Reading FC continued their unwanted winless run away at Cambridge United losing 1-0 at the Abbey Stadium, making it 15 games since their last away league win at Hull in November 2022.
Cambridge United started the game well with the home fans behind them, having one of the best chances of the game inside the first minute as David Button saved a point-blank header from Gassan Ahadme to keep the score line at 0-0. Reading grew into the game, dominating possession and created a few chances of their own. Although they couldn’t take these chances and Cambridge sealed their victory as substitute Fejiri Okenabirhie scored the winner in the 83rd minute. Although not the result they were after, the Reading fans still have plenty to be positive about their young side.
Ratings:
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be a strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, rewatch
- D – Below average in this match
Nelson Abbey
Player Profile:
- Nationality: English
- Age: 20
- Date of birth: 28/08/2003
- Club: Reading FC
- Career: Reading FC
- Position: Central Defender
- Other Positions: Left Back
- Preferred foot: Left
Former Reading Academy player Nelson Abbey started as the left centre back and showed he has multiple strengths to his game. He’s a very physically capable defender, standing at 1.87m tall he was strong in the air and had the speed over shorter and longer distances to keep track with quicker forwards.
Despite his tall frame, he also showed he had the agility to mirror attackers when in 1v1 situations and made multiple blocks to stop shots and crosses from having any impact, he timed tackles well, dispossessing forwards that tried to play with their back to goal and had the physical strength to shove the opposition off the ball.
As well as showing physical talent, Abbey read the game well dropping into positions to cut off passes and actively scanned, checking over his shoulder when retreating into the box, allowing him to get into good positions to cut out crosses and mark forwards.
The main side of his game that needed improvement was his technical ability, showing an inconsistent first touch as well as under hitting passes inside, at worst allowing the opposition to counter but he did often pass behind his intended target even on the shortest of passes under minimal pressure and if they did keep possession, it instantly put them on the back foot.
He also switched off when defending corners, not tracking his man which would have given the opposition headed chances at goal if it wasn’t for teammates making up the ground.
Rating – A2
Nelson Abbey showed real maturity for such a young defender and is already captaining the side showing the strong character he clearly has. Physically he was very strong in the air and on the ground, and his speed allowed him to cover in behind and get back into positions quickly. Although he does need to improve his technical level, especially how he plays easier short passes. He has plenty of attributes to play at a higher level and will be an important player for Reading it they have any hopes of promotion.
Femi Azeez
Player Profile:
- Nationality: English
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 05/06/2001
- Club: Reading FC
- Career: Wealdstone FC, Reading FC
- Position: Right Midfielder
- Other Positions: Left Midfield, Striker
- Preferred foot: Left
Femi Azeez started as part of the front 2 in Reading’s 4-4-2 formation, he showed some glimpses of his ability but didn’t quite look comfortable as a striker. He showed real composure throughout, playing under pressure and could play off 1 and 2 touches or passing and then moving into space. He had a real awareness of space and would drop into slightly deeper positions, but was capable of spinning behind the defenders and running the channels using his burst of acceleration. Standing at 1.81m he protected the ball well with his back to goal and won a few aerial duels to flick headers forwards. He showed a good level of technical ability, had close control when dribbling and looked confident when in 1v1 situations. He had the vision to spot runners in behind and played some dangerous first time low drilled crosses from the left, that would have been a tap in if a teammate had gambled and attacked the box.
Rating – A2
Azeez showed plenty of quality in a role that didn’t quite suit him, worked hard for the team, and had a technical level above many others on the pitch. In a more familiar wider position, I think he would receive more of the ball and be able to affect the game with his movement and ability to attack in 1v1 situations, rather than having to try and hold the ball up as a striker.
Caylan Vickers
Player Profile:
- Nationality: English
- Age: 18
- Date of birth: 22/12/2004
- Club: Reading FC
- Career: Reading FC
- Position: Attacking Midfielder
- Other Positions: Striker, Right Winger
- Preferred foot: Right
Caylan Vickers is yet another former academy player that’s made it into the first team at Reading, the diminutive forward played as more of a second striker in Readings 4-4-2. Standing at 1.72m he did struggle in any sort of Aerial Duel and would need to improve on his strength in how he protects the ball. He didn’t quite look as comfortable as a striker, but he scanned well and had great awareness of the space around him, dropping off the front to find pockets in the final third, moving into the right channel and attacked the box off the ball from deeper positions.
Despite not being the quickest he was very sharp looking for second balls and would actively try to anticipate where the ball would drop. His smaller frame aided him in being very agile, combined with his quick feet he could easily shift past defenders to squeeze a cross or a pass past them doing so to drill crosses across the box with mixed results.
Technically he looked really strong for his age, showing some close first touches and ability to play off one or two touches before scanning and moving into other pockets of space.
Rating – A2
Caylan Vickers showed a lot of promise for someone so young; his technical level far outweighed his physical ability and the young attacker will need to work on his strength and explosiveness to reach higher levels. But his awareness of space, movement and first touch were already excellent attributes and if he continues to develop, I could definitely see him getting a chance in the Championship in the near future.
Charlie Savage
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Welsh
- Age: 20
- Date of birth: 02/05/2003
- Club: Reading FC
- Career: Manchester United (Y), Forest Green (L), Reading FC
- Position: Central Midfielder
- Other Positions: Defensive Midfielder
- Preferred foot: Left
Former Manchester United academy player Charlie Savage is a recent signing for Reading FC and played in their 2-man midfield. He scanned well, looking to drop into slightly deeper positions usually towards the left and constantly wanted to get on the ball. The 1.82m tall midfielder covered ground well, had a burst of acceleration which he used to press the ball and showed good stamina levels to run longer distances to get back into defensive positions. Although physically he did struggle and was shrugged out of the way against stronger attackers and wasn’t effective during Aerial Duels.
Savage showed a real sharpness and confidence in how quickly he wanted to restart play, often taking charge to get the ball moving. He had the vision to spot runners and showed some nice first touches throughout, but his passing game was inconsistent, completing some crisp longer diagonal passes, tidy short passes and could put in a dangerous cross from corners. But was also guilty of overhitting some longer passes over the top.
He worked hard to get back into defensive positions but did struggle when defending 1v1 where he could be turned, allowing the opposition to shoot or cross towards goal. He also needs to improve on how he screens passing lanes, as mentioned he would get back into positions but then not move or attempt to cover what would have been a comfortable screen had he checked his shoulder.
Rating – B1
Charlie Savage clearly has potential as a central midfielder, I found throughout the match to show his potential he needed to compose himself before taking more risks, he had the ability to play longer passes into wider areas but often chose to play short and safe. He also needs to improve on how he defends space and in 1v1 situations, if he works on this and continues to improve on his stronger attributes such as his vision and work ethic he could become a strong midfield option.
Ben Elliott
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Cameroonian
- Age: 20
- Date of birth: 05/10/2002
- Club: Reading FC
- Career: Chelsea (Y), Reading FC
- Position: Central Midfielder
- Other Positions: Right Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
Ben Elliot is another young signing for Reading FC and played off the right in Reading FC’s 4-4-2 formation. He would stay narrow and attempt to nearly create a midfield 3, allowing space for Mbengue to overlap from Left Back.
The midfielder looked more comfortable in central areas and showed his technical ability with some short line breaking passes through the middle as well as finding runners in the final third. He looked composed throughout and continued to play under pressure, I particularly enjoyed how he made good decisions, choosing to hold the ball rather than force the play and needlessly give away possession.
His first touch was inconsistent, but he showed some ability to keep the ball close and shift past challenges using his agility well. Although he wasn’t the strongest, and needs to work on how he protects the ball, he did work hard for his team but was also too eager to press often leaving space behind when it would have been best to hold his position and screen passing lanes.
Rating – B1
Ben Elliot showed he has the technical ability and composure to cause the opposition problems, he could shift past tackles and had the vision to play passes inside. But to improve further he would need to become more competitive physically, sometimes being to easy to push off the ball and would also needs to improve on his defensive positioning of when to press to win the ball or when to hold position. Having already made his first senior appearance for Cameroon recently there is plenty of potential here in Ben Elliot and he could become a strong player in the Championship if he continues to develop.