Positives from tonight

[AFII]

Leaves too much to chance, maybe we'd play with wing backs at home like vs bham were they offered little going forward, but for a defensive minded Rafa playing wing backs would leave too much to chance

Well, we will have to wait and see until he signs a right wing back.

[Morph]

Well, we will have to wait and see until he signs a right wing back.

thinking about it, I think he's happy to play one wing back rather than two.

If Aurelio goes forward, then the back three in that match was

Finnan--Carra--Arbeloa

which would be a perfect back 3, when he pulls back they just switch to a 4, wasn't really looking out for it in the match, but now I think about it, it did happen more than once, if he had two wing back they couldn't really do that

[Marky]

- That Torres lad looked fairly decent

- Fabio was fab in the main, still a little concerned bout him defensively at times but going forward he's quality, super distribution, good to have him back

- Leto looks a player. Got a bit tired towards the end but that's understandable, good feet on him, powerful in the air, comfy on the ball, decent balance and not afraid to put a few crunching tackles in, i like

- The boy Lucas looks a good capture. Strong lad, good in the tackle, eye for a pass and a bit of a engine on him, one to watch closely

- Carra and the ever so adaptable Arbeloa were solid as rocks all night. Couldn't have done anything bout either of Readings goals

All in all a job well done against a very aggressive and fired up Reading side

Onwards and upwards lads

[tomasjj]

FLMAO at the incredibly ****e ref!!!!!

I haven't seen anything like that in ages.

[El Jefecito]

FLMAO at the incredibly ****e ref!!!!!

I haven't seen anything like that in ages.

True

He was as crap as crap!!!!!!!!

[Shaggy]

I wasn't laughing.

[Joe King]

- That Torres lad looked fairly decent

- Fabio was fab in the main, still a little concerned bout him defensively at times but going forward he's quality, super distribution, good to have him back

- Leto looks a player. Got a bit tired towards the end but that's understable, good feet on him, powerful in the air, comfy on the ball, decent balance and not afraid to put a few crunching tackles in, i like

- The boy Lucas looks a good capture. Strong lad, good in the tackle, eye for a pass and a bit of a engine on him, one to watch closely

- Carra and the ever so adaptable Arbeloa were solid as rocks all night. Couldn't have done anything bout either of Readings goals

All in all a gob well done against a very aggressive and fired up Reading side

Onwards and upwards lads

I agree

Why couldn't we perform like this in the last few matches?

[tomasjj]

I wasn't laughing.

Me neither, at first.
But when it appeared he had brutally shat himself out there I had to laugh.
The way he allowed Reading to harass and kick the **** out of Torres was a shame for all refs.
Reading also tried to bully us off the pitch at times and still dived about themselves and got free kicks, where as we got very little. :whatever:

[Marky]

FLMAO at the incredibly ****e ref!!!!!

I haven't seen anything like that in ages.

He was blimin awful wasn't he.

Just as well we didn't lose this match, otherwise Rafa and the lads would have let rip.

[Shaggy]

I never thought I'd get so animated for a League Cup 3rd round tie. Went ****ing mental on the sofa.

[Joe King]

Me neither, at first.
But when it appeared he had brutally shat himself out there I had to laugh.
The way he allowed Reading to harass and kick the **** out of Torres was a shame for all refs.
Reading also tried to bully us off the pitch at times and still dived about themselves and got free kicks, where as we got very little. :whatever:

It shows Torres doesn't need the protection off the ref like he's going to get it :whatever:

It also tells other teams that there is no point in trying to bully him again because he'll score a hat trick against you!

[captainfog]

The big positive was that we played better football. The only reason we haven't scored recently is not because we are leaving players out, it is because we weren't passing the ball anywhere near well enough.

If we continue to improve our passing we will become a game winning machine. All the components are there.

[Marky]

I never thought I'd get so animated for a League Cup 3rd round tie. Went ****ing mental on the sofa.

Same here Shags, i'm usually as cool as Torres was goin 1on1 for his hat-trick tonight when it comes to us playing in the domestic cups. I guess it was down to our minor blip(even tho we've remained unbeaten but still haven't picked up full points when we really ought to have), was interesting to see if the lads bounced back but they did in the end. Impressed with every one of them.

[El Jefecito]

I never thought I'd get so animated for a League Cup 3rd round tie. Went ****ing mental on the sofa.

Atkinson, is supposed to be one of the decent refs. He proved today he is not. The list of decent refs appears to be empty now.

[tomasjj]

I really enjoyed the game tonight. A lot of action and very good goals from us.
A real upper after 3 boring games.