The Official Palace Match Thread: Sponsored by Colin & Wally

[kwik-silva]

That was the only bit I thought Doyle did 'properly' well, but your right RR, a hatrick is a hatrick

[readingbedding]

15 goals in 5 games since the Forest game. Just need to sort the defence out again (although Palace's penalty apparently) harsh - as above, will be good to get feedback on Pearce's performance. Karacan too, because I sense Coppell will be looking for an excuse to bring Cisse back.

Penalty was one of those 'give it or not'.
Totally accidental.
Harper didn't get a yellow.

But I would be screaming if it was the other way round.

Didn't matter.

Palace were poor.

[Ian Royal]

From the sounds of it, the only thing Harper was guilty of was consistently playing football with his arms in such a position to make this possible and not give him the excuse that they were by his side.

It's just unfortunate that Harper's natural position differs significantly from most others. Hi-ho. merde happens.

Harper scores our first open play league goal? Possibly still our only open play league goal? To be honest that really doesn't surprise me.

[Franchise FC]

I'm sorry but he didn't, he really didn't. An absolutely bewildering decision to play him. He was given his chance on Tuesday against the side bottom in the entire league and was, comfortably, the worst player on the pitch.

On the back of that, he starts ahead of Hunt who scored one and made three. Can someone explain to me the logic of this.

Doyle was poor today too other than the three gimmees. We look weak up front unless Mooney got something to help Hunt as Lita Doyle and Long just don't look the part.

I'd be happy enough for him to be that poor every week. Gary Lineker made a career out of being ordinary until the ball fell at his feet. Remind me - was he any good ?

Yes Gary Linekar was very very good.

Could you explain what that has to do with the merits of Long?

If you read your own note, then look at the bit that I highlighted, then maybe you'll get the significance.

[Bill Oddie's Beard]

If any other team had a striker who scored a hat-trick the comment would be - "don't care how much he contributes during the rest of the game, a striker's job is to score goals etc. etc."

Anyway, have you forgotten Doyle's lovely piece of control, swivel and volley that Spironi just tipped over - would have been goal of the season if it had gone in.

At which point I was screaming 'what the fcuk are you doing you idiot, just fcuking hit it'

[CMRoyal]

It's funny how people will salivate over Birmingham's ambition whenever Phillips scores without any notion of how well he's played otherwise, but when one of our players scores a second half hattrick to turn 1-2 into 4-2, we can still say he was "poor".

Hilarious really - a striker scores a hat-trick and was poor. You couldn't make it up!

I hope he has a good game next week+1.

I thought he was heading for a steady 7/10 rating before the hattrick - full of his usual good intelligent 'inside forward' runs, a sweet volley well-saved by their (impressive, I thought) keeper, and was it Doyler who hit the post with a header first-half? He was ill-served by having to work alongside a desperately disappointing Long, and much better when Hunt, N came on. I think we'll miss him a lot when he goes.

[CMRoyal]

If any other team had a striker who scored a hat-trick the comment would be - "don't care how much he contributes during the rest of the game, a striker's job is to score goals etc. etc."

Anyway, have you forgotten Doyle's lovely piece of control, swivel and volley that Spironi just tipped over - would have been goal of the season if it had gone in.

At which point I was screaming 'what the fcuk are you doing you idiot, just fcuking hit it'

You want - as Rosey took on their left-back in the lead-up to the first goal, there was me shouting very loudly "oh, don't take him on there you pra...oh, go on my son!". To be fair, the number 3 should have dispatched Liam into Row Z rather than just let him run past.

[Sarah Star]

I'm not sure that Doyle was better because Noel Hunt came on. I think it was scoring the goal that increased his confidence. Several times he tried to back-heel or make a pass to Noel Hunt when Hunt wasn't anywhere near him, yet he seemed to expect him to be.

[Mr Angry]

Having read some of the stuff in this thread (and on a couple of others post the Palace game) and the advice i would give some of our fans is quite simple; give up.

Personally I thought Saturdays' game was hugely enjoyable and extremely positive; it was fantastic to see Karacan and Pearce not only starting, but playing really well, and I think it suggests that the re-building of the side has begun in earnest an will lead to success if not this season then in the future. The great 2005-2007 team is dead, long live the next team.

However, for some fans it isn't enough; Doyle scoring a hat-trick yet was "poor", moans about Kebe, moans about Harper and Karacan, moans about everybody.

You couldn't make it up.

I think some "fans" have gone so far down the whirlpool of despondency and negativity that NOTHING the club does could ever be seen in a positive light again.

I am thoroughly enjoying this season; no histrionics, no hype, no dissecting of EVERY move by over-paid and predictable pundits, no more waiting till the latest "controversial" reffering decision against/for Arsenal/Liverpool/Chelsea/Man Utd has been thrashed to death before a scant few minutes of highlights at the end of MOTD - it is actually FUN to watch us play again, rather than a chore, and I am filled with optimism for the rest of this season and beyond.

[sucatraps]

Blimey! Mr A in reasoned, positive and accurate post shocker!!! well done you, 'greed

[Dirk Gently]

Having read some of the stuff in this thread (and on a couple of others post the Palace game) and the advice i would give some of our fans is quite simple; give up.

Personally I thought Saturdays' game was hugely enjoyable and extremely positive; it was fantastic to see Karacan and Pearce not only starting, but playing really well, and I think it suggests that the re-building of the side has begun in earnest an will lead to success if not this season then in the future. The great 2005-2007 team is dead, long live the next team.

However, for some fans it isn't enough; Doyle scoring a hat-trick yet was "poor", moans about Kebe, moans about Harper and Karacan, moans about everybody.

You couldn't make it up.

I think some "fans" have gone so far down the whirlpool of despondency and negativity that NOTHING the club does could ever be seen in a positive light again.

I am thoroughly enjoying this season; no histrionics, no hype, no dissecting of EVERY move by over-paid and predictable pundits, no more waiting till the latest "controversial" reffering decision against/for Arsenal/Liverpool/Chelsea/Man Utd has been thrashed to death before a scant few minutes of highlights at the end of MOTD - it is actually FUN to watch us play again, rather than a chore, and I am filled with optimism for the rest of this season and beyond.

Mr A, you should be ashamed of yourself! Such reasoned, reasonable and accurate argument has no place on this message board!

[CMRoyal]

Having read some of the stuff in this thread (and on a couple of others post the Palace game) and the advice i would give some of our fans is quite simple; give up.

Personally I thought Saturdays' game was hugely enjoyable and extremely positive; it was fantastic to see Karacan and Pearce not only starting, but playing really well, and I think it suggests that the re-building of the side has begun in earnest an will lead to success if not this season then in the future. The great 2005-2007 team is dead, long live the next team.

However, for some fans it isn't enough; Doyle scoring a hat-trick yet was "poor", moans about Kebe, moans about Harper and Karacan, moans about everybody.

You couldn't make it up.

I think some "fans" have gone so far down the whirlpool of despondency and negativity that NOTHING the club does could ever be seen in a positive light again.

I am thoroughly enjoying this season; no histrionics, no hype, no dissecting of EVERY move by over-paid and predictable pundits, no more waiting till the latest "controversial" reffering decision against/for Arsenal/Liverpool/Chelsea/Man Utd has been thrashed to death before a scant few minutes of highlights at the end of MOTD - it is actually FUN to watch us play again, rather than a chore, and I am filled with optimism for the rest of this season and beyond.

What he said.

C'mon, where's the spirit of '06 gone for oxf*rd's sake? SC talked in the fans' forum about players not having the mental strength to want to get the team back up - well, the worst offenders are being weeded out and if/when Lita goes to Hull, that'll be three of the buggers coming straight back down. In the meantime, with these new hungry lads coming through the ranks here and a return to the positive mental attitude throughout the club - including us fans - there's no reason why we can't be waving to them as we pass them by. Even if we don't, this should be a hugely enjoyable season. We're one of the best in the division, we've got the players to create and score goals and we've got 17-18,000 fans wanting to get behind the team. Let's enjoy these good times for what they are. There's nothing wrong with a bit of criticism, but a little more perspective might be in order around these parts at times.

[sucatraps]

Yeah! this a locals board, for local whinging!

[Arnie_Pie]

Highlights courtesy of Virgin. Takes while to load but not too bad -

http://www.football.virginmedia.com/page/readingvideo/

[Pool and Darts]

Having read some of the stuff in this thread (and on a couple of others post the Palace game) and the advice i would give some of our fans is quite simple; give up.

Personally I thought Saturdays' game was hugely enjoyable and extremely positive; it was fantastic to see Karacan and Pearce not only starting, but playing really well, and I think it suggests that the re-building of the side has begun in earnest an will lead to success if not this season then in the future. The great 2005-2007 team is dead, long live the next team.

However, for some fans it isn't enough; Doyle scoring a hat-trick yet was "poor", moans about Kebe, moans about Harper and Karacan, moans about everybody.

You couldn't make it up.

I think some "fans" have gone so far down the whirlpool of despondency and negativity that NOTHING the club does could ever be seen in a positive light again.

I am thoroughly enjoying this season; no histrionics, no hype, no dissecting of EVERY move by over-paid and predictable pundits, no more waiting till the latest "controversial" reffering decision against/for Arsenal/Liverpool/Chelsea/Man Utd has been thrashed to death before a scant few minutes of highlights at the end of MOTD - it is actually FUN to watch us play again, rather than a chore, and I am filled with optimism for the rest of this season and beyond.

+1