Five Things From Reading’s Dazzling Win Over Wigan Athletic

Bobbins is back for his post-match column, and he’s got a wonderful Wigan win to talk about.

Era

It’s good to be back, and I mean really good. It seems a long while since I’ve taken fingers to keyboard for a missive but, just like the atmosphere yesterday at the SCL, it feels very, very different.

Dai Yongge was always a bit of a spectre, lurking in the background, causing mayhem at every stroke, but now we’re in the spectre of the Dai era as a whole. Barring any last-minute hiccups we’re (cautiously) on the verge of a new era.

With prospective owners Rob Couhig and Todd Trosclair in attendance, supported by their new appointment, Joe Jacobson as the new “CEO” – we’re not quite sure what his title will be as yet – all three would have been very impressed with what was on show. The happiness, pride and relief, however, were a preserve purely for us fans.

Seeing the (hopeful) new owners pitch-side before the game was something that many of us had never dreamt of us seeing. But there they were, showing themselves off like a resplendent set of peacocks basking in the glorious summer sun.

And, just like the tweets that proceeded their appearance, they didn’t care who knew it. Already they have been more visible, more vocal and more supportive than the previous owner ever did during his tenure – and the ink is barely dry on the deal.

If this is anything to go by, we’re due for an onslaught of communication from the new board, the likes of which we’ve never experienced in recent years. It’s going to be a strange thing to get used to, but in the same breath exactly what we need.

Dazzled

But anyway, that’s off the field. On the field, matters were just as pleasing. A 2-0 win that really should, and could, have been much more. Certainly, in the first half we could have scored three or four and there wouldn’t have been many complaints.

We simply dazzled in the summer sun. Our pressing was on point despite the loss of the prime presser, Harvey Knibbs (out with a groin strain for the best part of a month). We caused Wigan no end of problems with our intensity and tempo. They just couldn’t handle us.

This was exhibited well by Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, who now has the wide attacking role on the left-hand side solely as his own. Laying on the first for Charlie Savage to slot home and then finishing off coolly to cap off his contribution to the game in the second half.

In his post-match interview, manager Ruben Selles alluded to Kelvin having lost some intensity in closing down his man and was substituted as a result. Somewhat harsh on him but this is a snapshot of the levels that Selles demands.

Despite that, Ehibhatiomhan has certainly grown as a player over the summer. He appears stronger, relaxed and assured. His first touch is better and, at times, sublime. He’s got the ability to shrug off a defender and leave them floundering in his wake.

His development, in a position that wouldn’t be his first choice at the outset of his career, is clear to see. He can now confidently go both sides of the defender, he uses his frame more intelligently and his trademark ‘cutting inside onto his favoured right foot’ will no doubt cause many problems in the season ahead.

The same can be said of fellow man of the match nominee, Ben Elliott, who had another fine game in central midfield. He’s always had the ability, that was clear to see, we knew there was a player in there but now he’s added extra layers to his game.

While not adding to much timber to his body over the summer, or so it would seem, like Ehibhatiomhan, he’s stronger and not afraid to get stuck in, like all good central midfielders should.

His energy has improved also. He’s always looked like a good athlete, but he showed that his battery still has plenty of charge at the end of the game. Gone are the days when he’d be taken off or subbed on habitually. Elliott is now just as much of a mainstay in midfield as Lewis Wing is.

Mature

The progress of these two is not in isolation. Jeriel Dorsett looks like a player that’s had a full season of first-team football under his belt. He had a tricky opponent against him, especially in the first half, in Dion Rankine, but he was substituted on the hour. Dorsett’s development was summed up by a lovely authoritative shoulder charge to send Rankine tumbling in the second half.

Another that stands out supremely is Amadou Mbengue. His evolution is nothing short of remarkable. It seems barely five minutes ago that he was having a shocker at right-back versus Eastleigh in the FA Cup. Now, he’s a central defensive powerhouse, who’s relationship alongside Tyler Bindon is a joy to watch.

“Cheese” has matured into a fine defender that’s sliced many of his previous errors. His cross-field passes have and will become a weapon as the season goes on, as will his trademark long throws. His athleticism has never been in doubt, but he’s looking even more refined than a, well matured, um, cheese.

Development

Furthermore, but across the board, the entire team have added another layer or two to their game. Last season was purely a learning process for how Selles wanted to play. The bigger messages took a long time in coming to fruition but we slowly improved as the confidence grew.

It was a slow burn to adapt to the new ideas (once the failure of 4-2-2-2 was truly shelved), but we’re already showing signs of much more cohesion and confidence with or without the ball.

Positioning is improving week on week. A case in point was when Michael Craig, playing out of position at right-back, seemed to be rarely troubled, but this was largely due to the help of his team mates around him. If he ever got into a minor pickle, then Lewis Wing was on hand to drop behind him. A few passes later and we were out of trouble and further up the field with ease.

It’s these small layers of improvement and development that are now coming into view. Selles has coached the squad to use his template of how he wants to play last season, and now they are supplementing that with the addition of these small refined features. It’s a lightyear away from the mindset of play under Paul Ince, for example.

Of course, it’s the plus side of having a small squad to deal with. Everyone knows each other well; they clearly have a strong bond and have united through the sheer adversity of last season. This is the succulent fruit of those tough times. The sweet smell of team spirit.

Upgrade

Overall, it couldn’t have been a better day. New (hopefully) owners, a superb performance, a calm and relaxed atmosphere in the summer sun. What’s not to love?

It could not have been written any better for Couhig, et al. He would have felt instantly rewarded for his upgrade of League One clubs. It is now his house to rebuild and renew, but on this showing, there just needs a few new additions to bolster the numbers. The rest of it doesn’t need much attention. Ruben appears to have that very much in hand.