Back from the game - Cardiff City

[Svlad Cjelli]

Oh, and as for the Watford comparison - it's funny how people (not necessarily you, handbags) forget that up until the "phantom goal" we were by far the better team. Additionally, we had an even more blatant penalty appeal turned down (in injury time) than the penatly appeal that was given for our equaliser.

So, in essence, the "phantom goal" actually hindered us rather than helped us IMO.

No need to put "IMO". It 100% definitely hindered us. Every decision went against us after that including 2 penalty decisions, one of which was rock-solid.

Plus all of a sudden Watford were given the motivation that massive indignation provides, together with a committed and incensed crowd support. I'm completely convince dthat without the extra goal we would have won comfortably.

[Snowball]

On a more general point after last night-the "ex-professional" Mick Gooding was saying that in his opinion the club needs to buy and the inference (surprisingly?)was a striker.
As other people have said the system was the same last night with different personnel.
Does anybody know if Kebe is likely to be back for Saturday?

I cannot help thinking that if a fit Kebe had played last night instead of McAnuff that we would have won the game.

I'd be amazed if McAnuff was dropped. He seems one of the first on the team-sheet

Total Minutes
1475 -- 70 68 90 62 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 74 90 61 90 Karacan
1440 -- 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 Federici
1412 -- 75 90 90 90 90 90 77 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 McAnuff
1380 -- 90 00 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 00 90 90 90 90 90 90 Mills
1278 -- 90 00 72 90 89 90 89 85 80 90 76 75 90 55 90 90 Long

[WoodleyRoyal]

On a more general point after last night-the "ex-professional" Mick Gooding was saying that in his opinion the club needs to buy and the inference (surprisingly?)was a striker.
As other people have said the system was the same last night with different personnel.
Does anybody know if Kebe is likely to be back for Saturday?

I cannot help thinking that if a fit Kebe had played last night instead of McAnuff that we would have won the game.

I'd be amazed if McAnuff was dropped. He seems one of the first on the team-sheet

Total Minutes
1475 -- 70 68 90 62 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 74 90 61 90 Karacan
1440 -- 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 Federici
1412 -- 75 90 90 90 90 90 77 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 McAnuff
1380 -- 90 00 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 00 90 90 90 90 90 90 Mills
1278 -- 90 00 72 90 89 90 89 85 80 90 76 75 90 55 90 90 Long

so how can Karacan have more mins on the pitch than fed?

[Hoop Blah]

By playing in every game this season whilst Federici didn't play the two cup games.

[Hugo Boss]

Also, someone said about Bothroyd being a hell of a player...the one glimmer of joy of Cardiff being promoted would be to see him and Chopra kicked from pillar to post week in, week out by the lumps in the Prem

Agreed 100%. Wouldn't say no to having either of them in our current side, especially Bothroyd who (despite being an utterc*nt) would be a great target man and would ruffle a few defenders feathers.

My brief take on the game last night...

Upsides - Well chuffed that McDermott tried something new and went out attacking. Thought Long, Church and Hunt all played well. Karacan MOTM though - Worked his socks off, got stuck into them and played some decent balls.

Downsides - Got caught a few times at the back and were lucky we didn't concede 2 or 3, particularly the Chopra and Burke efforts. Also think we missed Kebe's pace a few times when we went on the counter-attack. Happened a few times where the ball would be bought out of defence and we were desperately lacking a pacy drive forward.

Still, very entertaining game and a solid peformance which will sadly be overshadowed by the goal / non-goal fiasco.

[royalsteve]

Also, someone said about Bothroyd being a hell of a player...the one glimmer of joy of Cardiff being promoted would be to see him and Chopra kicked from pillar to post week in, week out by the lumps in the Prem

Agreed 100%. Wouldn't say no to having either of them in our current side, especially Bothroyd who (despite being an utterc*nt) would be a great target man and would ruffle a few defenders feathers.

My brief take on the game last night...

Upsides - Well chuffed that McDermott tried something new and went out attacking. Thought Long, Church and Hunt all played well. Karacan MOTM though - Worked his socks off, got stuck into them and played some decent balls.

Downsides - Got caught a few times at the back and were lucky we didn't concede 2 or 3, particularly the Chopra and Burke efforts. Also think we missed Kebe's pace a few times when we went on the counter-attack. Happened a few times where the ball would be bought out of defence and we were desperately lacking a pacy drive forward.

Still, very entertaining game and a solid peformance which will sadly be overshadowed by the goal / non-goal fiasco.

spot on, we got caught alot but it was a bold move by McD....also salot of passing was shocking!

[Snowball]

Total Minutes
1475 -- 70 68 90 62 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 74 90 61 90 Karacan
1440 -- 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 Federici
1412 -- 75 90 90 90 90 90 77 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 McAnuff
1380 -- 90 00 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 00 90 90 90 90 90 90 Mills
1278 -- 90 00 72 90 89 90 89 85 80 90 76 75 90 55 90 90 Long

so how can Karacan have more mins on the pitch than fed?

My bad. I have all the appearances (including cups) and that's what the totals refer to.

But I was only showing the league appearances

[Dave the rave]

A rare back from the game thread where the general consensus is mainly shared!

I came out feeling frustrated and relieved and dejected.
Frustrated at the many (clear cut) chances spurned.
Relieved they didn't pinch all three points.
And dejected at the thought I've seen it all before and will see it all again.

Cardiff started well and I thought we were in for lesson in football but we quickly started to shut them down early and found useful ball ourselves. The goal bouyed us (looked a deft finish from way back in the North) but then followed the most frustrating 30 minutes I think I've seen Reading play. Every missed chance was another sinking feeling this wasn't going to be entirely our night and so it proved.
All day, forwards spend shooting balls at goals from all angles and scenarios. What does it say that we wasted good chance after easy chance?

2nd half was 50/50 and was always going to end in tears. Ok we didn't lose the game but we lost 2 points.
Apparently their goal was a bit contentiuos?

The saddist in me thoroughly enjoyed the game though.

[Trainspotter]

Imagine if we had forwards (or anyone) who could shoot or head accurately! We had loads of gilt edge chances - more than Cardiff, although they passed better and had more decent possession.
Unfortunately, we have forwards who lack the ability to do anything worthwhile with the ball when in good positions. Their final pass/cross is rushed and lacking in any creativity (unlike Cardiff). We always seem to hit the first opposition player. Oh for a player who can finish. Even Mills headed two good chances wide - shades of 50p head Sonko!

[Trainspotter]

Explain to me how a ball bounces over the line, comes out and hits the post then goes into Federici's arms. Who are these people who KNOW it was in? Linesman hadn't a clue. Just wanted his five minutes of fame.
Long, who is not my favourite player, had a great game. He never stops and wins everything. What a shame no one supports him and feeds off the balls he wins. Why didn't they bring McAnuff on? It was hard work with only ten players!!!

[Ian Royal]

Explain to me how a ball bounces over the line, comes out and hits the post then goes into Federici's arms. Who are these people who KNOW it was in? Linesman hadn't a clue. Just wanted his five minutes of fame.
Long, who is not my favourite player, had a great game. He never stops and wins everything. What a shame no one supports him and feeds off the balls he wins. Why didn't they bring McAnuff on? It was hard work with only ten players!!!

spin. If the linesman didn't have a clue, he wouldn't have flagged it. It's not some massive conspiracy ffs.

[Trainspotter]

It's not a conspiracy just incompetence. No way did the ball spin out at the rate it was going IN!

[79Royal]

I was stood right along the line. I haven't seen the replay yet, but it didn't even look close to me. I'm not certain that any Cardiff players appealed for it.

Just look at the photo ! Not even close ??!! Even with no angle the way the ball fell from the bar we all said goal and you can certainly understand why it was given. Can't agree with the radio peeps and Brian who called the decision ridiculous..lino did not have to be on the line to give that.

I hadn't seen a replay or the photo posted at that point. It was much closer than I realised at the time. I'm still not convinced the whole ball was over the line, especially as we don't have a picture down the goal line. I don't think you can make a conclusive decison when you are 15 yards up the line and the ball is going so quickly.

But as has been posted on here several times already, we should have been out of sight by that point. No point bleating on about a striker, we all know we need one. I thought Mills was generally poor, although he did eventually get some things right. And Howard was awful, let the game pass him by when we were on top and apart from a few won challenges, offered us nothing. I'd much rather Tabb and Karacan in the middle.

Just my two pennies worth.

[Snowball]

I thought Howard had a really, REALLY good game

[JoebyRFC]

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/footb ... iff_city_1 apparently according to this Jonny Fordham is too blame as he knew the result a day before. He should have told the linesman.

[Elm Park Old Boy]

One thought that struck me last night - although it doesn't only apply to the Cardiff game - that people so often take a knee-jerk and short term view. How often have we heard that so and so is useless and will never be a footballer (Kebe, for example)? Or when we lose, the team is going nowhere, or when we win, no one can touch us?

It's important to keep in mind, particularly with young players, that they can be a bit up and down, and it can take a while to show their true qualities. So Hal Robson-Kanu gets slated because he has a couple of below par performances, and people are ready to write him off. But that is what you get with young players - it takes time and experience to ratchet up to a more consistent level of performance, and while you're learning more experience opposing players know a lot of ways to throw you off.

Similarly with Long. he's not the greatest striker we've ever had, but he is still young and still developing. Last season I would have said he was a rather hit and miss poacher, dependent on speed. I had no idea that he could or would develop as we are currently seeing, adding power and strength to his game and becoming a real handfull for some quite tough and experienced centre backs. He is genuinely beginning to play a role as focal point of the attack, and opening up play for others (shame they're not always exploiting it).

It's the same for teams - it takes time and experience to knit a team together and ours is still a work in progress. Personally I find it interesting and enjoyable to watch the process, as Brian tries different players out in different slots, brings in the young players and tries to blend with experience.

So, a bit more patience. There are lots of encouraging signs, and give people like Church time. He's got promise, but needs to build his strength and experience and needs the kind of nurturing that will build his confidence. At his age, unless he's Messi, he will have good moments and disappointing moments. With time I'm confident he'll have more of the good. So will some of the other youngsters.

[tomrfcurz]

I thought Howard had a really, REALLY good game

He weren't bad but their no.20 (Olifinjana?) skinned him everytime in the first half

[Ian Royal]

One thought that struck me last night - although it doesn't only apply to the Cardiff game - that people so often take a knee-jerk and short term view. How often have we heard that so and so is useless and will never be a footballer (Kebe, for example)? Or when we lose, the team is going nowhere, or when we win, no one can touch us?

It's important to keep in mind, particularly with young players, that they can be a bit up and down, and it can take a while to show their true qualities. So Hal Robson-Kanu gets slated because he has a couple of below par performances, and people are ready to write him off. But that is what you get with young players - it takes time and experience to ratchet up to a more consistent level of performance, and while you're learning more experience opposing players know a lot of ways to throw you off.

Similarly with Long. he's not the greatest striker we've ever had, but he is still young and still developing. Last season I would have said he was a rather hit and miss poacher, dependent on speed. I had no idea that he could or would develop as we are currently seeing, adding power and strength to his game and becoming a real handfull for some quite tough and experienced centre backs. He is genuinely beginning to play a role as focal point of the attack, and opening up play for others (shame they're not always exploiting it).

It's the same for teams - it takes time and experience to knit a team together and ours is still a work in progress. Personally I find it interesting and enjoyable to watch the process, as Brian tries different players out in different slots, brings in the young players and tries to blend with experience.

So, a bit more patience. There are lots of encouraging signs, and give people like Church time. He's got promise, but needs to build his strength and experience and needs the kind of nurturing that will build his confidence. At his age, unless he's Messi, he will have good moments and disappointing moments. With time I'm confident he'll have more of the good. So will some of the other youngsters.

Top post. HRK's major problem is his decision making, and final ball - which can often be caused by poor decision making. Reckon there's a good chance he'll come good in a season or two.
Church's seems to be that he over-thinks a lot of what he does.

[Victor Meldrew]

One thought that struck me last night - although it doesn't only apply to the Cardiff game - that people so often take a knee-jerk and short term view. How often have we heard that so and so is useless and will never be a footballer (Kebe, for example)? Or when we lose, the team is going nowhere, or when we win, no one can touch us?

It's important to keep in mind, particularly with young players, that they can be a bit up and down, and it can take a while to show their true qualities. So Hal Robson-Kanu gets slated because he has a couple of below par performances, and people are ready to write him off. But that is what you get with young players - it takes time and experience to ratchet up to a more consistent level of performance, and while you're learning more experience opposing players know a lot of ways to throw you off.

Similarly with Long. he's not the greatest striker we've ever had, but he is still young and still developing. Last season I would have said he was a rather hit and miss poacher, dependent on speed. I had no idea that he could or would develop as we are currently seeing, adding power and strength to his game and becoming a real handfull for some quite tough and experienced centre backs. He is genuinely beginning to play a role as focal point of the attack, and opening up play for others (shame they're not always exploiting it).

It's the same for teams - it takes time and experience to knit a team together and ours is still a work in progress. Personally I find it interesting and enjoyable to watch the process, as Brian tries different players out in different slots, brings in the young players and tries to blend with experience.

So, a bit more patience. There are lots of encouraging signs, and give people like Church time. He's got promise, but needs to build his strength and experience and needs the kind of nurturing that will build his confidence. At his age, unless he's Messi, he will have good moments and disappointing moments. With time I'm confident he'll have more of the good. So will some of the other youngsters.

So,what about the older players?.
By the same premis they can only get worse.
We surely must look at them over the short term because they won't have any long term.
BTW not ALL young players improve with age and at nearly 24 I would argue that in footballing terms Long is no longer young.
Wilshere is young,so is the Mc whatever his name is at Chelsea and the striker at Ipswich but Long isn't.
I do agree however on the general point that players are judged too quickly and I am as guilty as the next man.
I will however go out on a limb and predict that Church,Robson-Kanu,Antonio,Bignall and Pearce will never be much cop but I very much hope,for the sake of our club,that they go on to excel for us.

[Ian Royal]

Well I'd argue that Church & certainly Pearce have already done plenty to prove themselves as useful players at this level.