Gomes’ tactics, not team selection, led to Derby defeat

DESPITE taking praise for a competitive performance in the 2-1 defeat to Derby County, Jose Gomes was also criticised over his team selection. He made one change to the side that beat Nottingham Forest: Lewis Baker in for Omar Richards. However, that meant a wider reshuffle; Baker into midfield, Andy Yiadom to left-back, and most notably Andy Rinomhota to right-back.

That’s not a new position for the academy graduate. In fact, one of his first roles in the team was that of a right wing-back in the League Cup at the start of the 2017/18 season. But dominant midfield performances in recent weeks seemed to nail down his future as a tough-tackling destroyer, not a defender.

Gomes’ decision to tinker with his lineup - so that he could keep Rinomhota in the side and add Baker as a deep-lying playmaker - seemed rash 15 minutes into the match at Pride Park.

Reading were blown apart in the opening quarter of an hour, and were in truth lucky not to be several goals down.

Was that really due to the team selection? For me, no.

The source of Reading’s misery was Derby’s tactical dominance in the early stages; the Rams’ aggressive high press forcing the possessionfocussed Royals into difficulty, particularly from goal-kicks.

Rinomhota playing in midfield, with Yiadom and Richards also back in their normal roles, wouldn’t have solved that.

The lesson here isn’t one of team choice - it’s of tactics.

Absolutely, Jose Gomes has to pick the right side, but he also needs to set it up properly according to each opponent. Reading needed a counter to Derby’s high press, and kicking the ball long to Jon Dadi Bodvarsson would have been no betrayal of Gomes’ possession style.

Whatever answer he comes up with, Reading need Gomes to learn his lesson quickly.

Simeon can be found on Twitter @SimFromBucks and his Reading fansite account is @TheTilehurstEnd