Shane Long Vs Simon Church SEASON WATCH

[Ian Royal]

Neither player is good enough to be our main striker. If there all we're going to have, this is going to be a poor season.

NHunt. (Mooney, Bignall - these two not hugelly inspiring admittedly)
A striker/ attacker is clearly on our agenda given the Smith saga.

[Snowball]

Shane Long by far, Church as back up.

http://royalreadingfc.blogspot.com/

Thanks. might keep an eye.

One comment thrown out as food for thought though. What is a better indicator of a player who may score goals this season. Four in 1 of 2-3 games, or four spread over 3-4 games?

It's obvious. Whatever measure makes Shane look the weaker player, choose that every time


The reality is, friendlies have about 2% of the validity of real Championship games
and we need a third of a season to REALLY tell anything.

I think Shane has played 180 pre-season (silly season) minutes for 4 goals, one goal every 45 minutes
and that after a Championship season where he averaged
one goal every 178 minutes played, better than every player on Reading's books.

What more does a striker need to do to prove himself?

[Agent Balti]

But there's more to a player than just stats, we all know this, don't we? Touch, Speed, Skill, Positioning, Height, Weight, Temperament, Attitude, Training, Teamplay...the list is absolutely endless. There's more to selecting a play just based on hits on the onion bag.

[Snowball]

Funny, then, that when Church was scoring (but zero assists) (in meaningless friendlies)

there was plenty of stats... OOOOO LOOOOK Church has scored four and Long HASN'T

Now that Long HAS scored four (plus an assist) we are back to pathetic stuff like:

"Yeah but four in one game isn't as good as four spread over X games"
and
"What about other factors?"


Simples.

If a player scores 4 games every 180 minutes he can crap
himself on the penalty spot and he'll be picked.

[Agent Balti]

Funny, then, that when Church was scoring (but zero assists) (in meaningless friendlies)

there was plenty of stats... OOOOO LOOOOK Church has scored four and Long HASN'T

Now that Long HAS scored four (plus an assist) we are back to pathetic stuff like:

"Yeah but four in one game isn't as good as four spread over X games"
and
"What about other factors?"


Simples.

If a player scores 4 games every 180 minutes he can crap
himself on the penalty spot and he'll be picked.

Just acceptance of the point would have done.

[ZacNaloen]

Not to add to the controversy or anything, but surely if a player is scoring goals then it is fair to assume said player is achieving those super duper important "other factors" that you cite as being so important, otherwise they wouldn't be in the position to score those goals.

And at the end of the day goals win games.

[Snowball]

Funny, then, that when Church was scoring (but zero assists) (in meaningless friendlies)

there was plenty of stats... OOOOO LOOOOK Church has scored four and Long HASN'T

Now that Long HAS scored four (plus an assist) we are back to pathetic stuff like:

"Yeah but four in one game isn't as good as four spread over X games"
and
"What about other factors?"


Simples.

If a player scores 4 games every 180 minutes he can crap
himself on the penalty spot and he'll be picked.

Just acceptance of the point would have done.

I don't AGREE with your point, never have

[Snowball]

Not to add to the controversy or anything, but surely if a player is scoring goals then it is fair to assume said player is achieving those super duper important "other factors" that you cite as being so important, otherwise they wouldn't be in the position to score those goals.

And at the end of the day goals win games.

Absolutely. if Shane suddenly started playing beautifully but NOT scoring
then the Shane-Haters would start arguing "but where's the end-product?"

[Snowball]

Brendan Rodgers has praised hot-shot striker Shane Long after he scored all four of Reading’s goals in their second match in Sweden.

The 22-year-old Republic of Ireland international scored twice either side of half-time against Tolo IF on Saturday, staking his claim to spearhead the Royals attack in Rodgers’ preferred 4-3-3 formation.

Speaking after the 4-0 win, the Northern Irish manager said: “He scored four and maybe could have had three or four more, he was outstanding.

“His movements good, he’s obviously adapting to a new way of working and playing and I thought you can see he can play in that role and play with real good quality.

“He’s not just a runner and a goal-scorer ,I think you can see him developing his footballing attributes.

“His hold-up play was good and the final phase of the game in scoring goals he was prolific.”

[CMRoyal]

I just think it's great that people are arguing over players who are knocking plenty of goals in, albeit against really weak opposition. It's better than having to argue over how we end a goal drought before we start the season.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

schards won't be eating humble pie if Long comes good, or will he??

[Snowball]

Good Point

Just a shame that these saddos can't simply
support players who work their socks off
and run their hearts out.

Most of them are probably sad fat fnucks who couldn't kick the bucket....

[Snowball]

schards won't be eating humble pie if Long comes good, or will he??

Long already DID "come good"

9 goals in 13 starts, and a total of less that 18 x 90 minutes is top-class striking
and that was hen the club were low on confidence!

[Ian Royal]

Noel must be feeling the pressure to get to full fitness and score a few with these two seemingly doing quite well so far.

Especially as Rodgers seems to have no hesitation in playing younger players if they're doing well.

[ZacNaloen]

Noel must be feeling the pressure to get to full fitness and score a few with these two seemingly doing quite well so far.

Especially as Rodgers seems to have no hesitation in playing younger players if they're doing well.

Although friendlies mean nothing the "younger" team is showing a lot more bite than the more experienced team having outscored them (as a team) in all the preseason games they've played so far. Forward players like Hal, Church and Davies now must be knocking on the door Rodgers can't afford to ignore them. Just based on this I don't share the pessimism of some, if Rodgers gets the balance right (which I'm fairly confident he will) I struggling to see how this season can't be considered a success even if we do miss out on a play off position.

We could do with promotion in season two or three of Rodgers time in charge rather than immediately though, in my opinion, so I won't be crying over spilt milk if this season doesn't result in play-offs or decrying that we are going backwards. Teams often look like they are going backwards during transition, then suddenly come good and stronger than before as the "plan" comes together.

[Ian Royal]

I am very excited about Davies.

[Snowball]

We really should keep sexual proclivities off this board

[Doyler]

I am very excited about Davies.

He seems as though he could be the Sidwell-type player we've been looking for. Good work-rate, not afraid of a tackle, makes chances and has a good shot on him too.

[Vision]

That Shane Long bloke is utter gash. He plays nil minutes in an 8-0 and fails to score. How crap is that?
Let's see when they've all played ten actual league games, competitive games, say 900 minutes total.

But surely 4 goals in 3 games means using this stat and this stat alone that there's no logical reason why Church couldn't score 60 goals for us next season.

Of course, you're so RIGHT. Every side in this year's championship will be like Didcot, Kettering and part-time Swedish sides.

I can't believe I missed that. So 46 games and Church will score 61 goals and be sold to Real Madrid, the first £100,000,000 player.

Sorry there is no statistical data to come to the logical conclusion that he will be sold to Real Madrid as a £100,000,000 player.

I wish you'd just stick to the stats.

[andrew1957]

Shane Long does not have the touch and skill of a Kevin Doyle and probably never will have BUT he is an out and out goal scorer. I watched him several times in the Premier Reserve League a few seasons ago and he consistently scored lots of goals - often against top defenders. He has not had a great many chances since but has done ok without ever being given a really long run in the side. I thought he did very well at the end of last season. In a poorly performing side he was often the stand out player.

I think he is most suited to a 4-5-1 formation and this will bring the best out of him. I really don't understand the Long knockers - do you want our players to fail? It would not surprise me if he tops 15 goals this season or even 20 if he is first choice all season and keeps injury free.

I like Church too but he is a lot younger and may have to make do with sub appearances for now.