Back from the game/the PC - Fulham (H)

[AthleticoSpizz]

^ agree Optimist

We sure seem to flush out an abundance of delirious fools from our own ranks at times like these.

[royalsroyalsroyals92]

First game of the season for me. WHAT THE oxf*rd WAS WITH THE 'BIGBADWOLFCLAPPERSPASTICFEST' AT THE START???

Group of footballers like 5hitty dance song when they are doing well,
Group of fans get forced to listen to it, but its okay as we are doing well.
Group of footballers stop winning games,
Group of fans forced to listen to it, but dont want to because it is 5hit and has no significance anymore

[buzzby]

On the plus side we are the first game on.

Match of the Day at 10.25pm: 1.Reading/Fulham 2.Arsenal/QPR 3.Wigan/West Ham 4.Man City/Swansea 5.Villa/Norwich 6.Stoke/Sunderland

[AthleticoSpizz]

Chelsea not play today then

[Cripple Creek]

I thought Shorey was excellent today and looks like the only player (our GK excepted) that is completely comfortable playing at Premiership level. It is hard to judge the strikers on this basis as the service they receive is so poor, which is really because our midfield is so weak. After eight games it seems clear that the main problem is simply that we don't have the players to compete at this level, this and our tactics. The long ball game just isn't going to cut it at this level and it's a bit worrying that Brian seems to be saying things like "we'll be alright", "if we keep playing like we know we can we'll be ok". It doesn't exactly overwhelm me with confidence.
For the record, I thought Kebe's best moments today - other than the assist - were when he tracked back to defend. One of the commentators on the live stream I watched was quite vitriolic in his condemnation of him when at one stage instead of trying to take on a man Kebe booted the ball at the opponent to get a throw in. My optimism hasn't increased with this result and it is a bad sign that at this early stage of the season I am just hoping that there are three other teams worse than us.
Apologies if it has already been mentioned but can anyone enlighten me as to why Guthrie wasn't even on the bench today? I sincerely hope that doesn't signify us having given up on him. If we were always just planning to play the long ball game I do wonder why we bought him in the first place. I feel a bit sorry him to be honest.

[TheRoyalJoe]

Fordham said on twitter that he was dropped, not injured. He also suggested that he might not have much of a future here.

[muddyfeet]

I've missed what's happened to Pearce......

[MmmMonsterMunch]

I thought Shorey was excellent today and looks like the only player (our GK excepted) that is completely comfortable playing at Premiership level. It is hard to judge the strikers on this basis as the service they receive is so poor, which is really because our midfield is so weak. After eight games it seems clear that the main problem is simply that we don't have the players to compete at this level, this and our tactics. The long ball game just isn't going to cut it at this level and it's a bit worrying that Brian seems to be saying things like "we'll be alright", "if we keep playing like we know we can we'll be ok". It doesn't exactly overwhelm me with confidence.
For the record, I thought Kebe's best moments today - other than the assist - were when he tracked back to defend. One of the commentators on the live stream I watched was quite vitriolic in his condemnation of him when at one stage instead of trying to take on a man Kebe booted the ball at the opponent to get a throw in. My optimism hasn't increased with this result and it is a bad sign that at this early stage of the season I am just hoping that there are three other teams worse than us.
Apologies if it has already been mentioned but can anyone enlighten me as to why Guthrie wasn't even on the bench today? I sincerely hope that doesn't signify us having given up on him. If we were always just planning to play the long ball game I do wonder why we bought him in the first place. I feel a bit sorry him to be honest.

I don't get the Guthrie situation. Plays at Liverpool & then not even on the bench. Odd. Agree about Shorey - he has looked a class act each game. I also think him & Jobi link up very well.

[muddyfeet]

Reckon he's fallen out with BM

[robbieroyal]

Fulham must love it that Pog went for the extra dosh and came to us.

They got Berbatov who was again outstanding today.

Think Pog is obviously a good player but at the moment IMO is not fitting in.
Like wise with Guthrie, trouble is don't think Brian has the balls to drop Pog.

Roberts > Pog

[Man Friday]

Good riddance to him. It's simplistic bullshit to say that he doesn't fit in because we play the long ball game. Guthrie just hasn't fitted in, full stop. Worth a punt a couple of months ago but hopefully he'll leave in January. He's offered very little so far.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Blogged match report from today's game : http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/reading/id/166?cc=5739

[windermere_royal]

Arsenal Vs QPR main game on football first as opposed to a 6 goal thriller..weird thinking

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Arsenal Vs QPR main game on football first as opposed to a 6 goal thriller..weird thinking

But first on Match of the Day .........

[windermere_royal]

Arsenal Vs QPR main game on football first as opposed to a 6 goal thriller..weird thinking

But first on Match of the Day .........

5 minutes as opposed to the whole 90

[RoyallyFcuked]

Fulham must love it that Pog went for the extra dosh and came to us.

They got Berbatov who was again outstanding today.

Think Pog is obviously a good player but at the moment IMO is not fitting in.
Like wise with Guthrie, trouble is don't think Brian has the balls to drop Pog.

Roberts > Pog

Agree with this. It could be Pog's contract that he can hardly be dropped though. What people forget is that came to us for the money (never thought id say that about an RFC player) and to link up with fellow russian AZ, not because he genuinely wanted to play for Reading FC.

Pogrebnyak has started every game and looked average at best. Noel Hunt has looked more of a threat and thats saying something. Pog has scored 2 goals (so have Hunt and now HRK), a quality header granted, and a fluke goal. For me, its time to see Le Fondre and Roberts partnered together. ALF can offer us a bit of flair and confidence on the ball, which we are lacking. He is also someone who can link up play when we are attacking better than any of our other fowards. Roberts has valuable experience and holds the ball better than Pog from what ive seen.

The ALF and Roberts partnership has looked promising whenever they have played together (which isnt much I suppose), towards the end of last season (even though they have never started together) and even for the 5 minutes they played together at the end of Newcastle game, we looked much more threatening. Change it up Brian.

[Percy's Rocket]

The positive: The team's fighting spirit and the fact they didn't get up.

However, when the false euphoria of twice coming back from the dead to grab a point subsides, reality should set in. Fact is, this was another two invaluable points thrown away. No doubt many of those who, this time last week, were confidently predicting Fulham would be our first win will now point to Fulham's form and position in the table and claim that we did really well to get a point!

Our midfield is just not good enough. I like Jay Tabb who could be described a a hardworking and good, honest professional but no way is he a Premier League player. Furthermore, as Legs noticeably tired, and started losing his men and gifting possession away like Christmas had arrived early, we had no one who could replace him. What is most annoying is that a player who could have brought some much needed attacking and tackling strength to our midfield is spending a lot of his time on the Fulham bench! Would Sidwell not have welcomed the chance of returning to us? Was he really not affordable?

And just what the hell does McDermott say to put the team to sleep at half-time?! In the first half workrate was tremendous, we were in Fulham's faces, passing was good (not just hoof) and we were in control of the game. Yet the team returned to the pitch after half-time and played like 11 zombies! That's how Fulham got back into the game and came away with a point. Maybe Brian would be better off staying in the dugout when the team go off for half-time!

Have to agree with all of this. Even in the first half when we had the better of them Fulham always looked as if they could pass better than us and had quite a few off target efforts. Just as well Legs got his shot right when it came along because we did not create much else until they had scored twice. Huff puff and effort will not keep us up. We need more class and skill on the ball to match the undoubted effort and work rate. Fulham are not great shakes but they have spent what it takes to stay in this league.

[Stuboo]

On the plus side we are the first game on.

Match of the Day at 10.25pm: 1.Reading/Fulham 2.Arsenal/QPR 3.Wigan/West Ham 4.Man City/Swansea 5.Villa/Norwich 6.Stoke/Sunderland

Sweet.

[Wimb]

Tried to cobble some rational thoughts together for The Tilehurst End, sadly they probably reflect my fairly cr@p mood right now.

http://www.thetilehurstend.com/2012/10/ ... -jaws-of-a

Good write up, not related to today's match but why have we not tied Pearce down to a new deal.

No idea but I can't imagine he's going to sign on again while he's second choice behind a guy that's not kept a clean sheet all season and is the wrong side of 30.

[urz13]

Leigertwood was absoloutely class today. Had Berbatov under control for the whole game, passed well etc. MOTM.
We didnt hoof it that much today, so I'm not sure what everyone is complaining about in that respect. Got it down and offloaded it quickly to the wingers, it worked well.
McAnuff again excellent and Kebe kept possession well. CB's were solid, the goals came from mistakes by the rest of the players.
Fight and spirit like that might just be what squeezes us into 17th.