Back from the Game - Brighton (H)

[LoyalRoyalFan]

The away fans were fantasic, and sung their hearts out (apart from the first 15 of the second half). The best song being: "I want to go home, Reading is a sh*thole, I want to go home."

From NSC

[Winchester Royal]

Lol, welcome to 2007 for their fans!

[Cripple Creek]

Relying on the Back from the Game thread as I do, living in Oz, just a couple of questions:
Any particular reason Robson-Kanu didn't even make the subs bench?
Do you think Griffin has worked his way back into the starting 11 and Mills will struggle to regain the left back position?

[NR_Royal]

Relying on the Back from the Game thread as I do, living in Oz, just a couple of questions:
Any particular reason Robson-Kanu didn't even make the subs bench?
Do you think Griffin has worked his way back into the starting 11 and Mills will struggle to regain the left back position?

I have no idea why HRK didn't make the bench. Maybe Antonio looked better in training?

I think Harte is first choice, followed by Mills, then Griffin.

[RG30]

HRK was injured according to club Twitter feed

[Cypry]

Relying on the Back from the Game thread as I do, living in Oz, just a couple of questions:
Any particular reason Robson-Kanu didn't even make the subs bench?
Do you think Griffin has worked his way back into the starting 11 and Mills will struggle to regain the left back position?

HRK is injured I believe...

Suspect that Hartes illness meant he couldn't train all week, and fitness might have been an issue...

[Royal With Cheese]

HRK has a niggle.

Big LOL to North Stand Chat. 3-0 is 3-0. Take it like men. On another day - you might have lost 3-1.

[Bandini]

HRK has a niggle.

Big LOL to North Stand Chat. 3-0 is 3-0. Take it like men. On another day - you might have lost 3-1.

[Chaney]

HRK has a niggle.

Big LOL to North Stand Chat. 3-0 is 3-0. Take it like men. On another day - you might have lost 3-1.

but we didn`t

[Royal Prince]

For me Brighton are much like Peterborough, comfortable on the ball but with no cutting edge. This possession lark only works if you have the ability to suddenly turn on the attack, much like Swansea did last season to such great effect. Reading and many of the other teams in this division know how to play against it now though, taking the full backs out of the game and more importantly sitting back and soaking up the pressure as opposed to jumping in and losing our composure and shape.

The game quickly became about two things; could we keep our composure for 90mins, and did we have the ability to break down their defence? The answer to both was clearly yes! Pearce and Gorkks (Porkks) were solid at the back and led by example. Even when the Seagulls were falling over like they'd been shot the lads just left them to get on with it! At the other end Church and Alfie were full of running, and even though they didn't get the rub of the green this left space for McAnuff and Kebe to run riot, which resulted in two well worked first half goals and a fortuitous third!

Overall a professional, entertaining and tactically sound performance. We're starting to make winning look easy!....

[floyd__streete]

Embarassing gamesmasnhip from Brighton throughout, a side who go down more often than Jordan. We did well first half pressing them and they allowed us time immemorial on the ball. Tactically spot on we were. McD 3-0 Poyet.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

apart from 20mins in the 2nd half i thought Brighton were utter dump tbh.

[grey_squirrel]

As much as I love Cummings, he never stopped their winger crossing it in. He didn't seem to want to close him off at all.

TBF to Cummings, Kebe was doing absolutely nothing second half by way of anything! He was not tracking back and was completely absent without leave for a lot of their crosses in the second half. He was either back to his mecurial "couldn't be arsed best" or was carrying an injury

[grey_squirrel]

Relying on the Back from the Game thread as I do, living in Oz, just a couple of questions:
Any particular reason Robson-Kanu didn't even make the subs bench?
Do you think Griffin has worked his way back into the starting 11 and Mills will struggle to regain the left back position?

I certainly hope that is now properly the last we see of Mills (at least for a while!) But think Harte - for his assists - still nudges Griff for first choice LB

[NR_Royal]

Also, MASSIVE RESPECT to Kebe actually pulling up his socks after the chants of "Pull your socks up for the lads".

[melonhead]

great game- we were awesome in the first tweny five, all over them,played some lovely passing football, retained the ball ever so well
then after we scored we either allowed them back in, or they just played better. but we kept them at bay very well, closed down very quickly, and kept them passing around mostly in their own half.
second half they came out firing, but we still managed well, and they went home with tails between legs, even though they could have got a couple of their own

thought mcanuff was superb, as was ledge, karacan, gorkss and pearce(again), fed and griffin

cummings had a tough game, and kebe worked hard 1st half, but tailed off badly, but still got two assists

good stuff

[FiNeRaIn]

The away fans were fantasic, and sung their hearts out (apart from the first 15 of the second half). The best song being: "I want to go home, Reading is a sh*thole, I want to go home."

From NSC

One of the worst and unoriginal chants I've heard at a football ground. Utterly dreadful. Just about every set of fans sings this and seems to think its in some way witty or banter.

[SCIAG]

The away fans were fantasic, and sung their hearts out (apart from the first 15 of the second half). The best song being: "I want to go home, Reading is a sh*thole, I want to go home."

From NSC

One of the worst and unoriginal chants I've heard at a football ground. Utterly dreadful. Just about every set of fans sings this and seems to think its in some way witty or banter.

Especially when you hear it from Millwall or Middlesborough or Cardiff fans. The response is no better.

Ratings:
Feds 7- some good saves, including one where he excellently kept the ball in the area under pressure from CMS, but distribution was poor.
Cummings 7- links up well with Kebe. Lots of petty fouls to stop Lua Lua.
Pearce 8- outstanding again
Gorkss 7.5- not quite as good as Pearce, though his distribution was better.
Griffin 7- great tackling for the most part, but he was clearly out of position. Right footed left back disrupted our play somewhat. I hope Mills is back ASAP.
Kebe 7- good at times, but tired as the match went on and became less effective. Should have gone off.
Karacan 7.5- one of his better games
Legs 7.5- dominated again. What was that about a 1 season wonder?
McAnuff 9- excellent, worked his socks off defensively and scored 2 goals.
Le Fondre 6.5- isolated because Brighton packed the middle so well. One good shot. Needs to drop off more.
Church 7- lively, but also somewhat isolated. Lusting for goals.

Subs:
Hunt 6- did next to nothing
Antonio n/a

[RG30]

Thought we would be in for a tough afternoon as we tend to struggle against the sides who like to knock it around but in all honesty that was as straight forward a match we'll have all season. Thought McAnuff was excellent and he's come into a nice bit of form with Karacan having his best game for a while. Second half Brighton put us under some pressure and should have scored at least one but overall job done. Win Saturday and we can be very happy with the month of December.

[Fluff]

Good, well deserved home win.