Back from the Game - Villa

[Arch]

Its an odd one. The one thing I dread from Reading, odd that it seems, is mid table mediocrity in any league. Obviously, I would be distraught if we go down but a slow canter towards the end of the season fills me with a horrible feeling of boredom. Cannot remember the last time we were going into the end of the season with nothing to play for.

Don't worry. We'll have plenty to play for for quite a while yet.

[glass half full]

Its an odd one. The one thing I dread from Reading, odd that it seems, is mid table mediocrity in any league. Obviously, I would be distraught if we go down but a slow canter towards the end of the season fills me with a horrible feeling of boredom. Cannot remember the last time we were going into the end of the season with nothing to play for.

Don't worry. We'll have plenty to play for for quite a while yet.

Each time that we climb a rung of a ladder, we are a foot higher. Climbing those rungs of the ladder to achieve 'mid-table mediocrity' will suit me fine after earlier struggles. One step at a time....

[rhroyal]

Proud of the boys, but a comfortable 2-0 would have been so much easier to take. "That" clearance will live in the memory.

[Avon Royal]

Oh, and Long & Tabb were utterly outstanding.

Agreed.

Tabb had his best game in a Reading shirt.

[peterroyal76]

GUTTED!

[PEARCEY]

Oh, and Long & Tabb were utterly outstanding.

Agreed.

Tabb had his best game in a Reading shirt.

Tabb worked tirelessly and was very neat and tidy. With Mills at centre-back and Kebe and Long playing so much better we are getting there. The signs are positive for next season provided we don't go down...but as a side we are still a bit too nice for my liking.

[clauski]

Hey ho. Great first half performance but big match nerves or lack of real belief at the start of the 2nd cost us I guess. Villa did start that half strongly but all 3 goals were down to our defending really. Bertrand particularly - why so much backing off from people running at him, it's always costly? And Howard disappeared too at that point I thought, and Kebe. But lots of positives and good performances first half - Long, Kebe, Mills, Tabb. Roll on 3 wins in a week to make us feel better!

[rhroyal]

We have a relatively young squad, and it really did show today after VIlla's 1st. We needed a cool, calm head out there to help control the team.

[Terminal Boardom]

So this is what the FA Cup is all about. I had forgotten what it was like while SSC was in charge!

[PEARCEY]

Surprised at the gate of 23,175. Thought we would have completely sold out and I didn't see many empty seats.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Really pleased enough people stayed until the final whistle to show appreciation of an amazing cup run. I remember being so relieved when Church scored against Liverpool that we'd at least manage a goal before getting tonked, and that relegation might not be so bad, now that it seemed almost inevitable.

Look at where we are now. Out played a Villa side full of proper first class Internationals for much of the game, and still forcing last ditch definding from them when 2-3 down.

Tabb, Mills, Griffin, Long, absolutley first class.

Kebe, Church, Federici, the Sig, Howard - gave their all, proud of them.

Bertrand, Ingimarrsson - bad errors, but also some brilliance too.

Rasiak was great when he came on - as always, just cannot understand the lack of recognition he gets on here.

A great team with a fantastic work ethic that never faltered - just so dissapointed because it looked like we might have done enough.

Bring on Derby and let's chalk up some points towards a mid table finish, and on into next season.

[PEARCEY]

Yes it was important to stay until the end to give the players the ovation they so richly deserved.

[Royalwaster]

Really pleased enough people stayed until the final whistle to show appreciation of an amazing cup run. I remember being so relieved when Church scored against Liverpool that we'd at least manage a goal before getting tonked, and that relegation might not be so bad, now that it seemed almost inevitable.

Look at where we are now. Out played a Villa side full of proper first class Internationals for much of the game, and still forcing last ditch definding from them when 2-3 down.

Tabb, Mills, Griffin, Long, absolutley first class.

Kebe, Church, Federici, the Sig, Howard - gave their all, proud of them.

Bertrand, Ingimarrsson - bad errors, but also some brilliance too.

Rasiak was great when he came on - as always, just cannot understand the lack of recognition he gets on here.

A great team with a fantastic work ethic that never faltered - just so dissapointed because it looked like we might have done enough.

Bring on Derby and let's chalk up some points towards a mid table finish, and on into next season.

Couldn't have expressed it any better - exactly how I feel!

[Big Foot]

Kebe, when he's on form, is pretty unplayable. It's a shame he didn't turn up in the second half.

Dickhead

[URZZZZZZZZ]

So this is what the FA Cup is all about. I had forgotten what it was like while SSC was in charge!

What, uncompromising hope and evident dissapointment?? Thats not the FA Cup its RFC . I'm an RTG by the way

[Jerry St Clair]

I haven't heard the East Stand concourse singing like that at half time before. Incredible, but also inevitable, second half.

Yeah it's been there before Jerry. Back in the day of the play off game against Wigan when Fozzy did his stuff and that nutter from Y25 ran on the pitch in the first half to have a go at one of their players. Memories.

But at half time in the Wigan game the concourse was like a morgue. We were rubbish until the last 10 mins.

Though, thinking back, the Gillingham home game the same season was a bit mental - I believe some young hooligans relieved one of the kiosks of a variety of chocolate goodies. Tsk.

[Winchester Royal]

Didn't feel dissimilar to going out to Man United in the 5th round in 2007. Great game, gave it a shot, but a short spell of madness undid any good work done or due.

[rhroyal]

I said to the Reading fan I was watching the game with how good we were to keep attacking with confidence after the 1st goal. It's a shame we were so utterly struck by stage fright in the 2nd half. Give a team like Villa that sort of chance, you will lose.

[PEARCEY]

Didn't feel dissimilar to going out to Man United in the 5th round in 2007. Great game, gave it a shot, but a short spell of madness undid any good work done or due.

Yes thats true. Undone by three goals in such a short space of time...but that turnaround today really hurt.

[Zammo]

Kebe, when he's on form, is pretty unplayable. It's a shame he didn't turn up in the second half.

Dickhead

Keyboard warrior Not the first time you've been out of order this week (Keith Alexander thread).

Anyway, he's right. Kebe showed nothing in the second half, despite him being very good in the first.