Back from the game , Swansea home,

[Hoop Blah]

The came about because Swansea were very good at this 'tippy tappy' going nowhere football people keep moaning about. What they seem to fail to realise is that tippy tappy stuff pulled us out of shape and position and created the opportunity for a good ball to be played through onto the end of a good run.

Griffen could possibly have done better at hold up Sinclair but the gapping whole was created because the two centre backs were drawn 5 yards or so ahead of the two full backs. Whether that was the fault of the two relatively slow fullbacks dropping deeper in response to their wingers pace, or the centre halfs pushing forward too much/quickly because our midfield were getting passed around only they'll likely to really know.

[Wycombe Royal]

I wasn't at the game but have watched the highlights and from my point of view two people were at fault for the goal - Karacan for just gently jogging alongside the Swansea midfielder as he ran through the middle of pitch and most importantly Griffin for playing Sinclair on side. The rest of the defence held the line except for Griffin who tracked Sinclair - a defender of his experience should have stayed in line with Mills who was holding the line perfectly.

[Hoop Blah]

To those who asked why Rodgers didn't get Sinclair for us last year, I think he probably tried, but Sinclair and Chelsea were looking for a Premiership loan deal to test him at that level.

He ended up at Wigan for the whole season, didn't make an impact, and then Chelsea obviously decided he wasn't going to make it.

[Hoop Blah]

I wasn't at the game but have watched the highlights and from my point of view two people were at fault for the goal - Karacan for just gently jogging alongside the Swansea midfielder as he ran through the middle of pitch and most importantly Griffin for playing Sinclair on side. The rest of the defence held the line except for Griffin who tracked Sinclair - a defender of his experience should have stayed in line with Mills who was holding the line perfectly.

Fair enough. It looked to me on the highlights that Harte was too deep as well, but that was late on Saturday night so I might've got that a bit wrong.

[under the tin]

The came about because Swansea were very good at this 'tippy tappy' going nowhere football people keep moaning about. What they seem to fail to realise is that tippy tappy stuff pulled us out of shape and position and created the opportunity for a good ball to be played through onto the end of a good run.

Griffen could possibly have done better at hold up Sinclair but the gapping whole was created because the two centre backs were drawn 5 yards or so ahead of the two full backs. Whether that was the fault of the two relatively slow fullbacks dropping deeper in response to their wingers pace, or the centre halfs pushing forward too much/quickly because our midfield were getting passed around only they'll likely to really know.

Disagree with that, HB.
The "good ball" from the passer wouldn't have been made had Karacan not lost his footing when 1 yard from intercepting it.
The only time we lost our shape was when we went a bit gung ho straight after half time.
Apart from that, we were comfortable watching them pass it about amongst their defenders, then picking the ball up after they tried a long pass, because they were being pressed high up the pitch.
To me, Swansea were just like watching us under Rodgers. Overpassing, with little effect, ending up with a fruitless long ball.

[Hoop Blah]

Fair enough. I thought we were chasing shadows for long periods and although they didn't create a hell of a lot of chances apart from that spell early in the second half, they controlled the pace of the game and snuffed us out by keeping the ball.

Karacan may have slipped but it was by no means the only time they found time and space to pass it around us in midfield as well as across their back four. They still lack a centre forward having lost Scotland last year, but at least in Sinclair they now have a winger likely to score a goal or two.

The way I see it was a very good away performance from a good Championship team. As the home side we should be dominating the game and the ones creating the chances but their keeper yet again didn't have to make a save.

[under the tin]

I think their goalie's lack of saves was as much an indictment of the quality of delivery of stuff into the danger area, and the form of our forwards as much as it was good play by Swansea. Feds didn't have much to do (apart from the mad 5 minutes), either, to be fair.

[facaldaqui]

I wasn't at the game but have watched the highlights and from my point of view two people were at fault for the goal - Karacan for just gently jogging alongside the Swansea midfielder as he ran through the middle of pitch and most importantly Griffin for playing Sinclair on side. The rest of the defence held the line except for Griffin who tracked Sinclair - a defender of his experience should have stayed in line with Mills who was holding the line perfectly.

Fair enough. It looked to me on the highlights that Harte was too deep as well, but that was late on Saturday night so I might've got that a bit wrong.

You're right. Even if Griffin was in line, Harte would have played him onside. So who's to say that Mills and Zurab were right and Griffin and Harte were wrong? Especially as the ball was played between Mills and Zurab. The whole line was uncoordinated that time.

[facaldaqui]

I don't know if it's been mentioned but why did Griffin get back in the team at the expense of Snoop? The old man then gets rinsed by Sinclair for the only goal in somewhat predictable scenes.

I can't really add much about the game as I was zoning out pretty much the whole way through, very tedious fare, pretty glad the A33 traffic was so bad meaning we managed less than 90 minutes.

The ball was through the middle. It was down to the centre-back(s). Considering his lack of pace Griffin was superb at keeping their left winger under control through anticipation. Get off his back.

Yes. As so often happens, the player closest to the scorer when he shoots gets blamed. In fact Griffin came across to try and deal with the guy once Mills and Zurab had been pierced like a sieve.

[Hoop Blah]

I think their goalie's lack of saves was as much an indictment of the quality of delivery of stuff into the danger area, and the form of our forwards as much as it was good play by Swansea. Feds didn't have much to do (apart from the mad 5 minutes), either, to be fair.

As an away side though that's a good performance. They got their goal after half an hour and basically killed the game until we threw the kitchen sink at them and created a few chances (which as the home team is kind of expected).

I think it's a bit unfair not to give Swansea some credit for yet another clean sheet when they've had one of the best defensive records in the division for some time. That can't be down to the oppositions poor delivery and form every week. Granted that Church, Long and Hunt should all have at least hit the target with their headers though.

[Wycombe Royal]

I wasn't at the game but have watched the highlights and from my point of view two people were at fault for the goal - Karacan for just gently jogging alongside the Swansea midfielder as he ran through the middle of pitch and most importantly Griffin for playing Sinclair on side. The rest of the defence held the line except for Griffin who tracked Sinclair - a defender of his experience should have stayed in line with Mills who was holding the line perfectly.

Fair enough. It looked to me on the highlights that Harte was too deep as well, but that was late on Saturday night so I might've got that a bit wrong.

You're right. Even if Griffin was in line, Harte would have played him onside. So who's to say that Mills and Zurab were right and Griffin and Harte were wrong? Especially as the ball was played between Mills and Zurab. The whole line was uncoordinated that time.

From the highlights I saw, and I have paused it at the moment the ball was passed, there are 3 defenders (might just be 2 defenders and one Swansea player - the sun glare makes it difficult to tell) in a line and Griffin about 1 yard ahead of Sinclair playing him onside.

[Snowball]

Kebe seemed unwilling to knock the ball behind the full back and run after it on Saturday, which is when he is at his best.

He's also at his best going outside, not cutting in on his left foot IMO - as he did on several occasions on Saturday, as well as other games recently.

A few weeks ago, McDermott said he had a thigh problem.

Since then he's not gone for his speed-runs.

I think he's carrying a slight injury and needs a break to fix it.

No point in playing your best player if his main trick is not present.

[Hoop Blah]

If Kebe is playing with an injury, it's a similar issue to when we used to flog Doyle and Kitson relentlessly because we had a lack of credible alternatives.

If Kebe is injured, and so shouldn't really be playing, who should we play in his place?

[Wycombe Royal]

If Kebe is playing with an injury, it's a similar issue to when we used to flog Doyle and Kitson relentlessly because we had a lack of credible alternatives.

If Kebe is injured, and so shouldn't really be playing, who should we play in his place?

Robson-Kanu and McAnuff as the wingers in a 442.

[surrounded by saints]

I'm really not convinced by Harte. His crossing from corners is crap.

if he was any good, he wouldn,t have been at carlisle,surely.

[Hoop Blah]

If Kebe is playing with an injury, it's a similar issue to when we used to flog Doyle and Kitson relentlessly because we had a lack of credible alternatives.

If Kebe is injured, and so shouldn't really be playing, who should we play in his place?

Robson-Kanu and McAnuff as the wingers in a 442.

So pretty crap then, especially as we seem to be convinced that we don't have the midfielders to cope with just 4 in the midfield.

[floyd__streete]

For people to criticise Long or Church and say they are "not strikers" is plain stupid.

Agreed. They are strikers. Just not very good ones.

If we are going to insist on playing this 4-5-1 I'd return Church into the team and play him in the hole. His movement is his best asset, his finishing is the worst aspect of the game. A striker whose worst quality is his finishing - sums us up really

[Barry the bird boggler]

Another crap performance from Reading, tired, lethargic and uninventive - I thought they'd got over the international break malaise that used to effect them?

We really need an attacking midfielder or 20 goal a season striker from somewhere.

[Snowball]

For people to criticise Long or Church and say they are "not strikers" is plain stupid.

Agreed. They are strikers. Just not very good ones.

If we are going to insist on playing this 4-5-1 I'd return Church into the team and play him in the hole. His movement is his best asset, his finishing is the worst aspect of the game. A striker whose worst quality is his finishing - sums us up really

IF we are to continue playing 451 I'd put Hunt in there.

He's 1 in 3 for his Reading career (appearances, including subs) much nearer 1 in 180 minutes
for time on the pitch. Remember he used to get 60 minutes, never the 90.

He has more ability to beat players close-in (ie with control v speed or movement)
because he played as a winger. And he DOES get goals.

[Big Foot]

For people to criticise Long or Church and say they are "not strikers" is plain stupid.

Agreed. They are strikers. Just not very good ones.

If we are going to insist on playing this 4-5-1 I'd return Church into the team and play him in the hole. His movement is his best asset, his finishing is the worst aspect of the game. A striker whose worst quality is his finishing - sums us up really

IF we are to continue playing 451 I'd put Hunt in there.

He's 1 in 3 for his Reading career (appearances, including subs) much nearer 1 in 180 minutes
for time on the pitch. Remember he used to get 60 minutes, never the 90.

He has more ability to beat players close-in (ie with control v speed or movement)
because he played as a winger. And he DOES get goals.

Also very good in the air