Nick Blackman

[winchester_royal]

Yeah, i didn't say it was all on him or fair. His decision making wasn't just not bang on, it was terrible.

It's not bang on now, but he's delivering the goods to make that unimportant. And it is much better.

I would also say that the pressure of knowing that whenever you make the wrong call you're going to get thousands of people moaning/groaning/booing at you doesn't help things.

I think sometimes people forget that footballers aren't characters in a video game, but are actually human beings who respond to pressure and abuse in the same way that we do, and the fact that they get paid the amount of money that they do doesn't really mitig8 that fact.

Either way - let's just enjoy it while it lasts eh? He's been a pleasure to watch this season, a naturally really talented footballer who is finally starting to fulfill his potential under an excellent coaching team.

Feel that may sentence may sum quite a few of our players up this season actually.

[WoodleyRoyal]

checks in, sees winch and ian royal talking about stuff, checks out

[winchester_royal]

checks in, sees all the windows are busy already being licked, checks out

[Ian Royal]

Yeah, i didn't say it was all on him or fair. His decision making wasn't just not bang on, it was terrible.

It's not bang on now, but he's delivering the goods to make that unimportant. And it is much better.

I would also say that the pressure of knowing that whenever you make the wrong call you're going to get thousands of people moaning/groaning/booing at you doesn't help things.

I think sometimes people forget that footballers aren't characters in a video game, but are actually human beings who respond to pressure and abuse in the same way that we do, and the fact that they get paid the amount of money that they do doesn't really mitig8 that fact.

Either way - let's just enjoy it while it lasts eh? He's been a pleasure to watch this season, a naturally really talented footballer who is finally starting to fulfill his potential under an excellent coaching team.

Feel that may sentence may sum quite a few of our players up this season actually.

Again, don't disagree. Whilst I've never previously rated Blackman, I don't think he (or virtually any other player to receive it) has ever deserved the dogs abuse they get from the stands. I think the only player I've ever had the proper hate on for and regularly yelled obscenities at was that yellow streak of useless piss Paul Brooker.

[From Despair To Where?]

WSC used to have a feature called "The Strange Case of....." and Paul Brooker was one of the first players to feature in it. The upshot was basically that he had bags and bags of ability but whatever club he played at, the moment he crossed the line onto the pitch, he just shrank, just couldn't do it. Basically the classic example of a player who looked an absolute world beater in training but just couldn't handle the pressure of playing in competitive matches.

[genome]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34414833

Reading: Nick Blackman keen to extend prolific scoring form

Reading's Nick Blackman admits "a heart-to-heart" at the end of last season with boss Steve Clarke triggered his switch from midfielder to striker.
The 25-year-old, nominated for September's Championship player of the month, has eight goals in 12 games and helped push his side into the top six.
He said a run of games in his favoured position had also given him confidence.
"Hopefully we can continue as we're all pulling in the same direction," he told BBC Radio Berkshire.
Blackman found the net four times for Reading in all competitions during September compared to just nine goals in the previous two seasons.
Nick Blackman's September to remember
Blackman scored in every one of Reading's matches in the month of September except for the 1-0 home defeat against Derby.
The Bury-born forward was thrust into a Premier League relegation battle upon his arrival from Sheffield United in January 2013, shortly followed by the departure of then manager Brian McDermott.
"I've had a couple of frustrating years since I've been here," he said.
"I think the main thing is I've been given a consistent run of games in a forward position and not necessarily being a rigid right-winger.
"I did my best for the team, but I don't think it's my best position. Just getting a continued run of games is important."
Blackman's chat with Reading manager Clarke before the summer break discussed at length his preference to play up front.
"I've been used used as a wide forward, which I really enjoy there. But, we had a heart-to-heart at the end of last season and it was good and was needed."

[Nameless]

Odd start to the article. Why say he's switched from midfield when the article itself makes it clear he's always played as a forward !

[Esteban]

That's a pretty fair article. I think he found his niche position as a wide forward, as he put it, and his high confidence carried him through these last three matches playing as the central striker.

I reckon Sa will come straight back in to the side, but Blackman is the man in form at present, so will play somewhere regardless of the formation.

At the end of last season I thought he needed a move and it would have been the best outcome for everyone. Got to admire the guy for stepping up and making himself such an important player for us so far.

[tidus_mi2]

I think ideally Sa needs to come in as with injuries we don't really have the man to play as the central striker in our preferred 4-3-3, I assume Vydra played that role during Sa's suspension and he too is now injured. So it will be Sa down the middle, Blackman on the right and the left I suppose Clarke has a bit of a conundrum, could be anyone from McCleary, John, HRK or Piazon.

[Hoop Blah]

Odd start to the article. Why say he's switched from midfield when the article itself makes it clear he's always played as a forward !

In the article he says about not being played as a rigid right midfielder anymore.

I think the shape of our shape, and it's flexibility, is quite intriguing to watch. We switch from a 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 a lot during the flow of a game.

[Nameless]

I'd agree, the mix of players is very good and they interchange well which fits the way Blackman plays.
But he was never a midfielder, not by my definition of a midfielder any way ! He never really did the wide midfield' role. Maybe that was the problem- he was supposed to do it but actually did his own thing as a wide attacker !

[floyd__streete]

Blackman
La-da da da da da
Blackman
La-da da da
Blackman struck again
And he's got no right to take his place
With the human race

[RoyallyFcuked]

Blackman now has as many goals this season as he had in his entire Reading career before this season

[Oilroyal]

£10 @ 50/1 for Champ top scorer, keep it up Nick!

[Royal Ginger]

Currently joint top scorer with Rhodes and Austin. That's quite some company.

[SCIAG]

I think ideally Sa needs to come in as with injuries we don't really have the man to play as the central striker in our preferred 4-3-3, I assume Vydra played that role during Sa's suspension and he too is now injured.

You presume wrong. Vydra was out of the team for most of Sa's suspension. Blackman was the central striker.

Blackman
La-da da da da da
Blackman
La-da da da
Blackman struck again
And he's got no right to take his place
With the human race

This isn't as good as your chant for Andre Bikey to the tune of "Panic".

[leon]

Currently joint top scorer with Rhodes and Austin. That's quite some company.

Yeah. I hope they feel honoured.

[CountryRoyal]

10 goals in all competitions already.

[Millsy]

I never slated him publicly but to be honest secretly never thought he'd turn out amazing.

Delighted to be so thoroughly wrong.

[windermere_royal]

Love the confident way he tucks away penalties, that`s 3 he`s taken and they have all been the same, just rolling it in after sending the keeper the wrong way. they wil be doing their homework on him now. he needs to vary it a bit.