Back from the game - Palace

[leon]

It's been a long time since I've been that angry at the football.

First thing is first it was a fair result, make no mistake Palace deserved to win. Al-Habsi made so many incredible saves and they had a tonne of chances and opportunities which should have seen the game dead and buried at half time.

HOWEVER... The way we went out was so unjust. The softest, most bullshit penalty that has ever been given, even more so considering the circumstances. I don't like to blame referees but Mike Dean never had a foothold in the game, was shocking throughout.

That was the most disappointing thing, the other was the fact that beyond Al-Habsi we were pretty oxf*rd shit and deserved to lose. Palace were the best draw to get, were there for the taking and represented our best chance of getting to Wembley, and everyone knew it. It was nervy from us and we were, on many occasions "almost there", unfortunately we fluffed our lines and weren't good enough.

That was probably our most defensive set up and we were carved open time and time again. Ever since the 30th minute (probably less) we were crying out for 2 up top. So much wasted possession in the opposition third because there was no support.

I truly fcuking hate Palace now. For all the "palace fans are great" bollocks they were shit. Sang once all game before they scored and quite frankly they don't deserve it. I truly fcuking hope they go down the shitty pcunty faggoty "ultra" wvnkers.

Absolutey gutted tonight, truly gutted purely because of how we lost.

Oh well, onto next season.

No they didn't have a tonne of chances. And frankly even if they had after 85 mins if they hadn't scored after all of those they didn't deserve it. Shit penalty decided it.

The fcuk game were you watching?

It feels undeserved because of the way we lost, but on the balance of play they deserved to go through.

We were playing a premier league club not Southend Utd.
They were going to have chances but we didn't concede.

you soak it up and then try and score. That's how it works.

Tbf you're a young lad so after a few years of watching football you'll understand it's not all fireworks and getting the fcuking girl.

[CountryRoyal]

Jesus Christ Leon, I may be younger than you but grow up.

We were deservedly beaten by the better team.

And FWIW having your keeper pull off save after incredible save isn't conventional "soaking up the pressure".

[Royal Ginger]

Obita's short passing was dreadful.

Who was it that pinged that inch perfect ball to Vydra? Quinn? That was a thing of beauty.

[leon]

Jesus Christ Leon, I may be younger than you but grow up.

We were deservedly beaten by the better team.

And FWIW having your keeper pull off save after incredible save isn't conventional "soaking up the pressure".

Calm down son.

Al habsi didn't pull off "incredible save after incredible save" just because tonight's game didn't fit your constant tiresome narrative of Mcdemott being shit that's your issue not mine.

Yes we lost and we did suffer from a lack of ambition but we wouldn't have lost if it wasn't for the penalty. They wouldn't have scored other than that.

And you know that.

[CountryRoyal]

Jesus Christ Leon, I may be younger than you but grow up.

We were deservedly beaten by the better team.

And FWIW having your keeper pull off save after incredible save isn't conventional "soaking up the pressure".

Calm down son.

Al habsi didn't pull off "incredible save after incredible save" just because tonight's game didn't fit your constant tiresome narrative of Mcdemott being shit that's your issue not mine.

Yes we lost and we did suffer from a lack of ambition but we wouldn't have lost if it wasn't for the penalty. They wouldn't have scored other than that.

And you know that.

What are you on about? I don't have an anti-McD agenda.

I agree that tonight, had that "penalty" not been given it probably would have been a 0-0.

There is no logical or tangible evidence of this other than the feel of the game, which is why it feels so harsh.

BUT on reflection, 9/10 with the chances they had or more appropriately shots they had, they win the game... comfortably.

I'm not going to back down from my stance that we probably deserved to lose, definitely not in the manner, but overall.

And don't call me "son".

[Gunny Fishcake]

Can't argue with the result really.
Some good defensive performances.

Al Habsi Godlike, John too greedy, Norwood dogsh*t and watseful. And what was with Hectar constantly letting the ball run and turning into trouble? Not seen him really do that before

Palace can't bitch about the Benteke pen after that

And f*ck me they were fast!

Couldn't have said it better particularly Norwood absolutely shocking as he's been for a good while

[MR. CYNICAL]

That was dire from us, we were hanging on, defending desperately and it was only a matter of time before they scored. We were too negative and shit scared of trying to get forward and unable to create any clear cut chances other than John later in the game. Kanu never got going and John ran out of steam after about 60 mins. He's an excuse of a footballer, it's March and he's still not fit enough to play for 90 minutes! This is probably the least fit Reading team i've seen for many a year. Only McShane, Quinn and the brilliant Al Habsi came out of that with any credit.
Anyone who thought we were unlucky tonight is clearly deluded!

[SCIAG]

Pretty gutted. Good attacking play from Palace (save the finishing) but I don't think we embarrassed ourselves.

I've been a big advocate for Cooper but I'm starting to lose faith. He's made several unnecessary challenges in the box. A few weeks ago he was lucky that the referee incorrectly let him off against Rotherham, today it went the other way and he was a little unlucky to be punished but he shouldn't have given the ref a reason to give the penalty. Hopefully he learns from this.

Don't think the Norwood-Hector partnership works at all. I'm not sure they've ever both had a good game when Hector's been in midfield.

Solution to both problems: Hector back into defence.

[Kitsondinho]

Cooper will hopefully learn from the mistakes he has been making over the last few weeks. He has been excellent overall, but he needs to learn to be a bit wiser in his game management. McShane is the perfect example for that. As for Hector surely the solution is send him back to Chelsea......

[From Despair To Where?]

Tells you all you need to know that in a game of very few clear cut chances for either team, the keeper from the losing side wins Man of the Match. Not a great advert for the beautiful game. Al Habsi, a couple of excellent saves and a few Hollywood saves but deservedly Man of the Match

A solid enough performance against a clearly superior team. McShane was the pick of the outfield players for me. Solid and dependable. Our flair players just didn't see enough of the ball. Norwood made some vital clearances in the box but offered nothing going forwards and his set pieces were, without exception, awful.

The penalty? Soft. I don't think Bolasie had any chance of getting the ball so to step across his run and grab him was very naive from Cooper. No challenge and, rightly or wrongly, there would have been no decision to make. Had Delaney done that to John in the other box, I'd have been howling for a penalty whilst inwardly cursing him for going to ground too easily.

[2.8 lita injection]

Jake won an unbelievable amount of headers , a looking top prospect and i doubt we will be able to keep him.

Norwood had a shocker.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Obita's short passing was dreadful.

Who was it that pinged that inch perfect ball to Vydra? Quinn? That was a thing of beauty.

Na, Norwood.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Would've liked to see McCleary for the last ten. Hal was blowing and John was pretty anonymous for the second half.

[Royalclapper]

Thought Palace were a yard or two quicker up top and were mostly wasteful when they could have comfortably been in front earlier than that disappointing end to the game. Zaha was certainly a step up in class for our defence to deal with but they did a decent job on the whole.

If anything, i though Reading were a little bit shy being the home team and could've perhaps rolled the dice a bit. Understandable that maybe McD didn't fancy it as Palace would likely have picked us off sooner.

[Jack Celliers]

I saw a very brief clip of the penalty incident on my phone and it made me swear out load. It looked nothing like a penalty. The ref seemed to have his own script to follow, where Palace players were being fouled and our players deserved their yellow cards. Booking Hector was probably his most critical error. It is a great credit to him that he managed to play on and disrupt their midfield a bit under constant threat of another skewed interpretation of something innocuous leading to a red card.

Until the penalty, I thought we had held them off well and created the occasional chance for ourselves. They were dominant and winning corners but not tearing us apart.

[Pepe the Horseman]

The foul against Cooper on the edge of the box when he cleared it and Bolasie ran into him was a joke. Awful referee. Pally with the Palace players as well. High fived Kebab at one point.

[bobby1413]

I was impressed last night with AAH (obviously), Gunter who I thought worked his socks off all game and played well. Cooper did alright until the penalty incident where I thought he was showed his inexperience by challenging in that manner - whether it was or was not a penalty.

Norwood absolute dog sh*t

Hector average

Obita - beaten too many times

McShane - solid and a good game

Quinn - likewise

Cox - thought he was good considering he had little support. Worked hard.

They were the players that caught my attention anyway.

Norwood needs to be relieved of dead ball responsibilities.

Agree. Throughout almost all of this season I've been frustrated with him. The free kicks that are "whipped in", completely miss their target and end up going too far or off target. Continually misses out on good opportunities by wasteful balls.

Classy Pardew paedo chants from a minority in Y25/6 by the way

Classy Pardew paedo chants from a minority in Y25/6 by the way

A group of them were singing it over and over on the way back from the stadium.

I am in Y25 and was getting annoyed with the constant "Pardew you're a c**t... pardew pardew you're a c*nt"... Seriously? It's been years since he left and for me at least, it doesn't mean a thing to me. Also the peado chants are truely pathetic and not at all funny.

The same fat pr1ck in Y25, row CC or thereabouts at the end singing "we're fking shittttt...." - just bore off you absolute tosser. Whether that's true or not, I'm sick to death of this outrageous negativity, particularly on such an occasion last night.

We were deservedly beaten by the better team.

I agree with you, Crystal Palace were by far the better team. AAH was simply stunning with how many goals he prevented. Their constant attacking play, constant corners, better passing play, shots on target that threatened us meant they were better.

I understand COMPLETELY that people feel hard done by due to the penalty. I won't go into whether it was or not, whether it was soft, harsh, etc.... but yea it was a horrible way to effectively lose the match.

I was disappointed to lose but really not heartbroken.

NOTE: everyone sees games differently so I fully expect some to disagree with this - it's just my view of it!

Kanu never got going and John ran out of steam after about 60 mins. He's an excuse of a footballer, it's March and he's still not fit enough to play for 90 minutes!
Anyone who thought we were unlucky tonight is clearly deluded!

I thought HRK was good and I don't feel it's accurate or fair to say "he's an excuse of a footballer" - he's been excellent the past few games. I thought last night he was really good too, he beat their defenders and cut inside creating space several times.

[From Despair To Where?]

The whole Pardew thing is getting really boring now. It's not like he's done a McGhee and ramped up the antagonism prior to any games, he's always been respectful on his return and I think he knows he warrants some abuse and has taken it in good humour. I reckon he genuinely has a lot of respect and affection for the club.

[MR. CYNICAL]

I was impressed last night with AAH (obviously), Gunter who I thought worked his socks off all game and played well. Cooper did alright until the penalty incident where I thought he was showed his inexperience by challenging in that manner - whether it was or was not a penalty.

Norwood absolute dog sh*t

Hector average

Obita - beaten too many times

McShane - solid and a good game

Quinn - likewise

Cox - thought he was good considering he had little support. Worked hard.

They were the players that caught my attention anyway.

Norwood needs to be relieved of dead ball responsibilities.

Agree. Throughout almost all of this season I've been frustrated with him. The free kicks that are "whipped in", completely miss their target and end up going too far or off target. Continually misses out on good opportunities by wasteful balls.

Classy Pardew paedo chants from a minority in Y25/6 by the way

Classy Pardew paedo chants from a minority in Y25/6 by the way

A group of them were singing it over and over on the way back from the stadium.

I am in Y25 and was getting annoyed with the constant "Pardew you're a c**t... pardew pardew you're a c*nt"... Seriously? It's been years since he left and for me at least, it doesn't mean a thing to me. Also the peado chants are truely pathetic and not at all funny.

The same fat pr1ck in Y25, row CC or thereabouts at the end singing "we're fking shittttt...." - just bore off you absolute tosser. Whether that's true or not, I'm sick to death of this outrageous negativity, particularly on such an occasion last night.

We were deservedly beaten by the better team.

I agree with you, Crystal Palace were by far the better team. AAH was simply stunning with how many goals he prevented. Their constant attacking play, constant corners, better passing play, shots on target that threatened us meant they were better.

I understand COMPLETELY that people feel hard done by due to the penalty. I won't go into whether it was or not, whether it was soft, harsh, etc.... but yea it was a horrible way to effectively lose the match.

I was disappointed to lose but really not heartbroken.

NOTE: everyone sees games differently so I fully expect some to disagree with this - it's just my view of it!

Kanu never got going and John ran out of steam after about 60 mins. He's an excuse of a footballer, it's March and he's still not fit enough to play for 90 minutes!
Anyone who thought we were unlucky tonight is clearly deluded!

I thought HRK was good and I don't feel it's accurate or fair to say "he's an excuse of a footballer" - he's been excellent the past few games. I thought last night he was really good too, he beat their defenders and cut inside creating space several times.

I was talking about John, not Kanu.

[paddy20]

We wasted every decent opportunity we had. Didn't deserve to win it, but didn't deserve to lose to a bullshit penalty.

Al-Habsi was brilliant, everyone else fell short where it mattered.

Spot on. No finisher should have had at least 2 goals from pretty easy chances. What has BM done to Norwood? Since he moved him to allow Hector in he has look awful. Sort it out Brian as to constantly keep subbing him is not the answer. Despite the pen they looked miles better than us. We have a long way to go to getting even near a challenging championship side