Back from the Luton game

[Franchise FC]

What a game to pick !!

I took number one son - his first evening game, but then most are during school term.
Number 2 son felt a bit left out that we were going and asked to come with us. He wanted to wear his Arsenal shirt, but we persuaded him to wear his elder brothers old hoops. Now he wants to go to every game. Didn't have the heart to tell him that the reserves only play in the Carling Cup and that the league games are not guaranteed to be as good.

Still, one match to change alleigance is good enough for me.

We were all very impressed with the Luton fans - they're not going to have much to cheer about this season, so they might as well enjoy themselves.

[rfcjoe]

EP says that Harper was booed when his name was called out - did anybody hear the booing? I didn't

[mahoj002]

EP says that Harper was booed when his name was called out - did anybody hear the booing? I didn't

nope

[Ian Royal]

Fair enough.

The point about the first time we're up against a decent attack is a good one. But the penalty was a crap decision IMO and he played well against Plymouth and Forest, almost back to his best. He's also a threat at corners, which given our strikers inability to shoot let alone score is quite important at the moment.

Bikey for me is a non starter at the moment because his committment is in question and more importantly he can have barely spent any time with the club in training so far. Duberry injured, Ingimarsson in worse form than Sonko and looking to be struggling with his advancing years leaves us Cisse (weak in the air) and Pearce who is inexperienced.

That leaves Sonko as the first choice centreback for me at the moment.

Sorry what?

Anyway, ratings, not that it matters:

A-Fed 7 (not much to do, did it ok)

Kelly 7 (dangerous and promising)
Pearce 9 (future captain)
Duberry 7 (looked ok)
Golbourne 7 (see Kelly)

Henry 9 (great dribbling and crossing, should be in the first team. Took his goal well.)
Karacan 8 (good passing, took his goal well)
Harper 6(looked ok, vanished for a while)
Shunt 7 (looked bright)

N Hunt 8 (good movement and looked bright. Should start against Palace)
Long 7 (flashes of brilliance, should have scored)

Subs: Ingi 7, Gylfi 7, Mooney 7.

The suggestions that he wants to move. Coppell has dropped hints there are still players who want out. BIkey is as good a guess as any especially seeing as he was (I think) granted extra time away after the Olympics. I hope it's not the case and that he comes back into the team soon. He's a top player with a lot of potential. But there is a question mark there.

[SCIAG]

Yes, Bikey was granted extra time away, but that was because he hasn't had a rest since last August. He was in a training camp at the end of last season, and then had Cameroon friendlies, then the Olympics.

[Royal With Cheese]

saw noel hunt play at tanerdice a couple of seasons ago, he was fantastic then too, will work well, hard working like his brother, fearless, perhapps lacking a little penache but will fit into the reading set up well. from what i heard about the game tonight, he was one of the shining lights. I have nothing but good things to say about the man, and i know as a couple of my mates are dundee fans they are gutted to see him go.

[Spacey Mode]
I would have thought, them being Dundee fans they would have been glad to see the back of a good Dundee United player.
[/Spacey Mode]

[Cookie]

James Henry put in a very eye-catching performance.
Very good running with the ball at his feet. Some very good crosses too.

[kwik-silva]

Hunt put in a few good crosses as well, espicially the corner for the goal

[winchester_royal]

James Henry put in a very eye-catching performance.
Very good running with the ball at his feet. Some very good crosses too.

'greed.

At the start of the season I thought RM was where we were weakest. But Kebe has impressed, Henry looks very capable back up, and Hunt N could play there as well.

[Irvinchangeyaname]

Yeah..LOL at the 1000 (ish) fans that turned out to support their club that are bottom of League 2, playing away on a Tuesday night in a mickey mouse cup.

Tables turned...how many Reading fans would go? Barely 7000 turned up tonight, including the Kid for a Quid offer and we were at home! The East Stand looked more like a youth centre last night than a football ground.

So I won't 'LOL' at them, I will applaud them. Supporting the club that they love in the way they see fit......for possibly the last season in their league history.

Well said Shaka (albeit a slightly delayed response from me!)

[rg6royal]

James Henry put in a very eye-catching performance.
Very good running with the ball at his feet. Some very good crosses too.

'greed.

At the start of the season I thought RM was where we were weakest. But Kebe has impressed, Henry looks very capable back up, and Hunt N could play there as well.

N.Hunt came on against Charlton and played left mid, looked good there to. Rather him up top though.

[winchester_royal]

Yeah..LOL at the 1000 (ish) fans that turned out to support their club that are bottom of League 2, playing away on a Tuesday night in a mickey mouse cup.

Tables turned...how many Reading fans would go? Barely 7000 turned up tonight, including the Kid for a Quid offer and we were at home! The East Stand looked more like a youth centre last night than a football ground.

So I won't 'LOL' at them, I will applaud them. Supporting the club that they love in the way they see fit......for possibly the last season in their league history.

Gotta remember though that last night was their big night out.

If we were drawn against Arsenal away for example i'm sure more than 1000 would turn up.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Yeah..LOL at the 1000 (ish) fans that turned out to support their club that are bottom of League 2, playing away on a Tuesday night in a mickey mouse cup.

Tables turned...how many Reading fans would go? Barely 7000 turned up tonight, including the Kid for a Quid offer and we were at home! The East Stand looked more like a youth centre last night than a football ground.

So I won't 'LOL' at them, I will applaud them. Supporting the club that they love in the way they see fit......for possibly the last season in their league history.

Gotta remember though that last night was their big night out.

If we were drawn against Arsenal away for example i'm sure more than 1000 would turn up.

I hope you aren't serious. There's no way in the world they'd regard a trip to Reading as a big night out.

[winchester_royal]

Yeah..LOL at the 1000 (ish) fans that turned out to support their club that are bottom of League 2, playing away on a Tuesday night in a mickey mouse cup.

Tables turned...how many Reading fans would go? Barely 7000 turned up tonight, including the Kid for a Quid offer and we were at home! The East Stand looked more like a youth centre last night than a football ground.

So I won't 'LOL' at them, I will applaud them. Supporting the club that they love in the way they see fit......for possibly the last season in their league history.

Gotta remember though that last night was their big night out.

If we were drawn against Arsenal away for example i'm sure more than 1000 would turn up.

I hope you aren't serious. There's no way in the world they'd regard a trip to Reading as a big night out.

I'm deadly serious.

[Whore Jackie]

Perhaps they just came to collect their commemorative scarves.

[floyd__streete]

Gotta remember though that last night was their big night out.

If we were drawn against Arsenal away for example i'm sure more than 1000 would turn up.

I hope you aren't serious. There's no way in the world they'd regard a trip to Reading as a big night out.

I'm deadly serious.

Well in that case then, you're a deluded prat. I'm deadly serious.

[rg6royal]

[winchester_royal]

Well in that case then, I'm a deluded prat. I'm deadly serious.

'greed.

[Pablo]

For those that think Harper does nothing can you explain why we looked off the pace after he went off??

We didn't. Karacan came into his own and if anything we looked better in the centre.

I disagree I'm afraid - once the double change was made we lost our way for a good 10 mins or so - admitedly at 4-0 we were always likely to take the foot off but we certainly didn't improve in the middle.

Well I don't think so, I didn't really see anything that would mean we lost our way, Karacan showed alot of promise, and ability to tackle, which none of our other CM's have, and Sigurdsson looked fine in the middle

I think Karacan worked very hard and made many great tackles. Also interesting to see 18 year old Sigurdsson, very calm on the ball and made some good passes. Are they both Academy graduates?

[Arch]

Am I right in thinking that was Gylfi's senior debut? An event that passed without much fanfare, but well done to him. Good to see another generation - Gylfi, Kelly, etc - following swiftly after Pearce, Henry, Karacan.