Players who started off terrible but became good

[Crusader Royal]

Just to confirm, the "player of the round" award was for the game at Old Trafford. The match at home was

On 17 February 2007 a "second string" Reading side unexpectedly drew 1–1 with Manchester United during an FA Cup 5th Round tie at Old Trafford, with the young Aussie keeper making some fine saves in a memorable game for the club.[7] For this performance, he was named the FA Cup "Player of the Round" for the 5th Round.[8] However, in the replay on 27 February, Federici had a night to generally forget as Reading conceded three goals in the first six minutes.

Also, an extract from a well-know (and recommended!) book on the subject :

Is that one of Roger Titford’s ? Can’t think of anyone else writing Reading FC books

[Greatwesternline]

Just to confirm, the "player of the round" award was for the game at Old Trafford. The match at home was

On 17 February 2007 a "second string" Reading side unexpectedly drew 1–1 with Manchester United during an FA Cup 5th Round tie at Old Trafford, with the young Aussie keeper making some fine saves in a memorable game for the club.[7] For this performance, he was named the FA Cup "Player of the Round" for the 5th Round.[8] However, in the replay on 27 February, Federici had a night to generally forget as Reading conceded three goals in the first six minutes.

Also, an extract from a well-know (and recommended!) book on the subject :

I didn't need to look any of it up. That season was when I was 20, living at uni in a very football heavy house of 7 guys. Being in exile for Reading's first seasons of national fame was quite hard to accept but I made up for it by living and breathing the results and narrative around the games.

This fa cup double header and AFed's performances are etched on my brain. I can even remember the conversation my house mates were having while I slumped on the floor in front of the TV when we hit the crossbar to almost make it 3-3.

Great times.

[stealthpapes]

That Bryn shot is one of at least two times where I would have happily given up a kidney or a toe to see that shot go in. We'd have had them in extra time.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbvi21

is the other, had that crept in, you'd be seeing it every year

[Clyde1998]

The full six minutes of goals in that Man Utd game is interesting to watch back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1C7O_kQ6rA (poor quality unfortunately, as the video was uploaded at the time).

Goal one is clearly a goalkeeping error - didn't get his body down quickly enough. Would say we looked defensively all over the place prior to the shot coming in though.

Goal two is potentially a goalkeeping error - was better than the first, but Federici should be getting down quicker and the shot was from a very wide angle. Federici was too close to his near post. I will comment on the great pass from Rio Ferdinand and superb first touch by Louis Saha though.

Goal three wasn't a keeping error in my book. A good win back from Kieran Richardson, played a really good ball to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who 'beat' our offside trap and a superb outside of the foot finish to beat Federici. Only question for the keeper is whether Federici should've come out sooner to close the angle, but the defence was nowhere near him.

He certainly improved beyond this, but Federici did still have issues when it came to making mistakes going forward - particularly in big games.

[Clyde1998]

That Bryn shot is one of at least two times where I would have happily given up a kidney or a toe to see that shot go in. We'd have had them in extra time.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbvi21

is the other, had that crept in, you'd be seeing it every year

We certainly would've had all the momentum going into extra-time. They had brought on Rooney and Ronaldo prior to us hitting the bar, which shows how much we'd rattled them!

That McAnuff goal would've been one of the greatest FA Cup goals ever scored. It all worked out in the end on that night though. Him missing may have helped us win as it gave Liverpool no opportunity to respond before going into extra-time.

[bakerlou]

Shaka

Debuted away at West Brom - we lost 3-0 (ish) and he was poor, and he was unable to cope with the brand new "don't pick it up don't pick it up ah FFS" back-pass rule. Played the next couple of matches but looked out of his depth and Steve Francis came back in for the remainder of the season.

However, subsequently........

[Gandalf Presley]

Craig Maskell - then record signing but flattered to deceive. Had a great second half to the 91/92 season and then went to Swindon.

[NewCorkSeth]

Hope Akpan? Then he turned shit again? I can't remember properly now.

[Snowflake Royal]

Hope Akpan? Then he turned shit again? I can't remember properly now.

Welcome back Seth

[NewCorkSeth]

Hope Akpan? Then he turned shit again? I can't remember properly now.

Welcome back Seth

I've been too depressed about our club to talk about it here for a while