*** Official City Vs Reading Match Thread ***

[zuricity]

The diagonal ball from Milner to Dzeko that preceded the goal was A+ imo. God I hope Milner can remain injuryfree now and claim a permanent place in the starting eleven.

Yes a brilliant arrow like pass, taken brilliantly by Edin too, from my position behind Milner as he struck it, it was sweet and clean.

I think David Silva must change the way he takes corners, he approaches the ball badly , which is why so many of his corners are duds.

[KippaxBlue]

Pics and comments on the Reading game are now online at
http://www.rtfract.com/citdec12b.htm
Happy Xmas to all

[Mase]

Again, do You honestly think that every other ref in the Prem would have given that as a foul, against the Rags at the Swamp or against the Dippers at Anfield?
I think not, aside to the fact that I am convinced that, if anyone's that was Shorey's foul for backing in.

No I agree mate. I don't think it was a foul. BUT every other ref would have given it against us just because its City.

[Spurge]

Ok on McDermot first - the goal he felt was a foul on Shorey he needsto take another look at. He should be havin' a pop at his sub as he is culpable for Barry's winner. He bottled it 'a la samir' in a defensive wall. Secondly the pen he claimed was no way a pen and Perace pulling Yaya's shirt in the first half in the box was more deserving of a 'decision'

That said I can't agree with your sntiment about not deserving something for playing in your own half. Defending is as much about the game as attacking, McDermot knew an open approach to the game would be footballing suicide and tactically he was spot on and credit to his team for the discipline and concentration they showed. Against a team like us who can open up a defence in a blink of an eye it was quite a performance for 90 minutes.

Thats the problem for Reading they did a job for 90 mins but forgot about injury time.

Completely agree, defending is as important as attacking. [highlight]But you can't plan to defend in your own half for a full 90 minutes and hope to get something from the game. By doing that, the best you can hope for is a draw.[/highlight]
What he should have done is gone for it because it was a free match in a way. There would have been no expectation to come to us and win, so he could have gone all out and at least tried. If he lost, he lost. But he lost trying.
Yesterday was a gutsy performance from Reading, I applaud that, but mostly I saw a team that had no intent on going forward and a team that will struggle if they try to play that way against the bigger teams in the league.

But a point would have been taking something from the game which is actually what you've said. At the end of the season that point which they threw away could be very important. I'm not sure I agree with it being a free match on that basis but know what you are saying.

When we threw caution to the wind at the end we left ourselves exposed at the back and a couple pf opportunities presented themselves which could have seen them score the deceisive goal.

I dont think Reading felt they had any chance of winning the game by playing to win and I think they/their manager was correct to think this way - their approach gave them a chance of getting a point which they so nearly did and almost saw them grab an unlikely winner as we grew increasingly desperate as the clock ran down.

So relieved it had a happy ending!

[john@staustell]

Ok on McDermot first - the goal he felt was a foul on Shorey he needsto take another look at. He should be havin' a pop at his sub as he is culpable for Barry's winner. He bottled it 'a la samir' in a defensive wall. Secondly the pen he claimed was no way a pen and Perace pulling Yaya's shirt in the first half in the box was more deserving of a 'decision'

That said I can't agree with your sntiment about not deserving something for playing in your own half. Defending is as much about the game as attacking, McDermot knew an open approach to the game would be footballing suicide and tactically he was spot on and credit to his team for the discipline and concentration they showed. Against a team like us who can open up a defence in a blink of an eye it was quite a performance for 90 minutes.

Thats the problem for Reading they did a job for 90 mins but forgot about injury time.

Completely agree, defending is as important as attacking. But you can't plan to defend in your own half for a full 90 minutes and hope to get something from the game. By doing that, the best you can hope for is a draw.
What he should have done is gone for it because it was a free match in a way. There would have been no expectation to come to us and win, so he could have gone all out and at least tried. If he lost, he lost. But he lost trying.
Yesterday was a gutsy performance from Reading, I applaud that, but mostly I saw a team that had no intent on going forward and a team that will struggle if they try to play that way against the bigger teams in the league.

My initial impression was a foul, as stated above. But having watched it in slo-mo a bit now, it is clear that Shorey just ducks, then takes a step backward toward Barry to foul him or make a back. No attempt to head/play the ball, just to impede Gaz Baz.