Back From The Game - Plymouth (H)

[Man Friday]

Thought Long looked lively/sharp when he came on. Got a feeling he may start soon if L&D don't come up with the goods.

[Sarah Star]

Thought Long looked lively/sharp when he came on. Got a feeling he may start soon if L&D don't come up with the goods.

I've been thinking this. He might break out of his role as supersub this season. Would like to see more of Noel Hunt too. It would be good to have a bit of competition for places at the front.

[Royal Lady]

I can see Hunt N getting in the team before Shane Long to be honest. People say Long's got potential, but how long are we giving him exactly to prove that potential? He's coming up for 22 in January - surely he'd have hit his potential by now?

[rg6royal]

I can see Hunt N getting in the team before Shane Long to be honest. People say Long's got potential, but how long are we giving him exactly to prove that potential? He's coming up for 22 in January - surely he'd have hit his potential by now?

When he's come on before he has changed the game sometimes. The problem is he only gets 10/15 minutes and that isn't enough time imo.

[kwik-silva]

I can see Hunt N getting in the team before Shane Long to be honest. People say Long's got potential, but how long are we giving him exactly to prove that potential? He's coming up for 22 in January - surely he'd have hit his potential by now?

When he's come on before he has changed the game sometimes. The problem is he only gets 10/15 minutes and that isn't enough time imo.

Whenever he gets a full game, he doesn't prove himself though

[cmonurz]

Shane Long has played 60-odd games for Reading, most as a sub. How many times has he really changed the game? A handful at best.

[UpNorth]

Long held the ball up far better than Doyle or Lita.

Long's first touch was better although you could say it was be easier for him coming on against defenders who were tired.

Doyle and Lita are a worry - they did not really look like scoring and there was no link up play at all.

Overall an encouraging performance but not convinced by our attack.

[loyalroyal4life]

I can see Hunt N getting in the team before Shane Long to be honest. People say Long's got potential, but how long are we giving him exactly to prove that potential? He's coming up for 22 in January - surely he'd have hit his potential by now?

Least let him have a run of 10 or so games before debating if he proves his potential or not

[Ian Royal]

I can see Hunt N getting in the team before Shane Long to be honest. People say Long's got potential, but how long are we giving him exactly to prove that potential? He's coming up for 22 in January - surely he'd have hit his potential by now?

Most of his performances have been bits and pieces and in the Premiership. At the end of the season will be time to judge him IMO. Hopefully after he's had a decent run in the team at some point.

[Sarah Star]

If you're only as good as your last game, then woudn't Long and Noel Hunt beat Lita and Doyle to a place in the first team?

[rg6royal]

Noel Hunt to the rescue!!!

[kwik-silva]

If you're only as good as your last game, then woudn't Long and Noel Hunt beat Lita and Doyle to a place in the first team?

Yes, but everybody's already talked about Coppell's loyalty and faith in his players, I guess this is another one of those times

[Ian Royal]

If you're only as good as your last game, then woudn't Long and Noel Hunt beat Lita and Doyle to a place in the first team?

No not really. And Possession is 9/10s under Coppell. You have to be poor consistantly to lose your place and have a better option available, or the other player has to do something spectacular to win it off you. Add to that Coppell's conservatism and caution and it's not likely they'll come in for a good few games in the league yet.

[Victor Meldrew]

The trouble is I think Lita and Long are both better when they come off the bench.
Lita yesterday looked as bad as he did at Forest and was generally outmuscled.
His link up play is poor and I would rather see Doyle paired with somebody else with Lita and/or Long coming on as the impact player in the later stages of games.
Birmingham and Sheff Utd are just two examples of clubs with differing types of strikers whereas our 4 are much of a muchness.
Still,we presumably have done our buying of strikers so we go with what we have got.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Thought Long looked lively/sharp when he came on. Got a feeling he may start soon if L&D don't come up with the goods.

If you were at Dagenham you would not be saying this. Terrfible performance.

[West Stand Man]

Thought Long looked lively/sharp when he came on. Got a feeling he may start soon if L&D don't come up with the goods.

If you were at Dagenham you would not be saying this. Terrfible performance.

You what? He got 2 assists, in a game where we scored 2 goals. How much more do you want?

[rg6royal]

Its just worrying to see our strikers aren't scoring. I really want to see N.Hunt start at Charlton to get a real idea of the bloke.

[glass half full]

Its just worrying to see our strikers aren't scoring. I really want to see N.Hunt start at Charlton to get a real idea of the bloke.

At set pieces, Sonko is a great striker.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Its just worrying to see our strikers aren't scoring. I really want to see N.Hunt start at Charlton to get a real idea of the bloke.

Same here. If he's not good enough to be first choice, then why did we sign him? We don't need another player to be back-up to Doyle & Lita as we've already got Shane Long to do that.

To be fair to ther strikers, the service hasn't been great. Although it was a little more encouraging on Saturday, the lack of clear chances created was something of a concern. It certainly isn't clicking up front as of yet. I think Sonko's goals were our first two proper chances of the match.

[T-Rex]

Shock, you beat us.

It's difficult to say how much you can take from your performance on Saturday, we're really not in very good shape at the moment as I've mentioned before. We're a selling club to opponents even in our current league, as you'd have been had you gotten to this level with Madejski. Our only decent proven players left are at centre half, the rest of the side is made up of youthful gambles and Rory Falolon.

Best of luck for the season.

Much love, T-Rex xxx

PS you're patheticly small-time and your support constantly makes me cringe.