Stoke v Reading match thread, sponsored by fat lady in white

[Blue Label]

According to BBC Final Score, particularly Garth Crooks a definite penalty

[LoyalRoyal22]

Back from the game. Liked the look of Kelly and Akpan today. Dont really know why we spent 1.2m on Blackman, would prefer robson-kanu. Would be nice to see Carrico given some time on the pitch.

[Big Ern]

BM seems pretty convinced it was a Penalty. Still dubious myself.

Didn't really see a standout performance today from anyone. We lost the physical battle and that made it hard forums to impose ourselves on the game.

Thought Harte's delivery was extremely poor today.

[RockheadRumple]

Shame about the result, but It's much easier to take a loss now rather than a loss when we were doing rubbish. I feel we could bounce back pretty easily.

Although I only watched a stream, my observations were:
-Too early for Blackman
-Le Fondre really should start, even in a 451/4231
-Mariappa had an amazing game all round, Crouch was getting so frustrated getting stifled by someone half his size and the goal was very well taken. It's a shame, then, that it was his poor header that lead to the second goal. Very harsh indeed.

Oh wellz.

[Ian Royal]

Seen them given for less. Not surprised it wasn't given, but definitely could have been. Not stonewall though.

[Jackson Corner]

We are clutching at straws. We were well beaton today the score flattered us. No lack of effort but we just could not handle there style of play no shame in that. We move on.

[Ian Royal]

We are clutching at straws. We were well beaton today the score flattered us. No lack of effort but we just could not handle there style of play no shame in that. We move on.

neutrals I've heard seem to think a draw would be fair. I think Sunderland edged it. It's a discussion though, don't like it, don't join in.

[Victor Meldrew]

I actually thought that was a pretty decent, resilient team effort. Yeah, the Orcs had a lot of possession and hoofed it all the time as expected, but they had very few clear cut chances.

Huth's header was quality and Cameron's finish even better. Other than that, and a couple of saves for the camera from Feds, they didn't actually create any clear cut chances. OK, there were a couple of last millisecond challenges/deflections from Pearce/Kelly but.....

2-1 about right, though. We could rant and rave about Pog not knowing about the handle ball, and ALF falling over for a pen in the last few seconds but they would have been very harsh.

Just thank god we don't have to play the shite that is Stoke every week. Little wonder they have knuckle dragging supporters if that's what they have to put up with.

TBF Dick that's pretty much how other fans feel about us-it's not like watching Brazil for either team.

[Royal Lady]

We are clutching at straws. We were well beaton today the score flattered us. No lack of effort but we just could not handle there style of play no shame in that. We move on.

neutrals I've heard seem to think a draw would be fair. I think Sunderland edged it. It's a discussion though, don't like it, don't join in.

Whoops.

[Millsy]

Lost by 1 goal away to a tough side.

Was always going to be tricky especially with crucial players involved in midweek.

A bit confused by 442 so early but that's cool.

Onwards and upwards

[Man Friday]

We are clutching at straws. We were well beaton today the score flattered us. No lack of effort but we just could not handle there style of play no shame in that. We move on.

neutrals I've heard seem to think a draw would be fair. I think Sunderland edged it. It's a discussion though, don't like it, don't join in.

Whoops.

Don't mock him. At least he was there.

[Ian Royal]

We are clutching at straws. We were well beaton today the score flattered us. No lack of effort but we just could not handle there style of play no shame in that. We move on.

neutrals I've heard seem to think a draw would be fair. I think Sunderland edged it. It's a discussion though, don't like it, don't join in.

Whoops.

whoops indeed.

[Hampshire Royal]

I actually thought that was a pretty decent, resilient team effort. Yeah, the Orcs had a lot of possession and hoofed it all the time as expected, but they had very few clear cut chances.

Huth's header was quality and Cameron's finish even better. Other than that, and a couple of saves for the camera from Feds, they didn't actually create any clear cut chances. OK, there were a couple of last millisecond challenges/deflections from Pearce/Kelly but.....

2-1 about right, though. We could rant and rave about Pog not knowing about the handle ball, and ALF falling over for a pen in the last few seconds but they would have been very harsh.

Just thank god we don't have to play the shite that is Stoke every week. Little wonder they have knuckle dragging supporters if that's what they have to put up with.

TBF Dick that's pretty much how other fans feel about us-it's not like watching Brazil for either team.

That's odd, Victor, as the 'other fans' I speak to say that although we're not the best footballing side in the League, we at least try to play football. They further say that we do not kick other teams into the air as Stoke do, and that we never know when we're beaten and will always attack. Are you sure that you hear correctly what they're saying, or do you just twist what they say to fit your own 'special' view of the way we play? After all, you have said that every team since Jim and Mick's Wembley team has played 'hoofball'.

[Victor Meldrew]

I actually thought that was a pretty decent, resilient team effort. Yeah, the Orcs had a lot of possession and hoofed it all the time as expected, but they had very few clear cut chances.

Huth's header was quality and Cameron's finish even better. Other than that, and a couple of saves for the camera from Feds, they didn't actually create any clear cut chances. OK, there were a couple of last millisecond challenges/deflections from Pearce/Kelly but.....

2-1 about right, though. We could rant and rave about Pog not knowing about the handle ball, and ALF falling over for a pen in the last few seconds but they would have been very harsh.

Just thank god we don't have to play the shite that is Stoke every week. Little wonder they have knuckle dragging supporters if that's what they have to put up with.

TBF Dick that's pretty much how other fans feel about us-it's not like watching Brazil for either team.

That's odd, Victor, as the 'other fans' I speak to say that although we're not the best footballing side in the League, we at least try to play football. They further say that we do not kick other teams into the air as Stoke do, and that we never know when we're beaten and will always attack. Are you sure that you hear correctly what they're saying, or do you just twist what they say to fit your own 'special' view of the way we play? After all, you have said that every team since Jim and Mick's Wembley team has played 'hoofball'.

Long time since you stalked me HR-where have you been,talking to all of those fans?
i give you we don't kick teams like Stoke do ( in fact we are a bit soft) but in other aspects of the game we mirror them-play for set pieces and hit the ball as far as we can and hope somebody gets on the end of things.
I think those fans that you speak to must watch too much gaelic football if they think we try to play football and that we always attack.

Always attack?
We set up as about the most defensive in the Premier league.
There are different ways of playing the beautiful game and ours is built on supreme fitness and a great attitude but even the most ardent RTG would struggle to convince people that we are easy on the eye.
BTW hearing is probably my one faculty unimpaired but if another dozen or so people come on here and agree with you that "we try to play football" I will acknowledge that my blindness in the left eye must have spread to the right.

[Hampshire Royal]

I spend my time in both Geneva and London. I don't get to as many games as I would like to, but the games I've seen 'live' have been entertaining. I watch most of my games on Sky (don't tell them as it's not strictly kosher to have Sky in Europe). My friends and family in Geneva are all fans of football in general. One is a Milan fan, another is a Marseilles fan. I have friends in London who support London teams (Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham and Leyton Orient) but they all watch football from most European leagues. They have no axe to grind about Reading, and will tell me if they think we have played badly.
It's true what you say about our ability to counter attack effectively, but I am a bit confused about what you say about the defence - football is as much about defending as it is about attacking. As we are now seeming to sort out the defence, I am even more convinced that we will stay up. It is no secret that Brian always tries to win games. His substitutions sort of confirm this - always trying to strengthen the attack, even when it might seem more appropriate to pack the defence. To say that people compare us to Stoke is simply not true, except to say that we are nothing like them.
I'm sorry to hear about your eye. Was this as a result of illness or accident? I'm OK, except that I'm carrying far too much extra weight. It's probably that that stops me stalking you - it takes all my energy to tie my shoelaces so you'd have to be very pretty for me to stalk you. Still, you can dream!!

[windermere_royal]

First team to lose 10 away games, appalling record, 5 points from 39, not good enough

[leon]

I actually thought that was a pretty decent, resilient team effort. Yeah, the Orcs had a lot of possession and hoofed it all the time as expected, but they had very few clear cut chances.

Huth's header was quality and Cameron's finish even better. Other than that, and a couple of saves for the camera from Feds, they didn't actually create any clear cut chances. OK, there were a couple of last millisecond challenges/deflections from Pearce/Kelly but.....

2-1 about right, though. We could rant and rave about Pog not knowing about the handle ball, and ALF falling over for a pen in the last few seconds but they would have been very harsh.

Just thank god we don't have to play the shite that is Stoke every week. Little wonder they have knuckle dragging supporters if that's what they have to put up with.

TBF Dick that's pretty much how other fans feel about us-it's not like watching Brazil for either team.

think you're being a bit harsh, Rodgers is doing an OK job.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

I actually thought that was a pretty decent, resilient team effort. Yeah, the Orcs had a lot of possession and hoofed it all the time as expected, but they had very few clear cut chances.

Huth's header was quality and Cameron's finish even better. Other than that, and a couple of saves for the camera from Feds, they didn't actually create any clear cut chances. OK, there were a couple of last millisecond challenges/deflections from Pearce/Kelly but.....

2-1 about right, though. We could rant and rave about Pog not knowing about the handle ball, and ALF falling over for a pen in the last few seconds but they would have been very harsh.

Just thank god we don't have to play the shite that is Stoke every week. Little wonder they have knuckle dragging supporters if that's what they have to put up with.

TBF Dick that's pretty much how other fans feel about us-it's not like watching Brazil for either team.

That's odd, Victor, as the 'other fans' I speak to say that although we're not the best footballing side in the League, we at least try to play football. They further say that we do not kick other teams into the air as Stoke do, and that we never know when we're beaten and will always attack. Are you sure that you hear correctly what they're saying, or do you just twist what they say to fit your own 'special' view of the way we play? After all, you have said that every team since Jim and Mick's Wembley team has played 'hoofball'.

Agree with both of you..... Yeah, we're certainly not Brazil and we do play for set pieces but at least we try and lump it with a bit of style. Perhaps we just need to man-up a bit and only sign players over 6'2" like Pulis.

[Man Friday]

Ouplayed (well, outmuscled) and yet we should have had a penalty and their first goal should never have been (the corner from which the goal came should not have been awarded - thye shot from Walters went straight out for a goal kick, it didn't touch a Reading player).

[West Stand Man]

We are clutching at straws. We were well beaton today the score flattered us. No lack of effort but we just could not handle there style of play no shame in that. We move on.

..,. and breathe, engage spell-checker, grammar/punctuation checker and start again.......