Norwich - back from the game

[Jackson Corner]

MOTD running order; AV/ManU, Ars/Ful, Eve/Sun, Wig/WBA, Sto/QPR, Sou/Swa, Rea/Nor. Starts at 10.50pm this evening

Big club bias as usual. I don't envy the editor who has to find the highlights from our game?

[Hoop Blah]

Does anyone want to tell me that we should'nt have been more professional in the Summer window now?

More professional???? What did we do that wasn't professional?

To be fair I think there is some argument for the view that we were unprofessional in the way we put together a squad capable of staying up this season.

We did some good business yes, but have we really strengthened the side over last season with the signings made?

[RoyalBlue]

Just looked at a photo of our very first PL squad. In that one picture you can clearly see why we are in the bottom three and looking doomed this time around. Just how may of this lot would have made it into that team/squad?

[Ian Royal]

Championship top of the table clash for the second week running.

We were solid, if uninspiring in midfield and without any cutting edge upfront.

Federici - 6 Sod all to do. One easy save from Holt and one woeful clearance straight to Norwich.
Gunter - 6.5 dived pathetically at one point but otherwise tidy
Shorey - 7 set piece delivery not great, otherwise a cut above our other defenders, linking really well with Jobi.
Morrison - 7 revelation. Looks good, not particularly slow and is big and strong. One or two mistakes that went unpunished
Gorkss - 5 Kept losing Holt all game or leaving him for Gunter or Shorey which is stupid, missed the goal by a mile with a decent chance and was generally rubbish. Did make some important interceptions / tackles on occasion. Shouldn't be playing atm.
Tabb - 7 MOTM Played well again, busy player but needs some quality next to him
Ledge - 6 started off ok but faded badly and started giving the ball away all over the place. Saved Federici's blushes with a crucial challenge when the keeper gave it away. Please stop shooting from range. You've had your two goals for the next three months.
McAnuff - 7 caused problems, worked hard, linked well with Shorey - decent effort at goal.
McCleary - 7 same as McAnuff (apart from linking with Shorey obviously) but was the more lively first half
Roberts - 6.5 did really well out wide and deep, had it taken off his toes in the box a couple of times. Didn't look like scoring
Hunt - 6 caused problems first half winning the ball, but didn't link with Roberts well and didn't threaten the goal

Pog - 6 didn't see much of the ball, what game there had been had gone to pieces by the time he came on, with it just being brainless end to end rush after another.
Kebe - 7 some really good running. Right Wing looks good for us. If only someone could tee up a goal from there.
ALF - 6 one tough effort that didn't come off. Barely saw the ball. No point bringing him on once the game gets like that, more than any of our strikers he needs quality service.

Another game we really ought to and need to win that we've drawn. Still, we haven't shipped goals for a change (although that's more Holt's fault with some poor finishing) and at least we didn't lose the lead. Can't help but feel we'd have lost to a decent team, or one with a decent attack. Still, if we can keep a couple of clean sheets McDermott may be able to start doing something with the side.

I'll take it as another step in stemming the tide of shipping goals and losing games. Maybe we'll put a few wins together at some point soon.

[ReadingJim]

Dire game.

Hey, but spirits up, lads: We have an easy match next weekend and an even easier December - should be points-a-plenty rolling in - probably be mid-table by early Jan...

[ManchesterRoyals]

Championship top of the table clash for the second week running.

We were solid, if uninspiring in midfield and without any cutting edge upfront.

Federici - 6 Sod all to do. One easy save from Holt and one woeful clearance straight to Norwich.
Gunter - 6.5 dived pathetically at one point but otherwise tidy
Shorey - 7 set piece delivery not great, otherwise a cut above our other defenders, linking really well with Jobi.
Morrison - 7 revelation. Looks good, not particularly slow and is big and strong. One or two mistakes that went unpunished
Gorkss - 5 Kept losing Holt all game or leaving him for Gunter or Shorey which is stupid, missed the goal by a mile with a decent chance and was generally rubbish. Did make some important interceptions / tackles on occasion. Shouldn't be playing atm.
Tabb - 7 MOTM Played well again, busy player but needs some quality next to him
Ledge - 6 started off ok but faded badly and started giving the ball away all over the place. Saved Federici's blushes with a crucial challenge when the keeper gave it away. Please stop shooting from range. You've had your two goals for the next three months.
McAnuff - 7 caused problems, worked hard, linked well with Shorey - decent effort at goal.
McCleary - 7 same as McAnuff (apart from linking with Shorey obviously) but was the more lively first half
Roberts - 6.5 did really well out wide and deep, had it taken off his toes in the box a couple of times. Didn't look like scoring
Hunt - 6 caused problems first half winning the ball, but didn't link with Roberts well and didn't threaten the goal

Pog - 6 didn't see much of the ball, what game there had been had gone to pieces by the time he came on, with it just being brainless end to end rush after another.
Kebe - 7 some really good running. Right Wing looks good for us. If only someone could tee up a goal from there.
ALF - 6 one tough effort that didn't come off. Barely saw the ball. No point bringing him on once the game gets like that, more than any of our strikers he needs quality service.

Another game we really ought to and need to win that we've drawn. Still, we haven't shipped goals for a change (although that's more Holt's fault with some poor finishing) and at least we didn't lose the lead. Can't help but feel we'd have lost to a decent team, or one with a decent attack. Still, if we can keep a couple of clean sheets McDermott may be able to start doing something with the side.

I'll take it as another step in stemming the tide of shipping goals and losing games. Maybe we'll put a few wins together at some point soon.

Agree with most but i thought Roberts had a good game deserved a 7

[Para Handy]

These back from the game threads always give me a good LOL. Admittedly, today's was made by Bandini in a different way.

Generally, though, I'm amazed at the amount of Premier League standard managers that appear to post on this site. Whilst, I accept it's a discussion forum, the amount of invective heaped on a decent manager and players from people that seem to think they know better is nothing short of risible.

Chill fecking out. It's only a game. You can still go out in public after losing 7-5 to Arsenal. No one will really care.

Brian is a decent bloke. I'm proud that he's manager of Reading. I'm also proud of supporting my team. Yeah, they might not be Man United but I like them the way they are. I also think Brian is doing a decent job with the squad he's got. A squad that are your football team and appear to be, without exception, trying. I really can't understand the mentality of people slagging off players on here. I'm quite laid back, but the only time I think I've lost it at football, was with a fellow Reading fan, booing Keith Jones coming on as a substitute. Yeah, that's gonna help isn't it.

No problem with constructive criticism but tbh I don't see a lot of that on these threads. Just people who seem to think they know better whining. Better at running the Stadium, running the team, negotiating the contracts etc. etc.

[AthleticoSpizz]

agreement from the OAP HNA Massive section

[jumpers for goalposts]

Nicky Shorey was our best attacking player until Kebe came on- tells you all you need to know. To quote Tony Cascarino, Ledg had a 'holocaust of a match'.

Tabb ran his socks off as per usual, but we are a team utterly devoid of quality.

Once again our best centre half was not in the squad, neither was our best central midfielder. Our best winger started on the bench, and our two best finishers did not start the game and got no service at all when they were brought on. How Jason Roberts gets a game ahead of the two of them is beyond me. He cannot dribble a football 5 yards forward without falling over his feet. What a truly horrific game of football that was

[AthleticoSpizz]

^ made me laugh, anyway

[RoyalBlue]

Championship top of the table clash for the second week running.

We were solid, if uninspiring in midfield and without any cutting edge upfront.

Federici - 6 Sod all to do. One easy save from Holt and one woeful clearance straight to Norwich.

Ledge - 6 started off ok but faded badly and started giving the ball away all over the place. Saved Federici's blushes with a crucial challenge when the keeper gave it away.

I thought Feds' 'woeful clearance' reached quite some way upfield (outside of shooting range) and with plenty of covering players in between. I also had a feeling that the clearance only became necessary after Legs had gifted possession away in the first place!

Legs made a habit of giving it away cheaply today. Worst occasion was when he could have opened up and played an easy pass to Kebe who was free on the right but instead opted to play a simple side foot pass straight down the middle to the feet of a Norwich player. Legs was then left wanting for pace and chasing shadows as that player set up a counter attack. It was his blushes that were saved by a crucial challenge from Morrison (I think).

These back from the game threads always give me a good LOL. Admittedly, today's was made by Bandini in a different way.

Generally, though, I'm amazed at the amount of Premier League standard managers that appear to post on this site. Whilst, I accept it's a discussion forum, the amount of invective heaped on a decent manager and players from people that seem to think they know better is nothing short of risible.

Chill fecking out. It's only a game. You can still go out in public after losing 7-5 to Arsenal. No one will really care.

Brian is a decent bloke. I'm proud that he's manager of Reading. I'm also proud of supporting my team. Yeah, they might not be Man United but I like them the way they are. I also think Brian is doing a decent job with the squad he's got. .

The squad he has got is the result of his transfer dealings over the summer! Now he's not even prepared to give the two highest profile and most expensive of those signings (I suspect) a starting place in the team (Guthrie being dropped from even the matchday squads before he got 'injured').

And Coppell was a decent bloke too but it didn't prevent him failing.

[Para Handy]

What a truly horrific game of football that was

Get a girlfriend. Hopefully she'll stop you going.

[winchester_royal]

What a truly horrific game of football that was

Get a girlfriend. Hopefully she'll stop you going.

Nice to see you engaging in rational deb8 as always Para.

Honestly, what is it with RTG's these days.. Opinions that differ to yours are permitted lads

[AthleticoSpizz]

Nice to see you engaging in rational deb8 as always Para.

Honestly, what is it with RTG's these days.. Opinions that differ to yours are permitted lads

funny that they all concurred the end of last season

[Ian Royal]

Does anyone want to tell me that we should'nt have been more professional in the Summer window now?

More professional???? What did we do that wasn't professional?

To be fair I think there is some argument for the view that we were unprofessional in the way we put together a squad capable of staying up this season.

We did some good business yes, but have we really strengthened the side over last season with the signings made?

Yes, we absolutely have strengthened our squad and team over last season's. In every area. Have we strengthened it enough. Obviously not.

Pog, Roberts, Hunt, ALF, Church > Roberts, Hunt, ALF, Church
McAnuff, McCleary, Kebe, HRK > McAnuff, Kebe, HRK, Antonio
Ledge, Tabb, Karacan, Guthrie, BROFLyn > Ledge, Tabb, Karacan, Bryn
Gorkss, Pearce, Mariappa, Morrison > Gorkss, Pearce, Morrison
Shorey, Harte, Gunter, Cummings > Harte, Griffin, Cummings, Mills
Federici, McCarthy, Taylor > Federici, McCarthy, Andersen.

Unfortunately Brian is showing an inability to find an effective strike partnership, although goals aren't a huge problem for us. He didn't strengthern our midfield nearly enough, which was a major weakness. He's had problems with key players from last year either injured or seriously out of form - Federici, Gorkss, Ledge, Karacan, Kebe. And he's seemingly got / had off the field problems with Pearce, Guthrie and Federici.

This season has just gone wrong from the start. Our squad isn't really that far off good enough to stay up with the right additions. But McDermott is floundering a bit and isn't good at the key to PL survival - starting well.

[winchester_royal]

Nice to see you engaging in rational deb8 as always Para.

Honestly, what is it with RTG's these days.. Opinions that differ to yours are permitted lads

funny that they all concurred the end of last season

Err...wut?

[AthleticoSpizz]

opinions?

They rarely differed

[sandman]

Nice to see you engaging in rational deb8 as always Para.

Honestly, what is it with RTG's these days.. Opinions that differ to yours are permitted lads

funny that they all concurred the end of last season

That was before they realised McD was a big meanie.

If we don't re-sign Matejovsky in January to play with Guthrie in CM I fear for our season.

[Ian Royal]

Championship top of the table clash for the second week running.

We were solid, if uninspiring in midfield and without any cutting edge upfront.

Federici - 6 Sod all to do. One easy save from Holt and one woeful clearance straight to Norwich.

Ledge - 6 started off ok but faded badly and started giving the ball away all over the place. Saved Federici's blushes with a crucial challenge when the keeper gave it away.

I thought Feds' 'woeful clearance' reached quite some way upfield (outside of shooting range) and with plenty of covering players in between. I also had a feeling that the clearance only became necessary after Legs had gifted possession away in the first place!

Legs made a habit of giving it away cheaply today. Worst occasion was when he could have opened up and played an easy pass to Kebe who was free on the right but instead opted to play a simple side foot pass straight down the middle to the feet of a Norwich player. Legs was then left wanting for pace and chasing shadows as that player set up a counter attack. It was his blushes that were saved by a crucial challenge from Morrison (I think).

Agree on the second point about Ledge. As for the one about Fed, yes it did make it a long way up the pitch, but Norwich looked to me to bodies forward at least equal to ours back and room to run at our defence, something that gives me nightmares. But for Ledge's tackle (the only reason I've given him as high as 6) It looked to me like they'd be in and had plenty of options.

It's just another sign that Federici hasn't put behind him this season's reversion to calamitous keeping. He didn't get punished though and it was really his only mistake, so with the clean sheet maybe this game was what he needed to get over it and recover his form.

[winchester_royal]

Well of course, we were playing well and everyone could see it.

We're not playing particularly well now, some choose to point that out and others choose to defend the performance.

It would be nice if we could share opinions without resorting to mindless insults and put downs. Especially as that's the purpose of a discussion board.

Both sides are guilty of this but ironically enough it's the RTG's who are the most unreasonable when it comes to simply deb8ing a simple difference of opinion.