THIS HAPPENS EVERY GODDAMN TIME, I DID NOT BRING UP CONNOLLYQuote:
Originally Posted by billybunter
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THIS HAPPENS EVERY GODDAMN TIME, I DID NOT BRING UP CONNOLLYQuote:
Originally Posted by billybunter
I thought Long took the chance very well, along the ground back where the keeper was coming from, giving him no chance. Maybe it's because I was shockingly inept in front of goal that I appreciated the finish more than good amateurs would have, but I though a lot of the print media's (and eirebhoy's!) description of the goal as a "tap in" was a bit unfair. The Telegraph extract that Owls Fan posted in another thread referred to it as an expert finish was ;probably a bit OTT but I thought it was well taken. I've seen forwards miss that type of chance.
I thought it was a very good finish myself. Came at him at pace, at an awkward angle and he had to re-adjust his feet quickly to get a shot on goal, and still managed to get right into the corner.
No, hopefully his parents did.Quote:
Originally Posted by theworm2345
Sorry, I'll get my coat....
You don't deserve a coat! :D
Apparantly Long had a bit of a tantrum when subbed today. Hopefully it was because of his performance rather than the decision. I didn't see the game to know how well he played though.
He didn't play great. Did more than Doyle though, who was completely anonymous. Hunt was definitely the best of the three. I didn't see exactly what happened, but I think he took his shirt off when sitting in the dugout and Coppell had to repeatedly ask him to put it back on if I'm not mistaken.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
I didn't see exactly what happened, but I did see a Reading shirt on the ground, which must have been Longs so it looks at if he threw it on the ground at some point. I recorded the stream so I will see if I can get another look at it:-
It didn't really show it on camera but a 'cheer' went up from the Liverpool fans
just after he came off then it cut to someone (steward/policeman) picking his shirt up
from what was said to be in front of Coppel, then there is a clip of Coppel having
a word with Long.
Reading boss Steve Coppell moans at the referee and striker Shane Long:
"That penalty was stitched on, the ball was heading for goal and it struck Steven Gerrard's arm.
"Shane was frusrated with the officials but I've told him I never want to see anything like that again, and I won't."
Coppell's post match interview on Sky Sports: http://www.skysports.com/video/0,202...307508,00.html
Mentions the Long incident on about 2:10
saw that game this morning and have to say that Hunt is a terrible player, a complete waste of space. I know he has his fans here but he really is a shocking player lads.
I like the look of Long, i think he will turn out to be a very good player and i dont think the referee or the linesman gave him one decision all afternoon - in fact he was penalised 4 or 5 times in a row for what looked like just honest physical battles for the ball played into the channels... he was subbed shortly after and i think that all that might have been the reason for his mini-tantrum...
Doyle is half the player he was last year and seems to have beefed up a bit too much. Just a thought.
Hunt is currently the 51st best player in the Premiership according to Actim index.
One above Frank Lampard, and Irelands second best Irish player in the Index.
He got a decent rating on Sky, only the goal scorer and keeper rated higher.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
with all due respect, id rather make my valuation of a player based on what i see and not by the Actim index nor Sky Sports ratings.
Well those ratings pretty much match up with what I have seen of him too.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Liverpool obviously fear him if they were driven to chanting "There's only one scruffy b******". Made me laugh. :D
lol i wasnt too sure what they were chanting - i actually thought they were chanting "there's only one Robbie Savage" in reference to both players being long harired and hated... but i think thats giving too much credit to the intelligence of Liverpool fans! lol...Quote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
fair enough, he's a premiership quality player alright - or should i say - hes the type of player that the Premiership fans will love and love to hate. I still dont rate him highly though. I think hes all brawn, no brain. And most of what i have seen backs this up (in my opinion)...
well he's been Reading's best player this season (look on any Reading fans forum) and each match report from the guardian/observer lists Hunt as MOM most weeks so he must be doing something right.
Are you serious? Please send me a link, I find this incredibly hard to believe considering he couldn't get a game for awhile.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Think there's a mix up here. He's saying HUNT is Reading's player of the season, not LONG.Quote:
Originally Posted by theworm2345
Now that makes sense :)Quote:
Originally Posted by irishfan86
Shane Long has been on fire recently for Reading scoring
In the Charlton game he started off hitting the post on a looping cross by Stephen Hunt. Then at the start of the 2nd half he drew a penalty only :10 in, he took and nailed the penalty (even though Stephen Hunt tried to grab the ball and take the shot). Then he scored off a corner (taken by Jay Tabb) on a bullet header. So in a 2-2 game he scored both goals for Reading.
Two games previously against Sheffield United he slotted home the game winner being setup on a nice pass by Stephen Hunt.
Reading have brought back Dave Kitson on loan for the rest of the season in hopes of him enhancing their promotion push. But I really don't see how Coppell can remove Shane Long from the starting XI as he is playing so well.
So Reading now have five strikers: Kevin Doyle, Noel Hunt, Shane Long, Dave Kitson and Leroy Lita. Who gets the starts from here on out will be interesting.
There's a guy named Shane Long? Amazing, that was my alias when I made movies out in California!
http://www.southerncomfortfurniture....Legs%20450.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot..._1/8001908.stm
A double for Long last night. Incredibly if Reading win at the wkd and Sheff United dont, Reading will be automatically promoted, which considering the Irish contingent present there can only be welcomed.
Yes Reading have given themselves a decent chance, they are 5/4 for promotion,
Birmingham 4/6 and Shefield 5/6. Wll be a very tense final day for all. Two headers from Long second one was good one.
The second one was more than just good. Shane made it look easy but it was a powerful header perfectly placed. If I can find a clip of it I will post it.
The first goal was off a perfect cross from Jimmy Kebe. Shane buried it though. But the second was a nice piece of skill.
He had a really good game all round, from start to finish.
Yes, right from the start he was buzzing and as the commentator stated, even if he hadn't scored the two goals he would still have been the motm.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
From the Reading Evening post (linked from the bbc article above):
Now I've never been a huge fan of Long's but if he could step up and start producing regularly then he'd be a big asset to us as backup to Doyle/KeaneQuote:
It was no more than the Republic of Ireland striker deserved for another cracking display.
He has had to play understudy pretty much since he arrived as a rookie from Cork City three years ago, but he now looks like he is finally coming of age.
Although it's still be a square peg in a round hole, Long is far better suited to RHM than Keogh. He played well there as a late sub against Poland and did well when drawn wide last night.
What's his defensive play like? I'd certainly be happy seeing Long come on if we're in need of a goal. He's quick, eager, and seems well capable of taking a chance. Delighted things are finally coming good for him at Reading.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
No great finesse defensively but quick to track back and put the foot in. I think it's fair to say that in his forward role he defended from the front, chasing and harrying the GK and CBs in possession. I'd still prefer a natural RHM though.
Agreed, motm even without the goals. Tireless work-rate and a great attitude. Many players would have complained in the media about not getting a chance but Shane just put his head down and worked hard. Great lad!Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
But it wasn't only work rate and attitude, he also played very well with nice touches and showed plenty skill.
Yeah, I was hugely impressed. The guy looked a genuinely talented and pacy player. I love it on those rare occasions a young Irish player looks like the real deal and Monday night was one of those.
I am really looking forward to Sunday to see if he can continue his red-hot form.
:confused: 3 goals in 8 games with 2 of them coming against a surely relegated team is hardly red-hot formQuote:
Originally Posted by seahawk
Actually upon further review 6 of his 9 goals this season have come against the three bottom teams :o
If Reading get promoted, how will their striker force look?
starting every match if fit: Doyle/Kitson
first sub: Noel Hunt
second sub: Shane Long
am I way off the mark here?
You obviously decided to ignore the posts that said that even without the goals he was superb. I suppose there's no culture of qualitative assessment of performance over your way though.Quote:
Originally Posted by theworm2345
He's scoring in a Reading team which has been struggling of late. Some credit for that perhaps? Also his overall performance was excellent. Let's hope it continues.Quote:
Originally Posted by theworm2345
it's 3 goals in his last 8 games, but it's also 6 in his last 12 (that includes a 2 braces against Charlton and Norwich)Quote:
Originally Posted by theworm2345