NOEL: “WE’RE BUILDING – AND THERE WERE PLENTY OF POSITIVES TODAY”.

Noel reflects: “Plenty of Positives Despite Frustrating Defeat” Reading FC manager Noel reflected on his team’s home defeat with a mix of disappointment at the narrow margins and optimism about the team’s future.

“I actually thought we played well,” he admitted. “It was a continuation from last week.

The positives are that the boys are improving their game, and we looked comfortable and solid at times.” Noel praised the opposition, calling them “one of the best teams I’ve seen come here in the last three or four years,” but admitted that set-piece errors were costly.

“We’ve been really good from set plays for the last six or seven months, so to concede from one is frustrating, especially when a minute earlier we should have scored from a header at the other end,” explained the midfielder. “It’s those moments that change games.” Regardless of the outcome, the manager saw obvious signs of improvement.

“We looked sharper at the top end, but we aren’t quite there yet. And there were some impressive debuts today—Paddy and Daniel worked extremely hard, Liam performed admirably, and when we lost the skipper early on, Ben stepped in and demonstrated his abilities.” On Captain Lewis Wing’s early withdrawal, Noel reassured supporters that there was no long-term damage:”He was just caught and couldn’t see clearly out of one eye. It was watery and blurry, so he couldn’t continue.

Fortunately, everything has cleared up now.” Looking ahead, Noel wants to take the positives into Tuesday’s cup match. “We will build on this. The intensity and pressing were present, and we are still seeing those relationships in the final third.

We will work hard, maintain our structure and style, and tighten up after set plays.” He also confirmed that work is being done in the transfer market.

“We’re hoping to get a few people in to help. The team is still young and developing, and everyone is on the same page about strengthening where we can.”

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