MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Sutekh » 15 Oct 2018 13:01




When : Saturday 20th October, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Bored. Another god awful international break so everyone can get really excited by the prospect of dressed up friendlies against Croatia and Spain. Add that the fact that it might only stop raining at some point on Monday afternoon and you soon see the veil of despair drawing ever further toward the abyss that is watching Reading at home.

And that's what we've got, another chuffing home game. Another chance to see how low the team's performances can get against what is looking to be another likely relegation contender for this season.

Two weeks for most of the squad to work hard and get through some much needed training sessions. Two weeks to practice and try and recover from the utterly hopeless 135 minutes of football they've managed to put together in the last 180 minutes they're been on the pitch. Two weeks for Paul Clement to scratch his head, study the opposition and come up with a permutation from those available that won't be as embarrassing as the last permutation that appeared at home.

That said though, Reading's last Saturday home game was actually something worth watching - and the club won as well - so perhaps a corner might have been turned though won't hold my breath on that one just yet given that only one Saturday home game was won in the whole of last season.

New Cross (as they should be called as they haven't actually played in Millwall itself since 1910) roll in experiencing a similar start to the season to the once mighty Reading. They are 9 points off the playoff places compared to the 10 points Reading are adrift though it should be mentioned that a concerted effort from either side on the pitch on Saturday, allied with results going their way elsewhere, could see one of the teams take over the much coveted "strongest team in the league" epithet from the current holders Hull City.

Danny Baker's favourites have not won on the road since they went to Bolton in April which is now a run of 8 games with only 3 draws. However they are unbeaten in their last 2 with a draw at Forest and win at home over the Villa. Tom Bradshaw is expected to be back after a spell out while Tom Elliott is currently probably their most dangerous player. Jake Cooper is likely to start in their defence (which, like Reading, has managed just the one clean sheet in the league so far - at Blackburn in August) and to strengthen the Reading connection Jem Karacan is now on their books too.

The Reading injury saga should actually have improved somewhat with Bod, Baldock, Meyler and O'Shea all being expected back while McCleary and Harriott should also be up for places on the bench after their return from lengthy spells out. Only Edwards, Obita and Richards remain as long term absentees. Of course there's always the "mystery injury" lottery which, usually, one unexpected player wins each week so we can only guess who'll be missing from the squad this time round.

Referee

Details to follow....

Historically

This will be the 95th league game against Millwall and therefore the 48th time Reading will have played them at home. Currently it is definitely a case of the home team ruling as Reading have won 27 of those 46 games and lost just 12 (more or less the opposite of the games at Millwall). Though it should be mentioned Millwall did win last season's corresponding fixture 2-0 in February.

There are usually a stack of goals between the sides, Reading have netted 90 while Millwall have managed 46.

So it'll be a pretty useless (for both sides) 0-0 then.

How to follow the game

  1. Get a ticket and travel to the game
  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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NewCorkSeth
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by NewCorkSeth » 15 Oct 2018 13:05

I feel like you rotate the Reading badge a little bit clockwise everytime..

Old Man Andrews

Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Old Man Andrews » 15 Oct 2018 13:08

Referee details to follow huh?????

A fixture of this magnitude can only be officiated by one man.......

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Hound » 15 Oct 2018 13:48

International breaks really are crap aren't they? Utterly pointless this last one and seemingly going on for ever

Only hope it has at least broken up that little bit of momentum Millwall were getting

Got another of those outplayed and out thought by a more up for it opponent this one. One to put alongside Bolton, Norwich and QPR.

Interesting to see who PC picks though. With just about everyone back from injury, there are some big decisions to make. Surely Aluko cannot be getting a look in? Does Meyler get a place in the squad, let alone the team? O' Shea back in?

As a stab at what he'll pick, I think he may go

Mannone
Ilori O Shea Moore Yiadom
Eza
Bacuna Swift
Bod Baldock Meite

Walker
Gunter
Meyler
Barrow
Kelly
Sims
McNulty

leaving out Blackett, Anssi, McShane, Clement, Harriott, McCleary, Aluko, Loader and Rinomhota from recent squads - none of whom will be happy at all (and the subs wont be delighted either). That with Edwards, Popa, Richards and Obita all out injured.

Old Man Andrews

Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Old Man Andrews » 15 Oct 2018 14:05

Hound International breaks really are crap aren't they? Utterly pointless this last one and seemingly going on for ever

Only hope it has at least broken up that little bit of momentum Millwall were getting

Got another of those outplayed and out thought by a more up for it opponent this one. One to put alongside Bolton, Norwich and QPR.

Interesting to see who PC picks though. With just about everyone back from injury, there are some big decisions to make. Surely Aluko cannot be getting a look in? Does Meyler get a place in the squad, let alone the team? O' Shea back in?

As a stab at what he'll pick, I think he may go

Mannone
Ilori O Shea Moore Yiadom
Eza
Bacuna Swift
Bod Baldock Meite

Walker
Gunter
Meyler
Barrow
Kelly
Sims
McNulty

leaving out Blackett, Anssi, McShane, Clement, Harriott, McCleary, Aluko, Loader and Rinomhota from recent squads - none of whom will be happy at all (and the subs wont be delighted either). That with Edwards, Popa, Richards and Obita all out injured.


Really think Sims comes in now, been laughably held back for the past couple of games.


Kulshaw72RFC

Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Kulshaw72RFC » 15 Oct 2018 16:28

2 0 rfc win

Rea Ding
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Rea Ding » 15 Oct 2018 21:38

This is actually quite a big game for both teams! Expect them to take a few to us, fairly excited to see how this one plays out...

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by JoeyJoeJoeJnrShabadoo » 15 Oct 2018 22:03

thanks

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Henley Royal 1 » 15 Oct 2018 22:23

Old Man Andrews
Hound International breaks really are crap aren't they? Utterly pointless this last one and seemingly going on for ever

Only hope it has at least broken up that little bit of momentum Millwall were getting

Got another of those outplayed and out thought by a more up for it opponent this one. One to put alongside Bolton, Norwich and QPR.

Interesting to see who PC picks though. With just about everyone back from injury, there are some big decisions to make. Surely Aluko cannot be getting a look in? Does Meyler get a place in the squad, let alone the team? O' Shea back in?

As a stab at what he'll pick, I think he may go

Mannone
Ilori O Shea Moore Yiadom
Eza
Bacuna Swift
Bod Baldock Meite

Walker
Gunter
Meyler
Barrow
Kelly
Sims
McNulty

leaving out Blackett, Anssi, McShane, Clement, Harriott, McCleary, Aluko, Loader and Rinomhota from recent squads - none of whom will be happy at all (and the subs wont be delighted either). That with Edwards, Popa, Richards and Obita all out injured.


Really think Sims comes in now, been laughably held back for the past couple of games.

Sims for Meite i would be happy with that line up.


Kulshaw72RFC

Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Kulshaw72RFC » 15 Oct 2018 22:48

Henley Royal 1
Old Man Andrews
Hound International breaks really are crap aren't they? Utterly pointless this last one and seemingly going on for ever

Only hope it has at least broken up that little bit of momentum Millwall were getting

Got another of those outplayed and out thought by a more up for it opponent this one. One to put alongside Bolton, Norwich and QPR.

Interesting to see who PC picks though. With just about everyone back from injury, there are some big decisions to make. Surely Aluko cannot be getting a look in? Does Meyler get a place in the squad, let alone the team? O' Shea back in?

As a stab at what he'll pick, I think he may go

Mannone
Ilori O Shea Moore Yiadom
Eza
Bacuna Swift
Bod Baldock Meite

Walker
Gunter
Meyler
Barrow
Kelly
Sims
McNulty

leaving out Blackett, Anssi, McShane, Clement, Harriott, McCleary, Aluko, Loader and Rinomhota from recent squads - none of whom will be happy at all (and the subs wont be delighted either). That with Edwards, Popa, Richards and Obita all out injured.


Really think Sims comes in now, been laughably held back for the past couple of games.

Sims for Meite i would be happy with that line up.


Same.

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Sutekh
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Sutekh » 16 Oct 2018 09:56

Referee

Taking control for hiss first ever game at the Madejski - and not seen in charge of Reading for almost 4 years - is Lancashire's very own David Webb



Previously

29 Nov 2014 > Norwich City 1-2 Reading
24 Aug 2013 > Blackpool 1-0 Reading
01 Nov 2011 > Nottingham Forest 1-0 Reading
05 Dec 2009 > Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Reading

Old Man Andrews

Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Old Man Andrews » 16 Oct 2018 09:58

hmmmmmmm David Webb. I know nothing of him but I have zero faith he we be able to maintain control in a fixture of this magnitude.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by URZZZZ » 16 Oct 2018 14:06

No chance of it happening but I'd like to see a 4-4-2 this weekend in a diamond shape because our wingers aren't good enough. Therefore:

----------------------------------------------------Mannone---------------------------------------------
Yiadom------------------O'Shea----------------------------------Moore-----------------Blackett
--------------------------------------------------Ezatolahi------------------------------------------------
------------------------------Bacuna-----------------------------------Swift----------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------Sims--------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------Bod-----------------------------------Baldock-----------------------
Bench : Walker
Gunter
Ilori
Meyler
Aluko
Barrow
Loader

I feel we operate better with a front 2, so Bod and Baldock as they're our best strikers. However, I also think Bacuna, Swift and Ezatolahi are forming a decent trio in midfield and it would be harsh to drop any of them. Therefore with our wingers performing the way they are, this would be the best way to shoehorn them all into the same team. Ilori has been shaky in recent weeks so needs to return to the bench, O'Shea to come in so the CB partnership is the same one as the only game we kept a clean sheet in. Blackett or Gunter, makes no difference, I don't feel Gunter has been too bad in recent games. Just as long as Kelly, Barrow and Meite are no-where near the 11, we may stand a chance
Alternatively similarly to Hull a 4-5-1 formation with Baldock on the left and Sims on the right could do but I do think that limits Baldock's game


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NewCorkSeth
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by NewCorkSeth » 16 Oct 2018 14:31

-------------Mannone
Yiadom--Ilori---Moore--Gunter
--------------Ezatolahi
-------Bacuna------Swift
Sims--------------------------Barrow
-----------------Bod

Walker
Blackett
O'Shea
Kelly
Meite
Loader
Baldock

Harsh on Walker but I have expressed for a while now my concerns about his distribution. He's mostly done well but has benefited from a more constant defense in front of him than Mannone had to at the start of the season andhas both literally and figuratively dropped the ball on too many occasions.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by windermereROYAL » 16 Oct 2018 17:08

Saeid Ezatolahi picked up an injury on international duty, no details how bad, we`re fcuking jinxed :shock:

https://twitter.com/TalkReading/status/ ... 4035502080

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NewCorkSeth
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by NewCorkSeth » 16 Oct 2018 17:23

windermereROYAL Saeid Ezatolahi picked up an injury on international duty, no details how bad, we`re fcuking jinxed :shock:

https://twitter.com/TalkReading/status/ ... 4035502080

oxf*rd it. Forfeit the match. Fold the club.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Hiram K Hackenbacker » 16 Oct 2018 21:24

Old Man Andrews A fixture can only be officiated by one man

I agree

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Augem » 16 Oct 2018 21:37

We could do with a Terry Hurlock right now or would he get sent off every match these days :?:

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Armadillo Roadkill » 16 Oct 2018 23:01

I don’t know. Maybe there will be goals. Maybe Reading will play really well but lose heroically. Maybe they’ll be pants and lose. Unheroically. Maybe a unicorn will land of the pitch. Maybe Dave Edwards is still alive. Who knows?

All bets are off. Storm clouds, dark omens, dire predictions; all swirl around the majestic Mad Stad like a vortex in the whirlpool in an oil slick. Sweat, blood, tears. We know it. It’s in the air. Strained sinews in the heat of battle. The darkened, bruised sky over our beloved Berkshire. A rectangle of grass, the effort and exertion of our valiant warriors, flags flying, honour challenged and defended. The flight of the ball, the caress of the cross field sprayed pass, the gonad-twisting crunch of a flying tackle.

Injuries, adjudicational errors, umami-laced hydrogenated and saturated fat snack, effluent influenced beverages. Sone-A-frikkin-Luko.

It will be massive. Snarling, angry, Monkees-hit-singing, Thames-Valley-Police baiting massive.

International break can kiss my arse.

Kulshaw72RFC

Re: MATCHWATCH : Millwall (h) sponsored by Terry Hurlock

by Kulshaw72RFC » 17 Oct 2018 07:51

windermereROYAL Saeid Ezatolahi picked up an injury on international duty, no details how bad, we`re fcuking jinxed :shock:

https://twitter.com/TalkReading/status/ ... 4035502080


We may aswell relegate ourselves now.

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