We lost today because of the way we were set up. I didn't think Reading were particularly good and I'm sure a more positive set up would have seen us win the game. When Eriksson changed things around towards the end of the first half we improved, but we still didn't look that much of a danger going forward.
It's difficult to know which formation we should go out with. I don't think we have the wide forward players for a 4-3-3, and neither Pantsil or Konchesky impress me bombing forward from their full back positions. And a 4-4-2 looks difficult, again because of a dearth of creative wide men. Regardless of the way we set up our movement going forward was almost non-existent. I was frustrated by this very problem last season and based on today's game it hasn't been rectified.
A lot of our passing was loose to say the least, especially in the first half, and a couple of times I spotted players bickering off the ball. Perhaps that's part of the process of the players learning each other's games. Whatever the reason, we can't afford to go on that way for very long. On a more positive note, the first quarter of an hour or so after half-time was quite promising. I hope that short period will be more representative of our season than the rest of the match.
Player Ratings:
Schmeichel - 7 - He was fine. He made one good save from Jimmy Kebe in the second half and wasn't at fault for any of the goals. He was obviously very frustrated by the lack of organisation just in front of him and it was nice to see him expressing this. He perhaps went a little far in running around his half letting his colleagues know what he thought of them. He won't win many friends in the dressing room that way.
Panstil - 6 - I thought he was very good at the back, but lacked any real ability going forward. It seems clear that Eriksson wants his full backs to provide most of our wide attacking threat, and Pantsil didn't look very comfortable with that to me. He gave the ball away a few times when under little pressure, but was by no means the worst culprit.
Konchesky - 6 - He looks a good acquisition to me. In the main he passed the ball way and was always ready to go forward, even if he could improve that aspect of his game. On a couple of occasions I felt he crossed from a little deeper than he should have, but there was little for him to aim at in any case. He seemed to tire toward to end of the match and was beaten by his man a couple of times.
Mills - 4 - He was atrocious. Almost every time he found himself in space with the ball he looked to launch it forward rather than looking for the simple ball and retaining possession. His first touch was poor and he wasn't very convincing in the air. And his positioning was bad. A peformance like that from the captain can't do much for confidence throughout the rest of the team. He needs to improve significantly and quickly. Hopefully it was down to little more than nerves at facing his former club, although even that wouldn't be a terribly good excuse for today. I hope it isn't just because he lacks ability.
Bamba - 8 - I think he was superb. He sometimes frightens me when in possession, which is wrong, because he nearly always gets it right. He was defending for two today and he did an admirable job. I don't think it's any coincidence that Reading's second came while Bamba was occupying a more advanced position. Our best player today.
Wellens - 6 - I didn't notice Wellens doing an awful lot. What I did notice was that when Schmeichel was going about berating his team mates, Wellens was the only one who argued back. There was the customary shrug of the shoulders as if to say "nothing to do with me". This inability to take responsibility for anything seems to be quite the habit.
Abe - 5 - I just don't understand why he started the match at all. He's had a shitty week and we have the depth in the squad to cover for such eventualities. His passing was embarrassing to watch and Eriksson was quite correct in taking him off, even though he had more excuse than most for his incompetence.
Danns - 5 - Very disappointing. His passing was almost as bad as Abe's and he ran himself into trouble far too often. It looked to me as though he moved into a more advanced position after Eriksson changed the system. This brought about a slight improvement in his performance, but even here the most he could offer was a weak shot early in the second half.
Fernandes - 7.5 - I enjoyed watching him very much indeed. He was everywhere early on in the game, making strong tackles, interceptions, and being instrumental in our small spells of possession with some precise short passing. He tailed off a little as the game progressed, which is the only reason he scores less than Bamba.
Schlupp - 6 - There were brief glimpses of what me may become used to seeing from Schlupp. When he had the opportunity he was brave enough to run at Reading's defenders, even if he lacked the guile to leave them stranded. One the one occasion he did succeed he played an extremely sloppy pass. He will learn, although the best way to teach him perhaps isn't to throw him straight into first team action against one of the division's strongest sides. He didn't look ready for the step up.
Nugent - 6.5 - He mainly looked isolated, but when he did have the ball at his feet he impressed me. He had two very good chances. He was disadvantaged by a tight angle for his first, but I felt he should have gone across the keeper in the hope that Schlupp would pick up the scraps rather than attempt to place it into the far corner. He was very unlucky not to score with his chance early on in the second half and I;m sure with a bit more action he will be putting these chances away.
King - 6 - He looked good when he first came on and made Federici work with a powerful shot from distance soon after making an appearance. King's dynamism would have been useful from the start.
Gallagher - 6 - It seems silly to bring him on so late in a game we are chasing. He lacks the pace to stretch tired legs. Perhaps the best option he offers us at this stage of the game is his set piece ability, and yet Waghorn was the preferred taker.
Waghorn - 5 - He offers nothing. The youthful enthusiasm he provided in his first spell here is no more, and anyway, enthusiasm can only take a player so far. His set pieces were poor, he is static when we are moving forward, and his head rarely rises when he is in possession. He just isn't good enough/
