Tottenham v. Reading 1/4 Match Thread (Halford in)

[biscuitsrus]

it was handball

Handball

[biscuitsrus]

On a more serious note (I too enjoying the RFC faithful cries of Handball!)
I thought it was a decent game of football. I hate losing but THFC were quick and decisive on the break. Many of their players were impressive and a very different side that we played at the Mad Stad.

I was entertained and RFC played their part, it was better that the recent dros that has been served up against Boro, Arsenal and Pompey. Our midfield were bypassed by slick passing and very quick distribution by Robinson. I thought Leroy looked lively enough upfront but would rather Doyler return.

Another game without a win with MURTY absent, I do NOT think it is coincidental but accept that he was present in the games that I mentioned.

For me, it was NOT a pen and 1-0 to the referee was a accurate chant. Ive not read all the threads but a special mention goes the the 2 Coppers who were asked to move by the Stewards after RFC faithful advised of the health and safety issue of sitting in the gangways.

The Coppers were extremely embarrassed but justice was done.

[Millsy]

Considering Arsenal play the best football in London and to my mind are the best London team.... does Spurs' excellent use of passing and pace qualify them for the number 2 London spot?

[Behindu]

Yes - two best footballing sides are definitely from N London.

Just goes to prove that it's not the most attractive sides that come closest to winning things - that is a different skill entirely...

[holsgrove breaks a leg]

[quote="Hoop Blah"] I thought Kitson was clearly the better of the two and he showed signs that he can play at this level with his link up play being at the heart of most of our good play.



As big a fan of Kitson that i am, he had a fairly average game on sun- i didnt think he got in the thick of things enough and most the attacking play in terms of chances and movement in the box revolved around Lita. It wouldnt suprise me if we do tail off a little in the games we have left,but as long as we play like we have done and compete i dont think we should worry too much. Form at the end one season doesnt have a bearing on next season as a whole one iota- take our crappy form the season before we got promoted as an example.

If we are anywhere around the mid table mark next season i will be highly delighted. Its time for some Reading fans to accept that becoming an established mid table prem side is what we are striving to be in the next 2,3,4 years.This is 'dull' prospect for some posters on here im sure, but when you look at the relative successes we have had in various divisions in the past 13 years we cannot afford to be too greedy.

[International Royal]

I agree with the majority in that was an very entertaining open game. Best game for a while, we were outplayed by a better team but always stayed in the game. That for me is the great thing about Reading, even as fans we always believe we can get something. Although we pressed in the second half without creating much I still believed in injury time that we were going to pull something out.

We miss Murty big time when he's out, personally I would go with DLC over Halford. A lot of players had decent ganes but some didn't. Both keepers were excellent, Shorey and Ingi both solid. Not convinced by Duberry but realise he's doing a job, I would go with Bikey.

Massive Glen fan but he had his poorest game for a while. Hunt on the other wing was also blow par hence no crosses, which is our game, for the strikers to feed off. Completely outplayed in the middle but plenty of effort. Harper is very quiet at the moment.

Up front was OK considering they had no service. Lita is still looking sharp and Kitson was OK but I would go with Doyle over him.

[Don Finch]

Kitson wasn't at the races, should've brought Doyle on for him early in the match. Thought Halford did well enough for a debut in that kind of open game but he looked absolutely shattered after 55-60 minutes. Both [RFC] keepers were outstanding, Federici's diving save+catch looked especially sexytime from the upper tier. Sidwell was class I thought and didn't really get the support he needed from Harper.

I think if we'd have started with Murty (if he wasn't injured) and Doyle in place of Kitson we could have had a real go at them. We didn't deserve to win the game but as above, you always feel we can get something from a game. £32 well spent for some very entertaining football, just a shame they ran out of beer so early on (probably a good thing in hindsight).

Roll on Saturday, we can do the reds on our patch!!!!!!

[Katie Marsden]

Credit must go to Coppell for taking the FA Cup lightly and fielding a weakened side, it's benefited our league form no end.

All hail Coppell the genius.

[Behindu]

Lol at your use of the word 'our' !!!!

And another Lol at your lack of understanding as to Coppell's motives for team selection.....

[savage 4 england]

Credit must go to Coppell for taking the FA Cup lightly and fielding a weakened side, it's benefited our league form no end.

All hail Coppell the genius.

With our 'full team i don't think we would've drawn at OT.