Back from the game....... 'Boro

[URZZ]

Actually I'd try Karacan and Tabb together, it might wake Leigertwood up a little.

That'd be a bit too lightweight IMHO, need Ledge in the middle... every team needs that oomph.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

The midfield goes missing every game. They are either too far up the pitch or too far back.

[Ian Royal]

Actually I'd try Karacan and Tabb together, it might wake Leigertwood up a little.

Agree with this personally. Legs has got to be first choice when in form, but he isn't and getting dropped might be the impetus he needs to find it.

[FiNeRaIn]

After seeing what our midfield is now. An out of form James Harper is a massive upgrade, massive LOL at all those who forced him out and expected better.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

could be BIG problems for reading i hope not but could be

[Pseud O'Nym]

we are RFC not fcuking Barcelona.

Agreed. I also have it on good authority that we're not Real Madrid.

[loyalroyal4life]

definately need a new central midfielder, maybe someone who may create some decent chances

[Royals-lad14]

definately need a new central midfielder, maybe someone who may create some decent chances

with howard out on loan only other person who could offer us that in the middle is jobi. May also be able to lead the team better when in the middle of the park like someone said up there^^. i assume kebe will be fit against burnley? if so id personally play:
feds
cummings (rb)
gorkss(cb)
pearce (cb)
mills (lb)
kebe (rm)
karacan (cm)
mcanuff (cm)
hrk (lm)
church (st)
le fondre (st)

[Compo's Hat]

Can we now put to bed who our number 1 and better keeper is?

A few good saves and then a basic error. Was nowhere near the corner at the end and was lucky to get away with it.


Considering the heat i'm surprised the manager took so long to bring on the subs but happy with the point. You know it's going to be a long season when pressure is building on you at home towards the end of the game. Clean sheet is a welcome sight despite Cummings drifting into the centre far too may times giving the left winger all the freedo in the world.

[Arch]

You know it's going to be a long season when ....

I'll be happy if it's as long as last season.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

despite Cummings drifting into the centre far too may times giving the left winger all the freedom in the world.

Yeah what was that all about?

I noticed both cummings & Jobi drifting infield when playing defensively. Cummings was almost a 3rd centre back at times

[Sarah Star]

despite Cummings drifting into the centre far too may times giving the left winger all the freedom in the world.

Yeah what was that all about?

I noticed both cummings & Jobi drifting infield when playing defensively. Cummings was almost a 3rd centre back at times

I think they were just trying to play the whole game in the shade. Only ever saw the 2 'boro players out in the sun before being passed the ball. Everyone else had to move out into the heat to keep up with them.

[The Cube]

Federici to the rescue with a quite superb first half double save.

There's no such thing as a "superb double save". If you have to make two, that just means that the first save was rubbish. In fact, Federici's tendency to pat the ball out to an opposition forward is his second biggest weakness - but it also means he has lots of chances to make double saves.

[If you still hate Futcher]

I'm another one who can't understand the negativity and understand even less the OP. I thought that was a pretty good 0-0 and the performance was a million miles from some that we've been subjected to. Jobi, for me, was also much more visible throughout the game and seems to be growing into the captaincy role.

All in all I thought we coped pretty well with a team who are at the moment probably playing as well as they will this season and for the first half at least we were more threatening. It was only when we changed formation that they really came at us. Pearce had his best game I've seen so far and for me was the pick of the back four and you've also got to credit Federici for his saves. I was also pleased with him throwing the ball out more, although he did put Mills in trouble with a couple.

I agree that we would probably have won had Long been still with us, but he's not and the team are still finding their feet without him to lead the line up front.

Lastly, we still need to work on our corners as we haven't quite mastered heading them back to the taker from in front of goal

[Tilehurst End]

Glad to see we are now able to defend corners and free kicks.

Didn't see the best of Jobi creatively but boy did he put a shift in.

Not the best day for them to serve warm beer.

[Maguire]

Federici to the rescue with a quite superb first half double save.

There's no such thing as a "superb double save". If you have to make two, that just means that the first save was rubbish

What a load of nonsense.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Federici to the rescue with a quite superb first half double save.

There's no such thing as a "superb double save". If you have to make two, that just means that the first save was rubbish

What a load of nonsense.

Agreed, what a load of absolute cobblers!

And while I would agree it was a much better performance on Saturday, and a definite two steps forward from most of the crap we've seen this season, there were obvious issues - the most notable being the lack of any real attacking creativity in the second half. Therefore I would say that if the defensive side of the game can be held at that level consistently our issue really is with attacking.

As such we need an attacking option in the middle and so I would suggest - bearing in mind the financial restrictions - Jobi moving into the centre to partner someone with a lot of strength (Leigertwood, if he was on form, could be the other half). This would leave any two from Obita, Kebe and Antonio to make up the two wingers and hey presto we should be able to vary the attacks created and at least keep the oppo guessing.

By the way, on another tack, Cummings is just edging player of the season for me at the moment.

[If you still hate Futcher]

Agreed, what a load of absolute cobblers!

And while I would agree it was a much better performance on Saturday, and a definite two steps forward from most of the crap we've seen this season, there were obvious issues - the most notable being the lack of any real attacking creativity in the second half. Therefore I would say that if the defensive side of the game can be held at that level consistently our issue really is with attacking.

As such we need an attacking option in the middle and so I would suggest - bearing in mind the financial restrictions - Jobi moving into the centre to partner someone with a lot of strength (Leigertwood, if he was on form, could be the other half). This would leave any two from Obita, Kebe and Antonio to make up the two wingers and hey presto we should be able to vary the attacks created and at least keep the oppo guessing.

By the way, on another tack, Cummings is just edging player of the season for me at the moment.

Do you get the feeling that if McCarthy had made that save it would be right up there with Banks/Pele - Federici can't do anything right for some

It's often said, for good reason, that a good team is built on a strong back four. If the defence can keep improving then the attacking players should have more confidence going forward and so we'll see improvements there too. They do need to work out that Long is not there any more to chase balls into the channels so, if they have to play that way, at least give Church (or whoever else is upfront) a chance to catch them.

Not a dig but you seem to have forgotten about Hal in your list of wingers.

[melonhead]

Still think karacan should be playing, but no one seems to agree with that!!

I agree. Tabb offers very little. Doesn't win anything in the air, doesn't carry the ball all that well, doesn't pass the ball, just scurries around all day

tabb won loads of headers in the boro game.
either that of my eyes eyes are broken.
which would explain why people on the bus, and on the radio were saying that leigertwood played much better, when i thought he was still very poor.

[melonhead]

thought it was a decent game, we dominated the first half, but couldnt convert half chances we made.
second half we played ok, but tired in teh heat, and when pushing forward to try for the win got exposed a couple of times.
considering it was Vs an unbeaten 2nd place team, i was more than happy with the effort, and entertainment on show,
4 unbeaten, signs the defence have now met each other, and some good attacking stuff. at least i now fel we are moving roughly forwards