The Wild Lower West: A Sense Of Disappointment
While Reading impress on the pitch, Dixey finds it frustrating that the side is still being let down off it.
Walking away from the SCL on Saturday, I couldn’t help but feel ever so slightly disappointed that we had only gained a point against Birmingham City.
That’s not because I was disappointed with our performance, far from it - I was disappointed that we had once again shown that we are more than capable of competing against anyone in this division, yet continue to lack the ongoing investment and infrastructure to move forward without uncertainty, but more of that to follow.
Wind back seven days and we had just beaten a stubborn but not very effective Rotherham United side, courtesy of a Harvey Knibbs double. The referee had obviously been copied in on the “Reading are now allowed to be awarded penalties” email from his bosses, and duly awarded one in the 94th minute, much to the delight of Rotherham manager Steve Evans.
In fairness to Evans (and you will never hear me say that again), two disallowed goals and a saved penalty meant it was a thoroughly miserable afternoon for him and his team, and I have to say I loved it. After the game Evans confirmed that Noel Hunt could now buy the club, because apparently, he had just won the lottery!
And so back to the Birmingham game - which, in comparison to the 2-1 victory against Rotherham, was probably a better team display, and can be filed in the ‘very entertaining 0-0’ category, courtesy of the sort of battling performance that makes you proud of a side that cost nothing, competing against one that cost £38 million (if you include injured Jay Stansfield).
I have always maintained that this group of players have something special and, with the right investment in the club and a few longer-term contract offers, we could be witnessing the start of an exciting journey.
I do not want to go into the proposed takeover too much, as we have all had our fingers burnt enough times already, but if the prospective new owner was watching on Saturday, I’m sure he would have been impressed with the attitude and spirit within the team, while being equally unimpressed with the state of the pitch.
While everyone in a Reading shirt put in a shift against Birmingham, I would defy anyone to be anything but impressed by Amadou Mbengue, who continues to typify the fight and spirit this squad has.
Mbengue’s goal-line clearance in the second half will be rightly highlighted as his standout moment, but his overall play and will to win are examples to anyone who wants to play sport in a team environment. I do not know the man personally, but I am led to believe that he trains exactly how he plays, always showing passion and commitment for what he is doing.
I think it was Pep Guardiola who once said: “If you train badly, you play badly. If you work like a beast in training, you play the same way,” which seems as if it could have been written for Mbengue. My favourite Amadou moment though was a crunching tackle on Lyndon Dykes in front of the Lower West, which led to shouts of “you’ve just been Mbengue’d!”
This was certainly not a one-man performance though. Michael Craig turned into prime Dennis Bergkamp in his own half a couple of times, Harvey Knibbs hassled the life out of every Birmingham player for 90 minutes and Lewis Wing proved once again that playing just 10-15 yards further forward gives him the time and space to be the best ball player in League One.
From the first minute it was clear that Reading were not just going to lie down for Birmingham’s expensively assembled squad, who had the luxury of replacing Dykes in the second half with Alfie May, while our bench once again resembled the end of a school trip when you are all sat waiting for the coach to arrive.
That’s certainly not a criticism of those warming the bench, who have done everything asked of them since stepping up, but it is a constant reminder that we are so reliant on the 11 selected to start the game. While other teams can afford the luxury of substitutions that may alter the game, I can’t think of many games this season when our own changes have switched the game in our favour.
Which really leads me to my first point and my disappointment with a point against Birmingham. I’m not disappointed with the performance, because we matched - and at times outplayed - a team that will win this division comfortably.
I’m not disappointed with the attitude shown by the players, who gave everything to try and win the game, typified by several standout individual performances.
I’m not disappointed with the way we set up and played, as the players seem to be adapting to Noel’s formation, and we are starting to see some good football emerge from it.
I am disappointed because the game showed how great this team and club could be with the right ownership and investment.
It is well documented that, come the end of the season, we have enough contracted players to play five-a-side, and if we still have the same ownership then there is absolutely no chance of that being added to. I make light of it because that’s my way of dealing with the unthinkable, and therefore I pray that the latest rumoured takeover turns out to be the one that saves us.
For me, the Birmingham game typified why someone must invest in this club, because there are so many great things waiting to happen with this team, and my disappointment with a draw against the runaway league leaders could just be the start of it!
This Saturday we travel to Wigan Athletic, who have had a mixed season to date, with more points being picked up on the road than at home, so I am hopeful that trend continues going into this game.
That said, Wigan are unbeaten in their last three, so I’m expecting this to be a tough game and think that another point on the road is the most likely outcome.
Wigan 1-1 Reading
Taylor, Savage
9,877
Much love and c’mon URZZZ.
Dixey