Is it a co incidence ?

[ChunkyMonkey]

I've heard a few people say it but, do the team seem to play better when Murts plays ?
Remeber those few games when he was injured before ? and what about after he came off at Newcastle ? Is he that link that gels the back four or is it just a personal observation of a truly great captain ?

[Maguire]

I think the team play better with our first-choice right-back and captain than without him, yes.

[roland*]

I think the team play better with our first-choice right-back and captain than without him, yes.

End of discussion really.

[loyal-royal]

I think the team play better with our first-choice right-back and captain than without him, yes.

End of discussion really.

why write that hes just asking what people think and then you write that.

I think the team does play better with murty in the team, we seem to have alot more confidence with him there and thats a shame cause if he does get injured again id like to think we could play just aswell without him.

[Platypuss]

if he does get injured again id like to think we could play just aswell without him.

I disagree.

[royals pete]

It was no co-incidence that when he returned for the Tottenham game, the players immediately resumed winning ways.

I'm not saying we could have done better at liverpool or against Chelski with him, but points were being earned in the winnable matches with him.

And its not possible to have fully capable subs for a long standing and first choice player like Murts, unless you have massive squads. You sometimes just have to get by.

[loyal-royal]

if he does get injured again id like to think we could play just aswell without him.

I disagree.

so what you think we cant play without him? i just think we need better cover than bikey.

[royals pete]

Just take a moment to think where there are clubs which can use a reserve player to the same effect as the injured one.

Have you gone past ManU and Chelski yet ????

[londinium]

Just take a moment to think where there are clubs which can use a reserve player to the same effect as the injured one.

Have you gone past ManU and Chelski yet ????

How dare you spout common sence on HNA...you are banished!!!

[Platypuss]

if he does get injured again id like to think we could play just aswell without him.

I disagree.

so what you think we cant play without him? i just think we need better cover than bikey.

Not at all.

I just thought I'd post something that wasn't the bleeding obvious.

[lozz2601]

I think its quite obvious we play worse without him, really! Like one of the commentators somewhere said ( ), we hadn't won with Ingimarsson as captain, so.

[blue_army1871]

M-U-R-T-Y

[Royalee]

I think the team play better with our first-choice right-back and captain than without him, yes.

End of discussion really.

why write that hes just asking what people think and then you write that.

I think the team does play better with murty in the team, we seem to have alot more confidence with him there and thats a shame cause if he does get injured again id like to think we could play just aswell without him.

Did you go to Portsmouth, Liverpool, Newcastle or Watford? Or any of the home games he's been out for? Didn't think so.

[royals pete]

Added incentive to be playing well.....he doesn't have to face a barrage of critical questions from Andrew Peach on a Monday morning !!

[Dirk Gently]

Above all else, he is the one who calls the moves and sets the line for the back four.

[doylefan]

the team def plays better when murts is on the pitch. the have more confidence when he's there. not only is he a great player but he's also a great leader, which is show when he plays.

when he returned for the spurs game you could see how the team changed and the inspiration was visiable again. im not saying that one person makes the team, becasue it doesnt but when we lose someone like murty to injury it does seem to effect the team. lets hope he's back for saturday!!!

[londinium]

the team def plays better when murts is on the pitch. the have more confidence when he's there. not only is he a great player but he's also a great leader, which is show when he plays.

when he returned for the spurs game you could see how the team changed and the inspiration was visiable again. im not saying that one person makes the team, becasue it doesnt but when we lose someone like murty to injury it does seem to effect the team. lets hope he's back for saturday!!!

Did we not lose when we played Villa and Wigan with him on the pitch and got a draw against Mn utd (his error). Did we not win at West Ham without him?

He is obviously missed as he is our first team right back and captain but as you can see the team isn't the same force without Blakey or even without Kits!

Stating the bleeding obvious that we are better with him is a bit pointless, especially as he happened to come back after a very hard run we had.

[Gordons Cumming]

It's got to be better to have Murty playing at right back than Bikey.

[Champagne Royal]

He does seem to spur the team on, and he does put the work in so I do think the team benefit a lot from having him there and on form. That said it is a team, so if it's a winning side, thats not just down to one person, be it Murty or anyone else. Reading are definately a team, and it's always noticeable when a key member is out.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

I agree with the sentiment, but I think having Convey, Little and Seol all out, our three most creative players, (not to mention missing our only striker with a physical presence) was more of a factor in us not scoring at Watford than Murty being out.