Wolves - Back From The Game...

[Silver Fox]

Very pleased with the result, less pleased with missing the goal! All in all not the best game, especially the endless head tennis battles in midfield but thought we went a bit more defensive after Doobs went off, protecting our makeshift back 5. Amazing to think that we were the ones knocking a defensive team together as their unit was woeful, many have said it but crikey Hennesy's kicking was atrocious, if you're going to be that bad don't wear a great big day glo kit to bring attention to yourself son! The back 4 seemed unable to play the ball out properly and the only defender they had who managed any sort of positives was the right back who pretty much stopped Doyle all game. All of our team played well, the only tiny bit of criticism I'd make would be that Boris, as much as I love him, is geting close to being too slow for the championship let alone next season. Thought Leroy and Shane livened stuff up when they came on, although I was a tad surprised that Shane was first on when Noel got injured (excellent positioning by Noel for the substitution BTW ) maybe SC knew he was taking Doyler off any minute anyway? Fed had nothing to do apart from super kicking, maybe a lack of activity is causing his physique to start to resemble his American mentor?

All in all happy days, I hope this slump we're in carries on for a while!

[loyalroyal4life]

Good result, the game wasnt a spectacle but who cares??

Pearce for MOM closely followed by Armstrong and KEBE!! The Guy had a blinder (as i said he would) swear he's got touches even ronaldo hasnt made before!!

I think LITA was quality even for 10 minutes!!

Harper would of scored his chance even a year ago!! He just doesnt look the same player!!

Cant see who would pay £5mill for S.Hunt, I would not be upset in the slightest if he were to move on but no one apart from Spurs will come in for him!!

LITA TO START ON SATURDAY!!

[loyalroyal4life]

was it wise for Leroy to concede that free kick in the last 30 seconds of the match allowing Wolves to have one last-ditch attempt to score?

sssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[OLLIE KEARNS]

Nothing that a few days of dryer weather wont sort out with the pitch, have said it before the continuall freezing is not good for it at all, it prevents draining.

Can't agree with you their Mr Bus. The lack of grass means that the pitch will always be uneven and covered in divots after 10 minutes of play. Grass holds the surface together and there ain't much of it on our pitch
I think the club has entered into a long term agreement with the egg chasers so they either need a Plan B with the pitch or we're going to see a lot of hoofball over the next few years.

But a lot of the problem is that the last 7 weeks odd has been very cold, so the grass was weaker, and easily lost, ok the Irish will have made it worse from using the pitch, but it would probably have gone anyway.

The cold shouldn't be an issue because of the under soil heating and the ongoing use of the ultra violet light machine that stimulates growth. Plus the pitch was knackered by early December which was before the cold snap.
I reckon the egg chasers must be running around a lot more than they used to

[OLLIE KEARNS]

Wolves were acting like THEY were one-up in the last few minutes - they took an age over that throw-in where Collins subsequently got sent off and didn't seem to have any urgency about them. I think they're only where they are in the league through their heavy handedness which was apparent all too often last night - I suppose refs have been ignoring it to some extent, as the ref did last night on too many occasions for my liking - tugging shirts etc, and other lesser teams have capitulated against them.

Mick Mc was doing his nut over the throw and with Hennessy who took an age to kick the ball from hand whenever he had it late on

[Dirk Gently]

Can't agree with you their Mr Bus. The lack of grass means that the pitch will always be uneven and covered in divots after 10 minutes of play. Grass holds the surface together and there ain't much of it on our pitch
I think the club has entered into a long term agreement with the egg chasers so they either need a Plan B with the pitch or we're going to see a lot of hoofball over the next few years.

But a lot of the problem is that the last 7 weeks odd has been very cold, so the grass was weaker, and easily lost, ok the Irish will have made it worse from using the pitch, but it would probably have gone anyway.

The cold shouldn't be an issue because of the under soil heating and the ongoing use of the ultra violet light machine that stimulates growth. Plus the pitch was knackered by early December which was before the cold snap.
I reckon the egg chasers must be running around a lot more than they used to

Don't forget that this pitch has something like 10% plastic grass and a plastic "mesh" which is meant to help the roots of the grass bind together. From what i can see, the biggest problem is that the pitch is so bumpy rather than being bare - several times the ball bobbled strangely.

Having said that, it is bare in places - mainly down the wings - which to me would be caused by 30 great hulks doing scrums and line-outs just close to the touchline in conditions which are too wet to play in.

[loyalroyal4life]

Wolves were acting like THEY were one-up in the last few minutes - they took an age over that throw-in where Collins subsequently got sent off and didn't seem to have any urgency about them. I think they're only where they are in the league through their heavy handedness which was apparent all too often last night - I suppose refs have been ignoring it to some extent, as the ref did last night on too many occasions for my liking - tugging shirts etc, and other lesser teams have capitulated against them.

Mick Mc was doing his nut over the throw and with Hennessy who took an age to kick the ball from hand whenever he had it late on

Saw him go pretty ott with gunnars audacious sliding last minute challenge!!

[Tilehurst End]

Predicted 2-0 to Wolves so eating the best humble pie I've ever tasted.

Suspect the happiest man in the camp is Wally for a "win ugly". 180 minutes against "free scoring" Wolves and they've got a big fat zero in all departments (oh, except goals conceded).

[Elliott]

Agreeing with everyone who said Pearce was MOTM.

He showed great composure when Doobs went off, when any other centre back could become nervous when they have to adapt to a new defensive partner.

Well done to him.

[Sun Tzu]

Harper would of scored his chance even a year ago!! He just doesnt look the same player!!

The knock back from Hunt was just a tad too close to Harper (no criticism of Hunt, he jumper superbly) and Harps had no room to actually swing at the ball. Half a yard further ahead of him and he'd have buried it. He'd done well to make the run and get the shot in but it was more of a stab than a proper shot and it went to the only place that meant it wasn;t a goal !

[ZacNaloen]

If Pearce isn't a future Reading captain and defensive legend in the future then I'll eat my hat.

Kelly I thought did his job well, Jarvis was mostly ineffectual and once he was taken off Kelly was allowed to go forward and we saw the excellent attacking abilities.

[OLLIE KEARNS]

If Pearce isn't a future Reading captain and defensive legend in the future then I'll eat my hat.

Kelly I thought did his job well, Jarvis was mostly ineffectual and once he was taken off Kelly was allowed to go forward and we saw the excellent attacking abilities.

Jarvis was their only effective player ! Got behind Kelly two or three times in the first half and should have scored in the second half. Kelly did okay against a good player but no more than that.

[Dirk Gently]

If Pearce isn't a future Reading captain and defensive legend in the future then I'll eat my hat.

Kelly I thought did his job well, Jarvis was mostly ineffectual and once he was taken off Kelly was allowed to go forward and we saw the excellent attacking abilities.

Jarvis was their only effective player ! Got behind Kelly two or three times in the first half and should have scored in the second half. Kelly did okay against a good player but no more than that.

I's say that Kelly started a little nervous (understandably) and so was a little shaky in the first half-hour.

But after that his confidence and composure visibly grew so that in the second half there were no signs he was so new.

[ZacNaloen]

If Pearce isn't a future Reading captain and defensive legend in the future then I'll eat my hat.

Kelly I thought did his job well, Jarvis was mostly ineffectual and once he was taken off Kelly was allowed to go forward and we saw the excellent attacking abilities.

Jarvis was their only effective player ! Got behind Kelly two or three times in the first half and should have scored in the second half. Kelly did okay against a good player but no more than that.

So he did his job well then?

[Vision]

If Pearce isn't a future Reading captain and defensive legend in the future then I'll eat my hat.

Kelly I thought did his job well, Jarvis was mostly ineffectual and once he was taken off Kelly was allowed to go forward and we saw the excellent attacking abilities.

Jarvis was their only effective player ! Got behind Kelly two or three times in the first half and should have scored in the second half. Kelly did okay against a good player but no more than that.

So he did his job well then?

'greed. Given the circumstances he did all that could be expected of him really. His first ever league start against top of the table alongside an already makeshift backline and directly up against the best left winger in the division (sorry SHunty). It was also pretty obvious that he was targeted by McCarthy as well which had the effect of meaning Kightly was largely on the periphery. Really happy that Coppell had faith in him and Pearce for such a high profile game. Hugely encouraging.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Pretty much what everyone else has said. My only addition is that their right back seemed to have SHunt in his pocket most of the game, sign him up!!!

[Thomas L'Heureux]

Pretty much what everyone else has said. My only addition is that their right back seemed to SHunt in his pocket most of the game, sign him up!!!

I too thought Foley had a decent game. He's been pretty good whenever I've seen him though to be honest.

[The Rouge]

Doyle didnt have the service to have a massive affect on the game, but I thought he was absolutely outstanding.
Kebe and Pearce also shone.
Kelly got skinned in the first half and looked like he lacked confidence. There were a few times at the beginning of the second half when he really didn't want the ball. He had a good last 10 so hopefully that will give him more confidence. I think Rosie is one of our players of the season though and he should play against QPR.
Lita did well for the last 10.

[bigmike]

does anyone know if there are any highlights online yet as I really want to watch the keystone cops part when the two woLOLves players ran in to each other Stearman and Quashie i think

[rabidbee]

The thing with Kelly is that he was beaten good and proper several times, and if Wolves had been better at finishing we'd have been a couple of goals down as a result. A clean sheet isn't only evidence of good defending. Fair play, as everyone points out, it was his first league start, and he was up against one of he best in the division, so it was never going to be easy. But that shouldn't also overinflate our response. He struggled at times, did OK at others times, and shows that he has the potential to be a good player if he continues develops.

We should make sure that Pearce is on a long contract asap.

The only other thing I would add is that sometimes we need to take a lot more time over things. High tempo is good when it pressures the opposition, but when it is us making sloppy mistakes we need to calm things down a little, especially when we're winning at home. Granted that's not always possible in open play, but there's certainly no need to take throw-ins in a rush, or for Fed to kick/throw out before we're ready, if it puts us under pressure. I'd really like to see the emphasis being put back onto doing the simple stuff well in the next month.