Back from the Everton (H) game

[urz13]

Cummings can actually take a first touch that doesn't involve giving the ball away to an opposing player in an extremely dangerous position.

[winchester_royal]

:lol: Cummings can actually take a first touch that doesn't involve giving the ball away to an opposing player in an extremely dangerous position.

So can Gunter, what's your point?

[PieEater]

I saw the game a bit different to a lot of you, I thought HRK had a great game and caused a lot of problems and was our best outlet. Legs did well to keep Fellani pretty quiet when he dropped deep and I think that was the difference, with him quiet Everton were ordinary.

We gave away a comedy goal but having got to half time just 1-0 down I thought we had a chance.

Roberts ran the channels well and Morrison played a blinder, but for me the difference was HRK and Ledge.

[urz13]

Anyway:

Feds - 9 he was class today, just like last season.
Gunter - 5 appalling defensively, but ok going forward.
Morrison - 9 superb, all game long.
Gorkks - 6 first half awful, second half he was excellent.
Shorey - 8 still a class act. Much better defensively than Gunter and more potent going forward.
McAnuff - 7 wasn't really involved much but wasn't afraid to run at Baines.
Tabb - 8 moved the ball quickly, retained possession, won tackles....did everything right.
Leigertwood - 7 not his best game, but had Fellaini under complete control for 99% of the match.
Robson Kanu - beat his man consistently, put crosses into great areas and held the ball up. Seriously underrated player.
Roberts - 7 could have done better with a few half chances. Touch was a little off but still played well with Alf. Won a header!
ALF - 9 scored 2, and it could have been more. Got into lots of dangerous positions.

Hunt - 7 held the ball up well, stayed onside.

[urz13]

:lol: Cummings can actually take a first touch that doesn't involve giving the ball away to an opposing player in an extremely dangerous position.

So can Gunter, what's your point?

Gunter took a terrible touch, gave it away to Pienaar who ran through and luckily shot wide. On another day it would have been 2-0 to them.

[Schards#2]

Real life affirming moment at the final whistle, all the better for being so totally improbable at half time.

I can't understand the "I'd rather we were in the championship" naval gazers, there's no result we could get in the championship that would feel better than that.

[ZacNaloen]

My nephew saw his first win yesterday, which made it extra sweet.

Massive sense of relief at the final whistle, the season starts here now that the first win is out of the way.

I thought Gorkss was still oxf*rd awful, even in the second half, the rest of the team stepped up though.

But if we really want to talk about why we won that game look no further than the performances of ALF, Roberts, Tabb, Shorey and Morrison.

[RoyalBlue]

McDermott hasn't been listening to or reading about doubts. But he'll read the papers tomorrow.

So Fordham made all those quotes from McDermott up?

You know the bit when they were counting the errors for Everton's goal? Did anyone notice how all bar one of them were Gorkss' Four errors from one player in the build up to a goal, now that's impressive.

actually all bar two were Gorks - first was McAnuffs quite amazing mostly up but also central and back into the penalty box skier; and then Morrison flapped a bit

I believe McAnuff's came after Gorkks had fluffed his first clearance.

My first game since Stoke and the negativity of everyone I spoke to at half time was a stark reminder of the doom and gloom that envelopes much of our fan base. For some of us, being able to attend the odd game is always a highlight of the week

So, against a side that started the day in 4th, Everton had the better of the first half but "dire" is not a word I would use to describe our own efforts and I guess that's why our second half performance was not the huge surprise for me that it was for others.

As Brian said, this victory has been coming for a while but so many prefer to congregate in their pits of despair, doggedly refusing to acknowledge the obvious signs of improvement that have been there for weeks.

Maybe it's because those people have been to a lot more games than you that they have a clearer idea of what has been happening. And the first half was really dire because the team weren't even doing the one thing they are good at i.e. getting into other team's faces. This was very clearly acknowledged by McDermott after the game who gave that as the reason for the stark difference in performance between the two halves.

A couple of other points not in response to WR.

Yes, Everton had a couple of penalty claims. However, we should have had one prior to that which was given when the defender marking Roberts as a ball came in put both arms around Roberts' body and pulled him back. However, despite having a clear view of the incident, the 'Assistant' on the East Stand side decided to remain in a trance as he had for most of the game.

McAnuff didn't have a great game but Everton were very quick to double up on him, so clearly regarded him as a significant threat.

[windermere_royal]

David Moyes on GOALS ON SUNDAY, should be interesting.

[Royal With Cheese]

I had two bets today, both a fiver at 100-1

ALF to score the first goal, Reading to get exactly two goals
ALF to score the last goal, Reading to get exactly two goals



Oh, that was for 2-0, BTW

Good of you to let everyone know this after the event.

[Royal Rother]

But he lost didn't he?

[Wimb]

But he lost didn't he?

Yeah by the sounds of it.

[Maguire]

Walter Mitty's making it up again.

2-0 Reading and Le Fondre to score first at 100-1?

[Royal Rother]

Le Fondre to score both goals in a 2-0 win is how I read it.

[Wimb]

Walter Mitty's making it up again.

2-0 Reading and Le Fondre to score first at 100-1?

Sounds about right tbf. At the game yesterday Roberts 1-0 was 66/1 at the bookies.

[Maguire]

Walter Mitty's making it up again.

2-0 Reading and Le Fondre to score first at 100-1?

Sounds about right tbf. At the game yesterday Roberts 1-0 was 66/1 at the bookies.

I just wanted to call him Walter Mitty tbh

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Seeing Brian doing his 'phew' face on MOTD was funny. Couldn't be happier for him.

[royalp-we]

Seeing Brian doing his 'phew' face on MOTD was funny. Couldn't be happier for him.

It was good to see 51% of our ownership look pleased with the result too

[ZacNaloen]

I liked Antons fist pumping as well

[biscuitman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QfkYaBy4p8