Howard to Saints

[Archie's penalty]

Whilst I agree with the thrust of what ian is saying it doesn't mean howard is the right person to carry out the creative midfielder role for us. When you say that we play hoofball that simply ain't true, kebe and mcanuff are our creative pkayers, don't know if we need creativity int the middle. If we fo we can always bring someone in in future. Still strange decision to get rid if him now. BTW think Antoniovis shite.

[Jeffers217]

Whilst I agree with the thrust of what ian is saying it doesn't mean howard is the right person to carry out the creative midfielder role for us. When you say that we play hoofball that simply ain't true, kebe and mcanuff are our creative pkayers, don't know if we need creativity int the middle. If we fo we can always bring someone in in future. Still strange decision to get rid if him now. BTW think Antoniovis shite.

We play hoofball when MILLS and INGIMARSSON are playing- that is the massive difference when Zurab comes in the team. Yes he sometimes does loft it up the field but more than often he will pass it to the midfield players. Even with Gunnarsson at the back on sunday he passed it on the ground. The term "playing from the back" really rings true with us in my opinion. In regards to Howard, I don't doubt that he has a certain level of ability and has a good shot on him (before kick-off), but he gets caught in possession far too often, and if we want to build a team capable of promotion in the future, I really don't see him as being part of it. Yes he played well in a 3-man central midfield but that was because of the simple fact that he had an extra man in the centre to cover his blood when he did get caught in possession.

[brendywendy]

Defensive battlers in the midfield and focusing all our attacking down the wings and with percentage hoofball. No real ability to keep the ball or show any creative guile.

yeah, oxf*rd awful. a team with 2 defensive minded midfielders, and two creative wingers could never win the league with 106 points....................oh

[Wimb]

Defensive battlers in the midfield and focusing all our attacking down the wings and with percentage hoofball. No real ability to keep the ball or show any creative guile.

yeah, oxf*rd awful. a team with 2 defensive minded midfielders, and two creative wingers could never win the league with 106 points....................oh

Except Harper and Sidwell scored 17 goals between them

[brendywendy]

Defensive battlers in the midfield and focusing all our attacking down the wings and with percentage hoofball. No real ability to keep the ball or show any creative guile.

yeah, oxf*rd awful. a team with 2 defensive minded midfielders, and two creative wingers could never win the league with 106 points....................oh

Except Harper and Sidwell scored 17 goals between them

dont care- the set up for that team was the same- they were predominantly defensive in set up in the middle of the park, with instructions to play the ball quickly to the wingers when they got it. and thats the system he was moaning about.
i think ledge can play box to box as well as sidwell, play simple passes like harper, but crucially also has the ability to tackle.
if only we had two of him.

[Wimb]

dont care- the set up for that team was the same- they were predominantly defensive in set up in the middle of the park, with instructions to play the ball quickly to the wingers when they got it. and thats the system he was moaning about.
i think ledge can play box to box as well as sidwell, play simple passes like harper, but crucially also has the ability to tackle.
if only we had two of him.

See Legs as more of a Harper then a Sidwell, doesn't have that attacking instinct that Sidwell had, couldn't see him scoring 10 in a season. But you're right if Legs had Legs beside him maybe that might change. I still think Tabb could turn into a very good Championship midfielder as could Jem, but Ian's right in that Howard was different to them and offered a better range of passing so we could change the system if we wanted.

[Ian Royal]

Except Harper was an excellent passer of the ball, better than any of our remaining midfielders at it. Legs is a good passer but keeps it fairly simple and direct still (nothing wrong with that). And as Wimb said Sidwell was a goalscorer as well.

They gave us an outlet through the middle. Karacan, Tabb, Gunnarsson and to a lesser degree Legs simply don't to anything approaching the same degree. And remember under Coppell in our relegation season and the end of his last season we were utterly shut down because we had nothing decent working through the middle once our wings were taken care of.

[Bandini]

dont care- the set up for that team was the same- they were predominantly defensive in set up in the middle of the park, with instructions to play the ball quickly to the wingers when they got it. and thats the system he was moaning about.
i think ledge can play box to box as well as sidwell, play simple passes like harper, but crucially also has the ability to tackle.
if only we had two of him.

As you seem to acknowledge, Sidwell was a box to box midfielder, not a holding midfielder. He certainly wasn't "predominantly defensive".

[Agent Balti]

dont care- the set up for that team was the same- they were predominantly defensive in set up in the middle of the park, with instructions to play the ball quickly to the wingers when they got it. and thats the system he was moaning about.
i think ledge can play box to box as well as sidwell, play simple passes like harper, but crucially also has the ability to tackle.
if only we had two of him.

As you seem to acknowledge, Sidwell was a box to box midfielder, not a holding midfielder. He certainly wasn't "predominantly defensive".

Absolutely. Sidwell made runs into the box supporting the strikers whilst Harper 'starfished' in the holding role. Also, Murty and Shorey were deployed alongside the wingers. Our current full backs don't quite do the same thing.

Whilst it's 4-4-2 now, it's totally different from out current midfield 4 and how the full backs supplement the midfield...ergo, not the same as the 106 team. Our midfield was very 'offensive', not defensive, as is now.

[Maguire]

I just don't get how Brian Howard can be described as a creative midfielder. He couldn't outrun a five year old and he's got no skill. He also can't tackle and isn't fit enough to get between the boxes.

Overall, whilst I don't h8 him I certainly won't miss him.

[Hoop Blah]

Howard is a passer. His strength is being creative with that passing and, to an extent, controlling a game by getting on the ball and dictating play. Unfortunately he isn't good enough to do that at this level.

As for Legiertwood, he's a more physical Harper but not as quick and mobile or as able to ping a long pass. He wouldn't have broken up the Harper/Sidwell partnership and arguably would've been 4th choice behind Gunarsson as well.

[Maguire]

Unfortunately he isn't good enough to do that at this level

Well quite, hence he's not very creative.

[ZacNaloen]

Won't be missed, Brian will just promote one of the academy gems to the front lines and we'll storm the league.

[facaldaqui]

I just don't get how Brian Howard can be described as a creative midfielder. He couldn't outrun a five year old and he's got no skill. He also can't tackle and isn't fit enough to get between the boxes.

Overall, whilst I don't h8 him I certainly won't miss him.

He has got skill--just doesn't produce it often enough.

For all his faults, though, I like the way he's always up for a fracas, as at West Brom last year in the cup.

[Ian Royal]

Think the fact he's created about as many goals as McAnuff or Kebe shows he is creative and he is capable of doing it at this level. Like most of our players though he needs the right team playing well around him to shine.

He was an important part of our revival last season and we've looked a far better quality side with him in the team in the majority of games he's played this season. Not always as effective granted, but better quality.

[Maguire]

Think the fact he's created about as many goals as McAnuff or Kebe shows he is creative and he is capable of doing it at this level

He takes free-kicks and corners

[trueroyal1871]

Except Harper was an excellent passer of the ball, better than any of our remaining midfielders at it. Legs is a good passer but keeps it fairly simple and direct still (nothing wrong with that). And as Wimb said Sidwell was a goalscorer as well.

They gave us an outlet through the middle. Karacan, Tabb, Gunnarsson and to a lesser degree Legs simply don't to anything approaching the same degree. And remember under Coppell in our relegation season and the end of his last season we were utterly shut down because we had nothing decent working through the middle once our wings were taken care of.

+1 to this, I think this is what has been the real problem with Reading since that second season in the Premier league. It looked like it had been solved when the Sig came through, but now he's gone we've got nothing through the middle again. Seeing one of our central midfielder's running in to the box to attack a cross or taking defenders on through the middle is a very rare sight these days.

[facaldaqui]

Except Harper was an excellent passer of the ball, better than any of our remaining midfielders at it. Legs is a good passer but keeps it fairly simple and direct still (nothing wrong with that). And as Wimb said Sidwell was a goalscorer as well.

They gave us an outlet through the middle. Karacan, Tabb, Gunnarsson and to a lesser degree Legs simply don't to anything approaching the same degree. And remember under Coppell in our relegation season and the end of his last season we were utterly shut down because we had nothing decent working through the middle once our wings were taken care of.

+1 to this, I think this is what has been the real problem with Reading since that second season in the Premier league. It looked like it had been solved when the Sig came through, but now he's gone we've got nothing through the middle again. Seeing one of our central midfielder's running in to the box to attack a cross or taking defenders on through the middle is a very rare sight these days.

It is. It makes for a peculiar style of football, where everything has to go wide and then back in again--rarely down the middle. Howard does have the skill of the slotted forward pass between defenders, though he doesn't do it often enough.

[Woodcote Royal]

Oh happy days

Is either sh*t or (mosty likely) no longer gives a flying one.

If Howard used to be a good passer, whenever he gets ball these days the next player to tough it is invariably playing for the opposition.

With Karacan reduced to the bench in recent games and old man Bryn turning in fantastic performances in three diffferent positions, Howard is nothing more than a waste of space and resources.

If someone not only wants to pay half his wages for the rest of the season but also pay (even a fiver!!) to take him off our books for good, bite their hand off!!!!

[Ian Royal]

Think the fact he's created about as many goals as McAnuff or Kebe shows he is creative and he is capable of doing it at this level

He takes free-kicks and corners

So do McAnuff and Harte.