Judging by his interview, seems a level headed guy, good attitude and it can't be easy waiting 13 months for your league debut, played well by all accounts tonight.

His shirt to lose?

Hopefully we've seen the last of Shackell for a good while. 

Pearce was brave, read the game well and actually got distance with his headers, and he can pass properly.

Sound very honest in his interview which is very refreshing to see. Speaks very well too for a footballer. he is a good player. People forget that he helped Reading get promoted to the prem and at one point Liverpool were close to signing him

When Reading beat us last game of the season a while back 3-0, didn't he play in that game? I'm sure he did and he was immense then

Just now, BuckoBeast said:

When Reading beat us last game of the season a while back 3-0, didn't he play in that game? I'm sure he did and he was immense then

Yes I'm sure he did along side Hector

Did well enough. Positioning wasn't at its best for their goal mind. Carson was really the one to blame for that.

So how come it took nigel this long to "see the light" as it were? 

Made a big difference having someone who could pass without having to stop it dead and take couple of steps away from the ball like a **** fat 8 year old in the play-ground. I doubt he's as good defensively as Shacks in the left hand slot, but its his shirt to lose now. Played well.

He played well.. Very well. As did the team. Unfortunately like most players (Russell, Carson, Shackell, Keogh, Johnson, Martin when here) he will be one mistake from being slaughtered by the fans.

4 minutes ago, HantsRam said:

So how come it took nigel this long to "see the light" as it were? 

I don't think it was a case of seeing the light . Just that shackell or keogh had never really given anyone an excuse to drop them with the amount of goals conceded but shackells distribution was appealing against Newcastle, therefore giving NP a chance to make the change .

He was my M.O.T.M tonight, good distribution and when in doubt put it into touch & not back into the middle of the park. 

Kept it simple, waited his time to get a match and took it with both hands.

He should be starting against Brizzle on Saturday IMO

Experienced centre half, did his defending but was able to pass the ball quickly and well most of the time

you can tell he has been a captain, leading Reading to the prem twice, a bit slow on the deck but he is very capable of actually scoring from set pieces if somebody could cross it close to him.

He worried me a couple of times with lack of pace but is a far better CB than Shackell generally.

Can we perhaps play him cdm role so we can play huges and bryson futher up the pitch.

He did well today against a lump it team, but what will he be like when up against pacy forwards?

Well we shall not know until we try it

57 minutes ago, B4ev6is said:

Can we perhaps play him cdm role so we can play huges and bryson futher up the pitch.

No, he's a centre half

1 hour ago, B4ev6is said:

Can we perhaps play him cdm role so we can play huges and bryson futher up the pitch.

I have a fairly limited knowledge of the tactical nuances that go into picking a team, but I'm going to go ahead and say that the best person for a defensive midfield role is a defensive midfielder

Was a decent performance from him. One dodgy moment when he let the ball bounce in front of him and an Ipswich player nippeed in, but it didn't come to anything. So much better than Shackell on the ball. Can't see Shackell getting back in the team this way (and good riddance too if that's the case - we've been putting up with his inability to pass a football for too long).

7 hours ago, RiddingsRam said:

I don't think it was a case of seeing the light . Just that shackell or keogh had never really given anyone an excuse to drop them with the amount of goals conceded but shackells distribution was appealing against Newcastle, therefore giving NP a chance to make the change .

Exactly. He was livid at a few of the aimless long range passes that Shackell made. With the ball, shackell has been very poor. But tinkering with defenders isn't going to solve our shallow midfield or inept strikers problem.