Back from the game - Derby

[Svlad Cjelli]

Mills is only going to get better as he gets older and more experienced.

Harte is only going to get worse as he gets older and (even) slower.

So an easy decision for me.

[melonhead]

^ that

[bigmike]

Harte is all about his set peice and free kick ability.. The issue with Harte seems to be his defending.. Every game hes played this season hes been skinned at will by the attacker that he was against.

He never won a tackle against Watford and unfortunatly hes a defender so being able to defend is a requirement. Stick with Mills I reckon. At least he adds a bit more attack to the wing and he does win tackles

[Svlad Cjelli]

In my book a defender first and foremost should be able to defend. It's all very nice if he can take free-kicks too, but if he's not a good enough defender then he shouldn't be playing no matter what else he can do.

Someone else in the team can take free-kicks, but no-one else can in the team can cover for him defensively.

[andrew1957]

What this thread shows is that some nobbers are so prejudiced by their opinions that they cannot watch a match without being influenced by their past views. I really try and just look at what is in front of me which seems fairer.

How anyone can say Church had a “bad” game is beyond me. Not world beating stuff but solid and a good foil for ALF.

The same goes for Mills. Not world beating but steady. Of course I would like a fully fit Shorey or Armstrong instead - but Mills did ok as I said earlier.

The only other option we have at LB is to move Jobi there at some point. HRK is better than Jobi now at LW IMO so if Jobi is to be Captain, he might be more influential at the back. He has always done well at FB when called on during games so might be worth a go. Mills would then have time to develop his game in training.

[Extended-Phenotype]

All in all a more typically disappointing Reading performance – i.e. one in which we had large spells in control but couldn’t get it in the back of the net. Defence is still a steaming pile of nonsense, anybody sighing with relief that it’s fixed needs to stop reading what the previous poster said and copying it and perhaps entertain the idea of participating in the sport somehow.

Dropping Jem worked a treat; decent spell without him and now he’s back he’s much improved.

Don’t understand the downer on HRK. If he makes one cross from which we score, he’s done a job.

Not entirely sure who was supposed to be marking Robinson for their first goal; will need to look at that again.

The second goal showed Mills to be rather weak, but his game wasn’t all bad and one of his set-pieces did find Alf rather nicely.

Church worked hard, but no dice. Even his ‘hailed’ cross that lead to our second needed rescuing.

Alf was simply brilliant. Massive pat on the back for his goals and workrate.

Moving onwards, drop Church and start Manset (who has been twice as prolific and infinitely more creative), keep pushing Karacan to create, and knock some sense into that defence or let the heads roll. JM’s wallet got us into that mess at the back, it should only be fair that his wallet gets us out of it, if need be.

[Woodcote Royal]

I guess he could always demand the return of the £40m he's supposed to have invested in this club.................................feel free tell us how this would help.

[Whore Jackie]

In my book a defender first and foremost should be able to defend. It's all very nice if he can take free-kicks too, but if he's not a good enough defender then he shouldn't be playing no matter what else he can do.

Someone else in the team can take free-kicks, but no-one else can in the team can cover for him defensively.

We are seemingly lacking free-kick takers though. Particularly right-footed ones. The one at the end in stoppage time was crying out for a bit of quality. Pity we couldn't have got Harte on just for that, as Hunt's effort was woeful. Can't recall ever seeing Church take a corner before and he had a run of three or four last night.

[ZacNaloen]

Church was taking some corners last year, it's nothing new for him to do so

[floyd__streete]

Oh FFS go & top yourself and end it now. Jesus. We are averaging 2 pts per game

16 points from 12 games isn't remotely near an average of 2 points per game, brilliant spin there!

[Forbury Lion]

Mills brings absolutely nothing to our game. Was completely at fault for their second (and childishly tried to blame the Lino)

I misread that and thought he was trying to blame Kingsley!

[bigmike]

In my book a defender first and foremost should be able to defend. It's all very nice if he can take free-kicks too, but if he's not a good enough defender then he shouldn't be playing no matter what else he can do.

Someone else in the team can take free-kicks, but no-one else can in the team can cover for him defensively.

We are seemingly lacking free-kick takers though. Particularly right-footed ones. The one at the end in stoppage time was crying out for a bit of quality. Pity we couldn't have got Harte on just for that, as Hunt's effort was woeful. Can't recall ever seeing Church take a corner before and he had a run of three or four last night.

Harte wouldnt have helped in that case as hes a left footer

[fester_royal]

If ever proof was needed that the public should never be listened to.. Drop mills for Harte? How short are your memories?? Cause I can vividly recall the numerous times Harte has been shafted for pace in the last six months.. Odd how the number of crosses into the box has halved since mills inclusion!

[Hoop Blah]

Mills is only going to get better as he gets older and more experienced.

Harte is only going to get worse as he gets older and (even) slower.

So an easy decision for me.

Not too fussed who is the better to be honest, it's more a case of commenting on Mills' performance and strengths and weaknesses. He didn't have a shocker last night he did, again, get too many passes wrong and was too weak for the second (regardless of it being a foul or not - which I didn't think it was - he was too easy to beat).

I don't think Harte is a long term answer either but it doesn't make Mills good enough.

I don't think being young and having the potential to improve means he will get to the desired level either. I hope he will though as what he brings to the team is very useful for the team.

[Barry the bird boggler]

There is nowt wrong with Ian Harte, as I recall he was in the Championship team of the season last year and contributed 10 (?) goals or so to a side that finished 5th and got to the play off final. Therefore he's hardly a general weak link really is he?

Without him we are generally crap at set pieces so the question Heston needs to ask is whether he is over his loss of form yet....

[Svlad Cjelli]

There is nowt wrong with Ian Harte, as I recall he was in the Championship team of the season last year and contributed 10 (?) goals or so to a side that finished 5th and got to the play off final. Therefore he's hardly a general weak link really is he?

Without him we are generally crap at set pieces so the question Heston needs to ask is whether he is over his loss of form yet....

He's not getting any younger, though....

[manny96]

Do we have no better right-footer for free kicks than Hunt. That was embarassing last night.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Do we have no better right-footer for free kicks than Hunt. That was embarassing last night.

He scored with one against Brum at St Andrews a few years go. Went under the wall.

[FiNeRaIn]

HB - Re Mills / Gooding... I only heard about 10 mins of commentary towards the end but that was what I came away with. Maybe his thoughts evolved into something less positive in review?

Gooding doesn't rate him that much is clear...dellor does however. I take goodings footballing credentials > dellors every day of the week.

[If you still hate Futcher]

Can anyone from Y25/Y26 shed any light on what happened at the near post for Derby's 1st goal last night. All I could see was the ball going in and both Pearce and Gorkss going toward it (with a couple of Derby players) then somehow it gets headed across our box for an easy tap in with all 4 lying on the floor.

I was in the North Stand so didn't get a great view at the time and can't make it out on SSN despite rewinding several times.