Long - time for a change?

[Snowball]

I personally don't have a problem with using the word will as it's inferred that it's an opinion of the poster.

Ian Royal knows as much about goalkeeping as I do about astrophysics

[Wimb]

I personally don't have a problem with using the word will as it's inferred that it's an opinion of the poster.

Ian Royal knows as much about goalkeeping as I do about astrophysics

You must have a pretty good grasp of astrophysics then because simply being a football fan and watching games over a number of years will give you a pretty good grasp of the art.

But again how would you know his experience level? He may well have been a keeper at junior level, still play the position today, or actually take an interest and carefully watch goalkeepers. You just don't know Snowball and your smugness really takes away from the fact that you're being proved right, you deserve plaudits but instead you're making yourself seem petty and immature, if your sole purpose on this board is to get 1 over everyone who gets something wrong then it's a bit pathetic.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

I would rather have a beer with Ian than Snowball!!

[SLAMMED]

LOL @ snowball getting worked up on an internet forum.

[Ian Royal]

I would rather have a beer with Ian than Snowball!!

Cheers, I'd rather have a beer with Stalin than Snowball, I guess there are just some people who will never get along. Most people who can't stand me on here, who actually meet me, seem to find me quite likeable really.

Nearly had a beer with you once back in the day, but bottled heading into the pub because I didn't know any of the nobbers going in. Can't remember the exact circumstances. Be happy to have a pint any time.

Fair play to snowy for sticking to his guns and supporting Shane, though IMO it was counter productive and actually pushed mor people into actively disliking him than supporting him. And if you support every player who plays regularly - as snowball seems to, then just by the law of averages you're going to be "proved" right the majority of times eventually.

Long's current excellent form now, doesn't invalidate the criticisms of him in the past.

[brendywendy]

Depends. Many had criticised his work rate. Admittedly his touch and shooting was poor in the past. But it took far too long for people to change their minds and give the credit due when he improved. Imo hes been consistently our best player for most of the season, yet many have still to give more than a begrudging 'hes doing ok now-but he'll go sh't again in a week or two'

[Ian Royal]

Depends. Many had criticised his work rate. Admittedly his touch and shooting was poor in the past. But it took far too long for people to change their minds and give the credit due when he improved. Imo hes been consistently our best player for most of the season, yet many have still to give more than a begrudging 'hes doing ok now-but he'll go sh't again in a week or two'

His work rate was an odd one for me. He was always excellent at chasing down stuff and hastling defenders to win a ball played forward. But at the same time he'd often take ages to amble back into position afterwards. And if things didn't go his way his head would drop and he'd get more and more petulent.

[ZacNaloen]

That's just immaturity, he's grown up a lot since having a kid.

[Gordons Cumming]

Nearly had a beer with you once back in the day, but bottled heading into the pub because I didn't know any of the nobbers going in. Can't remember the exact circumstances. Be happy to have a pint any time.

I find this a little disturbing..............just PM this info, please.

Not really interested.....................Keep things appropriate to Team subjects. Thanks.

[Royal Rother]

Fair play to snowy for sticking to his guns and supporting Shane, though IMO it was counter productive and actually pushed mor people into actively disliking him than supporting him. And if you support every player who plays regularly - as snowball seems to, then just by the law of averages you're going to be "proved" right the majority of times eventually.

Long's current excellent form now, doesn't invalidate the criticisms of him in the past.

I don't think Snowball has entered a popularity contest but is it a coincidence / pure chance that he has championed the 2 most derided players of the last 2 years in Kebe and Long and they have both come good in dramatic fashion?

The guy knows his football alright.

[Arch]

That's the thing, though. His instincts are often bang on (hence I usually agree with him because I'm always right), but not only is he insufferably overbearing and self-promoting about them, his statistical arguments are often very poorly constructed and serve more to confuse the issue and create unwarranted opposition than to convert.

Bullshit baffles brains, and all that.

[Ian Royal]

Fair play to snowy for sticking to his guns and supporting Shane, though IMO it was counter productive and actually pushed mor people into actively disliking him than supporting him. And if you support every player who plays regularly - as snowball seems to, then just by the law of averages you're going to be "proved" right the majority of times eventually.

Long's current excellent form now, doesn't invalidate the criticisms of him in the past.

I don't think Snowball has entered a popularity contest but is it a coincidence / pure chance that he has championed the 2 most derided players of the last 2 years in Kebe and Long and they have both come good in dramatic fashion?

The guy knows his football alright.

He's championed everyone.

Kebe and Long are more obvious because they got shedloads of stick - some of it completely uncalled for.

[RoyalBlue]

Fair play to snowy for sticking to his guns and supporting Shane, though IMO it was counter productive and actually pushed mor people into actively disliking him than supporting him. And if you support every player who plays regularly - as snowball seems to, then just by the law of averages you're going to be "proved" right the majority of times eventually.

Long's current excellent form now, doesn't invalidate the criticisms of him in the past.

I don't think Snowball has entered a popularity contest but is it a coincidence / pure chance that he has championed the 2 most derided players of the last 2 years in Kebe and Long and they have both come good in dramatic fashion?

The guy knows his football alright.

To balance things up a bit, he has also been an extremely strong supporter of Harte. I won't complain if the 'Snowball effect' sees him come good in dramatic fashion too.

[rhroyal]

Long was originally raw with a lot of potential, a good work rate and a great attitude. He was also quick, strong and deceptively good in the air. His touch and quality could let him down but the promise was there under Coppell. He had moments where he looked like he could genuinely step up, like Norwich away.

He went backwards under Rodgers; he put on weight, he lost his work rate and attitude. He was barely a League 1 striker in that state.

Fair play to the boy and to McD. Since McD has been manager he's got his fitness back, he's working hard again and his touch and quality on the ball seems to get better all the time. He did have a barren spell, but I agree with Snowball that he was being played in a 4-5-1 which doesn't suit him so well, especially since Gylfi left. All strikers have dry spells anyhow. I think we now have a top end Championship striker making steps towards being a Premiership striker.

However hindsight is a wonderful gift. I remember the Derby match under Rodgers in which he came off the bench, got sent off and we went on to lose. If Snowball really claims to have seen him coming good so quickly after that, I don't believe him.

[Snowball]

I don't think Snowball has entered a popularity contest but is it a coincidence / pure chance that he has championed the 2 most derided players of the last 2 years in Kebe and Long and they have both come good in dramatic fashion?

The guy knows his football alright.

He's championed everyone.

Kebe and Long are more obvious because they got shedloads of stick - some of it completely uncalled for.

And some of that stick was from Ian Royal (eg: bye bye Long, nice chap, nice try. Doesn't have the goods somehow..)


As for me "championing everyone" that is absolutely ridiculous, a total lie. I've spoken out on behalf of Long, Kebe and Harte in the main, and I've enjoyed pointing out that the muppets were wrong about Elwood.

I've never been involved in threads speaking for Karacan, Harper, Griffin, Cummings, Federici, Hannheman, Church, Ingi, Bikey, Sonko, Tabb, Henry, etc etc

Basically I hate seeing vitriol from muppets about footballers. Scapegoating is wrong, unpleasant and always counter-productive.

There is only one "good" reason to criticise a player and that's for him not trying.

[Snowball]

Harte is NOT the greatest left-back, but he brings experience to the team.

He has played 27 games this season, for two clubs, 10 clean sheets 13 times conceding a single goal (and 4 x 3) bizarrely, never conceding two goals.

He has also scored six goals, two from open play, two penalties, and two excellent free kicks. He is very slow, always
has been, and you would think every opposition manager would be targeting him. But he deals with it. The clean
sheets and single goals show that.

Last season he got 18 goals and 8 assists. His side had 15 clean sheets and conceded a single goal 17 times

[Snowball]

However hindsight is a wonderful gift. I remember the Derby match under Rodgers in which he came off the bench, got sent off and we went on to lose. If Snowball really claims to have seen him coming good so quickly after that, I don't believe him.

I have been championing Long since my first post on these boards in January 2009. I started a thread defending Shane and received a lot of stick for it.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

There is only one "good" reason to criticise a player and that's for him not trying.

Unless the player is trying as hard as they can but it still isn't coming off for them - that was the original stance of my opening post on this thread. This was the gist of my first post on the thread - a post that I am extremely pleased Long has proved me wrong on.

[Mr Angry]

The point is, that those of us who watched games could see that up to the end of November, Long was missing so many decent chances it was an embarrassment. Since then, he has started to score goals from chances that earlier in the season, he was missing.

Every Reading fan should be pleased he is doing the business now, but it doesn't negate that he had been poor before.

As for Snowball, his attitude reminds me of a bloke who, after a few days of no rain, runs around telling everybody that its going to rain; after 6 months of drought, he is STILL running around saying the same thing "its gonna rain I tell ya!!"; eventually, the first drops fall, and the guy triumphantly exclaims "I TOLD YOU SO".

[Focher]

cant be bothered to put it on rumours, Liverpool had a scout at Donny on Sat watching Long. If its already been put on here then im open to a massive hard Dodding.