The build up - Chelsea 1st Aug 2009

[Alan Partridge]

Stopping goals eh? The last 3 goals we conceded at home at the end of the season were marcus's fault. You don't let a scuffed shot slide underneath you and you certainly don;t get caught out by two savable 30 yarders. The reason he did is because his reactions and footing were too slow. Can't see him doing a lot for wolves next season.

The first one by Burnley wasn't his fault, that hit the side netting at pace no one would have saved that. Didn't see the Bham one and the 2nd one for Burnley, maybe. Was the middle of the goal, grant you that.

[CMRoyal]

I try not to judge USA on the performances at the end of last season - he knew his contract wasn't going to be renewed, the team were playing poorly, SC seemed to have given up the ghost, much of the crowd's attitude to his distribution was appalling at times at home...even the most professional player is going to lose a few motivation percentage points under those circumstances.

[FiNeRaIn]

Bull.

You are playing at home with the chance to get promoted. Since when do you think " well the contracts up- can't be arsed moving for this shot- if it goes in it goes in" ?
Thats like a striker not bothering to make a shot on goal.

[woodley_royal_124]

The only thing that worried me was that we kept passing the ball back to Fererici, a bit too often for my liking, especially when one of the opposition could latch onto the ball, as they nearly did !

[CMRoyal]

Bull.

You are playing at home with the chance to get promoted. Since when do you think " well the contracts up- can't be arsed moving for this shot- if it goes in it goes in" ?
Thats like a striker not bothering to make a shot on goal.

I didn't say that he deliberately didn't try - but there's a psychological side to sport at that level, and if you lose a bit of that edge...

[Sir Dodger Royal]

Well hardly exciting football delivered today by the Royals. Chelsea had about 15/20 attempts and Reading had three and scored twice.

First half reminded me of Tommy Burn's side. Lots of pretty passing across the field and backwards and occasionally going forward.

If you are going to play 4.3.3. then we need a striker who works his balls off with lots of runs keeping the opposing team on their toes and has a first touch.

Unfortunately Shane Long on todays and last seasons showing has none of those qualities. Also I can't see Kebe flying forwards and also defending.

Unless that tight fisted old Chairman stops withdrawing funds then Reading are another Southampton in the making. Dodger knows best.

Pretty stuff in the first half. No cutting edge or any resemblance of any sort of shape in the second half. It was no surprise that Chelsea struck twice and Pearce planted a great goal in his own net.

It's going to be a long old season and SDR knows best. You know it makes senseeeeeeeeeeee

[AthleticoSpizz]

You have lost your mantle to ROYALEE


Go suck off a Cuban

[rotherwick_royal]

It's a pre-season friendly, the result doesn't matter. But if you are talking about relegation then a team who come within a whisker of beating a full-strength Chelsea team do not look relegation material to me.

I agree with you about the striker situation. I reckon we are 3 signings away from being a very good team, but I doubt we'll get them. As it is we'll be a difficult team to beat. Anything less than mid-table I'd be surprised and disappointed with.

[Deathy]

Well hardly exciting football delivered today by the Royals.

Reading kids and scraps vs one of europes top sides, what were you expecting?

[SLAMMED]

They didn't exactly field a weakened team either.

[londinium]

Well hardly exciting football delivered today by the Royals. Chelsea had about 15/20 attempts and Reading had three and scored twice.

First half reminded me of Tommy Burn's side. Lots of pretty passing across the field and backwards and occasionally going forward.

If you are going to play 4.3.3. then we need a striker who works his balls off with lots of runs keeping the opposing team on their toes and has a first touch.

Unfortunately Shane Long on todays and last seasons showing has none of those qualities. Also I can't see Kebe flying forwards and also defending.

Unless that tight fisted old Chairman stops withdrawing funds then Reading are another Southampton in the making. Dodger knows best.

Pretty stuff in the first half. No cutting edge or any resemblance of any sort of shape in the second half. It was no surprise that Chelsea struck twice and Pearce planted a great goal in his own net.

It's going to be a long old season and SDR knows best. You know it makes senseeeeeeeeeeee

Boring...same dribble spouting out your mouth just before the start of a new season.

I am sure I speak for the majority on here when I say 'shut up and piss off'

[Southbank Old Boy]

I really cant believe people are giving Fed MotM and claiming those camera saves as "great"

He did OK, but in Pearce and Robson-Kanu you had two far superior performances. I would put Bertrand, Davies and even, shock horror, Kebe as better contributions to the game

[londinium]

Stopping goals eh? The last 3 goals we conceded at home at the end of the season were marcus's fault. You don't let a scuffed shot slide underneath you and you certainly don;t get caught out by two savable 30 yarders. The reason he did is because his reactions and footing were too slow. Can't see him doing a lot for wolves next season.

Ok lets just judge everybody on 2 games. Fedders today made several bad mistakes and should have been punished more and shall i pick another game....mmmm... Man Untd in the cup a couple of seasons back.

You cannot be selective in your games Finerain or I could also say that Marcus was very good leading up to those last two home games and only let in 3 goals in the previous 8 games playing well and helping us still have a chance on the last day.

[FiNeRaIn]

I never said federici was the answer, you are right on that man utd game, he was crap.

Hahnemanns mistakes in those last two games effectively cost us promotion, although one would argue we lost it months before. Federici might not be the answer, but hahnemann was getting on and at that age keepers reflexes and reactions go, I feel as if burnleys two goals would have been stopped by a younger keeper. Birminghams was just a howler anyone could make.

[SteveRoyal]

He did OK, but in Pearce and Robson-Kanu you had two far superior performances. I would put Bertrand, Davies and even, shock horror, Kebe as better contributions to the game

'Greed. Pearce, Robson-Kanu and Davies all impressed me hugely. Everytime Davies got the ball I wanted to jump up and shout "SHOOOOOT!" just because we know he can. I hope he gets a lengthy run out this season.

[AthleticoSpizz]

(see the post posted nearly an hour ago).......Welcome Back SDR

[Ian Royal]

To give Harper the same mark as Federici and Tabb is laughable tbh.

Differen types of 6s. Harper did little wrong IMO but not a great deal well.
Feds did lots right and lots wrong.
Tabb was anonymous from the live feed I watched.

Which shows that armchair supporters struggle to tell their arse from their elbow. Tabb had a very effective first half, and it wasn't any coincidence that our play suffered when he was withdrawn. Won a few challenges and used the ball sensibly whenever he had it.

Overall I was very impressed with the first hour or so, and Chelsea really only began to dominate after we'd made a series of subs. Slightly concerned by our defending of set pieces, which looked iffy throughout, and by some of the players looking pretty tired by the end of it (though it's a lot harder when you don't have the ball). HRK raping Cole was magic, can see him causing many a full back problems this season.

I never said he WAS anonymous, just that he appeared to be from the feed. I'm quite capable of realising that you don't get as good an overall view of the game from that. It is superior to being there in some respects though.

[Ian Royal]

He did OK, but in Pearce and Robson-Kanu you had two far superior performances. I would put Bertrand, Davies and even, shock horror, Kebe as better contributions to the game

'Greed. Pearce, Robson-Kanu and Davies all impressed me hugely. Everytime Davies got the ball I wanted to jump up and shout "SHOOOOOT!" just because we know he can. I hope he gets a lengthy run out this season.

HRK looks to me like a better built and more reliable Kebe. Obviously he's at an earlier stage and has a lot to learn. But he looks to have the best qualities of Kebe, with few of the glaring flaws.

[SteveRoyal]

Another view from Chelsea:

Federici is very good

Looks like his performance today is a controversial one.

[Ian Royal]

If we're getting relegated on that showing, so are Chelsea.