norwichram

He's turning me into one with this performance, I'll tuck him in and kiss his beautiful bald head tonight.

Adam’s passing is getting better game by game 

Removing my "mum" tattoo. Getting Gayle tattooed there instead.

There is plenty to be positive about so far.
We have created some good chances, pressed well and battled hard. Everyone seems to understand their role much better compared to previous adventures with a back three.
Four standouts for me. Nelson is so calm and composed. Adams is playing well and is such a tour de force in midfield. Gayle sets the tone with his running and clever movement. Cashin has also contained Azeez very well from his wide centre back position.
We just need a goal to reward our efforts as the longer the game goes on, the braver Reading will get. We have contained them very well so far.

Got to echo this. Haven’t been a fan of our football but that half was very enjoyable. Could have been two up. And that would be deserved 

Most of you know I’m not Warne’s biggest fan, but that was probably one of the most confident and one sided displays I have seen this season. Ball is on the deck most of the time, some neat intricate moves but we stretch the play long when needed. All that is missing is a goal, and we have been unlucky really (woodwork and last ditch blocks). More of the same please Paul, and we will win this, and based on what I have seen, I am confident we will. Very happy with the performance so far.

As we're not just constantly recycling the ball out wide to cross it over and over and over and over, it means we can use his passing too. Him and Bird have been much, much improved with Adams in the side haven't they. The football through the middle has been night and day better these last two games.
 

Gayle has really given our attack some extra pace. Not just with running, but by quick thinking, one touch passing, it speeds everything up and makes us much more dangerous.

We've been playing some tidy stuff. Been good so far.

I’m going to this, my first attempt at an evening game since the brain haemorrhage 4 years ago.
if you’re in the west stand could you keep the noise down please? I’m usually barely awake by 8.30 so I’d be grateful if you didn’t wake me up just to watch a game of football.
Thankyou!

Let's hope he doesn't get injured in the first minute against Bolton if we save him! 
You can't plan to avoid injuries, in my opinion, or your best players would never play.
Warne will do what he will do, and whichever way he goes he will be criticised by some of the fans if it doesn't work but in my opinion, sitting in second place, with a good chance of winning the league, with 9 games to go, you have to be all in for every game.

Gayle oozes class and intelligence and you have to think if he enjoys the next few months at the club that we could potentially extend his deal into next season.
If we can get him fit and in full flow, he would be an excellent building block for the squad next year no matter what league we are in.

Was just catching up on the thread this morning and didn’t carry on reading after the original post so yeah my bad 
Apologies and Happy Mother’s Day to you all!

I said a few weeks back that Louie seemed to have turned a corner and was adding consistency to his game, irrespective of where he was asked to play. Some might argue that that is to Warne's credit too, as a string of managers have failed to get the best from the lad in the way he now appears to be and whatever has clicked, it's certainly helping Nate too. The pair of them are a handful for any side at this level and have struck up a really good understanding. Ebou's contribution providing the cover required to allow Sibs to maraud forwards should be noted too. 
Joe Ward is a quality WB at this level and while it puzzles me that he's taken time to find his form, his quality is clear for all to see now. In a position that makes huge physical demands on a player, perhaps them 'arriving late' might benefit us, as that role over 50+ games is a man-killer, whereas our lads are comparatively fresh and are improving all the while.

It's good to see some of the signings who people doubted starting to show their qualities. The same can be applied to other players who have divided opinion like Smith, Sibley and Barkhuizen who are hitting form now it seems. Barks is a bit like Hourihane - great stats on goals, assists and key contributions but sometimes look a little lightweight for this league. Perhaps the inclusion now of Adams has made their frailties less important than their strengths?
Either way, the overall strength and variety in our squad is beginning to tell.
 

Beautiful thankyou 👍😋

Was just catching up on the thread this morning and didn’t carry on reading after the original post so yeah my bad 
Apologies and Happy Mother’s Day to you all!

I really like the balance of Sibley and Ward as wing backs. I think Sibley in particular is excelling in that role and should keep his shirt in that position

And you're just as guilty by bumping the post again right to the top of the queue.
Move on. 

Very much how I feel, I don't want to get carried away either but as soon as I saw the line up last Saturday I thought 'that potentially works very well' and the evidence is starting to mount up on the pitch. The team looks very well balanced with plenty of attacking options & defensive cover - the inclusion of Adams & wing backs with real menace has improved us massively. And whilst I don't imagine Gayle would be Warne's ideal number 9 (in comparison to say Michael Smith), he has given us a real cutting edge, changed our delivery slightly to being more accurate/ground based & works very well in tandem with our wide men.
Our problem this season has been posting dominant home displays & the next week will tell us a lot about how 'all-court' this system is. What I particularly liked about yesterday was how we played first half - kept it on the deck, moved them around & dominated territory. It was only some wayward final 3rd balls & reluctance to shoot (and a duff offside call) that stopped us converting our dominance into goals & that tells me it is a system that could be equally effective at PP.  Could be a defining week ahead - Reading are a perennial pain in the backside with some good players who will make it difficult & Bolton are a direct top 2 rival with all the occasion pressure that will bring. Two games I would ordinarily expect us to struggle in but if we win both, I'll be finally thinking top 2 is definitely on.

Great post 
think its worth noting that warne also “stumbled” 😉 … across a replacement centre forward.
Feel free to Correct me if im wrong but those two defeats we were playing without a recognised centre forward ?
which would screw literally any team up.
weve got a focal point again and its no surprise we look a lot better going forward. 

Think its time to get back on the promotion trail folks ….. Iv got a good feeling about this 
COYR !!!!!

Yesterday that was true....was exactly how I imagine Warne wants us to set up. We are strong, athletic, work hard, compete and have a bit of magic. With plenty to come in to add to the squad.
But we can't forget we have been bloody awful at times...
Not seen anywhere near enough of these types of performances for me to feel confident this is the new norm.
Two good performances this week and I'll start to dream again.
 

I read all the posts regards people not wanting to go to games , not wanting to renew in this god awful league , under warne , poor football ect ect ect and to a degree I get it but as I’ve said I’m really enjoying my time going to watch derby at present and since the meltdown and rise from the ashes and I can honestly say the excitement/ butterflies I feel for this comming weeks two games and for the run in is right up there with the good times I’ve had watching derby over 55 plus years , I do feel for any fans who have lost that spark in the situation we are in 

I don’t want to get ahead of myself or allow myself to be excited, but.. I feel like something has finally clicked.
Best performance we’ve ever had under Warne, in my opinion. We’ve fell on to a workable system, the main reason was the recruitment staff doing their job and finding a gem in Ebou Adams and very recently I think it’s not in any small part to having to change the dynamic with Gayle upfront. I believe these two signings in particular have changed our fortunes, similarly to how Nyambe did earlier in the season.
Sibley and Ward are excelling. The defence are well balanced, the cohesion between the midfield and defence is significantly better, gaps aren’t as freely available for the other team and we are now working well going forward. I think we actually look like a team now, which for the majority of the season has definitely been missing something. The last two performances, the dynamic of the team, I’m finally hopeful. 

Thought ward was excellent today, especially first half. 

As for stronger sides, this lot had won 3 out of their previous 4 games before yesterday, and we dismantled them on their own patch, when our rivals were dropping points against equivalent or worse sides. Of the remaining fixtures, only Bolton, Blackpool (both at home) and Pompey A are arguably tougher than yesterdays fixture. If we reproduce this performance consistently regardless of who we’re playing we have a great chance. 
Yesterday we were very good. Its grossly unfair to place some of it down to poor opposition when they weren’t poor. Vale I agree wasn’t the barometer as they were really bad but not the case yesterday. They had their moments and we stood firm.