The defence

[JC]

All this talk about who should replace Shane Long seems to mask the fact it was the defence that let us down at Wembley
Zurab will be gone and I think we should also shift the two fullbacks. I know Harte scored a lot of goals but his job is in defence and he did not shine there. Both of them are just too slow. We have a ready made replacement in Cummings for Griffin and probably Pearce for Zurab so we need a new left back and some cover

[Y25]

The first half defending made Swansea look better than they actually were.

Harte got skinned for their second whilst Griffin had no clue where the oxf*rd Sinclair was.

[The Prisoner]

Would like to see Marcus Williams given a proper chance at LB. The guy got precious few games before being ousted for Harte. Might end up being the next Cummings!

Cummings RB 2 of Mills/Pearce/Morrison CB Williams LB is decent with Griffin and Harte as cover?

Funny how nobody is crying over Zurab going after Monday's horror show!

[Gordons Cumming]

After we let in 3 first half goals I was thinking maybe it would better we didn't go up after all............

At the time I was thinking though..."Swansea are never 3 goals better than us"

[Thomas L'Heureux]

Would like to see Marcus Williams given a proper chance at LB. The guy got precious few games before being ousted for Harte. Might end up being the next Cummings!

Cummings RB 2 of Mills/Pearce/Morrison CB Williams LB is decent with Griffin and Harte as cover?

Funny how nobody is crying over Zurab going after Monday's horror show!

The defence as a whole were shocking on Monday, and ultimately cost us. Mills kept jumping in when players were running at him and was left on his arse more times than not.

Griffin is no Gunnarsson and can't cope with pace on his flank. The fact that Sinclair's movement inside was also too much for him meant that he too had a shocker.

And Harte got absolutely rinsed for pace for their second. He is decent in the air but he struggled to handle Dyer (did anybody else see him trying to get infront of the man to deal with long balls only to get caught under it and find himself the wrong side of a player that is lightning quick compared to him?). Very poor all round really.

[bcroyal]

Harte did get rinsed for the second, but only because Zurab was absolutely kippered, Zurab was at fault for all of the first three goals - pen, beaten for speed & a half hearted attempt of a clearance. Time as you say to give Cummings, Mills/ Pearce/ Morrison/ Williams or a n other a chance.

Would like to see Marcus Williams given a proper chance at LB. The guy got precious few games before being ousted for Harte. Might end up being the next Cummings!

Cummings RB 2 of Mills/Pearce/Morrison CB Williams LB is decent with Griffin and Harte as cover?

Funny how nobody is crying over Zurab going after Monday's horror show!

The defence as a whole were shocking on Monday, and ultimately cost us. Mills kept jumping in when players were running at him and was left on his arse more times than not.

Griffin is no Gunnarsson and can't cope with pace on his flank. The fact that Sinclair's movement inside was also too much for him meant that he too had a shocker.

And Harte got absolutely rinsed for pace for their second. He is decent in the air but he struggled to handle Dyer (did anybody else see him trying to get infront of the man to deal with long balls only to get caught under it and find himself the wrong side of a player that is lightning quick compared to him?). Very poor all round really.

[Ian Royal]

Keep Harte and Griffin. Excellent experienced heads to brig in when necessary. Cummings and Griff fight it out for RB and a new signing / rejuvenated Williams takes over on first choice duties from Harte.

Pacey overlapping fullbacks could make all the difference for us. At the moment we're a bit one dimensional. Double up on Kebe & McAnuff and you cut out virtually all of our attacking threat. Overlapping full backs give so much more in the way of options making it very hard to effectively double up. If you do you allow the full back room to overlap and get a cross in. If you cover that you're back to one on one with the winger who can go inside or outside more easily.

It was the key under Coppell as well.

Bertrand would be ideal, but I think he may be a bit good and expensive for us.

As for centrebacks, well I have high hopes for Pearce and Morrison and whilst I don't like Mills, he is genuinely very talented. Gun can cover short term emergencies, so IMO with Morrison we only really need to bring someone in if Mills goes or we get a long term injury.

[The Doctor]

Harte and Griffin should stay and need to stay for that matter, but not as first choice. Cummings is ready for the first team now, but we must sign a new left back.

[blueroyals]

had completely forgotten about williams in all honesty, i have a feeling he isn't suited as a "reading player" which is why he wasn't given much of a chance then shipped out on loan (and not heard of since).

could be another cummings, would like to see him given another try really.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Marcus Williams will not play for Reading again. the guy makes Alan Maybury look like Dani Alves.

[Hiram K Hackenbacker]

I agree

[Wycombe Royal]

I agree

I can see you are going to be a great addition to this forum.

Do you agree?

[Forbury Lion]

As for centrebacks, well I have high hopes for Pearce and Morrison and whilst I don't like Mills, he is genuinely very talented. Gun can cover short term emergencies, so IMO with Morrison we only really need to bring someone in if Mills goes or we get a long term injury.

Harte can play central defence, so if a pacey left back becomes available we shouldn't rule them out.

[Forbury Lion]

Sonko released by Stoke.... perhaps McDermott can reshape him back to the player he was?

[Duke the Dog]

The lack of pace at the back is scary and probably the one thing that stops our defence from being the best in the championship (I think we're a bit harsh on our defence).

Don't expect Morrison to provide any either (I work with a Swindon ST and he equates Morrison and Pearce as pretty much the same type of player). With Ivar and Zurab gone, we definitely someone else (Gunnar's ok in an emergency). LB could be interesting, I can't remember much about Williams, which says it all really!

[Duke the Dog]

Sorry, Sonks was a shadow of his former self after his injury. No thanks.

[Forbury Lion]

Sorry, Sonks was a shadow of his former self after his injury. No thanks.

Might be worth a medical at least just to see what's what.

[teignmouth hoops]

I am very surprised that more teams didn't try and get behind our very slow defenders, Harte & Kish were/are quality players they read the game well and generally that's enough but not agains't the best sides. I think Rodgers out thought Mr Mc in both the home game & Wembley & exploited our weaknesses on pace

[Ian Royal]

As for centrebacks, well I have high hopes for Pearce and Morrison and whilst I don't like Mills, he is genuinely very talented. Gun can cover short term emergencies, so IMO with Morrison we only really need to bring someone in if Mills goes or we get a long term injury.

Harte can play central defence, so if a pacey left back becomes available we shouldn't rule them out.

Good point.

Re: Sonko. No thanks, he is not the player he was. His injury set him back physically, he was never the best defender, but he used to be able to recover brilliantly, after that injury his recovery isn't as good so I don't want him back thanks. Massive step backwards.

[Terminal Boardom]

last night I watched the first dvd from the 2006/07 season. What stood out more than anything was the difference in full backs then and now. Back then, Musts and Shorey could bomb up and down and get ahead of the winger. With Griff and Harte, this just does not happen. So for me, the priority is to get 2 fit and hungry full backs.