shane long

[brendywendy]

turned the game for us yesterday- hes had well deserved criticism this season, and many doubted him
but fair play- the lad came up trumps tonight, winning the pen, and scoring a great header.
more of that please shane

Yeah he dived for a pen then got given cross of the century to score from.

He's still a lazy fat-arsed gap-toothed shithead

well i think he deserves better than that, but your entitled to your views
the boys scored some improtant goals for us, and nothing would make me happier than him coming good in the second half of the season and keeping us up.

[Wycombe Royal]

The cross to Rasiak, was dummied right in front of him by Carragher which put him off, although I still felt he should have scored. Church and Ivar should have done better but were both on the stretch trying to reach them. Long was stood still and the ball landed at pace right on his head. Any centre forward has to score that.

An experienced pro like Rasiak should not been put off by a defender missing the ball, he should be in position anticipating the ball as if the defender wasn't there.

Church just misjudged the flight of the ball, and Idon't remember Ingimarsson stretching, he just didn't get enough contact on it which could easily have happened to Long.

But it is no surprise that you are defending Ingimarsson......

[Archie's penalty]

Not enough concentration I think, that's his problem.

[Maguire]

Err, LOL

Headers don't come any easier than that - perfect cross, bang on your head a few yards out, unmarked, don't even have to jump, whole goal to aim at.

If you think the other chances were as easy as that then i'm afraid you just don't know anything about football.

Church's was the toughest. The others should have been scored. I never said which was easiest so you can shove your condescending comment up your arse.

Rasiak was taken by surprise as he didn't think the ball would reach him. Only Carragher's bizarre dummy let him in and he had a fraction of a second to react - if he'd seen the cross all the way he would've done a whole lot better.

I'm only being condescending because you don't know what you're talking about. And because I hate Shane Long.

[Maguire]

I normally agree with you Mags on RFC but I think you may be displaying your lack of on-pitch footballing prowess. Easy headers are not ones where you are in front of the near post. Getting all of your head on the ball to get that 90-150 degree angle is easy - getting just enough for a 20-30 degree glancing header is not that easy. He got a great contact and he headed it down as well. An amazing cross but a very good header.

Respectfully disagree. He was four yards out with all the pace on the ball. No need to jump, no need to apply power with your next muscles, no need to do anythign beyond score, which pretty much most of our players would've done from there. IMHO, of course.

It's not anywhere near the best headed goal I've seen Long score, and that's saying something

[Maguire]

I would like Long to be a Championship 15-20 a season man, and for us, as I think he has the latent ability to do this.

He just probably won't be.

He's scored about 20 goals ever. It's 2010 now - he'll never score 20 in a single season.

When Doyle left it was time for Long to step up or ship out. He doesn't even look interested when he's on the pitch which is what hacks me off the most. Just lazy and shit, which really isn't good enough for someone hoping to make it at the club.

[glenroyal]

Oddly and perhaps perversely what impressed me most was his defensive work.

I expect a striker to be a nuisance in their box, but acting like an extra midfielder for much of that extra time was a superb effort.

Agree. I made that comment a couple of places already. He was stuck in to everything defensively, as well as on the end of that peach of an assist from Brynjar.

[Archie's penalty]

But Mags - isn't it about positioning as well. He got into the right position and so deserved the goal.

A lot of Michael Owen's goals are due to being in the right place at the right time. So Long is due some credit.

[wolsey]

For a "lazy fat arse" he did an awful amount of unnecessary running around and defensive work last night. Plus how dare he win a penalty for us, and be in the right place to convert a perfect cross?

Seems strange that from a player who was disinterested, overweight and generally useless under the previous manager (Wonder why that was?)

[brendywendy]

hes not chubby any more
hes not chubby any more

[Man Friday]

that goal could well have kept him at the club for another season

thanks a lot Lady Luck, why couldn't that cross have ended up on Church's forehead

It did and he missed it like a Sunday League player.

[Whore Jackie]

Long and Federici are in the same camp for me. Quite like them, but they’re so frustrating. Real glimpses of quality, seemingly let down by poor conditioning, experience and basic footballing errors. Still believe that with the right/better coaching they could make it.

Thought Federici was magnificent last night. Really played to his strengths, but added to that with some great positioning and that superb catch at the death. Shane’s forty minutes was by far and away his best this season. Reminiscent of his best spell at the club, at the tail end of last season. Long and Church defended from the front brilliantly, rather similar to how Ian Rush played. If they could get to 50% of his finishing ability we’d be laughing.

[Stranded]

fair play, his tenacity won the penalty and it was a good goal. Probably the most important and significant goal he'll ever score for us.

I still don't want him any higher than 4th choice though.

I would argue this point - whilst a great night and an amazing result I'm not sure in the scheme of things it's that important or significant esp if we don't improve in the league.

[Maguire]

But Mags - isn't it about positioning as well. He got into the right position and so deserved the goal.

A lot of Michael Owen's goals are due to being in the right place at the right time. So Long is due some credit.

Yes it is and of course he scored and i acknowledge that.

I just do it through gritted teeth coz I don't like him

[West Stand Man]

Err, LOL

Headers don't come any easier than that - perfect cross, bang on your head a few yards out, unmarked, don't even have to jump, whole goal to aim at.

If you think the other chances were as easy as that then i'm afraid you just don't know anything about football.

To make it an easy header you need to be in the right place at the right time and get head on the ball. That in itself is a talent.

To say that he dived for the penalty is just ignoring the facts. If you don't like him just say so, but give up on the mindlessly poor assessment of his performance.

[Wycombe Royal]

I'm only being condescending because you don't know what you're talking about.

Oh and you do. So what qualifications do you have to assess that anyone could have scored that goal? Ex professional footballer, coaching qualifications......

I think it is more to do with the fact that you are totally biased because of your hatred of Shane Long and even if he had scored a hatrick you would still be criticising him.

Many footballers far better than Shane Long have missed easier chances than his one last night, but if you think that all he had to do was "make contact" to score then it is you who has no idea what he is talking about.

But seeing as you are someone who has the belief that they are a funny and witty contributor to this forum I do not expect a sensible response........

[readingbedding]

Double word.

[Maguire]

Err, LOL

Headers don't come any easier than that - perfect cross, bang on your head a few yards out, unmarked, don't even have to jump, whole goal to aim at.

If you think the other chances were as easy as that then i'm afraid you just don't know anything about football.

To make it an easy header you need to be in the right place at the right time and get head on the ball. That in itself is a talent.

To say that he dived for the penalty is just ignoring the facts. If you don't like him just say so, but give up on the mindlessly poor assessment of his performance.

If I don't like him just say so? I've said it about 600 times on this thread alone

It was a penalty for sure, but he chucked himself. I'm sorry if the fact he was wearing blue and white hoops renders you incapable of acknowledging that fact.

[Wycombe Royal]

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUK350&q=football+glancing+header+difficult&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB&aq=f&oq=

Football Skills: Glancing HeaderOne of the hardest skills to perfect in football is the glancing header

But it is easy because Mags says so.......

[Plymouth_Royal]

fair play, his tenacity won the penalty and it was a good goal. Probably the most important and significant goal he'll ever score for us.

I still don't want him any higher than 4th choice though.

I would argue this point - whilst a great night and an amazing result I'm not sure in the scheme of things it's that important or significant esp if we don't improve in the league.

Finally some perspective