Have Reading ever been a successful counter attacking team?

[RG30]

First thought would be the 02/03 team. They were superbly efficient at breaking especially with pace with the likes of Hughes, Forster, Harper etc with energy to burn. Millwall away 2003 springs to mind with the first goal.

Certainly under Coppell we were also effective, helped by the superb use of multi-ball system. Under McDermott not as much so, certainly we were more direct but not as much counter-attacking.

[SCIAG]

McDermott's first full season when Long scored a million goals was the best counter-attacking side we've had. The following year we were very good once Roberts came in, but Long and Kebe were a fantastic combination. Shame Manset couldn't get fit enough to play with them more often.

Changing tack a little, favourite counter attacking goals?

Without thinking about it for very long, mine would be

3) Noel Hunt v Leicester
2) Le Fondre v Southampton
1) Convey v Millwall

[Forbury Lion]

Agreed the 106 team.

We also played to the strengths of the multi-ball system at home, not giving opposition teams a chance to rest - I think Neil Warnock even complained about it/used it as an excuse when we beat his side.

IIRC it was after the game v Southampton at home which was on the TV where the manager complained about our use of the multi-ball system.

I'm sure Neil Warnock moaned about too, he moans about most things.

[Forbury Lion]

I seem to recall George Burley having a good cry about our ball boys/girls around that time.

I remember someone moaning that our ball boys were too good under Pardew as for an important game, he got the young pre-teenage ball boys/girls all replaced with academy players in their late teens who knew when to return the ball quickly and when to take their time for the benefit of the home side

[curetonsdipper]

That convey goal against millwall is certainly the best counter attacking goal ive seen at reading. Never forget it. It was early in the season but goal was the 'wow we have a very strong team this year, we could win this' moment.

Having said that I seem to remember in the forster-hughes era a counter attacking goal we scored after defending a corner which involved the stunner luke chadwick before forster finished. I believe the following game we scored almost the exact same goal.