Back from the game - Pompey

[MmmMonsterMunch]

I don't share the confidence others do of beating west ham. They are a grindy bunch of cloggers also...but they actually have some match winners in there. Not saying its a cert defeat but I expect to lose 2-0 tbh.

I don't think anyone is saying we're going to win - it's just all set up for a nail biting game now. A proper 6 pointer! The atmosphere will be incredible. Cannot fcuking wait!

[BruRoyal]

Pretty forgettable performance to be honest.

Corrected for you

Cheers. Stupid typo

[Z175]

I don't share the confidence others do of beating west ham. They are a grindy bunch of cloggers also...but they actually have some match winners in there. Not saying its a cert defeat but I expect to lose 2-0 tbh.

I don't think anyone is saying we're going to win - it's just all set up for a nail biting game now. A proper 6 pointer! The atmosphere will be incredible. Cannot fcuking wait!

I'm saying we will win. It'll be a Cardiff implosion again only without the wild car park jubilations and a coat zipped up queue for the tube practising east end accents...

[The Goat was fed]

We are fast becoming the Wladimir Klitschko of the Championship. We've found a system that suits us, plays to all our strengths and it's very hard to do anything about it.

When there are complaints about a team that have won 7 (seven) games on the bounce, you have to question what it is you're actually supporting. I want nothing but to see Reading win and get promoted. I love it at work at the moment when I can go "won again, didn't concede again". I take pride in the fact that we're so dogged - it's efficient and it's all too typical of the British psyche that it's being bemoaned in some quarters.

I will say, without Kebe we are a noticeably less dynamic team - but the doggedness remains. Kebe's pace alone makes our attacking more potent and exciting by getting the ball forward quicker, but he's also very important for our ball retention - something that has been a bit untidy in the last few games. He shows for the ball very well now, which is important for our two central midfielders as they have an option that isn't lump it at Hunt/Roberts. From a technical perspective, he is always involved in our more intricate play and actually encourages to play with more daring because you back him to get your riskier passes.

In short, just enjoy we're on a beautiful run - calling it boring is frankly insulting - there is nothing boring about winning 7 games on the bounce and being in a fantastically close, competitive promotion chase.

[mx]

Got to admit, they were right on most counts....
1-0 and you still don't sing
Is this a library and
Is there a fire drill
But NO attempts on target and NO points, you can sing all the way to League 1.

Given the bollocks on here about all the songs we were going to sing, it was embarrassing to be outsung by them.

But we won, so all is well.

[Snowball]

Don't agree that Pompey were bad players or a terrible team.

They knocked it around OK but we never gave them much of a real sight of goal.

I do think, tho' that had we got a second they would have caved.

From us a very solid performance, a super goal.

My MoM was close between Karacan and Harte and I thought Roberts was excellent, very intelligent with some great link up play. He's class.

Harte had a super game and was really up for it, did more running and overlapped a few times. His crosses and corners were wicked

7.5 Feds. I only remember one good catch, but did nothing wrong.
7.5 Cummings. A tad nervous but generally sound, and supported attacks well. Will be a great player one day
8.0 Pearce. The usual solid and safe
8.0 Gorkss. As above.I like the way they are so comfortable and will stroke it round, come forward
9.0 Harte. Excellent, reliable, old head. H+Great balls into the box
8.0 Elwood. Decent again, great pairing with Jem but not at his imperious best.
9.0 Karacan. He seems to be getting better by the game. Some great runs, good support
8.5 McAnuff. Maybe stingy. Put in a VG shift
7.5 HRK. Did reasonably and beat his man a few times but faded, amybe due to a few kicks
8.5 Hunt. His usual hard-working self, always there, and got his goal
9.0 Roberts. Great link up play, two excellent burst of speed, great cross for the goal

7.5 Alf. Keen to impress, almost nicked a difficult chance

[Negative_Jeff]

Another win for Reading
Don`t get carried away
One day we`ll play a good team
And they will make us pay.

Portsmouth so defensive
It`s really desperate times
Nothing seemed to lift them
Not even Pompey Chimes.

For years that club has cheated
It`s plain for all to see
They stopped us signing Tommy Smith
I have no sympathy.

Their back line sat so deeply
There was no space behind
We needed pace and trickery
Kebe comes to mind.

Was in the Nags beforehand
I should have stayed right there
The football was so turgid
Jeff really does despair.

[Jackson Corner]

Another win for Reading
Don`t get carried away
One day we`ll play a good team
And they will make us pay.

Portsmouth so defensive
It`s really desperate times
Nothing seemed to lift them
Not even Pompey Chimes.

For years that club has cheated
It`s plain for all to see
They stopped us signing Tommy Smith
I have no sympathy.

Their back line sat so deeply
There was no space behind
We needed pace and trickery
Kebe comes to mind.

Was in the Nags beforehand
I should have stayed right there
The football was so turgid
Jeff really does despair.

Brilliant. No more to be said, now I'm off to my bed.

[seahawk10]

Another win for Reading
Don`t get carried away
One day we`ll play a good team
And they will make us pay.

Portsmouth so defensive
It`s really desperate times
Nothing seemed to lift them
Not even Pompey Chimes.

For years that club has cheated
It`s plain for all to see
They stopped us signing Tommy Smith
I have no sympathy.

Their back line sat so deeply
There was no space behind
We needed pace and trickery
Kebe comes to mind.

Was in the Nags beforehand
I should have stayed right there
The football was so turgid
Jeff really does despair.

Brilliant. No more to be said, now I'm off to my bed.

The three points has now set in.
I am also off to bed.
My wife supports the Reading.
Perhaps she'll give me head?

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Not a lot you can say about that game other than 3 points and what a dire performance against a very poor Pompey side.

[Agent Balti]

7.5 Feds. I only remember one good catch, but did nothing wrong.
7.5 Cummings. A tad nervous but generally sound, and supported attacks well. Will be a great player one day
8.0 Pearce. The usual solid and safe
8.0 Gorkss. As above.I like the way they are so comfortable and will stroke it round, come forward
9.0 Harte. Excellent, reliable, old head. H+Great balls into the box
8.0 Elwood. Decent again, great pairing with Jem but not at his imperious best.
9.0 Karacan. He seems to be getting better by the game. Some great runs, good support
8.5 McAnuff. Maybe stingy. Put in a VG shift
7.5 HRK. Did reasonably and beat his man a few times but faded, amybe due to a few kicks
8.5 Hunt. His usual hard-working self, always there, and got his goal
9.0 Roberts. Great link up play, two excellent burst of speed, great cross for the goal

7.5 Alf. Keen to impress, almost nicked a difficult chance

8's and 9's?! Seriously?! You, sir, are having a laugh. 7 would be a top score for any of them, absolutely max. Biased I know, but I'd give Karacan half of what you gave him. Can't control the ball, scuffed simple passes time and time again. By your scoring, everyone would be rising as one from the crowd as one hailing them all as the Second Coming! Not having a pop, just merely observing that people see things in a different way.

[Snowball]

8's and 9's?! Seriously?! You, sir, are having a laugh. 7 would be a top score for any of them, absolutely max. Biased I know, but I'd give Karacan half of what you gave him. Can't control the ball, scuffed simple passes time and time again. By your scoring, everyone would be rising as one from the crowd as one hailing them all as the Second Coming! Not having a pop, just merely observing that people see things in a different way.

When have I ever been anything but serious?

Seventh win on the trot.

Never allowed the other team a sight of goal.

Scored a very good goal

IMO not one player let the side down.

And Karacan, Roberts, Harte were superb

[FiNeRaIn]

Harte and roberts were superb, karacan was just karacan....ran around a lot and broke up play and did that well. However ball control and passing....woeful. Harte is probably the only player who I am confident of completing attacking passes...that really is

[TFF]

calling it boring is frankly insulting

LOL. Precious.

Wins are great and promotion, should it happen, would be brilliant but I don't go to football to watch us win. I go to be entertained. Thankfully, most of the time I am.

If I had to watch what was served up last night 19 or 23 times a season then frankly I wouldn't bother no matter what success came with it.

[Gordons Cumming]

Game was summed up for me with the appearance at half time of Sal Bibbo to give Federici some shooting practice.

[Silver Fox]

Terrible game
Cracking goal
3 points
Agent McCarthy costing Southampton points
Job done, roll on Leicester

[Royalwaster]

My ratings would be:

Fed - 6 - really had nothing to do
Cummings - 4 - did OK, but looked nervous, a bit like when he first joined
Pearce - 8 - probably my MOM tonight
Gorkss - 7 - usual rock at the back
Harte - 7 - had a very good game; had a few free-kicks in range which should have hit the target
Kanu - 3 - I like Kanu, but I thought he was terrible last night; started bright but after that nothing came off for him
Ledge - 5 - OK'ish performance, but like the rest of midfield gave the ball away too much
Karacan - 5 - usual Jem performance as has already been said but again wasteful of possession
McAnuff - 5 - like Jem really - could see he was frustrated by his own mistakes
Roberts - 6 - great set up for goal but seemed to tire towards end of game and did not close down enough
Hunt - 6 - great goal, ran around a lot as usual, but did not really do much apart from score; maybe deserves a 7 for scoring winner

ALF - 6 - did OK
Cywka - 10 - excellent 30 seconds

[Royalwaster]

calling it boring is frankly insulting

LOL. Precious.

Wins are great and promotion, should it happen, would be brilliant but I don't go to football to watch us win. I go to be entertained. Thankfully, most of the time I am.

If I had to watch what was served up last night 19 or 23 times a season then frankly I wouldn't bother no matter what success came with it.

I would - for me winning is more important than being entertained. I'd much prefer a boring 1:0 than a really entertaining 4:5.

[loyalroyal4life]

I thought Ledge was shit in fact i think he has been last few games, what has he actually brought to table? WOrryingly not sure who could come in for him do not think tabb/karacan would work

Game was boring overall, decent goal apart from that seemed when we went 1-0 up we were happy to just soak up pompey possession (albeit non threatening)

They will be a league 1 side next season (unless they go bust)

[Maguire]

Harte's passing last night was excellent.