Back from the Game Thread - Blackpool (H)

[Terminal Boardom]

I thought that HRK made Kebe look like a footballer.

For me, today was Kebe's best performance for us.

[Zammo]

Having rarely missed a home game since 1983 (yeah,whatever); I have to say McAnuff's individual display was one of the best I have seen from a Reading player.

[Bowman's Quiver]

My biggest concern re. Marek - he just can't tackle.

Nor could Bobby Charlton and it didn't hinder him too much.

We are getting there. We should have been out of sight after 20 minutes, and nearly conspired to lose the game in the end.

I was very critical of Pearce as the game wore on. That said, I didn't realise how difficult the conditions really were until I went outside the stadium after the match. A defender and goalkeeper's nightmare.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Having rarely missed a home game since 1983 (yeah,whatever); I have to say McAnuff's individual display was one of the best I have seen from a Reading player.

his chasing down and (persistant) winning of corners from balls that he had no right to get to (in the second half especially) gave him even spoils for MOTM.

Raz shares it with him, purely for saving Brendan his job (oh how we howled when he was signed) and putting his head "in" where sometimes it doesn't belong.

We should've had this match home and dried before HT, but, now there is that belief that when we concede ,we can still remain unbeatable....early days, but it is finally starting to happen kids

[Terminal Boardom]

And Ian Holloway said - without any reference to rough looking birds, barrells, boobs or thumbs:

I was very disappointed. I think my goalkeeper was too busy for my liking.

I think Reading played better than us and their wide men were a handful. The reports we had suggested they shouldn't be down where they are.

[Victor Meldrew]

A very good power play in the first 20 minutes but unfortunately we didn't get the goal.
Terrible defending to allow Burgess all that room in the box and a good job for us that he hit the post.
Blackpool looked excellent for the first 15 minutes of the second half until we scored against the run of play with a well constructed goal on the break-good ball from Marek just after he had passed stright to their player on the edge of the box.
We then defend amateurishly again and they score.
Good cross from Marek for Rasiak's stooping header.
The last 10 minutes was all Blackpool but somehow we survived including another miss by Burgess who apart from his shooting gave a masterclass in holding up play as a striker just as Bothroyd did for Cardiff.

Interesting approach by the manager in having a 5-man non-tackling midfield which we have to say worked because of the result but I'm not convinced that this is the way to go.

BTW the reason wht we won today?
For the first time since January there wasn't an Irishman in sight -not a whinge to be heard,just a team getting on with it.
Well done lads-more of the same please plus some severe tightening up at the back.

[Matt de K]

Have to say that it really makes you appreciate the win when it happens. Journey back to Bum-muff was much better this week - even in the pissing rain. Had we lost it would have been a shite journey

Also, great atmosphere in concourse & outside the ground after. Something I haven't heard for ages.

[readingfc13]

Victor meldrew, isn't jay tabb irish?

[Platypuss]

Victor meldrew, isn't jay tabb irish?

Shhhhhhhh!!!!!

(Born in Tooting, but more Irish than Murty is Scottish)

[Ian]

A very good power play in the first 20 minutes but unfortunately we didn't get the goal.

They did have 11 men behind the ball and had trouble clearing their lines It was only in the second half they really started to get players forward and threatening us. All in all a solid performance all round. The only way is UP

[The Quiet Man]

At last the home jinx is broken. At last we don't give a stupid goal away from a set piece. Good solid championship football in the main and a very good opening 20 minutes. McAnuff was good but if had had a decent cross on him in the first half we would have scored 2 or 3. Bit of a concern that both the Sig and Howard look shot after an hour and Marek had one off his better games - to be honest I couldn't really give a f*** how we played a win was required and we got one - it feels really great to have finally won at home. It is sobering (though I'm not sober at the moment) to realise that if we hadn't given away so many "stupid" goals this season (especially at home) we would probably be where Blackpool are now.

[Big Foot]

Church - -4 would get a higher rating but loses a point for every time he was OFFSIDE. Learn the rules and time your runs better! He's obviously got talent but seems like a total airhead who hasn't got a clue how to play an offside trap. Was OFFSIDE again for the first goal.

I think of all the times he was flagged up for offside today, there was only once maybe twice he was ACTUALLY offside. In most cases he was too quick for the lino who made the easy decision by flagging.

Church's turnaround has really impressed me, about 2 months ago I'd have said he was definitely out of his depth but he now looks he's improving with every game. Played the lone striker role rather well today and ran his socks off. By the end of next season (possibly even this season), with some more matches under his belt; I believe we'll have a very good young striker on our hands.

[rg6royal]

Church - -4 would get a higher rating but loses a point for every time he was OFFSIDE. Learn the rules and time your runs better! He's obviously got talent but seems like a total airhead who hasn't got a clue how to play an offside trap. Was OFFSIDE again for the first goal.

I think of all the times he was flagged up for offside today, there was only once maybe twice he was ACTUALLY offside. In most cases he was too quick for the lino who made the easy decision by flagging.

Church's turnaround has really impressed me, about 2 months ago I'd have said he was definitely out of his depth but he now looks he's improving with every game. Played the lone striker role rather well today and ran his socks off. By the end of next season (possibly even this season), with some more matches under his belt; I believe we'll have a very good young striker on our hands.

'greed. Thought he picked the ball up from deep really well today.

[PieEater]

Not sure where you were sitting but every offside he was flagged for was IMHO OFFSIDE.

There were even more where he was clearly OFFSIDE, and looking for a pass but the player with the ball realised that Church was a total airhead, oblivious to where the defenders where and didn't pass to him.

Worse than Fozzie.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Not sure where you were sitting but every offside he was flagged for was IMHO OFFSIDE.

There were even more where he was clearly OFFSIDE, and looking for a pass but the player with the ball realised that Church was a total airhead, oblivious to where the defenders where and didn't pass to him.

Worse than Fozzie.

I'm glad we won today too

[PieEater]

Not sure where you were sitting but every offside he was flagged for was IMHO OFFSIDE.

There were even more where he was clearly OFFSIDE, and looking for a pass but the player with the ball realised that Church was a total airhead, oblivious to where the defenders where and didn't pass to him.

Worse than Fozzie.

I'm glad we won today too

I've selectively quoted something else from my post for you to agree with

Overall, ecstatic with the win, but don't get carried away we could of easily of lost this game, we had to rely on Blackpool's poor finishing for gilt edged chances. We had the majority of play, and chances but no real missed sitters when Blackpool had two or three. Our defence still looks really shaky.
.

[AthleticoSpizz]

You are erring on caution then

[JS28ZoD]

Howard - 4 - I have never seen a professional footballer run so little. He gave the ball away cheaply and did not get tight to the opposition midfielders. He was a passenger the whole game.

To give an assessment like that, I truly believe that you

(a) weren't there

(b)were confusing him with someone else

(c) should check with your optician...Howard wasn't wearing white boots today

I'm just calling it as I see it. For me he was woeful today. What did you see that has convinced you otherwise?

[AthleticoSpizz]

Howard - 4 - I have never seen a professional footballer run so little. He gave the ball away cheaply and did not get tight to the opposition midfielders. He was a passenger the whole game.

To give an assessment like that, I truly believe that you

(a) weren't there

(b)were confusing him with someone else

(c) should check with your optician...Howard wasn't wearing white boots today

I'm just calling it as I see it. For me he was woeful today. What did you see that has convinced you otherwise?

being an integral part of a winning team

Great corners

A cheeky dipping shot/cross

Mopping up Mareks mess

........not really sure how any one player could be classified as "woeful" today

[CMRoyal]

Three thoughts as my head slowly stops spinning:-

1. Jay Tabb can play anywhere, ANYWHERE. Wouldn't swap him for any full-back in the Championship right now.
2. McAnuff is walking Player of the Season at the moment.
3. People who continue to criticise Marek make me wonder whether we follow the same sport.

We are on the up - just so long as the above players and The Sig remain fit and we add a half-decent striker to the squad.