For those that don't understand formations (Tim dellor)

[bcubed]

First half was 433. Second half was a diamond.

That is all.

You sure?

I thought first half was 4-2-3-1, with Sharp the loan striker, and the three 'wingers' playing behind him, with Hal in the middle of the three but swapping with the other two on a regular basis as they moved inside.

That's what I saw it as and what it most looked like. It wasn't the personnel I would have chosen to play that way though, but then I'm starting to think either NA hasn't a clue what he's doing or half the squad are not good enough for what NA is trying to achieve here.

Definitely 451 or 4231
And I agree the wrong personnel for that formation
Macanuff should have played alongside Guthrie and Williams and drop Kanu

[Ian Royal]

You could see from opposition goal kicks that we lined up 4-3-3 first half. That's when shape is the most obvious. It's also the formation given from Reading Player pre-game. And you'd hope that someone would tell them, although you never know.

The confusion probably comes from Obita shifting out wide left to overload the full back in attack, HRK being absolutely toss all game and McCleary kinda wandering around where he wanted.

There was then some sort of horrific attempt at a 4-4-2 diamond at some point after Pog came on that just didn't work. Then when McCleary went off I'm not sure what was happening. We then went 3-4-3 once ALF came on for Gorkss.

Agree McAnuff should have started over HRK. Althoguh HRK usually provides more goal threat. Pog should have started over Sharp too. Think we'd have seen far better movement and passing with those two changes.

[LoyalRoyal22]

At least Ian understands. Embarrassing lack of tactical knowledge on this forum. Was a diamond today for those that couldn't work it out.

[loyalroyal4life]

At least Ian understands. Embarrassing lack of tactical knowledge on this forum. Was a diamond today for those that couldn't work it out.

Yeah, really hard to work out when commentator spells it out for you... well done on that one

[LoyalRoyal22]

At least Ian understands. Embarrassing lack of tactical knowledge on this forum. Was a diamond today for those that couldn't work it out.

Yeah, really hard to work out when commentator spells it out for you... well done on that one

Don't listen on radio you clueless little oxf*rd

[sandman]

Boo, LoyalRoyal22, boo.

[bcubed]

At least Ian understands. Embarrassing lack of tactical knowledge on this forum. Was a diamond today for those that couldn't work it out.

Yeah, really hard to work out when commentator spells it out for you... well done on that one

Don't listen on radio you clueless little oxf*rd

I'm curious - how do you know he's little?

[Handsome Man]

At least Ian understands. Embarrassing lack of tactical knowledge on this forum. Was a diamond today for those that couldn't work it out.

Or those who don't play championship manager?

[LoyalRoyal22]

At least Ian understands. Embarrassing lack of tactical knowledge on this forum. Was a diamond today for those that couldn't work it out.

Or those who don't play championship manager?

Fifa

But seriously anyone with basic knowledge of the game could work out what systems we play.

[SCIAG]

At least Ian understands. Embarrassing lack of tactical knowledge on this forum. Was a diamond today for those that couldn't work it out.

For most of the match it was a flat 4-4-2 with McAnuff alongside Williams and Drenthe wide right.

[LoyalRoyal22]

At least Ian understands. Embarrassing lack of tactical knowledge on this forum. Was a diamond today for those that couldn't work it out.

For most of the match it was a flat 4-4-2 with McAnuff alongside Williams and Drenthe wide right.

Started as a diamond

[bcubed]

At least Ian understands. Embarrassing lack of tactical knowledge on this forum. Was a diamond today for those that couldn't work it out.

For most of the match it was a flat 4-4-2 with McAnuff alongside Williams and Drenthe wide right.

Started as a diamond

So not that obvious then!

[The Cube]

At least Ian understands. Embarrassing lack of tactical knowledge on this forum. Was a diamond today for those that couldn't work it out.

For most of the match it was a flat 4-4-2 with McAnuff alongside Williams and Drenthe wide right.

Started as a diamond

Before the match Dellor said that Obita would be in the middle with Drenthe and McAnuff wide. Then early in the commentary he said it was a diamond with Drenthe at the forward point. A bit later - still in the first half, I think - he said Reading had switched to a flat 4-4-2.

Of course, I know that the original poster had the right idea and none of the above tells me what formation we were actually playing even if one of the statements happened to be right.

Another interesting piece of commentary was when he got incredibly excited about a Huddersfield chance "a few yards out at the back post", calmed down and said that the forward didn't quite get the contact he wanted. This was followed by saying that the ball went out for a Reading throw. I really cannot conceive any natural passage of play in which all of that happened.

[AthleticoSpizz]

There is a place in broadcasting for you Ray