Ok, here we go. Opening day is tomorrow. I couldn't stop thinking about the season for the entire summer and now it is finally here. I'm highly optomistic about the season and believe we can get a playoff spot at the very least. For the US supporters, it will be televised on Setanta at 1 Est. C'mon URZ!!!!!!!!!!!!
Team line ups from sporting life Nottm For 1. Paul Smith 4. Luke Chambers 5. Wes Morgan 2. Kelvin Wilson 29. Julian Bennett 19. Guy Moussi 7. James Perch 14. Arron Davies 8. Lewis McGugan 15. Chris Cohen 10. Robert Earnshaw Subs 30. Dale Roberts (GK) 6. Ian Breckin 12. Garath McCleary 26. Matt Thornhill 28. Emile Sinclair Reading 1. Marcus Hahnemann 22. Liam Rosenior 31. Ibrahima Sonko 16. Ivar Ingimarsson 10. Stephen Hunt 14. Jimmy Kebe 15. James Harper 7. Marek Matejovsky 17. Bobby Convey 8. Leroy Lita 9. Kevin Doyle Subs 36. Mikkel Andersen (GK) 4. Kalifa Cisse 24. Shane Long 26. Alex Pearce 42. Julian Kelly
http://www.justin.tv/mstv_2 Live feed....Forest hasn't lost a home opener in 25 years Also, Jem and Noel aren't on the bench...probably to save them for Dag in the League Cup
It is in the 70th minute and Forest is outshooting us 8 to 2 and taking it to us. Marek was taken off in the 40th minute and we've looked like shite
The last 20 minutes have been good for Reading but overall, very disappointing play ...especially the midfield. yuk
-Hahnemann - 6 - not much to do. However, he kicks the ball too far. Every time it left our front 2 (3 if you include Kebe) isolated, and we lost the ball nearly every time. -Hunt - 7 - OK as a stand in, but I wouldn't be happy to see him there all season. That nutmeg in his own corner was criminal. Delivered a great cross for Doyle's header. Could see he wanted to play LM. -Ingimarsson - 7 - played well, recovered well from his early slip. -Sonko - 8 - did well against Earnshaw, let almost nothing through. -Rosenior - 7 - very solid ...very few crosses from his side and good job defensively -Convey - 5 - didn't really do anything, 2 wayward shots. -Matejovsky - 5 - did really nothing, then got injured. -Harper - 4 - did really nothing, for 90 minutes. -Kebe - 5 - Moment(s) of magic, followed by massive periods of utter incompetence. -Lita - 6 - looked interested, but as always relied too much on his supposed strength, which never works against CBs 6 inches taller than him. -Doyle - 7 - ran and ran, played a few nice balls, and that header at the end Sub: Cisse 6 Conclusions: - new LB please. Preferably one who can take set pieces. -new ST...preferably a target striker -new midfield..preferably one that can pass, move, dribble - come back please Bikey. - Hahnemann needs to tone down his kicks a few notches, so we have a chance to build. -Hammond said on the BBC Berkshire after the game that we're close to signing 2-3 new players...hopefully soon
Dissapointing game. Forest looked the better team today by far. Our attack wasn't there at all today. We had one good chance with a Doyle header, but the keeper made an amazing save. The defense looked good though. Sonko, Ivar, and Liam were all solid. I do have concerns over Marek's injury though. I hope its not too serious. I'll take the point at the end of the day because really, I think we should have lost.
it was a poor display, but Forest reminded me of Derby last season. They passed it about a bit too when we beat them 4-0, but like Forest today, it was one of those rare days when I never felt that the home team would score. Unlike that day a few months ago, we rarely looked like scoring either. There just didn't look to be any understanding between the players in Midfield. Matejovsky looked unfit (and is significantly less fit now), and Cisse has hardly figured at all pre-season. On the other hand Jem Karacan has looked great pre-season, and I don't know if he was even on the bench (terrible PA system at Forest).
What a disappointing start. Losing the one spark(Matejovsky) that I can remember from last season and losing to a promoted team. I'll take a point on the road anyday, be we should have done better.
what a snoozer. agree with RichardL that Marek didn't look fit. I'd question starting him, but then again it's not like Copps had a plethora of players to choose from. I half expected to see Copps to suit up in the 2nd half.
Matejovsky Injury Relief Looks like Matejovsky will be ok in a month. Hopefull he can use that time to get his fitness level up. I mean besides getting recovering from the injury.
Excited about the start of a new season. Not tremendously excited about another 0-0 draw to open the year. Couldn't see the game (I have a feeling moving to CA + not having a TV means I'll see very few this year), but based on the reports it sounds like a lot of the same issues that troubled us last year. Here's hoping Doyle finds his touch again soon, and we romp though the league for a couple months.