Back from the game (genuinely) - Donny away

[Snowball]

I have the joy of living in Chesterfield too. I thought we played brilliantly last night. And coming in to work this morning Radio Sheffield had the Donny manager on, he was saying the we were the best team they had faced at home all year, its been a while since I heard an opposition manager say that about us. Lets keep it going until the end of season party against Brum!

Yeah, but what does he know, huh?

Just because he's a professional. Pah!

[Sarah Star]

It will be intresting to see whether we use the same formation in our next match to Crystal Palace. Do you think that's likely?

[floyd__streete]

I have the joy of living in Chesterfield too. I thought we played brilliantly last night. And coming in to work this morning Radio Sheffield had the Donny manager on, he was saying the we were the best team they had faced at home all year, its been a while since I heard an opposition manager say that about us. Lets keep it going until the end of season party against Brum!

Yeah, but what does he know, huh?

Just because he's a professional. Pah!

I can recall Ferguson and Wenger last season saying that Reading wouldn't go down. Bloody amateurs.

[RobRoyal]

Because Coppell got off lightly after getting it wrong again? Yeah, I should piss off for daring to question his management after scraping past Doncaster in the 81st minute.

Coppell didn't get it wrong again, you bloody fool. That's a laughable statement. We put in a much improved performance, deserved the win and were lauded as "the best team we've played by a million miles" by the opposition manager. But you wouldn't understand, because you weren't there, man...

Tis probably worth noting that in 20 games at the Keepmoat this season there have only been 27 goals - 14 by away sides, less than a goal a game, so a 1-0 win there is a very good result.

Indeed. The game was exactly as you'd expect, given those statistics - Donny defending with 2 banks of 4 and playing like the away side for most of the 2nd half.

Duberry out - Pearce in please.

Not sure if the head wound is behind Pearce's absense, but he is currently our best centre back!

agree with the first part but i think Bikey proved tonight that when he can be bothered he is oxf*rd miles above anything in this league including pearce

A big +1 there.

As for the formation, I would be stunned to see any change for the next game at Palace. Possibly a rejigging of personell - Cisse, Pearce or SHunt in perhaps. But the shape should remain the same. When we get back home, who knows...?

[shoey]

1st royalee doesnt seem to back the lads in any shape so don't worry what he says.
2nd I would expect us to match Palace's formation, so I think a switch back to 4-4-2, with S Hunt coming in for Gunnerson(although I'd prefer Harps but he was captain last night and can't see SC dropping him again).

We should beat Palace. They lost to Barnsley last night, and I hate Warnock with a passion. Hope Wally wallies him

[Snowball]

1 Best team I have seen is Reading

2 Reading had the best footballing ability we've seen this season

3 They played well tonight and had one of them gameplans intended to keep the ball away from the opposition with their fast, passing football.
Although the marking on our part was sometimes poor, the way they played was terrific.
Some of our players will have gone home feeling they've chased shadows all night.

4 Well done Reading. Gutted we never held on - conceding in the 82nd minute to lose after doing ok is always frustrating, but I'm sure we can bounce back - we need to, just to throw ourselves over the 50 point mark.

5 I felt that Reading could have gone up another couple of gears if they wanted to. I liked the look of their number 14, Kebe, very tricky and direct and caused us a few problems.

6 I thought Reading are the best side I have seen this season, along with Wolves. Rovers have nothing to be ashamed of by losing to these teams who are vying for promotion places.

7 In fairness though, when other teams have said they didn't "get going" against us we chuckle and point out its because
they couldn't get the ball of us and for the first half thats what Reading did to us - particularly Gunnarsson and Harper who I thought were terrific.

8 I agree, Reading are easily the best side I've seen at the KM this season.
There is, like in the Premiership, a group of four teams, Reading, Wolves, Birmingham and Cardiff
who are a cut above the rest. However, I could only see Reading surviving in the top tier out of those four.

9 What we saw last night is what we need to aspire to. Reading paid us a huge compliment by stringing five across midfield and incredibly playing Doyle on the right wing but it worked.
They looked a very good side and fully merited their points. Whilst we did create chances
I can't recall their keeper actually making a save!!
How I wish we could land a striker on loan of the quality of a Kitson but his wages will be ridiculous and that is the reality of our situation


10 Reading are the best team we have played IMO by a country mile.

[shoey]

Nicely compiled snowball.

All sounds well for this year and next

Cmon URZ!

[Snowball]

I find "gutted we never held on" amazing for a side on form, at home

[CMRoyal]

1 Best team I have seen is Reading

2 Reading had the best footballing ability we've seen this season

3 They played well tonight and had one of them gameplans intended to keep the ball away from the opposition with their fast, passing football.
Although the marking on our part was sometimes poor, the way they played was terrific.
Some of our players will have gone home feeling they've chased shadows all night.

4 Well done Reading. Gutted we never held on - conceding in the 82nd minute to lose after doing ok is always frustrating, but I'm sure we can bounce back - we need to, just to throw ourselves over the 50 point mark.

5 I felt that Reading could have gone up another couple of gears if they wanted to. I liked the look of their number 14, Kebe, very tricky and direct and caused us a few problems.

6 I thought Reading are the best side I have seen this season, along with Wolves. Rovers have nothing to be ashamed of by losing to these teams who are vying for promotion places.

7 In fairness though, when other teams have said they didn't "get going" against us we chuckle and point out its because
they couldn't get the ball of us and for the first half thats what Reading did to us - particularly Gunnarsson and Harper who I thought were terrific.

8 I agree, Reading are easily the best side I've seen at the KM this season.
There is, like in the Premiership, a group of four teams, Reading, Wolves, Birmingham and Cardiff
who are a cut above the rest. However, I could only see Reading surviving in the top tier out of those four.

9 What we saw last night is what we need to aspire to. Reading paid us a huge compliment by stringing five across midfield and incredibly playing Doyle on the right wing but it worked.
They looked a very good side and fully merited their points. Whilst we did create chances
I can't recall their keeper actually making a save!!
How I wish we could land a striker on loan of the quality of a Kitson but his wages will be ridiculous and that is the reality of our situation


10 Reading are the best team we have played IMO by a country mile.

It seems that whenever we win we get this type of comment from the opposition - f'rinstance I've got a friend who supports Sheffield United and he lumped a massive amount on us going up after we beat them. So what does this indicate? That we are hopelessly inconsistent and too often punch below our weight?

[floyd__streete]

i think Bikey proved tonight that when he can be bothered he is oxf*rd miles above anything in this league including pearce

A big +1 there.

I loves watching Bikey play, he is entertainment in himself, absolute chaos . Yesterday when he got himself into a bit of trouble on the touchline he simply backheeled the ball to (IIRC) Rosenior. In the last minute he was up at the Doncaster corner flag, fending off their players with his huge derriere. But he got bored of trying to see the game out so instead he turned and powered his way past them and started dribbling along the Doncaster byline and it almost resulted in a goal. Add in his mental hair and his propensity for sudden bursts of violence and I love Andre Bikey. What a guy!

[BR2]

1 Best team I have seen is Reading

2 Reading had the best footballing ability we've seen this season

3 They played well tonight and had one of them gameplans intended to keep the ball away from the opposition with their fast, passing football.
Although the marking on our part was sometimes poor, the way they played was terrific.
Some of our players will have gone home feeling they've chased shadows all night.

4 Well done Reading. Gutted we never held on - conceding in the 82nd minute to lose after doing ok is always frustrating, but I'm sure we can bounce back - we need to, just to throw ourselves over the 50 point mark.

5 I felt that Reading could have gone up another couple of gears if they wanted to. I liked the look of their number 14, Kebe, very tricky and direct and caused us a few problems.

6 I thought Reading are the best side I have seen this season, along with Wolves. Rovers have nothing to be ashamed of by losing to these teams who are vying for promotion places.

7 In fairness though, when other teams have said they didn't "get going" against us we chuckle and point out its because
they couldn't get the ball of us and for the first half thats what Reading did to us - particularly Gunnarsson and Harper who I thought were terrific.

8 I agree, Reading are easily the best side I've seen at the KM this season.
There is, like in the Premiership, a group of four teams, Reading, Wolves, Birmingham and Cardiff
who are a cut above the rest. However, I could only see Reading surviving in the top tier out of those four.

9 What we saw last night is what we need to aspire to. Reading paid us a huge compliment by stringing five across midfield and incredibly playing Doyle on the right wing but it worked.
They looked a very good side and fully merited their points. Whilst we did create chances
I can't recall their keeper actually making a save!!
How I wish we could land a striker on loan of the quality of a Kitson but his wages will be ridiculous and that is the reality of our situation


10 Reading are the best team we have played IMO by a country mile.

Blimey,what would they have said if we scored two?
Always good to read "Back from the game" as Daily Mail described it as a turgid game and Peter Beagrie said that the first half was dreadful.
Just a few comments from afar
Good to see Bikey back but didn't they have a dwarf up front on his own?
I saw our goal and Marek's pass to Armstrong looked fairly routine and not some fantastic defence-splitting ball but maybe he beat 10 men before that?
What a goal from the so-called lazy ginger one-welcome back to the best central striker in The Championship.

[Rex]

Great to read snowball. Perhaps some of the TB regulars should read that mantra learn it word for word.

[heathrow royal]

I loves watching Bikey play, he is entertainment in himself, absolute chaos . Yesterday when he got himself into a bit of trouble on the touchline he simply backheeled the ball to (IIRC) Rosenior. In the last minute he was up at the Doncaster corner flag, fending off their players with his huge derriere. But he got bored of trying to see the game out so instead he turned and powered his way past them and started dribbling along the Doncaster byline and it almost resulted in a goal. Add in his mental hair and his propensity for sudden bursts of violence and I love Andre Bikey. What a guy!

For me personally i thought he was our best player last night as he won every header and challenge. Fair enough there was 1 or 2 stray long balls which ended up for a doncaster throw.

[Vision]

1 Best team I have seen is Reading

2 Reading had the best footballing ability we've seen this season

3 They played well tonight and had one of them gameplans intended to keep the ball away from the opposition with their fast, passing football.
Although the marking on our part was sometimes poor, the way they played was terrific.
Some of our players will have gone home feeling they've chased shadows all night.

4 Well done Reading. Gutted we never held on - conceding in the 82nd minute to lose after doing ok is always frustrating, but I'm sure we can bounce back - we need to, just to throw ourselves over the 50 point mark.

5 I felt that Reading could have gone up another couple of gears if they wanted to. I liked the look of their number 14, Kebe, very tricky and direct and caused us a few problems.

6 I thought Reading are the best side I have seen this season, along with Wolves. Rovers have nothing to be ashamed of by losing to these teams who are vying for promotion places.

7 In fairness though, when other teams have said they didn't "get going" against us we chuckle and point out its because
they couldn't get the ball of us and for the first half thats what Reading did to us - particularly Gunnarsson and Harper who I thought were terrific.

8 I agree, Reading are easily the best side I've seen at the KM this season.
There is, like in the Premiership, a group of four teams, Reading, Wolves, Birmingham and Cardiff
who are a cut above the rest. However, I could only see Reading surviving in the top tier out of those four.

9 What we saw last night is what we need to aspire to. Reading paid us a huge compliment by stringing five across midfield and incredibly playing Doyle on the right wing but it worked.
They looked a very good side and fully merited their points. Whilst we did create chances
I can't recall their keeper actually making a save!!
How I wish we could land a striker on loan of the quality of a Kitson but his wages will be ridiculous and that is the reality of our situation


10 Reading are the best team we have played IMO by a country mile.

It seems that whenever we win we get this type of comment from the opposition - f'rinstance I've got a friend who supports Sheffield United and he lumped a massive amount on us going up after we beat them. So what does this indicate? That we are hopelessly inconsistent and too often punch below our weight?

To be fair, the sides Wolves were putting to the sword early in the season were saying the same thing about them. There was a period when Burnley were being talked up by everyone they played and its barely a month since Swansea were the new Brazil. Its nice to hear but it doesn't mean anything really. There are plenty of sides in this division that if the majority of their team play at their best can be very good indeed.

We're just one of a number of them in my view but (here's the controversial bit) we have a better more experienced manager than the others.

[Snowball]

1 Best team I have seen is Reading

2 Reading had the best footballing ability we've seen this season

3 They played well tonight and had one of them gameplans intended to keep the ball away from the opposition with their fast, passing football.
Although the marking on our part was sometimes poor, the way they played was terrific.
Some of our players will have gone home feeling they've chased shadows all night.

4 Well done Reading. Gutted we never held on - conceding in the 82nd minute to lose after doing ok is always frustrating, but I'm sure we can bounce back - we need to, just to throw ourselves over the 50 point mark.

5 I felt that Reading could have gone up another couple of gears if they wanted to. I liked the look of their number 14, Kebe, very tricky and direct and caused us a few problems.

6 I thought Reading are the best side I have seen this season, along with Wolves. Rovers have nothing to be ashamed of by losing to these teams who are vying for promotion places.

7 In fairness though, when other teams have said they didn't "get going" against us we chuckle and point out its because
they couldn't get the ball of us and for the first half thats what Reading did to us - particularly Gunnarsson and Harper who I thought were terrific.

8 I agree, Reading are easily the best side I've seen at the KM this season.
There is, like in the Premiership, a group of four teams, Reading, Wolves, Birmingham and Cardiff
who are a cut above the rest. However, I could only see Reading surviving in the top tier out of those four.

9 What we saw last night is what we need to aspire to. Reading paid us a huge compliment by stringing five across midfield and incredibly playing Doyle on the right wing but it worked.
They looked a very good side and fully merited their points. Whilst we did create chances
I can't recall their keeper actually making a save!!
How I wish we could land a striker on loan of the quality of a Kitson but his wages will be ridiculous and that is the reality of our situation


10 Reading are the best team we have played IMO by a country mile.

It seems that whenever we win we get this type of comment from the opposition - f'rinstance I've got a friend who supports Sheffield United and he lumped a massive amount on us going up after we beat them. So what does this indicate? That we are hopelessly inconsistent and too often punch below our weight?

Or we are third, with a game in hand, fabulous goal-difference, will beat Birmingham and get an automatic place?

[Woodcote Royal]

As i put in a previous post somewhere, its no coincidence that Rosenior got forward more last night when Bikey is in the team, as he knows Bikey has the pace to cover him, where as Rosenior doesn't trust Duberry or Pearce to do so therefore stays back more often. I hope this makes sense

Absolutely. He also had Doyle in front of him last night rather than Blakey

Rosenior may not have been at his best recently but full backs need cover to overlap with confidence and you won't get that from Little, Pearce and Doobs.

[shoey]

stretch also got forward well, maybe because gunnarsson was sitting too?

[CMRoyal]

1 Best team I have seen is Reading

2 Reading had the best footballing ability we've seen this season

3 They played well tonight and had one of them gameplans intended to keep the ball away from the opposition with their fast, passing football.
Although the marking on our part was sometimes poor, the way they played was terrific.
Some of our players will have gone home feeling they've chased shadows all night.

4 Well done Reading. Gutted we never held on - conceding in the 82nd minute to lose after doing ok is always frustrating, but I'm sure we can bounce back - we need to, just to throw ourselves over the 50 point mark.

5 I felt that Reading could have gone up another couple of gears if they wanted to. I liked the look of their number 14, Kebe, very tricky and direct and caused us a few problems.

6 I thought Reading are the best side I have seen this season, along with Wolves. Rovers have nothing to be ashamed of by losing to these teams who are vying for promotion places.

7 In fairness though, when other teams have said they didn't "get going" against us we chuckle and point out its because
they couldn't get the ball of us and for the first half thats what Reading did to us - particularly Gunnarsson and Harper who I thought were terrific.

8 I agree, Reading are easily the best side I've seen at the KM this season.
There is, like in the Premiership, a group of four teams, Reading, Wolves, Birmingham and Cardiff
who are a cut above the rest. However, I could only see Reading surviving in the top tier out of those four.

9 What we saw last night is what we need to aspire to. Reading paid us a huge compliment by stringing five across midfield and incredibly playing Doyle on the right wing but it worked.
They looked a very good side and fully merited their points. Whilst we did create chances
I can't recall their keeper actually making a save!!
How I wish we could land a striker on loan of the quality of a Kitson but his wages will be ridiculous and that is the reality of our situation


10 Reading are the best team we have played IMO by a country mile.

It seems that whenever we win we get this type of comment from the opposition - f'rinstance I've got a friend who supports Sheffield United and he lumped a massive amount on us going up after we beat them. So what does this indicate? That we are hopelessly inconsistent and too often punch below our weight?

Or we are third, with a game in hand, fabulous goal-difference, will beat Birmingham and get an automatic place?

I'm just wondering why so many opposition fans think that we are far and away the best team in the division, and yet our record doesn't reflect that.

[CMRoyal]

I saw our goal and Marek's pass to Armstrong looked fairly routine and not some fantastic defence-splitting ball but maybe he beat 10 men before that?

Simplicity is all we want from him in that situation and with two protective midfielders he can be in a position to play the right ball at the right time. It doesn't always have to be flash, but when his teammates know he is there to do it, they will be bold enough to make the runs, as Stretch did last night. He is involved in so much of our creative play, even if it's just with a slight tug of the strings.

[Vision]

All the above factors contribute but Its still all about nerve really. Both fullbacks were quite happy to overlap earlier in the season whether Bikey played or not. Even in the last few games they've been doing it for the opening 15 minutes or so before gradually retreating.

Of course actually keeping the ball for more than 3 seconds in able to give them time to get forward certainly helps and the extra central midfield body aided that. The real key though was in having a link forward who can act as a focal point in which to play in everyone around him. It was the major drawback in the make up of the squad all season in my view and has been a major reason why the ability to change certain things about our game has been missing.

Systems are all well and good but ultimately you need to have the personnel that are prepared to commit to them and actually have the ability to carry them out.