Back From the Game

[Stranded]

Well, Reading fans have made the transition.

Last night I sat in a packed stadium with a crowd desperate for a win. A team fighting for its life, with bags of premiership experience and expensive players, did everything they could to beat us, yet we held our own and were unlucky not to get a penalty and certainly created as many chances as they did. In the end, Pards gave us credit for a well worked display.

If this had been the first match of our new premiership season we would have been more than satisfied. Now a lot of us sound like West Ham fans because we didn't win.

C'mon lads, more slagging off of Coppell and the team. You really are becoming Premiership.

It's not the fact that we didn't win, it's that we didn't try our best to win.

In your opinion.

My opinion is that we did.

And in mine.

In what way is starting a striker who is vastly inferior to two you have on the bench and then pesevering with him for the entire game when he hasn't had a kick, trying your best to win?

Because at that time we were on top and pressurising them. Coppell has a long history of not changing things when his side are doing what we were doing last night, sometimes it works sometimes not - alas last night it did not.

It may have been a mistake but to claim it's proof that we weren't trying to win is wrong.

[Vision]

Once again i find myself in total disagreement with most on here.

Even allowing for those that were clearly too pissed to focus properly ( called Duberryitis i believe ) people suggesting we didn't want to win the game are off their nut.

We were playing one of the Premierships in form teams, desperately fighting for their lives and in the 2nd half had them pegged back so much that they were reduced to nothing more than the odd sporadic counter attack.

Was I surprised at the team selection ?, yeah i was a bit but it's not too much of a stretch to assume that a manager of a team that hadn't won in 7 games and were playing twice in 3 days against a side with an extra days rest would make a few changes to freshen things up.

As for Kitson and Doyle not playing , perhaps the fact that they have recently returned from injury meant that we didn't want to risk them in 2 matches in a short space of time. Could Coppell have brought them on ? Of course he could, but in truth we were dominating the game in the 2nd half and he probably felt like most of us ( and the neutral commentators ) that it was only a matter of time before we broke through.

To suggest that Coppell has chucked in the towel and wanted to help out his mate is frankly ridiculous. There was one side going all out for the win last night and it wasn't the team at the bottom of the table.

[brendywendy]

Some very odd selection choices by Coppell last night, brings Seol straight into a team he hasn't even been involved on the bench with since January when Oster has made a few sub appearances and a first team start against Liverpool. Starts DLC when Halford is deperate for Premiership match fitness. Starts Long when Doyle is crying out for match fitness. Gunnarsson has a great game against Liverpool at right back but is dropped straight to the bench to allow Sidders and Harps to play yet another game together, you would have though this would have been a game to rest either or both to keep them fresh for the final five games. All very odd, it's just a good job that Charlton were so similar in their style of play to us last night and in the finishing department otherwise that could have been quite embarrassing. I may consider ditching my trip to Bolton if they can't be arsed to put a full strength team out, it's a joke

its not really very odd when coppell said he would do exactly that before th eliverpool game, and explained exactly his reasons for doing so

[loyalroyal1]

Once again i find myself in total disagreement with most on here.

Even allowing for those that were clearly too pissed to focus properly ( called Duberryitis i believe ) people suggesting we didn't want to win the game are off their nut.

We were playing one of the Premierships in form teams, desperately fighting for their lives and in the 2nd half had them pegged back so much that they were reduced to nothing more than the odd sporadic counter attack.

Was I surprised at the team selection ?, yeah i was a bit but it's not too much of a stretch to assume that a manager of a team that hadn't won in 7 games and were playing twice in 3 days against a side with an extra days rest would make a few changes to freshen things up.

As for Kitson and Doyle not playing , perhaps the fact that they have recently returned from injury meant that we didn't want to risk them in 2 matches in a short space of time. Couls Coppell have brought them on ? Of course he could, but in truth we were dominating the game in the 2nd half and he probably felt like most of us ( and the neutral commentators ) that it was only a matter of time.

To suggest that Coppell has chucked in the towel and wanted to help out his mate is frankly ridiculous. There was one side going all out for the win last night and it wasn't the team at the bottom of the table.

I agree, mostly, but I also think that Coppell will believe the home game against Fulham is a better game for the returning Doyle and Kitson, and also offers a better chance of all three points. I'd expect to see both returning to the starting 11 rather than Lita and Long. To be honest I'd also expect to see Gunnarsson returning at right back as well.

[BR2]

Does last night finally convince a few sceptics that Kitson should start every game ?
Drogba does for Chelsea because the shape of the side is right and the same goes for us with Kitson leading the line.
Which of our giant forwards was marking Al Kakouri when his free and unchallenged header hit the bar and luckily came back out?

I don't think for a moment that we didn't try to win the game with the players on the pitch I just think that they were not our best players.
Ivar,Shorey,Harper and Sidwell have played every Premiership game for us this season but Kitson has played hardly any because of the injuries.
If they can play every game and especially our midfield two in the energy-sapping engine room why can't Kitson play at least some part in this game?

As for Halford,we spend over £2million on him,play him against the form side away including England's current winger and then don't play him again but prefer Bryn as an out-of-position full-back in one game and then Ulysses (a player who probably won't be with us next season) in the next.

BTW for a side supposedly fighting for their lives I thought Charlton were dreadful and as Salako said on Sky "brainless".
Where was all this tenacity,spirit,flair and all the other bollocks?It seems to have worn off quite quickly.
I hope they go down and Wigan particularly stay up

[Huntley & Palmer]

Some very odd selection choices by Coppell last night, brings Seol straight into a team he hasn't even been involved on the bench with since January when Oster has made a few sub appearances and a first team start against Liverpool. Starts DLC when Halford is deperate for Premiership match fitness. Starts Long when Doyle is crying out for match fitness. Gunnarsson has a great game against Liverpool at right back but is dropped straight to the bench to allow Sidders and Harps to play yet another game together, you would have though this would have been a game to rest either or both to keep them fresh for the final five games. All very odd, it's just a good job that Charlton were so similar in their style of play to us last night and in the finishing department otherwise that could have been quite embarrassing. I may consider ditching my trip to Bolton if they can't be arsed to put a full strength team out, it's a joke

its not really very odd when coppell said he would do exactly that before th eliverpool game, and explained exactly his reasons for doing so

I knew there were to be changes but the changes didn't make sense in some areas as I pointed out, i.e. Oster not starting at right wing, DLC at right back

[Schards#2]

I keep reading how we were hammering down the door in the second half but I can't remember their keeper making a single save.

[Maguire]

I thought DLC had an alright game actually. And I do agree that there's no way Coppell was "doing Pardew a favour".

[brendywendy]

we battered them

although you are right, shots on target were a little scarce
dont reckon doyle and kits would have done that much better though
they were both very quiet on saturday

[Stranded]

I keep reading how we were hammering down the door in the second half but I can't remember their keeper making a single save.

You're correct he didn't in the 2nd half that was because our finishing was off. We had a fair few chances but put most of them narrowly (or not so narrowly) wide.

[Huntley & Palmer]

we battered them

although you are right, shots on target were a little scarce
dont reckon doyle and kits would have done that much better though
they were both very quiet on saturday

I think Carragher and Hyypia are a slightly harder proposition than Charlton's defence. I think either one of Doyle or Kitson would have got some change last night

[Schards#2]

I keep reading how we were hammering down the door in the second half but I can't remember their keeper making a single save.

You're correct he didn't in the 2nd half that was because our finishing was off. We had a fair few chances but put most of them narrowly (or not so narrowly) wide.

You must then ask yourself why our best two forwards stayed on the bench while, in a half we dominated, the two strikers on the pitch failed to muster a single shot on target between them.

Frankly, I never felt we looked like scoring in the entire game yesterday. That does not equate with 'battering' a team

[brendywendy]

prove it!

[papereyes]

we battered them

although you are right, shots on target were a little scarce
dont reckon doyle and kits would have done that much better though
they were both very quiet on saturday

I think Carragher and Hyypia are a slightly harder proposition than Charlton's defence. I think either one of Doyle or Kitson would have got some change last night

Also the change in style that any substitution will have had on the way the forwards worked would have created space and chances.

That's my main/only gripe. I'll take the point but to make no substitutions when they really could have changed the games seems a bit over-cautious for my liking.

[BR2]

I keep reading how we were hammering down the door in the second half but I can't remember their keeper making a single save.

I think we had loads of half chances but you quite rightly say that the keeper had no saves to make.
Hunt's was the clearest chance and he had time to bring the ball down and place his shot but his record this season (2 goals?) shows that he is not much of a finisher.
BTW for all the fuss about Shorey and the number of free-kicks that he takes he has only scored one goal this season-a stat that surprised me last night as it always feels that the free-kicks might well bring about a goal when they are direct shots.
Can somebody explain to me how Coppell's statement of trying to win every game ties in with not wanting to qualify for Europe?-as an economics graduate I think he could do better than that.

[Stranded]

I keep reading how we were hammering down the door in the second half but I can't remember their keeper making a single save.

You're correct he didn't in the 2nd half that was because our finishing was off. We had a fair few chances but put most of them narrowly (or not so narrowly) wide.

You must then ask yourself why our best two forwards stayed on the bench while, in a half we dominated, the two strikers on the pitch failed to muster a single shot on target between them.

Frankly, I never felt we looked like scoring in the entire game yesterday. That does not equate with 'battering' a team

As I've said, it may have been a mistake not to bring one of them on for 15mins but it's not exactly the first time Coppell hasn't made a change when the 11 out there are on top. In the past it has worked, sadly it didn't last night.

Looking at the stats, we had 3 on target, 9 off and 5 blocked shots. 11 corners to 1 - that says to me we were on top but lacking a killer instinct that yes Doyle or Kitson may have given on may not have. A change can equally disrupt a performance as well as enhance it.

[holsgrove breaks a leg]

On the whole an ok performance- the defending was sound with both centre backs doing a solid job with DLC providing good cover although he looked a little suspect towards the end. I can see why Coppell brought in Seol, but im not sure it really worked. I have a lot of time for his skills and he tackled back a fair bit last night but his important role of taking players on and getting crosses in was really lacking last night. He is a confidence player and at times you could see that he almost felt like he couldnt beat his man. In recent games, Hunt for all his spirit and jinking runs was also unable to provide the killer ball or cross.

Our wing play has to be more direct and goals will then follow. Long is still very much an apprentice in his time at Reading, i think we might be expecting too much from him. He runs the flanks well in the Doyle mode and is competent in the air but lacks that cunning in and around the box- often being at the wrong place. I really think a Loan spell next season could help his development.

[Berkshire Born]

Is SC merely .... having a good look at his squad for next season?

This certainly seemed to be the view of the BBCRB boys during their preview last night.

[Schards#2]

Is SC merely .... having a good look at his squad for next season?

This certainly seemed to be the view of the BBCRB boys during their preview last night.

Why play Sidwell then?

[BR2]

Just out of interest has there been another League game this season when we haven't used a single sub?
After the griping about playing two games in such a short period (necessitating various changes for this game) how come nobody was substituted even the so-called time-wasting one that we and nearly every club do with about a minute to go?
Did anyone feel that Shane Long was ever going to get us a goal?