MATCHWATCH : Swindon Town (a)

[Mr Angry]

Admittedly I am not a regular at games these days but I watch what I can. Genuinely surprised to hear that the away end were booing and singing what they were singing.

- After the relative unity during the end of the Dai era, how have things become so toxic so quickly?
- Since when did these matches ever matter?
- Why are we so irate at financial conservatism and spending controls after nearly losing the club?

Reading weren't even that bad, probably a little unlucky not to get a draw on the balance of play.

Whether or not Noel Hunt is the man to carry us to long term glory I don't know, but it's so incredibly early in the season to be demanding the axe.

Hi Mags

Was at the game and was astonished at the reaction of Reading fans both during and, particularly, after the game. Firstly, it's the mickiest of mickey mouse tournaments, secondly, we fielded a young and inexperienced team and thirdly, we didn't play that bad.

I felt so sorry for the youngsters making their debut that they will probably remember it most for being told they are not fit to wear the shirts. Absolute shame on anyone singing that, I really hope it doesn't destroy their confidence or love of the club. There is an argument that Hunt should have played a stronger side as it was Swindon and the fans wanted to win, but that's not the fault of the players he picked and seeing them taking abuse was horrible to watch.

I know you can't constantly harp back to where we were a year ago but I'm willing to bet a lot of these clowns were expressing their love of the club back then and saying how they just want a club to support. Well that wasn't support and the club would be better off without them travelling. The club has been heading full steam in the wrong direction for years, it is going to take more than a few months to turn that around and the owners, manager and players should be given some latitude and patience.

Spot on.

[Snowflake Royal]

Was it Utd's first team or reserves?

Oh hang on, same thing these days, right?

[Snowflake Royal]

Who was on co-comms on RoyalsTV for the game, Ryan someone?

I got the impression they may have been a player... but could have been media team.

Was interesting hearing them talk about how much emphasis and importance Hunt places on pressing in training.

It's the sort of thing that can be really effective, but can also go really wrong. As we saw sometimes under Selles before him.

I also wonder if its why the Academy sides often seem to either get strong results or a bit of a pasting... if they're doing the same thing. When it works it really works and when it doesn’t it really doesn’t.

[South Coast Royal]

Who was on co-comms on RoyalsTV for the game, Ryan someone?

I got the impression they may have been a player... but could have been media team.

Was interesting hearing them talk about how much emphasis and importance Hunt places on pressing in training.

It's the sort of thing that can be really effective, but can also go really wrong. As we saw sometimes under Selles before him.

I also wonder if its why the Academy sides often seem to either get strong results or a bit of a pasting... if they're doing the same thing. When it works it really works and when it doesn’t it really doesn’t.

Doesn't every team press but some more energetically, effectively and for longer than others?

As Pepe and I posted, the co-commentator kept on mumbling throughout the game and, for TV coverage, the main man prattled on too much.

[stealthpapes]

Doesn't every team press but some more energetically, effectively and for longer than others?

There's also variations in where teams start to press and with how many players.

I'd go so far as saying not every team presses - if you're sitting back in a 4-5-1 or similar, the aim is reduce the area behind you and put bodies in the way, rather than put pressure on the ball. A player out of position is extremely detrimental here.