The Unsung Hero?

User avatar
exileinleeds
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 8538
Joined: 01 Dec 2005 12:22
Location: Immaturing with age

The Unsung Hero?

by exileinleeds » 30 Apr 2007 22:10

There were times when we were on the edge of our seats tonight, and many other games...but how many times have we been saved by the discipline of the defence? Playing the off side rule can be boring (remember Arsenal of old?) but watching Reading is never boring!

I give you Wally Downes, his work with the defence, which injuries have forced to be makeshift at times, but yet again they have done the business against some of the best defenders in the world...

Stand Up for Wally!

User avatar
Royal Rother
Hob Nob Subscriber
Hob Nob Subscriber
Posts: 21243
Joined: 13 Apr 2004 23:22
Location: The handsome bald fella with the blue eyes

by Royal Rother » 30 Apr 2007 22:19

Good call.

higher
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 2305
Joined: 14 Apr 2004 09:44
Location: cumbria

by higher » 30 Apr 2007 22:20

Hear hear.The defence was (again) fantasticly well drilled tonight and a credit to Wally and others working with them.

User avatar
Slinky
Hob Nob Subscriber
Hob Nob Subscriber
Posts: 359
Joined: 14 Apr 2004 08:41
Location: Scouseland

by Slinky » 30 Apr 2007 22:33

agreed, brilliant display! Can i recommend another special mention for De La Cruz, he's changed my view of him and had another excellent game, understands the other players more and more and reads the game very well! Nice one!

Wokingham via Waterloo
Member
Posts: 32
Joined: 21 Jun 2004 19:12

by Wokingham via Waterloo » 30 Apr 2007 22:36

Absolutely spot on. Thought the same tonight when we pulled out to a man for the umpteenth time. Risky at times - as mentioned elsewhere, Owen was deceptively sharp and could have had the benefit of the doubt but given the back five have been much more disrupted than last year, what a well-organised unit by and large.


User avatar
Warfield Royal
Member
Posts: 364
Joined: 14 Apr 2004 20:45

by Warfield Royal » 30 Apr 2007 22:57

De La Cruz was awesome tonight. I lost count of the number of times he snatched the ball away just before the opposition attacker made contact.

windjammer
Member
Posts: 80
Joined: 03 Aug 2004 17:14
Location: Now living down in Cornwall, but missing the Royals

by windjammer » 30 Apr 2007 22:59

Slinky agreed, brilliant display! Can i recommend another special mention for De La Cruz, he's changed my view of him and had another excellent game, understands the other players more and more and reads the game very well! Nice one!


Agree 100% about De La Cruz. He has rarely let Royals down when called upon. With Halford being one for the future, even at £2.5 million, then DLC is definitely worth keeping next year. Maybe Halford should be given a runout in midfield in at least one of the two remaining games. Apart from his centre for the goal (which owed a lot to Oster's dummy), Seol disappointed again tonight. Blakey should be first choice if fit next season. Oster should be loaned out to a Championship side initially and a decision finally taken in the Jan 2008 window.
Last edited by windjammer on 30 Apr 2007 23:02, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Archie's penalty
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 5772
Joined: 04 Aug 2006 19:35
Location: Process not oucome

by Archie's penalty » 30 Apr 2007 23:02

windjammer
Slinky agreed, brilliant display! Can i recommend another special mention for De La Cruz, he's changed my view of him and had another excellent game, understands the other players more and more and reads the game very well! Nice one!


Agree 100% about De La Cruz. He has rarely let Royals down when called upon. With being Halford one for the future, even at £2.5 million, then DLC is definitely worth keeping next year. Maybe halford should be given a runout in midfield in at least one of the two remaining games.


Yes we should definitely keep him for next year. He is experienced and does his job without any hassle - another very clever Coppell signing!

pieface
Member
Posts: 89
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 20:49

by pieface » 30 Apr 2007 23:07

Ivar pure top class.


Upper West?!?
Member
Posts: 109
Joined: 21 Sep 2004 22:20
Location: Check the username

by Upper West?!? » 30 Apr 2007 23:37

Shorey had an excellent match as well, and again showed he can play against international quality and hold his own. There were tackles against Owen and Dyer and excellent passes that MUST have gotten Terry V's attention.

Shorey for England.

reading_lad
Member
Posts: 75
Joined: 15 Feb 2006 17:08
Location: Thatcham

by reading_lad » 30 Apr 2007 23:41

its just a shame duberry was a bit of a donkey as usual :?

User avatar
paultheroyal
Hob Nob Subscriber
Hob Nob Subscriber
Posts: 12757
Joined: 04 Mar 2005 12:59
Location: Hob Nob Reality TV Champ 2010/2011

by paultheroyal » 30 Apr 2007 23:42

Shorey staked his claim fantastically tonight....and pushed his value up to about 6 million!

User avatar
AbovetheI
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 2017
Joined: 11 Mar 2005 22:13

by AbovetheI » 30 Apr 2007 23:43

reading_lad its just a shame duberry was a bit of a donkey as usual :?


LOL @ You :lol:


Royalee
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 6470
Joined: 14 Apr 2004 12:58
Location: Reading, hazar

by Royalee » 30 Apr 2007 23:47

The whole defence played extremely well tonight and a lot of that is down to Wally. What summed it up was De La Cruz's improvement - he was absolutely immense tonight and a contender for man of the match, which is a huge transformation given his early performances for us.

Woodcote Royal
Hob Nob Subscriber
Hob Nob Subscriber
Posts: 3490
Joined: 13 Apr 2004 23:24
Location: Relocation to Surrey completed

by Woodcote Royal » 01 May 2007 02:57

Agree totally about Wally and DLC.

User avatar
Arch
Hob Nob Subscriber
Hob Nob Subscriber
Posts: 4082
Joined: 14 Apr 2004 23:35
Location: USA! USA! USA!

by Arch » 01 May 2007 04:23

AbovetheI
reading_lad its just a shame duberry was a bit of a donkey as usual :?


LOL @ You :lol:
Ditto. duberry had his best game in a Reading shirt.

User avatar
Diddyroyal
Member
Posts: 263
Joined: 16 Mar 2005 06:27
Location: 'Got to be the best looking bloke in Newcatle'

by Diddyroyal » 01 May 2007 07:02

Warfield Royal De La Cruz was awesome tonight. I lost count of the number of times he snatched the ball away just before the opposition attacker made contact.


De La has been quality for the past few weeks, very consistant performances

User avatar
RoyalBlue
Hob Nob Subscriber
Hob Nob Subscriber
Posts: 11676
Joined: 13 Apr 2004 22:39
Location: Developed a pathological hatred of snakes on 14/10/19

by RoyalBlue » 01 May 2007 08:26

reading_lad its just a shame duberry was a bit of a donkey as usual :?


Better sign a few more donkeys then because I don't think he put a foot or feet wrong last night!

RFCMod
Member
Posts: 719
Joined: 28 Apr 2005 12:39
Location: Deep in the woods of Hampshire

by RFCMod » 01 May 2007 08:44

I know that everyone still slates Seol but if you watch him now hes obviously starting to try and get a grip on the game
Hes looking around more,closing down a little more and pressurising more
Yes sometimes he can still be found wanting but he does look like hes trying to get a good understanding of where he should improve to become a Prem player

Also I thought he seemed to have a good understanding with Kitson
Maybe its because Kits is a bit slower and gives Seol the time to pick him out but along with the goal they linked up quite a few times and seemed to play off each other well

User avatar
T.R.O.L.I.
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 6526
Joined: 17 Mar 2005 14:47
Location: 2 down, far right - Still recovering from the weekend's excesses

by T.R.O.L.I. » 01 May 2007 09:04

De La Cruz = Ecuador's Pele

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Jammy Dodger, John Madejski's Wallet, Silver Fox and 485 guests

It is currently 29 Mar 2024 11:00