BFTG - Ipswich

[Wycombe Royal]

Thought Akpan was the weak link today - quite a few sloppy passes. Not saying he had a poor game, just not as good as the rest. Also remember that we are 4 senior players down at the moment so a pretty good result against a team that is pretty much the same level as us.

And what is it with Reading goalkeepers waiting until the opposition have reformed before booting it out? Too slow ...

Only 4? Karacan, Guthrie, Williams, McCleary, Robson-Kanu, Mackie & Ferdinand.

I make that 7.

Ooops you're right - and me an accountant as well ...

You're obviously a poorer accountant than me

[Simon's Church]

Thought hector was pretty poor today tbh kept trying to nick the ball in front of mcgoldrick and murphy and leaving us a bit exposed, ill give him the benefit of the doubt though as its his first game at cb for a while and the midfield offered very little protection today.

Pog was different class and i wish adkins would change his tactic of bringing on extra defenders to see out a lead, especially 18 year olds with no league experience.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Maybe I was expecting too much.

[Simon's Church]

I liked it when he shinned it straight to an Ipswich player, under no pressure. While we're talking scapegoats, what did people think of Blackman? Sounds like he's played well in our opening two games and preseason, but I thought he was rubbish. Got bullied in the first half, and just generally took ages to do anything.

Yeah that was funny lol.

Thought NB did ok first half tbf but when he didnt get given.a couple of free kicks he just seemed to give up.

[3points]

Thought Akpan was the weak link today - quite a few sloppy passes. Not saying he had a poor game, just not as good as the rest

remember he hasn't played as much in the past 2-3 weeks as most of the other players, so was probably missing a bit of match fitness too

Thought hector was pretty poor today tbh

reckon you might be in a minority on this; thought he looked pretty comfortable and in control. McGoldrick is a good player and Murphy is no slouch

[RoyalBlue]

I think it is really hard to pick a MOM from today's game as there were so great performances from quite a few players.

I thought Cox was excellent worked really hard, showed good levels of skill and vision and gave the Ipswich defenders a lot to think about.

Pog was also very good.

As noted by Mick Gooding, Gunter had a fantastic game (including setting up our goal), but it probably went unnoticed by many because he is such an efficient and unfussy player.

Hector also looked very good. He had a couple of lucky breaks but I think his work rate and determination made those for him.

Akpan has clearly become our latest scapegoat, replacing Blackman who had another good game. However, I don't think he was that bad. Not only did he do the dirty work well throughout the game - again commented on by Gooding - but he also showed a great piece of skill inside the left side of their area, towards the end of the game to set up a good opportunity that we were just unable to convert.

[tee peg]

Great result from a make shift patched up team who played with passion.So far,two
good results from teams that ,IMO , will be in the top ten.

[paultheroyal]

Thought hector was pretty poor

We're you and are you drunk?

[yappy]

Thought hector was pretty poor today tbh kept trying to nick the ball in front of mcgoldrick and murphy and leaving us a bit exposed, ill give him the benefit of the doubt though as its his first game at cb for a while and the midfield offered very little protection today.

Sorry SC but that is one of the most ridiculous comments I've seen on this board. Hector was outstanding today.

[paultheroyal]

I liked it when he shinned it straight to an Ipswich player, under no pressure. While we're talking scapegoats, what did people think of Blackman? Sounds like he's played well in our opening two games and preseason, but I thought he was rubbish. Got bullied in the first half, and just generally took ages to do anything.

Yeah that was funny lol.

Thought NB did ok first half tbf but when he didnt get given.a couple of free kicks he just seemed to give up.

Think what you post from here on in is irrelevant after saying Hector was poor!

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Günter Mom for me.

Hector aside, didn't think the kids showed much today. But a win with most of the 'first team' out, happy with that

[marlowuk]

Dreadful game. We didn't have a shot in the second half and the goal the only effort in the first. Couldn't have complained if Ipswich had equalised or even won that - certainly had two very good chances in the second half.
Still a win is a win and Ipswich are a well organised side if somewhat limited so a decent result but Christ it made for poor entertainment.

I found it very entertaining you miserable sod.

Well - I'm agreeing with the 'miserable sod'! It was better than last Tuesday but that is not saying much. Ipswich started the game much the brighter (even though Cox created a good opportunity for himself inside the first 30 seconds!) and we were pinned back in our own half for the first 20 minutes or so. Our goal was against the run of play (well taken though by a determined Jake Taylor) and we regained our confidence so I'd score the first half even.

We were bad in the second half and were very lucky to hang on for a gratefully received but undeserved win. Passes went astray and headers fell to the feet of the opposition. They hit the woodwork twice and we cleared off the line twice and they must have had the majority of the possession as well as, comfortably, more shots on goal.

However, I was impressed by Hector today and have him MOTM. His speed and calmness is very welcome in the back four. Feds was in goal and I had forgotten what it was like not to have my heart in my mouth every time we passed back to the GK! I thought he did well and seems to have improved in his ability to claim high balls from corners.

Far too much of the game was played in the air. Was it B Clough who said that if God had wanted football to be played in the air he'd have planted grass there? It was something like that anyway!! Akpan was, commendably, the only one who consistently tried to bring it down to feet but his skill in that department is not reliable so it sometimes benefited the opposition! AND - I am sick of saying it but we are s**t at throw-ins!! Why do players not make them selves available to the thrower? Why do we not challenge the opposition on their throws?

Ipswich were over-physical in my opinion and Pog, in particular, came in for much holding and pushing which was seldom (if at all) punished.

Of the others, Gunter played well but I am not convinced by him as captain. I don't see him taking the lead, encouraging his team mates or organising anything in the way Jobi did. But let's give him time to bed into that role. I suppose it can be argued that without Guthrie, Williams, McCleary and Karajan our midfielders have done a remarkable job so far this season. (After all, we are are ahead of the 106 squad after 2 games!!). But we are often by-passing the midfield and lumping balls up to our frontmen which is not really the Adkin's way.

Of the others (as I was saying) Cox did well and is not bad in the air despite his lack of height. Not in the Noel Hunt class but good! Both Edwards and Cooper looked good when they came on as subs; Edwards was very lively and quick and Cooper looked solid in defence. Jordan was a bit anonymous and I would like him back at LB although Cummings is an able deputy there.

Not sure how many academy players were in action today and can't be bothered to count but it was encouraging - very encouraging. I'm surprised we haven't given Khul at least a cameo appearance for the first team. He has looked a great prospect whenever I have seen him play.

[sandman]

Need to do more with the second ball because their defenders were struggling to get distance on their headers and the ball was dropping in areas where we should have been able to challenge for it. Our defenders, particularly Pearce, who looked a lot more comfortable knowing that the ball was going to go to them rather than the opposition centre forward. Glad to see more pace in the back line and Hector did well in his natural position, please keep him away from CM from now on Nige.

Still feel we need a better balance in the middle but the inclusion of a specialist Centre Midfielder in Akpan helped in that regard today. Need more creativity in there as well as we look like we are going to struggle to score goals this season without it but hopefully we will get better there once Jem and Williams are back.

Need a LB and another forward and we will be set.


Federici - Not much to do, made a good one on one save in conjunction with Hector. Defenders looked a lot more comfortable and confident on the ball with him in goal. Set up a couple of good attacks as well. 7

Gunter - His usual weaknesses weren't really tested by Tabb. Good going forward, couple of decent interceptions and some testing crosses including the goal. 7
Hector - Been saying he was never a midfielder and proven right . Promising display in his natural position. 8
Pearce - Much more assured with Federici behind him. Tested defensively a couple of times in the first half, once surprisingly at a corner, but got over it. 7
Cummings - Excellent header on the line near the end. Coped well despite being out of position. 8

Akpan - Did the simple things well and having a natural midfielder in their gave us a better balance than we had with Hector there. 7
Obita - Tried his best. Want to see him on the left more often though. Good defending on the line in the first half. 6.5
Taylor - Took the goal well. Still yet to be convinced whether he will be able to gain a regular place in the team. 7
Blackman - Anonymous really, will be fine there until McCleary comes back. 6
Cox - Again, pretty anonymous but could have scored early after some good work. Early signs of potential in his link play with Pog. 6

Pog - Typical Pog performance jumped for headers a couple of times which was a shock. Lead the line well and relieved pressure at the end with his run deep into their half. 8

Subs:

Edwards - Looked willing and able. Gave them a bit of trouble with his hassling, couple of naïve moments but promising other than that. 6
Cooper - Did well on debut at a testing time defensively. 6
Stacey - Not enough time to make a proper impact. N/A

[winchester_royal]

Think today would have been the wrong time for Kuhl (or Tanner) to come on. Ipswich were very physical and tall, and those two are neither. That's why the likes of Cooper and Stacey were brought on imo, to at least partially deal with Ipswich's height. And also probably why Akpan stayed on the pitch despite being totally useless in the second half.

[Drew_3]

Günter Mom for me.

Hector aside, didn't think the kids showed much today. But a win with most of the 'first team' out, happy with that

Come on!! Have a day off. Cooper although only on for a few minutes dealt with everything that came near him (which I would assume pleased NA no end as I'm sure that is exactly what he was sent on to do) and Edwards gave us a much needed boost of energy and tireless running when we needed it.

[marlowuk]

Think today would have been the wrong time for Kuhl (or Tanner) to come on. Ipswich were very physical and tall, and those two are neither. That's why the likes of Cooper and Stacey were brought on imo, to at least partially deal with Ipswich's height. And also probably why Akpan stayed on the pitch despite being totally useless in the second half.

Good point about Khul, WR!

[sandman]

Unfortunately negated by his comment on Akpan.

[Simon's Church]

Thought hector was pretty poor today tbh kept trying to nick the ball in front of mcgoldrick and murphy and leaving us a bit exposed, ill give him the benefit of the doubt though as its his first game at cb for a while and the midfield offered very little protection today.

Sorry SC but that is one of the most ridiculous comments I've seen on this board. Hector was outstanding today.

You cant have read many posts then.

He was bailed out by gunter twice in the first half after getting caught out of position and again by cummings in the second half. I can understand fans getting carried away by a defender who can vaguely pass the ball but im blown away anyone thinks it was a performance worthy of its own thread.

Blown away.

[paultheroyal]

To Mars hopefully

[skipper]

A rare outing for me, but I made the game today.

I'm not going to bother rating each player, but mentions to Akpan who tried to control and play every hoof ball that came his way, my only criticism of him is he is far to slow. Takes an age to actually do it. Needs to be sharper and quicker with his decisions.

Pog I thought was awful. Also slow, and I took a special note of his ariel display. He didn't win a single heading challenge the entire game. If he is our target man, then we are wasting that. Woeful in the air. Held the ball up better in second half, but I question if he is really up for it?

Cummings had a good game, but would still prefer to see Obita there. Cox was great. Well done to all the sways for winning, AND keeping a clean sheet.

Once our midfield is back, we're going to be a good team.