Back from the game - Leicester (H)

[West_Reading]

We were very lucky not to concede a penalty in the first half. It was when King or Wellens possibly ran across our box from a cross from the right and was definitely clipped, but he stayed on his feet and let off a shot, only for some heroic blocking. Was right in line with it in Y20 and if he'd gone down would have been a penalty.

[PieEater]

If we beat Leeds on Friday, we go 2nd for the evening... which puts huge pressure on Cardiff to beat QPR.

Not if Norwich beat Ipswich on Thursday.

[URZZ]

If we beat Leeds on Friday, we go 2nd for the evening... which puts huge pressure on Cardiff to beat QPR.

Not if Norwich beat Ipswich on Thursday.

I stand corrected Pie Eater.

GARN Ipswich.

[Ian Royal]

We were very lucky not to concede a penalty in the first half. It was when King or Wellens possibly ran across our box from a cross from the right and was definitely clipped, but he stayed on his feet and let off a shot, only for some heroic blocking. Was right in line with it in Y20 and if he'd gone down would have been a penalty.

Saw that replayed from several angles and you are absolutely spot on. Would have been a nailed on penalty.

Superb counter-attacking football from us today. Kebe was devastating and it was almost a case of job done in a three minute spell in the first 25. I was quite nervous that we were allowing Leicester so much of the game to try and get back into it. But we did really well.

[floyd__streete]

I liked Leicester today, the best footballing side I have seen in this division this season. And so they should be for the money they've spent. Passed the ball around very nicely and a combination of good goalkeeping from AMc and woeful finishing kept them off the scoresheet until King's late pearler. What a particularly liked about Reading was our phyical strength - Leigertwood and Karacan bullied them in the middle of the park and we looked quite literally a strong side. With Kebe absolutely unplayable we absolutely terrorised them at times. Good stuff to watch, good times.

[rollsy]

Leicester fans seemed to like us

http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=72298&st=40

anyone else notice the crap standard of the other footie forums?

[PieEater]

Well that was a fantastic win against a decent Leicester side. They had a lot of possession and some decent chances particularly up to our first goal, but after our two quick goals we were never going to lose it, particularly with McA's current form.

Long was just outstanding and had a hand in two goals. For the first he beat his man on the wing, cut in an set up Kebe with a tap in. The third after some great work and cross from Kebe, Long knocks it back to Hunt to slot in.

Kebe was close to MOTM scoring, making chances and missing a few sitters himself. When he's in the mood he's unplayable, and if he'd of been a bit more composed he could of had a hat trick.

Now on to Leeds and we hope the others drop points, it's a must win game for them and that result will probably decide whether it's automatic or the playoffs for us.

[LoyalRoyal22]

back in nottinghamshire, been home an hour. my ratings


alex-8
griff- 7
harte- 7
mills- 7
zurab- 7
kebe- 9
jobi- 8
karacan- 7
mikele- 7
long- 8
manset- 7

hunt- 7

[Whore Jackie]

Karacan. 5.5. Worst reading player today...
McAnuff. 8.

Is where I'd disagree. Leicester were excellent today, very strong in midfield and Karacan really helped out a poor-by-recent-performances-Leigertwood. No way 2.5 worse than McAnuff, who was his usual mix of bloody good and bit infuriating.

Kebe, of course, really impressed, though I thought Andy King had a cracking game for them. Shame he's signed a new contract, he'd suit the PL.

[LoyalRoyal22]

I thought we played very well, definitely deserved the win! Some players were better than others, but its the result that counts
McCarthy: 6.5: Solid game...but didn't have a lot to do, but made a couple of really good saves. Nothing he could do about their goal
Griffin: 8. Excellent game! Would have been man of the match if not for Kebe. Worked tirelessly all day and shut out their wingers and worked well up the pitch
Mills: 7: Good game, very solid, didn't put a foot wrong. Did well to shut out their number 9 when he came on
Khizanishvili: 7: Same as above.
Harte: 6.5. Didn't do a lot, took some good free kicks though
Karacan. 5.5. Worst reading player today... spent the 1st half running around like a headless chicken, can't remember him doing anything 2nd half.
Leigertwood. 6.5, looked injured for the last 20 mins of 1st half and a lot of the second half and seemed to struggle, bit didn't make many mistakes.
McAnuff. 8. Again, excellent game! Brilliantly taken goal and made their defenders look silly! Did really well to stay onside for a few runs down the wing.
Kebe. 8. MOTM. Outclassed and outpaced their defenders and wingers, well taken goal, brilliant run to set up the 3rd goal. Should have scored 3 or 4. Looked absolutely knackered by the time he got subbed!
Long. 7. Didn't really do much in the first half besides set up the first goal. Improved drastically in the second half.
Manset. 7. I thought he did really well, held up the ball well and has brilliant skills on the ball. Dropped a bit deep at times, perhaps he could fill a roll as an attacking midfielder?

Hunt. 6.5 Did brilliantly when he came on, good goal and made some good space.
Robson-Kanu. 5.5. Didn't really do anything, but only had 5 mins on the pitch.

And for everyone who was saying (around me anyway), that the ref was rubbish... thats a load of crap, he was strict at the start, set the tone for the game, played advantage well throughout the game.

Karacan was ok today, and been one of our better players this season, getting better and better. I would take him over James Harper, and he getting close to Sidwell`s level, if he can add some more goals, which i think he will.

[robb the royal]

Karacan. 5.5. Worst reading player today...
McAnuff. 8.

Is where I'd disagree. Leicester were excellent today, very strong in midfield and Karacan really helped out a poor-by-recent-performances-Leigertwood. No way 2.5 worse than McAnuff, who was his usual mix of bloody good and bit infuriating.

Kebe, of course, really impressed, though I thought Andy King had a cracking game for them. Shame he's signed a new contract, he'd suit the PL.

Like i said, i haven't seen many games this year, so don't have a lot to compare to...pretty sure its the 1st game i have seen by Leigertwood for example. I'm still pretty sure Leigertwood got injured in the 1st half, so that would explain why he apparently put in a "poor-by-recent-performances" showing. I have been trying to think all evening about what Karacan did for the team today...and I am really struggling to think of anything.

Karacan was ok today, and been one of our better players this season, getting better and better. I would take him over James Harper, and he getting close to Sidwell`s level, if he can add some more goals, which i think he will.

This is a joke right? I'm not denying that, on his day, Karacan is a good player, but at this point in time... he isn't up to the level of any of the central midfielders we had in 05/06!

[Maguire]

Agree with the poster saying Karacan was struggling and Jobi played well. Below and above average performances respectively, certainly compared to recently.

[rhroyal]

I haven't been to many games this season but I enjoyed that. Exciting game, could have won 6-3 instead. Kebe was unplayable at times; a real shame he shanked one great chance wide after a run from his own box. Would have been a great goal.

Has Shane Long been playing that well week in week out? As mentioned, I haven't seen us much this year but whenever I have, Long has been a class above the player I knew in pre-McDermott days. Today he was superb; he didn't need to score. He was quick, strong, hard working and showed quality on the ball. Bruma looked like a broken man at the final whistle; he can't have had many longer afternoons. As good as any Championship performances I saw from Doyle. Has he been that good all year? Because he's not getting many special mentions on here, which gives the impression of business as usual.

Kebe was probably MOTM, but I know from here and the few games that I have seen that it's the same story with him. He doesn't do it every week, even if he is less inconsistent under McD. I really get the impression that Long does this every week though.

[Basingstoke Royal]

Our central midfield really struggled today because they were playing so deep allowing king to pick up the ball time and time again and build attacks. McDermott had done his homework though and knew they struggle with teams soaking up the pressure and hitting them quickly on the break. I was worried for first 20mins but I have to say it was tactical genius. Then in the second half we put Noel on who stood in the hole where king, Oakley and wellens had so much space.

We did a job on them today.

[Ian Royal]

Kebe, Kebe, Kebe.... That's at least how often his name should have appeared on the scoresheet today.

That could have been the stand out performance of the season, and that would be saying a hell of a lot because we've had some great individual performances. Instead, it was "just" a brilliant performance that should have been more.

Good goals all. Leicester could have had a few as well. We've been quite open the last few games, but we can certainly score a hatful.

[NR_Royal]

Yay for Manish and Claridge bumming us!

[Thomas L'Heureux]

When I was doing my coaching badges I was told that there is no such thing as being 'unlucky' in football (in terms of execution). There's widespread feeling that we rode our luck today but I wouldn't agree. The misses by Yakubu and Vassell were down to poor technique rather than bad luck. Likewise I felt we got a lot of blocks in because, although Leicester played a nice passing game, their build up was slow and their formation made the final third congested for them.

Having Jimmy and Shane-o's pace on the counter-attack was so important today because of the aforementioned reasons. Leicester were pretty to watch but they played at such a slow tempo when going forward that as soon as we won the ball back we had 60% of the pitch to run into with not many of their players in-between. If Leicester had stretched the pitch more and kept more shape in midfield rather than throwing men forward I think they could've really hurt us today. They've got some talented players but their tactics were wrong.

[NR_Royal]

I do find it amazing how we have such a pacy attack and yet such a slow defence.

[fester_royal]

Really struggled to think what I was most pleased about after that display.. Defensively sound, perfect tactics and game plan of countering a slow back four, strong quick forward movements, superb passing.. Looked a real deal today! Praying the bubble holds out till June!!

Can't believe some of the comments about jem!! The guy works tirelessly! The reason no one can remember what he did in a game is because he's doing the donkey work no one watches.. Tracking runners, breaking play up.. Jem over harper any day!

[PieEater]

I noticed a couple of times when Reading broke the Leicester side didn't exactly bust a gut to get back. They'd leave 5 up from the previous attack.

Since they were playing 433, that only works if two of the attacking 3 track back (Vassell and Kamara), they weren't so there was loads of space for Jimmy to run riot.