Reading FC Match Report: 2020/2021 Season - League Cup
READING 0 LUTON 1
Reading: --
Luton: J Clark (24)
Post Match Fans' Opinion
Ranty McRantface
» 15 Sep 2020 21:00
Let's be real here. This game was an opportunity for non-first teamers to show what they can do with little emphasis on tactics. So anyone expecting to see an all action performance and the team setup to their tactical best in the space of 2 days is off their head on meth.
Is playing Man Utd ressies in the next game behind closed doors really going to get you fired up?
Sorry to have a moan there but some callers/twitters have got me really pissed off!
1st Half
Luton dominitated. Their movement in midfield was much better than us and is why they were so dominant. A lot of their attacks were coming down Bristow's side becausehe wasn't getting any help from Aluko initially. When Aluko did track back it was half arsed at best in the first 20mins. Going forward we looked lively until the final third where we did nothing. Apart from Tetek the midfield looked like a game of Chess; static and boring.
2nd Half
Better in all areas, but still blunt up top. We had McNulty, Puscas, Aluko and Baldock higher up the pitch yet we still did nothing. McNulty and Baldock were the only 2 slightly out of position but when they did get the ball they did nothing with it. Puscas can not play up front on his own. I can't fault anyone's effort in this half at all but there were only 2 players that looked like they could challenge the 1st team, 1 player that looked ok and 1 that has a very bright future.
Ratings
Southwood 6 - Some good saves but his kicking was a bit suspect. A couple of times from crosses his positioning
looked a little off. He's not first choice but did ok.
Araruna 7 - Struggled for 15mins but after that he was fine. Got forward well, defended better and looked comfortable. I am comfortable having him to replace Yiadom if the latter is injured or suspended. He is 1 of the players that can challenge in the 1st team.
Holmes 6 - Strong and good on the ball. Also clumsy and poor decision making at times. I think this is why we saw him cameo as a DM because his rashness would be too costly as a CB in the Championship. He needs a loan to get some game experience to learn how to deal with different situations better as a Defender that will help him with this decision making.
McIntyre 7 - 1 mistake in each half so I had to knock him down a point but apart from that he was very, very good. He is better than Holmes and I can understand why he was pissed off for being left out on the weekend. I wouldn't say he did enough to displace Morrison or Moore but I would certainly have him on the bench for the next game. He was the final one to challenge for a place in the 1st team.
Bristow 5 - I know he's young but he's not ready to cover at Left Back for Richards. He got better in the 2nd half but he was torn apart in the 1st and couldn't cut out any crosses coming in. I don't think any of his crosses passed the 1st man when he went forward either.
Tetek 8 - This is one with a bright future. I don't know if any of you remember East making his debut last season? but Moore was telling him where to run, how to think and how to play constantly. Tetek did not need any of that today at all. In the first half he was carrying Watson in midfield, he knew where to run into space, he got forward well for a DM, solid on the ball and wasn't afraid to get stuck in. I think with him we should keep him training with the 1st team and look to loan him out in January to a League 2 club if we can. He's got a very bright future this kid.
Watson 4 - Sorry. One caller was playing the violin's for him saying that he hasn't played for 4 years. Hes been on loan the past 2 years or so and hasn't done enough. Regardless, whether a player is playing out of position he looked really poor. Static, misplaced passes and generally disinterested.
Aluko 5 - He annoys me greatly. For someone who we paid and still pay a lot for I am expecting so much more from him. In the game he did some really good things but would then follow up with a crap pass, poor skill or play wrong the ball. I can't fault his effort for 70mins of the game but he is just not value for money. When Meite is available and if we get Riquelme I expect him to drop from the bench.
Baldock 5 - Mick Gooding and Tim Dellor were lauding his work rate and making excuses for his performance as he was not playing up top, but he did nothing when he had the ball. Any player at any level has the ability to work hard so a professional doing it doesn't cut it. If he made more of his runs in between Midfield and Attack to offer a forward option and played on the half turn he would have been far more effective in his role.
McNulty 5 - To be fair he did exactly what I criticised Baldock for not doing enough of for the team today. He did play in the spaces and try to offer and outlet. The issue is when he did create that space for him he fluffed his final ball every time. Again like the others I can't fault his work rate. I hope for the sake of his career he gets a move before the window closes.
Puscas 5 - He is not a loan striker at all. The service was pretty awful but he doesn't have half the effect Joao or Meite would up top in that role. Again, I can't fault his effort though. And why the hell did he not try to attack McIntyre's header back into the box. That was a strikers bread and butter!
Subs
Sackey - Looked lively when he came on. Good skills but not ready for the first team. Needs a loan out in League 2/National League
Abbey - Not enough time to comment
Melvin-Lambert - Not enough time to comment
Observations
1) We can't judge Paunovic at all on this as it was clearly an exhibition of youth and fringe players for him to take a look at.
2) Tetek is one to watch.
3) The club need to sell Baldock, McNulty and Aluko asap.
4) Watson needs to move on.
5) Holmes needs a loan out to a League One side.
6) I made some points about squad depth in my last review and I think this game justifies this. We need Cover for Laurent/Rino, another attacking option and it also looks like we need a LB for cover too.
7) I can't see Puscas getting many games this season.
End on a positive. It was nice to see so many of the young players getting a game against decent opposition so the club can asses where they are in terms of development. Tetek was definitely the pick of the youngsters.
Is playing Man Utd ressies in the next game behind closed doors really going to get you fired up?
Sorry to have a moan there but some callers/twitters have got me really pissed off!
1st Half
Luton dominitated. Their movement in midfield was much better than us and is why they were so dominant. A lot of their attacks were coming down Bristow's side becausehe wasn't getting any help from Aluko initially. When Aluko did track back it was half arsed at best in the first 20mins. Going forward we looked lively until the final third where we did nothing. Apart from Tetek the midfield looked like a game of Chess; static and boring.
2nd Half
Better in all areas, but still blunt up top. We had McNulty, Puscas, Aluko and Baldock higher up the pitch yet we still did nothing. McNulty and Baldock were the only 2 slightly out of position but when they did get the ball they did nothing with it. Puscas can not play up front on his own. I can't fault anyone's effort in this half at all but there were only 2 players that looked like they could challenge the 1st team, 1 player that looked ok and 1 that has a very bright future.
Ratings
Southwood 6 - Some good saves but his kicking was a bit suspect. A couple of times from crosses his positioning
looked a little off. He's not first choice but did ok.
Araruna 7 - Struggled for 15mins but after that he was fine. Got forward well, defended better and looked comfortable. I am comfortable having him to replace Yiadom if the latter is injured or suspended. He is 1 of the players that can challenge in the 1st team.
Holmes 6 - Strong and good on the ball. Also clumsy and poor decision making at times. I think this is why we saw him cameo as a DM because his rashness would be too costly as a CB in the Championship. He needs a loan to get some game experience to learn how to deal with different situations better as a Defender that will help him with this decision making.
McIntyre 7 - 1 mistake in each half so I had to knock him down a point but apart from that he was very, very good. He is better than Holmes and I can understand why he was pissed off for being left out on the weekend. I wouldn't say he did enough to displace Morrison or Moore but I would certainly have him on the bench for the next game. He was the final one to challenge for a place in the 1st team.
Bristow 5 - I know he's young but he's not ready to cover at Left Back for Richards. He got better in the 2nd half but he was torn apart in the 1st and couldn't cut out any crosses coming in. I don't think any of his crosses passed the 1st man when he went forward either.
Tetek 8 - This is one with a bright future. I don't know if any of you remember East making his debut last season? but Moore was telling him where to run, how to think and how to play constantly. Tetek did not need any of that today at all. In the first half he was carrying Watson in midfield, he knew where to run into space, he got forward well for a DM, solid on the ball and wasn't afraid to get stuck in. I think with him we should keep him training with the 1st team and look to loan him out in January to a League 2 club if we can. He's got a very bright future this kid.
Watson 4 - Sorry. One caller was playing the violin's for him saying that he hasn't played for 4 years. Hes been on loan the past 2 years or so and hasn't done enough. Regardless, whether a player is playing out of position he looked really poor. Static, misplaced passes and generally disinterested.
Aluko 5 - He annoys me greatly. For someone who we paid and still pay a lot for I am expecting so much more from him. In the game he did some really good things but would then follow up with a crap pass, poor skill or play wrong the ball. I can't fault his effort for 70mins of the game but he is just not value for money. When Meite is available and if we get Riquelme I expect him to drop from the bench.
Baldock 5 - Mick Gooding and Tim Dellor were lauding his work rate and making excuses for his performance as he was not playing up top, but he did nothing when he had the ball. Any player at any level has the ability to work hard so a professional doing it doesn't cut it. If he made more of his runs in between Midfield and Attack to offer a forward option and played on the half turn he would have been far more effective in his role.
McNulty 5 - To be fair he did exactly what I criticised Baldock for not doing enough of for the team today. He did play in the spaces and try to offer and outlet. The issue is when he did create that space for him he fluffed his final ball every time. Again like the others I can't fault his work rate. I hope for the sake of his career he gets a move before the window closes.
Puscas 5 - He is not a loan striker at all. The service was pretty awful but he doesn't have half the effect Joao or Meite would up top in that role. Again, I can't fault his effort though. And why the hell did he not try to attack McIntyre's header back into the box. That was a strikers bread and butter!
Subs
Sackey - Looked lively when he came on. Good skills but not ready for the first team. Needs a loan out in League 2/National League
Abbey - Not enough time to comment
Melvin-Lambert - Not enough time to comment
Observations
1) We can't judge Paunovic at all on this as it was clearly an exhibition of youth and fringe players for him to take a look at.
2) Tetek is one to watch.
3) The club need to sell Baldock, McNulty and Aluko asap.
4) Watson needs to move on.
5) Holmes needs a loan out to a League One side.
6) I made some points about squad depth in my last review and I think this game justifies this. We need Cover for Laurent/Rino, another attacking option and it also looks like we need a LB for cover too.
7) I can't see Puscas getting many games this season.
End on a positive. It was nice to see so many of the young players getting a game against decent opposition so the club can asses where they are in terms of development. Tetek was definitely the pick of the youngsters.
Fox Talbot
» 15 Sep 2020 21:18
Stone cold sober rather than off head.
Learned nothing.
Enjoyed nothing.
£10 down and out of one of three competitions we enter.
No game against MUFC to look forward to.
Why risk first teamers in friendlies and bot play them in competition?
Why pay footballers lots not to play football matches?
Learned nothing.
Enjoyed nothing.
£10 down and out of one of three competitions we enter.
No game against MUFC to look forward to.
Why risk first teamers in friendlies and bot play them in competition?
Why pay footballers lots not to play football matches?
royalp-we
» 15 Sep 2020 21:21
The crux of it - we’ve won 2 home games in 15 during 2020. Saying ‘it’s just the league cup’ isn’t a valid excuse looking at some of the effort given.
The youngsters in the back line did quite well. They were cannon fodder at times.
The ‘senior’ attackers that played can hang their heads in shame.
Don’t blame Paunovic for putting players in the shop window.
We need to file that under ‘nights to forget’ and get everyone fired up for Barnsley on Saturday.
The youngsters in the back line did quite well. They were cannon fodder at times.
The ‘senior’ attackers that played can hang their heads in shame.
Don’t blame Paunovic for putting players in the shop window.
We need to file that under ‘nights to forget’ and get everyone fired up for Barnsley on Saturday.
Millsy
» 15 Sep 2020 21:29
Totally agree - I'm certain he was a permanent transfer. £8million or so IIRC.
Agree with most of your post, will only pick on areas I don't agree with i.e Baldock's rating. He's still a cut above the rest. I mean, Puscas stood there picking his nose when the ball drifted in front of him, and other than that I wouldn't have known he was playing, but Baldock gave his all as usual. He's definitely one to hold onto as a supersub if nothing else.
McIntyre - I've never really worked out the love he gets.
Aluko - some shit moments and normally one I love to hate, but actually for most of the game he worked his balls off and looked one of the least bad players. One minute shooting down the right and putting an excellent cross in, the next minute doing the defensive work at LB position where our left back was meant to be. Great stuff. Not enough to justify his wage but good to see.
Will end on a massive agreement though - Tetek looks very special. Screw Olise, Tetek seems exciting. That run where he sliced through their defenders like a hot knife through butter. Wow.
Overall happy with that. Gave the kids a trial, nothing to play for, pornstar learns more about his squad.
Ranty McRantface
» 15 Sep 2020 21:36
Totally agree - I'm certain he was a permanent transfer. £8million or so IIRC.
Agree with most of your post, will only pick on areas I don't agree with i.e Baldock's rating. He's still a cut above the rest. I mean, Puscas stood there picking his nose when the ball drifted in front of him, and other than that I wouldn't have known he was playing, but Baldock gave his all as usual. He's definitely one to hold onto as a supersub if nothing else.
McIntyre - I've never really worked out the love he gets.
Aluko - some shit moments and normally one I love to hate, but actually for most of the game he worked his balls off and looked one of the least bad players. One minute shooting down the right and putting an excellent cross in, the next minute doing the defensive work at LB position where our left back was meant to be. Great stuff. Not enough to justify his wage but good to see.
Will end on a massive agreement though - Tetek looks very special. Screw Olise, Tetek seems exciting. That run where he sliced through their defenders like a hot knife through butter. Wow.
Overall happy with that. Gave the kids a trial, nothing to play for, pornstar learns more about his squad.
Thanks for pointing out the typo. I was going to change it now but I think I'll leave it in for the banter as that is about as exciting as this evening will ever get after that game.
Snowflake Royal
» 15 Sep 2020 23:48
First crack in the manager's performance. And it's a fairly big crack.
Not a lot of issue with the back 5, though Bristow, McIntyre, Holmes and Southwood is probably a little lacking in experience to take on a Championship side.
From there though, it's just poor management.
Tetek and Watson 'running' midfield. Feel desperately sorry for Watson being asked to go and impress out of position. It's just brainless selection.
Then you have the senior players in the squad.
Baldock, Aluko, McNulty and Puscas. A less creative bunch you'd be hard pressed to find.
Baldock runs around and works hard, but with a totally pedestrian tempo behind and around him that's not going to do much. Looked thoroughly fed up.
McNulty laughably played out of position again ranging across the front line and obviously not wanted.
Aluko doddering around occasionally having a nice touch.
Puscas standing statuesque watching the game pass him by.
Poor movement from the lot of them. Barely any tempo. Little effort to get at Luton. No one running at space or driving forward until Tom McIntyre in the 86th minute.
And it's all stuff we saw regularly under previous managers who wanted to play out and control the game. Or in other words pass it around slowly in our half hoping it puts the opposition to sleep out of boredom so we can score a Villa vs Leeds esque goal.
No movement. No tempo. No direction. No drive.
Awful team selection. Awful approach.
And Luton weren't even any good.
Southwood - 7 some good saves
Araruna - 7 looks decent back up to Yiadom
Bristow - 6 good player in there, but needs plenty more development
Holmes - 8 looked completely assured
McIntyre - 7 looked ok
Watson - 4 barely noticed him, shouldn't have been played in midfield
Tetek - 5 showed some good touches, but like Bristow in need of development and IMO further off
Baldock - 5 worked hard didn't threaten
Aluko - 5 flattered to deceive but delivered nothing s usual. Should be causing Luton & especially Colchester serious problems. Didn't.
McNulty - 4 totally misused again. Why send him out to fail
Puscas - 4 offers absolutely nothing if the team aren't creating.
Not a lot of issue with the back 5, though Bristow, McIntyre, Holmes and Southwood is probably a little lacking in experience to take on a Championship side.
From there though, it's just poor management.
Tetek and Watson 'running' midfield. Feel desperately sorry for Watson being asked to go and impress out of position. It's just brainless selection.
Then you have the senior players in the squad.
Baldock, Aluko, McNulty and Puscas. A less creative bunch you'd be hard pressed to find.
Baldock runs around and works hard, but with a totally pedestrian tempo behind and around him that's not going to do much. Looked thoroughly fed up.
McNulty laughably played out of position again ranging across the front line and obviously not wanted.
Aluko doddering around occasionally having a nice touch.
Puscas standing statuesque watching the game pass him by.
Poor movement from the lot of them. Barely any tempo. Little effort to get at Luton. No one running at space or driving forward until Tom McIntyre in the 86th minute.
And it's all stuff we saw regularly under previous managers who wanted to play out and control the game. Or in other words pass it around slowly in our half hoping it puts the opposition to sleep out of boredom so we can score a Villa vs Leeds esque goal.
No movement. No tempo. No direction. No drive.
Awful team selection. Awful approach.
And Luton weren't even any good.
Southwood - 7 some good saves
Araruna - 7 looks decent back up to Yiadom
Bristow - 6 good player in there, but needs plenty more development
Holmes - 8 looked completely assured
McIntyre - 7 looked ok
Watson - 4 barely noticed him, shouldn't have been played in midfield
Tetek - 5 showed some good touches, but like Bristow in need of development and IMO further off
Baldock - 5 worked hard didn't threaten
Aluko - 5 flattered to deceive but delivered nothing s usual. Should be causing Luton & especially Colchester serious problems. Didn't.
McNulty - 4 totally misused again. Why send him out to fail
Puscas - 4 offers absolutely nothing if the team aren't creating.
Match Stats
Full Time: 0-1
Half Time: 0-1
Attendance: 0
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Teams
Reading: L Southwood, E Bristow, T Holmes, T McIntyre, F Araruna, D Tetek, S Aluko (N Abbey, 89), T Watson, M McNulty (L Sackey, 70), S Baldock, G Puscas (N Melvin-Lambert, 85).
Subs not used:O Pendlebury, J Ajose, R East, S Walker.
Luton: J Shea, S Bradley, R Norrington-Davies, J Bree (P Kioso, 85), T Lockyer (M Cranie, 89), R Tunnicliffe, G Moncur, A Shinnie, D Hylton, K Lua Lua (E Lee, 72), J Clark.
Subs not used:G Rea, H Cornick, J Collins, S Sluga.
Bookings / Red Cards
Reading: --
Luton: S Bradley, K Lua Lua
League Cup on 15 September 2020
This League Cup game took place 124 days ago in the 2020/2021 season.