Kuhl in, Akpan OUT

[RoyalBlue]

http://youtu.be/gv-GTYPOXYw

Not sure where else Hector is supposed to pass. Clearly Akpans fault, he's barely moving at walking pace towards the ball, if he was aware he could've easily popped it back to Federici or Pearce first time.

Pass was very under-hit to a player already being closed down. Nor did there seem to be any warning communicated to Akpan who is clearly at fault for not having eyes in the back of his head!

Adkins post-match remarks clearly suggested that he did think there were better pass options available but, if in doubt (and he should have been) hit long or play safe and hit into row Z!

[Royality creeps In]

Clearly the fault of Hector.

You could see after the goal he had his head in his hands realising he fkd up!
Akpan didnt have a chance, but lets blame him as it appears to be rather fashionable among the numpties on the board.

[tidus_mi2]

I'd like to see the goal but from what I've heard it's about 80% Hector's fault and 20% Akpan's.

Hector for what sounds like a shocking pass and Akpan for not reacting to it well enough and being easily dispossessed. After I've actually seen the goal I may change my opinion though!

[maffff]

Happens to the best of 'em.

[Platypuss]

http://youtu.be/gv-GTYPOXYw

Not sure where else Hector is supposed to pass. Clearly Akpans fault, he's barely moving at walking pace towards the ball, if he was aware he could've easily popped it back to Federici or Pearce first time.

Cheers - you can hardly blame Akpan at all for that. Ridiculous pass from Hector - what exactly was he expecting Akpan to do with that?

[Millsy]

I have no idea why we're not playing Grant Brebner. Is he still injured?

[Royal Biscuitman]

Kuhl did well but he needs to bulk up a bit before being given a starting berth imo.

He does, but that didn't hurt him tonight did it? I don't recall him giving the ball away once for such a slight young man!

There's a graphic on this link which shows he had two failed passes but look at all the others he made - He had
a pass completion percentage of 94% - more than any other player on the pitch (according to the article)

http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article ... 45387.aspx

[PistolPete]

Pirlo

[Mightyprawns]

Not sure what you think Akpan did wrong today. Better than most of the team. He also improved massively when Kuhl came on and he could play alongside/in front of a proper midfielder

Today, previous game, last season - no improvement, mistakes waiting to happen. Lots of effort, nil quality. There are better players at the club, most are currently injured, a young pup came on tonight that put in a performance that Akpan isn't ever capable of. (no misplaced passes for a start). Sell!

you clearly have no idea what you are talking about m8, Akpan was terrible couldn't string a pass always losing the ball and created nothing. When Aaron Kuhl came on it changed the game. I reckon you listened to radio instead of being there cause if you saw Akpan you would understand how poor he was. All I can say is cant wait till Oliver Norwwod comes in and can play him and Kuhl in middle of park with Obita on the left game on.....urz

[LoyalRoyal22]

Cant get over how good Kuhl was yesterday. Actually considering putting a bet on that he will get a England cap one day. Big future.

[Norfolk Royal]

In the 60s and 70s when a footballer emerged like Kuhl who had talent but was yet to bulk out they used to feed them on steak all the time. Maybe the physios at Reading should consider this course of action.

[Esteban]

In the 60s and 70s when a footballer emerged like Kuhl who had talent but was yet to bulk out they used to feed them on steak all the time. Maybe the physios at Reading should consider this course of action.

He looks like a vegetarian to me. I have no basis for that whatsoever. He just does.

[SCIAG]

Cant get over how good Kuhl was yesterday. Actually considering putting a bet on that he will get a England cap one day. Big future.

You'll probably get pretty rubbish odds. He's got the talent and the mindset but there's so much that can go wrong... but you're probably not going to get good odds on an 18 year old who has played in the Championship.

I should've put money on two years ago...

[Martin41]

Not sure what you think Akpan did wrong today. Better than most of the team. He also improved massively when Kuhl came on and he could play alongside/in front of a proper midfielder

Today, previous game, last season - no improvement, mistakes waiting to happen. Lots of effort, nil quality. There are better players at the club, most are currently injured, a young pup came on tonight that put in a performance that Akpan isn't ever capable of. (no misplaced passes for a start). Sell!

you clearly have no idea what you are talking about m8, Akpan was terrible couldn't string a pass always losing the ball and created nothing. When Aaron Kuhl came on it changed the game. I reckon you listened to radio instead of being there cause if you saw Akpan you would understand how poor he was. All I can say is cant wait till Oliver Norwwod comes in and can play him and Kuhl in middle of park with Obita on the left game on.....urz

Akpan was not that bad, for me Taylor did a lot less. One mistake and having seen the goal again, partly hectors fault.
Akpan is getting a lot of grief for not much !!

[RoyalBlue]

Not sure what you think Akpan did wrong today. Better than most of the team. He also improved massively when Kuhl came on and he could play alongside/in front of a proper midfielder

Today, previous game, last season - no improvement, mistakes waiting to happen. Lots of effort, nil quality. There are better players at the club, most are currently injured, a young pup came on tonight that put in a performance that Akpan isn't ever capable of. (no misplaced passes for a start). Sell!

you clearly have no idea what you are talking about m8, Akpan was terrible couldn't string a pass always losing the ball and created nothing. z

I was at the game and completely disagree with you - in fact you are talking nonsense when you say he couldn't string a pass, was alwaus losing the ball and created nothing. Either you weren't watching properly or you are deliberately lying. He did complete passes (as the stats show), didn't always lose the ball, frequently tackled and dispossessed their players and did create things. In the second half he went on a good run himself and, with another ref, might well have been awarded a penalty.

As for people not knowing what the are talking about when they defend Akpan, there are quite a few ex-players/managers who defend his performance and role in the team and I think they do know what they are talking about.

[SPARTA]

Kuhl did well but he needs to bulk up a bit before being given a starting berth imo.

He does, but that didn't hurt him tonight did it? I don't recall him giving the ball away once for such a slight young man!

There's a graphic on this link which shows he had two failed passes but look at all the others he made - He had
a pass completion percentage of 94% - more than any other player on the pitch (according to the article)

http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article ... 45387.aspx

Yep, massive talent, and that is no doubt with some nerves too! We need that from the start, whoever it is at the expense of.

[Mightyprawns]

^^^^^^you must have been sitting at a funny angle my friend? Everyone entitled to their opinion and that's yours. If he didn't play so badly why was that the topic on BBC Berkshire after the game. If you think he played well then your of your trolley. As a CM you need to win the ball(he didn't he gave it away)ok made a few passes and worked hard but he isn't at the standard he needs to be

He needs to be better but at least Norwood will arrive tmrw

[Ian Royal]

^^^^^^you must have been sitting at a funny angle my friend? Everyone entitled to their opinion and that's yours. If he didn't play so badly why was that the topic on BBC Berkshire after the game. If you think he played well then your of your trolley. As a CM you need to win the ball(he didn't he gave it away)ok made a few passes and worked hard but he isn't at the standard he needs to be

He needs to be better but at least Norwood will arrive tmrw

Discussion on BBCRB is not a byword for intelligent and informed debate.

[Hoop Blah]

http://youtu.be/gv-GTYPOXYw

Not sure where else Hector is supposed to pass. Clearly Akpans fault, he's barely moving at walking pace towards the ball, if he was aware he could've easily popped it back to Federici or Pearce first time.

He would've had a couple of options to play the percentage ball down the line either to Gunters feet (both fullbacks pushed on 20 yards as soon as Federici or the centre halfs had the ball) or to drop it into an area between their midfield and back four for Blackman, Cox or Pogrebnyak.

He could even have checked back inside and played to Frderici or Pearce, or more sensibly just knock it over their back four for a forward to chase.

The pass he took on into a crowded area where Huddersfield had numbers closing us down was the wrong choice.

[harry]

I'm not a huge fan of Akpan, but his limitations are all to do with decision making, positioning, etc. Put someone next to him who can do that for him and he's ok. Obita could easily have been the one caught in possession tonight, he was pretty poor in midfield too.

.

Obita got on my nerves coming right back into defence to collect the ball every single time. just get in space in the middle and be ready to recieve it.
if you keep coming back to get it, when you turn around to pass the ball, you will be passing to Akpan on his own, in the middle of their 5 man midfield

I thought Obita was impersonating Guthrie