Back from the game thread

[amexee]

I don't think the move to bring on Paynter and Noone for Buckley and LuaLua was the right decision at all for the record. If I was Gus, I wouldve taken Harley or Sparrow off, bought Noone on, stuck Buckley down the centre and just gone for it. We had nothing to lose and we were in the ascendancy at that point.

Spot on.

Buckley and Lua Lua did not receive the ball quick enough to allow them them to blast down the wings, by the time they got it, there was no space for then to run into. They are not like noone who thrives on snaking around players.

I was really pleased when I saw the line up with 2 fast wingers, but they were hardly utilised in 1st half.

Paynter, oh dear. Why does anyone send the ball towards him in the air, he makes no attempt to challenge, not even a deliberate misjudge to look like he is trying, he looks like he is genuinely scared to head the ball.

 

[JCL666]

From thte radio and some reports on here, it certainly looks as if El Abd and Tanno were roasted during 1st half. They got away with it last week cos Burnley were shit, we may get away with it against Coventry, but I worry what Southampton will do to them, any team with pace will rip them to shreds.
Need Reyes back, day 1 of the transfer window.

Yep. Reading exposed their lack of pace. For all the moaning about Calde and Painter not being up to it at this level, I think they would have been better than El Abd and Tanno.

 

[sir albion]

Spot on.

Buckley and Lua Lua did not receive the ball quick enough to allow them them to blast down the wings, by the time they got it, there was no space for then to run into. They are not like noone who thrives on snaking around players.

I was really pleased when I saw the line up with 2 fast wingers, but they were hardly utilised in 1st half.

Paynter, oh dear. Why does anyone send the ball towards him in the air, he makes no attempt to challenge, not even a deliberate misjudge to look like he is trying, he looks like he is genuinely scared to head the ball.

Spot on about buckley and lua lua,wasted two quality players for most of the game.

 

[trueblue]

So what makes you have more knowledge than others? Do you really believe people (the majority of) that post here aren't able to express their own opinion and have no knowledge of the game? People are entitled to their views just as you are ... there's rarely right or wrong when making subjective judgement

Sorry but your statement is arrogant and without any basis in fact

I think Harley is crap if he turns in a decent performance I'm happy to say so but I've not seen one yet

So you think, for instance, that the reasons I gave for saying that Painter made us more threatening (along with Noone's crossing obviously) have no basis in fact? Fair enough, I know what I saw. You're entitled to your opinion too.

With regards to the fans I criticised, the difference is I don't generally watch a match having already decided which players I'm going to single out as 'crap' and then twist every event to suit that pre-ordained view. Don't know why that's arrogant. I'd say it's 'balanced'.

I suppose I'm just a half glass full person.... for instance, Painter's effort that went over. I thought 'poor finish but at least he attacked the near post' (which nobody else had been able to do previously as CMS couldn't be everywhere!). Wasn't a sitter.. very tight angle, ball travelling at pace and if anything he just met it too firmly .. if he'd shinned it, probably would have gone in.

Whereas the people behind me clearly only thought 'you're f***ing shit' as they even tried to start a chant to that effect.

I'd rather be arrogant than a moron, frankly.

 

[LamieRobertson]

So you think, for instance, that the reasons I gave for saying that Painter made us more threatening (along with Noone's crossing obviously) have no basis in fact? Fair enough, I know what I saw. You're entitled to your opinion too.

With regards to the fans I criticised, the difference is I don't generally watch a match having already decided which players I'm going to single out as 'crap' and then twist every event to suit that pre-ordained view. Don't know why that's arrogant. I'd say it's 'balanced'.

I suppose I'm just a half glass full person.... for instance, Painter's effort that went over. I thought 'poor finish but at least he attacked the near post' (which nobody else had been able to do previously as CMS couldn't be everywhere!). Wasn't a sitter.. very tight angle, ball travelling at pace and if anything he just met it too firmly .. if he'd shinned it, probably would have gone in.

Whereas the people behind me clearly only thought 'you're f***ing shit' as they even tried to start a chant to that effect.

I'd rather be arrogant than a moron, frankly.

nicely put post as per normal

 

[Rugrat]

So you think, for instance, that the reasons I gave for saying that Painter made us more threatening (along with Noone's crossing obviously) have no basis in fact? Fair enough, I know what I saw. You're entitled to your opinion too.

With regards to the fans I criticised, the difference is I don't generally watch a match having already decided which players I'm going to single out as 'crap' and then twist every event to suit that pre-ordained view. Don't know why that's arrogant. I'd say it's 'balanced'.

I suppose I'm just a half glass full person.... for instance, Painter's effort that went over. I thought 'poor finish but at least he attacked the near post' (which nobody else had been able to do previously as CMS couldn't be everywhere!). Wasn't a sitter.. very tight angle, ball travelling at pace and if anything he just met it too firmly .. if he'd shinned it, probably would have gone in.

Whereas the people behind me clearly only thought 'you're f***ing shit' as they even tried to start a chant to that effect.

I'd rather be arrogant than a moron, frankly.

Mate ... the basis in fact statement was aimed at your suggestions that the critics are pre judging and I don't think you can say that with any knowledge. As I said I think Harley has underperformed all season but if I go to Cov and he plays and he turns in a good performance (that doesn't just mean improved performance by the way) then I will happily come on here and say so but I've seen nothing to suggest he will based on his performances to date.

I'm not a moron but we have got players in our team who aren't cutting it at this level and there's no room for sentiment in this competitive environment. Like everyone I assume, I want every Albion player to outperform but it's unrealistic to expect that and if we are to evolve and improve some players will need switching out. From what I've seen Harley is one of those and I also think he's had enough chances.

Yes there are fans that will knock certain players .. Barnes and Ankergren attract their fair share too but even eliminating those that will never see the good in any player there's still a lot of good objective comment and I just don't see how you can dismiss the views of others because it doesn't fit with your own. You seem to assume all the critics have pre determined outcomes, I don't think so ... the next game for me the clock goes back to zero .. if Bridcutt has a mare then I reckon most of the sensible posters here (the majority I think) will say so.

For me Harley and more specifically not having the right man in that role, is the main reason why we're not doing (a lot) better ... again that's arguable but a view from what I've seen and not because I don't like Harley just my view from where I sit

 

[trueblue]

Mate ... the basis in fact statement was aimed at your suggestions that the critics are pre judging and I don't think you can say that with any knowledge. As I said I think Harley has underperformed all season but if I go to Cov and he plays and he turns in a good performance (that doesn't just mean improved performance by the way) then I will happily come on here and say so but I've seen nothing to suggest he will based on his performances to date.

I'm not a moron but we have got players in our team who aren't cutting it at this level and there's no room for sentiment in this competitive environment. Like everyone I assume, I want every Albion player to outperform but it's unrealistic to expect that and if we are to evolve and improve some players will need switching out. From what I've seen Harley is one of those and I also think he's had enough chances.

Yes there are fans that will knock certain players .. Barnes and Ankergren attract their fair share too but even eliminating those that will never see the good in any player there's still a lot of good objective comment and I just don't see how you can dismiss the views of others because it doesn't fit with your own. You seem to assume all the critics have pre determined outcomes, I don't think so ... the next game for me the clock goes back to zero .. if Bridcutt has a mare then I reckon most of the sensible posters here (the majority I think) will say so.

For me Harley and more specifically not having the right man in that role, is the main reason why we're not doing (a lot) better ... again that's arguable but a view from what I've seen and not because I don't like Harley just my view from where I sit

I didn't at any point say that every critic has a predetermined view... I said some fans do and make it obvious from the off. I CAN say that as a fact because it's evident at games, when people start laying into players from pretty much the first time they touch the ball - and around me there was a lot of that yesterday. In Paynter's case, before he touched the ball!

Obviously on here there are plenty of people who have perspective and talk sense, yourself included. But those voices tend to be lost amid a welter of 'is x the worst ever Albion player?' and abuse aimed at individuals.

On NSC it's not such a problem as I can choose not to read it. But at matches, it's bloody annoying an actively harmful to the team we all want to succeed. How does shouting 'you're f***ing shit' at Billy Paynter as some people were yesterday, do anything at all to help the Albion?

 

[pea]

Reading fan here - live just along the coast to Brighton so seen you a few times this season already.

Brighton were always going to be at a disadvantage going into this match with full backs out. Most of Reading's attacking threat comes from the wings and even with Jimmy Kebe unusually quiet and nursing an injury they had the beating of your full backs. We're not the prettiest side in the league but we're effective at what we do and I'm not sure we've conceded this season once we've scored the first goal... we're extremely good at holding onto leads. Players like Leigertwood, Karacan, Church and Le Fondre aren't the most creative but they hassle teams and make it hard for them to play, as was clearly the case in the first half on Monday. In the second half our wingers stopped trying to take on your full backs and held up the play to wind the clock down, which didn't impress many Reading fans but was fairly effective. We had few chances, our strikers barely saw the ball in the final third but we came away with three goals which is testament to our efficiency that we are improving on each game, regardless of how we are performing.

I think Brighton's problem (beside obvious lack of squad depth; and Billy Paynter!) is that the goalkeeper and central midfield simply arn't good enough to challenge at the top end of this league. They're all decent Championship players but are not good enough to adapt when the opposition set up to frustrate them. Its been mentioned that the central midfield are too lightweight and I think that is part of the problem, they remind me a bit of our midfield before we brought Leigertwood in to provide a bit more mettle. Thankfully you have a decent frontman and creative wingers and so its not the most expensive or difficult fix as long as Poyet can identify someone. I think what's needed is a Shaun Derry/Mikele Leigertwood type to bring a bit more balance.

 

[portlock seagull]

On NSC it's not such a problem as I can choose not to read it. But at matches, it's bloody annoying an actively harmful to the team we all want to succeed. How does shouting 'you're f***ing shit' at Billy Paynter as some people were yesterday, do anything at all to help the Albion?

It does if he goes back in January!!

 

[portslade seagull]

Sorry but Paynter seems to have lead in his boots because he never jumps.... for a supposed target man he is pretty useless ... maybe his strengths lay elsewhere be good if he could show some ...

 

[trueblue]

It does if he goes back in January!!

Unless we have someone better lined up, I'd rather he stayed. Provides an option we need up front.