by andrew1957 »
26 Oct 2009 23:12
Ian Royal Right I'm actually feeling strangely positive after that. It may have something to do with winning money at the bookies (£6 profit), or it may be because that was probably the best I've seen Reading play all season. Not that that is saying a great deal.
Generally we played well, had the better possession and chances but coulnd't quite convert anything. With a team in form and confidence we'd have scored 4 or 5 IMO. I'm happy for Rodgers to get a stay of execution after that, which as many will realise is a bit of a turn around for me in recent weeks. That comes with a caveat though. He HAS to play the same 11 in the next game. More changes and he can oxf*rd off.
Federici: 8 - no chance with the goal, two great saves to deny Fryatt + another to stop Howard late on.
Tabb: 8 - yet again not a foot wrong, not a lot going forward but solid defensively
Pearce: 7 - solid defensively, one clanger that didn't matter much not great distribution
Mills: 6 - solid defensively, awful distribution... can you say HOOF.
Bertrand: 5 - ok defensively, poor going forward. Two occasions he could have broken, twice he had a heavy touch in field straight to a defender. I may be being harsh.
McAnuff: 5 - his usual self, very good in patches in the first half mostly anonymous second half. Very unlucky not to score though.
Siggurdsson: 6 - looked good but wasted out wide IMO, still better there than Howard would have been
Howard: 6 - looked quite good, but didn't contribute enough and gave the ball away to easily too often
Matejovsky: 7 - brilliant in places with excellent skill and passing vision. Still gave the ball away far too cheaply in non-through ball situations
Church: 6 - excellent young player who just hasn't quite got the finnishing we needed
Rasiak: 6 - best game I've seen for him. was a nuisance and not bad. obviously lacking confidence
Long: 6 - ok couple of nice touches nothing more
Kebe: 6 - same but with better touches and one of the worst shots I've ever seen
I pretty much agree with you on all counts so it saves me from writing it out again. Frankly if we had Kevin Doyle in the team tonight we would have won. I guess that we are getting what we should expect if we sell a 6.5 million pound striker and replace him with a 300,000 one.
I cannot criticise either the manager or the team tonight and think if they carry on giving 100% like that things will turn round before long.
It just seems that when you are down lady luck just kicks you in the teeth at every turn. We had zero luck tonight but well done to the guys who gave their all.
