Reading

[Bruce Rioja]

I'd say it's absolute bollocks that we ran out of legs in the 2nd half. Reading simply took the game to us. Can anyone give me a solitary example of fitness (or lack thereof) being an issue?

[Worthy4England]

why can we only play for 45mins?and - why - if half the team is unfit - were they not replaced with players who are fit?

I'm not convinced that was the case to be honest. I think Reading adapted their game well for the second half.

The half the team that "were unfit", seems to be a cover for "played a bit shit" - I don't buy it as often as it's rolled out. I'd be surprised if the management team would risk a player for 71 minutes (our earliest sub) if they were "unfit"

N'gog and Beckford could have been replaced by the ghost of Christmas Past for most of the second half of the game - and a fair bit of the first. Chung Yong won more headers than the pair of them. So for me second half the big change was Reading made us punt it more to the front two, by pressing Spearing and Medo (who wasn't at his best). All that did, was allow their CD's to win the headers and turn it into their possession. When it went to feet, they managed to hold it up occasionally, before passing to the other one, who errrr held it up.

First I've seen of Beckford playing for us, I agree with Bobo at the moment, can't see why you'd start with Beckford and N'gog, unless one of them changes role somewhat.

[officer_dibble]

Yes bruce, medo tired. On 90 minutes!

We are so much fitter than last season. Only ones not ready are ngog and beckford who both missed most of pre season.

Story today is reading are a decent outfit and our resolute keeper and defence got us a deserved point.

My big worry is 2 of the 3 relegated teams look good...maybe wiggin as well. Competition hotting up! We'll be up there though i reckon. Knight / wheater both fine today in my view.

[officer_dibble]

Nhog was class first 45 as well. Lacked his usual end product! Something different about him and pratley I reckon though. Probably confidence.

[thebish]

why can we only play for 45mins?and - why - if half the team is unfit - were they not replaced with players who are fit?

I'm not convinced that was the case to be honest. I think Reading adapted their game well for the second half.

The half the team that "were unfit", seems to be a cover for "played a bit shit" - I don't buy it as often as it's rolled out. I'd be surprised if the management team would risk a player for 71 minutes (our earliest sub) if they were "unfit"

well - yes, the excuse did surprise me a bit as when i suggested that maybe players needed the match fitness of pre-season games when they weren't picked i was told:

1. it would compromise their specialist personal training schedule
2. it would be too dangerous to play them if they were not fit

[StaffsTrotter]

why can we only play for 45mins?and - why - if half the team is unfit - were they not replaced with players who are fit?

I'm not convinced that was the case to be honest. I think Reading adapted their game well for the second half.

The half the team that "were unfit", seems to be a cover for "played a bit shit" - I don't buy it as often as it's rolled out. I'd be surprised if the management team would risk a player for 71 minutes (our earliest sub) if they were "unfit"

N'gog and Beckford could have been replaced by the ghost of Christmas Past for most of the second half of the game - and a fair bit of the first. Chung Yong won more headers than the pair of them. So for me second half the big change was Reading made us punt it more to the front two, by pressing Spearing and Medo (who wasn't at his best). All that did, was allow their CD's to win the headers and turn it into their possession. When it went to feet, they managed to hold it up occasionally, before passing to the other one, who errrr held it up.

First I've seen of Beckford playing for us, I agree with Bobo at the moment, can't see why you'd start with Beckford and N'gog, unless one of them changes role somewhat.

I actually thought ngog was playing slightly deeper than beckford. as I said after the burnley game, it strikes me that beckford is going to be the forward making the runs for the ball to be played through. he doesn't look like he's that interested in winning the ball in the air or running it down. if he doesn't start scoring, I've no doubt people will be on his case

I'd also say DF wants the deeper forward be that eagles, ngog, moritz, or mavies to be the creative spark, which is a big ask for one player. chungy is really the only other one out of todays team with a bit of creativity. Today Ngog was excellent 1st half, but on a couple of occasions made wrong choice and didn't play beckford in

[Worthy4England]

why can we only play for 45mins?and - why - if half the team is unfit - were they not replaced with players who are fit?

I'm not convinced that was the case to be honest. I think Reading adapted their game well for the second half.

The half the team that "were unfit", seems to be a cover for "played a bit shit" - I don't buy it as often as it's rolled out. I'd be surprised if the management team would risk a player for 71 minutes (our earliest sub) if they were "unfit"

well - yes, the excuse did surprise me a bit as when i suggested that maybe players needed the match fitness of pre-season games when they weren't picked i was told:

1. it would compromise their specialist personal training schedule
2. it would be too dangerous to play them if they were not fit

Don't believe everything you read.

[officer_dibble]

One more thing

That Drenthe

Utter shit

Quick but shit

A poor mans el hadji diouf

Lucky to not be red carded...the ref made his journey back on the reading team bus (even) more comfortable by 'forgetting' that second dive. Hope someone snaps the wanker in half this season. Either the ref or drenthe!

[klasnicks]

One more thing

That Drenthe

Utter shit

Quick but shit

A poor mans el hadji diouf

Lucky to not be red carded...the ref made his journey back on the reading team bus (even) more comfortable by 'forgetting' that second dive. Hope someone snaps the wanker in half this season. Either the ref or drenthe!

He once upon a time was a regular for Real Madrid, a sobering thought!

[Sponge]

Reading manager:

"Royston Drenthe wanted a penalty late on but he should have stayed on his feet. We've had a word with him because we don't want to be doing that at Reading Football Club."

Fair play.

[boltonboris]

Well. That were shite.

Shite football (again)
Shite ref.
Shite performance
Shite crowd
Shite atmosphere
Shite opponents.
Shite defensive mentality.

Positives: Managed to steak a couple of posh glasses from the boozer after the game.

[boltonboris]

Shite diving bastard, too. Should've seen red for the second dive had the shite ref been consistent.

[boltonboris]

Spearing M.O.M.

Not a bad result a point against Reading if we can hold on, They'll be up there come the end of the season I'd think.

Aye, if you've got no promotion aspirations whatsoever.

[daib0]

some Reading fans are not at all happy with this stewarding, especially from 30" in ...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZRHjcAz ... r_embedded" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[boltonboris]

I wouldn't be either. Fat prick probably couldn't get into the police because he couldn't pass a fitness test, so he needs to get his power kick somewhere else. In all honesty, had he done that to me, Id have flopped the fat nice person

[daib0]

he was what, only 15 I think, showed no sign of aggressiveness, a bit over the top the reaction most of us think ...

[William the White]

An excellent first half performance. Ngog outstanding. Spearing giving convincing impression of Peter Reid - tenacious, courageous, dangerous. He'll serve a couple of suspensions this season. And be missed. If Ngog had a shot or a head he'd be brilliant - but on this form he more than earned his place on the pitch.

Reading were much more aggressive second half - closed us down quickly, and high up the pitch. We'd been dominant in midfield and lost it there in the second half.

Beckford was anonymous because nobody was reading his runs. The consensus round me was 'another chocolate teapot'. This will be true if no one learns how to link with him.

LCY worked hard but a spark has gone. A fit Eagles replacing him would have posed Reading with problems - as it was they offered many more problems to us than we did to them in the second half.

We may have just about deserved our point. The reason we got them was Bogdan. Great saves at vital moments.

It's a new season. I'm happy enough so far. We will compete, we won't be close to promotion, we might make the play offs.

At the moment I'm just glad the football is back.

[BWFC_Insane]

An excellent first half performance. Ngog outstanding. Spearing giving convincing impression of Peter Reid - tenacious, courageous, dangerous. He'll serve a couple of suspensions this season. And be missed. If Ngog had a shot or a head he'd be brilliant - but on this form he more than earned his place on the pitch.

Reading were much more aggressive second half - closed us down quickly, and high up the pitch. We'd been dominant in midfield and lost it there in the second half.

Beckford was anonymous because nobody was reading his runs. The consensus round me was 'another chocolate teapot'. This will be true if no one learns how to link with him.

LCY worked hard but a spark has gone. A fit Eagles replacing him would have posed Reading with problems - as it was they offered many more problems to us than we did to them in the second half.

We may have just about deserved our point. The reason we got them was Bogdan. Great saves at vital moments.

It's a new season. I'm happy enough so far. We will compete, we won't be close to promotion, we might make the play offs.

At the moment I'm just glad the football is back.

It's reassuring to read something from someone at the game you completely agree with.

Been wondering what game some have watched. First half was indeed great.

Totally agree on Ngog, brilliant at times, not a finisher though but suits playing behind a striker. He needs to learn to feed Beckford though, had a great chance to play him through first half.

Agree with the analysis too, we are competitive and for me a play off place is what we are realistically striving for.

Add Dawson in and I think top two might be an outside chance.

[Harry Genshaw]

some Reading fans are not at all happy with this stewarding, especially from 30" in ...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZRHjcAz ... r_embedded" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Watched it with the sound off but didn't seem to be overly aggressive?

As Boris referred to though - some of em were just too thick to join the Police and appear frustrated about it

[Tals-biggest-fan]

An excellent first half performance. Ngog outstanding. Spearing giving convincing impression of Peter Reid - tenacious, courageous, dangerous. He'll serve a couple of suspensions this season. And be missed. If Ngog had a shot or a head he'd be brilliant - but on this form he more than earned his place on the pitch.

Reading were much more aggressive second half - closed us down quickly, and high up the pitch. We'd been dominant in midfield and lost it there in the second half.

Beckford was anonymous because nobody was reading his runs. The consensus round me was 'another chocolate teapot'. This will be true if no one learns how to link with him.

LCY worked hard but a spark has gone. A fit Eagles replacing him would have posed Reading with problems - as it was they offered many more problems to us than we did to them in the second half.

We may have just about deserved our point. The reason we got them was Bogdan. Great saves at vital moments.

It's a new season. I'm happy enough so far. We will compete, we won't be close to promotion, we might make the play offs.

At the moment I'm just glad the football is back.

It was just a shame that the only player who can link play up(moritz) is unfit and came on when Beckford was fecked.