CAFC - RFC - My ratings.....

Oakster

Not really sure if that was a point gained or two points lost. Reading seemed to boss large parts of the game & were physically stronger than us throughout. Absolutely cracking effort from the fans - noise levels were superb throughout.

Carson 8 - a couple of great saves, fumbled a few crosses but otherwsie solid & communicated well with his defence
Young 7 - defended well, but limited going forward needed more quality with his final ball
HH 6 - didn't have to do much before going off
Diawara 9 - my MOTM, won virtually every header & made countless good tackles - £4m well spent
Borat 8 - not far behind Diawara, hardly put a foot wrong & battled hard against Lita all night
Ambrose 5 - just not in the game, a few nice touches but lightweight & ineffective otherwise
Song 6 - rash tackle on Sidwell & subsequent booking meant he was walking on a knife edge the rest of the game, some nice through balls but he was below par for large parts
Zheng 8 - prepared to die for the cause, he played in several different positions & gave his all - just a little more cleverness & compusure with the final ball needed though
Thomas 4 - carried on from where he left off against City, he made a few nice runs but generally out thought & out fought - yet again final ball was dire
M Bent 5 - another injury & another early finish - becoming a liability
D Bent 6 - not given much service but looks a bit off the pace at the moment, needs more support up front

Thatcher 6 - lost count of how many times his passes went out of touch, off the pace not one of his better games
Holland 6 - failed to really impose himself on the game - dissapointing
Lisbie 6 - didn't look like scoring his first goal in 2 years for us, we are lightweight in the striking department at the moment

Weegie Addick

Agree precisely with just about all of that, Oakster. Diawara and Borat (yes, really) were awesome. My only quibble would be 6 for Lisbie - apart from one good pass down the line, he did next to nothing, and I felt the momentum from the crowd and the team was lost when he came on. I'd have rather Dennis had been given 15-20 mins to run at them...but I would say that, wouldn't I!

A point gained, not two lost.

reserves

Lisbie did ok, he wins more punts unfront than both the Bents.

Oakster

I think Pards hand was forced by the Song situation, he was one foul away from a red card (Poll had visibly warned him moments before) so had to be taken off. This meant ZZ dropping back into midfield & Lisbie coming on up front. He did put Thomas through with a neat flick on but Jerome wasted the chance with yet another poor through ball/shot.

If i am honest 3 points from that would have been unfair on Reading who were the better team in my book.

BlackForestReds

Special #10 for the crowd tonight, got behind the team all the way. There'll be some sore throats and lost voices tomorrow!

BlackForestReds

The two first half injuries and perhaps Song looking likely to pick up a second yellow cramped Pardew's options, with Thomas and Ambrose playing poorly at least one was likely to be subbed as it was both stayed on.

jimmymelrose

Agree with that this time really. Bit harsh on Thomas in that you've given him less than Song who I thought was just plain awful today. Thought Elk did well again but stupid last minute push could have cost us.

Mr Weegie

What are thoughts of those who were there rather than us TV viewers?

oohaahmortimer

song gives the ball to the opposition more than he does to his own players, well in the last two games he has but he tries hard. i presume he has a crap shot cos he seems afraid to have a crack when presented with the oportunity he'd rather pass... back line done us proud tonight but five 0-0's between now and the end of the season wont be enough

Chirpy Red

[cite]Posted By: reserves[/cite]Lisbie did ok, he wins more punts unfront than both the Bents.

NO!!!!!!!
Darren played an inch perfect ball through to where he should have been running onto. He didn't arrive. He had every chance to make up for Watford but his total lack of ability let him, and more importantly,us down - yet again.

ct_addick

Iagree that was a great pass from Bent....any decent forward would have been running onto the far post and sliding in....sorry kev your time is up....

iansarge

IMO, Lisbie was always a joke and still is, but what else can you do, ZZ wasn't cutting it as a forward and poor Benty had to collect the kick/long punt, hold it up whilst waiting for Thomas to amble up there, then leg it into the box to try and get on the end of the cross....Ambrose should have been hauled off before HH even got injured, I hope to never see him in a CAFC shirt again, just doesnt appear interested when playing on the wing, with all Rom's faults he is a much better attacking option, though again his defensive contributions are limited.

I feel a little sorry for Thomas, Reading put us under pressure right up to our penalty area, like a "full court press" in basketball (remembering from those school games), that absolutely knackers you and I gotta say, Reading look a real fit bunch...anyway, Thomas appeared to have 3 men on him most of the time and very little support to play and go. When he did get one-on-one he beat his man a few times, but again last balls, and that ridiculous penalty attempt when he could have pulled the ball back from the bye-line.....

Anyway, a point won with the injuries I feel, but I'm a little disappointed we seemed to be content to collect 1 rather than risk the 3, but again, if we'd have lost last night how would we be feeling today.....it just makes it all the more interesting in the run-in.