29 August 1998 
Chesterfield 1 Reading 0 |
|
Howie, Booty, Primus, Parkinson, Gray, Houghton, Brebner, Caskey,
Sarr, Fleck, Reilly.
Phil Parkinson
All samples are Real Audio format - you'll need Real Player. Thanks to Ben at CG.
You don't really want to read a report on this one do you??
Some comments from Jeff Kirkpatrick:
Two major problems on Saturday: lack of penetration and dodgy defence
(Linvoy aside). I have to disagree with what was said about getting in
good
positions and then not putting the ball in the box; we simply did not get
into the right areas to cross the ball. There's no point in working it
wide,
then passing back to the full-back to lob a hopeful ball in from midway
between the half-way line and by-line - this is just too easy to defend
against. You need to get behind the full-backs and cross so that the
centre-backs are running towards their own goal when they clear.
We cannot do this whilst we have Houghton and Reilly out wide - neither
has
the pace or the ability to beat the full-back. Consequently, when we had
possession near the Chesterfield goal we had no way of breaking them down.
A
frustrating feature of the game was our unwillingness to run at the
opposition, even when given twenty yards of space.
Reading were truly dire on Saturday but so were Chesterfield. The most
depressing aspect of the game was the prospect of a season or more of this
standard of football. I can't say that I'm surprised, however; when I said
before the season started that we probably wouldn't be very good at the
start, I meant precisely that and, yes, so far we are no bloody good at
all!
And don't expect the appearance of Murty or Polston to make much
difference
at first either - this is going to be a long process and the sooner we get
used to that idea the better.
Jeff
Thanks to Neil Maskell for these details:
This latest 'performance' was complete and utter drivel. Again, we have
not
looked like even bothering the home 'keeper, and once more a Reading away
game has become even more painful viewing than 'Godzilla'. We were so
inept
that it was almost embarassing, and the fact is that, ex-Celtic manager or
not, Tommy Burns' current side is on a par with most of Bullivant's
offerings. Not one player wanted to take any responsibility in the middle
of
the park. The likes of Houghton and Caskey looked particularly shabby. Up
front, Fleck failed to win anything on the air or on the ground and as for
Mass Sarr......
Here (for what it's worth) is my verdict on our 'First XI'.....
Howie - 6. Flapped about a little, a la van der Kwaak.
Booty - 5. Oh dearie me. Distribution poor. Consistently ran ragged by
Chesterfield's left flank. Understanding with 'flying winger' Houghton
zero
Gray - 6. Distribution also poor.
Brebner - 6. None of the recent swagger. Disappointing.
Parky - 7. Someone gives a toss at least.
Primus - 6. Ups and downs. Not as composed as against Luton.
Houghton - 5. Found only Booty all afternoon. Looking ragged.
Caskey - 4. Why is this clown our Captain (and therefore
chief-motivator)?
Fleck - 5. Worked hard, but failed to win anything of significance,
both
on the ground or on the air.
Reilly - 3. Who the hell is this guy?
Sarr - 5. Next time you feel you can't be arsed, pal, would you let me
know before I make the effort to travel 180-odd miles?
League
4,000ish
