Back from the game - West Brom FA Cup

[bobbybottler]

Not even taken my coat off yet

That was surprisingly straightforward, they were a bit off it really and we played a fullish strength team.

Leigertwood was massive again in the middle, and Long was, once again, top class. They rarely threatened and once their sub was sent off, their fans started leaving. Despite the scoreline it was all over well before FT.

Perhaps the saddest indictment of West Brom's performance was that Cummings played and was in no way made to look clueless.

Good stuff. Bring on Torquay in the next round.

[Kitson12]

Having seen Cummings last season at West Brom in the league, I thought he was a useless pile of oxf*rd! But under McDermott, especially today, he looks like a fantatic right back, overlaps with Kebe, has a few tricks and can defend very very well. He was my MOM today.

But that was easier than I expected.

[loyalroyaldaz]

Waitrose 1
Tescos 0

We pissed it, nuff said.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Encouraging performance.

Shaun Cummings - Man of the Match. Has come such a long way from those poor performances under Rodgers. Looked calm and composed.

Laugh of the day - Jonas Olsson (Two awful challenges on Shane Long and he only came on at half term.) West Brom were very poor and Miller up front looked woeful.

[pea]

Been saying for a while now that I want to see Cummings back in the team. Think he's what we need at right back if we're going to persist with Harte, glad to see he got a game and proved me right.

[Ian Royal]

Would it be inappropriate to say that I always thought Cummings had enough about him to come good and that persistence was worth the effort? Not that one FA Cup game following a few decent league performances several months ago proves anything mind.

[Tilehurst Blue]

Good game today I thought, Great game from Long again and a superb finish. Cummings had a very solid game and would like to see him in the team more often. Still think Kebe needs to use his speed and run at players more. Also for what the attendance was, the atmosphere was quite good! Bring on the next round!

[Winnershroyal]

Waitrose 1
Tescos 0

We pissed it, nuff said.

Thought the atmosphere was good, fair play to Y25, would have been dire if the fat bloke hadn't turned up though

[PieEater]

Well the Baggies were pretty dire, apart from Miller shooting wide early on and the chip from Morrison I can't recall any other chances they had the whole game. For a prem strength team they were dire.

On the other hand we created a few decent chances and Long took his goal well. Cummings played pretty well and looked confident, considering Jerome Thomas had roasted him last year you'd have to say that was a class performance.

We started well and were in control of the first half, and deserved to lead at half time. Olsen's two stupid challenges on Long within 15mins pretty well put an end to the game, we sat back and they huffed and puffed but created very little.

A great win for the Royals, they looked comfortable all game and the win will keep their confidence up.

[Row Z Royal]

Would it be inappropriate to say that I always thought Cummings had enough about him to come good and that persistence was worth the effort? Not that one FA Cup game following a few decent league performances several months ago proves anything mind.

Like this you mean?

I think he's okay, but is lacking in confidence. Give him time to settle and he'll be fine. He's decent going forward, but only tentatively because he's not sure whether he's allowed or not, but is perfectly adequate on the back foot.

[RoyalBlue]

Olsson was an incredible accident waiting to happen. It wasn't a question of whether but rather when he would get sent off. Indeed, he could and should have been sent off more or less within a minute of coming on, had the blind linesman on the East Stand side (who should have awarded a penalty to WBA and led to a probable red card for Harte early in the first half) done his job properly.

No sooner had the second half started than Olsson charged with a straight arm in an attempt to knock Long off the ball. Long cleverly dodged the assault and left Olsson for dead and looking stupid. Long then turned appeared to grin/say something to Olsson who very clearly spat in his direction. This was right in front of the 'Asst' Ref who should have drawn it to the ref's attention. Maybe I'm mistaken but I thought spitting at an opponent was meant to be a straight red! Not content with this, a few seconds later Olsson went through the back of Long for his first yellow and then continued to charge like a madman at any Reading player near him, usually in an attempt to shove them with his arm! More often than not he missed and was then left out of position but it came as little surprise when it was a shove on Long which led to his second yellow and departure from the pitch in under 15 minutes!

Unfortunately as the game wore on, McDermott decided to level things up at 10 men a piece by bringing on a lazy looking and completely ineffective Simon Church! Just what was wrong with that player today? Like many I can put up with a player having a poor game, so long as they continue to show full commitment to the cause and work hard. As my son commented, Church looked like he had already played 95 minutes not 5! At one point Jem went to push forward from a central position in his own half, only to realise he was overtaking a jogging Church! Quite understandably Jem had very strong words with him and gestured angrily at him to get his backside up into the opponents' half!

Evidence again that we can not afford to continue to operate with just Long, Hunt and Church as the only strikers on our books. God help us if Long gets injured or the Mad Cloth Cutter decides to cash in on an offer for him!

[RoyalBlue]

Would it be inappropriate to say that I always thought Cummings had enough about him to come good and that persistence was worth the effort? Not that one FA Cup game following a few decent league performances several months ago proves anything mind.

Not his fault that despite a series of very good performances he was very unfairly dropped to allow Griffin to return!

Full credit to Cummings for not letting this get to him, biding his time and then returning to continue with a performance at or even above the level where he left off. It's time for Griffin to bide his time on the bench now (or maybe he can play at left back?).

Talking of Harte, if I was WBA I would feel extremely agrieved at not getting what, from Y21, looked a stonewall penalty when Miller made him look a mug and was then brought down from behind by said left back! What's more as well as a penalty, it probably warranted a straight red as Miller was through in a good position with just Feds to beat.

Officials (with the exception of the East Stand lino who was equally crap for both sides) were a real set of 'homers' today, although it did look as though the ref might have decided to even up the penalty issue in the second half when one of their centre backs looked to have knocked a cross away with his hand.

[sandman]

I'm sure the Harte incident was all down to McAnuff just like Harte's display last week was down to him.

[The Cap]

Boing boing. Not arf.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

massive crowd as well.

[RoyalBlue]

I'm sure the Harte incident was all down to McAnuff just like Harte's display last week was down to him.

Then I suggest that you get your eyes tested. McAnuff had absolutely nothing to do with Harte allowing himself to be turned completely inside out! With any luck the incident will be shown on the TV tonight and you will be able to see.

The guy is a defensive liability and once again today his deadball skills were not up to their reputed high standard (not to mention his laughable 'shot' when well positioned on the left side of their area in the second half).

[sandman]

I'm sure the Harte incident was all down to McAnuff just like Harte's display last week was down to him.

Then I suggest that you get your eyes tested. McAnuff had absolutely nothing to do with Harte allowing himself to be turned completely inside out! With any luck the incident will be shown on the TV tonight and you will be able to see.

The guy is a defensive liability and once again today his deadball skills were not up to their reputed high standard (not to mention his laughable 'shot' when well positioned on the left side of their area in the second half).

Then I suggest you realise that I was being sarcastic.

[Ian Royal]

Would it be inappropriate to say that I always thought Cummings had enough about him to come good and that persistence was worth the effort? Not that one FA Cup game following a few decent league performances several months ago proves anything mind.

Like this you mean?

I think he's okay, but is lacking in confidence. Give him time to settle and he'll be fine. He's decent going forward, but only tentatively because he's not sure whether he's allowed or not, but is perfectly adequate on the back foot.

Yeah, pretty much exactly that, but without the effort in finding a quote.

[Snowball]

.


Harte, God how bad, eh? Our defence is APPALLING over the last 9 games!! Look at these conceded goals >>> 1-0-0-1-1-1-1-1-0

Only 3 cleans sheets and we've let in SIX goals. Terrrible, TERRIBLE!!


Six conceded in 9 games, 5 conceded in 8 when Harte played 1-0-0-1-1-1-1-0



And as for Elwood, we've only W4 D3 of his last seven games and conceded 0-0-1-1-1-1-0 while scoring ten. GET RID!

[AndyRFC]

Waitrose 1
Tescos 0

We pissed it, nuff said.

Thought the atmosphere was good, fair play to Y25, would have been dire if the fat bloke hadn't turned up though

Frankly embarrasing to be fair.