Sonko - has he been missed?

[Katie Marsden]

Seriously, what games are you counting??

You imply you're counting the two FA Cup games against United which would make some sense as there have been only 11 Premiership games after the game against Sheffield United where he got injured (and note, that goal came almost 40 minutes after his injury).

So you're clearly counting the cup games in that.

FA Cup
conceded 2 vs Burnley
conceded 2 vs Birmingham
conceded 4 vs Manchester United over two games

League Cup
conceded 3 vs Darlington
conceded 4 vs Liverpool

That does make it nearer to 16 games, but adds 15 goals to the goals conceded total, which would make it a significantly larger number of goals conceded.

I don't really think he's been all that missed - if you'd concentrated on the Premiership games, you'd have noted that we've actually conceded less than a goal a game without him - but there was something that just screamed WRONG about your method.

I didn't include the league cup games or the FA Cup game v Burnley as Sonko never played. The Burnley game was before his injury so I didn't include it at all.

[papereyes]

I must be bored but

Sonks has been on the pitch for 1930 minutes this season, in which time we have conceded 29 goals

Sonks has been off the pitch for 1790 minutes this season, in which time we have conceded 29 goals

End of chat

Vindicated. I think.

[Katie Marsden]

I must be bored but

Sonks has been on the pitch for 1930 minutes this season, in which time we have conceded 29 goals

Sonks has been off the pitch for 1790 minutes this season, in which time we have conceded 29 goals

End of chat

Not really, we're talking about since he was injured. You've included every single game all season that he hasn't played.

[papereyes]

Seriously, what games are you counting??

You imply you're counting the two FA Cup games against United which would make some sense as there have been only 11 Premiership games after the game against Sheffield United where he got injured (and note, that goal came almost 40 minutes after his injury).

So you're clearly counting the cup games in that.

FA Cup
conceded 2 vs Burnley
conceded 2 vs Birmingham
conceded 4 vs Manchester United over two games

League Cup
conceded 3 vs Darlington
conceded 4 vs Liverpool

That does make it nearer to 16 games, but adds 15 goals to the goals conceded total, which would make it a significantly larger number of goals conceded.

I don't really think he's been all that missed - if you'd concentrated on the Premiership games, you'd have noted that we've actually conceded less than a goal a game without him - but there was something that just screamed WRONG about your method.

I didn't include the league cup games or the FA Cup game v Burnley as Sonko never played. The Burnley game was before his injury so I didn't include it at all.

We've actually conceded less than a goal per game in the Premiership since his injury. However, in that run of 11 games, there were only two games against Top 4 sides, one at home and one away.

I just think its much of a muchness. We don't look quite as solid, but players have come in and played well. But that's also been the case, for the most part, for the similar problems at right back.

The only place we've looked short of cover was when we played Seol almost up-front just before Christmas alongside/behind Doyle.

[Katie Marsden]

We can argue over the stats all day, I just wanted to show that we haven't missed him, or fallen apart like some thought would happen.

Sonko needs to improve his reading of the game and positioning or he might struggle to get into the side next season.

[readingbedding]

We can argue over the stats all day, I just wanted to show that we haven't missed him, or fallen apart like some thought would happen.

Sonko needs to improve his reading of the game and positioning or he might struggle to get into the side next season.

Unless there's an injury, or lack of form or any other reason for that matter.

[Reading West]

it also doesn't take into account instances like the aftermath of the "hunt-cech" Chelsea game where the spotlight of the football world was on the reading team which affected our performances (13 goals conceded in 4 games including the 0-4 arsenal defeat).

Reading hasn't been under the same amount of scrutiny post sonko injury.

[willz_royal]

TBH, yes, i have, cos now every time someone gets near i defence i shit myself

HTH

[Hahnemann's Hairdresser]

We havn't missed Sonko, Bikey and Duberry have filled in almost seamlessly. I can't think of a goal we've conceded and thought 'if Sonko was playing we wouldn't have let that in'. This does not mean to say he is way down in the pecking order now, he would still be my first choice CB when at full fitness.

[Bucks Dave]

I think a similar case could be made for any Reading player injured. With Murty, Little, Doyle, Kitson, Convey and others missing several games through injury I'm not aware of a disastrous drop in form or scoring or defending due to any of them. Our squad players do seem to be able to step up in a lot of cases.

I think Silver Fox's stats are the only meaningful ones. I don't think Sonko is any more desperately needed than any of the rest of the team and long may it remain that way.

Having said that, he is a favourite I like to see playing.

Saw a great quote about sites like this recently: " a claustrophobic environment appealing chiefly to a certain kind of aggressive, point-scoring male - and utterly offputting to everyone else". What on earth could that mean?

[papereyes]

I think a similar case could be made for any Reading player injured. With Murty, Little, Doyle, Kitson, Convey and others missing several games through injury I'm not aware of a disastrous drop in form or scoring or defending due to any of them. Our squad players do seem to be able to step up in a lot of cases.

I think Silver Fox's stats are the only meaningful ones. I don't think Sonko is any more desperately needed than any of the rest of the team and long may it remain that way.

Having said that, he is a favourite I like to see playing.

Saw a great quote about sites like this recently: " a claustrophobic environment appealing chiefly to a certain kind of aggressive, point-scoring male - and utterly offputting to everyone else". What on earth could that mean?

Whatever.

[RG30]

We haven't missed Sonko as much as I thought we would, but granted he would probably be an instant 1st choice on return. Ingimarsson however would be a bigger loss.

[When Hicks went up...]

I must be bored but

Sonks has been on the pitch for 1930 minutes this season, in which time we have conceded 29 goals

Sonks has been off the pitch for 1790 minutes this season, in which time we have conceded 29 goals

End of chat

So we HAVE missed him then!

[rotherwick_royal]

My bet is that when SC has all his central defenders available to him at the beginning of next season (hopefully!), Sonko will be the first choice at the back.

That should tell you all you need to know.

[Garrincha]

Nothing like a heated debate!

My view is no more credible or valid than anyone else's however there is no doubt Sonko has been missed despite what the 'stats' say. He is a first team player and the obvious partner for Ingimarsson (player of the season based on consistency and performance).

Anyone that saw the away game at Southampton last season where we got absolutely battered witnessed one of the best performances by a centre half. It epitomised was he is all about and he has continued to improve up until his injury.

He like any other will be prone to making mistakes (as all our defender's have this season) but has anybody ever witnessed Drogba applaud an opposing player following a tackle. Drogba got completely taken out by Sonko (in our home game against Chelski) inside the box along with the ball, and Drogba turned to Sonko and applauded the tackle!

One of the moments of this season!

[RoyalChicagoFC]

On the other hand, if Marcus hammers the ball into his own net a half a dozen times since Sonko went down, then the stats would support the "Yes --Sonko is indeed missed" position.

'Course, any such scenario would've been murder on our all-important goal-difference, which in turn could cost us dear in the chase for a place in Europe...unless of course you don't want to see us in Europe, which Coppell may or may not want, depending on how you interpret his remarks on the matter.

Speaking of which, do you think he's trying to take us there, or has he been putting the squad thru heavy rotation with the ulterior purpose of keeping us out (and, if Sonko hadn't gone down, would he still be featuring every time out)?

Hm, maybe I'll start a poll or something...

[Corky341]

No I don't think so. Sorry, I'm answering the original question. I think Bikey is almost a carbon copy of Sonks a little while ago. He and Sonks would make a great double act. (In the near future).

[Archie's penalty]

I think a similar case could be made for any Reading player injured. With Murty, Little, Doyle, Kitson, Convey and others missing several games through injury I'm not aware of a disastrous drop in form or scoring or defending due to any of them. Our squad players do seem to be able to step up in a lot of cases.

What I find most amazing about our squad is that it has grown in quality considerably since last year. Who would have thought that our squad players could fill in so impressively for our 'star' players. I think it shows that Coppell has got the squad playing for him and totally in his image. What we have done this year has been very impressive - from a fan and a neutral's perspective...

[Tilehurst End]

We definately miss his long throws

[rob the royal]

we definitely have missed sonko, since he's been out i think we've looked jittery. bikey has done well and duberry's fitted in ok but with a less steady and accomplished defence i think it's reduced our effectiveness at getting forward.