Pre-season Friendlies

[Pepe the Horseman]

Boom. Easy money.

[bobby1413]

Great 3 points, got to be happy with that

[Platypuss]

Two assists from Fosu.

[tidus_mi2]

We are going up!

[Pepe the Horseman]

Another good run out for our Anton. He might actually play a full game this season

[tidus_mi2]

Sounds like Fosu had a great game again, actually getting hyped up about this kid.

[Simon's Church]

Fosu impressing almost as much as Edwards did last year

[tidus_mi2]

Fosu impressing almost as much as Edwards did last year

Shh don't kill my hype!

[Ian Royal]

Two assists from Fosu.

Blimey... maybe my caution was wrong and he's come on a lot in the last year and is actually ready...

[Lacoste]

Fosu impressing almost as much as Edwards did last year

No no no, Ian Royal knows everything there is to know about Fosu. Infact, I believe that for every post that has ever been posted about Fosu in this forum, Ian has literally posted a response within an hour.

He knows everything...... about Fosu

[blueroyals]

Fosu MOTM again. Has assisted 3 of our 4 goals so far in pre-season.

Ferdinand played really well, if fit will be a key player for us.

Blackman dire. Don't let the tap in fool you. On many occasions he had options to play in somebody in a much better position but instead took a shot or tried to beat 4 players. What is wrong with him?

Pog played so deep as usual he was basically a CM but most seem happy to pay a striker £30k a week to stroll about in the centre circle.

[Royal Rother]

And fall over. Never forget the falling over.

[RFCalan]

Went to the HTFC game, ended 1-1.

!st half team contained Kelly and Tanner, no one really stood out, competitive 1st half, very even, little goal mouth action, but played at a very high tempo went in HT at 0-0.

2nd half change of team, much younger than the first team. HTFC well on top and took the lead with RFC equalising 10 mins from the end from an own goal. RFC only really started to get going after they scored. HTFC missed a sitter and header cleared off the line and should have won the game.

Overall could not say that RFC offered much and maybe taken by surprise at how competitive HTFC took the game. Comedy moment was watching the RFC right back in the 1st half getting skinned a few times by the HTFC no.11.

The HTFC number 9 caught the eye and was very quick, think they will do well this season, plenty of pace on the wings and up front.

Attendance 300 ish.

[Coppelled_Streets]

Blackman dire. Don't let the tap in fool you. On many occasions he had options to play in somebody in a much better position but instead took a shot or tried to beat 4 players. What is wrong with him?

He doesn't learn! Far too selfish.

Pog played so deep as usual he was basically a CM but most seem happy to pay a striker £30k a week to stroll about in the centre circle.

And the rest.

[wingnut]

I didn't think Blqckman was too bad tbph - certainly better than the Pog who still hasn't realised he needs to be further forward. Akpan was, well, Akpan. Ferdinand looks decent. Long looked ok. But, many of our problems from last season still apparent - no one offering decent outlets for our back 4 when we're put under pressure, poor short passes, tendency to panic at the back.
Rovers should've got at least one.

[paultheroyal]

Fosu impressing almost as much as Edwards did last year

With Edwards it was desperate hope but most could tell he was never going to make it.

[Big Foot]

Al-Habsi very impressive, particularly first half when we were under the cosh a bit. Made 2 great saves - the 1st a point blank shut out from a header within the 6 yard box & the second tipping over a dipping long drive.

Ferdinand very vocal - still stunned that I saw him play for 75 mins.

Quinn played all the way across the midfield first half and was excellent, can't remember him giving the ball away once. Second half still very good but not as prominent as he was first half.

Fosu superb, looks a real handful and considering he's about the size of a Gremlin, he is bloody strong - can see him being a real handful this season and definitely pushing for a first team place.

Blackman greedy again on many occasions. Jake Taylor looked very ordinary. Pog rather disinterested and cumbersome.

All in all, we still need those couple of extra players Clarke mentioned in order for us to have a squad competitive enough to challenge for the top half of the table, IMO.

[Hoop Blah]

Comedy moment was watching the RFC right back in the 1st half getting skinned a few times by the HTFC no.11.

That might well be ex-Ireland international and Newcastle player Alan O'Brien if it was their left winger.

[Fox Talbot]

Hungerford game.

As previous poster said first half even. Tanner the only RFC player with 1st team experience but it didn't show. Kelly looked handy.

New Portuguese lad Lesandro on the right wing - good ball control and good attitude but didn't get the ball enough.

2nd half RFC replaced the front six, kicked uphill and were never really in it. Equaliser was 'fluke of the season' - long punt from our keeper mis-headed by their full back over his own keeper with no Reading player within miles.

There was an Oriental-looking player (no 20) playing centre midfield for us in the 2nd half who looked pretty tidy - definitely the pick of the 2nd half bunch - apparently called 'Brian'. Any further info?

[SCIAG]

The Hungerford match was very dull.

First half was pretty even, Reading arguably playing the better stuff but not getting anywhere. Tanner had one chance but scuffed it with his right foot. I wasn't impressed by Semedo but he brought down a couple of high balls pretty well and had one little mazy run.

9 changes at half time, Sammi and Owusu the senior players, though it wasn't much younger. I don't know how old the triallists were, but aside from McIntyre most of the subs were within a year of the players they replaced (two of them were actually older than the starters). The second half was seriously dull, Husin was wasted on the left wing and Owusu was our main threat until Sheppard came back on. Unless the triallists were 16 then I wouldn't sign any of them.