Between the lines. Home to Reading, Sat 21st Sept/ 3'oclock.

[The_Gun]

Plenty good, but with a fair bit of bad, too. I don’t think we could have expected going right back into top form after how dire we’ve been recently, so we’ll take this as a foundation to build on.

I do have some concerns about what might happen on Wednesday if Arsenal’s analysts are doing their jobs properly, though.

[DJBlu]

That's some defensive header by the Reading man. Onto the bar and out.

Oooof.

[DJBlu]

Plenty good, but with a fair bit of bad, too. I don’t think we could have expected going right back into top form after how dire we’ve been recently, so we’ll take this as a foundation to build on.

I do have some concerns about what might happen on Wednesday if Arsenal’s analysts are doing their jobs properly, though.

Free hit. Play the kids.

[sonicthewhite]

A great and important result. Least we're not in the relegation spots anymore.

[Prufrock]

Most damaging indictment in football is when Super John says "fair play to [your team], they've had a go".

Dial moved not a bit, for me. Attitude was better, not feeling sorry for themselves but things dropped for us at the right time.

They're dreadful and they opened us up plenty. Fear that's not only going to paper over the cracks but see us back down the fatally flawed road we've been on before.

Not looking forward to Wednesday at all!

[Mar]

Did that really happen? Injury time shown whilst we are getting into the 18 yard box.

Yup. Mental decision by the guy running the show.

Plenty good, but with a fair bit of bad, too. I don’t think we could have expected going right back into top form after how dire we’ve been recently, so we’ll take this as a foundation to build on.

I do have some concerns about what might happen on Wednesday if Arsenal’s analysts are doing their jobs properly, though.

Free hit. Play the kids.

I wouldn't say play the kids, but i'd certainly call it a free hit.




Lap of honour at the final whistle is a strange one to see at this time of season, but it's a good call.

Loved that performance today. Not out of the woods, and not without flaws, but miles better. We needed that performance today and they delivered. There's enough positivity in there to show that things can turn around for the better.

More performances at that standard and we'll do well.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Could easily pick that apart. But, we asked for a reaction and got one. Today I choose to focus on the positives. No promises tomorrow mind

[Mar]

They're dreadful and they opened us up plenty. Fear that's not only going to paper over the cracks but see us back down the fatally flawed road we've been on before.

That's always the concern. We struggled in part against Reading today and didn't manage to shut up shop. Yes, we were good on the break and attacked well, but it feels like the missing link, that solidity defensively, is still a way off.

Are we going to end up with more of the same this season, or are things going to change? Feels like Evatt's aware of what defenders can do that he misses what those in front of him should be doing to help them out. Bit late to change it now mind, that'll be one for January.

Our inability to score has been addressed in quite some fashion. Fair play to Evatt and the lads, much better performance and deserving of the win.

[Worthy4England]

Most damaging indictment in football is when Super John says "fair play to [your team], they've had a go".

Dial moved not a bit, for me. Attitude was better, not feeling sorry for themselves but things dropped for us at the right time.

They're dreadful and they opened us up plenty. Fear that's not only going to paper over the cracks but see us back down the fatally flawed road we've been on before.

Not looking forward to Wednesday at all!

Agree with a lot of this, time and again we were defensively all at sea. Can't fault most of the commitment, albeit commitment shouldn't = silly/booking.

4 goals from set-pieces? Like watching Megson football...

Happy for 3 points though.

[BWFC_Insane]

Most damaging indictment in football is when Super John says "fair play to [your team], they've had a go".

Dial moved not a bit, for me. Attitude was better, not feeling sorry for themselves but things dropped for us at the right time.

They're dreadful and they opened us up plenty. Fear that's not only going to paper over the cracks but see us back down the fatally flawed road we've been on before.

Not looking forward to Wednesday at all!

It would move the dial if Bolton play and recreate the tempo of the first twenty five minutes. Stop trying to be Man City and put the ball in the box. Muck and nettles.

Thats the template. But second half we showed what happens when we think we are better than we are and fail to do the basics at times.

It would be churlish to complain too much we won at a canter.

The thing for me is not that I doubt we can win games at this level. It’s that I don’t think we will go up. And I don’t think any result right now changes my view on that.

[jmjhb]

Eh, although we conceded 2 yet again, we did score 5. Something we've not done for a while. Happy enough.

[irie Cee Bee]

A seven goal thriller with lots of action in the boxes, and 3 points which is 3 more than I thought we would get the way we have been playing, so I am pleased about that. Evatt ditched his 2.0 brand and reverted to the system that the players seem more suited for. Glad that he finally started Ade. He was a difference maker today.

We all know that there is some distance to go to play like a top 6 team, but we take it a day at a time. The players confidence would have gone up a notch after today. Can we forfeit the Arsenal game??

[Mar]

Thats the template. But second half we showed what happens when we think we are better than we are and fail to do the basics at times.

Today was very pleasing. When we see that level of commitment in the first half then we'll do well.


Even if we won 5-0 today there wouldn't be the mass hallelujah that meant everything was hunky dory. We need to see the wins against the top teams before we can start getting carried away.


Today could very well be the start we need to kick on to something better. We'll find out in due course and everyone's got reason to be anxious given what's come before, but a 5-2 win, its time to celebrate.

[BWFC_Insane]

Thats the template. But second half we showed what happens when we think we are better than we are and fail to do the basics at times.

Today was very pleasing. When we see that level of commitment in the first half then we'll do well.


Even if we won 5-0 today there wouldn't be the mass hallelujah that meant everything was hunky dory. We need to see the wins against the top teams before we can start getting carried away.


Today could very well be the start we need to kick on to something better. We'll find out in due course and everyone's got reason to be anxious given what's come before, but a 5-2 win, its time to celebrate.

The issue is that getting over the line in this league requires the basics done every week. First twenty five we did them but we need to do them every week and for longer.

[The_Gun]

I don’t think Reading are actually that bad a side tbh. I certainly don’t see them being in any danger of relegation this season. Let’s see how many other teams put five past them.

We looked weak in the middle of the park at times, but going forwards we were vastly improved. Like I said, we’ve at least given ourselves a platform to build on, and there were plenty of positive individual performances.

I’m looking forward to Wednesday now. Up the Whites!

[dave the minion]

Couldn’t even bring myself to participate last weekend. Was unsalvageably sad. That negativity, I’m afraid, has washed through to this weekend. All just feels so ugly. And I think it’ll get uglier. 0-4 again, for me. I’d love to be wrong. And for you to tell me how wrong I am. How nihilistic. How brittle. Please.

You're wrong.
It'll be reet. We'll sh1t 'em....

You can thank me later.....

[McD]

So my prediction was wrong, we did not play with fear as I expected (happy to take this on the chin)

The team showed commitment throughout the game = Good.
IE appeared to have relented and let them "off the leash" = Good
However:
- IE still does not appear to have a game plan and could not see any tactics being employed
- All but one of our goals were set pieces.
- We took our foot off the gas after 30 minutes
- Second half reverted to type and Reading effectively dominated
- IF Reading had a little more quality, we would have been lucky to survive - Their pass and move was far more effective and despite the errors still looked like a game-plan was being followed and was attractive to watch

IE achieved a positive result which was good for the morale of the players. It does not change the view I have held since he arrived. Let's see what game he saw through his rose tinted glasses and how far away from reality he now is.

[officer_dibble]

Two teams play each game. We can relax a bit / ease up and play ‘tippy tappy’ if we are 3-0 up. It’s not surprising there were jitters in the defence. However thought Schon played a lot better. Cogley I dunno…one minute he’s faultless in the tackle and playing a good ball in or taking a one two, the next his cross is in row z or he’s misplacing passes to their midfielders. Toal and Johnston did the basics well and also supported the attacking play when required. That was good. Santos…not his best game for me but who knows what a week he must have had. Formation was better, hopefully Collins benefits from it as I guess he will start midweek. Thomason pleased for him and he’s the main man now. Sheehan started well had a good first half but second half dropped off and for me this is where we need a decent defensive mid to come on and stop us getting overrun. Matete was very quiet but suspect he is still in our xi for the foreseeable. But yeah, midfield went from being all over them and a snapping into tackles first half to being bypassed by a change in tactics by them and we had no counter.

[officer_dibble]

Just checked the other results… Huddersfield 1 Northampton 3 stands out! Football eh!!

Edit…even better here is the first goal:
https://x.com/j2403sam/status/183749729 ... 9tBJZu-EQg

Who says there is no football karma???

[truewhite15]

So my prediction was wrong, we did not play with fear as I expected (happy to take this on the chin)

The team showed commitment throughout the game = Good.
IE appeared to have relented and let them "off the leash" = Good
However:
- IE still does not appear to have a game plan and could not see any tactics being employed
- All but one of our goals were set pieces.
- We took our foot off the gas after 30 minutes
- Second half reverted to type and Reading effectively dominated
- IF Reading had a little more quality, we would have been lucky to survive - Their pass and move was far more effective and despite the errors still looked like a game-plan was being followed and was attractive to watch

IE achieved a positive result which was good for the morale of the players. It does not change the view I have held since he arrived. Let's see what game he saw through his rose tinted glasses and how far away from reality he now is.

Hang about. We're adding "scoring from set pieces" to the pile of sticks with which to beat Evatt now???