Five Things From Reading's Heavy Defeat At Bolton Wanderers

09/22/2024 06:21 AM

Bobbins delves into a game in which off-field chaos seemed to take its toll on the Royals.

Turmoil

Well, it wouldn't have taken a genius to work out that we were likely to be on the wrong end of a result away from home, but none of us would have like to witness another walloping in Greater Manchester.

From the outset, Reading looked a bit shaky, but they just had to stay in the game to find their feet. Alas, it was undone by a peach of a free-kick from Josh Sheehan. From then on, the wheels came off.

But who could have blamed them? A week of utter turmoil and disappointment with the failure of Rob Couhig's takeover will have weighed heavy on them. It probably still will, unless news of a silver lining appears soon, such is the fragility of the unit.

Toll

They say mentality is, roughly speaking, at least half of the battle in sport. Think about that for a second. Regardless of whether physically you're in tip-top condition - and, given the stature of our squad, some will probably have a few niggles already. Some are still missing, like Andy Yiadom. Some are now out of the picture for a while in Jeriel Dorsett. We're already at a disadvantage due to the size of our squad.

Now subtract that from the mental condition these guys are in right now. What do you get? It's going to be a very sub-par feeling throughout. The attitude is different, that cannot be questioned.

The intent and effort are not questionable but the level of confidence and mental strength to recover from the overall situation at the club cannot be discounted. It's always going to have an effect; it would be impossible to divorce the off-field inactions from the on-field.

Of course, there are some outlets which have steadfastly refused to take this on board and believe they should be just automatons, able to perform endlessly as soon as they set over the white line. Some that should know better, frankly. It's a situation that cumulatively must take its toll; how could it not?

Nightmare

I think most fans can see this situation as a whole and take this into account, however. It's a small group of players that has steadily diminished over time, but the togetherness is still there. They're still very much fighting but it's so hard when you've got both hands tied behind your back and practically all the other limbs too.

Just like the fans did, we thought we were on our way back. Even the manager, Ruben Selles, reckoned the takeover was not going to fail. He must feel mentally bereft and this must be visible to the players also. It's impossible for them not to feel for their manager that has helped them so greatly since his appointment.

If anyone has ever worked in a workplace which has a negative environment, or a situation where you feel you have no control over the outcome, or feeling that you are in a nightmare you can't stop recurring, this is it. This is the outcome. To rise above and play your best game, to win against the odds, to overcome everything that is weight you down. It's not possible, not without some massive degrees of luck or for key decisions to go in your favour.

Energy

Unfortunately, we had no such luck at Bolton. But a lot of it was our own undoing, too. Defensively we looked disjointed. The first penalty decision was the right one. If we'd have had that happen to one of our players, we'd have been asking for a spot-kick. (That said, I'm sure Sam Smith has been denied for pretty much the same offence!) The second penalty was soft, but whatever, it was given. Oh, and if David Button could come for a cross, that would be nice.

Prior to that we did get back into the game via a fine strike by Ben Elliott. We took that energy into the second half when we started to play a bit. Lewis Wing began to operate a bit higher, being more instrumental in the process. Of course, Bolton probably allowed us a bit more time and space as it was still 4-1 at this point, but we were playing decent stuff, nonetheless.

Then Smith did get one of those penalties that often don't get given and tucked it away quite tidily indeed. We started to show a little more of ourselves after that: a tiny mental boost that we were still in the game. But it wasn't to be - we picked up our second 5-2 loss in succession at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Mammoth

Overall, it was what we expected, in truth. Performances from players with fuzzy minds that weighed on them from the off. It's difficult to see how and when they could bounce back from this. Winning obviously helps, but at the moment they are pushing a boulder up a very steep incline.

Fortunately, we have another week to clear the head a little, to try and find something to cling onto. It'll need a mammoth collective effort to recover, but just like I wrote in my letter to the players, they can do this. They can rise above it all. They've done it before; they can do it again.

Chalk this one down as being too soon to perform. The wounds were too raw and that time can heal. We just have to find that mental strength from somewhere. Don't let the buggers grind you down, Reading.