MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Sutekh » 25 Oct 2017 16:24


When : Saturday 28th October, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

What’s this coming over the horizon? Is it a monster? No it’s a Reading FC home game! Yes for the first time for almost exactly a month Reading have a home game. Whoopee-do, put the flags out someone! Not that any of us are going to expect very much after Sheffield and the god awful load of rubbish that was served up against Norwich and before that v Hull. Let’s just be quiet (well that’s the easy bit based on nearly every home game since Stam came to town) and hopeful (the hard part this season).

Middlesbrough haven’t set the world alight since their relegation from a season with the big boys but then neither had Hull and what a depressingly dull and disappointing struggle that turned out to be so it’s difficult to see anything much better than that if there are no fit strikers in the starting line up. And that may well be the case….

We know the catalogue of injuries persists; Obita, Watson, Mendes, Quinn, etc. were joined by Bodvarsson and McCleary last week before the team even got on the bus to Sheffield. McShane though is back and Swift looked really bright in a 15 minute cameo last week so there could be some reason to base hopefulness on and even more so if Bodvarsson (or perhaps even Kemorgant) start.

Referee

Oliver Langford from the West Midlands is scheduled to look after this one



Previously

12 Jan 17 > Reading 0-1 Queen’s Park Rangers
03 Dec 2016 > Fulham 5-0 Reading
04 Oct 2016 > Portsmouth 2-2 Reading U23 (Checkacrowd Trophy)
27 Sep 2016 > Brentford 4-1 Reading
19 Jan 2016 > Reading 5-2 Huddersfield Town (FAC3R)
16 Dec 2015 > Hull City 2-1 Reading
11 Mar 2014 > Leeds United 2-4 Reading
14 Dec 2013 > Huddersfield Town 0-1 Reading
06 Mar 2012 > Reading 1-0 Portsmouth
27 Aug 2011 > Hull City 1-0 Reading
16 Oct 2010 > Reading 0-1 Swansea City
09 Feb 2010 > Reading 1-0 Plymouth Argyle

Historically

Five wins from fourteen previous league games at home against Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough have triumphed on three occasions. Draws are very common with six to date and four of those have been goalless.

How to follow the game

  1. Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
  2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
  3. Ring/text a mate for updates
  4. Use an iFollow subscription
  5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Hound » 25 Oct 2017 17:29

Sounds like Bodvarsson is definitely out. Yann sounds likely to be in the squad despite different interpretations of the same Stam interview

Not massively hopeful tbf but a very good win at a tough Leeds side only a game ago is worthy of a mention. We are capable of playing well...

Anyway, hoping to see something like

Mannone
Bacuna Ilori Moore Gunter
Joey Swift Kelly
Aluko Yann Barrow

But realistically Yann will prob be on the bench at best, so no doubt bloody Beerens as CF again, unless he took notice of Popa’s display on Monday (he won’t have)

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by windermereROYAL » 25 Oct 2017 17:39

Love to see Popa leading the line instead of -my shit don't stink because I`m Stams mate-Beerans. , but not hopeful given the bosses comments about him today.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Sutekh » 26 Oct 2017 08:41

Personally I'd play Smith instead of Beerens and bring Yann on for the last 20-25 mins or so.

Whatever, just DO NOT play ALUKO or BEERENS in the centre and start Popa (preferably in place of Aluko or Beerens).

Guess we know what Stam will do then :roll:

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by genome » 26 Oct 2017 08:48

Would like to see...

If no Yann:

Mannone
Bacuna, Moore, Ilori, Gunter
Edwards, Van Den Berg
Barrow, Swift, Popa
Aluko

With Yann:

Mannone
Bacuna, Moore, Ilori, Gunter
Edwards, Van Den Berg
Barrow, Swift, Aluko
Kermorgant


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leon
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by leon » 26 Oct 2017 09:15

Sutekh Personally I'd play Smith instead of Beerens and bring Yann on for the last 20-25 mins or so.

Whatever, just DO NOT play ALUKO or BEERENS in the centre and start Popa (preferably in place of Aluko or Beerens).

Guess we know what Stam will do then :roll:


Why? The experts on Hob Nob have decided he's shit and he's only included in the match day squad for a bit of a jolly.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Hound » 26 Oct 2017 09:20

leon Why? The experts on Hob Nob have decided he's shit and he's only included in the match day squad for a bit of a jolly.


thats pretty much what Stam said in the press conf tbf. In the squad for experience.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Tilehurstsouthbank » 26 Oct 2017 09:27

Hound
leon Why? The experts on Hob Nob have decided he's shit and he's only included in the match day squad for a bit of a jolly.


thats pretty much what Stam said in the press conf tbf. In the squad for experience.


Shame. He can hardly do worse than the players we've recently tried up top...
Last edited by Tilehurstsouthbank on 26 Oct 2017 11:23, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Hound » 26 Oct 2017 09:28

If Yann isn't fit to start, I'd play either Popa or even Clement up front. Clement did well there vs Villa, though admittedly not a huge amount since


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by tidus_mi2 » 26 Oct 2017 10:51

Hound If Yann isn't fit to start, I'd play either Popa or even Clement up front. Clement did well there vs Villa, though admittedly not a huge amount since

Popa is a good shout, it was very evident against Sheffield United we need someone up front who can at least do a mediocre job of holding up the ball, the first half particularly we just got the ball forward only for it to come straight back as no one up front could hold the ball up.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by RG7Fan » 26 Oct 2017 11:40

leon
Sutekh Personally I'd play Smith instead of Beerens and bring Yann on for the last 20-25 mins or so.

Whatever, just DO NOT play ALUKO or BEERENS in the centre and start Popa (preferably in place of Aluko or Beerens).

Guess we know what Stam will do then :roll:


Why? The experts on Hob Nob have decided he's shit and he's only included in the match day squad for a bit of a jolly.


You may think that, I couldn't possibly comment ...

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Snowflake Royal » 26 Oct 2017 12:27

Hound
leon Why? The experts on Hob Nob have decided he's shit and he's only included in the match day squad for a bit of a jolly.


thats pretty much what Stam said in the press conf tbf. In the squad for experience.

:lol:

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leon
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by leon » 26 Oct 2017 13:18

Snowflake Royal
Hound
leon Why? The experts on Hob Nob have decided he's shit and he's only included in the match day squad for a bit of a jolly.


thats pretty much what Stam said in the press conf tbf. In the squad for experience.

:lol:


Well it's certainly working - if the experience he wants to get is watching a manager get the sack.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Royals and Racers » 26 Oct 2017 13:21

Surely Mcshane has to start- he and Moore are by far our best central defenders

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by jar95 » 26 Oct 2017 13:53

Another tough game, and need to start picking up points for the sake of JS. Team I'd go with if we have a fully fit squad..

Mannone
Bacuna Moore McShane Gunter

VDB
Kelly Swift

Yann Barrow

Jaakkola, Blackett, Richards, Edwards, Popa, Aluko, Smith

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Sutekh
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Sutekh » 26 Oct 2017 14:02

Already confirmed on the injury thread. Bod out. Yann not ready. Therefore expect another go at Beerens, Aluko and Barrow up front :roll:

Could it be any different this time though...

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Hound » 26 Oct 2017 14:12

who actually said Yann not ready? can't find anything on this other than JLow interpreting an answer of Stam's as that, whereas other reporters took it as he was ready to start

I don't think he will start btw. But be amazed if not in the squad

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Snowflake Royal » 26 Oct 2017 16:53

I'd like to see a set up designed to give us flexibility, a solid base to build off and creativity. For me, given our selection issues that means:

Mannone
Ilori, McShane, Moore
McCleary, Bacuna, Kelly, Gunter
Swift
Aluko, Barrow

One of Aluko and Barrow pinning the CBs by playing on their shoulder, whilst the other drifts wide or drops between the lines. Swift for the through balls, to get between the lines and deliver 1-2s. Bacuna to add steel and drive forward where there's space. Kelly to hassle, offer for the defence and look for diagonals. McCleary and Gunter to provide the width as wing backs. Back three to protect Mannone and allow one to carry the ball forward without leaving a gaping hole.

Won't happen, might not be any good. But it includes our most creative players and we've not been dicked so far.

But whatever we do they've got to be positive and they need to be assertive from the off. We settle into passive patterns of play too much where we just trust we'll eventually break through. It just hands the initiative straight to the opposition and emboldens and encourages them. We need to stretch the space and make the pitch seem big when we're in possession. Instead we make it feel tight and compact.

We're not losing games on the pitch, we're losing them in our heads.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Hound » 26 Oct 2017 17:33

Agree with most of that Ian (though McCleary is injured I believe)

Doesnt matter who plays as much as going out with a positive attacking aggressive attitude which I just haven’t seen that much this year

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Middlesbrough (h) sponsored by fat ladies being asked about their availability

by Ascotexgunner » 26 Oct 2017 18:51

jar95 Another tough game, and need to start picking up points for the sake of JS. Team I'd go with if we have a fully fit squad..

Mannone
Bacuna Moore McShane Gunter

VDB
Kelly Swift

Yann Barrow

Jaakkola, Blackett, Richards, Edwards, Popa, Aluko, Smith


Why would you start a 36 year old who hasn't competitively kicked a ball for 6 months, who clearly won't be 100% match fit and will no doubt will have a big chance of breaking down again if pushed too hard.

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