The Jem

Another goal feast at the Madejski!

There would be more chance that Jimmy Kebe staying on his feet longer than 30 seconds.

I haven’t seen Reading score a goal at home since Leroy Lita’s strike against Watford on January 9th.

I missed Shane Long performing miracles with his brace against a relegated Charlton Athletic team. I don’t count the Wolves own goal, we hardly forced it did we?

Barnsley came and they got what they wanted. A draw that is ever so vital to them.

We just got a point closer to confirming a playoff place that is yet to be secured.

It was a horrible first half performance, even the Cop man himself declared it as ‘disheartening’.

Second Half, I thought, was excellent we looked our dominant self again. I don’t mind if we lose games if we are really pushing at the other end.

Jem Karacan was outstanding and I have it down to him why we played so well.

He linked everything, our go-to-guy.

He got the ball of the defence, pushed it out wide, collected it again and worked the other flank. Even his runs caused a worry for Barnsley’s defence.

Pardon the pun but we have a real gem in our squad and we need to play him regularly.

His tackling is not perfect nor his set piece taking, but his awareness and distribution is up there will the best we have.

A move down our right hand side involving Jem, Glen Little, Long and Liam Rosenior was outstanding and it reminded me of how we played in our promotion season.

Jem put the ball down the right-hand side for Long to chase, and he gave it back to
Jem who gave it Little and suddenly out of nowhere Rosenior produced a Murty-esque overlapping run and put in a cross that Kitson headed over.

That played caused havoc and if do that regularly we would be scoring by the truckload. At the moment, it’s all rather complacent.

I was so pleased after seeing that and I declare that three wins is need to carry momentum into the Playoffs.

Urzzzz.

The Unknown Barn Door

Barnsley next, and I have no idea what the outcome is going to be.

Ok, Reading can beat these on any given day, but the Reading of late would struggle to beat a team of John Oster’s.

The Tykes come to the hardly fearless Madejski Stadium with a need of some points, they would take heart that Southampton, and Nottingham Forest has managed to win points in our backyard.

The team should stay the same as Monday’s against Blackpool with only Alex Pearce who should be restored to the starting line up instead of the comic that is Michael Duberry.

He should definitely not be captain.

Noel Hunt and Jem Karacan had scoring returns to the first team and should still be in the first team.

Steve Coppell says he‘s looking for individuals to step up and don’t they need too!
Someone need a big performance to carry the team, loan signings Dave Kitson and Glen Little have hardly set the place alight.

Kevin Doyle is completely off the boil; Andre Bikey looks more likely to score.

Wally Downes has said this week that the Royals are realistically looking at the Playoffs and I would want to finish third or fourth to make sure we get the first leg away. Perhaps there may be a hostile atmosphere at the Mad Stad for once.

Come one win and we have more or less guarantee that playoff place and almost a place at Wembley.

Urzzzz