Long - time for a change?

[Focher]

seeing him give his shirt to the fan in the wheelchair after last nights game puts him firmly amongst my favourite Reading forwards of all time. He was immense last night.

Well done Shane you gap toothed pikey!!!!!!

[No Fixed Abode]

seeing him give his shirt to the fan in the wheelchair after last nights game puts him firmly amongst my favourite Reading forwards of all time. He was immense last night.

Well done Shane you gap toothed pikey!!!!!!

Surprised how strong Long is, cos when he took his top off he revealed the torso of a 5 yeaRR old.

[Maguire]

Didn't actually think Shane played all that well last night (as he admitted after the game). Sharp finish for his first but beyond that McNaughton had him pretty much wrapped up.

[Snowball]

Didn't actually think Shane played all that well last night (as he admitted after the game). Sharp finish for his first but beyond that McNaughton had him pretty much wrapped up.

Long's running off the ball last night was absolutely top-top-class
and he gave Hunt what should have been a goal, worked well
with McAnuff... scored a good "bustler's goal" led the line
and never gave up, defended corners like a hero, scored a peach of
a penalty (helped to make the pen, too)

apart from that he was only very good.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Didn't actually think Shane played all that well last night (as he admitted after the game). Sharp finish for his first but beyond that McNaughton had him pretty much wrapped up.

Long's running off the ball last night was absolutely top-top-class
and he gave Hunt what should have been a goal, worked well
with McAnuff... scored a good "bustler's goal" led the line
and never gave up, defended corners like a hero, scored a peach of
a penalty (helped to make the pen, too)
apart from that he was only very good.

I understand your post except the bit in bold - was it not Mills who got hauled down for the pen?

[Snowball]

Didn't actually think Shane played all that well last night (as he admitted after the game). Sharp finish for his first but beyond that McNaughton had him pretty much wrapped up.

Long's running off the ball last night was absolutely top-top-class
and he gave Hunt what should have been a goal, worked well
with McAnuff... scored a good "bustler's goal" led the line
and never gave up, defended corners like a hero, scored a peach of
a penalty (helped to make the pen, too)
apart from that he was only very good.

I understand your post except the bit in bold - was it not Mills who got hauled down for the pen?

as someone said, Shane stopped the defender getting goal-side of Mills

[ZacNaloen]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher ... ml?#290736

Paul Fletcher on Mister Long

[Maguire]

Didn't actually think Shane played all that well last night (as he admitted after the game). Sharp finish for his first but beyond that McNaughton had him pretty much wrapped up.

Long's running off the ball last night was absolutely top-top-class
and he gave Hunt what should have been a goal, worked well
with McAnuff... scored a good "bustler's goal" led the line
and never gave up, defended corners like a hero, scored a peach of
a penalty (helped to make the pen, too)

apart from that he was only very good.

Well like I said, Shane didn't think it was one of his better games and I agree. Not that I'm slating him by any means, he was just up against a really good player and a bit isolated.

[Blue Hooped Moose]

I was very impressed with how calm and collected Long looked last night - almost nonchalant.

Look at the replays of his first goal as he's chasing the ball down and casually chewing gum at the same time. He seems completely at ease with what he's doing, and brimming with confidence. Top stuff.

[ZacNaloen]

There was a funny moment after he scored the Penalty where he started to casually Jog away, chewing his gum, not really celebrating, and then it suddenly hit him that he'd probably just sent us to Wembley.

[readingbedding]

No it didn't.
He's not 5 years of age.

[ZacNaloen]

That post may make more sense with some contextualisation.

[TFF]

Long's running off the ball last night was absolutely top-top-class
and he gave Hunt what should have been a goal, worked well
with McAnuff... scored a good "bustler's goal" led the line
and never gave up, defended corners like a hero, scored a peach of
a penalty (helped to make the pen, too)
apart from that he was only very good.

I understand your post except the bit in bold - was it not Mills who got hauled down for the pen?

as someone said, Shane stopped the defender getting goal-side of Mills

Blocked Keinan's run alongside Mills - Mills would have been in loads of space had he not got hauled down. Lovely training ground move that refs find difficult to deal with.

I had to call on a customer this morning (Chelsea fan) who couldn't see what the fuss was about re. Long. "He can't hold the ball up at all, it just bounces off him" "Not Premiership quality"

Sadly this guy is a good customer so I failed to argue the point.

[Mr Angry]

Blocked Keinan's run alongside Mills - Mills would have been in loads of space had he not got hauled down. Lovely training ground move that refs find difficult to deal with.

I had to call on a customer this morning (Chelsea fan) who couldn't see what the fuss was about re. Long. "He can't hold the ball up at all, it just bounces off him" "Not Premiership quality"

Sadly this guy is a good customer so I failed to argue the point.

Sounds like a typical fan of a Premiership side tbh; has probably never see Shane in the flesh, and didn't realise that he is carrying an ankle knock; instead of seeing the quality and composure of his 2 finishes, he prefers to dwell on some relatively negative aspects of his game last night.

Long>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Torres over the course of this season.

[Snowball]

Looking at other clubs' forums, some fans rate Shane very highly

Have to disagree with this, I have watched a-lot of Long this season and his ability on the ball has actually been one of his best attributes - he has created countless chances for others with his passing and is capable of beating a player. His pass for Hunt last night when Hunt went one-on-one and really should have scored was pin-point accurate as was his cross for Hunt that ended up in a Bywater save.

He hasn't really had many chances at International level, but when he has played he hasn't looked at all out of place. This season I think he has been involved in something like 37 goals for Reading (goals and assists)

In my personal opinion I think he could play at a better level than the likes of Wolves. Everton seems like it could be a good destination, they badly need a striker and I think with the service there he could get them 10 to 15 goals a season. He has been linked to Liverpool pretty frequently, but he would only be taking N'Gog's place as third choice striker if he were to move there.

He is quick, has a good header and his movement causes defenders all sorts of problems, not to mention the fact that he often drifts out left and sets up numerous chances with his crossing. I think he could surprise a-lot of people in the Premiership.


and


It's interesting how similar Long and Doyle are as players, considering they came from the same club. I can see Long becoming just as good as Doyle, if not better.

[RobRoyal]

Didn't actually think Shane played all that well last night (as he admitted after the game). Sharp finish for his first but beyond that McNaughton had him pretty much wrapped up.

Long's running off the ball last night was absolutely top-top-class
and he gave Hunt what should have been a goal, worked well
with McAnuff... scored a good "bustler's goal" led the line
and never gave up, defended corners like a hero, scored a peach of
a penalty (helped to make the pen, too)

apart from that he was only very good.

Well like I said, Shane didn't think it was one of his better games and I agree. Not that I'm slating him by any means, he was just up against a really good player and a bit isolated.

Watching the highlights last night, Long may have been relatively quiet but his contribution to the game was outstanding. He's not quite gotten the credit for two magnificent moments on here since Tues: the left-footed cross for Hunt, and the marvellous cross-field ball over the defence that set up Hunt again late on. It was really beautifully flighted. He could very well have finished off the game with 2 goals and 2 assists. Not bad for "not one of his beter games."

[Snowball]

Every time our midfield got the ball, Longy looked up and started diagonal runs or runs wide
and pulled the Cardiff defence all over the place. Runs like that help make space for players
like McAnuff to run through the middle

[Maguire]

Watching the highlights last night, Long may have been relatively quiet but his contribution to the game was outstanding. He's not quite gotten the credit for two magnificent moments on here since Tues: the left-footed cross for Hunt, and the marvellous cross-field ball over the defence that set up Hunt again late on. It was really beautifully flighted. He could very well have finished off the game with 2 goals and 2 assists. Not bad for "not one of his beter games."

Ah, you mean the cross that should have given Hunt a goal on a plate but which Shane let a defender get a toe on, thus causing him to hit the post? And the straightforward ball into acres of space that bounced up? I would've landed that right at Noel's feet

[Snowball]

Watching the highlights last night, Long may have been relatively quiet but his contribution to the game was outstanding. He's not quite gotten the credit for two magnificent moments on here since Tues: the left-footed cross for Hunt, and the marvellous cross-field ball over the defence that set up Hunt again late on. It was really beautifully flighted. He could very well have finished off the game with 2 goals and 2 assists. Not bad for "not one of his beter games."

Ah, you mean the cross that should have given Hunt a goal on a plate but which Shane let a defender get a toe on, thus causing him to hit the post? And the straightforward ball into acres of space that bounced up? I would've landed that right at Noel's feet

Of course you would've, Maguire.

You're not a professional football player because you chose brain-surgery
and solving global warming, right?



Both Long's crosses were great.

[Maguire]

Of course you would've, Maguire.

You're not a professional football player because you chose brain-surgery
and solving global warming, right?

Now now, Hob Nob isn't the place to be facetious, Snowball.