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

[Alphonzo The Zombie]

Nerrrrkerrrr Sherrrrrerrrrr werrrrr merrrr errrrr therrrr merrrr

Sterrrr Serrrrwerrrr - herrrr errrr merrrr ferrrr cerrrr

ederrrr - Terrrr errr therrr Perrr

[windermere_royal]

Nerrrrkerrrr Sherrrrrerrrrr werrrrr merrrr errrrr therrrr merrrr

Sterrrr Serrrrwerrrr - herrrr errrr merrrr ferrrr cerrrr

ederrrr - Terrrr errr therrr Perrr

piss off newbie as never been more appropriate

[Ian Royal]

Was interested to see how Roberts and Pog would work together .... not very well by early indications

Roberts looked a different player when he had Alf next to him


As for Brian's tactics... the weird sub of putting Gareth on the left and leaving Kebe on, to them bring on HRK and swap Gareth back over... what was the point? Just make a double sodding change. All that was achieved in that interlude was Kebe was still on the pitch being ineffectual, Gareth was on the left being ineffectual, and we went 2-1 down

Last season I though Brian was brave in his subs, making them early (~60min mark), but its almost like he become reactive instead of proactive. And I hate to say it, he seems scared

He does seem to sit and watch us fold on the pitch for 10 - 20 minutes and only take action when we conceed. Bit late by then really.

We're just so timid and happy to conceed initiative. Whenever we take the game to the opposition we look mid-table. Sadly that's for about 15 minutes each game. Perhaps we should start each match as if we were 1-0 down, it's only anticipating the inevitability of conceeding at least one goal.

[westendgirl]

I was not very impressed with Brian's tactics today i have to say, granted he had to change at 1-1 but why take out the unsung hero Tabb and shift Jobi in midfield (showing our lack of depth in centre mid on the bench), it clearly didnt work and led to a very unstable midfield and 2 further goals.

Sitting where I do makes me think it has something to do with the way Tabb came to the touchline about 5 minutes before he went off to get a spray on his thigh, so injury rather than tactics.

[RoyalBlue]

I was not very impressed with Brian's tactics today i have to say, granted he had to change at 1-1 but why take out the unsung hero Tabb and shift Jobi in midfield (showing our lack of depth in centre mid on the bench), it clearly didnt work and led to a very unstable midfield and 2 further goals.

Sitting where I do makes me think it has something to do with the way Tabb came to the touchline about 5 minutes before he went off to get a spray on his thigh, so injury rather than tactics.

Now you mention it, I do recall Tabb appearing to pick up an injury and hobbling around a bit earlier.

[Woodcote Royal]

I thought that performance was one of our best this season whilst this thread (if any further proof was needed ) shows just how many Grade "A" tossers support this club.

Whilst a few resident twats bang on about how Federici should be in the side because McCarthy failed to save 2 quality strikes, others seem to think getting a point from a side that would have gone 4th had they beaten us is further proof that we are are already relegated, and that McDermott has one foot out the door as I post

Everyone knows I'm not Shorey's biggest fan but the 2012 version is the best I've seen and if his acquisition (for free) is evidence of McDermott's failure in the summer transfer window, he'll have another job before he leaves our car park for the final time.

If our defence is so poor, how come our goal difference is only -6?

Still waiting for our first win is very frustrating but drawing 4 and losing 4 (not to mention leading in 4) does not justify at least 4 pages of utter nonsense above.

[Norfolk Royal]

I think replays show that McCarthy did give the Ruiz shot a little sort of wave as it went past him almost as if to say 'Hi, you're the ball, nice to see you, albeit briefly.'

[Royalclapper]

Most disappointing bit for me was the 3rd goal from Fulham. Sidwell had a criminal amount of room in a dangerous position before he passed to Berbatov who in turn had enough time to look and curl it in. I didn't think there was a great deal between the sides overall tbh.

[melonhead]

great game, annoyed that we let them back into it, and then got ahead of us, but then their side is full of quality, so......
in the end happy with a point, and great to see the spirit of the side getting us through the game.

mcarthy- decent game 7
cummings decent game, maybe lost his man for their 2nd 6
gorkss/marriappa - decent games 7
shorey- good at the back, provided some quality going forward 8
mcanuff- worked very hard, provided some attacking threat 8
ledge - worked hard, put in alot of hard work, scored a screamer 8
tabb - ran his socks off, played some nice passes, unlucky to be taken off 7
kebe- worked hard, played ok, provided some attacking impetus, but isnt attempting to go past his man, or use his speed at all 6
roberts- brilliant to have him back, held up well, created a fair ammount 8
pog- worked hard, won a few flick ons, and held up ok 7

[melonhead]

I think replays show that McCarthy did give the Ruiz shot a little sort of wave as it went past him almost as if to say 'Hi, you're the ball, nice to see you, albeit briefly.'

was a rocket, that flew between two blocking players, so he had no chance with it whatsoever

[Norfolk Royal]

I didn't say he did.

[melonhead]

excellent news

[melonhead]

Not sure whether to be annoyed or happy. We need to learn to keep the ball a bit more & defend better or we're going down. I can't fault the forwards too much but we are leaking goals like a sieve.

The spirit is obviously there to come back twice but when Fulham equalised, we completely crumbled & you knew it was a matter of time before they scored again. Only at 2-1 down did we then wake up a bit.

Pog / Roberts didn't look great to me as a partnership either. Thought McAnuff & Kebe were very good today although I'd like to see Kebe take on his man a bit more. Tabb & Legs did their jobs reasonably well but as per usual the opposition saw far too much of the ball.

That said, if we can average 1 point per game from now until Jan, we won't be cut adrift & hopefully BM will get some funds. Onwards & upwards.

you need to go to specsavers if you thought kebe played well...incredible...even the most ardent kebe fan like me would say he was rubbish

equal parts good, and frustrating imo

[melonhead]

just home, feeling desperately sorry for the Pog, he seems like a fish out of water playing our direct system, the few times he got the ball to his feet he did well laying it off , and he had a hand in our first goal.
What has happened to the Jimmy Kebe of a few seasons back that used to skin his full back?..

He's now up against PL full backs, not Chump fullbacks.

had the pace, and skill to go past his full back every time on saturday, nothing to do with the other s ability
its either personal choice to always cut it back and bring cummings into the game, or something hes been told to do

[melonhead]

Ha! fair point. I just don't think today was as gloomy as everyone is making out. If we play like that for the rest of the season, with a defensive tweak, we'll win games.

We'll win a few yes, but I don't think we'll win enough.

At the end of the day it's going to come down to whether we get the majority of breaks in the crucial matches or not. Last season we were lucky in that a lot of 50/50 matches went our way; hopefully the same will happen this season.

I'm not upset with how we played today. I thought we competed as well as our ability allows, and that for me is the problem. There's just a real lack of genuine quality in the squad and I think that's transmitting into a lack of excitement within the club and it's supporter base.

excitement wise newcastle and fulham were two of the best games ive seen at the madejski in recent years
win a game, and the fans excitement will come flooding back

[Norfolk Royal]

Clearly that isn't right as Kebe does what he wants, apparently.

[Norfolk Royal]

Btw, has anyone lol'd at the plastics who left with seven minutes to go. Quite evident on MOTD that there were plenty of empty seats in the north when our equaliser went in.

Also, think I'm right in saying this, when we went 2-1 down they said on R5L that people were leaving. I've never understood that mentality, and never will.

[melonhead]

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.

agreed- very pleased at how we tried to play it

until fulham scored, and gorkss reverted to hopeful hoofball into the channels for twenty minutes

[winchester_royal]

Ha! fair point. I just don't think today was as gloomy as everyone is making out. If we play like that for the rest of the season, with a defensive tweak, we'll win games.

We'll win a few yes, but I don't think we'll win enough.

At the end of the day it's going to come down to whether we get the majority of breaks in the crucial matches or not. Last season we were lucky in that a lot of 50/50 matches went our way; hopefully the same will happen this season.

I'm not upset with how we played today. I thought we competed as well as our ability allows, and that for me is the problem. There's just a real lack of genuine quality in the squad and I think that's transmitting into a lack of excitement within the club and it's supporter base.

excitement wise newcastle and fulham were two of the best games ive seen at the madejski in recent years
win a game, and the fans excitement will come flooding back

I agree, the matches themselves have been exciting, which is why it's worrying that fans have been coming out of them so negative.

[melonhead]

Clearly that isn't right as Kebe does what he wants, apparently.

oh yeah, forgot

must be a personal choice

he toys with them."we both know i can destroy you whenever i choose, but im going to wait until your fear of me destroys you for me"