Reading Between The Lines

Reading are up and running for the season with a morale boosting 2-1 win over Championship Portsmouth this week. Heavy rotation for both sides gave us a chance to check out a few different players but most importantly winning breeds confidence, regardless of competition, and spirits should be lifted ahead of Wimbledon on Saturday. Here are few thoughts following the match:

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan (re-)stating his ST credentionals

We’ve mostly seen Kelvin E play LW since breaking into the team a few years ago, especially after moving away from Selles’ 4222 to the variety of 433 shapes we’ve played since. The debate among fans even had seemed to have shifted away from whether LW or ST is his best position to instead, whether he was even a viable option at ST at L1 level. One night in the cup doesn’t change that but it was heartening to see Kelvin play up top and score.

I’ve maintained for a while that I do think he could be a valuable option up top but what was so encouraging from last night was how unfussy a ST display it was. We know Kelvin has wonderful feet, can drive at defences 1v1 and score spectacular goals out of nothing. We didn’t see any of that but it’s no bad thing. What we got from Kelvin on Tuesday night was efficient channel running, no frills attacking and really excellent work rate. All 3 of which have been questioned in the past.

Honestly my favourite part of his performance was decision making to take the early, low shot that ultimately led to our opening goal. Seeing him run in behind with a defender scrambling back to stop him I just assumed we would see Kelvin chop inside to sit his defender down and try and curl left footed into the far corner. It would have been a very Kelvin E goal had he scored it, and entirely within his capabilities, but would also have added a fair bit more difficulty to the chance and relied on him nailing all the elements. Kelvin has moments of absolute brilliance that separate him not just from his colleagues but from this league but what he he hasn’t got, yet, is the efficiency (of movement, running and decisions) that could see him become a top ST. Seeing glimpses of some ‘traditional’ ST actions from him was good to see.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat (get the ball into the final 3rd)

A few weeks ago I postured HERE that our overreliance on Wing in possession was as much about what he was doing as what others players we’re not doing. In short, the goal should be How do we get the ball into dangerous areas rather than how do we get the ball to Wing to get the ball into dangerous areas. On Tuesday we got a chance to watch a Reading team without Wing at the base of midfield with young Shay Spencer playing in his place. Spencer is someone that I have really enjoyed watching in the past and it would not have been a surprise to see him playing the role similar to Wing. He fits the mould of a deep lying midfielder tasked with getting the ball into the final 3rd. However, that was not what we saw vs Portsmouth.

Against Pompey, Spencer was efficient and always showing good movement to provide passing options for players but Reading did not put particular focus on passing through him. Instead, distribution from the back was a little more varied with Burns and Stickland taking more responsibility for starting attacks passing long and short. The fullbacks also played a bigger role in bringing the ball through the 3rds than we have seen in the league so far, particularly Ahmed who played a role in both goals. In some ways it was shame not to see Spencer flex is game running muscles but he contributed well to good overall display which is more important.

This is not to say we would be better off without Lewis Wing, that would be crazy, but this team can and must be more varied in how it gets the ball into attacking areas. We showed we can get the ball into dangerous areas and score goals (albeit against a much changed side) without funnelling the ball through our DM so no reason that can’t continue once the excellent Wing is back in that position.

JC