Andre Bikey...Discuss!!!

[PEARCEY]

I'm talking here and now...not going on about how good someone was 2 flipping years ago...

Little was amazing 2 years ago he isn't anymore...HTH

The difference is that in his 2 years you would think that Bikey would have improved somewhat, given he joined us young and inexperienced, yet 2 years and good knows how many appearances later, Bikey is still the same ol' Bikey...one or two moments of apparent genius mixed in with some very average or very scary moments where he is more likely to lose the ball...than do anything worthwhile with it...

One good run in 90mins doesn't make him into the man of the match when his number one job in the team is to defend..when today as most weeks he concedes far too many easy fouls on the edge of the box in a position which immediately puts us under pressure from a freekick...

If the quality of delivery was slightly better, as it would be in the Premiership, we would be struggling even more than we currently are...

HTH

Like I said how many goals conceded have been down to Bikey's alleged frailties?

HTH

[Turns8]

Bikey is the best centre back at the moment at this club. Doobs on the other hand is part of the reason why we're hoofing the ball so much. His chance today would also have been taken by practically any other Reading player, including the keepers (and probably my gran). Pearce must come in for Doobs. But leave the Bike alone.

Pearce and Bikey as a CB pairing...

That would definitely be value for money...by that I mean comedy value for money....

[Thomas L'Heureux]

I'm talking here and now...not going on about how good someone was 2 flipping years ago...

Little was amazing 2 years ago he isn't anymore...HTH

The difference is that in his 2 years you would think that Bikey would have improved somewhat, given he joined us young and inexperienced, yet 2 years and good knows how many appearances later, Bikey is still the same ol' Bikey...one or two moments of apparent genius mixed in with some very average or very scary moments where he is more likely to lose the ball...than do anything worthwhile with it...

One good run in 90mins doesn't make him into the man of the match when his number one job in the team is to defend..when today as most weeks he concedes far too many easy fouls on the edge of the box in a position which immediately puts us under pressure from a freekick...

If the quality of delivery was slightly better, as it would be in the Premiership, we would be struggling even more than we currently are...

HTH

It doesn't help I'm afraid.

I didn't mention his run today. As much as I applauded it at the time seeing as it was the only example of urgency in the game, you're right, his defending should be what's focused on primarily.

I know he's been at the club for over two years now, but he hasn't exactly had a prolonged period in the first team has he? Defending is about playing as a unit and coming in and out of a side cannot help one's development, especially in a team that can't keep hold of the ball for more than two passes and are literally always on the back foot.

Can I ask your thoughts on the defensive duties of our central midfielders today? Do you think they offered substantial protection when not in possession, and were always an outlet when our centre backs had the ball?

[John Peel]

Bikey is the best centre back at the moment at this club. Doobs on the other hand is part of the reason why we're hoofing the ball so much. His chance today would also have been taken by practically any other Reading player, including the keepers (and probably my gran). Pearce must come in for Doobs. But leave the Bike alone.

Pearce and Bikey as a CB pairing...

That would definitely be value for money...by that I mean comedy value for money....

I obviously don't see what's so funny about that, but f*ck it, we've got nothing to lose now. Coppell needs to make wholesale changes and mix it up a little. Bring back Karacan for starters and give Lita a chance. Maybe even bring back Henry. Listen, I don't have the answer, but then neither does Coppell does he.

Let's just go for broke - it can't get any worse, can it?

[rg6royal]

He's easily our best defender...

[Turns8]

He's easily our best defender...

[LoyalRoyal22]

Bikey is the best defender in the Championship IMO

[AlexY25]

He's easily our best central defender...

[Woodcote Royal]

Ok Mr Bikey...so some sections of the fan base seem to think this guy is the best CB we have and apparently oozes class and can never put a foot wrong.

Now I'm not getting into a massive debate about how he is better than Doobs (cos apparently he is utter dumb ) but can I just point a few things out about Mr Bikey which may make him sound anything but the 'outstanding' player some think he is...

In the last 2 games I would say he has been up against some pretty average forwards Best, Morrison, Henderson and Beattie...and in both games he seems unable to stand the forward up...instead he chooses to dive in all heavy handed in areas where there is no apparent danger and concede some very silly freekicks...there were about 5 or 6 occasions today and a similar amount against Coventry...

We have been lucky in both games to only concede one goal and given that the strikers have been woeful, yet both opponents have had an abundance of decent free kick takers, would it not be wise for Mr Bikey to try and stand the player up rather than dive in...

He also seems to often float in and out of position and seems rather casual in his approach to marking, not to mention the number of times he brings the ball down and comes inside and so very nearly loses the ball rather than just doing the simple things first and releasing it.

Counter that with the brilliant run from inside his own half in the 2nd half today ...actually Ive been won over ANDRE BIKEY is awesome

If you play in defence...defending should be the main priority...save your showboating for when you go on international duty...

What is the point in worrying about this?

This is African international Andre Bikey we're talking about here who has spent most of the last 2 years in our reserves or, on the bench, as his really cr@p defensive colleagues have guided our team to one relegation and now the near certainty of another season in this sh*t league.

Some of us remember the day Andre sat on a bench in Portsmouth as those selected ahead of him conceded eight in one afternoon. Few on HNA blamed any of their treasured back four that day, what with Gunnarsson being a handily placed scapegoat in midfield

I have a sneeky feeling that our best centre half by a country mile won't be seen dead in a Reading shirt next season.

Whilst the East Stand will never get to drool over Shorey again, Ivar will be back next season and might even be tempted to stick around for a long goodbye in League One....................... as long as the car park crew can persuade Sir Steve to take on one final mission.

[The whole year inn]

This is African international Andre Bikey

You do know that Africa is a pretty big continent made up of many countries, dont you?

You keep calling him an African international? Why?

[Woodcote Royal]

Because it's easier than having to remember which African nation he plays for................there are quite a few.....................

[The whole year inn]

Because it's easier than having to remember which African nation he plays for................there are quite a few.....................

Like Doyle, Gunnar, Ingi, Matejovsky, Hunt and Long are European internationals?

Sorry if your views on RFC are not taken seriously if you dont know the nationality of the clubs own players

[Woodcote Royal]

If, in your opinion, my views command so little respect, God knows what that says about your response........................I genuinely pity you.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Whats wrong with Pearce?
He did nothing wrong.

[dariusz]

Any centre back who gets the ball in his own half and tries to dribble past 6 players to score gets my vote every day of the week!!!!

[Plymouth_Royal]

Maybe the low expectation this year, has made Bikey seem better than he actually is. But I wouldn't doubt that he is our best centre back but the competition is:

Ingimarsson.........Too old.
Pearce...............Too young.
Doobs................Too crap.
Sodje.................Who?
Bennett...............See Sodje.

He can barely cope with average Championship stirkers...he would get absolutely rinsed up against the likes of Torres, Adeybayor, Berbatov, Rooney, Anelka and Drogba... HTH...

Not that it matters as he probably won't be here next season and Reading certainly won't be in the Premiership anyway...

for a start the players you mentioned are world class and i agree with alex, the others not as good as bikey. ingimarsson has a great brain for a defender and can actually pass the ball, pearce has the makings to be a stronger ingimarsson, doobs has been awful of late and his poor distribution just puts us under pressure again. sodje and bennet are not up standard. that just leaves bikey. he has a fair bit of skill, hes confident in his ability, strong, quick, and can pass.

[londinium]

Bikey is the best centre back at the moment at this club. Doobs on the other hand is part of the reason why we're hoofing the ball so much. His chance today would also have been taken by practically any other Reading player, including the keepers (and probably my gran). Pearce must come in for Doobs. But leave the Bike alone.

Completely the wrong way round. Doobs is a better 'defender' than Bikey. Bikey may have better distribution and be better at bringing the ball out but defending is what they are paid for and Doobs does it better for me.

As for the chance he had, yes he should have done better, but he was there in the right place unlike the rest of the team.

Until Bikey can 'defend' then Doobs and Ivar are better than him in my eyes.

As for Bikey in midfield, now that is a different story. Me think he may get one too many yellows there though.

[bcubed]

I didn't notice either Bikey or Doobs defending that well all day - or maybe Darius is a better player than many on here would admit. He certainly outjumped both of them for most of the game

Bikey is undeniably a more skilful player than our other defenders but his attitude stinks.
He's not as good as he thinks he is and you can't stroll around the park all day as if you haven't a care in the world

He needs to be more alert and read the game quicker, otherwise he will keep getting caught in possession, keep getting out of position and keep fouling in dangerous situations

[rg6royal]

................Fed..............

Rosss...Pearce...Ingi...Stretch

................Bikey..............

...........Cisse...Karacan......

Tabb..........................Kebe

................Doyle...............

[Dennis the Butler]

Had Bikey been there when the chance fell to Doobs odds on he would have scored !