Back from the Southampton game...

[earleyroyal]

Harper - what can I say? Please can we replace him with someone that can tackle, head and shoot.
I am fed up with hearing that 'he's got a good engine'. So has my car but it can't play bloody football

somebody please cut this out and stick it up in Coppell's office. Can't tackle well enough, can't pass well enough. Matejovsky and Cisse in the midfield is probably our best (least ineffective) combination at the moment.

Today was a reality check people. One of the supposedly 'worst' teams in this division and they should have won by at least four goals. Yes we might be good enough to go up but are we consistent enough? If our wingers have an off day then we don't get anything from the game. If teams start to figure out how to combat us then it's going to be a long hard season.

Am I the only one who thinks that Matejovsky supplying Lita would be a match made in heaven?

Oh and also for the supporters - it doesn't fcuking well help when the first misplaced pass after about 6 minutes is met by groans from all around the ground. Of course it's difficult not to vent frustration but it doesn't create a good atmosphere for anyone. At least try and get behind the team a few times before turning on them, especially when 3rd in the league.

Bikey seemed to think he was Pele, Kebe is starting to get found out, Long again looked unlike a professional footballer. Hahnemann was the only player to emerge with any credit, apart from maybe Cisse who showed great restraint when his number was brought up instead of Harper's. Harper was useless today, Cisse not great but at least he won the ball a few times. I like Harper as a professional but he's a passenger at the moment.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

I'm suprised no one has mentioned N Hunt's shocking ball to Shunt in the first few mins of the match, he just had to pass it across the box lightly in front of Steve and he had a tap in to the open net. But instead he plays it behind him the prat.

I kicked the chair of the person in front of me so hard, that he elbowed me in the shin!! I apologised profusely

[earleyroyal]

Marcus and his reaction saves in the first half. PURE, PURE heart and skill from the big man.

To the doubters - feck off.

His kicking is awful

Are you one of these people who fails to notice when 4 times out of 5 he picks out a winger over 70 yards away, then starts booing when he marginally overdoes 1 out of 5 which goes out of play?

My guess would be 'yes'

[Readingfanman]

Anyone know how much it will cost me to buy out Long's contract? And Harper's as well while I am there.

[floyd__streete]

Matejovsky - Changed things

I'm still looking for a lot more from Matejovsky, a good many of promised that he'd 'rip up this division this season'; the only thing that he has ripped up has been his ankle ligaments. In all honesty all he has managed in his time at Reading so far is a once-in-a-lifetime beautiful hit at Anfield.

[chilipepper91]

Matejovsky - Changed things

I'm still looking for a lot more from Matejovsky, a good many of promised that he'd 'rip up this division this season'; the only thing that he has ripped up has been his ankle ligaments. In all honesty all he has managed in his time at Reading so far is a once-in-a-lifetime beautiful hit at Anfield.

He is the only midfielder who can unlock a defence. Look at his pass for the goal (ok it went through Hunty but still). He is so comfortable on the ball, and I remember one left-footed reverse pass to Doyler which completely split the defence. Whereas Harper... runs? And runs? And runs? And points? And runs some more?

[AthleticoSpizz]

Hahnemann - Must have forgotten to down his redbulls, just before the first goal there were two balls into the box that went unchallenged, he should have been on them. The second one lead to the goal. Excellent triple save to add to the many today........had more kicks of the ball in open play than Harps did

Armstrong - Worse performance for the club, run ragged by a right winger who wasn't anything special

Bikey - Playing cameron football and got caught out at least 3 times Worst performance that I can recall, put marcus under undue pressure

Hunt - great touches, unfortunately he didn't take time to actually see where he was passing it, at times to a red and white striped shirt. Needs to learn when to take time and see a pass before making one. Needs a rest

Kebe - Didn't break sweat to get lose balls, Didn't keep the ball much. Good goal

N Hunt & Doyle - Didn't get much of the ball, in fact I didn't even notice Hunt was playing. Doyler spooned his best chance near the end heading over unchallenged

Harper - By far the best player on the pitch, assuming it was an arm waving competition and not a football match. Didn't add anything in midfield just passing from left to right - might as well have had the two players either side wellie to each other. Shocked me by actually putting in a big challenge and winning the ball. Pathetic, useless, inexcusably stood by watching, whilst JK was trying to win the ball back from the Scummers whilst prone on the deck...........and he was our captain

Resenior - Okay but gave Murty some hope of getting a game when fit No meaningful link-up play, outhassled by the Scummers

Ivar - Gogot caught out a few times but only when covering left back as reliable as a one man back four can ever be

Cisse - Got stuck in, a few good touches and a few bad ones... great tackle to get the ball but cancelled out by the fact it was his miskick that gave that player the ball. Perhaps the best player on the pitch in a Reading shirt before the subs. can't understand why he was taken off and Harper left on. Froze just before their second (and responsible), bottled additional challenges, not very good

Gunnarsson - Came on late in the game, first two touches were both to give the ball away, the second being a short pass to Hunt on the wing which took so long to start that everyone knew that was where the ball was going including the Sants player who casually ran onto the end of it before it rolled slowly to Hunt.First touch actually was a good one to one of ours, set up Doyle for the (unchallenged) header, should have been brought on at half time in place of our team captain, we needed somebody to tackle instead of making like a scarecrow

Long - Lively when on, perhaps pushing for a starting place.Sorry, waste of a substitution

Matejovski - Brought the game alive, cracking pass though the field to the right wing for Kebe to run onto and a few other great passes... Did seem to be piggy in the middle at times running back and forth after the ball in our half when getting in space and allowing a closer player to try and win it and pass to him or just staying with one player might have worked best. Could prove to be the best player to ever wear a Reading shirt.Sorry, ineffective

James Henry - Unlucky to remain on the bench, must be wondering why.

[Ian Royal]

Matejovsky - Changed things

I'm still looking for a lot more from Matejovsky, a good many of promised that he'd 'rip up this division this season'; the only thing that he has ripped up has been his ankle ligaments. In all honesty all he has managed in his time at Reading so far is a once-in-a-lifetime beautiful hit at Anfield.

I'd suggest that Saints tiring badly after going at us hard and fast from the off had as much to do with us coming into the game late on as Marek getting on the pitch. Not that he didn't have an impact, I think he's a good player. But he is not a cure-all to our problems and he is not some sort of messiah who will suddenly make us consistently fantastic.

[Readingfanman]

Matejovsky - Changed things

I'm still looking for a lot more from Matejovsky, a good many of promised that he'd 'rip up this division this season'; the only thing that he has ripped up has been his ankle ligaments. In all honesty all he has managed in his time at Reading so far is a once-in-a-lifetime beautiful hit at Anfield.

I'd suggest that Saints tiring badly after going at us hard and fast from the off had as much to do with us coming into the game late on as Marek getting on the pitch. Not that he didn't have an impact, I think he's a good player. But he is not a cure-all to our problems and he is not some sort of messiah who will suddenly make us consistently fantastic.

As I said. He didn't play well. Hell he actually played badly, but the game did change when he came on as we looked liked we were keeping the ball down at least.

[juanpablo]

Marek played badly?

his passing was crisp made space everytime he got the ball and played some lovely stuff.

I feel for the bloke with some of the players around him and fans that clearly dont know a good footballer when they see one, goodluck to him when he moves on

[Readingfanman]

Marek played badly?

his passing was crisp made space everytime he got the ball and played some lovely stuff.

I feel for the bloke with some of the players around him and fans that clearly dont know a good footballer when they see one, goodluck to him when he moves on

He made 3 or 4 lovely passes, combined with 10 or 12 horribley misplaced passes. He has been way over-hyped if I'm honest. If he suited the game, we would have seen it more by now I feel. He doesn't suit the english game that well I think.

[juanpablo]

Marek played badly?

his passing was crisp made space everytime he got the ball and played some lovely stuff.

I feel for the bloke with some of the players around him and fans that clearly dont know a good footballer when they see one, goodluck to him when he moves on

He made 3 or 4 lovely passes, combined with 10 or 12 horribley misplaced passes. He has been way over-hyped if I'm honest. If he suited the game, we would have seen it more by now I feel. He doesn't suit the english game that well I think.

if he made 10-12 horribly misplaced passes and you can find a match video ill pay you a lot of money, lets not make stats up

as for your other points i still think its early but i hope your wrong, imo he needs a sustained run in the team not only for himself but for others to get on his wavelength and adapt to his different style to somebody like Harper (eg making passes)

[Denver Royal]

LOL at Harper. People seem in shock.

He can't do this and that. Thats right, he can't. Tough concept to grasp, I know. He ain't been doing it for years.

And guess what? He couldn't do those things on a pub team. And in amongst a few jokes over a pint, Harps would tell you that.

Score goals? A crab? Get stuck in bad weather up noorth? Head a ball?

He's having a laugh. And he will probably go down as a RFC legend. Such as it is.

But this being little ole RFC, we'd have to spend a lot of money to replace him. And we won't.

Remember when Sids couldn't carry Harps jock? Except Sids, who would never do anything, just started for Villa vs. Man Yoo today.

Hey, I bet we're all rooting for Sids, huh?

Yeah, we all hate Sids' wife who is a money grabbing shopping freak. Oh, and how he was in Shorey's wedding party.

But hey, we're better off being rid of both of them.

James Harper is one of the reasons we're back in the Championship. He couldn't cut it.

And, you'll notice he now finds himself on the the bench. In the Championship. Courtesy of, Sir Steve...

[juanpablo]

LOL at Harper. People seem in shock.

He can't do this and that. Thats right, he can't. Tough concept to grasp, I know. He ain't been doing it for years.

And guess what? He couldn't do those things on a pub team. And in amongst a few jokes over a pint, Harps would tell you that.

Score goals? A crab? Get stuck in bad weather up noorth? Head a ball?

He's having a laugh. And he will probably go down as a RFC legend. Such as it is.

But this being little ole RFC, we'd have to spend a lot of money to replace him. And we won't.

Remember when Sids couldn't carry Harps jock? Except Sids, who would never do anything, just started for Villa vs. Man Yoo today.

Hey, I bet we're all rooting for Sids, huh?

Yeah, we all hate Sids' wife who is a money grabbing shopping freak. Oh, and how he was in Shorey's wedding party.

But hey, we're better off being rid of all of them.

wtf lol

chill out and stick the fight on

[Denver Royal]

LOL at Harper. People seem in shock.

He can't do this and that. Thats right, he can't. Tough concept to grasp, I know. He ain't been doing it for years.

And guess what? He couldn't do those things on a pub team. And in amongst a few jokes over a pint, Harps would tell you that.

Score goals? A crab? Get stuck in bad weather up noorth? Head a ball?

He's having a laugh. And he will probably go down as a RFC legend. Such as it is.

But this being little ole RFC, we'd have to spend a lot of money to replace him. And we won't.

Remember when Sids couldn't carry Harps jock? Except Sids, who would never do anything, just started for Villa vs. Man Yoo today.

Hey, I bet we're all rooting for Sids, huh?

Yeah, we all hate Sids' wife who is a money grabbing shopping freak. Oh, and how he was in Shorey's wedding party.

But hey, we're better off being rid of all of them.

wtf lol

chill out and stick the fight on

LOL all you want. Anything you'd like to actually dispute or discuss?

Why does Harper, in the Championship, find himself on the bench these days...courtesy of Sir Steve? Lets start there...

[Platypuss]

Surprised no one has mentioned the inexcusable lack of pressure on the cross for the first goal - good tackle by Armstrong (I think) then time stood still as the ball ambled slowly towards the edge of the pitch giving the Soton player all the time in the world to tee-up the cross.
Hahnemann should still have come for it, but that was awful and illustrative of our entire approach to the game,

[Platypuss]

Bikey - Playing cameron football and got caught out at least 3 times

He only passes to the right wing?

[jonboy29red]

saints ploy was simple stick 2 men on doyle n the hunts every time we gave em the ball simple

[RoyalBlue]

Hahnemann - 6 - did as much as he could I guess.

He may have done as much as he could but perhaps not as much as he should!

He should try coming for a few more crosses for starters.

Then, less critical but still important, he should try quickly throwing the ball out to his wide players when they are free, rather than holding onto it and then hoofing it to Kebe (hardly renowned for his strength in the air!) oor down the throats of the centre backs.

[Barry the bird boggler]

I don't know what the hell that digusting load of rubbish was yesterday but it sure as hell wasn't a team looking for promotion.

Only Hahnemann could come out of that feeling that he'd done well, the rest were just not good enough. And whatever Bikey is on at the moment I hope he doesn't share it round (or perhaps he did!)

Play like that at Cardiff and we will be out the game after the first 10 minutes.