I hate this game - back from Wembley

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by royalsroyalsroyals92 » 30 May 2011 22:41

Uke
pea Can hold our heads high, sang louder when we were losing that Swansea when they were cruising. Dominated the game for most of it, thought they were boring as hell and we gifted them goals, they need a massive overhaul if they're to stand a chance next seaosn. Won't be disappointed to have the likes of McCarthy, Cummings and Pearce starting ahead of Feds, Khiz and Griffin in the future. Our talented academy prospects can be nurtured at the club next season rather than on loan and I've got loads of easy away fixtures to go to.

Really couldn't care much about being in the Premier League but would have been nice to have been able to celebrate after the final whistle. Reading fans leaving the stadium singing with pride and smiles on faces, I love this club!


^^ This! A new team will be great.

I think next season will really be the test of Brian as a manager. We still had SSCs momentum, the next team will be the first with no connection to those glory days. Good Luck Brian!!

Had a great time at the back of Block 237! Missed our first as I was drowning my sorrows at half time. Shame about the result :(

Looking forward to the Posh next season as it's my "local" match


agree totally over the whole "testing Brian" aspect... but why do you think we still have SSCs momentum? surely the whole godawful football year that was 2009 killed that off?

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by Libertine » 30 May 2011 22:51

So is Churchy gonna score 30 for us next year? Manset? Granted I said early on that we would never make up for losing Gylfi's 20 goals and Long popped in 25. I liked being proven wrong in that case. So who is gonna be next year's Long? Because tbf I don't see us spending one bit, it appears we will only be offloading more talent for the money. Anyone we bring in will be young, on the cheap and looking toward the future in terms of years into it.

I am not as worried about our defense with Cummings and Pearce back there...in fact I think we'll be stronger defensively with them in the line-up. It is the offense I worry about and replacing Long whom I will be shocked if he doesn't leave. :|

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by FiNeRaIn » 30 May 2011 23:01

Two new strikers needed in the summer. Cox and carew please.

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by ShrewsandRoyals » 30 May 2011 23:17

Well what can I say - It's been a struggle getting to games this last season. Sadly I have found that having a lad playing at a high level kills your chances of watching any team regularly other than watching him play. So I was really looking forward to this one.
As many have said the defence must hold their hands up and accept their part in what happened today, then again the corner count was not acceptably converted into goals. The two early bookings of the defenders were significant as they were then treading cautiously with every tackle. The pushes, holding, and sneaky blocking off of the covering runner when Swansea had passed the ball peed me off somewhat greatly. We weren't as good at hiding our infringements, however minor. Sadly this skill is becoming increasingly important in the game today.
On the positive side they came out of the blocks racing in the second half (more annoying that they had let the swans get them riled and on the back foot in the first half) and gave us the hope of the comeback (I actually quoted the 3-0 down with 22 mins to go 4-3 win at half time). If they had laid down and died I would have been really disappointed. For the first time in my life my 12 year old giant of a lad turned to me screamed and grabbed me to jump up and down hugging me after the second goal AND he was wearing my 1978 team shirt! - he's never done that before and oddly is probably something i shall savour from the game for ever.
Oh and I got to say hello to someone I haven't seen in years, Schards, and finally met Royal Lady who were sat 5 rows infront of us!
There are a significant number of us on here who have ridden the Reading FC roller coaster for a long time and faced the good times and bad times. But that is part of football, that's why we are still here, watching, cheering, crying and debating. And that's why we will be back in August watching and following however we can whether it be at the games, on the net, or on the phone logged into sky sports central.
It's done and dusted - onwards and upwards.

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by Archie's penalty » 30 May 2011 23:52

Jerry St Clair The stirring 20 minutes at the start of the second half made even a cynical old sod like me swell with pride. Wonderful, wonderful stuff. We had Swansea on the rack through sheer endeavour, but i felt we needed 3 goals in those 20 minutes before we'd run out of puff. And so it transpired.

When I reflect in a few days time, I think I'll look back on Wembley 2011 with much more fondness than Wembley 1995.


This^^^^ went absolutely mental when we scored that second goal. Will always remember that.


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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by URZZ » 31 May 2011 00:11

It's a tough one, Swansea ultimately deserved it but I think 4-2 flatters them.
IF Jem's shot went in, we'd of won, we all know it, the momentum would of took us through... But, if, if, if... The whole way home, myself and my family have used the word 'if' countlessly, fact of the matter is we didn't win, time to move on. We had 20 minutes of the game, nothing more.

Swansea had us chasing for 70 minutes and played their possession game very well.

Today's ultimate difference was pace, Sinclair and Dyer absolutely terrorised Griffin and Harte, Dyer especially, albeit Sinclair getting the hat-trick and MOTM award. They could have had 5 penalties (by this I obviously don't mean they have 5 calls), whenever Dyer ran into our box he was always a pace ahead every one of our defenders, including Mills and you just thought he'd skip away and get dropped. Dyer reminds me of Ashley Young. Whenever Swansea came forward, you just felt your heart racing at the possibility of them scoring, again, regardless of whether we had more shots or not, fact is they looked more dangerous for the majority of the match. Whilst at the game, I didn't think either of the penalties were legitimate penalties, but having seen them on TV, they were stonewall penalties.

I'm a fan of Khish, but he fcuked it up for us today well and truly... quite embarrassing. Yeah, yeah he put that one tackle in on Sinclair which prevented an almost definite goal but, whatever. At half-time, I just sat there staring at the '3-0' on the screen, I genuinely couldn't believe it if I'm honest.

... on another note, Kebe was sensational for a player who had been out for 6 weeks, you are world class Jimmy. When he was on the run, taking 1, 2, 3 players on, very much like when Dyer had the ball, you got that feeling a goal was coming... But you just knew he wasn't all fit. If only Kebe had played that second leg against Cardiff, one game may have just made a difference. Who knows, another can of worms there. Fed up with maybe's, if's and but's.

Highlight of the day was actually after the game. Going back to The Green Man pub, singing oldies such as, "OOH - Sammy Igoe", "Jamie Cureton, what a bargain..." etc.

Who knows what we'll do next season, all depends who comes, who goes...

End of the day, our best player is McDermott, his tactics were off in the first half, but whatever he said at half-time, we came out a different team entirely.

Altogether, we should be proud. I'm bloody proud... It's been said many a time, and it's getting a bit old but we were 12th in February, and that is important to keep remembering, we have over achieved. Not to mention that FA Cup QF... We were one game away from two trips to Wembley.

URZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by parky » 31 May 2011 00:20

Agree with the points about those 20 mins,they really were incredible and filled me with an immense sense of pride in my club. Karacan hitting the post is defiantly the defining moment of the 'almost comeback' and can be described as the 'Archie' moment of Wembley 2011 had that gone in I feel we would now be supporting a premier league club once again.

As for how I feel now, contemplating in the car back it felt different to the other two playoff finals mainly because I didn't expect to win today and it didn't feel like we we're good enough to go up to the next step. Anyway here's to the next step and to the great away games that are on offer next year.

URZZZZZZZZZ!

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by The Prisoner » 31 May 2011 00:30

At half time I just wanted it to not be 5 or 6 by the end of the game. There was a general feeling of shock on the concourse!

Agree with all the ^^ posters.....the first 20 mins of the second half was immense and only then did we really start making some noise, but Griffin, Khiz and Harte had a big say in all of their goals, and Sinclair and Dyer showed us up defensively. Long chased everything, but was a touch anonymous, and if we can get £3m+ for him - with £2m put back into Mackail Smith - I will be very happy. Liegertwood looked a little tired, Jobi didn't get into the game and Jimmy has his frustrating hat on. Karacan MOM for me......ran his heart out for 90 minutes.

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by URZZ » 31 May 2011 00:32

The Prisoner At half time I just wanted it to not be 5 or 6 by the end of the game.


Agree... I'm glad Reading reinvested some pride in the shirt. Those 2 goals were huge for us today, I'm not gonna lie I genuinely thought Swansea were going to bag 5 at one point in the game, let's be honest, who didn't?

Proud we gave a scrap.


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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by PEARCEY » 31 May 2011 00:37

Nightmare day. Had an argument with my missus first off this morning and then reversed the car out straight into a basket ball stand my son hadn't moved back and scratched the side of my car and it wasn't even 8:00am.
Only returned home at midnight as the friggin megabus at Victoria was nearly two hours late.
As for the game no team has a hope in hell with defending like that. Mills did ok. Kish, Harte and Griffin had nightmares. What was Griffin playing at with such a stupid and needless penalty. Both he and Kish could have walked as they were both on yellows when they gave their pens away. Defensively it was embarrassing. We didn't close them down inside the box quickly enough and desperately lacked pace on Harte's flank.
The second half was much better and very brave because I was dreading a hammering.Griffin then goes and throws it away with a ludicrous challenge.
In the end honour in defeat...but its still a defeat.
I'm much more pissed off than I expected to be.
Well done to Swansea though. They deserved it.

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by RobRoyal » 31 May 2011 00:44

How much does it say about my expectations for Reading in the playoffs that tonight I'm mostly relieved that we restored some pride in the second half? At HT I was thinking it would go down as one of the worst cup final chokes of all time. At least most neutrals will remember this as one of the best (failed) comebacks.

It's so sad to say it after a season where we really overachieved, but I don't think anyone except McAnuff, Hunt and (since he can cite fitness issues) Kebe will go home tonight and resolve that they gave even an average performance. The back 4, all of them, were useless in major incidents across the game. Legs, for my money, and Karacan completely lost the battle of the midfield until the second half and hey, if Jem's shot had gone in I'd be praising him for leading the comeback. Well done on the recovery - that goes for many of the team - but it was basically too fucking late.

Never seen Shane Long so anonymous :(

Grateful that we got a fantastic 25 minutes to celebrate and dream, instead of another 45 of watching Swansea take us apart mercilessly. Mills' goal will live long in the memory, fruitless though it eventually was. We were 2 inches from coming back from 3-0 against Man Utd, and today the same margin short of the same feat. In the cold light of day we'll have to concede that if Swansea could defend set-pieces their win would have been utterly comprehensive.

Why can't we get to one of these finals and not concede 3 or 4? Why can't we at least lose one in standard circumstances, instead of a) throwing away a 2 goal lead, b) throwing away a lead in ET by scoring a comedy own-goal or c) starting better and then pissing a whole season up the wall with a total defensive capitulation?

Congrats Swansea. A fine team backed by good support.

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by Uke » 31 May 2011 00:45

royalsroyalsroyals92
Uke .I think next season will really be the test of Brian as a manager. We still had SSCs momentum, the next team will be the first with no connection to those glory days. Good Luck Brian!!

Had a great time at the back of Block 237! Missed our first as I was drowning my sorrows at half time. Shame about the result :(

Looking forward to the Posh next season as it's my "local" match


agree totally over the whole "testing Brian" aspect... but why do you think we still have SSCs momentum? surely the whole godawful football year that was 2009 killed that off?


There are (soon to be were?) a lot of players with links back to that time - Long, Bryn, Ivar, Feds, etc.

I think next year is when the apron strings are finally cut and we have a fresh, young team.

And I am looking forward to seeing it!

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by Uke » 31 May 2011 00:49

RobRoyal How much does it say about my expectations for Reading in the playoffs that tonight I'm mostly relieved that we restored some pride in the second half? At HT I was thinking it would go down as one of the worst cup final chokes of all time. At least most neutrals will remember this as one of the best (failed) comebacks.

It's so sad to say it after a season where we really overachieved, but I don't think anyone except McAnuff, Hunt and (since he can cite fitness issues) Kebe will go home tonight and resolve that they gave even an average performance. The back 4, all of them, were useless in major incidents across the game. Legs, for my money, and Karacan completely lost the battle of the midfield until the second half and hey, if Jem's shot had gone in I'd be praising him for leading the comeback. Well done on the recovery - that goes for many of the team - but it was basically too fucking late.

Never seen Shane Long so anonymous :(

Grateful that we got a fantastic 25 minutes to celebrate and dream, instead of another 45 of watching Swansea take us apart mercilessly. Mills' goal will live long in the memory, fruitless though it eventually was. We were 2 inches from coming back from 3-0 against Man Utd, and today the same margin short of the same feat. In the cold light of day we'll have to concede that if Swansea could defend set-pieces their win would have been utterly comprehensive.

Why can't we get to one of these finals and not concede 3 or 4? Why can't we at least lose one in standard circumstances, instead of a) throwing away a 2 goal lead, b) throwing away a lead in ET by scoring a comedy own-goal or c) starting better and then pissing a whole season up the wall with a total defensive capitulation?

Congrats Swansea. A fine team backed by good support.


And knowledge of the oppositions strengths and weaknesses!

In many ways Brendan was lucky to be playing us rather than a team he had no inside knowledge of.


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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by PEARCEY » 31 May 2011 00:49

So am I Uke. The likes of Cummings and Pearce would have performed better than Kish and Griffin/Harte today thats for sure.Add in McCarthy, HRK and Taylor together with young established players like Karacan and Mills and the future is very positive.
Just a word about Karacan. I thought he was brilliant today.

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by savage 4 england » 31 May 2011 01:15

I agree, I thought Karacan was immense.

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by URZZ » 31 May 2011 02:10



^They really couldn't help themselves could they^
:roll:

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by RobRoyal » 31 May 2011 02:18

Just seen the highlights (yes, I like to do that to myself), and I've got to say how proud they made me feel, despite the horror of today. There's a great moment at 3-2 where the commentator reels off the list of great playoff finals, and says "and this one could be the daddy of them all!" We almost pulled it off, and Monk's block after we hit the post was an incredible piece of defending. Both penalties though, christ. We were rancid at the back today, and though Swansea only had 4 shots on target we thoroughly deserved to ship 4.

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by The Real Sandhurst Royal » 31 May 2011 07:11

An awful 1st half at 3- down I was thinking 5 or 6 at a half time.

We turned up in the 2nd half, making a game of it with Swansea very much on the back foot. It gave the 40,000 fans belief and there moment an Wembley, they got behind the team and so nearly witnessed one of the best comebacks in RFC history bar for a post.

Time to move on re-group, bring some fresh blood in and go again in what will a tougher Championship league next season with the West Ham, Birmingham, Brighton and Southampton now in the mix.

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by under the tin » 31 May 2011 07:54

The Real Sandhurst Royal An awful 1st half at 3- down I was thinking 5 or 6 at a half time.

We turned up in the 2nd half, making a game of it with Swansea very much on the back foot. It gave the 40,000 fans belief and there moment an Wembley, they got behind the team and so nearly witnessed one of the best comebacks in RFC history bar for a post.

Time to move on re-group, bring some fresh blood in and go again in what will a tougher Championship league next season with the West Ham, Birmingham, Brighton and Southampton now in the mix.


Amen to that, brother

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Re: I hate this game - back from Wembley

by Norfolk Royal » 31 May 2011 08:04

Calmed down a bit now. Oh, what might have been. Had Khiz not cleared it straight to Dobbie, had Griffin not put in a needless clumsy challenge, had Jem's shot and the rebound gone in Wembley would have shook. Had Kebe been more incisive with his crosses, had we got a penalty for handball, had Shane scored what was for him a relatively easy chance, I could go on.

At the end of the day the defensive frailties which we all knew were there came glaringly to the spotlight, undone by the pace of Swansea's front three. Tbf they have been marginally the better team than us all season and beat us three times. At times they play some good football, but boy, they didn't like it up 'em when we got going in the second half.

My abiding memory of the day? Shortly after we came back to 3-2 I turned to look at my 12-year old daughter who was sitting next to me, and she was sitting there literally shaking from head to toe with the nervous excitement of it, I'd never seen her like that. I had all but converted her before this, all her friends are Norwich fans, but on the way back she said to me: 'I'm Reading till I die.'

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