Reading Fan Chat – Hull v Reading Wednesday, 16th December, 2015 – Kick-off 7.45 pm As always, friendly greetings from daib0, some of you know me a fair bit by now from Inter-Forum games!Onto our game together shortly - and I wondered if I could get a bit of chat going once again to report back to the guys and gals on my forum. Respect always given as our previous collaborations have always proven, so here goes, a few pointers here but any comments (that are reproducible!) always welcome!: A] How was the summer period in general? Any useful new incoming talented players this season? Could you mention a few of your hottest talents to inform the RR members? B] This is a mightily impressive season you’re having so far, and by most people’s logic looks like continuing. Obviously Hull are aspiring for bigger things, so can you say the season gone to plan and expectations so far? Anyone pleasantly surprised? Where do you see yourselves finishing – by both your head and heart?! C] We Royals are blowing a bit hot and cold and we fans certainly have been a bit wounded by Steve Clarke nearly doing a ‘runner’ to Fulham then getting fired. We’re manager-less as I write this. Our form has undeniably plummeted from the giddy heights of second in October. So from a neutral, any thoughts of the Royals of recent times, and where do we go right now? D] Looking ahead to the game – even if you’re leaving a prediction elsewhere, could you give me just a quick indication of how you see the game going? I would have thought that it must go to form, meaning a two or three goal winning margin for yourselves … but as they say it’s still possible for anyone to beat anyone in the Championship! As always, I promise that any snippets used will be credited by reference to your forum, and the individual member in question (chance of Thames Valley fame!). And I can say that as a mod myself on RR, it’s always promised no ‘wind ups’ on our forum. Our match presentation here proves that: http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/topic/10394040/1 few posts yet, but promised this will liven up ... a LOT of info on Hull already ... In fact, any questions for us in return, just get back and I’ll do my best lads … Cheers, daib0, and the team on ‘Royals Rendezvous’
In fact, any questions for us in return, just get back and I’ll do my best lads … This isnt a match thread is it?
Not like ours it ain't. It's friendly, posing interesting questions, it's engaging, it's everything our matchday threads aint.
Nope, not trying to step on anyone's toes, only sort of general question ideas except for how you see the match going ...
City routine win by 2 goals McShane still gets to leave the KC a hero in many home supporters eyes. Can't make the game due to an overnight meeting in bloody London - hate missing home games when I have a season ticket - ****ers.
A. ****. We kept Steve Bruce. B. We're doing ****. Our budget on the pitch is miles higher than any other in this division, we have a squad half full of proven experienced premier league players such as Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone, Mo Diame, Ahmed Elmohamady, Robert Snodgrass etc. topped up with very promising youngsters such as Andy Robertson (who has been linked to the biggest clubs for 8 figure sums), Dave, Harry Maguire etc. and finished off with your solid championship stars like David Meyler, Shaun Maloney et al. Promotion wouldn't be an achievement with such a squad, merely expected. We've only played convincingly once at home against Boro and the rest of the season has been atrocious. C. You should appoint Steve Bruce. D. It will be a dour, boring game where we will almost certainly grind out the result we need whilst boring the crowd off to sleep. The players have that bit of magic about them and can and will carve out a goal from somewhere but that will be about it and then you'll see Bruce on the touchline bursting a blood vessel yelling at any player who dares cross the halfway line and set foot in your half. 1-0 home win.
A] How was the summer period in general? Any useful new incoming talented players this season? Could you mention a few of your hottest talents to inform the RR members? Maloneys good but difficult finding a spot for him. We dont have a proper target man to hold the ball up, its our biggest problem. Diame's excellent in a free role if we dominate the midfield. Now Meyler and Jake are back in tandem we'll be ok. Robertson looks brilliant but his crosses are shocking. 20 million player if he could cross, bit flat footed defending too. Odubajo's a good signing. Going to get better and better. The summer was a bloody struggle not knowing who was going and who was staying. They've all had their wages cut, been a bit of attitude and we've been up and down. But Bruce has kept a lid on it and done well holding it all together, not that a lot are grateful/understanding on here. B] This is a mightily impressive season you’re having so far, and by most people’s logic looks like continuing. Obviously Hull are aspiring for bigger things, so can you say the season gone to plan and expectations so far? Anyone pleasantly surprised? Where do you see yourselves finishing – by both your head and heart?! "Mightily impressive" haha. Read some threads on here. He's clueless, tactically inept etc etc All the TalkSport bollocks. We've been inconsistent. Go a goal behind and we struggle. Lack of fight at times. Snoddgrass has that bit of nasty all teams need. So him coming back from injury now is a bonus. C] We Royals are blowing a bit hot and cold and we fans certainly have been a bit wounded by Steve Clarke nearly doing a ‘runner’ to Fulham then getting fired. We’re manager-less as I write this. Our form has undeniably plummeted from the giddy heights of second in October. So from a neutral, any thoughts of the Royals of recent times, and where do we go right now? Who's in the running for the job? Has Mcshane done his headless chicken yet? D] Looking ahead to the game – even if you’re leaving a prediction elsewhere, could you give me just a quick indication of how you see the game going? I would have thought that it must go to form, meaning a two or three goal winning margin for yourselves … but as they say it’s still possible for anyone to beat anyone in the Championship! We get an early goal and we're hard to break down. Dawson's a big miss, so as long as Maguire and Davies stay fit we'll be ok. Score first and we struggle. We needed that win against Bolton. Nerves were creeping in. We should be ok and start playing good football again now. Think you'll let us, so ye 2-0 to us.
A) Summer was full of uncertainty with most of us thinking we would lose Dawson, Elmo, Roberson, Huddlestone and Diame until the transfer window closed. Fortunately we only lost Brady, Chester and Jelavic (who really didn't want to be here) and we have recruited well with Clucas, Odebajo and Maloney all looking impressive. Keeping the manager was a great boost. B) We had a great run recently and played some great football. however, earlier in the season we were less than convincing although still winning games and picking up plenty of points. If we can keep our key players - Dawson, Meyler, Livermore, Robertson - fit, then I expect us to finish in the top 2. C) Not sure you should go back to Mcdermott - who else is interested? Thought you might be challenging for the play offs this season. D) A tight game with us winning 2-1
A] How was the summer period in general? Any useful new incoming talented players this season? Could you mention a few of your hottest talents to inform the RR members? Frustrating and long, there was so much uncertainty about who would be staying and who would be going that it took a long time for us to finally sign any players. Our incoming players Maloney, Clucas, Odabajo (Dave), Akpom (loan) and Hayden (loan) have been alright. Only Clucas and Dave have featured in virtually every game and none of them have been ****e. Clucas has prob been the best of the signings, but our most impressive players have been Dawson, injured :-( , Livermore and Hernandez. B] This is a mightily impressive season you’re having so far, and by most people’s logic looks like continuing. Obviously Hull are aspiring for bigger things, so can you say the season gone to plan and expectations so far? Anyone pleasantly surprised? Where do you see yourselves finishing – by both your head and heart?! Pleasantly surprised, the season started with a string of crap performances, but to Bruce's credit he kept saying judge us at the end of August, the transfer window came and went, we got rid of some **** houses like Jelavic who couldn't be arsed and really started to pick up, players coming back from injury like Diame made a difference, Livermore coming back which none of us saw coming was a real boost too and we put together a decent run of results. Strangely, head says top, as our sqaud is the strongest in the league and we really should be coming top or second at worst.....heart though says play offs, as we always tend to **** it up at City and we can too often be withdrawn and not attacking enough C] We Royals are blowing a bit hot and cold and we fans certainly have been a bit wounded by Steve Clarke nearly doing a ‘runner’ to Fulham then getting fired. We’re manager-less as I write this. Our form has undeniably plummeted from the giddy heights of second in October. So from a neutral, any thoughts of the Royals of recent times, and where do we go right now? We love Paul McShane, and have a strong liking for Quinniesta too, though to be honest, and no offence meant, we prob haven't really taken much note of Reading due to your form, we see brighton, burnley, boro, derby as our competition at the moment though that's not to say that you couldn't pick up again and become a threat. D] Looking ahead to the game – even if you’re leaving a prediction elsewhere, could you give me just a quick indication of how you see the game going? I would have thought that it must go to form, meaning a two or three goal winning margin for yourselves … but as they say it’s still possible for anyone to beat anyone in the Championship! I expect to see a similar performance to that we had against Bolton, us looking to just grind out a win, leaving us looking at a 1-0 win or an 'unfortunate' draw like we've seen a few times this season (Blackburn, QPR, Bristol) where we've not gone balls out to smash an opponent
Say hello to Tommo for me. Will you be wearing the pink shirts tomorrow? It will be great to see Macca wearing one!!
Is that pink? Either my eyes are funny, the pic is or I'm wrong about what pink is. edit - nah, it's defo purple / lilac. http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/reading-fc-away-kit-2015-16-revealed-2591514.aspx
I don't know how many he started but he's made 68 premier league appearances. Would have almost certainly been over 100 if not for that nasty knee dislocation.
Played for BOTH of us Might not be up to date, these are from my RFC records which I've not updated this season ... any inaccuracies feel welcome to point out, all helps the cause Steve Moran Stephen James "Steve" Moran, (born Croydon 10 January 1961) was a pacy mobile striker who was one of the stars for Southampton during the mid 1980s. Moran was one of the finest strikers that Southampton has possessed. He had a knack of scoring some crucial goals for the club and had a fine understanding with midfielders Steve Williams and David Armstrong. Among the 99 goals that Moran scored for the Saints were a hat-trick in an 8-2 victory over Coventry City at The Dell in April 1984, during the club's most successful ever league season, when they finished as runners-up to Liverpool. Moran made 228 senior appearances for Southampton, including playing for them in the UEFA Cup. He was also capped twice for the England under-21 team. But he suffered from a recurring back injury and despite the promise of his early career, never represented England at senior level. In 1986-87 he joined Leicester City for a transfer fee of £300,000, although at the end of the season they were relegated to Football League Division Two. During the following season he moved to Reading and he went on to make 144 appearances for them. For the 1991-92 season he moved on to Exeter City and after 74 appearances he transferred to Hull City for 1993-94. Since retiring from football, Moran has worked for an internet company and as a lorry driver, based in Yorkshire. Reading record: player from 1987 to 1991, making 116 appearances, scoring 30 goals … Bill Davies Bill Davies was born in Middlesbrough on 16th March 1939, and, after unsuccessful periods at Hull City and Leeds United, joined Reading FC in 1953. Throughout his eight years at the club, Bill was one of the club’s most consistent performers. A dependable centre-half, Bill earned several representative honours as well as making 226 appearances for Reading. Indeed he played in every game of the 1958/59 season. After retiring in 1961, Manager Charlie Hurley persuaded him to return to the club to take a coaching role with the reserves side in 1971. Ray Henderson Ray Henderson (born 31 March 1937) is an English former footballer who played as a right winger. Born in Wallsend, England, Henderson began his League career with Middlesbrough before moving to Hull City in 1961. He attained legendary status at Hull, forming part of a formidable forward line with Ken Wagstaff, Chris Chilton, Ken Houghton and Ian Butler whose goals won Hull City promotion in 1966. He left Hull for Reading in 1968 and joined the coaching staff at our club there after retirement. Years at the club: 1968-69 Date of birth: 31/03/1937 Birth place: Ashington Position: Forward / Coach and Caretaker Manager Appearances: 9 (1) (Plus 15 as Manager) Goals: 1 Other Clubs: Middlesbrough, Hull City Stephen Hunt Stephen Patrick Hunt (born 1 August 1981 in Portlaoise, Ireland) is an Irish international footballer who plays for Championship club Ipswich Town. Hunt's position is left midfield, although he can also play at left back and as an attacking midfielder. He previously played for Brentford, Crystal Palace, Reading, Hull City and Wolverhampton Wanderers. His younger brother, Noel, is also a footballer. On 8 November 2013 Hunt signed a short-term deal with Ipswich Town Stephen Hunt at Reading: Hunt was unfortunate to be denied more starting appearances in his first Reading season by the form of Bobby Convey. He still made a good contribution, appearing from the bench, as Reading marched to the Championship title and promotion to the Premiership during the 2005–06 season. On 14 October 2006, Hunt's knee collided with Chelsea's goalkeeper Petr Čech when the Reading player was lunging at the ball, resulting in Čech undergoing surgery for a depressed fracture of the skull. Since the injury, Petr Čech has to wear a head protection during every game. Following the incident, Premier League officials, players, pundits, player's representatives and even MPs expressed views either condemning or supporting Hunt and the others involved in the aftermath of the incident. The FA eventually confirmed that no action would be taken against Hunt but, in the mean time, both Hunt and team-mate Ibrahima Sonko, involved in a collision in the same match with Čech's replacement Carlo Cudicini, had allegedly received death threats from Chelsea fans. Hunt scored his first Premier League goal in the 6-0 home win over West Ham. During the January 2008 transfer window, Reading rejected a series of bids (peaking at £5.5 million) from Sunderland for Hunt, but Reading confirmed that they had no intention of selling players at that time. On 1 February 2008, Hunt signed a new deal with Reading keeping him at the club until the summer of 2011. In 2007–08, Hunt scored 6 goals in 39 appearances for Reading's first team but could not prevent the club being relegated on goal difference. On 4 February 2009, Reading confirmed that Hunt had signed a new three and a half year contract that would keep him at the club until the summer of 2012. However, after the club failed in their attempt to win an instant return to the Premier League, losing in the playoff semi finals to Burnley, Hunt announced his intention to leave Reading in the hope securing a move back to the Premier League. International Career: Hunt earned his first cap for the Republic of Ireland in their 2–1 win away to San Marino on 7 February 2007, coming on as a substitute. Later that year he was sent off following a challenge on Jan Polák in a match against the Czech Republic on 12 September 2007. The midfielder became a regular member of Giovanni Trapattoni's team that narrowly failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Hunt scored his first, and to date only, international goal through a late penalty in a 2–3 friendly defeat to Poland at Croke Park on 19 November 2008. He was subsequently selected as part of Ireland's squad for the Euro 2012 tournament but did not play in any of their games. Honours: ReadingFootball League Championship: 2005–06 Republic of IrelandNations Cup: 2011 Reading Player of the Year 2007–08 Hull City Player of the Year 2009–10 Football League Championship Team of the Year: 2008–09 Reading record: player from 2005 to 2009, making 156 appearances, scoring 17 goals … Nicky Forster Nicholas Michael "Nicky" Forster (born 8 September 1973) is a former professional footballer and now manager. Forster, who was born in Caterham, Surrey, was spotted playing for non-league Horley Town and invited for trials by Gillingham in December 1991. After impressing with the youth and reserve teams he signed a professional contract in May 1992, making his debut the following September. He starred for the club during the otherwise disappointing 1993-94 season, scoring 18 goals, but at the end of the season he turned down a new contract and instead joined Brentford for £320,000, a move which provoked bad feeling from Gillingham fans which persisted for many years. While at Brentford, Forster formed prolific partnerships with Carl Asaba and Robert Taylor, both of whom would later join his former club Gillingham. He made 109 league appearances for Brentford and scored 39 goals during his time at Griffin Park.He was later capped by England at under-21 level soon afterwards. In January 1997, Forster moved to Birmingham City for a fee of £700,000. He made 67 league appearances and scored eleven league goals as a Blue. Two years later he was on the move again, this time to Reading, where he spent six years at the club at a cost of £650,000 between 1999 and 2005. Forster receives part of the credit for salvaging Reading's 1999–2000 season, during which the club rose from Division Two's relegation zone at Christmas to a finish in the top ten under caretaker manager Alan Pardew. However, an injured Forster was unable to contribute to the club's good fortune the following season. However, he did return in time for the 2000–01 Division Two play-off semi final against Wigan Athletic. In the second leg with Wigan leading 1–0 on aggregate, Forster came on as a late substitute. He set up Martin Butler for the equaliser before winning a penalty; after Jamie Cureton's effort was saved, and Forster scored from the rebound. Reading were to lose the final 3–2 after extra time to Walsall. He then scored 18 goals the following season as Reading were promoted to Division One. Forster regards Reading's 2002–03 campaign as his best period of form during his career, when he notched 17 goals, including hattricks against Ipswich Town and Preston North End as Reading finished in fourth place. He scored the opening goal in the play-off semi final against Wolverhampton Wanderers, but went off injured and Reading lost 3–1 on aggregate. Forster considers the club as "home". Despite being a popular player at Reading, he was allowed to join Ipswich Town on a free transfer in 2005. He later played for Hull and Brighton, and also a second spell at Brentford. On 19 May 2011, Forster announced his retirement from football to concentrate on management. Earlier that week, it was announced that he had failed to land the Brentford manager's job. His stepson is Brighton player Jake Forster-Caskey. Mick Tait Michael 'Mick' Tait (born 30 September 1956) was an English footballer and later a manager at the end of his playing career. His 760 league games puts him currently 13th in the list of English footballers. His clubs were Oxford United, Carlisle United, Hull City, Portsmouth, Reading, Darlington and Hartlepool United as well as Gretna in Scotland. Tait also later managed two of these clubs; Darlington and Hartlepool United. In 1987 he moved to Reading for £50,000 before moving on to Darlington in 1990 for free. In 1998, two years into his second spell at Victoria Park, Tait retired as a player and took over as player manager for the team until he was released in 1999. Tait then took over as manager for Northern Premier League Premier Division team Blyth Spartans, but left the Croft Park club at the end of the season. Two years later Tait was back in the Football League but this time at Darlington, taking over as caretaker manager in 2002. In June 2003 he was offered the job on a permanent basis, but was released by Darlington four months later in October 2003 until the club brought him back as reserve team coach. In February 2008 it was confirmed by Darlington that Tait had left the club. In 2009 Tait had a brief spell as coach at then Northern Premier League First Division club Newcastle Blue Star before taking over as manager at Conference North club Blyth Spartans in May of the same year. Tait left Blyth after the 2010/11 season when his contract expired and was not renewed. Reading record: player from 1987 to 1990, making 99 appearances, scoring 10 goals … James Harper James Alan John Harper (born 9 November 1980) is an English footballer. Born in Chelmsford, Essex, Harper attended the Anglo European School in Ingatestone, Essex. He started his career as a trainee with Arsenal, but as his first team opportunities were limited, he first went on loan to Cardiff City, before signing permanently for Reading for an undisclosed fee said to be "a substantial six-figure fee" at the end of February 2001. After helping Reading to win the 2005–06 Football League Championship, and thus win promotion to the Premier League, he scored his first Premiership goals for Reading in a clash with Newcastle United at St James' Park, scoring twice despite losing 3–2. At the start of July 2007, Harper signed an improved three–year contract to keep him at Reading until the end of the 2009–10 season. Harper joined Sheffield United in September 2009, on loan until the end of the season. With his contract set to expire at the same time, Reading manager Brendan Rodgers admitted it was likely that he had played his last game for Reading. Harper duly made his début for The Blades in an away victory at Derby County just under a fortnight later. After being a regular in the first team from that point his loan deal was made permanent during the January transfer window, with Harper signing until the end of the season. Harper was a regular starter for the remainder of the season notching up four goals in the process. At the end of the season however his contract was not extended further and he was released. Harper began a trial with Hull City in early July 2010 following the arrival of Nigel Pearson as manager of the club. On 12 July 2010 it was announced that Harper had signed for Hull on a two-year contract. He made his league debut on 23 October in the home match against Portsmouth when he came on, just after half time, to replace Nolberto Solano. Harper scored his first goal for Hull City, with a long range strike against former club Reading in a 1–1 draw at the KC Stadium on 28 December 2010. Harper rejected the chance to go to the 2006 FIFA World Cup with Ghana, saying: "I've never even been to Ghana." He would have qualified to play for Ghana because his mother was born there.” Reading record: player from 2001 to 2010, making 316 appearances and scoring 25 goals. Liam Rosenior Liam James Rosenior (born 15 December 1984) is an English footballer. He is the son of former Brentford manager Leroy Rosenior, and spent time on loan at Torquay United, where his father was manager, during their promotion season (2003–04). Born in London, Rosenior started his career with Bristol City as a promising midfielder. Fulham soon snapped him up. Rosenior soon became popular amongst Fulham fans due to his Afro hairstyle. He signed a four-year extension to his Fulham contract in July 2006, but left Fulham for Reading on 31 August 2007 for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract, with Seol Ki-Hyeon going the other way. His debut for Reading came in a 2–1 defeat to Sunderland on 15 September 2007, and he scored his first goal for Reading in a 7–4 defeat to Portsmouth on 29 September 2007, although it was initially awarded to Stephen Hunt. On 2 September 2009 Rosenior joined Ipswich Town on loan for the remainder of 2009–10 season. He scored his first goal for Ipswich against Barnsley on 3 October 2009. On 29 October 2010 Rosenior joined Hull City on a short-term agreement until 1 January 2011. He made his debut the following day in the away match at Barnsley. He signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Hull on 21 December 2010. Rosenior was called up to the England U21 squad in March 2005, and made his début in a 2–2 draw with Germany U21 on 25 March 2005, followed by a further 6 appearances.
