Both started. 1-0 Blackburn so far. Goal from McCarthy in the 21' Hahnemann subbed out in the 23' minute due to injury
Reading miss out on Europe by one point.. Considering today's and the past few week's team selections, it doesn't seem to bother SC too much.
Coppell made it pretty clear that Europe was not his goal. If it was, Reading are qualified to enter the Intertoto Cup this summer, the route Blackburn will be taking after earning this point. Please don't go Benny!
Game is being replayed on FSC and my stomach turned when the announcers said it was a suspected broken hand. It was a 50/50 challenge and Marcus and the Blackburn slammed into each other. I surely didn't expect a broken hand though it was hard, tough challenge and legit I might add. Damn, i hope it's not broken. We need him this summer!
Blackburn would have a top six side next year if they could keep everyone and buy a central midfielder... I'm really high on Derbyshire, Benny, Pederson and Bentley.. It's a shame when all the better players go to the top four to sit on the bench..(see Sidwell)..
Can make for a heck of a reserves squad, though. What we've seen sans Sids in the late season is that he and harper were better as a pair than Harper and someone else. I think this might be a case of a 1+1=3, with neither being really more responsible for that: they just fit perfectly into each others games. To replace Sids, we need a good athlete with a phenominal work rate who can switch fields quickly. He wasn't delivering final passes, and his shooting was only okay. His work rate produced a lot of balls, killed off a lot of danger. But, while I hate losing him, he is the sort of player who can, with luck, be replaced without breaking the bank, a lunch-bucket guy. Reading right now are looking at replacements from four continents. I can't fault him for moving for pds 50k a week. Benchwarmer he may be (of wish to be) but a rich one.
I agree completely mschofield. There's only 1 way I can understand this move. Chelsea will lose Essien and Jon Obi to the African nations cup next season, and Makelele isn't getting any younger. He's there as cover for those players, because he's not starting ahead of them. Hunt looked decidedly average during this game, until his meltdown with Tugay. Convey has the skill to beat him out for the starting spot next year, but it won't be easy. It's weird. They said Marcus had a broken hand, but then he was sitting there in the stands during the second half of the game. I know he's a tough guy, but shouldn't he have been getting that checked out?
Ya, they said he had two broken fingers, but none of his fingers appeared to be wrapped/splinted when he was sitting on the bench... Even if they were waiting for the end of the game to do that, you would think he'd at least have some ice on them at that point.
They're saying now he actually fractured 3 fingers: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=430118&cc=5901 I, quite honestly would have been sobbing like a 2 year old. He's sitting there in the stands chilling.
Coppell did say that, though today he went on record as saying he would have loved to have qualified for europe and that the "we dont want to go to europe" stuff was as much headgames as anything. Interesting I guess, wierd too a little bit in all honesty.
I broke 1 finger recently and it's not at ALL fun, very painful, though in all honesty I dont see that as an injury that's going to keep him from playing too much. Might be in jeapordy for the US games this summer a bit but I doubt itll effect him at Reading, given the timing.
If I may tangentalize, as I was watching my two favorite Prem teams playing, I realized the extent to which they're mirror images of each other. 1. The have former ManU players at the helm. 2. Their uniforms combine blue and white. 3. For the levels the clubs are at, they are strong and deep at striker. 4. For the levels the clubs are at, they have outstanding wide midfielders. 5. Both teams, in my view, have as their two weakest starters the right back and the defensive mid. 6. Oh yeah, they both have American keepers. 7. They both have outstanding central defenders, probably too good for the club, who missed significant time due to injury. 8. They both have real "finds" starting at left back. I could go on a bit longer, but I'll stop now. The differences are that Rovers have more players that other teams with alot more money may want. Also, Rovers' wide mids are better players, but Reading's backups are better. Finally, looking ahead to next year, I think there's a chance that Nelsen and Samba could be the best central defense pairing outside the big 4, and possibly better than what Arsenal and/or Chelsea have. Those guys can really play. If they can replace Savage with a really good player, Brad's gonna have an awesome defensive record, and if they can retain their squad, and have good luck with injuries, I think they'll finish top 6.
Tangentially, I think Dawson and King are better for Spurs when healthy. Potentially, Huth and Woodgate at Boro, could be great next season.
Oh yeah, forgot about the Spurs pair. I love those guys. Ledley's fault for getting hurt. Boro, not so much.