Shane Long

[rg6royal]

Ok Long sometimes is a decent impact sub but he cannot run with the ball and just falls over. He has however scored some important goals so that has to be taken into account as a positive. I still don't think he is good enough at this level though.

[Yellowcoat]

I felt that if SC had resisted the call from fans at Swansea and put on Long rather than Lita we may well have ended up with a draw.

[Snowball]

Long = 3 goals FOR READING
Lita = 8 goals. BUT ONLY ONE FOR READING





Lita started 03 Championship Games for Reading (90-88-84 minutes) + and 2 as sub (8+14 minutes)
Long started 03 Championship Games Reading (22 as sub) average time on field overall 36 minutes

LITA goals for Reading in 284 minutes = 1 goal = 284 minutes PER GOAL WORSE THAN LONG.

Long 828 minutes for 3 goals = 276 minutes PER GOAL or 1 goal in 3 gamesLong started 03 Championship Games Reading (22 as sub) average time on field overall 36 minutes


But these stats are unfair to the youngster as 22 of his games as sub make life tough

When he has STARTED he's done well... scores are for his time on the pitch


Played

90 1-1 Southampton SCORED. Won vital point
68 3-2 Palace Played 68 minutes, Reading winning 3-2 when subbed
60 4-0 LUTON Two misses, two saves, "electrifying pace"

Sure Lita scored as a sub...

But Long won the game as a sub against Norwich, winning
a penalty at 0-0 in the 84th minute, then scoring himself in the 86th

Long (as sub) won the penalty that got us a 2-2 draw at Watford

In just six minutes as a sub at Wolves he made a goal for Cisse

TEAM PLAYER




And Lita? Lita deliberately didn't pass to Doyle who was free in on goal when we were losing 1-0 at Swansea





Sure Lita did well at Norwich. He started 16 games and scored 7 goals (one hat-trick)

(or 15 games and 4 goals...)



1 goal every 2.3 games, overall, when including his Reading games, 8/(19+2) = 1 goal every 2.4 games
compared to Shane's 1 goal in 3 games, as a bit-part player.

Surely he would do better if he played 16 consecutive games, like Lita did at Norwich?

But Long is far more of a team player (more assists) than Lita, plus he's two years younger
and still developing and isn't a big-time Charlie who won't sign a contract

[SeniorRoyal]

Saw Long come on as a sub against Leicester,which i think was his debut.Ran about a lot but lacked a first touch.

Not sure that anything has changed in last three years.Shame he has never gone out on loan to division 1 club,to see if he can score on a regular basis.I thought he was a better prospect than Simon Cox,but Cox has now had regular football,and gained confidence from scoring.

[Thaumagurist*]

Leroy Lita and Shane Long have both been at Reading for the same period of time.
Leory Lita has scored 32 goals for Reading.
Shane Long has scored 14 goals for Reading.

[Still Hate Futcher!]

I have to say that I agree with Snowball's original point. I think Long gets an awful lot of very unfair stick on this board.

I won't disagree with his critics in that he is frequently a disappointment when he starts. As a sub, however, he's consistently played well, scoring and creating goals with his pace. He's done it both at Championship and Premier League level - the recent games against Norwich and Soton and last season v's Newcastle are just 3 that spring to mind.

Should Hunt or Doyler pick up an injury/suspension I'd go with Lita over Long for a starting place without a doubt (regardless of Lita's attitude problems) but I really don't think anyone should underestimate Long's impact from the bench.

Oh, and I assume the post about him not being as good as Henderson was a joke!

[Snowball]

Leroy Lita and Shane Long have both been at Reading for the same period of time.
Leory Lita has scored 32 goals for Reading.
Shane Long has scored 14 goals for Reading.

STUPID STATS. You could have a kid of six working through junior ranks and then the academy, the reserves and say "been with the club 15 years"

Here are stone cold facts based on PLAYING time

I have already shown that FOR READING Shane Long this season is better than Lita

Better on goals per minute
Better on assists

Lita has not won any points for Reading. Long has won at least four

How about the whole last season?

Long Total minutes on pitch 673 (7-5 games) 3 Goals, 1 Assist

LONG One goal every 2.5 games. Highly Respectable. FACT


Lita Total minutes on pitch 893 (10 games) 1 Goals, ZERO Assists

Lita one goal every TEN games. Rubbish. Fact

[Thaumagurist*]

However much you blather on, you still can't deny that Lita has scored more for the Reading first team than Long has.

[Alan Partridge]

Leroy Lita and Shane Long have both been at Reading for the same period of time.
Leory Lita has scored 32 goals for Reading.
Shane Long has scored 14 goals for Reading.

STUPID STATS. You could have a kid of six working through junior ranks and then the academy, the reserves and say "been with the club 15 years"

Here are stone cold facts based on PLAYING time

I have already shown that FOR READING Shane Long this season is better than Lita

Better on goals per minute
Better on assists

Lita has not won any points for Reading. Long has won at least four

How about the whole last season?

Long Total minutes on pitch 673 (7-5 games) 3 Goals, 1 Assist

LONG One goal every 2.5 games. Highly Respectable. FACT


Lita Total minutes on pitch 893 (10 games) 1 Goals, ZERO Assists

Lita one goal every TEN games. Rubbish. Fact

What this doesn't take into consideration was Lita was playing in a non functioning team at the start of the season, he was part of it but i think the relegationhangover was certainly in evidence in the first few games. In a team that creates chances, a bit like Andy Cole you might have to make a few!! but if you can make good chances Lita will finish them off better than most and certainly better than Long. i saw you put the Luton game on the list where Long missed a couple of one on ones, as Lita showed against Watford, give him those sort of chances it's in the net.

I admire your persistance in trying to convince everyone of Long's impact by using stats you've either made up or stats to suit your argument, in the same way spacey has in the case of for Lita.

For me, it's 4 years since Long has signed, he's not a kid anymore yet hasn't shown remotely near enough progress in that time. If we were to get an injury and require Long for 5-6 games on the spin I don't think Coppell or the majority of fans would have great faith in him to consistently deliver. You can't keep players on the books to contribute the odd 10minutes here or there. They have to be able to play in the first team regularly, Long is still miles away from convincing in that respect.

[Snowball]

Last two seasons Long v Lita


LONG Minutes played, goals

0673 3
0828 3

1501 6 TOTAL

That is Long scored 1 goal every 250 minutes, that is "1 goal every two and-three-quarter games"


LITA Minutes played, goals

0893 1
0284 1

1177 2 TOTAL

That is Lita scored 1 goal every 588.5 minutes, that is "1 goal every 6.54 games)


BASED ON THE LAST TWO SEASONS,

IN 2007-8 LITA STARTED TEN GAMES PLUS ONE HALF IN 2007-8, LONG STARTED SEVEN
IN 2008-9 LITA STARTED THREE GAMES, LONG STARTED THREE GAMES

LONG HAS SCORED 2.33 TIMES AS OFTEN AS LITA (BASED ON TIME ON THE PITCH)

This isn't "flash in the pan statistics" This is based on over 1.5 seasons.

[Alan Partridge]

Over 1.5 seasons where Lita has barely played for Reading and been out on loan twice.

[Thaumagurist*]

And over the last 4 seasons?

[SteveRoyal]

Can I interrupt this wonderful debate?

Lita has been constantly picked for the Royals starting XI in the past.

Long... hasn't.

[Hoop Blah]

Hilarious...

Long isn't as good a player as Lita.

However, for some of his time here he's been the more effective of the two because Coppell has seemingly managed to get the best out of him (which still doesn't equate to much in my eyes).

Lita on the other hand has rarely played to his full potential because we've been lucky enough to two forwards playing better than him on a regular basis and he's not the type of player to deal well with that situation.

[AlexY25]

Long is average IMO.
Could improve but also might never improve enough to be at a decent level. Thats really it. At the moment hes not that good.

Easy option is to send him on loan till the summer. See how he does getting a regular place in a starting line-up.

[Snowball]

And over the last 4 seasons?



Last Four Seasons Combined I LOVE this!!

LEAGUE (dividing subs appearances by 10 = games)

GOALS

022 Starts 05 Sub = 022 Games 10 Goals Scoring Rate 2.20 Noel Hunt
020 Starts 64 Sub = 026 Games 11 Goals Scoring Rate 2.36 LONG
131 Starts 10 Sub = 132 Games 54 Goals Scoring Rate 2.44 DOYLE
057 Starts 21 Sub = 059 Games 20 Goals Scoring Rate 2.85 LITA
096 Starts 42 Sub = 100 Games 16 Goals Scoring Rate 6.25 Stephen HUNT


So if we are only talking goals per game (and remember Noel Hunt only plays 60 minutes!)

Noel Hunt is the best striker, followed by Shane, then Doyle, with Lita a BAD fourth

Stephen Hunt's record is very good for a winger, especially when you add his assists

ASSISTS

32 assists in 100 games, 1 assist every 03.13 games Stephen HUNT
04 assists in 020 games, 1 assist every 05.00 games Shane LONG
20 assists in 132 games, 1 assist every 06.00 games Kevin DOYLE
07 assists in 059 games, 1 assist every 08.43 games Leroy LITA
02 assists in 022 games, 1 assist every 11.00 games Noel HUNT

[Thaumagurist*]

You've only done the league games. How about including the cup games as well?

[jocombes]

:roll:

You've only done the league games. How about including the cup games as well?

He has shown himself to be a very good bench warmer

[Hoop Blah]

Well done Snowball, but remember that none of that takes into account the quality of the opposition, the strength of our side or current form, time of the season etc etc

All things that might influence a result, performance or statistical outcomes from a series of matches.

Basically, what I'm getting at is that there is only one way to judge a player, or a team for that matter, and that is with your own eyes not a load of statistics.

[Snowball]

Don't forget the 106 Point Season is a bit of a distortion

How about the Premiership Only?

Starts-Sub-"Games"-Goals

62-06 (63) -- 19 Goals = 1 goal every 3.16 games Kevin DOYLE
16-34 (19) -- 05 Goals = 1 goal every 4.00 games Shane LONG
32-15 (34) -- 08 Goals = 1 goal every 4.25 game Leroy LITA
55-07 (56) -- 08 Goals = 1 goal every 7.00 games Stephen Hunt

So Shane Long has produced more goals per game played than Lita over four seasons
and has produced more goals per game (than Lita) played in the premiership.

Remember too, that this is what Lita has ACTUALLY done

Season 01 22-04 (22) 11 = 1 goal every 02.00 games (in the promotion season, championship)
Season 02 22-11 (23) 07 = 1 goal every 03.29 games (first season in premiership)
Season 03 10-04 (10) 01 = 1 goal every 10.00 games (second season in premiership)
Season 04 03-02 (03) 01 = 1 goal every 03.20 games (this season, for Reading, championship)