Back From The Game - Plymouth (H)

[PEARCEY]

All said and done by the sound’s of things it was a good result today, but the underlying theme has to be we have to strengthen, just remember this time last year after 3 games we had 4 points in Prem and Coppell did nothing.In September we picked up 3 points ……. Don’t make me bring up my “just to sum up” thread from last year and embarrass all those that posted on it, let's not get complacent.

No need to be complacent but when you look at the lack of quality in almost every other squad in this division its difficult not to be optimistic about our chances.

[kwik-silva]

All said and done by the sound’s of things it was a good result today, but the underlying theme has to be we have to strengthen, just remember this time last year after 3 games we had 4 points in Prem and Coppell did nothing.In September we picked up 3 points ……. Don’t make me bring up my “just to sum up” thread from last year and embarrass all those that posted on it, let's not get complacent.

No need to be complacent but when you look at the lack of quality in almost every other squad in this division its difficult not to be optimistic about our chances.

after 3 games how are you meant to strengthen your squad? August has ended, plus we had about the same points total the first time round, anyway, not the point, it was a good game, and plenty to look forward too, hopefully we'll show some more quality up front against charlton

[Kitson12]

Quite a pleasing result, but Plymouth were so bad. Sonko and Kebe were the best players on the pitch, unfortunatly Ingimarsson and Harper were poor again though.

What? are you being serious... They both had good games.

Ingimarsson, I might agree with, but Harper went missing, again

Sorry, what?
Went missing, I think not.
He got himself stuck in and was a big improvement from Notts Forest last week, and he seemed to compliment Cisse very well in midfield, long may it continue.

[kwik-silva]

What? are you being serious... They both had good games.

Ingimarsson, I might agree with, but Harper went missing, again

Sorry, what?
Went missing, I think not.
He got himself stuck in and was a big improvement from Notts Forest last week, and he seemed to compliment Cisse very well in midfield, long may it continue.

I can only remember him making two contributions. A pass and a tackle (admittedly that means he is improving)

[West Stand Man]

How is that the Times rated Harper as the MoM and still some idiots berate him? It couldn't just be that some spectators (I hesitate to use the words 'fans' or 'supporters') have no real idea how to play the game and expect it to look like a Sunday game at Prospect Park could it?

[Royal Lady]

How is that the Times rated Harper as the MoM and still some idiots berate him? It couldn't just be that some spectators (I hesitate to use the words 'fans' or 'supporters') have no real idea how to play the game and expect it to look like a Sunday game at Prospect Park could it?

Yes, you're probably right - we all expected our games in the Prem to look like a Sunday game at Prospect Park. I said I didn't notice Harper during the game - to my mind he certainly wasn't MOM. That HAS to go to Sonko imho.

[kwik-silva]

How is that the Times rated Harper as the MoM and still some idiots berate him? It couldn't just be that some spectators (I hesitate to use the words 'fans' or 'supporters') have no real idea how to play the game and expect it to look like a Sunday game at Prospect Park could it?

Yes, you're probably right - we all expected our games in the Prem to look like a Sunday game at Prospect Park. I said I didn't notice Harper during the game - to my mind he certainly wasn't MOM. That HAS to go to Sonko imho.

Yeah, I agree, what did the Times say about the game then

[kwik-silva]

Ibrahim Sonko double boosts Royals
Reading 2 Plymouth 0Wayne Veysey at Madejski stadium
BOUNCING back from Premier League relegation last season proved as difficult for the demoted clubs as keeping up with Usain Bolt. Watford, Sheffield United and Charlton were all installed as early promotion favourites in the Championship but faltered badly in a division that has become a byword for sheer unpredictability.

Reading steamrollered the Championship three seasons ago with the same record-breaking ease that Bolt displayed in yesterday’s 100m final in Beijing and their hope is that they can buck the recent trend, and this convincing 2-0 victory over Plymouth will be the catalyst for another title-winning campaign.

Steve Coppell’s side were too streetwise at the Madejski stadium yesterday for a completely refurbished Plymouth team that bears little resemblance to the solid outfit that punched above its weight last season.

Ibrahim Sonko’s two unchallenged powerful headers - one in either half - was the difference between the two teams but the fact that Reading required goals from corners to illustrate the gulf in class does not tell the whole story. One man who dazzled in the Berkshire sunshine was the outstanding James Harper. The former Arsenal trainee marshalls the midfield in the modern way and a smile might even replace the normal Coppell frown if he is still at the club when the transfer window slams shut.

In Marcus Hahnemann, Ivar Ingimarsson, Harper and Kevin Doyle, Reading have a spine to match any of their rivals while Stephen Hunt, who was impressive in an unfamiliar left-back position yesterday, Sonko and Leroy Lita have all been coveted by Premier League clubs. Add in the exemplary organisational skills of Coppell - surely the club’s best close-season news was when he confirmed his wish to “put right” May’s relegation - and, as Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock pointed out, you have a team to fear. “We are looking at the champions or near enough,” claimed Sturrock.

Coppell believes it would be impossible to replicate Reading’s 2005/06 campaign. “What we did was unique. I find it hard to believe that anyone could better 106 points. You look at successful teams in this division the last few years - a lot have lost 10-12 games and got promotion. It’s how you bounce back from defeat that counts.”

Star man:James Harper (Reading)

READING:Hahnemann 7, Rosenior 7, Sonko 8, Ingimarsson 7, S Hunt 8, Kebe 7, Harper 9, Cisse 7, Convey 6 (Kelly 85min), Lita 5 (N Hunt 88min), Doyle 6 (Long 74min).

PLYMOUTH:Stack 7, Duguid 6, Seip 6 (Timar 85min), Doumbe 7, Barker 5, Puncheon 7, Summerfield 5, Walton 5 (McNamee 66min), Clark 5, Fallon 6, Mackie 6 (MacLean 66min).

Referee:R Beeby Attendance:19,202

[glass half full]

All said and done by the sound’s of things it was a good result today, but the underlying theme has to be we have to strengthen, just remember this time last year after 3 games we had 4 points in Prem and Coppell did nothing.In September we picked up 3 points ……. Don’t make me bring up my “just to sum up” thread from last year and embarrass all those that posted on it, let's not get complacent.

No need to be complacent but when you look at the lack of quality in almost every other squad in this division its difficult not to be optimistic about our chances.

Maybe this is why no moves have been made in the transfer market yet.

[PEARCEY]

All said and done by the sound’s of things it was a good result today, but the underlying theme has to be we have to strengthen, just remember this time last year after 3 games we had 4 points in Prem and Coppell did nothing.In September we picked up 3 points ……. Don’t make me bring up my “just to sum up” thread from last year and embarrass all those that posted on it, let's not get complacent.

No need to be complacent but when you look at the lack of quality in almost every other squad in this division its difficult not to be optimistic about our chances.

Maybe this is why no moves have been made in the transfer market yet.

Yes but its important that what we have we now keep. Despite a lot of concern about our own squad just look at the other squads in this division. With the exception of Birmingham and possibly Wolves there is nothing much to write home about elsewhere.

[CMRoyal]

All said and done by the sound’s of things it was a good result today, but the underlying theme has to be we have to strengthen, just remember this time last year after 3 games we had 4 points in Prem and Coppell did nothing.In September we picked up 3 points ……. Don’t make me bring up my “just to sum up” thread from last year and embarrass all those that posted on it, let's not get complacent.

No need to be complacent but when you look at the lack of quality in almost every other squad in this division its difficult not to be optimistic about our chances.

Yes, I've been whinging to anyone who'll listen (that'll be the wall and the cat then) that we are at risk of being a mid-table side this season. Oh, how short my memory is - Plymouth are a solid, mid-table Championship side (10th last year, was it?), but the gulf in 'class' (if you can call it that) was extraordinary yesterday. I really had forgotten how abject it gets below the top half dozen or so teams. I don't think the boys got out of second gear yesterday (could really have done with a goal for one of the forwards from open play just for confidence), but they didn't really need to.

[Sarah Star]

I wouldn't have said Harper went missing in this match. Normally I don't notice him at all, but here he did get involved - not a lot, I grant you, but he did at least have some time on the ball.

Ingimarsson was good defensively always in the right place at the right time and I thought he might be helping S Hunt out on the left as Hunt seemed to be trying to play as a winger and left back at the same time and running between the two positions - not that it did us any harm.

Convey had a good game. When he got the ball, you knew he was going to get it down the pitch and creaate chances, and the same goes for Kebe, who also managed to sneak between defenders and put in some superb crosses. Rosenior had some good linking play.

Lita and Doyle, I'm not so sure about. I don't remember anything outstanding, and I was quite glad to see Long and Nel Hunt come on albeit in the last few minutes of the game.

It was a good result and I enjoyed watching the game, which is a lot more than I expecting when I heard the team list.

Two questions:

1, Why no Karacan? He seems to have disappeared.
2, Why isn't Hahnemann captain? (Not that I have anything against James Harper?)

[kwik-silva]

Two questions:

1, Why no Karacan? He seems to have disappeared.
2, Why isn't Hahnemann captain? (Not that I have anything against James Harper?)

Only the manager will know where Karacan is, but why Hahnemann isn't captain... I guess its only because they want to keep harper, but having said that, Ingimarsson is the usual captain if Murty isn't in the side Where is Murty going to fit in?? Is he better than Rosenior... He's probably more consistent

[Sarah Star]

Would Murty play on the right and Rosenior on the left if both were fit? Or would we continue with Hunt?

[PEARCEY]

Thats the point CM Royal...there is a real lack of quality in this division.
Just look at Cardiff and Soton as cases in point. Pretty much all of their young talent has gone. Cardiff have sold Gunter, Ramsay and Loovens since January. Soton have sold Kenwynne Jones and Bale(not forgetting Walcott a couple of seasons ago)...
Thats not to say that it will be easy as going to places like Oakwell on a windy winters night or Ninian Park on a bitterly cold afternoon is always going to be tough but if the players have the right mentality and are prepared to scrap for every point there is enough class in our squad to go straight back up.

[Sarah Star]

But you can't write the other teams off. Notts Forest managed to make us look decidedly average.

[kwik-silva]

Would Murty play on the right and Rosenior on the left if both were fit? Or would we continue with Hunt?

I would guess it would be Murty/Rosenior, unless Hunt's proved himself as a 'natural' LB. Would Murts get in the team (obvious question )

But you can't write the other teams off. Notts Forest managed to make us look decidedly average.

That could've been first game of the season, away to a promoted side though. Everybody's saying that you don't wanna play promoted sides too early on

[Ian Royal]

Well here's my assessment:

I thought Plymouth were poor but not a great deal poorer than Forest. The difference for me was Forest had a much more commanding centreback pairing and 5 in midfield. Neither looked likely to score and were forced to rely on poor long shots from outside the area. Although Forest are likely to improve once they get some strikers fit.

We played a lot better yesterday with Cisse, Kebe and possibly even Rosenior having their best games for us. We look extremely solid at the back, although I still have a minor doubt about Ivar, he is turned a little to easily and isn't as commanding in the air as he used to be. With Bikey on th eway back and Duberry approaching fitness that shouldn't be a problem providing Coppell is willing to drop him.

Cisse tackled and passed well in the game, although there were still silly wayward passes that shouldn't be in his game. Harper was excellent, everywhere in midfield, passing the ball around well and getting stuck in. I can see why he got MOM in the Times. Kebe and Convey were effective on the wings. Convey didn't beat his man often, but him Hunt and Doyle linked up well to creat good moves and I saw some of the old school driving runs from deep in midfield to counter attack. Kebe was a revelation, although as a word of caution he'll need to perform like that consistantly and he still didn't create that many chances for us to score.

Doyle and Lita worked very hard but we seem to be failing to create chances for them to score which is also a slight worry. Bar the two acrobatic chances they didn't get much of a sniff.

All in all a very encouraging performace. I still don't rate Cisse in midfield, but there is at least a sign of hope there now rather than nothing before. I'd like a few more performances from Kebe before I make my mind up and switch camp as well.

Hahnemann - 8 distribution very good and did everything he had to safely and well.
Rosenior - 8 Best game I've seen from him. passing, defending and attacking were all very good
Hunt - 8 looks a little suspect in defence sometimes, but he's learning, got forward wel and nearly scored
Sonko - 9 MOM rock solid and got two goals. The corner routines are back!
Ivar - 7 not a lot wrong, but not hugely noticable
Kebe - 8 Great runs, but still not a lot of end product. Potential
Convey - 7 again not a huge amount of end product but some good runs and link up play
Cisse - 7 best game in midfield, needs to work on his passing and I worry against a decent team
Harper - 8 I'm a Harper fan, he's never spectacular but he rarely lets you down. More willing to tackle this season
Doyle - 7 worked very hard for little result
Lita - 7 similar to Doyle

Long - 6 looked bright but didn't do a whole lot in his brief time on the pitch
Kelly - 6 bags of enthusiasm and some nice passes. Woeful first cross. shows promise
NHunt - 6 had no time to really do anything, killed the game in the corner ok.

EDIT Ref - 10 best referring display I've seen in ages.

[kwik-silva]

I'd also like to pose another question

Duberry/Bike/Sonko/Ingimarsson, which 2 are going to be our CB's?

[PEARCEY]

But you can't write the other teams off. Notts Forest managed to make us look decidedly average.

I've not written any sides off. We didn't scrap hard enough at Nottingham Forest(not Notts Forest...as its Notts County and Nottingham Forest...trust me its matters to fans in that part of the world) and could easily have lost. If the players dont match their opponents commitment this season we will go nowhere. If they do then we will do very well.
All I can really say is check out the other squads in this division....they really are not up to much IMO.