Hunt v Selles - what's changed?

[Royal_jimmy]

I think squad depth is starting to hit us, teams with smaller squads tend to find it tougher later in the season with fatigue.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

If you were to compare the start of Selles's tenure with Hunt's you'd see Noel has made a much better start. We're harder to beat away from home. We looked like we had the start of a really good passing side against Bolton. Shrewsbury was pretty awful, but then again we had some shocking performance from the side under Selles even after he had had months to impose his will.

If the Bolton performance was the real "new" Reading then Hunt will have done well. If it's like the Shrewsbury game from now on the seasons can't end too soon.

Hunt after three months versus Selles after three months, Hunt is clearly ahead.

Hunt after one year versus Selles after on year? We'll wait and see.

[RoyalBlue]

If you were to compare the start of Selles's tenure with Hunt's you'd see Noel has made a much better start. We're harder to beat away from home. We looked like we had the start of a really good passing side against Bolton. Shrewsbury was pretty awful, but then again we had some shocking performance from the side under Selles even after he had had months to impose his will.

If the Bolton performance was the real "new" Reading then Hunt will have done well. If it's like the Shrewsbury game from now on the seasons can't end too soon.

Hunt after three months versus Selles after three months, Hunt is clearly ahead.

Hunt after one year versus Selles after on year? We'll wait and see.

That's a false comparison IMO.

Selles was totally new to the club. He started not knowing any of the players and had to spend the first few months assembling a squad before then trying to get them used to him and his preferred style of play.

Hunt knew the club inside out and had worked previously with many of the players. He inherited a reasonably capable squad (given the circumstances) who had gelled together really well and had got used to playing a certain way with pretty impressive results.

Yes, the players may have taken a knock in morale due to the departure of a coach and coaching team who they clearly held in high regard and would run through walls for. However, the team was well positioned, both in terms of the table and their football, to move forward.

IMO, the mistake Hunt and his coaches have made is trying to alter things that were working well and didn't need altering/fixing. Yes, they seem to have started to fix the away performances and results but the home performances seem to be going the other way.

Compare and contrast with Wycombe where their new manager questioned why he would seek to change anything when what was already there was clearly working well.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

If you were to compare the start of Selles's tenure with Hunt's you'd see Noel has made a much better start. We're harder to beat away from home. We looked like we had the start of a really good passing side against Bolton. Shrewsbury was pretty awful, but then again we had some shocking performance from the side under Selles even after he had had months to impose his will.

If the Bolton performance was the real "new" Reading then Hunt will have done well. If it's like the Shrewsbury game from now on the seasons can't end too soon.

Hunt after three months versus Selles after three months, Hunt is clearly ahead.

Hunt after one year versus Selles after on year? We'll wait and see.

That's a false comparison IMO.

Selles was totally new to the club. He started not knowing any of the players and had to spend the first few months assembling a squad before then trying to get them used to him and his preferred style of play.

Hunt knew the club inside out and had worked previously with many of the players. He inherited a reasonably capable squad (given the circumstances) who had gelled together really well and had got used to playing a certain way with pretty impressive results.

Yes, the players may have taken a knock in morale due to the departure of a coach and coaching team who they clearly held in high regard and would run through walls for. However, the team was well positioned, both in terms of the table and their football, to move forward.

IMO, the mistake Hunt and his coaches have made is trying to alter things that were working well and didn't need altering/fixing. Yes, they seem to have started to fix the away performances and results but the home performances seem to be going the other way.

Compare and contrast with Wycombe where their new manager questioned why he would seek to change anything when what was already there was clearly working well.

To a point agree certainly re the start of last season, but as I said earlier I think we were always going to see a tail off around this time, even with Selles in charge.

Maybe fitness levels and fatigue mean we cannot play as Selles did for 90 minutes. I read on Twitter that Wing is one of three outfield L1 players who has played every minute of the season, and Knibbs is in the top 10 with Savage not far behind. Bare in mind also they are midfield players.

We cannot afford to rest them due to lack of depth, everyone around us brought in extra players to add the depth needed at this stage of the season.

Some of the youngsters such as Garcia have levelled out, entirely understandable given its their first season in league football.

We are swimming against the tide at this time of the season, whoever the manager is.

[Hound]

The midfield has really disappointed me in recent games. Wing, Knibbs and Savage have all shown enough to be one of the best midfields in the league and they were overrun last night and in other recent games I’ve seen

It could be the fatigue as mentioned above, it could be something tactical. That’s where we need to start imo, that and full back.

[Snowflake Royal]

If you were to compare the start of Selles's tenure with Hunt's you'd see Noel has made a much better start. We're harder to beat away from home. We looked like we had the start of a really good passing side against Bolton. Shrewsbury was pretty awful, but then again we had some shocking performance from the side under Selles even after he had had months to impose his will.

If the Bolton performance was the real "new" Reading then Hunt will have done well. If it's like the Shrewsbury game from now on the seasons can't end too soon.

Hunt after three months versus Selles after three months, Hunt is clearly ahead.

Hunt after one year versus Selles after on year? We'll wait and see.

That's a false comparison IMO.

Selles was totally new to the club. He started not knowing any of the players and had to spend the first few months assembling a squad before then trying to get them used to him and his preferred style of play.

Hunt knew the club inside out and had worked previously with many of the players. He inherited a reasonably capable squad (given the circumstances) who had gelled together really well and had got used to playing a certain way with pretty impressive results.

Yes, the players may have taken a knock in morale due to the departure of a coach and coaching team who they clearly held in high regard and would run through walls for. However, the team was well positioned, both in terms of the table and their football, to move forward.

IMO, the mistake Hunt and his coaches have made is trying to alter things that were working well and didn't need altering/fixing. Yes, they seem to have started to fix the away performances and results but the home performances seem to be going the other way.

Compare and contrast with Wycombe where their new manager questioned why he would seek to change anything when what was already there was clearly working well.

I bet you weren't making any of those excuses for Selles at the time.

The fact is, last season, Selles had a squad streets ahead of the one Hunt has. Even at the start.

Yiadom vs Craig
Holmes, Bindon, Mbengue, Abbey vs Bindon, Mbengue, Dean
Dorsett, Mola, Carson, NGW (loaned out) vs Garcia, Kanu, Dorsett
Campbell vs Azeez
Mukairu, Ehibhatiomhan vs Ehibhatiomhan, Camara

And that's not mentioning Carroll and McIntyre at the start.

[leon]

If you were to compare the start of Selles's tenure with Hunt's you'd see Noel has made a much better start. We're harder to beat away from home. We looked like we had the start of a really good passing side against Bolton. Shrewsbury was pretty awful, but then again we had some shocking performance from the side under Selles even after he had had months to impose his will.

If the Bolton performance was the real "new" Reading then Hunt will have done well. If it's like the Shrewsbury game from now on the seasons can't end too soon.

Hunt after three months versus Selles after three months, Hunt is clearly ahead.

Hunt after one year versus Selles after on year? We'll wait and see.

That's a false comparison IMO.

Selles was totally new to the club. He started not knowing any of the players and had to spend the first few months assembling a squad before then trying to get them used to him and his preferred style of play.

Hunt knew the club inside out and had worked previously with many of the players. He inherited a reasonably capable squad (given the circumstances) who had gelled together really well and had got used to playing a certain way with pretty impressive results.

Yes, the players may have taken a knock in morale due to the departure of a coach and coaching team who they clearly held in high regard and would run through walls for. However, the team was well positioned, both in terms of the table and their football, to move forward.

IMO, the mistake Hunt and his coaches have made is trying to alter things that were working well and didn't need altering/fixing. Yes, they seem to have started to fix the away performances and results but the home performances seem to be going the other way.

Compare and contrast with Wycombe where their new manager questioned why he would seek to change anything when what was already there was clearly working well.

I bet you weren't making any of those excuses for Selles at the time.

The fact is, last season, Selles had a squad streets ahead of the one Hunt has. Even at the start.

Yiadom vs Craig
Holmes, Bindon, Mbengue, Abbey vs Bindon, Mbengue, Dean
Dorsett, Mola, Carson, NGW (loaned out) vs Garcia, Kanu, Dorsett
Campbell vs Azeez
Mukairu, Ehibhatiomhan vs Ehibhatiomhan, Camara

And that's not mentioning Carroll and McIntyre at the start.

I'm not particularly convinced really.
Yiadom vs Craig - people were slagging Yiadom off for his fairly tame performances. Craig started pretty well and has been solid up to about a month ago or so.

Holmes, Bindon, Mbengue, Abbey vs Bindon, Mbengue, Dean - I'm taking the Bindon/Mbenge partnership now over ANYTHING we've had before for some time. They're excellent and have matured.

Dorsett, Mola, Carson, NGW (loaned out) vs Garcia, Kanu, Dorsett - spaniards choice really.

Campbell vs Azeez - you can have that one. I dont rate Campbell at all. He's just a warm body. Even a misfiring Azeez (and he did quite a lot) contributed more.

Mukairu, Ehibhatiomhan vs Ehibhatiomhan, Camara - can't really see much difference. Mukairu had a few consistently good games. Not exactly

So really not a great deal of difference and not streets ahead I'd say.

As for Carroll and Macintyre, well Not sure we missed either of them?

[Brogue]

Ruben Selles vs Noel Hunt - a Data-Focused Managerial Tactical Comparison.

Under Selles, Reading had much greater attacking presence, with strong high regain totals and respectable field tilt (penalty area touches compared to opponents), underlined by counter-pressing and emphasis on quick transitions.

Hunt's Reading have become more pragmatic, but lack an attacking identity, with a noticeable increase in direct play. There has been a severe drop off in attacking output, averaging just 1 npxG per 90, four shots, and over five penalty area touches fewer than under the Spaniard.

[Hendo]

Ruben Selles vs Noel Hunt - a Data-Focused Managerial Tactical Comparison.

Under Selles, Reading had much greater attacking presence, with strong high regain totals and respectable field tilt (penalty area touches compared to opponents), underlined by counter-pressing and emphasis on quick transitions.

Hunt's Reading have become more pragmatic, but lack an attacking identity, with a noticeable increase in direct play. There has been a severe drop off in attacking output, averaging just 1 npxG per 90, four shots, and over five penalty area touches fewer than under the Spaniard.

[Snowflake Royal]

America has so much to answer for.

Field tilt?

Field. oxf*rd. TILT!?

[Sutekh]

The Tilehurst End have already analysed and vlogged the definitive answer on this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvMQajyCTxQ

[Sutekh]

America has so much to answer for.

Field tilt?

Field. oxf*rd. TILT!?

It's some twatty name for "the share of touches in the final third", Curtis Tilt would be the defensive equivalent.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

The Tilehurst End have already analysed and vlogged the definitive answer on this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvMQajyCTxQ

Impressive analysis. The main take aways for me were:

Harder to beat.
Not pressing quite as high.
More width.
A small increase in long balls.
Different set up away from home as at home.

Hasn't fixed everything or changed everything, but the "he's out of his depth" or is "naive" just isn't credible. Hunt clearly has the tactical understanding and the ability to transmit it to his players.

[Sutekh]

The Tilehurst End have already analysed and vlogged the definitive answer on this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvMQajyCTxQ

Impressive analysis. The main take aways for me were:

Harder to beat.
Not pressing quite as high.
More width.
A small increase in long balls.
Different set up away from home as at home.

Hasn't fixed everything or changed everything, but the "he's out of his depth" or is "naive" just isn't credible. Hunt clearly has the tactical understanding and the ability to transmit it to his players.

Yes, any deficiencies are more to do with the lack of quality in the squad than Mr Hunt. Both have more to learn.

[Royalwaster]

No-one has mentioned - 100% more likely to win penalties in the last minute of the game!

[tidus_mi2]

I have been critical of Hunt but to be fair, looking at our fixtures since he came in, we seem to have had a pretty tough run, a bunch of teams either at the top or, lower placed teams on an upturn of form.

[Snowflake Royal]

So...
Hunt: P16, W6, D6, L5, F19, A20 - 1.5ppg and now 7 games unbeaten.


FYI, Selles after 16:
P16, W3, D2, L11, F15, A28 - 0.7 ppg

This is, of course, the point where Selles got things together and started accumulating points and performances.

I think Hunt is doing a great job undervery difficult circumstances. Clearly our attack is a lot weaker than we'd like and there's still a hell of a lot wrong behind the scenes, but he's grinding out results, and making us much harder to beat.

Patience, is being rewarded.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Not just winning away from home, but winning away from home after being behind. With three probable starters out with injuries.

That's new. Hunt is doing an amazing job.

[Hendo]

It's almost like he needed a little bit of time to get his feet under the table and re-galvanise the group after the previous manager left

[Greatwesternline]

No-one has mentioned - 100% more likely to win penalties in the last minute of the game!

I can't help but feel a team with Smith playing who constantly complains to the ref for 90 minutes of a match is less likely to win marginal calls from a ref.

It surprises me how much managers / captains tolerate having players constantly complain to a ref for the entire match.

Referees are human. Why would they be more inclined to give a team a marginal penalty call if the lead striker has been a twat all game?

If home advantage sways referees, so will their general disposition to a collection of 11 players complaining at them all game. There is no way to prove it, but i can't help but feel Smith leaving will have had an influence on our recent increase in penalties being given.