The Wild Lower West: Reading’s Renovation Falls Flat

Has anyone ever had their favourite pub or restaurant renovated?

If so, you will know the sense of anticipation after it has been closed for a couple of weeks. The hope for a better environment in which to spend your afternoon or evening, the promise of a new manager and staff that will work differently and more efficiently, and the ongoing optimism that your newly renovated establishment will be better than the competition and soon attract new customers.

Then, you walk in on the day of the grand reopening and quickly realise not much has changed at all, and even the fireworks to mark the event did not really live up to the hype.

If you have experienced any of the above, then you will know exactly how I felt leaving the SCL following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Rotherham United. Although it is still very early days for Leam Richardson and his staff, I expected more as a result of nearly two weeks together on the training pitch without a game, yet what we witnessed was nothing different to several other stagnant home displays this season that we also failed to win.

Maybe I was expecting too much too soon, but the least I anticipated was seeing something a bit different and a style of play that befitted the players playing in it.

“On several occasions, we outnumbered Rotherham in midfield but then held the ball for far too long and allowed numbers to get back and break up the attack”

Instead, we once again saw Lewis Wing spend most of the game collecting the ball deep and playing just in front of the centre-backs, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan replacing his all-action display against Stevenage with his more usual ‘when I can be bothered’ performance, and full-backs spending most of the game hopelessly out of position when Rotherham attacked, until both were replaced on 72 minutes.

Much of my frustration about this display was the inability to play the right ball at the right time, with Matt Ritchie particularly guilty of holding possession for too long in the first half, although he certainly wasn’t alone. On several occasions, we outnumbered Rotherham in midfield but then held the ball for far too long and allowed numbers to get back and break up the attack. So much for a high-tempo style of play.

When we did get things moving going forward, it was often the case that our final ball was once again lacking, and on several occasions, Rotherham didn’t need to do too much to win back possession. From wide areas we checked back too often, from advanced positions we couldn’t find a killer pass, and when we did have time and space to play football, it was quickly ended by sloppiness and an inability to hold the ball.

The highlight of the game was undoubtedly Charlie Savage’s right-foot thunderbolt, making it two goals in two home games, and both with his weaker foot. While Wing is still way out in front in terms of screamers scored for Reading, Savage isn’t far behind when you look at the goals he has managed at the club, with very few being inside the box.

Poor officiating

Although our inability to break Rotherham down was a cause of frustration, the performance of referee Alan Young was right up there with some of the worst officiating I have ever seen in 40-odd years of watching football.

Rotherham supporters may argue that sour grapes and a poor home performance often lead to greater scrutiny of our beloved officials, but this was three men in black who were woeful for both sides. Mr Young and his hapless assistants managed to miss a blatant handball in the box, a shove in the box that left Kamari Doyle slithering along the turf before finally coming to a stop 10 yards later, and the awarding of several Rotherham free-kicks that had the Millers players themselves scratching their heads.

“Poor officiating has become commonplace throughout the football pyramid and Mr Young is the latest in a long line of officials who seem incompetent and simply not up to the job”

It is normal at least once during a game for a ball to go out of play and an assistant to not know which way the throw should be given, so they look to the referee to make the call.

In the first half alone, I counted three occasions when the ball went out of play and the assistant (just 10 yards away from where the ball went out) shrugged his shoulders and looked to the referee for guidance, similar to the shrug and look you give when your wife asks: “Does my bum look big in this?”

Poor officiating has become commonplace throughout the football pyramid and Mr Young is the latest in a long line of officials who seem incompetent and simply not up to the job. Being a poor referee is one thing, but being a poor referee who is constantly 20 yards behind the play is simply unacceptable. As always, the ruling bodies will blame a lack of referees and therefore ask every supporter to accept they are doing their best.

For me it’s time to initiate a campaign to attract former players and coaches to become referees and lead the way in decision-making and fitness. The idea has been discussed on many occasions, and with many ex-players now choosing coaching or punditry to stay involved in the game, the lure of officiating a game in the lower leagues is probably not very appealing.

However, if the governing bodies threw some money behind the recruitment of referees and officials, and provided a structured career path, I’m sure many ex-players would be more interested. Players have lived and breathed the game so know everything that goes on within the field of play.

I find it hard to be swayed from my view that former pros would instantly earn the respect of the players they are officiating, and will in turn know exactly when a challenge is a genuine attempt to win the ball or the blatant stopping of an opponent.

This Saturday we travel to Blackpool for another early kick-off, which of course makes absolute sense after a five-hour journey to get to the game.

Blackpool, like Reading, have not had the best start to the season, but I’m also conscious that whenever I say that we get beat. So, I am going to ignore their first few months of the campaign, pretend I have not got a clue where they are in the table, and go for a narrow Reading win.

Blackpool 0-1 Reading

(Kamari Doyle)

9,465

Until next time.

Much love and c’mon URZZZ!

Dixey