Back from the game - Preston

[Wycombe Royal]

Kebe was poor last night. He put a lot of effort in but, apart from his goal, his attacking threat was very low. There were countless times Griffin, or one of the central midfielders, was out on the right of near the halfway line looking to play a ball down the line behind the defender for Jimmy to run on to. Where was Jimmy? Practically standing next to them every time not moving.

It seems he prefers to get the ball deep and run at defenders and then try and beat them (which he also failed to do last night on most occasions) and then on the accoasions he did get past his man his final ball was useless.

McAnuff on the other side wasn't any better either. Lots of effort, the occasional great run, but again his final ball was terrible all night.

As for the best players out there - in my opinion they were Karacan, Harte, Manset and Leigertwood.

[Schards#2]

Number 13 were fantastic tonight and really drove the team on.

Agree. Don't know how people can slag off Y25/26 sometimes.

I'll tell you how (and I sit there) - a lot of them (mostly the ones at the back) are negative, fickle and f*cking ignorant (and some just stupid).

What really f*cked me off tonight was that when we went 2-1 up, instead of chanting something positive they started singing (and throughout the f*cking game, over and over and over...) 'That's why you're going down, that's why...' Seriously, who gives a f*cking f*ck?! Why not chant something positive about OUR team, why not say well done to HRK for coming on and scoring with his second touch. Oh no. That's far too positive for the cretinous negative lot that don't realise this is the best period in our history and who always want f*cking more. We could take a leaf out of the book of quite a few other teams to be honest.

Anyway, as for the game. The double sub absolutely changed the game. Well done Bri for having the balls to do this. Well done. 4-4-2 is a much better system for our type of play.

Really solid performace with special mention to Long was created the goal and never gave up going, Legs, and The Beast Manset. Only negatives were Griff, who wasn't match fit, and Ivar, who was yet again our worst player (although much better than against Pompey, but that's not saying much).

Do you ken John Peel?

[Mr Angry]

Another scrappy game and performance, against a team who came for a point and clearly believe that going through opponents is fair, but a fantastic result. Obviously Legs stands out, but the Beast showed some glimpses of what he can become - 2 superb shots and one excellent pass to Long as well as strength to hold the ball up well. He must be close to a start I would have thought, as he dovetails well with Long (who had another hugely influential match even if he didn't score).

Billy Davis and 2 of his staff were sat 10 feet from me and I'd be interested to know what he made of it (he left with 10 mins to go); probably that Jobi is more of a threat than Kebe at the moment, and that our defence is vulnerable to pace.

Incidentally, whats with the new style free kicks? Why not stick to having a shot at goal rather than the lob in for the back headed flick?

[brendywendy]

kebe>>>>>>jobi on last nights performance.

both threatened alot, and delivered little.but kebe scored, and worked his scrawny butt off

[Focher]

Manset has all the fitness of someone who's been breathing carbon monoxide.

i lol'ed

[PieEater]

I thought it was a pretty poor game until we went 442, it just shows how much better a team we are with Legs. We did OK without him but we were grinding out results, with him playing we just look like a much better team.

This was a banana skin as everyone had assumed we'd win our game in hand, for once we did and if you were a Forest fan you must be pretty worried about playing us on Saturday.

I thought both McA and Kebe were poor, considering they had a makeshift right back but Kebe played some great stuff with Legs at the end of the game. Until we went 442 everyone was average except maybe Kish and Long, this was Howards chance to prove his worth and he didn't take it. McD has to stick to 442 now.

I'd like to see the replay of the handball because it seemed to me the only way the shot could have been kept out was with a hand or part of your arm.

[Turns8]

Not going to say much about this game because it was pretty drab except for the last 20 minutes.

One point to make is that I was in line behind Harte's shot that hit the bar and I have never, ever, in all my years of watching football, seen a ball swerve in the air as much as that one did, He actually bent it right around the defender. If a Brazilian had done that everyone would be raving about it for years.

Just a great save stopped it from being goal of the century.

^^^Agreed^^^

Harte seems to be hitting decent form at just the right time...maybe it's coincidence that Zurab being back in the team has seen Harte's form increase!!

[loyalroyal4life]

Khiz was solid as a rock again, really hope he keeps his place IF mills is to come in for me it would be at expense of Ivar.

Not a great performance at all but who cares, points is all we need atm.

Manset looked quality when he came on, would love to see him start sometime soon in a 4-4-2

[Stuka]

Yeah I thought Preston players were dirty, disorganised, boring to watch, and hope they go down.

On the other hand McAnuff and Leigertwood in particular were technical, skillful, and hard working.

Mancet is a weird one. He came in handy last night as a late sub bullying the Preston big boys and opening up some chances during counter attacks. I don't think he's quite found his place yet but I'm sure he'll prove a useful talisman of sorts.

It wasn't a classic game but to be fair to the boys, they only just played Portsmouth and I'll take the win gladly.

[Hoop Blah]

Agree with a lot of whats been said about the game, the subs, the ref, the imperious displays from Kishanishvili and Leigertwood and the declining abilities of Ingimarsson.

Further to that though, I thought Kebe was pretty awful yet again. He's just not been the same since he picked up the injury before Christmas or whenever it was. He looks back to the player he was before McDermott put his arm round him and cajouled some really good performances out of him.

I also thought Karacan was pretty poor until Leigertwood came on. I love his energy and willingness to put a foot in but he was poor on the ball, and when you play 3 in the middle you need to retain posession better or you never get you centre forward in the game. He wasn't helped much by Tabb or Howard though.

People keep mentioning Mills coming back but has everyone forgotten that Pearce has now been on the bench for the last couple of games. If he's anywhere near fit and sharp enough I can see him coming in for Ingimarsson on Saturday, even if it's a big game to throw him back in for.

[biscuitman]

Yeah I thought Preston players were dirty, disorganised, boring to watch, and hope they go down.

I've got to disagree. Although they had no real shots on target they came here and gave us a game..a lot of teams havent done that including Leeds. Thought their forward line was very organised and the running/movement made by Hume was impressive. I certainly wouldn't call them boring! I also like that Keith Treacy.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

I also like that Keith Treacy.

Was he the no27 right sided midfielder? 'cause I thought he was bloody quality last night
Power, pace, good in the air, took players on and a decent cross on him too.

[biscuitman]

Treacy was 11, left footed. Eddie Johnson was 27 who was also very good.

[Kitson12]

I also like that Keith Treacy.

Was he the no27 right sided midfielder? 'cause I thought he was bloody quality last night
Power, pace, good in the air, took players on and a decent cross on him too.

That was Eddie Johnson, on loan from Fulham. Keith Treacy wore the no. 11 for Preston.

[Wycombe Royal]

Eddie Johnson was 27 who was also very good.

Really? He was far worse than Kebe and McAnuff and they both had poor games.

[Royal Lady]

My two penneth for what it's worth:

I wasn't really enjoying the game up until we scored - but even after that, we really weren't on top. Everything just changed around as soon as the subs were made. I really like Manset (and I hope he realises we're chanting "BEAST" rather than booing him, cos it does sound like booing!) - he's tough, he'll hold the ball, is great at headers etc - just what Long needs to back him up. Kebe had flashes of brilliance and then wasn't so brilliant - but we need him in the team for when he is on one of his "good" parts of the game.

I haven't rated Long in the past, but the change in him from a few years ago is immense - his work rate is probably the highest of the rest of the team - he gets everywhere. He's much stronger on the ball, etc and is playing with a real confidence now. Karacan has also improved from a year ago - and long may it continue.

Harte should have taken the corners instead of leaving it to Kebe who obviously didn't want to take them. The ref was abysmal - blatant hand ball and could have cost US the points - and Phil Brown can just "do one". Reading Fans were much more vocal than in recent weeks and I really do believe it helps to spur the players on. Every member of the team played their part last night and I actually think that, for their work rate and never-say-die attitude alone, they should have a play-off place come the end of the season.

I hope Mick McCarthy was there to look at a Preston player.

[ZacNaloen]

Kebe was taking the corners because we weren't interested in committing players forward.

We were just seeing the game out.

[Royalwaster]

Had a guy in Newcastle top sitting next to me ... so quite a few scouts around I'd say.

By the way, did anyone actually see the 'handball' or is it all just based on the protests from our players? Sitting in the West Stand I couldn't see anything except that the ball fizzed in at great speed and deflected over the cross bar - could have hit a player's arse for all I could see.

[ZacNaloen]

I saw it fizz in and hit in the general location of arm/shoulder

[North Somerset Royal]

My two penneth for what it's worth:

I really like Manset (and I hope he realises we're chanting "BEAST" rather than booing him, cos it does sound like booing!)

Yes an Australian sitting next to me asked why they were booing him. Also I see in the programme that he does not like being called the "Beast"