MATCHWATCH : Arsenal (a) sponsored by Davy Crockett

[Ian Royal]

Thought we were playing very well on the whole, a few bad passes, but generally they were positive ones. A little bit negative and slow at the back. Obviously Arsenal had had plenty of chances, but they're better, quicker and more used to the system, so that's to be expected. We had some decision positions at time.

Then we suicide. Damnit. Very promising other than that.

[Scutterbucketz]

Al flapsi drops another clanger showing exactly why he is not suited to Readings style of play. At least its not a league game.

Are you blaming him for the goal?

[From Despair To Where?]

We last played Arsenal 18 months ago and I make it 3 of tonight's starting 22 players who played in that match.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

JVDB gives the ball away. Ox scores from out wide, throigh Blackett's legs.

If Joey wants fans to stop getting stressed about them playing it around at the back, maybe the players should stop f*cking it up and giving away easy goals

[ayjaydee]

Al flapsi drops another clanger showing exactly why he is not suited to Readings style of play. At least its not a league game.

JVDB was far more culpable than AAH but as he is the new messiah lets blame the keeper

[Brain Traysers]

JVDB gives the ball away. Ox scores from out wide, throigh Blackett's legs.

If Joey wants fans to stop getting stressed about them playing it around at the back, maybe the players should stop f*cking it up and giving away easy goals

Perhaps slightly premature posting from me there, sounds like a hospital pass from AAH. Poor goal to concede nevertheless

[Sutekh]

Al flapsi drops another clanger showing exactly why he is not suited to Readings style of play. At least its not a league game.

JVDB was far more culpable than AAH but as he is the new messiah lets blame the keeper

Impression i had from commentary was that habsi played an unecessary pass to jvdb which invited arsenal right onto the defence but i am happy to be corrected if that wasnt the case

[ayjaydee]

Al flapsi drops another clanger showing exactly why he is not suited to Readings style of play. At least its not a league game.

JVDB was far more culpable than AAH but as he is the new messiah lets blame the keeper

Impression i had from commentary was that habsi played an unecessary pass to jvdb which invited arsenal right onto the defence but i am happy to be corrected if that wasnt the case

So you decide a bit of name calling is in order on the strength of radio commentary

TBF a lot of our passes at the back are "unnecessary" but Joey had time to deal with and get rid.

[NewCorkSeth]

JVDB was far more culpable than AAH but as he is the new messiah lets blame the keeper

Impression i had from commentary was that habsi played an unecessary pass to jvdb which invited arsenal right onto the defence but i am happy to be corrected if that wasnt the case

So you decide a bit of name calling is in order on the strength of radio commentary

TBF a lot of our passes at the back are "unnecessary" but Joey had time to deal with and get rid.

Name calling?

[Scutterbucketz]

25/1 for the Reading Win on betfair. I'm putting a tenner on. They'll be changes in the second half and we've had a few chances so stranger things have happened. Not to us, obviously, but tonight could be the night.

[Ian Royal]

Stream I was watching wasn't up with the game so I didn't see what happened to bring about the turnover.

I don't get the criticism of Al-Habsi's ability with the ball at his feet. He's dealt with some really tricky situations and done several strikers when given dodgy back passes. That may have been an example of an error, I didn't see, but I've seen very very few goals or clear chances given away by Al-Habsi passes.

Liking the look of Kelly, Watson's been less involved but seemed fine to me. Samuel's been disappointing. I thought his work rate closing down up front has been almost non-existent at times and that's two pretty awful attempts to finish as well. Bar that plethora, he showed a couple of nice touches. Saying that, Harriott's had the worst shot of the lot (unlucky on the deflection though) and McCleary should have done much better than dither and lose the ball on that break. JVDB plays a touch too negative at times, but looks quality otherwise. We just need to be looking for the early higher tempo pass far more. And so often we leave a lovely big empty space somewhere on the pitch that someone just needs to exploit.

I thought Arsenal adapted really quickly and well to our big diagonals. They were a very useful part of our game to start with, but someone obviously spotted it, adjusted and suddenly we found it much much harder to get any outs. I fancy we'll have a few more chances, but think Arsenal will still win comfortably and deservedly. Their first team would destroy us, but then we all knew that.

[Ian Royal]

Impression i had from commentary was that habsi played an unecessary pass to jvdb which invited arsenal right onto the defence but i am happy to be corrected if that wasnt the case

So you decide a bit of name calling is in order on the strength of radio commentary

TBF a lot of our passes at the back are "unnecessary" but Joey had time to deal with and get rid.

Name calling?

Al-flapsi no?

[ayjaydee]

Just watched it again and whilst not the greatest ball from AAH Joey made a right ricket of the pass, he had two options but only sliced it to Oxlade Chamberlain.

Overall though slightly above my expectations for the half. A few half chances created but Samuel hasn't really shown he is a better option than Kermy, even though offside he failed to get a good chance on target.

[NewCorkSeth]

So you decide a bit of name calling is in order on the strength of radio commentary

TBF a lot of our passes at the back are "unnecessary" but Joey had time to deal with and get rid.

Name calling?

Al-flapsi no?

Does that constitute name calling? If so I will have to apologise to Lukasz Flapihandski for also having a brilliant name for goalkeeping errors.

[Ian Royal]

Just watched it again and whilst not the greatest ball from AAH Joey made a right ricket of the pass, he had two options but only sliced it to Oxlade Chamberlain.

Overall though slightly above my expectations for the half. A few half chances created but Samuel hasn't really shown he is a better option than Kermy, even though offside he failed to get a good chance on target.

I think Samuel's shown why he isn't getting a chance and that Kermy is far superior. And I don't even like Kermorgant much.

I wouldn't mind seeing Samuel as a narrower right forward alongside Kermy. I don't think we can take Samuel off for Kermorgant - Kermy upfront alone is not a way to change a game for an equaliser or win. Throw the oxf*rd lot at it with 15-20 to go.

....................Al-Habsi
...........Moore, JVDB, Blackett
McCleary...Evans..Swift......Harriott
...Samuel, Kermorgant, Meite

[NewCorkSeth]

Hows Kelly doing guys?

[ayjaydee]

G Mac again not quite getting a pass to Samuel for a clear shot and then getting bossed by Gibbs.
Kermy about to come on.

[ayjaydee]

Kermy for Harriott

[Scutterbucketz]

I'd have preferred to see Swift coming on.

[ayjaydee]

Good headed effort by Kermorgant, first proper save keeper has had to make