Dissapointed- The goal that Never was.

[readingbedding]

Why are you 'embarrassed'?

I didn't mean that I was personally embarrassed, but that it is generally embarrassing that professional football players would celebrate a 'goal' in those circumstances. Apologies if I phrased it badly.

The ref and linesman should be embarrassed about getting the decision wrong and the players should be embarrassed about celebrating a 'goal' that their team did not score or earn. I don't think anyone else needs to be embarrassed.

Fair enough.
Impulse, that's all.
Another time, Harper could have had a quick word to the ref, and a goal kick to Watford.
That scenario wouldn't have suprised me either.
Split-second decision, 'shall we, shan't we...'

[Number 9]

Why are you 'embarrassed'?

I didn't mean that I was personally embarrassed, but that it is generally embarrassing that professional football players would celebrate a 'goal' in those circumstances. Apologies if I phrased it badly.

The ref and linesman should be embarrassed about getting the decision wrong and the players should be embarrassed about celebrating a 'goal' that their team did not score or earn. I don't think anyone else needs to be embarrassed.

Fair enough.
Impulse, that's all.
Another time, Harper could have had a quick word to the ref, and a goal kick to Watford.
That scenario wouldn't have suprised me either.
Split-second decision, 'shall we, shan't we...'

I guess you're right. Its just competitive human nature when you're doing all you can to win. Not very sporting, but also not surprising.

[Chaney]

lets go back a few years to the Tottenham goal/no goal at OT, the Man U keeper knew the ball was well over the line..but he didn`t ask the ref to give it did he?..therefore why should Harper be any different?

[LUX]

well, I've just watched it on tv and it was definitely a goal.

Well played Noel, er Bikey, errr, Eustace and well spotted lino.

[DelBoyRodders]

As you'd expect there's been talk on Sky Sports this morning about introducing goal line video replay technology for incidents like this.

Having now seen 'the goal' on ITV's The Championship this morning, I have to say that you shouldn't need any sort of replay to see that. Total oxf*rd joke as it wasn't even remotely close.

The referee and linesman should hang their heads in shame and in my opinion should be struck off.

Shocking decision and I'm embarrassed that Reading FC gained from it. If it had gone against us in the Premiership last season we'd have been claiming for months about how little Reading have been ganged up on and cheated.

[Sarah Star]

If I'd been playing in the match I would have assumed the linesman/referee saw something that I didn't as it all seemed a bit of a scrum around the goal. So I would have celebrated the goal in a bemused fashion and wouldn't have let Watford score an equaliser...though in hindsight it might have been a good idea as the sense of injustice seems to have spurred Watford on, helped maybe by the officials trying to even things up.

[Number 9]

lets go back a few years to the Tottenham goal/no goal at OT, the Man U keeper knew the ball was well over the line..but he didn`t ask the ref to give it did he?..therefore why should Harper be any different?

Because its a game and it would be nice to think that there was some element of fair play and sportsmanship left. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the case. Yes, football is a business, and yes, there are potentially tens of millions of pounds at stake, but it should be remembered that it is a game played and watched primarily for enjoyment and entertainment. Winning fairly should be put above winning at all costs. Sadly this seems to have been forgotten.

Also, why shouldn't Harper do the sporting thing? Just because others have not done so in the past doesn't make it right.

[Chaney]

when it was first described yesterday I assumed the ball had gone out of play at the far post from the lino, then I suppose in some ways you could excuse the mistake..but having seen it on telly it was at the near post so there is no excuse at all appalling decision, it was also noticable that as the ball was cleared out of the area the ref could be seen clearly signalling a goal

[readingbedding]

As you'd expect there's been talk on Sky Sports this morning about introducing goal line video replay technology for incidents like this.

Having now seen 'the goal' on ITV's The Championship this morning, I have to say that you shouldn't need any sort of replay to see that. Total oxf*rd joke as it wasn't even remotely close.

The referee and linesman should hang their heads in shame and in my opinion should be struck off.

Shocking decision and I'm embarrassed that Reading FC gained from it. If it had gone against us in the Premiership last season we'd have been claiming for months about how little Reading have been ganged up on and cheated.

From the sounds of it, that looks like you would.

[Stooper]

Rugby League puts us to shame

[Super_horns]

In some ways it probably gave our players a sense of "injustice" and put us back into the game as you guys were dominating and if it had been 2-2 but with a normal "goal" I suspect a few Watford fans would say we got a bit lucky there...

In the heat of the moment I am sure our mob would have done the same (just taken the goal as it is)

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Was the linesman on the far side from where Hunt cut the ball back? If he was, and in line with the goal, I can see how it would be possible to not be able to tell the ball was the wrong side of the post when it was "cleared off the line" (even if you have to overlook the fact that Noel Hunt would have been the one just failing to clear it) but the ref surely must have wondered at what stage the ball could have possibly crossed the line, as clearly there wasn't any chance for it to have done so as there wasn't a shot on target.

[RoyalBlue]

lets go back a few years to the Tottenham goal/no goal at OT, the Man U keeper knew the ball was well over the line..but he didn`t ask the ref to give it did he?..therefore why should Harper be any different?

Because its a game and it would be nice to think that there was some element of fair play and sportsmanship left. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the case. Yes, football is a business, and yes, there are potentially tens of millions of pounds at stake, but it should be remembered that it is a game played and watched primarily for enjoyment and entertainment. Winning fairly should be put above winning at all costs. Sadly this seems to have been forgotten.

Don't you realise how the statements you have made are such uncomfortable bed fellows?!!

Business & tens of millions of pounds at stake v game played and watched primarily for enjoyment and entertainment.

Those two competing interests will never sit comfortably together. If you really want the latter, forget top class professional football in the 21st Century!

In some ways it probably gave our players a sense of "injustice" and put us back into the game as you guys were dominating and if it had been 2-2 but with a normal "goal" I suspect a few Watford fans would say we got a bit lucky there...

In the heat of the moment I am sure our mob would have done the same (just taken the goal as it is)

And fair play to you for taking the realistic view.

[The 17 Bus]

Just got in and finally seen it, no RFC player even asked for a goal, I have to say that i am of the opinion that there was a handball by a Watford player in the clip.

As for the award, any Reading player involved should have told the ref that there was no goal scored, unless they actually thought it was one.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Our attempts to clear the ball for their 1st goal was a clear attempt to give them back a goal.

We've conceded so many goals in the last season and a bit which have come from our own defenders making errors. We got punished for it big time last season, we can't keep giving goals away. Got away with it yesterday, it will cost us more crucial points though.

How did Downes get a new deal this summer?

[SCIAG]

This is worth a lol:

[dobcheck]

As it was the mistake of the officials i don't think we should shoulder any blame, i had to laugh at Lou Macari on sky earlier saying the game should be replayed, i dont recall him saying anything when his beloved Man U got away with it when Mendes scored a goal which was not given when it was miles over the line.

[MadStadLad]

Any link to the goal ?

Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw5K9zCm7sM

[Number 9]

lets go back a few years to the Tottenham goal/no goal at OT, the Man U keeper knew the ball was well over the line..but he didn`t ask the ref to give it did he?..therefore why should Harper be any different?

Because its a game and it would be nice to think that there was some element of fair play and sportsmanship left. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the case. Yes, football is a business, and yes, there are potentially tens of millions of pounds at stake, but it should be remembered that it is a game played and watched primarily for enjoyment and entertainment. Winning fairly should be put above winning at all costs. Sadly this seems to have been forgotten.

Don't you realise how the statements you have made are such uncomfortable bed fellows?!!

Business & tens of millions of pounds at stake v game played and watched primarily for enjoyment and entertainment.

Those two competing interests will never sit comfortably together. If you really want the latter, forget top class professional football in the 21st Century!

Yes, I realise that. And yes, the temptation must be great to do whatever is necessary to win. But that does not mean it is impossible to rise above it. For example, a few years ago Paolo Di Canio caught the ball at Everton when he had an open goal because the 'keeper was injured. Wouldn't we all be proud of the club if the players had set an example an declined to accept the goal (leaving aside the debate as to weather that is possible of not)? Although money brings a lot of pressure to win, surely its possible to maintain a sense of sportsmanship during the matches? I'm probably being naive and too idealistic, but we could have done the right thing yesterday and set a great example. But we didn't. I don't blame RFC, Steve Coppell or the players; but I do find it sad that in modern football it has become accepted that it is ok to act against the spirit of sportsmanship in order to help you win.

[floyd__streete]

Disappointed with coppell today, we might not have gone against the rules of the game, but we went against the spirit.
There is no way we should have accepted that as a goal, once it was given and we had a chance to discuss the incident at half time we should of walked the ball into our own net. It was a real scrubby move to play on as if nothing had happened.
I know we are a terrible team away from home but we were scraping the bottom of the barrel. Its not as if it was a " you win some you lose some" goal, it was NEVER a goal in a million years and we were awarded a goal out of nowhere. There wasn't even a decision to be made, the manager, players and club should be ashamed of themselves tonight.

FineRain, that is absolute nonsense to be honest mate.