A few observations from yesterday

[Royalee]

Lining up so defensively as we did yesterday is useless when you concede such a soft goal after less than quarter of an hour. Why didn't we change things earlier? Stephen Hunt really isn't good enough to start Premiership games. Hahnemann can take a large amount of the blame for both goals. The first twenty minutes of the second half were the best we have played in several weeks. Perhaps Bikey can do a job in centre-midfield for us, unlike Harper who couldn't even be bothered to acknowledge the Reading support which applauded him off when he was substituted. We're going to to struggle to hold on to Sonko in January.

That is the same Hunt that was rated as our best outfield player in The Times?

The press don't go to games, get over it.

[ypc102]

I think Hunt has tremendous determination and work rate, but you have to admit, he lacks skill and technique. He looks like he has pace but lacks control of the ball. I agree with the above posts in that he should be subbed in later in the game to run at the defenses. Maybe when Seol gets tired.

He may have been the main threat against Liverpool but they usually amounted to nothing. Basically, he ran the ball up the field to the other half and gave it away. But then there was nothing else happening for us in terms of attack, so yea, I guess that was our main threat.

[Yahoops]

ingimarrson was at fault for their first yesturday, the ref was at fault for the second, little and hunt were brilliant in the second half

Re. the first goal - I think that's one difference Murty will make when he returns - less ball watching.

[Forty]

Bit harsh to say no end product from Hunt. Lots of free kicks in the CCup game at liverpool from his runs, doyle chance vs arse from him, he simple fact that finnan wasn't able to overlap down he 'pool right was down to hunt. Maybe statistically not enough, and not such a good crosser as Convey, but individual performaces have to be measured in the context of the team. Van Nistelrooy would would very league 1 in our side at the moment!

But, not even really worth lookign backwards and was disappointed with Copps comments. We've played the best, and been hammered - we knew we would be, and shouldn't give a toss. Back to out own mini league - that's really where performances (inc refs!) matter.

[Tilehurst Mike]

Lining up so defensively as we did yesterday is useless when you concede such a soft goal after less than quarter of an hour. Why didn't we change things earlier? Stephen Hunt really isn't good enough to start Premiership games. Hahnemann can take a large amount of the blame for both goals. The first twenty minutes of the second half were the best we have played in several weeks. Perhaps Bikey can do a job in centre-midfield for us, unlike Harper who couldn't even be bothered to acknowledge the Reading support which applauded him off when he was substituted. We're going to to struggle to hold on to Sonko in January.

It was almost as if we decided to go for damage limitation and with such a negative line up, we seem to have accepted that we were going to lose before a ball was kicked. What worries me is that the next three games which everyone kept saying is winnable is against teams who are hitting form. We are not scoring enough goals and conceding too many which is a worrying trend. I bet Coppell is wishing he could now turn back the clock after saying he was happy with the four strikers he has. Kitson is always going to be injury prone, Long is not up to Premiership standard yet and there is still seemingly problems with Lita. I think Doyle could burn himself out particualrly if he has been carrying a knock. January can't come quick enough for me when hopefully some quality signings can be made and Sidwell's future sorted out once and for all.

[Hoop Blah]

Bikey took 2 minutes to become the best player on the pitch with a drive to the net

Drive to the net? Were we playing Basketball on Saturday?


As for Hunt, he's clearly not good enough to be a creative force in this division, much like he wasn't last season either. We've been trying to play the last set of fixtures like lower league teams coming up against 'big teams' in the cup because we don't have the quality in the squad to compete with these sides.

Hunt has only been playing because of Convey and Little's injuries, but Saturday saw the first real tactical change by Coppell and he obvioulsy felt we needed Hunt's tenacity above Seol's footballing ability (Seol may also have need a rest I guess). I reallly believe we need greater quality in the squad if we're to score enough goals to maintain our decent start, and Hunt just hasn't got the quality to suceed at this level.

Our problems are stemming from a lack of quality and depth in our squad. Some of us realised this was a problem in the summer and bemoaned our inability to significantly improve the starting XI, whereas some were adament that the likes of Hunt and Long were good enough to win us matches! I wonder how many posters are re-evaluating their opinion.

[floyd__streete]

Floyde, what happened with you and the steward/fans towards the end of the game?! Noticed this from my seat after a big cheer went up because you were having a go at the steward! Fair play, they were crap.

I was responding to the Liverpool fans just over the netting and behind where I was sitting. As their vocal support had consisted all afternoon of 4 teenagers banging on the back of the stand, I took exception - as did several others - with a few choice insults from gobby teenagers in the final few minutes after they had been so very quiet for so very long. Joining in with a rather vocal response of the old standard southerners southerners southerners, the steward to my left advised that I should stop chanting and sit down. I kindly advised in reply that his was perhaps not an even handed approach to take, given the unchallenged verbal abuse coming from our scouse friends a matter of metres away. Or words to that effect anyway . All good fun and banter of course!

[EASTENDER MARKY]

Floyde, what happened with you and the steward/fans towards the end of the game?! Noticed this from my seat after a big cheer went up because you were having a go at the steward! Fair play, they were crap.

I was responding to the Liverpool fans just over the netting and behind where I was sitting. As their vocal support had consisted all afternoon of 4 teenagers banging on the back of the stand, I took exception - as did several others - with a few choice insults from gobby teenagers in the final few minutes after they had been so very quiet for so very long. Joining in with a rather vocal response of the old standard southerners southerners southerners, the steward to my left advised that I should stop chanting and sit down. I kindly advised in reply that his was perhaps not an even handed approach to take, given the unchallenged verbal abuse coming from our scouse friends a matter of metres away. Or words to that effect anyway . All good fun and banter of course!

Fair play floyd.

[79Royal]

Convey has an injury, hence Hunt is playing. You could play Seol there, but it's not his natural position.

We all know that Hunt isn't the greatest left winger in history, but he is very good at being a nuisance and he made Finnan think twice about getting forward yesterday.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

One observation I made which doesn't seem to have been mentioned - the area surrounding Anfield. Has anyone ever been to a more run-down, boarded-up, burnt-out hell-hole than that delightful district? People talk about how dull the area around the madejski is, but given the choice, I'd know where I'd prefer to struggle to park each week.

[Coppell's Right Footed 11]

If Peter Kay had to sum up Stephen Hunt:

"What He Lacks In Talent He Makes Up In Determination"

[The Brain]

From what I saw Hunt ran his ass off, and gave 100% from start to finish. I just find it odd to knock the players. They are the same players from last season. It's not us that has changed just the opposition, some of them are now not just good, but World Class.

Please don't knock the players, they want our support not constant moaning. Coppell has already said his bit about us standing by the players we started the season with, June and July came and went, and no mater what we say now a couple of Brazilian midfielders are not going to materialise between now and January. Just because we’re not particularly happy with loosing away to a team of quality players there is no need to have a go.

Please try to be positive. The glass IS half full not half empty.

[Nick Shorey my Lord!]

Belated points:

Hunt was dire. He runs with his head down, great for accurate passing.

Unlucky to loose? Rubbish, we were lucky Pool didn't get out of 2nd gear otherwise we'd have been in real trouble.

Hyppia and Carragher 20 yards in a our half on more than one ocassion demonstrated just how deep we were sitting.

Should have had a penelty (particulalry if you look at some of the other odd decisions made last weekend) and Bikey's goal looked OK.

Marcus was dire.

[Royalee]

Belated points:

Hunt was dire. He runs with his head down, great for accurate passing.

Unlucky to loose? Rubbish, we were lucky Pool didn't get out of 2nd gear otherwise we'd have been in real trouble.

Hyppia and Carragher 20 yards in a our half on more than one ocassion demonstrated just how deep we were sitting.

Should have had a penelty (particulalry if you look at some of the other odd decisions made last weekend) and Bikey's goal looked OK.

Marcus was dire.

Yep.

[Victor Meldrew]

One observation I made which doesn't seem to have been mentioned - the area surrounding Anfield. Has anyone ever been to a more run-down, boarded-up, burnt-out hell-hole than that delightful district? People talk about how dull the area around the madejski is, but given the choice, I'd know where I'd prefer to struggle to park each week.

We walked to the ground from about a mile out towards West Derby along a tree-lined avenue with re-generated housing and then past Stanley Park once again with trees everywhere.
Have you never been to the third world areas around West Ham and North London or Maine Road which was in Moss Side or Villa Park and how would you feel about walking along the Oxford Road if we were still at Elm Park ?
BTW the area around the Mad Stad is very dull and I am always grateful to find my wheels still on the car when I come back to it in Whitley.
Going to grounds like Anfield is a reminder of the working-class roots of football and I much prefer going to the Hillsboroughs ,Villa Parks and Anfields than to the plastic newer grounds around the country situated on soulless trading estates.

[Nick Shorey my Lord!]

One observation I made which doesn't seem to have been mentioned - the area surrounding Anfield. Has anyone ever been to a more run-down, boarded-up, burnt-out hell-hole than that delightful district? People talk about how dull the area around the madejski is, but given the choice, I'd know where I'd prefer to struggle to park each week.

We walked to the ground from about a mile out towards West Derby along a tree-lined avenue with re-generated housing and then past Stanley Park once again with trees everywhere.
Have you never been to the third world areas around West Ham and North London or Maine Road which was in Moss Side or Villa Park and how would you feel about walking along the Oxford Road if we were still at Elm Park ?
BTW the area around the Mad Stad is very dull and I am always grateful to find my wheels still on the car when I come back to it in Whitley.
Going to grounds like Anfield is a reminder of the working-class roots of football and I much prefer going to the Hillsboroughs ,Villa Parks and Anfields than to the plastic newer grounds around the country situated on soulless trading estates.

I think you must have been wearing some heavily tinted RTG's. The road right around Anfield were shocking. We exited the away end, turned left and left again and counted a handful of houses that were still lived in. The others were proper hardcore, metal boarded up. A sample of some of the messages left on the walls;

Drug scum
F8ck off islamics
Junkie heaven