Are Reading like us under poyet?

[Kalimantan Gull]

We started like this under Poyet. The onus was on the midfield to make space, keep moving and be patient. The back four were under instructions to keep moving it side-to-side until the opportunity arose. It takes time, but it only works if you are 100% committed to the plan. At Brighton we were 100% committed and it worked. Reading should do the same, I applaud them for it. They are also third, so even though they are not fully there yet, they are already seeing the benefits.

 

[mikeyjh]

Well joking apart, that's often the best way of getting promotion out of the lower divisions. The higher up the league one goes, the more cultured football becomes. Wild generalisation I know.

Wild but probably true - You simply can't play the Barcelona style at those levels with players who don't think or react as quickly, there isn't the time.

You definitely require a different type of player at the lower levels (Unless you have 11 of them of course). I remember saying on here waaaay back that as good a player as Lee Hendrie was, the further down the ladder he slipped the less useful he would be. I'd use Derby's only Will Hughes as a reverse example, I think he'll be a better player when he makes it to the premier league.

 

[Doc Lynam]

I know under GP, the Albion were playing some cracking football, but according to this article from November, I cannot agree with Martin Allen
Quote;
It’s just like watching Barcelona!

That’s what Martin Allen had to say when quizzed on Reading FC this season.

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/barcelona-lionel-messi-reading-fc-12205825

Bringing the bullshitometer down to normal; they're a passing side.

 

[Mackenzie]

The 0-0 looks a viable betting proposition at (tinpot) Reading games then.

 

[coagulantwolf]

Rather than keeping stats on possession, I'd prefer to see stats on how long the ball was in each half. After all, all the possession in the world is useless if it's all in your own half.

I work for a sports data and technology company and it is coming. The depth of stats/info etc you can get when you add in player tracking technology is incredible...I think it will be very interesting when it comes out.

 

[LlcoolJ]

The one major difference between Reading and the Albion side under Poyet is that Reading are tinpot.

 

[Berty23]

I work for a sports data and technology company and it is coming. The depth of stats/info etc you can get when you add in player tracking technology is incredible...I think it will be very interesting when it comes out.

That sounds great.

X% possession
Y% meaningful possession
Z% pointless cocking about in defence.

Feel free to use those terms.

 

[Surport Local Team]

Is not having the ball that counts, it's what u do with it!!

 

[Mo Gosfield]

Reading have got too many injuries at the moment to make a decent judgement. Before Jon Swift got injured, he was scoring for fun and causing all teams problems, not the least us, when he scored in the first two minutes. Reading will be a different proposition in the New Year and will be dangerous. Even slightly off the boil, as they are at present, they still saw off Sheff Wed recently and its no disgrace to lose at Leeds.

 

[Pintos]

We started like this under Poyet. The onus was on the midfield to make space, keep moving and be patient. The back four were under instructions to keep moving it side-to-side until the opportunity arose. It takes time, but it only works if you are 100% committed to the plan. At Brighton we were 100% committed and it worked. Reading should do the same, I applaud them for it. They are also third, so even though they are not fully there yet, they are already seeing the benefits.

Is the correct answer.

It's a different tactic which results in high possession stats. We've done our fair share of it over the last 5 years and it can be quite boring to watch, but can also be quite effective.

Cardiff away was like this. It felt like Duffy had the ball more than entire Cardiff team, especially so in the first half.

 

[Drebin]

This- apparently from that game- rather suggests that a significant quantity of their nice neat passing is between their centre halves and goalkeeper.

Very Poyet-esque.

Indeed. It shows quite clearly the pattern of play we had between ankergren, the back four and bridcutt. You can see Liam's little spot where he'd get the ball and knock it either sideways or backwards with little to no pressure on him. That was before we got found out a bit.

 

[phoenix]

This- apparently from that game- rather suggests that a significant quantity of their nice neat passing is between their centre halves and goalkeeper.

Very Poyet-esque.

and here is the weather map for Christmas Day.

A warm front moving in very slowly!

 

[joeinbrighton]

Given that Jaap Stam has been heavily involved in the development of young players at Ajax for the past few years, it's hardly surprising that they are going to be playing a possession based game. That is the Ajax way.

 

[Muhammad - I’m hard - Bruce Lee]

This- apparently from that game- rather suggests that a significant quantity of their nice neat passing is between their centre halves and goalkeeper.

Very Poyet-esque.

So is that a boy or a girl?

 

[Lady Whistledown]

and here is the weather map for Christmas Day.

A warm front moving in very slowly!

You've not read the Daily Express today then.

 

[Goldstone1976]

I can't quite work out how they're third with a zero goal difference either.

I think it's primarily due to have scored more points than the team in fourth, but fewer than the team in second, while at the same time scoring exactly the same number of goals that they've conceded.

Hope that helps.

 

[indy3050]

Poyet got us out of that league but my god it was so boring to watch. Even with quality players that came later (Bridge, Upson, VICENTE) it was fall asleep football. Still can't help but dislike him after the Reading job shenanigans, the toys out the pram and ceiling comments pre and post the Palace games and then nicking bridcutt and Will.

 

[Simster]

I think it's primarily due to have scored more points than the team in fourth, but fewer than the team in second, while at the same time scoring exactly the same number of goals that they've conceded.

Hope that helps.

Feeble.

 

[Stat Brother]

You've not read the Daily Express today then.

You can see Princess Diana, The People's Princess, in that heat map as well.

I thought it was just my squint.

 

[Simster]

As for Reading, the idea of highlighting those stats in their Leeds game is the equivalent of invoking Godwin's law in an Internet argument. It's an extreme case that consequently doesn't really mean much in the grand scheme of things.

I bet they do tend to boss possession but that it usually leads to more chances for them, and fewer chances for their opposition all compared to last season. It is boring only when chances aren't forthcoming to get it forward, and if your midfielders can't find space and your forwards aren't making the runs, that is what happens.

Although none of this changes the real issue here obviously: that Reading are a noddy tin pot club.