Alex Pearce..........

[PEARCEY]

Karacan does a job for us. He's an in your face player. He's never been able to pass. If he could he'd be playing top flight football right now.

[Adz1871]

I can't believe this Karacan hating. I can't remember the last time where he put in a less than average display, his work rate is next to none. He can pass, he can shoot and he can tackle. I'm not saying he's the best this league has seen, but he certainly isn't the worst. Personally i think he'd fit into all but maybe a few of this league's first 11's.

[andrew1957]

I would say that Karacan is one of the players very likely to be in the running for player of the season - unless injury gets in the way. Anyone who cannot see the industry and effort that he brings to the team - which helps us to control central midfield game after game really knows little or nothing about football.

This is also why Tabb cannot get a game at the moment.

[winchester_royal]

I can't believe this Karacan hating. I can't remember the last time where he put in a less than average display, his work rate is next to none. He can pass, he can shoot and he can tackle. I'm not saying he's the best this league has seen, but he certainly isn't the worst. Personally i think he'd fit into all but maybe a few of this league's first 11's.

He can't pass....

I've seen little evidence of any shooting ability....

There's no hating from me. I'm just saying, he does a 6/10 job every match, and if we really want to progress I'm not sure that's good enough.

[winchester_royal]

I would say that Karacan is one of the players very likely to be in the running for player of the season - unless injury gets in the way. Anyone who cannot see the industry and effort that he brings to the team - which helps us to control central midfield game after game really knows little or nothing about football.
This is also why Tabb cannot get a game at the moment.

Oooooooohhhhhhh get you.

We always come on strong in the last 20 minutes of the game. By that time Karacan has normally gone off.

I do like Jem, I think he's a great guy with a fantastic attitude. But I do think some people are slightly over-stating his immportance to the team.

[andrew1957]

I would say that Karacan is one of the players very likely to be in the running for player of the season - unless injury gets in the way. Anyone who cannot see the industry and effort that he brings to the team - which helps us to control central midfield game after game really knows little or nothing about football.
This is also why Tabb cannot get a game at the moment.

Oooooooohhhhhhh get you.

We always come on strong in the last 20 minutes of the game. By that time Karacan has normally gone off.

I do like Jem, I think he's a great guy with a fantastic attitude. But I do think some people are slightly over-stating his immportance to the team.

Karacan runs himself ragged for 70 minutes and then if we are chasing a game McAnuff comes inside as he is a more creative player. If we are doing well in the game Karacan tends to stay on. Great tactics by McD and no reflection on Karacan.

[loyalroyal4life]

I can't believe this Karacan hating. I can't remember the last time where he put in a less than average display, his work rate is next to none. He can pass, he can shoot and he can tackle. I'm not saying he's the best this league has seen, but he certainly isn't the worst. Personally i think he'd fit into all but maybe a few of this league's first 11's.

He can't pass....

I've seen little evidence of any shooting ability....

There's no hating from me. I'm just saying, he does a 6/10 job every match, and if we really want to progress I'm not sure that's good enough.

I agree and I think with Elwood next to him he may be pushing to look at doing more than he does. Dont get me wrong we are not losing games and the partnership seems to be working but I think that especially if we were in the Prem, he would be one of the 1st players i would look to replace if we were serious about sustaining our place in the top flight

[Snowball]

I love Karacan to bits, but he is all buzz-saw.

I think Tabb on top of his form edges him.

To be genuine challengers fro top two we need Karacan to develop his passing
(to be able to pick out a sweet one. I can remember two) and to get 5-8 goals
a season

[Snowball]

We always come on strong in the last 20 minutes of the game. By that time Karacan has normally gone off.

The stats certainly support that 12-1 in goals after 71 minutes. is that an accident?

And despite Karacan's ADMIRABLE defensive qualities we have only let in one single league goal after 71 minutes

[West_Reading]

The only game we've lost since QPR, Karacan didn't play in.

[winchester_royal]

The only game we've lost since QPR, Karacan didn't play in.

Conversely...the only game we've lost since QPR is the game Ledge didn't play in.

Edit: And neither did McAnuff..

[brendywendy]

I can't believe this Karacan hating. I can't remember the last time where he put in a less than average display, his work rate is next to none. He can pass, he can shoot and he can tackle. I'm not saying he's the best this league has seen, but he certainly isn't the worst. Personally i think he'd fit into all but maybe a few of this league's first 11's.

He can't pass....

I've seen little evidence of any shooting ability....

There's no hating from me. I'm just saying, he does a 6/10 job every match, and if we really want to progress I'm not sure that's good enough.

7/10

[Plymouth_Royal]

We really should start another thread about karacan...But anyway, I think he's one of most underrated players. He's everywhere, he never pulls out of a tackle, he does make some good runs through the middle and his passing IS good. The problem he has though is his confidence. Whenever he takes a hefty challenge or something doesnt come off for him he becomes less adventurous and starts making mistakes. If he can sort his head out a bit he'll be one hell of a player. You've seen against Liverpool at home what he's capable of!

[pea]

The only game we've lost since QPR, Karacan didn't play in.

Conversely...the only game we've lost since QPR is the game Ledge didn't play in.

Edit: And neither did McAnuff..

Why did we drop our best three central midfielders against the team in the league with the strongest midfield play (and five of them as well)?

[brendywendy]

i guess the rest them, and keep others happy- wont be happening again i hope

[Hoop Blah]

Why did we drop our best three central midfielders against the team in the league with the strongest midfield play (and five of them as well)?

Illness and injury wasn't it?

[Wimb]

Pretty much agree with what Snowball said, love Karacan but he's not 'there' yet and not quite the player of the same quality as Sidwell (though few are/will be)

To me he's a bit like Parky, great bloke, gives 100% but missing that extra bit of quality to his game that will let him really kick on. Don't mind him in the team and giving him a good long chance to prove himself but long term either he kicks it up a notch or we should maybe go out and get a better talent.

[Hoop Blah]

Agree Wimb. As a 3rd or 4th choice he'd be excellent as he is now (much like Tabb in that respect), but ideally we'd have a little more quality from our first choice central midfielder.

[ZacNaloen]

Pretty much agree with what Snowball said, love Karacan but he's not 'there' yet and not quite the player of the same quality as Sidwell (though few are/will be)

To me he's a bit like Parky, great bloke, gives 100% but missing that extra bit of quality to his game that will let him really kick on. Don't mind him in the team and giving him a good long chance to prove himself but long term either he kicks it up a notch or we should maybe go out and get a better talent.

I think some people might be forgetting that Karacan is still only 21. He's not nearly a finished product yet. I think we've seen flashes of his true potential (Liverpool FA CUP, both games) that show there is more to him. But week in week out at his age he's going to be too inconsistent.

At least we know he doesn't disappear in big games, eh?

[Wimb]

'greed Zac

I think it's a general problem being a football fan of a team like Reading that it can be frustrating waiting for potential to turn into consistency. The 05-07 team wasn't great from day 1, they took time to develop but because of the expectations of the time they were largely allowed to develop without too much criticism. This time round we've seen what top Championship players look like and expect to see more of the same. Patience is important but there will come a time when potential has to turn into a finished product.