The Weekly Bobbins: Questionable Momentum

Just as the season is spluttering into life, the power is pulled as we are hit with the first, frustrating international break. Whether that’s a blessing or a curse for Reading is up for debate. It could be the breather new signings need to bed in, or it could snuff out any momentum. Then again, whether we have momentum to begin with is questionable.

The start of the week was a quick repeat of the fixture that previously had never happened before this August: a Carabao Cup tie against AFC Wimbledon. With a much-changed side from the ‘draw snatched from the jaws of victory’ against Wycombe Wanderers, we dispatched the Dons and sealed an away tie with AFC Wrexham in the third round. What joy.

It was a game that showed flashes of excellence.

First, Liam Fraser channelled his inner Lewis Wing from 30 yards with a shot that sailed into the top-right corner. Totally unsaveable. Then came a fabulous, yet out of the blue, team goal that culminated in a tap-in for Mamadi Camara. Everything in between was a much of a muchness. 

Much like many games this season, we looked competent without being particularly convincing offensively. Defensively we were pretty sound and handled the opposition pretty well, but it still wasn’t especially satisfying.

Transfer business then livened things up. In came Jack Marriott and Matt Ritchie: neither a shock but both very necessary. Their ages (30, 35) and contracts (three years, two years) raised eyebrows, but they add depth and experience: things we’ve been short of.

Marriott’s three-year deal looks a gamble, but at 30 he wasn’t likely to be settling for less, and the club weren’t exactly in a position of strength either. Ironically, it’s 35-year-old Ritchie who feels the safer bet, having contributed well for Portsmouth last season. Either way, both bring character, work rate and examples for the younger players to follow.

Another game that defied logic

Marriott made his debut – and became Reading’s 1,500th league player – in the victory over Port Vale. Much like every other result so far, it defied logic. Against Bolton Wanderers, we drew when we should’ve lost. Against Wycombe, we drew when we should’ve won. Against Vale, we won when we should’ve drawn. Football’s injustices writ large.

The bigger issue is tactics – or the lack of implementation of them. Right now, it feels like we’re chucking our best players into a 4-3-3 and hoping something sticks. The energy is there, the effort is there, but invention and ruthlessness are missing.

Derrick Williams has shored things up at the back and Paudie O’Connor’s impending return should only help. Going forward though, we’re still surviving on wonder goals rather than carefully crafted moves. Paddy Lane’s first strike for the club summed it up: a misdirected pass from the raw-but-exciting Daniel Kyerewaa fell perfectly for him to lash into the top corner. Glorious, yes, but pure accident.

There’s no doubt that it’s a hard-working team; they do not look devoid of energy or lack intention, but there is a lack of invention and clinicality about our play. All the relevant pieces are there, but somehow, they’re just not fitting together nicely.

The accusations are forming in some quarters that Noel Hunt is not tactically adept enough to mould this group into something that is aesthetically pleasing and yet effective in both boxes.

Sweet individual magic has kept us unbeaten in four, but it doesn’t feel much like progress. With the transfer window shut, Hunt can’t hide behind a lack of options anymore. He’s got them everywhere – Kamari Doyle for Ben Elliott (when Elliott had a particularly torrid day against Vale), Marriott over Mark O’Mahony, cover in defence (both wide and central), Ritchie practically anywhere out wide and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan still to come back. The ingredients are all there, in theory.

Now it’s time for Hunt to fully bake the biscuits. We just can’t rely on high quantities of sugar to make the half-baked end product edible.