Shane Long

[Royal Lady]

Stuart Pearce??? What the hell has he ever done?

There's not one manager, aside from Mourinho and we'd never get him, that I can think of that could do better than Coppell has.

That's not important really - the question is whether another manager could do better with Reading next season.

I meant with Reading, obviously.

[cmonurz]

Yep, got myself a bit confused. Point I am making is that Coppell's prior achievements, brilliant though they are, are now irrelevant in the context of 2008-09. I'm not convinced Coppell is the man for next season.

[Schards#2]

Stuart Pearce??? What the hell has he ever done?

There's not one manager, aside from Mourinho and we'd never get him, that I can think of that could do better than Coppell has.

'twas largely ironic in terms of expectation, but his is the sort of "big name" that the masses will clamour for.

Him or Steve McClaren.

I suspect i'll be long decomposing in my cold cold grave before any masses in the world of football ever clamour for Steve Mclaren

[readingbedding]

Yep, got myself a bit confused. Point I am making is that Coppell's prior achievements, brilliant though they are, are now irrelevant in the context of 2008-09. I'm not convinced Coppell is the man for next season.

Why not?

[cmonurz]

For reasons discussed on many threads over many weekends this season.

[readingbedding]

Oh ok.

[earleyroyal]

He didn't play well, does that mean he's rubbish now?

The original point was nothing to do with ability or performance, it was to do with lack of effort. I am not suggesting one bad game makes him rubbish blah blah blah, just that he didn't seem to be trying as hard as he could've been yesterday, and was wondering why.

[Forbury Lion]

Does anyone have some inside information that could explain his apparent lack of effort today?

Perhaps he caught whatever the rest of the team have?

[readingbedding]

He didn't play well, does that mean he's rubbish now?

The original point was nothing to do with ability or performance, it was to do with lack of effort. I am not suggesting one bad game makes him rubbish blah blah blah, just that he didn't seem to be trying as hard as he could've been yesterday, and was wondering why.

Because he's human?

[loyalroyal4life]

He had a night out on his mind not winning potentially the most important game of the season for the club

[Tilehurst Mike]

Long > Doyle

3 forwards LOL

2 of them Long and Doyle ALOL

No goals - OBVIOUS.

how coppell could enter the most critical phase of the season with just three strikers is beyond belief and appalling management. Most players who hadn't scored for 18 games wouldn't be on the bench, let alone being played every week. Kitson has been off form for some time and Long at the moment is no more that an average Champiuonship player.

Madjeski seems to have lost interest so tye sooner the club finds a buyer the better. Coppell< dillon and co seem to be running out of ideas fast. Things can be summed up when you look at just how many players we have out on loan. a sign of woeful signings and plain mismanagenment of the transfer market.

[bikey_is_god!]

I think Long's pace and first touch are good enough for him to start. Also, he has improved his stamina; I think it was a mistake for #COppell to take him off and not doyle, who looked knackered

[Gordons Cumming]

I think Long's pace and first touch are good enough for him to start.

I think not!!!

[earleyroyal]

He didn't play well, does that mean he's rubbish now?

The original point was nothing to do with ability or performance, it was to do with lack of effort. I am not suggesting one bad game makes him rubbish blah blah blah, just that he didn't seem to be trying as hard as he could've been yesterday, and was wondering why.

Because he's human?

That doesn't justify not trying. If you were my boss and I turned in a shit day, doing virtually no work and being on HNA? all day, you would bollock me. 'Sorry boss, I'm only human.' The fact he's paid handsomely to try for 90 minutes makes it even less excusable. I'm sorry but I don't see what you're getting at.

[Ian Royal]

I'd say it was down to being up against that hulking giant and having most of the balls his way come in for him to head.

No chance.

He does tend to throw his toys out the pram if he thinks the ref isn't treating him fairly too.

[brendywendy]

thought he played better, worked harder, and achieved more in his time on the pitch than either kitson or doyle

but what do i know

[Alan Partridge]

thought he played better, worked harder, and achieved more in his time on the pitch than either kitson or doyle

but what do i know

I thought all 3 were equally atrocious.

but what do i know.

[papereyes]

thought he played better, worked harder, and achieved more in his time on the pitch than either kitson or doyle

but what do i know

Having endured your posts for the last season, the answer is "Not very much"

At least you've changed your mind over the whole Sidwell/Bryn thing.

[brendywendy]

thought he played better, worked harder, and achieved more in his time on the pitch than either kitson or doyle

but what do i know

Having endured your posts for the last season, the answer is "Not very much"

At least you've changed your mind over the whole Sidwell/Bryn thing.

apologies for making your time on HNA? such a chore
but theres always the foes list young man, theres always the foes list

im off to flagellate myself

and actually im not sure sids would have been totally resistant to the shiteness of our club this season
reckon brynn had some poor games, but in hindsight,not worse than any of our other heroes has this season
im not sure the answer to any of our problems is one player, ginger, or icelandic

[Leamington Royal]

Don't understand how Coppell can justify starting with Doyle & Long rather than Kitson & Long.

Long looks more like scoring (and has scored more per minute this year - fact) than Doyle. Doyle has also run out of pace - Long has not.

Long & Doyle are too similar to play together so if you play them together it isn't likely to work. This was one of Coppells big mistakes against Fulham. I hope he learns form it.