Im kicking off early. Its a big game. Its so big that its bigger than last weeks game. Whatever result we had come away with last week would count for nothing if we lose this one. Yes, every game counts, but none more so than theses that directly take points away from your nearest competitor.
Firstly. do not play Williams at all. There is no one in the team who has cost us so much. If PW is going to make use of his undoubted skill he needs a radical shape up. I think the taking off of Taylor and Forde was a huge error and one PW has made before and one that the stats have us conceding from. Now it could be tiredness, but I think that its more likely the change of player and formation. After 70-80 minutes in the game, you have got the measure of everything. Bringing on a player whos weakest part is defending is not cute. Gaps appeared from there on. was it 2 or 3 corners conceded down that side in the last several minutes along with lots of right-sided fouls on the angle.
Secondly, a repeat performance of the excellent showing on Saturday is best guaranteed with an unchanged side. For me, it has enough. Plenty of courage, determination and for once mobility. That team tick-tocked nicely. Dont change it.
Now Jones has had a decent game we keep him in. far more solid and game aware. Rodak needs a big kick up the arse as his form has dipped significantly. Has Mrs Pollitt been getting the best from him? We know Pollitt loved to be glued to his line but it might not be the best for this RUFC defence who are too slow and awkward to defend deep balls into the box. Get that keeper punching and catching.
Taylor was well supported on Saturday and it brought the best out of him. For once we were advanced enough to support him by the side, front and back-a veritable miracle.
Keep Ajayi where he is. Its a difficult one and I think PW will resort back to a traditional role for him but in my mind this is a mistake. Reading has nothing to worry us in attack. We have all seen them play and stopping the one attacking (moves forward not sideways all the time) player they commit should not scare us.
We have seen the pattern countless times. on the front foot, we are in charge. V Sheff Utd, Wednesday, Hull, Wigan, Millwall, Preston, et. al. and those many times when we have stood back, held on to the ball and not played with support down the wings.
We cant do any more about our dire striker situation but we can keep the same plan and execution away from home and keep creating those chances.
Most feel Reading will get free of the bottom. This is our only chance to influence them.
Do not please PW go to Reading with poor Smithy cast into the Pacific with only a lifeline, bobbing up and down trying to head the ball and tread water at the same time.
Disagree. Forde is a bottler. We aren't winning games. Williams is an outlet. Can't think of another player who can run at defenders we have but he's got to play on the right. Taylor is the only winger we have who can finish, play him on left. Leave Ajayi in midfield seeing it's an away game. Jones or Vyner. Vyner did nothing wrong at Hull. Jones only if he's 100 % fit at last is the more solid defender. In that case I'm not worried about the right back position.
-- Edited by gwru on Tuesday 19th of February 2019 09:26:53 AM
I don't pick the team Warney does we don't know who is fit who is up for the game.I have no favourites see how the team plays as a whole win as a team lose as a team. Looks to me as though Taylor might have a few goals In him get the defence unit a bit tighter a couple of 1-0 wins over the next few weeks give us a chance of stopping up.
“ No one in the team cost us so much “ strange, very strange comment !playing Vyner has cost us at least 12 points this season ! the vast majority of goals came down his side Brentford twice and Ipswich away spring immediately to mind,
Secondly Forde is also a very expensive player for us ie last Saturday he missed two sitters and then allowed them to run past him conceding the first goal. Quite simply he his a weak link, very weak in the tackle,loses every 50/50 and only starts playing after the game has been lost ! keep these two players off the field and we have a good chance of winning matches.
“ No one in the team cost us so much “ strange, very strange comment !playing Vyner has cost us at least 12 points this season ! the vast majority of goals came down his side Brentford twice and Ipswich away spring immediately to mind, Secondly Forde is also a very expensive player for us ie last Saturday he missed two sitters and then allowed them to run past him conceding the first goal. Quite simply he his a weak link, very weak in the tackle,loses every 50/50 and only starts playing after the game has been lost ! keep these two players off the field and we have a good chance of winning matches.
I dont think it deserves two stranges and an exclamation mark. lol.
Vyner, has been weak since day one. Thats been my opinion. He was a bad choice and I think an error by the staff.
Williams has not played when fit for a reason. I believe thats because he has no defensive qualities whatsoever. He does not read the game and loses his head when he is with the ball. Granted he is exciting.
However, my comment is based on the number of times Williams has lost the ball while in an isolated position and the opposition has scored directly from that play.
yvners mistakes and all round unsuitability for this level or obvious.
Williams is a good player, advanced role, and unless you keep an eye on the shape of the team and how distorted it becomes when he advances one can think, " why isn't this guy played more often"? It is the direct loss of a defensive quality that Forde and Taylor both have. If we could watch the whole season back again you see how many times he has cost us goals. He weakens the team shape and when he gets caught there is no adequate cover.
He needs some serious coaching to get the Machiavellian spirit out of him. He has great talent but he is never going to be in the starting 11 consistently at this level unless he can take on board his defensive and team duties.
on another note, I thought Ihiewkwe was excellent. I think it's possible we could use his mobility to continue a more aggressive and advanced tactic over the last 13. If Wood is not going to feature much due to peoples perception of his flat ground speed then it seems the resurrection of Ihiewkwe was ordained. His mobility does allow Ajayi to play a little advanced without too much risk. Up the field we go. we create the chances but desperately need to arrive in the box with more composure.
-- Edited by ian on Tuesday 19th of February 2019 09:05:08 AM
I don't agree either about Ihiekwe. There's a frailty there that will surface like it did in last seasons play-offs. But sooner have him than Wood. We have to take a few calculated risks to gets some wins. Wiles could be an outlet in midfield. If possible I'd always have Ajayi & Robertson as centre backs. Also Vyner: He could be at last getting to grips with the championship on the evidence of the Hull game. I'm not worried now if he starts. Don't know why he wasn't even on the bench Saturday. Warney probably thinking the home crowd would be on his back at the slightest error.
-- Edited by gwru on Tuesday 19th of February 2019 09:42:14 AM
I assumed he wasnt on the bench as there was no room for him tactically.
Cover for defence if it needed; moving Ajayai and vaulks and PW prioritising options in central mid. No need for a wing back in the bench when we have central players who can do as good a job.
Saw Reading play on red button were not great got some luck saw what happened against the blades. Now a lot depends on how we play don't play just In front of your penalty area like we did in the first half against Hull. When played higher up the pitch what a difference teams love it in this division when you surrender all of that room.i honestly fancy us to get our first away win it's got to come WE CAN DO IT.
A really thought provoking opening post from Ian, its what i have come to expect from him and Smiler. Gwru and the rest of us contribute well to make this site a great place to read about the thoughts of the millers fans.
Saturday is a game we cannot afford to lose. A win would be a bonus. Williams gave us that little bit extra when he came on and laid the ball on a plate for Smith to make it 3-1. He is always capable of doing that as is Newell . However i agree with Ian when he says both have struggled this season with the defensive side of the game. Williams' preferred position is the No 10 role. He has struggled when played there and just doesn't score enough (any) goals to warrant picking him in that role. Forde is being played out of position on the left but is doing ok in and is possibly our best option as Newell hasn't made it is own. I would also play the same eleven that started on Saturday. It was a good performance, so if everybody is fit i would go with the same. Woods has proved strong in tough encounters but i feel we have to play the same back four and would only pick wood if Robertson was out. A like for like left sided player.
One of the big differences between our ground and others is, it appears much narrower. I am not sure i am right but i do believe it helps us at home and we struggle at times on the wider away grounds. It might be an optical illusion but i always feel we are suspect to wide men away from home. Not sure Reading have good wingers so it might not have any significance on Saturday. I have a feeling for a draw Saturday, it wouldn't be the end of the world to come away with a point.
whiston01 I can't see difference it will make playing Williams on the right & Taylor on the left. Taylor doesn't tackle on the right. Forde I don't see him tackling on the left. Williams best position is on the right. Taylor got goals in him. Forde is so average bet he's up Warney's arse to get in the side. Warney tried to get rid of him in the summer transfer window, should have done. Williams is the one player we have who can run at defenders. We aren't going to stop up with draws. Winnable game at Reading but not being negative.
The only difficult decisions in my opinion are Jones or Vyner (who was excellent at Hull) at right back and Forde or Williams as the second wide player. I would go with Jones and Williams. So: Rodak: Jones, Ihiekwe, Robertson, Mattock; Ajayi; Taylor, Vaulks, Towell, Williams; Smith. Big game this. Looking forward to it. Its got an MK Dons feel about it. I think we can and will win.
You have certain matches in a season that define your season the Reading game is one of them I just feel we are going to get our first away win. Right back I would play Jones he has more experience couldn't fault him how he played in the last home game. Could this be the game where our forwards start scoring need to take our chances going for a 2-0 to the mighty Millers.
Agree with both previous posts. Same side smiler has gone for. Williams has got to play on the right. Jones isn't an attacking full back. Mattock gets forward on the left. Taylor he's not really a winger but got goals in him.
I want to be optimistic but our form looks to us going down ĺoose tomorrow that's it accept it.
Backing my team and going for a win that away has to come come on you reds.
