Reading v Ipswich (Friday)

[Veggie Legs]

A repeat of last year in terms of scheduling and being on TV, Ipswich will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last season's 5-1 defeat.

Could be an interesting game, at least from our point of view, seeing how we adapt to life after Murphy and trying to fit several new players into the team. I don't really know what Reading are like under Stam, so I'll play it safe and predict 1-1.

 

[Dazza]

A repeat of last year in terms of scheduling and being on TV, Ipswich will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last season's 5-1 defeat.

Could be an interesting game, at least from our point of view, seeing how we adapt to life after Murphy and trying to fit several new players into the team. I don't really know what Reading are like under Stam, so I'll play it safe and predict 1-1.

So far better than we were in the last 7 months of last season under Clarke and McDermott. Played fairly well so far this season apart from up at Wolves where we were crap/ Wolves were very good. Playing more of a passing game this season although that does not stop some of our support moaning about over playing and would rather see us lump it upfield. Creating a lot of chances but don't have a decent striker to put them away.

 

[Madejski]

Yep we're definitely better this season than last (barring that two months we were insanely good which the 5-1 result was in the middle of).

We do A LOT of passing.. for the statisticians, I believe we've averaged 4% more possession so far this season than any other FL club, which considering we've played some good teams like Newcastle, Brighton and Wolves is encouraging on that aspect.

We're capable of a mistake in defence still, and have the worst strikeforce in the league, but overall our team isn't too bad.

I think this is a good test of where we're at, as I can easily see scenarios where we get a win/draw/loss today, but i'd agree on the 1-1. We're still developing as a team and this season is all about making progress. We won't be near the playoffs, we shouldn't be near the bottom 3.

Also to show how much we're changing, of the 14 players who played in this fixture last season, only 4 are at Reading this year.

 

[TractorBoys]

Well well well, what have all you lucky buggers done to deserve this classic for your Friday night football?

In all seriousness, as above, don't really know what to expect- from us nor Reading. Will be watching with interest & hoping we don't miss Murphy too much...

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Yann and Brett reunion!
I've had a go on both teams to score so here's hoping.

 

[TractorBoys]

Disappointed to see Webster drop and Skuse/Douglas both starting butttttttttt....

..In Mick we trust.

 

[Veggie Legs]

The Skuse/Douglas/Bru midfield has worked in the last couple of games so here's hoping it continues, I think it works better for all of them as a three.

 

[Tom_ITFC]

Right then, where did the extra 30 seconds come from there on top of the minimum 1 minute? The games been as boring as, where did it come from?

So that's 3 games now we've had either a goal wrongly ruled out or a penalty against us! Quite some way for it to even itself out!

We've been dire again anyway but no way deserved to go behind

 

[Veggie Legs]

That's seriously deliberate handball??? Fuck off.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Pretty poor game this, Reading's passing it from centre back to goalkeeper back to centre back is boring as hell, Beerens looks pretty dangerous though. Think the penalty is correct but I can see Ipswich fans being pissed off with that, why hadn't the referee blown his whistle for half time 30 seconds earlier?

 

[BCFC David]

The handball rule is a joke. I personally would say that was a penalty as he gained an advantage by the ball striking his arm in non-natural position. That said, by the rules? It wasn't deliberate. No-one deliberately handles the ball anyway, maybe bar on the line.

As for the game, so dull. Looking at both teams, there arnt many match winners on the pitch.

 

[TractorBoys]

The game has been utter dross, as has the penalty decision. Bishop & Lawrence (or Best) at HT, Mick. I except 2 changes, we've created absolutely sweet FA.

 

[Veggie Legs]

The fact that he gained an advantage is irrelevant, it obviously wasn't deliberate. The way the handball law is applied is crap, far too many penalties get awarded that shouldn't be.

 

[BCFC David]

But who deliberately is going to handle in the box? It should be if the hand is away from the body and the defender gains an advantage. Simple. The rules a joke.

 

[TractorBoys]

Justice has been restored, 1-1... lets see if we can use this as a springboard. Lets see Bishop soonish.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Good penalty from Pitman, games anyones now can see Ipswich knicking this.

 

[Veggie Legs]

But who deliberately is going to handle in the box? It should be if the hand is away from the body and the defender gains an advantage. Simple. The rules a joke.

No one would deliberately handball, except in extreme circumstances. So free kicks and penalties would rarely be given for handball. Why is that a problem?

 

[BCFC David]

It's not a problem if all refs followed that but they don't.

I wouldn't agree with it but atleast there would be consistency if it was actually implemented.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Pitman doesn't miss.

1-1, I'll take that!

 

[TractorBoys]

Teddy on for Bru... much better this half, dare I say only one side look like scoring...

 

[GodsGift]

No one would deliberately handball, except in extreme circumstances. So free kicks and penalties would rarely be given for handball. Why is that a problem?

This. Referees are FAR too keen to give penalties for handball.

I'm not buying this "oh, but his arm was in an unnatural position!" crap, either. They're humans, not robots. Do you really expect them to have their hands by their sides all game? Defenders especially will jump, stretch and will often be off-balance, meaning their arms will be all over the place. Why they deserve to be punished for the ball accidentally hitting their arm, I have no idea.

 

[BCFC David]

Oh dear

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Another penalty Danny Williams very last minute of stoppage time, can have no complaints with that penalty absolute stone wall, Reading haven't deserved this second half though.

 

[Veggie Legs]

So naive, ref gave a clear warning before that corner but it wasn't heeded.

 

[MJA]

All 3 were penalties if you ask me, the last one in particular another clear example of how not to defend a corner. The Ipswich lad didn't even look anywhere near the ball whilst spending his time grabbing and blocking the attacking player

 

[TractorBoys]

I'm pissed with Knudsen, but that aside.. two piss poor teams. Don't really have anything else to say, just dross from both sides.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Neither side will be challenging the top 6, Reading will give a lot of goals away if they keep playing like that.

 

[Super_horns]

Pens were the only way either team looked like scoring!

 

[Tom_ITFC]

So naive, ref gave a clear warning before that corner but it wasn't heeded.

Mick clearly tells them to do it, I'm surprised we've not conceded more penalties for it!

Why bring in Lawrence and Best if you're not going to play them? Are they no better than what we have? It not, why bring them in!

I'm finding it more and more difficult to support the club with Evans and MM

 

[markwwfc1992]

No offence but you'll always sign players of that calibre under McCarthy. He signed dross for us for 6 years and he had a lot more money available to him at Wolves than he did at Ipswich.

He'll always sign his old veterans like Berra, Hunt, Collins, Breen, Elliot, Ebanks-Blake etc from his ex clubs hoping that they do a job for him