Reds v Reading MDT

And I'm post about tonight's game, it's a part of the pattern, an obvious pattern that highlights the mental frailties of a team and coach that can't or are incapable of coping with home game pressure.

 

We can play like a top six side for spells in games but it never lasts and you always expect the opposition to come back into it which they invariably do.

 

Well your "pattern" is that we are utter crap at home.

But tonight, which is what I am posting about, we weren't.

 

Still think I prefer Barry. O Keefe did OK.

 

Thought we were good tonight, we're so much better when we play at tempo and press as a unit, a few times we pressed individually and got slightly exposed when we don't win it back.

Element of good fortune in both their goals tonight MDG has to do better on the 2nd again his upper body strength letting players simply get a shoulder across him.

Ultimately not being clinical and a dip in concentration has cost us 2 pounts, thought we responded really well to going 1-2 down and deserved to get something.
Thought the DKD sub for Cosgrove was the wrong call, they were rocking at that point would have fetch Phillips off and gone with 3 up top.
Good performance on another night we win that, frustrating but can't be over critical

 

He picked up a bit in the second half, but his crossing is woeful, as is his passing (the one he passed into Oakwell lane, when Phillips was overlapping in the box was classic)

 

Clarkes subs are woeful. Changing the shape always derails us. And if we need a big lump up front Roberts or Pines instead of Cosgrove they both have a much better goal threat.

 

Oh well, we're still in the play offs and that was a better performance than Saturday. Bit gutted we didn't win but the desire is there, onwards and upwards hopefully!

 

It's quite clear that your take on things regarding our home form and mine is different and that's absolutely fine, however if you believe that creating 21 opportunities and taking 2 equates to a satisfactory statistic then again fine, and seeing every home game ridiculous lapses in defensive duties is acceptable on such a regular basis then fine again, I simply don't agree with you, to a neutral supporter watching tonight it would come over as an entertaining game, but I'm not a neutral supporter I'm a Barnsley supporter and as such have grown weary of seeing us fail at the two most important areas of the pitch, I am willing to take the word 'crap' away and replace it with piss poor.

 

Totally agree

 

Treating this game (which my post did) as a standalone fixture, it was neither a poor spectacle nor a poor performance from us.

Why you seek to drag other things in, like our "home form" and "every home game" and other comparisons when responding to me, I do not know.

I have not offered any opinion on our own home form in general. There really is no need. We all know it is below mediocre.

But tonight we were quite lively. And I thank you for pointing out that we had 21 opportunities. I've watched Barnsley where we've hardly had one or two. So tonight we were awful at finishing. I can live with that.

 

Don't be giving your identity away Priti.

 

The pattern is 2 wins from 9 home league matches.

I actually agree with you that tonight was significantly better than Saturday's disaster, but there is certainly a pattern of failing to win home games.

 

It’s late, so I’ll keep it brief.

We played better than we did on Saturday. We dominated the game. I don’t think Reading were up to much. We missed good chances. Cosgrove has a 50p head.

Another home game gone without victory. Let’s hope our stellar away record continues. It’ll need to, to be in with a shout at promotion.

 

Nite mate. It's refreshing to know I've seen same game. Best wishes.

 

Great response

 

I think on the balance, our home form is more likely to improve and get on par with away form than vice versa if that makes sense. I remain encouraged by what I’m seeing (admittedly I missed the Wigan game!)

 

It’s a pity him having a good game didn’t extend to when defending the cross for their 2nd goal, he’s woefully weak when it comes to proper defending, fair dos he’s ok at bringing the ball out of defence at times but doing the “ bread and butter” defending of a good league 1 centre half he ain’t good enough. Time and time again he his too weak or too slow to react and challenge strongly. I am afraid to say our defence in its current form isn’t(like last season) good enough to get us promoted, choose how well we do attacking wise this defence will always come back and “bite us in the backside”.

 

Bingo. As soon as he's asked to actually defend he doesn't. Because he can't.