Didn’t manage to see the game today so apologies if discussed elsewhere. What the actual F was our LWB (was it Cadden?) doing for that goal….??? The usual terrible header out, second ball lost as usual……but then when the ball fell to the Reading player, our defender starts to close down, then retreats leaving him with the freedom of Oakwell to score (admittedly) a worldie. I understand there was a Reading player free to the left, but first and foremost you have to put out the fire in front of you. That’s beyond school ground basics. So it does beg the question, how can a professional player be so inept at their job? Is it actually Collins, or are they really that clueless? I don’t know how you would even begin to coach a person to make a decision like that tbh.
It's Cotter. It's about decision making. Good players make good decisions more often. The best players get it right the vast majority of the time. Poorer players don't.
Cadden had been subbed- wasn't him! Not sure who it was - from where I was thought Roberts might have done better but after watching it back he had no chance. Some strange defending again today - Earle made a few schoolboy type errors in the first half. There were a few getting on the wrong side of the attackers. One thing I find puzzling is we seem to have lost the ability to shoot from distance - pretty sure we had some of the best stats in the country last year for goals from outside the box. Wish we'd be that little bit more daring rather than trying to push the ball out wide and get a cross in.
It was Cotter just stood and admired the shot As for shooting I’m sure it’s an instruction from Collins I think they are told not to risk missing from distance but to work to create easy chances. Collins went mad when McAtee shot from distance yesterday when Jalo and Cole had both broken forward and were better placed. That time shooting was the wrong option but often when it’s the right one they still pass
May not have been Cadden but boy that was the worst I’ve ever seen him play and he’s had some shockers lately.
Doesn’t look like the same player this season Cadden. He’s been really poor. Not disappointed he’s out of contract cos I’m sure there’s better out there. Whether we find them is another matter….
Reading’s second puzzles me still, even now. The lad gave it a proper bang don’t get me wrong. But as he’s running in, Cotter starts watching him then drops wider to the left opening even more space to him rather than try and close him down - and yes he hits a rocket of a shot, but Roberts literally dives out of the way of it. I’m not necessarily saying he should have saved it - but that was pretty bizarre - it didn’t swerve away or anything, just went fast and straight. No idea why he chose to dive to his right a bit when it was straight above him.
Roberts has been poor in last half a dozen games. We need an alternative to Cadden because he has been poor most of the season. It’s worrying that someone so out of form is an automatic starter.
That was how I saw it. I've just texted my Reading mate who was there to see if he thought it swerved at all - difficult to see from the TV angle, but it looked straight as an arrow. Edit - my mate's taken was that it didn't swerve, but was to one side of the keeper. Very difficult to keep out as the sheer power took it in.
