MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by Sutekh » 29 Jun 2018 23:23



Where : Ten Acres, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, SO50 9HT
Capacity : 5,192 (2,700 seated)

And proper football returns after 54 days. A visit to nearish neighbours Eastleigh (just off the M27) between Winchester and Southampton is first up.

Injuries rule out Richards, McCleary and Obita while Bod is still away after the World Cup. John O’Shea is also absent as he is not due to join up with the squad until Monday

It’s a 12.30 start so we can all get back to watch France v Argentina on the telly visual box at 3pm (BBC)

Expectation will be for the standard one team for the first half and another fielded for the second so you can all get a first chance to see Andy Yiadom and find out if anything does live in David Meyler’s beard as well as a few of the youngsters.

Eastleigh have Graham Stack on their books (now 36) so hopefully he’ll play part of the game for them while Andy Hessenthaler is now their manager.

BBC Berks will be on air from 1pm with Ady for updates in proceedings for those not able to make it.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by CountryRoyal » 30 Jun 2018 11:10

Struggling to care about this.

Good write up as per though.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by Hound » 30 Jun 2018 11:34

Obviously missing football more than I am writing up a full preview for a pre-season kick about :D

Nice to have them back though

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by Zip » 30 Jun 2018 12:59

One down with an all but full strength team out.

Great to have the pre match presentations back. They are excellent.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by Hound » 30 Jun 2018 13:04

Sounds like Meite playing CF. No Yann at all which is interesting.

Otherwise pretty much as expected


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by Zip » 30 Jun 2018 13:09

Hound Sounds like Meite playing CF. No Yann at all which is interesting.

Otherwise pretty much as expected


Yep Meite upfront and as you say Kermie not involved at all. Nor Smith. I suspect Smith will go out on loan. Almost certain he will if we bring in two new strikers. Difficult to see Kermorgant being involved next season. The additional year onto his contract was an error.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by tidus_mi2 » 30 Jun 2018 13:19

At least the Reading fans on Twitter are having a meltdown over a pre-season friendly.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by Hound » 30 Jun 2018 14:00

Smith got a knock in training apparently

No Joey either. He’s clearly a goner

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by bobby1413 » 30 Jun 2018 14:09

Quite disappointing seeing quite a few fans saying:

Clement is a fraud
Out of his depth
We are in trouble

When it's the first game after pre-season

Seriously, get a fecking grip


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tidus_mi2
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by tidus_mi2 » 30 Jun 2018 14:14

How was our pre-season in 05/06? I seem to recall it being pretty shit result wise but I may be wrong.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by From Despair To Where? » 30 Jun 2018 14:23

We got beaten by Farnborough IIRC.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by Hound » 30 Jun 2018 15:45

Sounds from the Chron twitter feed that we didn’t play too well, and starting Meite up front is a little telling

Suspect one of those forwards will be coming in this week

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by Zip » 30 Jun 2018 16:18

This lot were not fit enough last season so the early return to pre season training was a good move by Clement.
The same frailties from last season seemed evident today, ie poor goals conceded and a lack of firepower up front.
Let’s hope we get a couple of decent strikers over the next few weeks.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by Sutekh » 30 Jun 2018 16:26

Went.

First half it was the same old stuff, lots of midfield endeavour but absolutely nothing to offer going forward. Meite did well as a CF I thought but had **** all service. Barrow though was lively but he can’t do it all on his own and we were all still waiting for Reading to have a shot on target at the end of the half.

Defensively looked ok but Eastleigh really didn’t offer anything at all by way of a threat save for one shot on target which went in.

Star man was Yiadom who spent the whole half charging up and down the right putting in tackles and getting noticed with little runs so we might well have something to look forward to there. Really can’t help but feel that Swift and Kelly don’t work as a midfield and again Aluko’s only contribution continued to be the standard drift into the centre and be ineffectual. Noticed Meyler’s beard more than I noticed Meyler.

First half XI : Jaakkola, Yiadom, Moore, McShane, Gunter, Kelly, Meyler, Swift, Aluko, Meite, Barrow

In the second half a different 11 took to the field and it was rather more effective at going forward. Plenty of movement from Harriott and Loader at least gave Eastleigh something to worry about though it was the same issue of failing to get a final ball into the centre or a shot on target for most of the half. And when Reading did finally manage to score it hit the post on the way in.

Eastleigh winner really was a keeper error with another fumble from Mannone and can’t help but think there is a real opportunity in the next season or two for Ward or Southwood to make a claim if they can prove themselves on loan at a decent level.

Reading looked more of a threat in the second half and I have to say that Dave Edwards caught the eye as he was playing in a much more advanced role than we saw Stam playing him in last season and if he continues to get a run out in that position then there could be developments for the better at the club.

Thought Rinomhota did well at right back and that Popa put in a decent shift on the right - again he certainly was more effective than Aluko on that side

Overall I think there’s aspects from the first half that need to be married with some of the aspects of the second and then worked on and perhaps Reading may well be in for a comfortable season rather than the nervous variety we all had last time round.

Second half XI : Mannone, Rinomhota, Ilori, Blackett, Bacuna, Evans, Clement, Edwards, Popa, Harriott, Loader

Unexpected absence was Kermorgant so I presume he’s injured or ill

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by Hound » 30 Jun 2018 16:34

Great report, thanks

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by Denver Royal » 30 Jun 2018 16:44

bobby1413 Quite disappointing seeing quite a few fans saying:

Clement is a fraud
Out of his depth
We are in trouble

When it's the first game after pre-season

Seriously, get a fecking grip


Agreed, no need for a total meltdown. Very early doors yet.

That said, in our situation never too early to establish positive vibe. With new manager, there is uncertainty. Fans, coaches, technical staff, club employees, press/media, even players, are unsure what to expect. Some are even skeptical. Where we are, winning preseason games would promote optimism.

On paper this was easiest match-up of preseason. Whoever we fielded, hope we'd have enough, both on the field and off it, to see off Eastleigh? Score more goals, maybe? Not concede at the end with couple mins left? If Derby, Forest, Leeds, Boro, etc, lost to Eastleigh I'd imagine they'd be a tad disappointed? Quite a few teams in this div have new manager's, and reckon they'd all be looking to beat Eastleigh.

Anyway, onward and upward :wink:

Sutekh, thanks much!
Last edited by Denver Royal on 30 Jun 2018 17:04, edited 2 times in total.

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Zip
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by Zip » 30 Jun 2018 16:46

Good report. Kelly and Swift just do not work.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by NewCorkSeth » 30 Jun 2018 17:17

Did we win?

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by bobby1413 » 30 Jun 2018 17:18

Isn't swift total dog sh*te?

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Eastleigh (a) sponsored by football is back

by bobby1413 » 30 Jun 2018 17:19

NewCorkSeth Did we win?


Yep we won, valuable three points too. Great start to the season

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