matchwatch : reading v vitesse arnhem (at adams park, 3pm)

[Sutekh]

And the poor performance continues. 3-0 down due to Swift being caught in possession. Quality finish though.

[leon]

Great way to kick start the campaign.

[super darren caskey]

Stam out

[Sutekh]

Clement just missed the best Reading chance

Beat the keeper but couldn't get to the loose ball before the diving defender

Popa has also just hit the underside of the bar

Sam Smith has impressed me more in 15 minutes than Bodvarsson in 45

And Arnhem look to be more up for the game than Reading from the off

[CountryRoyal]

I know it's only preseason but getting hammered by a fairly average team a week before QPR can hardly be good preparation.

Look a bit silly now..

[Sutekh]

Penalty

3-1

Swift

[CountryRoyal]

Penalty

3-1

Swift

No rebound???

[Sutekh]

3-2

Popa with a beaut!

[tidus_mi2]

I know it's only preseason but getting hammered by a fairly average team a week before QPR can hardly be good preparation.

Look a bit silly now..

Can you do the team pep talks, this has seemingly done a world of good

[Sutekh]

Much better performance since the penalty, looking a much better team and, no, Arnhem have not made a load of substitutions (only 1 in the entire game)

Now Danny Loader is on for John Swift and Adrien Popa has been replaced by Andy Rinomhota

[Sutekh]

Loader is playing wide left and Clement has switched to the right. Rinomhota is in the centre of midfield. Smith is playing really well and it's been such turnaround since the substitutions were made. Only one team looking likely to score and it's not Arnhem

Kelly been impressive too with what looks to be plenty of direction and communication from midfield

[Snowflake Royal]

Kelly is really crucial to the way we play IMO. He moves the ball quickly, effectively and with purpose.

Good to see Academy players involved and seemingly performing well.

[Royal Rother]

Good to hear Adi Williams on the ball again.

Talking about "the lad Loader... what's his first name...?"

Jeez.

[Top Flight]

Very good performance in the second half. Both from the boys on the pitch and the lads behind the goal making it feel like the game mattered.

At half time I was a bit worried with what we had served up but by the end of the second I feel there is reason for optimism. Smith and Loader look good. Maybe we don't need to sign a striker. These lads ain't bad.

[CountryRoyal]

Good to hear Adi Williams on the ball again.

Talking about "the lad Loader... what's his first name...?"

Jeez.

'Kin el. That's just embarrassing.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Lol, my "lad" played rugby with his (also successful) brother (LI)

Loloader dynasty

[Hound]

The injuries picked up definitely a worry though. Glad to see Smith and Loader put in good performances. It realistically don't want to see these lads being relied on early season

Seem to have managed to pick up a lengthy injury list already which is far from ideal

How were Popa and Clement btw? My early season hopes are starting to rest a bit on Popa being as good as I hope he can be.

[Nameless]

Popa second half was good. Lots of movement, made runs, had a couple of fierce shots.,suspect he might be good for 7-10 goals if he plays regularly.

[tmesis]

Basically, the first hour was like our friendly at Wimbledon last year, if anyone went for that. Half-paced and strolling about like a training session.

There were a few less than friendly tackles though, which a tougher referee might have done well to clamp down on earlier. Oddly, the worst tackle was probably by Swift, going though a player, which would probably have been a red in a real game.

Then again they ought to have had a player sent off, not just for a few fouls, but for the foul that took out Smith just as he was about to shoot for goal. Lovely penalty by Swift to put us back in the game.

That came shortly after we decided to up the tempo and start playing, and we didn't look bad after that. Smith very nearly scored, hitting the post, only for the ball to go to Popa, who made a bit of space before whacking it past the keeper to make it 2-3. He'd also hit the underside of the crossbar from a tight angle himself after about an hour, and about the time we started trying to play. Before that he looked as disappointing as everyone else.

I was going to ask if Danny Loader gets in the first team, he'd be the first Reading 1st teamer born in the 21st century, but it seems he was born on 28th August 2000, so maybe he'll be the youngest 20th century player instead.

To make people feel old, who remembers that mini Cureton/Butler goal feast, where we were scoring 4s and 5s for fun nearly every home game? Danny Loader was just 1 month old then.

[CountryRoyal]

I was going to ask if Danny Loader gets in the first team, he'd be the first Reading 1st teamer born in the 21st century, but it seems he was born on 28th August 2000, so maybe he'll be the youngest 20th century player instead.

That's still the 21st century though.

Thanks for the write up, how did Smith and Loader look compared with the grown ups?