Norwich - back from the game

[Hampshire Royal]

What were the 'Stupid fcuking jumper' and 'Was it knitted by your Gran' chants all about?

[cmonurz]

terrible game, but down to them more than us, we kept trying to win it form minute 1 to 90+
midfield had a bad day, but thats cos there 5 for norwich.
at least we finally got a clean sheet, fed wasnt tested, morro continue to look good.
onwards an upwards. if we draw all our games from here on in, and win 2 or 3 we may stay up

So what did BMcD do to counter this ploy by Norwich?

Don't ask such pertinent questions, they are not welcome here.

(his option to counter that tactic was not in the match day squad).

[Royal Rother]

Because they are both injured.

[cmonurz]

Ok, wider picture. The problem with saw on Saturday with no penetration from midfield is not a new one. Nevertheless, McDermott has not been including such an option in the match day squad.

[RoyalBlue]

Because they are both injured.

And what about Brynjar? A skilled and creative midfielder who was deemed worthy enough to be included in our 25 but now seems to have been forgotten about.

[maffff]

What a crap game.

They parked the bus. We had a couple of chances to win it, but mostly struggle to get through. They looked more likely to do something going forward but Holt did very little except stomp around and be as petulant as ever and largely had no one up there.

I thought McDermott did a lot better with the early subs, given what we had on the bench it was worth trying to shake it up.

[Jano]

It was a frustrating watch for me. I'm quickly renaming Leigertwood hospital pass, Kebe needs to stop shooting in silly positions, and the amount of whines about Pog being a useless lazy lumbering lump when he's not getting any service whatsoever (he's a big strong centre forward who strives on crosses into the box, of which I've so far seen absolutely none that he's had a chance of getting on the end of), is getting a bit ridiculous. I understand why he's not being picked to play alongside Roberts, but I think it must be worth a shot playing them both. Shorey however is really surprising me. Far and away the best player on the pitch and he is looking as good as I have ever seen him play, amazing how much of a transformation has happened there considering how poor he has been since he left Reading in the first place.

For me, the team is crying out for a midfielder who can actually pass the ball, but the team seems far too lightweight when Guthrie is in the team.

[cmonurz]

For me, the team is crying out for a midfielder who can actually pass the ball, but the team seems far too lightweight when Guthrie is in the team.

So play 4-5-1, we have the wingers for it.

[maffff]

For me, the team is crying out for a midfielder who can actually pass the ball, but the team seems far too lightweight when Guthrie is in the team.

So play 4-5-1, we have the wingers for it.

But not the striker(s).

[Maguire]

Shorey however is really surprising me. Far and away the best player on the pitch

Completely agree - said on Saturday that he was easily our best player. Proper footballer, great in possession.

[Geekins]

What were the 'Stupid fcuking jumper' and 'Was it knitted by your Gran' chants all about?

A cocky Norwich fan was trying to wind up the Reading fans... then he took off his coat and had a hideous Christmas jumper on. After that he then got taken the piss out of until the stewards ejected him.. to chants of, "Kicked out cos your shit jumper" Didn't think he deserved to go as it was the only entertainment all game!

[melonhead]

terrible game, but down to them more than us, we kept trying to win it form minute 1 to 90+
midfield had a bad day, but thats cos there 5 for norwich.
at least we finally got a clean sheet, fed wasnt tested, morro continue to look good.
onwards an upwards. if we draw all our games from here on in, and win 2 or 3 we may stay up

So what did BMcD do to counter this ploy by Norwich?

no options on the bench due to injury (and guthries strop/injury?)


did all he could do, and make attacking substitutions elsewhere.plus we are a 4-4-2 team, going 451 at home is a touch negative, especialy when we were looking the better team.
not alot you can do when a team parks a bus. we had alot of corners and set pieces, and were unlucky that we werent more clinical when we got on the end of them.

[melonhead]

Ok, wider picture. The problem with saw on Saturday with no penetration from midfield is not a new one. Nevertheless, McDermott has not been including such an option in the match day squad.

yeah, cos he wa so chock full of attacking flair and verve whenever hes played,
the through balls he played, the dribbles, the sheer creation of the man

[Royal Rother]

Shorey however is really surprising me. Far and away the best player on the pitch

Completely agree - said on Saturday that he was easily our best player. Proper footballer, great in possession.

Me too.

And oddly, he looks as young as ever since he's come back here.

[maffff]

and were unlucky that we werent more clinical when we got on the end of them.

One observation I made on Saturday.. when is the last time a player connected properly with a corner? It seems we're always just under them and so they're skied, the closest we've had for a while I guess was Morro and he hit the bar to set up Gorkss.

[mr_number]

and were unlucky that we werent more clinical when we got on the end of them.

One observation I made on Saturday.. when is the last time a player connected properly with a corner? It seems we're always just under them and so they're skied, the closest we've had for a while I guess was Morro and he hit the bar to set up Gorkss.

Almost every header Morrison has is the same, whether it's from a corner or defensively - fairly powerful, at quite a decent upwards angle.

[maffff]

It's just a different style of header, compared to Pearce or Gorkss powering it in. It seems mostly with Gorkss they've been just over his head so he's been getting more height and less direction/power on it than from when Harte was pinging in accurate ones.

Morro's I guess is putting in into a decent area or looping it into a corner, rather than attacking it....

[LoyalRoyal22]

my ratings

Feds- 7
Gunter -8
Shorey -7
Morrison- 8
Gorkks - 6
McCleary- 6
Mcanuff- 6
Ledge- 5
Tabb- 7
Roberts- 7
Hunt- 5

[melonhead]

feds 7
gunter 7
shorey 8
morro 8
gorkss 7
ledge/tabb 5
mcleary 6
mcanuff 7
roberts 6
nhunt 6

kebe 7
pog 6
alf N/A

[maffff]

Reading boss Brian McDermott admits he set out to stop Norwich City’s Wes Hoolahan

Reading boss Brian McDermott revealed stopping Wes Hoolahan was a crucial factor in his battleplan.

Norwich’s midfield inspiration has been central to the Canaries’ improved Premier League displays, but the Irishman and Grant Holt were well-marshalled by the Royals’ backline.

“They have a threat up front in Hoolahan and Holt, but generally we dealt with them well. We defended as a team,” said McDermott.

“Sean Morrison is a young player making his way and looks a prospect, he won’t come up against a more physical test.

“We kept a solid shape, Morrison and (Kaspars) Gorkss handled Holt really well. We got up the pitch, stopped Hoolahan getting on the ball, because if you don’t squeeze the pitch he’ll cause you problems. They hardly had a shot on target, so for us with a bit more quality we’d have won.

“I’m not disappointed. We’ve had a few disappointments this season – when we were winning the game against Arsenal and when we were 2-0 up at Swansea – but I can’t be disappointed with a group of guys that have given us absolutely everything. In that dressing room they’re disappointed themselves but they’ve no reason to be.”

Reading’s search for an elusive Premier League win upon returning to the top flight extends to Everton’s pending visit this weekend, but McDermott was pleased to hold a streetwise City outfit.

“You’ve got to give them credit, absolutely,” he said. “That team is solid, the two centre-halves know what they’re doing, the two full-backs didn’t really go too far and they’ve got a threat with Holt up front. They’ve come here and kept a clean sheet, they’ll be pleased with that, they’re well organised.

“Everyone keeps talking about the win, we’ve just got to concentrate on the game. That’s all we can do – just dig in. There are times in life you just have to dig in and come out of the end of it. That’s what we’re trying to do now. It is what it is. Every single one of our players had a real go, as they always do. So you can’t fault the players for effort.

“We maybe need to have an extra touch at times in the final third that makes the difference and that was today, but generally we have been scoring goals. So when you’re playing at home and you draw you want to win, that’s how it is.”

McDermott sensed a nervousness in his side, but the Reading boss hoped the Royals’ first clean sheet of the new league campaign should give the hosts’ renewed belief.

“I just felt we were a little bit nervous in the first half, which is unusual for us, really,” he said.

“Both teams didn’t really create enough but I thought we were in the ascendancy and it was going to be a one-goal game, if there was going to be a goal, really, maybe from a set play.

“But I was pleased that we kept a clean sheet, the first time we’ve done it in the league. That’s six draws from 10 games and that tells you how close we are. Generally we’ve been scoring a lot of goals. It was good to keep a clean sheet but it was unusual for us not to score.”

McDermott is adamant Reading have the ability to emulate Norwich’s achievement and survive on their return to the big time.

“If you’d have asked that question this time last season when we were about 15th in the Championship, I had confidence in the players then and we ended up winning the title,” he said. “I’m not saying we’re going to win the title. We’ve just got to dig out a result and get to the space in front, the next team in front.

“That’s all we can do and we’ll try to do that next week. That’s all you can do – just concentrate solely on living in the moment and playing the game. Our players just want to do so well for the club and the fans, they’ve done that for me over three years and I’ve got nothing but praise for them.

“What gives me confidence? The fact we’ve been scoring goals, the fact I’ve got a great bunch of people, staff and players, that work here. There are many things that give me confidence.”

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/sport/re ... _1_1689808