Bobbins picks out the importance of a few veterans in a flawed, but ultimately effective, Royals performance against Orient.
Returning to the SCL with a win after what felt like an eternity is always welcome, but there are levels of “good”. It can be excellent, superb, even joyous. This wasn’t any of those.
In truth, we got away with murder. If the visitors had brought their shooting boots, we’d have been in serious trouble. Despite having a monstrous 70.5% share of possession, Leyton Orient couldn’t turn dominance into danger.
“Even with the three points, those green shoots remain elusive”
That Reading won with just 29.5% possession is worrying in itself, especially as it wasn’t the result of a deliberate low block or that we invited pressure. Yes, a win is a win, and that matters most, but since the season began we’ve been searching for signs of growth, of cohesion. Even with the three points, those green shoots remain elusive.
Ben Elliott was dropped after a dip in form, replaced by Liam Fraser. They’re different types of players, but Fraser was deployed in the same position – and it was unclear what his real role was. Sometimes he pressed, sometimes he didn’t. Sometimes he dropped deep, sometimes he drifted away. He wasn’t quite defending, nor attacking. It was muddled.
The midfield as a whole felt the same. Lewis Wing, Charlie Savage and Fraser make for an odd combination: one playmaker with two disruptors.
Savage’s energy is admirable, but his end product has dropped off. Both he and Fraser seemed tasked with ‘running about a bit’ and the effect was predictable: space everywhere. Wing wants to release the ball quickly, but neither of his partners are natural controllers. The midfield became porous, like Swiss cheese, and Orient cut through at will. Nobody sat, nobody patrolled. The plan, if there was one, was a mystery.
“It wasn’t that the goal was coming, but the substitutions tilted the game”
Somehow, Orient’s possession didn’t translate into goals, and as the match wore on the finishers made the difference. Rugby parlance calls players ‘starters and finishers; in this game Reading’s finishers proved decisive.
Daniel Kyerewaa and Paddy Lane – both ineffective – were withdrawn for Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Matt Ritchie, while Savage made way for Kamari Doyle. The impact was immediate.
In a rare flash of quality, Ritchie found a yard of space and delivered a cross – yes, that actually happened. Doyle nodded the ball down and Fraser, ghosting into the box, coolly slotted home the winner.
It wasn’t that the goal was coming, but the substitutions tilted the game. Orient tired, Reading’s bench brought energy, and suddenly gaps appeared. Most notable of all was our first glimpse of Ritchie in a Royals shirt.
Within seconds he was pointing, demanding, instructing: a general in midfield. It was a stark contrast to others, including our captain Wing, who does not have the most vocal presence. At 36, Ritchie has nothing to prove: experience, nous and the dark arts are all part of his armoury, and Reading sorely need that.
Jack Marriott put in an exhausting shift and looks lightyears ahead of Mark O’Mahony. Derrick Williams has been a powerhouse since arriving, epitomised by a last-ditch clearance while hobbling with what we hope isn’t a serious injury.
The elder statesmen are already reshaping this side. Williams brings grit and presence. Marriott brings goals – three in three now. Ritchie brings authority. Different roles, different areas of the pitch, but the same effect: a dose of maturity the squad has lacked.
As these figures cement themselves in the side, we can hope to see more cultured and composed performances than this one against Orient. Maybe, just maybe, this newly deployed set of experience can pull this unit up by its bootstraps.
The kids are alright, but old could be gold.
Category: General Sports
