Back from the Game, Northampton Town 24th August

[pea]

I agree about that, its not been too bad so far, we just haven't looked like much of an attacking threat. We need the opposition keeper to have a bad game some time!

Win on Saturday and people will be saying we're unbeaten in 5 games

[Big Foot]

These things happen, but look at ALL our goal conceded this season and almost all are silly individual mistakes or "bad luck"

I would say that 90% of the goals conceded in one season are caused by this, hardly compelling new evidence?

[Snowball]

These things happen, but look at ALL our goal conceded this season and almost all are silly individual mistakes or "bad luck"

I would say that 90% of the goals conceded in one season are caused by this, hardly compelling new evidence?

Yet when we win 5-0 it's often from sheer brilliant play outwitting a defence?

Sometimes you get out-played, sometimes you gift the opposition the points.

So far this season, deflections, own-goals, 2-3 keeper clangers. That's not typical.

IMO had Hamer not spilled for that first goal we might have strolled to a routine win.

[Man Friday]

Having said that we scored three, hit the bar, hit the post, had one good penalty turned down and what looked like a definite pen turned down.

...and they scored 2 minutes after the match should have ended!

[Alan Partridge]

These things happen, but look at ALL our goal conceded this season and almost all are silly individual mistakes or "bad luck"

I would say that 90% of the goals conceded in one season are caused by this, hardly compelling new evidence?

Yet when we win 5-0 it's often from sheer brilliant play outwitting a defence?

Sometimes you get out-played, sometimes you gift the opposition the points.

So far this season, deflections, own-goals, 2-3 keeper clangers. That's not typical.

IMO had Hamer not spilled for that first goal we might have strolled to a routine win.

I've heard that bottom line a few times already this season. 'If we had scored early against Scunthorpe we'd have strolled to a win' Didn't. That's the fact.

I do agree with your point that a few of the goals conceeded have been unfortunate or just individual error which isn't going to happen every week. By the same token, a couple of scrambles and a deflected 25 yarder aren't going to happen every week. Te attacking play has been equally as poor as some of the defensive cock ups.

[BR2]

These things happen, but look at ALL our goal conceded this season and almost all are silly individual mistakes or "bad luck"

I would say that 90% of the goals conceded in one season are caused by this, hardly compelling new evidence?

Yet when we win 5-0 it's often from sheer brilliant play outwitting a defence?

Sometimes you get out-played, sometimes you gift the opposition the points.

So far this season, deflections, own-goals, 2-3 keeper clangers. That's not typical.

IMO had Hamer not spilled for that first goal we might have strolled to a routine win.

Conversely OUR goals v Pompey and Forest were scrambles in the penalty area so we have benefited from as well as conceded those types of goals.
Also your vote of confidence in the Pearce/Mills combo is hardly convincing merely because lowly opposition has scored 3 against us.

[RoyalBlue]

Anyone in the UK wanting to relive the nightmare, and see exactly why we don;t sell feds and use hamer instead can watch the lowlights here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 944666.stm

It is a bizarre mistake. The first bit of it, ok he's on the stretch with a wet ball so you can slightly excuse that. I think he's looked up to see if he can start an attack quickly and simply taken his eye off the ball. It's a bad one.

I've only seen Hamer a few times, he had a decent game down at Torquay but he doesn't convince me. He's not a big lad physically and i've seen him drop routine crosses fairly regularly. He almost seems to go half hearted at them, half concerned about getting whacked by a striker.

What i would say in his defense is, the two years he's played every week at clubs he's done very well. He spent literally all of last season on the bench, so to come in here and there is difficult, especially for a young keeper. I imagine he is feeling double the pressure also on the back of Federici having a poor game so it was his chance to impress, he is out of contract at the end of the season and Reading have 4 keepers that could all present a case to be the regular keeper here.

The bad thing now for Hamer is he won't get another chance now. Federici will return for the league matches, there is no next round of the Carling Cup and Federici last season played in the FA Cup. You are only as good as you're last game, so where Federici might play well on Saturday and everyone forgets his howler, the last thing anyone will think of Hamer and his chances to play were 'well he was shocking against Northamtpon'

The previous round he was man of the match for Reading down at Torquay, lots felt he should or might get a go in the league side and now he should be bombed out! The life of a goalkeeper.

You are so right! Why oh why did both my kids decide to become keepers!!

[brendywendy]

not just goal keepers. the whole board seem to judge players purely on one game aall over the place

[pea]

Also your vote of confidence in the Pearce/Mills combo is hardly convincing merely because lowly opposition has scored 3 against us.

And you can blame Pearce and Mills for those goals.. how?

[Alan Partridge]

not just goal keepers. the whole board seem to judge players purely on one game aall over the place

Not really true. But even so outfield players will get chances here and there. Every possibility Hamer won't play for RFC again this season possibly ever.

[Hoop Blah]

Also your vote of confidence in the Pearce/Mills combo is hardly convincing merely because lowly opposition has scored 3 against us.

And you can blame Pearce and Mills for those goals.. how?

Centre halfs set the tone and shape to a teams defending.

If they take control and dictate things and dominate at the back then the rest, to an extent, takes care of themselves.

The fact these players keep making individual mistakes basically shows up the fact that they're probably not good enough.

[Sarah Star]

Anyone in the UK wanting to relive the nightmare, and see exactly why we don;t sell feds and use hamer instead can watch the lowlights here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 944666.stm

It is a bizarre mistake. The first bit of it, ok he's on the stretch with a wet ball so you can slightly excuse that. I think he's looked up to see if he can start an attack quickly and simply taken his eye off the ball. It's a bad one.

I've only seen Hamer a few times, he had a decent game down at Torquay but he doesn't convince me. He's not a big lad physically and i've seen him drop routine crosses fairly regularly. He almost seems to go half hearted at them, half concerned about getting whacked by a striker.

What i would say in his defense is, the two years he's played every week at clubs he's done very well. He spent literally all of last season on the bench, so to come in here and there is difficult, especially for a young keeper. I imagine he is feeling double the pressure also on the back of Federici having a poor game so it was his chance to impress, he is out of contract at the end of the season and Reading have 4 keepers that could all present a case to be the regular keeper here.

The bad thing now for Hamer is he won't get another chance now. Federici will return for the league matches, there is no next round of the Carling Cup and Federici last season played in the FA Cup. You are only as good as you're last game, so where Federici might play well on Saturday and everyone forgets his howler, the last thing anyone will think of Hamer and his chances to play were 'well he was shocking against Northamtpon'

The previous round he was man of the match for Reading down at Torquay, lots felt he should or might get a go in the league side and now he should be bombed out! The life of a goalkeeper.

Should we be looking at rotating our 2nd goalkeepers and sending them all out on loan at different times during a season? I suppose it depends on someone coming in for them, but they're all well thought of and have done well at other clubs when given the chance.

[PEARCEY]

We have conceded some shocking goals this season and its still only August.

[PremAddict]

Just saw the highlights and agree that NT's keeper had a better game than ours. I think on balance, that was the primary issue. Can't really blame the backs for playing way back. If you didn't have faith in your keeper, would you want to do otherwise? Not saying Hamer isn't good (or bad), just I think it made the difference.

Excellent goals by Mills BTW. Put him up-front.