Pre Season games 2025/6

[Hound]

Well lots to do for Hunt. Didn’t like his subs much either

Burns had a pretty dreadful game to add to the starting full backs

Forwards have nothing to work with, can’t really judge them but Kelvin E the best of them. Savage held his own but Elliot and Wing overrun

Defence though…I think he’s backed the wrong players in that evidence. Ryan, Dorsett and Ahmed all look better than Jacob/Abrefa and Stickland must fancy his chances of getting a game on that display

Definitely need another striker with presence - Okine Peters is tiny. Cant see how he is a CF tbh.

[Snowflake Royal]

Pereira, whilst not at fault, hasn't done well on any of these goals. But the main problem is the entire back four is so immobile, Pompey are just running past them to get 1v1s with Pereira under zero pressure constantly.

Burns, O'Connor and Jacobs simply cannot play any sort of high or even normal defensive line, and have zero ability to recover back.

Hunt has to either play a different back line, or a different defensive shape and line. Because neither O'Connor or Burns can cover the ground to coverin behind fullbacks when they're high, or get back if they brought the ball forward into midfield.

It's like a few years ago when we were constantly playing CBs with the pace and turning circle of the QE2 and exprcting them to cover balls into the channels for speedsters. It's a recipie for disaster.

Isn’t this where midfielders should be dropping into the spaces the full backs leave and thus help the defence avoid dodgy situations?

No, I don't think that's the problem. Yes you do want midfielders to cover... particularly fullbacks. But the problem is that our CBs are slow and completely disorganised, working independently of each other. There were constantly Pompey players getting in behind them centrally with nothing between them and goal but Pereira, sometimes two or three of them at the same time. They weren't just slow in the legs, they were in the wrong place and with glacial reaction time and anticipation.

Wing should not be playing CB to get Burns and O'Connor out of jail because they're awol or using a zimmer frame. He's supposed to be a our playmaker. And yet he was often Burn's defensive partner.

[windermereROYAL]

No goals in 3 public friendlies, I`m not panicking but we do look a bit toothless at the minute.

[Snowflake Royal]

No goals in 3 public friendlies, I`m not panicking but we do look a bit toothless at the minute.

Not so worried about the lack of goals, we're clearly still working on strengthening the front line and we should have money and wage capacity to do something interesting with Knibbs going... plus Bowler may eventually sign which would help. Plus we know we have a few goals in Kelvin, Wing and Savage. If we're regularly playing Garcia and Camara as starting wingers, then yeah, panic stations.

My concern is just how awful our defence looked in that last game and how few of our players back there have anything even remotely resembling pace. Most of them make Bindon look lightning quick, let alone Mbengue.

[blueroyals]

RoyalsTV site hardly covering itself in glory either, no line ups given, no stats provided - I know it’s only a PSF but surely they should be “selling it” to those few punters that tune in, in the hope they come back sometime?

Those who hounded Tim, Ady and Mick out got what they wanted. Passionate fans replaced by soulless, bland Heart breakfast host media bot 3000

[Hound]

No goals in 3 public friendlies, I`m not panicking but we do look a bit toothless at the minute.

Not so worried about the lack of goals, we're clearly still working on strengthening the front line and we should have money and wage capacity to do something interesting with Knibbs going... plus Bowler may eventually sign which would help. Plus we know we have a few goals in Kelvin, Wing and Savage. If we're regularly playing Garcia and Camara as starting wingers, then yeah, panic stations.

My concern is just how awful our defence looked in that last game and how few of our players back there have anything even remotely resembling pace. Most of them make Bindon look lightning quick, let alone Mbengue.

Yeah agree on this. What exactly have the forwards been meant to do with the service they’ve received as well? Garcia certainly hasn’t excelled, o Mahoney works hard, Kelvin been the best of the 3 - but they’ve been chasing onto not much more than long hoofs in the air.

Whene we’ve been able to get the ball down a bit up top we’ve not looked bad

Defensively was horrific today. If I was next week’s opposition I’d just say get it out wide and put it across the penalty spot and we’ll score plenty

[Sutekh]

Now 270 minutes against league opposition and still no goals. Not even sure there’s been much by the way of shots either, let alone on target.

[Hound]

…but again we looked quite good against Spurs and Gillingham at the back

Maybe just a shambolic day at the office

[Hound]

Now 270 minutes against league opposition and still no goals. Not even sure there’s been much by the way of shots either.

We scored twice against Swindon

[Sutekh]

Now 270 minutes against league opposition and still no goals. Not even sure there’s been much by the way of shots either.

We scored twice against Swindon

Sorry meant to include “in a match atmosphere” not “behind closed doors on a training pitch”.

[Orion1871]

Well that was worrying. They should have had at least another 3 goals though.

The last two Pompey goals had blatant fouls missed by the ref, but we had to deal with both situations much better after those refereeing mistakes.

Absolutely killed down the flanks with the usual lack of tracking back from wing players not helping either Abrefa or the completely abject Jacob. How long ago was Leyton Orient away where Wellens said post match that they attacked wide because they knew our wide players didn't track back? Months later and still we haven't learned.

Burns and O'Connor didn't seem to know how to mark their attackers, and need a lot of work as a partnership. We're really going to miss the pace of Mbengue on that showing.

Savage and Wing didn't have a sniff of the ball and were completely ineffectual. I hoped that Ben Elliott may have used his time away with his leg injury to bulk his upper body up a bit, but he still the same

What a player WiFi is! Or rather would be if he had that final ball. Found himself in good positions but the final cross usually went behind our attackers and straight to Portsmouth every time.

O'Mahoney had a torrid time. Wafted at a shot in the box and his first touch was shocking. Desperately need reinforcements up front if we're relying in these guys now Knibbs is going.

Just got to hope that the restrictions from our interfering friends at the EFL that have slowed our summer recruitment down has just set our signings back a few weeks, not allowing them to have a proper pre-season and get up to speed properly.

[Snowflake Royal]

RoyalsTV site hardly covering itself in glory either, no line ups given, no stats provided - I know it’s only a PSF but surely they should be “selling it” to those few punters that tune in, in the hope they come back sometime?

Those who hounded Tim, Ady and Mick out got what they wanted. Passionate fans replaced by soulless, bland Heart breakfast host media bot 3000

At least Phil can tell the players apart, and doesn't think his morning run routine or what nightclub Mick went to 30 years ago is interesting.

[Jackson Corner]

This is the worst looking Reading pre season squad l can remember. We may have our club back but it’s going to be a very long painful season. Relegation is a strong possibility based on that shambles.

[WestYorksRoyal]

This is the worst looking Reading pre season squad l can remember. We may have our club back but it’s going to be a very long painful season. Relegation is a strong possibility based on that shambles.

We are not getting relegated.

[Hound]

This is the worst looking Reading pre season squad l can remember. We may have our club back but it’s going to be a very long painful season. Relegation is a strong possibility based on that shambles.

We are not getting relegated.

Yeah no chance

Just a particularly bad game. We looked ok vs Spurs and Gillingham

[Crowbar6753]

We won't get relegated, yes their are some good teams in this division and a few throwing around good money to try and buy their way to the top just like Birmingham did however, their are also a fair few weak and mediocre teams in this league!!
We need to bolster our attacking line and now we know that Knibbs is off we should be able to prepare accordingly and with a bit of cash in the bank.
The defense was the area that surprised me today and shows the need for at lease one pacey defenseman in the line up. They will get better as they play together and lets face it they've only had a few games to get to know each other.
Maybe to give some support to the defense it is time to give up on playing Wing as a DM and get the new Canadian chap who is a specialized DM and very good judging by reports, allowing Wing to create further up the pitch.
Its not doom and gloom but plenty of room for improvement. Should make for an interesting week in the transfer market as we really don't want to be leaving it to late especially with a fairly tough opening month of fixtures. Hunt has his work cut out as I'm not sure how long the new hierarchy will give him if we start badly.

[Snowflake Royal]

This is the worst looking Reading pre season squad l can remember. We may have our club back but it’s going to be a very long painful season. Relegation is a strong possibility based on that shambles.

Jackson, this is most unlike you. What happened to your normal sunny optimistic outlook?

[Royals and Racers]

Basingstoke 1 Reading U 21’s 1 H-T 0-0 we scored 1st and then conceded a pen. Around 750 watched the game.

Osho scored the goal

[Mid Sussex Royal]

This is the worst looking Reading pre season squad l can remember. We may have our club back but it’s going to be a very long painful season. Relegation is a strong possibility based on that shambles.

Jackson, this is most unlike you. What happened to your normal sunny optimistic outlook?

He has a point...the squad is substantially weaker than the last 2 L1 seasons which is the only recent comparison we can make.

[Ascotexgunner]

We won't get relegated, yes their are some good teams in this division and a few throwing around good money to try and buy their way to the top just like Birmingham did however, their are also a fair few weak and mediocre teams in this league!!
We need to bolster our attacking line and now we know that Knibbs is off we should be able to prepare accordingly and with a bit of cash in the bank.
The defense was the area that surprised me today and shows the need for at lease one pacey defenseman in the line up. They will get better as they play together and lets face it they've only had a few games to get to know each other.
Maybe to give some support to the defense it is time to give up on playing Wing as a DM and get the new Canadian chap who is a specialized DM and very good judging by reports, allowing Wing to create further up the pitch.
Its not doom and gloom but plenty of room for improvement. Should make for an interesting week in the transfer market as we really don't want to be leaving it to late especially with a fairly tough opening month of fixtures. Hunt has his work cut out as I'm not sure how long the new hierarchy will give him if we start badly.

Agree, last season Wing was playing way too deep at times, I hate him there. His talent is creativity, not mopping up. I want him on the ball 25 yards from goal.....not 40.