Reading had a fine performance against Premier League opposition and lost, but played less than their best and saw off Notts County comfortably. That’s the way it goes sometimes, but in truth, we’d rather win in the league – where our bread and butter is – than a cup competition where we would come unstuck eventually.
In the league games, we do have the undoubted pleasure of seeing one of the finest strikers we’ve had the pleasure to see in recent history: Jack David Marriott.
Looking back to when
he signed for us, it seemed like he was the striker we needed, but not the striker we wanted. A player who was into his 30s, a bit injury prone and a bit on the small side.
Where’s the striker who can score goals with his head? Well, here he is and his name is Marriott.
I had the fortunate pleasure of sitting perfectly behind the cross from Haydon Roberts for his first goal. The bend on the delivery was something to behold. The power that was applied was quite something, too.
What did come as a surprise was the finish which led the Notts keeper to be rooted to his spot. It was, to all intents and purposes, the perfect goal.
This was backed up in the second half with a duplication of the finish via a sublime bit of wing trickery from Kyreece Lisbie. This time, the cross was much more simple, and the header was put away with aplomb. Game over.
The set-up for both goals made the Notts defence look negatively schoolboy. Their manager will no doubt be absolutely fuming that, for both goals, their midfield didn’t close down and the defenders didn’t defend. One does not simply let Marriott walk in two goals, unmarked for both.
Does Wing need a rest?
More generally speaking, this team is so much more pleasurable to watch than in recent years. Even when they spluttered and faulted, like in the first half against Notts, the effort was there, the style was easier on the eye; it just wasn’t clicking yet.
What has improved hugely is the way Leam Richardson is able to change games at half-time. Whatever was said worked and, within four minutes, we were ahead. A literal managerial dream.
Whoever had a shaky first half – chiefly Lewis Wing and Benn Ward – improved during the second. Although, personally, I feel Wing is having a bit of a struggle with finding his form again.
Whatever the issue is, he seems to be struggling to get his game back where he wants it to be. Maybe the captaincy is undermining his game? Maybe he just needs a rest? Whatever it is, he’s not quite the same player that we have seen.
He’s not a million miles off, just under a cloud. The type of period all players will suffer during their careers.
He won’t be dropped, nor rested however, nor do I advocate playing him continually so he can find his form again. Plus, being captain, he’s far less likely to be hooked or not to start at all.
So it’s a tricky situation for both player and manager, in truth. But as long as we’re still winning then the situation is unlikely to change, nor should it, realistically.
We saw against Brentford that the likes of Liam Fraser and Charlie Savage are chomping at the bit to get more game time. But the midfield duo of Wing and Andy Rinomhota is a hard one to dislodge.
A clear improvement
Looking back at both games, the progression of style, shape and intent that we’re seeing this season – at home especially – is very noticeable. It’s night and day compared to the mindless dross we saw last season.
Against the Bees – a team that, stylistically, Reading would love to emulate in time – we made a very good fist of it.
Despite some nightmare referee decisions, we could have taken that game to the distance. We caused them more than enough problems and still looked capable of handling them defensively. (Although, what I’d give for a player like Mikkel Damsgaard!)
If we can add some mental steel to our away performances, with the firepower and creativity we have, we could be a top-six side. But, like I have said before, I’m still concerned about our chances on the road.
That said, if you’ve been on the fence about returning to watching the Royals at home or have not been since the Dai Yongge era, then it behooves me to ask you to re-consider.
There’s something brewing here. We have a squad that is very, very likeable. There is a much improved style and, even within that, there are players like Paudie O’Connor and Paddy Lane who are improving game on game.
There are literal game-changers with Lisbie causing terror down the wing; proper bums-off-seats stuff. And a grade A finisher in Marriott that we’ve rarely seen in recent years.
We’re not the finished article, far from it, but by jingo, we’re bloody good fun to watch.
