We Finally Look Like A Nigel Adkins Team - Notes for Reading
Friday, 15th Aug 2014 11:00 by HarryFromBath

HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday's game by delving into their forums.

"Wow. What a performance, the best I have seen under Nigel Adkins. Our passing out from the back, our movement and our pressing were incredible", "We pressed Wigan so well that we forced them to play the long ball", "I'm totally dumbstruck. I felt this was a nailed-on easy Wigan win."

Royals were delighted with their team's 2-2 draw at the DW Stadium last Saturday. The Latics salvaged a point with a late equaliser, but visiting fans felt that their team controlled the second half in particular.

"We were looking to get the ball forward quickly. I don't think you can call it long ball, but it certainly was quite direct at times. We also played it around nicely. Our first goal came from a move played from defence through midfield."

Tuesday's 3-1 win at home to Newport in the Capital One Cup was more problematic. A full-strength team "failed to get out of second gear", "There were misplaced passes, too much head tennis, people not available to receive the ball at throw-ins and pulling out of 50:50 tackles".

"Having been pleasantly surprised by the result and reports of the performance at Wigan, last night brought back all my pre-season concerns. A poor League Two side dominated us for large sections of the game. If we play like that in the league, we'll lose far more than we win."

Reasons To Be Cheerful

"This is probably against my better judgement, but I am feeling optimistic about this season", "With the signings we have just made, this summer will not have been the disaster I thought it was going to be", "How we do this season is right up in the air."

With the takeover of the club by a Thai consortium having finally been agreed, the manager has been able to strengthen his squad. Striker Simon Cox and winger Jamie Mackie (on loan) have recently arrived from Nottingham Forest and defender Anton Ferdinand signed this week from Turkish side Antalyaspor.

Nigel Adkins

"We look more comfortable as a team on the ball so far this season. We have played some neat stuff at times, stringing some meaningful possession together. That said, we also don't look afraid to switch it up and go direct when the opportunity presents itself."

"The second half at the DW was the best 45 minutes of the Adkins era. We played with tempo and purpose, closed Wigan down mercilessly and attacked with verve and precision", "We played the hybrid style we had all been hoping we would eventually get to play under Adkins."

With many players from the Brian McDermott era now having departed, Royals believe that their current manager's more fluid style of play will blossom this season. They are hopeful that he can emulate the success he had at Southampton in bringing through a highly talented crop of youth players.

"I haven't doubted Adkins at all, but I did doubt some of the players last season. A lot of the deadwood players, set in their ways have left. This group of youth players, players the manager believes in, can learn to play decent football from the start which will make a huge difference."

Kuhl and the Gang

"We used to get excited when even one academy player made the squad." The Royals featured six academy graduates in their starting line-up at Wigan, with another four on their bench. Midfielder Aaron Kuhl is one of this crop of talented youngsters, hence their nickname.

"The introduction of youth players is not something to fear but embrace. I don't think we'll grind out wins in the way we did last year as we have lost that experience. I think we'll play a better style of football compared with the turgid stuff we saw last season."

A Patched Up Midfield

"Our entire first choice midfield is missing." Central midfielders Jam Karacan and Danny Williams (both with knee injuries), and wide players Garath McCleary (back), Hal Robson-Kanu (knee) and Jamie Mackie (hamstring) have missed the start of the season.

In addition, two important players have not been seen as capable of playing for a full 90 minutes this week. Danny Guthrie has not reached full match fitness after missing much of pre-season with a calf injury, while Simon Cox (operating as a number 10) is not fully match-fit having arrived from Forest.

"Hopefully our walking wounded will return sooner rather than later and bring a better shape to the side." Reading's starting XI has been affected by having to move players out of their strongest positions to compensate for all of these absences in their preferred 4-2-3-1 system.

Defence

"We need to shore up the defence. Two Wigan attacks, one in each half, and they resulted in goals", "I'm bored of calamitous defending, really quite bored of it", "Our defence is anything but secure", "If we have any ambitions to make the top six, then that defence needs money spending on it."

"The reason much of our good play was started at the back was due to Adam Federici being comfortable with the ball at his feet", "When teams press our centre-backs, it's a tactic to float the ball out to the full-backs. Federici's kicking is really accurate, as we all know."

The 29-year-old Australia international is seen as best suited to Adkins style of building from the back, whereas former Blues loanee Alex McCarthy (who played against Newport) "is nervous and hesitant whenever the ball is played back to him. You can sense every Reading fan has their heart in their mouth".

"Federici could have come off his line quicker for Wigan's second goal and was caught out once or twice when the ball was pumped into the box", "Feds seems flappable to me. I don't always trust his decision making under pressure. McCarthy commands his area a lot better."

"Chris Gunter is relishing the role of stand-in captain (for Jem Karacan). He made some surging runs, but also remembered his defensive duties too (against Wigan)."

Chris Gunter

The 25-year-old ex-Forest right-back "lacks technique, but he has good place up and down the flank" and "is a decent attacking threat".

"Shaun Cummings at left-back - gulp!" The 25-year-old ex-Chelsea man has moved across from his preferred right-back role. "He irritates me at left-back, always going back on to his right foot and passing backwards rather than taking it forwards."

"Wigan's first goal happened because Cummings was woefully out of position and let their winger in", "He never closed down the Newport winger, and the lack of a left foot is obvious", "We are incredibly narrow on the left", "He looked uncomfortable and checked on to his right a lot."

"What — a 20 yarder from Cummings!", "He scored a cracking goal (at the DW)", "It was a great finish, though the lad had a mixed game otherwise", "I do like his willingness to get forward even though he lacks quality", "He played a great ball for Pogrebnyak's goal against Newport."

"Alex Pearce and Sean Morrison are solid Championship centre-backs, but they don't work well as a partnership. Both of them need someone next to them who can organise. They can't seem to work it out for themselves."

Royals were frustrated by the nature of Wigan's late equaliser on Saturday, a route-one ball which was seized on by James McArthur, capitalising on confusion in the heart of the Reading defence. "The centre-backs switched off, left it for each other, and nobody picked up the runner."

"You would see the best out of Alex Pearce with another centre-back partner", He's a good reader of the game. What he needs is someone with a bit of pace next to him." The 25-year-old former Norwich loan signing "is brave with his head, but is a very average defender".

"A classic Pearce header back across the goal", "Even after years of good performances, I do cringe and hold my breath when the ball is heading towards Pearce, as I do expect him to make a balls-up each and every time."

The breaking news that Morrison has requested to speak to Cardiff has left Adkins with a selection headache should his departure be confirmed.

"Hopefully Michael Hector can move to the back four if Guthrie is fit", "Morrison may sense that he doesn't suit Adkins style of play. He'll be the one to make way when Ferdinand is fit."

Most Royals don't rate the ex-Swindon man. "Morrison tries to attack the ball and almost plays as David Luiz, which leaves Pearce far too exposed. This drags the left-back narrower so that teams have loads of space out wide", "He's got slower since his knee injury. He's terrible on the ball, a poor man's Pearce."

Anton Ferdinand

"Ferdinand cannot arrive quickly enough", "This is an experienced Premier League defender. At 29, he still has time on his side, and we're not exactly blessed with much pace and power in our current centre-back partnership", "This could turn out to be the shrewdest signing of the season."

News of the arrival of the former QPR defender has divided opinion. "He has hardly played in the last 18 months", "There are a lot of ifs, buts and maybes", "Some of our fans have their head in the sand. If they think Ferdinand is the answer to our prayers, then God help us."

"Yet another unfit has-been marquee signing. When will we ever learn?", "I would say that the indifference is down to a (possibly incorrect) perception of him as a typical modern celebrity footballer, but probably more based on the downward spiral of his career in recent years."

Central Midfield

"Our defence lacks the protection of Williams and Karacan", "Hector and Obita sat in front of the back four, with Edwards pushing forwards centrally", "They struggled out of their natural positions, but the work-rate was there. They moved well up and down the field together to keep Newport at bay."

"Central midfield doesn't really suit Jordan Obita." The 20-year-old youth product "is a bit lightweight against strong physical players", "He has set up attacks well, and made well-timed tackles, but he's much more effective on the left as a winger or full-back."

Royals have their doubts about 20-year-old Australian Ryan Edwards. "He looked like a boy in a man's game (at Wigan)", "I just can't get on board with the Edwards hype. He's tidy enough on the ball but has no presence", "He's too lightweight and inexperienced."

Michael Hector

"Hector was at his best when harassing the Wigan midfield." The 22-year-old academy product "was class. He broke up play well, has a real eye for a pass and was a driving force going forward", "I was impressed with Hector. He looked good on the ball and won some good tackles."

Hector normally plays at centre-back, and he revelled when playing a primarily defensive role against Wigan's midfield. He struggled in the Newport game, when he had more time and space to create and take the initiative. "Hector's a tackler and not a passer", "He had a shocker in the middle."

"He seemed to think he was Paul Scholes, playing 50 yard balls at every opportunity", "Calm down, have a bit of composure and move the ball around within your ability", "He tried too many Hollywood passes and most ended up going out of play."

Danny Guthrie

"When Guthrie came on, we dictated the game." Guthrie replaced Ryan Edwards when he came on from the bench after an hour at Wigan, and instantly gave the midfield balance. He was rested for the Newport game, but is widely expected to feature on Saturday.

"When Guthrie came on and Obita moved to the left, we had more balance and shape about us, and the left-wing became a focal point of attack." The 27-year-old former Newcastle and Liverpool man's arrival coincided with the Royals best spell of play so far in either game.

"Getting Guthrie back will make a big difference to the team. It's not easy to expect two young players to do a job out of their natural positions for ever", "He's being rested for Saturday having had virtually no pre-season."

Wide Midfield

"We didn't have any width." The midfield shuffle has seen central-midfielder Jake Taylor combine in front of Shaun Cummings on the left and striker Nick Blackman operate on the right flank ahead of Chris Gunter.

The right flank has offered a threat, but the Royals struggled on the left until Obita's move to the flank against Wigan. "Cummings did a decent job at left-back, but there was no one providing any width and we looked lop-sided with Obita playing centrally."

"Jake Taylor looks too lightweight and anonymous. I don't think they're quite ready to be starters at this level." Against Newport, the 22-year-old academy graduate "was invisible on the left. I don't think that's his position."

"Taylor is neat in possession, but he's a little short on confidence. He should have gone at his man a little more", "I have no idea what he brings to the side. He lacks pace, has no gift for passing, lacks presence and is limp in the tackle. Everything is so ‘beige'."

"Nick Blackman has come on in leaps and bounds this season", "He had his best game for us (at Wigan), linked up well with Gunter and had some good opportunities to score", "He was more effective when he got more space to work his magic down the right. He looks a real player this season."

The 24-year-old former Blade "looks strong and has a great turn of pace", "Blackman scored a great individual goal (against Newport), but might have been criticised for being greedy had he not scored, continuously searching for a shot or an ambitious dribble, while ignoring nearby colleagues."

The arrival of 27-year-old striker or winger Jamie Mackie on a season-long loan from Forest has been welcomed. "Every time I have seen him play he's caused us problems", "Mackie will fit in perfectly if we are going to press teams. He can run all day."

Royston Drenthe

"One day I will speak my mind about it because it's still on my mind. When something's on my mind, it's something serious" — This recent pronouncement from the ex-Real Madrid left-sided player about his situation at Reading drew a caustic response from fans.

"What a drama queen. Just kick some footballs and get on with your life", "He's a waster who managed to get a very good pay-day out of a very naïve owner", "The Championship Balotelli, only without the match-winning performances", "Without question our worst ever signing."

Strikers

"We must add a top end Championship goalscorer to the team. We're still too lightweight in that department." Apart from the occasional call for an additional striker, Royals have had little to say about their frontmen. The defence and injury-hit midfield are more of a concern.

Pavel Pogrebnyak

"Pog wins lots of balls and his hold-up play is great. He looks like he's gained some pace, but needs to keep his head up more when he receives the ball", He's the focal point of our attacking play", "He was immense against Newport, brining others into play really well."

Royal have praised the 30-year-old former Fulham striker and Russia international Pogrebnyak. "Pog does the hard work up top", "He is the only sign of class on the pitch and makes some lovely flick-ons, which are only sometimes read by his team-mates."

Simon Cox

"Cox is impressive", "He played like the number 10 we've been crying out for in his 30-minute second-half cameo at Wigan", "He looks good for our style of play", "He was an absolute game changer and held the ball up well", "His touch was great, and he'll definitely be an asset to us this season."

The 27-year-old former Baggie played equally well in Tuesday's cup game, although he ran out of steam towards the end. "He showed some good touches in the first half and looked to run off Pog. He dwindled out in the second half probably due to fitness."

Reading Supporters' Views on ITFC and the Game

"It's hard to call this one. Ipswich have a decent side and a good manager and could push on this season. We'll hopefully have Guthrie back starting and don't seem to be as bad as we might have been. Our forwards look more like scoring than we've worried about as well."

"No noise from the Tractor Boys", "1-0 to Reading. Dominate possession and get lucky with a late Guthrie shot."

While most Royals (70 per cent) are unsurprisingly predicting a home win, very few of them have forecast a clean sheet given their current defensive concerns.

"Ipswich will be a tough team to beat", "2-1 to Ipswich. Their experience will show against a young team." Very few of our players have been name-checked, but Royal are wary of the threat posed by a "street-wise" and "well organised Mick McCarthy outfit".