for actually playing like a winger. Feels like a decade since we’ve had one of them.

Ah, feel so harsh pissing and moaning after 3 points. I guess I was more interested in seeing a different performance than a different result. With performances like we’ve been churning out this season, results are just random. Get your performances right, and results will actually be under your control.

Happy with the result, but it’s the same poor football at the moment. I hope with time we see some improvement.

Some interesting takes there! Guess all opinions etc

DK played well last night but my main criticism previously is he is way too safe and never puts a cross in. Not actually that fast and about as exciting as the Coronation Street omnibus.

The last few teams he's played against must have had really slow defenders then, as he was regularly beating them for pace. I'm pretty sure I've seen comments from opposition fans regarding his pace too. Would be great to see sprint speeds of our various players as they would bring some objectivity into the discussions, in the same way that heat maps can.

I actually find him quite an exciting player and one who is likely to make things happen.

I guess, as they say, it's all about opinions.

[Snowflake Royal]

Where can I find the heat maps? Because all I saw was Wing stuck in the trenches yet again with midfield just a big pinball machine pinging the ball out in random directions.

What tactical changes did you see? I really couldn’t see any.

Whoscored.com

[Extended-Phenotype]

Where can I find the heat maps? Because all I saw was Wing stuck in the trenches yet again with midfield just a big pinball machine pinging the ball out in random directions.

What tactical changes did you see? I really couldn’t see any.

Whoscored.com

I’m clearly a simpleton. Can’t find any heat maps on there.

EDIT: Ah found it under “Heat Maps”.

[Royal Rother]

Absolutely nothing outstanding in this division that I`ve seen so far, we`re 7 points off the play-off as it stands. it won`t take that much of an improvement to get into the mix.
Stevenage 4th, bang average from what we saw last night if that`s the benchmark there`s no reason we can`t get there.

I agree. Take the 45/1 for promotion! Free money.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Wing is 100% playing a different role. Check out heat maps for last night compared to say Mansfield. He is very much playing a RCM, Savage a LCM and no longer playing between the CBs

Right, I’ve looked at the heat maps for Wing for every game going back to Mansfield and I honestly think you are looking at them the wrong way round. If they show anything, it’s that Wing has dropped deeper and deeper since Mansfield, which pretty much aligns with what I think I have been seeing with my own daft eyes.

[Snowflake Royal]

Where can I find the heat maps? Because all I saw was Wing stuck in the trenches yet again with midfield just a big pinball machine pinging the ball out in random directions.

What tactical changes did you see? I really couldn’t see any.

Whoscored.com

I’m clearly a simpleton. Can’t find any heat maps on there.

EDIT: Ah found it under “Heat Maps”.

[Hound]

Wing is 100% playing a different role. Check out heat maps for last night compared to say Mansfield. He is very much playing a RCM, Savage a LCM and no longer playing between the CBs

Right, I’ve looked at the heat maps for Wing for every game going back to Mansfield and I honestly think you are looking at them the wrong way round. If they show anything, it’s that Wing has dropped deeper and deeper since Mansfield, which pretty much aligns with what I think I have been seeing with my own daft eyes.

I’ll check back, could always have been user error

[Hound]

A rare live game for me. Great result, but the quality of football from both sides was dire. Wasn’t exactly overwhelmed by the differences between Noel’s Reading and Leam’s Reading; looked to me like Leam just picked up where Noel left off. Feels a bit unfair to reel off a bunch of criticisms after a win - and a win against a (supposedly) top side no less - but it’s just so depressing to see how far we have fallen performance-wise.

It’s telling that one our best players - JP - is capable of kicking it out for a throw in 5-6 times in one game. It’s just woeful to watch. Defence did a good job of shepherding the few attacking moves made by Stevenage into the wilderness, but in possession (if you could call it that), all four of them just immediately hoff the ball into the sky with their eyes closed. Between our backline and JP booting everything long to a frontline who can’t jump, it’s no wonder we can’t create any passage of play where we are under control of the ball.

I really don’t know what Lewis Wing is doing anymore. Leam seems to agree with Noel that he’s a centre-back now, fine - make it official and drop one of O’Connor or Williams. We are so congested in front of our own box they are literally tackling each other by accident.

Ehibatioman is worse in real life. He looks drunk. All he does is lummox around like a cartoon cat who just stood on a rake. When he jumps he is somehow lower in the air than he was when he was standing. It’s like he jumps inside himself like a oxf*rd accordion.

Other than the goal the only real ray of light was Kyerewaa. People have given him a hard time on here, but every time I watch a game he’s the one doing something exciting. It might not often come off, but he’s trying something. He’s taking risks and playing some actual football. He runs at people and he’s so fast. Man, he deserved a goal last night. But well done to him for actually playing like a winger. Feels like a decade since we’ve had one of them.

Ah, feel so harsh pissing and moaning after 3 points. I guess I was more interested in seeing a different performance than a different result. With performances like we’ve been churning out this season, results are just random. Get your performances right, and results will actually be under your control.

Happy with the result, but it’s the same poor football at the moment. I hope with time we see some improvement.

Some interesting takes there! Guess all opinions etc

DK played well last night but my main criticism previously is he is way too safe and never puts a cross in. Not actually that fast and about as exciting as the Coronation Street omnibus.

The last few teams he's played against must have had really slow defenders then, as he was regularly beating them for pace. I'm pretty sure I've seen comments from opposition fans regarding his pace too. Would be great to see sprint speeds of our various players as they would bring some objectivity into the discussions, in the same way that heat maps can.

I actually find him quite an exciting player and one who is likely to make things happen.

I guess, as they say, it's all about opinions.

The Carlisle number 3 had him for pace.

Dunno on sprint speeds and if published. Best I can think of is FIFA cards!

He isn’t slow certainly - I just don’t think he is game changer fast.

Just being a stats bore again, he dribbles less than once a game, few key passes and rarely actually gets dispossessed. I honestly can’t remember him crossing the ball in any game

Someone like that Cozier Duberry kid has 2.5 dribbles per game, loses possession twice a game. That’s sort of what I’d expect off a genuine risk taking winger

But he impressed me last night so all good

[Hound]

Where can I find the heat maps? Because all I saw was Wing stuck in the trenches yet again with midfield just a big pinball machine pinging the ball out in random directions.

What tactical changes did you see? I really couldn’t see any.

Than an ones I’d say are

Wing not coming back to quarterback (under debate)
One of the FBs going high and wide in possesion - previously Jacob/Abrefa were coming into CM
Lane coming central into CAM to make two CAMs with Doyle. As another poster said in transition we look suspiciously like 4-2-2-2 With DK going up to join Kelvin rather than Doyle

Also pretty sure we’re putting more crosses in and quicker but not sure how to quantify that

[Mr Optimist]

I agree with Hound on DK. He is “alright” but I am always hoping for more from him. He flatters to deceive. Im willing to face down the full back and take them on but he shapes to look as though he is going to the cuts in or goes backwards. Maybe it’s a confidence thing or just modern wing play style and the days of wingers “skinning” a full back are a relic of the past.

[West F]

A rare live game for me. Great result, but the quality of football from both sides was dire. Wasn’t exactly overwhelmed by the differences between Noel’s Reading and Leam’s Reading; looked to me like Leam just picked up where Noel left off. Feels a bit unfair to reel off a bunch of criticisms after a win - and a win against a (supposedly) top side no less - but it’s just so depressing to see how far we have fallen performance-wise.

It’s telling that one our best players - JP - is capable of kicking it out for a throw in 5-6 times in one game. It’s just woeful to watch. Defence did a good job of shepherding the few attacking moves made by Stevenage into the wilderness, but in possession (if you could call it that), all four of them just immediately hoff the ball into the sky with their eyes closed. Between our backline and JP booting everything long to a frontline who can’t jump, it’s no wonder we can’t create any passage of play where we are under control of the ball.

I really don’t know what Lewis Wing is doing anymore. Leam seems to agree with Noel that he’s a centre-back now, fine - make it official and drop one of O’Connor or Williams. We are so congested in front of our own box they are literally tackling each other by accident.

Ehibatioman is worse in real life. He looks drunk. All he does is lummox around like a cartoon cat who just stood on a rake. When he jumps he is somehow lower in the air than he was when he was standing. It’s like he jumps inside himself like a oxf*rd accordion.

Other than the goal the only real ray of light was Kyerewaa. People have given him a hard time on here, but every time I watch a game he’s the one doing something exciting. It might not often come off, but he’s trying something. He’s taking risks and playing some actual football. He runs at people and he’s so fast. Man, he deserved a goal last night. But well done to him for actually playing like a winger. Feels like a decade since we’ve had one of them.

Ah, feel so harsh pissing and moaning after 3 points. I guess I was more interested in seeing a different performance than a different result. With performances like we’ve been churning out this season, results are just random. Get your performances right, and results will actually be under your control.

Happy with the result, but it’s the same poor football at the moment. I hope with time we see some improvement.

Kyerewaa can’t be a winger when he is played on his naturally wrong side. Hunt, Salako and Blakey were wingers, they delivered balls into the box. When Lane plays on the left he is a winger, with end product. Kyerewaa is an inverted forward, who has pace and seemingly no end product.
Ehibhatiomhan worked hard for the team last night. He isn’t Haaland and is never going to be. He won more headers last night than in all of his previous games this season. There was not much difference between the team under Hunt and this team under Richardson. With the only palpable difference being more of a propensity to hit direct and long balls. This may not be good to watch, but it could be how Richardson took Paul Cook’s Wigan to the Championship.

[Hound]

Wing is 100% playing a different role. Check out heat maps for last night compared to say Mansfield. He is very much playing a RCM, Savage a LCM and no longer playing between the CBs

Right, I’ve looked at the heat maps for Wing for every game going back to Mansfield and I honestly think you are looking at them the wrong way round. If they show anything, it’s that Wing has dropped deeper and deeper since Mansfield, which pretty much aligns with what I think I have been seeing with my own daft eyes.

I’ll check back, could always have been user error

Ok had a scan through. The touch and pass map are better indicators than the heat map which are too different

I’d say picking up the ball deeper is potentially debatable from the ones I’ve looked at, esp as we only have one game in Stevenage to compare

What looks v clear to me though is that Wing is playing strictly right side. Only four touches more than a metre or so on the LHS. Compare to that earlier games (Donny isn’t a bad one) where you can see him coming to collect on both sides (and a bit deeper). Savage mirrors him on the LHS

Mansfield is quite an extreme example of him being literally all over the pitch

[Hound]

We’ll see more on upcoming games. Tbf Stevenage looked a bit shit but they would have been top with a game in hand had they won.

I’m looking forward to see what we do when we play weaker sides. I suspect we’ll see more changes become obvious then

We had a lot less touches and passes than under Noel last night. Quite possibly a sign of things to come (and I’m all for that tbh)

[Hound]

Actually scanning through a few
more games, and not really thought of this, but Savage and Wing are all over the shop. I reckon LR has made it absolutely clear to stay on their side. Also suggests why are midfield was such a mess under Hunt.

Noted there was a comment from LR on the goal ‘Savage was where he was meant to be’…