BFTG Everton

[loyalroyal4life]

The North Stand is half empty every game and I was surprised to see it empty ish again tonight.

The Everton fans were appalling. 4000 of them and barely a peep even after scoring.

Can't say anything others haven't said already, Clarke and his team must now be looking at options for goalkeepers.

4000 on a Tuesday night ain't too shabby

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Just got in. These 8pm mid-weekers are a killer.

Firstly, I must have seen it wrong with Al-Habsi. Sure he could have done better with the second goal, but from where i was sitting the first looked to be a bullet through a crowd and i didn't think he had much of a chance.

I thought that at the time but having watched replays, he probably should have done better for the first goal too. Payback time - I always used to look forward to playing teams who had Al-Habsi in goal as we could be sure of at least a goal's start!

Fair play to the referee tonight. Hector should of been sent off tonight with a routine second yellow at the end but sensible refereeing should be congratulated by realising game was over and no need for dismissmal.

Should have sent Hurtado off too.

I think we're getting carried away about the goalkeeper. Nothing he could do about the first - great strike through a sea of bodies. The second I don't know - if you get two hands to it you should stop it, but it's a bit much to call it a howler.

.

Have you seen the second from behind the goal? An absolute howler.

I have now. Maybe it's because Al-Habsi does well to get anything on it at all that it looks like a howler - he pushes it into his own net after all. If he hadn't got so far across and got hands on it, maybe we'd be calling it a clever strike. I don't know. I just think there's some doubt about it. Not like Bond's dropping the ball at Wednesday - that's what I call a real howler.

[Sanguine]

On the whole, very good indeed.
This is Clarke's team now, and he has built an excellent squad - to think that the crisp passing and pace and movement we saw last night was from a team including eight changes from the weekend.

Jake Cooper was brilliant - he isn't the quickest but he makes up for this with his positioning and his football brain. Terrific performance, and up against one of the fastest and strongest forwards in the country.
And what has happened to Nick Blackman? He tired again, as against Derby last week, but he was everywhere, strong on the ball, great touch, brought the midfield into the game. Long may it continue.
But it is Tish who might be that next player we struggle to hold on to. He looks a complete midfielder.
Fernandex and Taylor were also excellent, and Piazon has some great touches.
And I wrote all that and forgot Ola John, who could fast become one of my favourite Reading players with performances like that. Our goal was sublime, one of the best I remember at the Madejski for a while, and John's run and pinpoint cross made it.

Shame about the two goals conceded, certainly the second Al-Habsi should have stopped, but we matched a full strength Everton and should take a lot of confidence back into the league.

[RoyalBlue]

Have you seen the second from behind the goal? An absolute howler.

I have now. Maybe it's because Al-Habsi does well to get anything on it at all that it looks like a howler - he pushes it into his own net after all. If he hadn't got so far across and got hands on it, maybe we'd be calling it a clever strike. I don't know. I just think there's some doubt about it. Not like Bond's dropping the ball at Wednesday - that's what I call a real howler.

Did well to get across? Wasn't that the side of the goal that he was meant to be protecting? If not, he got his wall completely wrong. What's more it wasn't just his finger tips but his hands that he got to the ball. He's not even good enough to be a back up keeper.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Being a relatively big club Everton have many supporters locally and especially London, so not a long trek.
As for us who might consider returning a midweek cup game is not that attractive, even for a tenner. Add in 2 home games so recently and it is fully understandable.

Far better to identify an unattractive home game, and do a one off cheap price, imho, and better than the batch ticket offer.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

What a great performance. So entertaining. Our goal was sublime. Loving Tish - this fella is a star & Hector was cool as a cucumber last night. All of the youth looked good & Blackman's confidence is through the roof.

They all played very,very well - all of a sudden this side looks better without Danny Williams in it IMO.

Hard to be angry apart from Al-Crapsi.

I have a new song "Al-Habsi you knoooooooooow, better believe he leaks goals".

Clarke - get a keeper in asap. Failing that try one of the kids. Can't see how they'd do worse at this point. Struggling to think of any point in my time as a fan where the keeping dept has been so poor. This will cost us a lot of points.

Everton fans - WOW just how appalling were they? For a Prem away following, I'm struggling to think of any that are worse perhaps maybe Wigan when they were in the Prem? Stark contrast to the Pompey cup game where their home fans sang their hearts out all game.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Maybe it's because Al-Habsi does well to get anything on it at all that it looks like a howler

NO - It was a howler. Everyone, no matter where they sat could see that. It was a relatively weak shot with little pace & should have been saved with ease. Even Clarke agreed on BBCRB that it was a cock up.

I hate these 2 keepers. Even dealing with basic backpasses & crosses they look continually nervous. Watford must be laughing their heads off they got this fella off the wage bill. As for Al-Habsi it's staggering he was Wigan's no 1 for so long.

[LWJ]

Why is Bond being bought up a shaky ffs?

[Glory Boy]

Fair performance, but Everton were always in control, always had that extra gear available. My MOTM for the Royals was Taylor. Why did Clarkson make so many changes?. Dont think we have progressed much since last season, certainly need a Goalkeeper and a decent striker . Some of the players just do not show enough passion, (just take the pay cheque TY), and the hapless Blackman still does not impress. So some positives but Clarkson needs to know his team. I think we might be safe this season, but not top ten.[/qu

I agree it was a mistake taking on an ex Top Gear presenter rather than an experienced manager.

The biggest mistake.................in the world.

[bobby1413]

The North Stand is half empty every game and I was surprised to see it empty ish again tonight.

The Everton fans were appalling. 4000 of them and barely a peep even after scoring.

Can't say anything others haven't said already, Clarke and his team must now be looking at options for goalkeepers.

4000 on a Tuesday night ain't too shabby

There a big club, I'd expect nothing less. How many do you think "made the trek" down from Evertonland? Most will live locally (by local I mean south somewhere).

My comment about them was the lack of atmosphere in that end. I always expect a sell out away end to be raucous, non stop noise. Especially in a cup game and especially for a big club like Everton

[Norfolk Royal]

Thought we were excellent defensively last night with the exception of the goalkeeper who should certainly have stopped the second goal if not the first as well.

Taylor was very good I thought and Obita will have a job to get his place back after that. I'd be tempted to play Taylor, who is after all a specialist left back, on Saturday.

Tshibola is going to be a star, whisper that one quietly.

Going forward was a bit more of a mixed bag. Blackman was very good again although tired a bit in the second half. Thought Hurtado started well before understandably tiring. Alex started poorly but grew into the game so jury still out. Piazon had some nice touches but will need to find the correct position to utilise his talents.

John looked to have the attributes as well but suspect he will be used as an impact sub at first.

[Ian Royal]

Have you seen the second from behind the goal? An absolute howler.

I have now. Maybe it's because Al-Habsi does well to get anything on it at all that it looks like a howler - he pushes it into his own net after all. If he hadn't got so far across and got hands on it, maybe we'd be calling it a clever strike. I don't know. I just think there's some doubt about it. Not like Bond's dropping the ball at Wednesday - that's what I call a real howler.

Did well to get across? Wasn't that the side of the goal that he was meant to be protecting? If not, he got his wall completely wrong. What's more it wasn't just his finger tips but his hands that he got to the ball. He's not even good enough to be a back up keeper.

Maybe you should watch it again. It's blatantly the wall's side and he made good ground to get across. Having got that much on it he should have saved it, but people are only calling these goals howlers because they expect Al-Habsi to let in howlers. If it was Fed, McCarthy or Hahnemann there'd be some disappointment but nothing else.

[Sutekh]

Fair performance, but Everton were always in control, always had that extra gear available. My MOTM for the Royals was Taylor. Why did Clarkson make so many changes?. Dont think we have progressed much since last season, certainly need a Goalkeeper and a decent striker . Some of the players just do not show enough passion, (just take the pay cheque TY), and the hapless Blackman still does not impress. So some positives but Clarkson needs to know his team. I think we might be safe this season, but not top ten.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

NO - It was a howler. Everyone, no matter where they sat could see that. It was a relatively weak shot with little pace & should have been saved with ease. Even Clarke agreed on BBCRB that it was a cock up

What Clarke actually said...

“I haven’t seen it again but everyone I speak to can’t get the words out of their mouths quickly enough to say it was a goalkeeping mistake.

“But that’s what keepers do. We reached the semi-final of the FA Cup last season and our keeper made a mistake which cost us.

“That’s the life of the goalkeeper. I said it then and I’ll say it again.”

[Woodcote Royal]

Being a relatively big club Everton have many supporters locally and especially London, so not a long trek.
As for us who might consider returning a midweek cup game is not that attractive, even for a tenner. Add in 2 home games so recently and it is fully understandable.

Far better to identify an unattractive home game, and do a one off cheap price, imho, and better than the batch ticket offer.

Frankly, even if Everton had 1000 in from Binfield, last night was fcking piss poor from us and impressive from the opposition.

I was so embarrassed by the give away price for my nephew that I paid £12.00 and got him an adult ticket (also meaning someone else could have used it had he not been able to make it)

We only got 16k 4 days after putting 5 past Ipswich

Unless you are someone who is struggling to put food on the table, the club should give up trying to tempt those for whom £12.00 is too much to watch us play Premiership opponents.

When we are promoted (and I'm seriously considering backing us heavily to make it for next season) you can all cry like babies for yet another 12 months/get lucky and see the odd match from a cr@p seat.

Too many so called fans in this town just do not deserve RFC as their home team.

[Maguire]

lol, don't be so precious

It's just football m8, maybe people have more pressing things to do on a week night, particularly if they have children.

It's up to the business to attract the customer, you wouldn't criticise people for not going to the supermarket often enough.

[Woodcote Royal]

Let's see how busy they all are for our next mid week encounter in the top flight.

[taipairoyal]

Fair performance, but Everton were always in control, always had that extra gear available. My MOTM for the Royals was Taylor. Why did Clarkson make so many changes?. Dont think we have progressed much since last season, certainly need a Goalkeeper and a decent striker . Some of the players just do not show enough passion, (just take the pay cheque TY), and the hapless Blackman still does not impress. So some positives but Clarkson needs to know his team. I think we might be safe this season, but not top ten.

Nobbing from holiday, m8?

East stand.

[Greatwesternline]

Tshibola is going to be a star, whisper that one quietly.

Very much in agreement, I hope he has a long contract, with a very big sell on clause

[Royal Rother]

Have you seen the second from behind the goal? An absolute howler.

I have now. Maybe it's because Al-Habsi does well to get anything on it at all that it looks like a howler - he pushes it into his own net after all. If he hadn't got so far across and got hands on it, maybe we'd be calling it a clever strike. I don't know. I just think there's some doubt about it. Not like Bond's dropping the ball at Wednesday - that's what I call a real howler.

Did well to get across? Wasn't that the side of the goal that he was meant to be protecting? If not, he got his wall completely wrong. What's more it wasn't just his finger tips but his hands that he got to the ball. He's not even good enough to be a back up keeper.

Agreed. It was a pathetic effort.

I have no doubt that the rest of the squad will now be getting a little pissed off that their efforts are being undermined by 2 incredibly shaky 'keepers.