How the opposition fans view us.....

[brendywendy]

LOL at us being 'the Chelsea of this division.'

I take it he didn't mean by spending money. Still nice to read in a way though

we do it tghe arsenal way
everyone knows that

[RoyalBlue]

S Long - passion not petulance.

Long apologised for this.

That's alright then - obviously was just so passionate about being substituted!

There is a fine line between throwing your shirt on the ground after scoring and throwing your shirt on the ground after being substitiuted.

[John 3:16]

S Long - passion not petulance.

Long apologised for this.

That's alright then - obviously was just so passionate about being substituted!

There is a fine line between throwing your shirt on the ground after scoring and throwing your shirt on the ground after being substitiuted.

I have a feeling that the action you are referring to wasn't because he was substituted, but because of his performance in that game. Didn't he say he didn't feel he was worthy of wearing the shirt he was so crap? Not saying it was the right thing to do, just saying that:

Throwing shirt down in disgust to your own performance >> than throwing your shirt down in a tantrum cos you've been subbed.

[DelBoyRodders]

have a feeling that the action you are referring to wasn't because he was substituted, but because of his performance in that game. Didn't he say he didn't feel he was worthy of wearing the shirt he was so crap? Not saying it was the right thing to do, just saying that:

Throwing shirt down in disgust to your own performance >> than throwing your shirt down in a tantrum cos you've been subbed.

...and you believe that version of events?

[BobKnows]

have a feeling that the action you are referring to wasn't because he was substituted, but because of his performance in that game. Didn't he say he didn't feel he was worthy of wearing the shirt he was so crap? Not saying it was the right thing to do, just saying that:

Throwing shirt down in disgust to your own performance >> than throwing your shirt down in a tantrum cos you've been subbed.

...and you believe that version of events?

Petulance or not, it seemed to be an isolated incident, for which he promptly apologised. Hardly Joey Barton is he?

[PEARCEY]

Yep, I maintain, best for all concerned if Lita parts company with RFC, he'll be happier and have a better chance of furthering his career. We'll have gotten rid of a troublesome* player who just isn't working at the club.


In this instance I mainly mean one that should be very good but has failed to perform for us for close to 18 months. Despite being given plenty of opportunity.

Agreed. And what with the way we have replaced Kitson and Shorey this year I have faith we will find an appropriate replacement for Leroy.

I am not a Leroy hater. I just think it's time for him to move on.

Dont agree. If either N Hunt or Doyle get injured I think Lita can come back in and do the business. His confidence is now back and if he returns to Reading he will score goals in a team creating a lot more chances than the one he last played in.

[Fat Leather Jacket]

Yep, I maintain, best for all concerned if Lita parts company with RFC, he'll be happier and have a better chance of furthering his career. We'll have gotten rid of a troublesome* player who just isn't working at the club.


In this instance I mainly mean one that should be very good but has failed to perform for us for close to 18 months. Despite being given plenty of opportunity.

Agreed. And what with the way we have replaced Kitson and Shorey this year I have faith we will find an appropriate replacement for Leroy.

I am not a Leroy hater. I just think it's time for him to move on.

Dont agree. If either N Hunt or Doyle get injured I think Lita can come back in and do the business. His confidence is now back and if he returns to Reading he will score goals in a team creating a lot more chances than the one he last played in.

You're right. I think the club are playing a balancing act with Lita. Even with Doyles contract extension there is the possibility of him being sold in January, or him being injured between now and then. Coppell has played it spot on in my opinion, send a forward out on loan to regain his form (which he has) and judge the situation in January. Weve let players go on frees before, and Lita could be the next.

[Archie's penalty]

Yep, I maintain, best for all concerned if Lita parts company with RFC, he'll be happier and have a better chance of furthering his career. We'll have gotten rid of a troublesome* player who just isn't working at the club.


In this instance I mainly mean one that should be very good but has failed to perform for us for close to 18 months. Despite being given plenty of opportunity.

Agreed. And what with the way we have replaced Kitson and Shorey this year I have faith we will find an appropriate replacement for Leroy.

I am not a Leroy hater. I just think it's time for him to move on.

Dont agree. If either N Hunt or Doyle get injured I think Lita can come back in and do the business. His confidence is now back and if he returns to Reading he will score goals in a team creating a lot more chances than the one he last played in.

Maybe you're right. Anyway we'll see come February. I think Lita would like to play in our team at the moment. He should be able to score a hatful. Whether he would or not is unsure...

[PEARCEY]

He would Archie. If he can score a goal a game for an average Norwich team he would be like a pig in muck at Reading right now.
Admit it Archie...it makes senseeeeeee

[Sun Tzu]

have a feeling that the action you are referring to wasn't because he was substituted, but because of his performance in that game. Didn't he say he didn't feel he was worthy of wearing the shirt he was so crap? Not saying it was the right thing to do, just saying that:

Throwing shirt down in disgust to your own performance >> than throwing your shirt down in a tantrum cos you've been subbed.

...and you believe that version of events?

The explanation given at the time was that Long had spent the whole game getting kicked by the Liverpool defence and had no protection from the ref, indeed everytime he breathed on the defenders he was penalised and he was frustrated at how the game had gone.

Whether you believe that or not is something else, but believing that he did it for any other reason requires a leap of faith as he's never shown any signs of petulance, arrogance or and other 'ances'. Of course some people prefer to believe the least palatable option.

[Dirk Gently]

Yep, I maintain, best for all concerned if Lita parts company with RFC, he'll be happier and have a better chance of furthering his career. We'll have gotten rid of a troublesome* player who just isn't working at the club.


In this instance I mainly mean one that should be very good but has failed to perform for us for close to 18 months. Despite being given plenty of opportunity.

Agreed. And what with the way we have replaced Kitson and Shorey this year I have faith we will find an appropriate replacement for Leroy.

I am not a Leroy hater. I just think it's time for him to move on.

Dont agree. If either N Hunt or Doyle get injured I think Lita can come back in and do the business. His confidence is now back and if he returns to Reading he will score goals in a team creating a lot more chances than the one he last played in.

You're assuming that the relationship between Leroy and RFC/Steve Coppell/the coaches hasn't broken down irretrievably. Personally, I think it has.....

[PEARCEY]

...and perhaps you are also assuming that it has DIrk

[earleyroyal]

Long needs to go out on loan

Lita >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Long

Long's attitude >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lita's attitude

*bangs head against the wall*

Give us proof and not wild speculation please. I have never seen any proof of this legendary bad attitude. Long on the other hand has thrown his shirt down and blatantly not given 100% in a game (Fulham at home last year) before.

Since there is no proof of this bad attitude, because it doesn't exist, how about looking at the quality of both players? Again, Lita is better.

[winchester_royal]

Long needs to go out on loan

Lita >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Long

Long's attitude >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lita's attitude

*bangs head against the wall*

Give us proof and not wild speculation please. I have never seen any proof of this legendary bad attitude. Long on the other hand has thrown his shirt down and blatantly not given 100% in a game (Fulham at home last year) before.

Since there is no proof of this bad attitude, because it doesn't exist, how about looking at the quality of both players? Again, Lita is better.

I'm not saying Lita has a bad attitude, just that Long's is better. No body can argue with that.

Nor did I say that Long was better than Lita, just that he has more impact of the bench. A point that was proven yesterday when he set Hunt up with a chance that he should have scored with.

*Bangs head against wall*

[handbags_harris]

The explanation given at the time was that Long had spent the whole game getting kicked by the Liverpool defence and had no protection from the ref, indeed everytime he breathed on the defenders he was penalised and he was frustrated at how the game had gone.

Whether you believe that or not is something else, but believing that he did it for any other reason requires a leap of faith as he's never shown any signs of petulance, arrogance or and other 'ances'. Of course some people prefer to believe the least palatable option.

Anybody who was there at Anfield in March would tell you that the explanation given is exactly why Long was a bit pissed off when he came off the pitch. He got absolutely nothing out of Martin Skrtel, who was absolutely all over Long and Kitson throughout the game, pulling shirts, climbing all over the back of them. I think the phrase used is generally "rugged defending", but with all the climbing and shirt pulling the free kick count wouldn't have been 24-4 in Liverpool's favour. It's not just that game either, if you watch Martin Skrtel play he does it in every game. Unfortunately referees are either oblivious to the obvious tactic employed by the ugly bastard, or they're too weak to blow for free-kicks at Anfield every time he does it and risk the wrath of Rafa Benitez in the press afterwards. It's not a justification for showing the act of petulance, but the explanation given, in my opinion, was 100% a reflection on the act.

[Dirk Gently]

...and perhaps you are also assuming that it has DIrk

Absolutely right, of course - I think that it has broken down and so the only and best option for Leroy is to move on.

But I'm really making the point that this whole question is nothing to do with ability. I think everyone would agree that Leroy is a much better natural striker than Shane ... but whether he can prove this at Reading is something that no-one outside the dressing room can possibly know. There's clearly something going on about motivation/attitude/inter-personal relationships that we're just not party to.

[Schards#2]

Agreed with Winchester Royal that there is a problem with Lita's attitude, there's been so much smoke that it's hard to believe there is no fire.

Agreed with earleyroyal that Lita is a vastly superior player to Long.

Agreed with Dirk that the evidence suggests that Coppell, for whatever reason, doesn't want him in his dressing room and barring an injury to Doyle or N Hunt, he's played his last Reading game. Even then, i'd be surprised.

A terrible waste.

[Dirk Gently]

A terrible waste.

Definitely - but when these things go so far down the road as this one obviously has the only option is to pick up the pieces, move on and make the best of things separately.

[rabidbee]

Kebe has been a revelation - teams put two players on him. Of course he's not Ronaldo but if he was he wouldn't be playing for us.
The home support today was rubbish - could barely muster a song and when we did it soon petered out.
We have a CB with pace - Bikey outruns every opposition forward by jogging let alone running. Ingi wins every header and Bikey covers him for pace. It's a great partnership.
There's little wrong at the mo but beware - if Doyle/NHunt get injured we will struggle.

Whilst Kébé hasn't scored, he has set up a number of goals, and created space to produce others. I still find myself frustrated by him, sometimes, mainly when he tries to take on the entire backline by himself when there is an easy pass to an overlapping player. Whilst I wouldn't want to negate his flair, he needs to learn to play the simple ball too. Nevertheless, his pace has seen him win balls that nobody else would have had a chance of reaching - perhaps another reason why Hunty's crossing appears to be improved?

As for Bikey, he doesn't outrun every player, although he certainly does have the pace to. However, sometimes his head is just in entirely the wrong place, and he totally misjudges what is enough. Two or three times against QPR he was left for dead by Blackstock, everytime because he thought he had it covered and misjudged it horribly. In fact, Bikey was having a mare all game. It was nice to see the solid, focussed Bikey back again yesterday, muscling people off the ball, and bossing the back-line. Not sure what you can do about his mentality, though - as Coppell says, that is just the way he plays, and maybe we'll just need to hoik him off the pitch sometimes when it's clear he's not in the game.

As has been said in a number of places, Armstrong has been excellent. Anybody else noticed how much less Hunty is having to defend this season? Armstrong is nice and solid, and seems happy to allow Hunty to get on with his own thing in front of him, occasionally stepping up to whip in a good cross - lovely ball for Doyle's first yesterday. Marcus is playing well again, and the central midfield seems to have settled into a solid unit regardless of which comibination he picks. I'm just looking forward to the moment when Marek finally clicks with the front two, and those slide-rule passes become lethal. Which reminds me of a lovely little bit of skill by Marek yesterday, over on the West stand touchline, casually chipping the ball over a sliding opponent and then deftly flicking the ball with the outside of the foot 10 yards down the line to the feet of Rosenior before it had even dropped back to the ground, without so much as looking flustered. He just has so much time on the ball.

[Man Friday]

Can't disagree with anything you say.