MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Sutekh » 06 Aug 2022 18:13



When : Tuesday 9th August 2022. 8pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

And so the massed Reading fan will huddle together in the expanse of a 24k seater stadium trying to keep cool and calm and being entertained by another scintillating display of fast paced action packed dynamic football at the SCL.

But enough of Stevenage it's Reading that most fans in attendance will want to win (at least I think that’s right but given it’s the 1st round of the league cup maybe not :shock: ). Most of the “faithful” will of course be “watching” this League Cup tie on radio and internet and even perhaps by way of this thread.

Though Stevenage are from the 4th division (that’s league 2 in the current fancy parley) they will not be easy to beat.
Stevenage have started their season with 2 wins v Tranmere and Stockport (the Stockport win on Saturday being achieved with 2 goals in the last 7 minutes) and they will certainly arrive at the SCL with nothing to fear and, especially with Steve Evans as manager, I would expect them to take the game to what will be a Reading team that contains a large mix of youngsters and the few “first teamers” fit enough to be risked.

Luke Norris and Jamie Reid will form the main striking threat for the ‘Boro while Jordan Roberts and Jake Reeves seem to be fairly deadly from midfield. In addition former Royal Jake Taylor now plies his trade for Stevenage after spending 5 years at Exeter. He is now 30 years old and therefore one of the more experienced players at the club.

Reading’s injury problems are already nearing double figures and this was added to during the Cardiff game with Ovie Ejaria reporting feeling a twinge to his hamstring. It is hoped his subsequent substitution was made in good time to alleviate his name being added to the list but with things they way they have been with injuries for the last couple of seasons we’ll probably find he’ll be out for several days/weeks/months/seasons anyway. Consequently I think the only things we can be sure of is that Dean Bouzanis will start in goal and that numerous Academy players will make up many of the outfield positions.

Finally, if the game is all square after 90 minutes I believe it’s straight to penalties rather than everyone having to endure another 30 minutes.

Referee

First ever Reading game for Carl Brook

Historically

Just cup games between the sides so far. Four games in total, all in the FA Cup. Stevenage beat Reading at the Mad Stad in 2012 a year after Reading beat them at the Lamex. Then there was an extra dull 0-0 in Stevenage in 2018 followed by a 3-0 home win in the replay.

How to follow the game

  1. Get a ticket and go
  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 a RoyalTV subscription
  5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area (although as this is a cup game it may well be live on the 'net as well))

Hound
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Hound » 06 Aug 2022 18:24

Thought ejaria went off as a result of a knock from the tackle - annoying if it’s another muscle injury

It’s going to be Bouzanis plus u23s isn’t it? Loum maybe. Can’t see a single first Teamer playing otherwise

Thanks for the informative write up anyway

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Snowflake Royal » 06 Aug 2022 19:01

Hmmm, what line up would make sense...

.................Bouzanis
Abrefa, Holmes, Clarke, NGW
..............Fornah, Leavy
Hoilett, .....Camara,.........Scott
................Clarke / Ehib

Would rather see a better mix of first team and Andresson in goal, but we're so screwed on depth there's barely anyone we can risk.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Nameless » 06 Aug 2022 19:04

Snowflake Royal Hmmm, what line up would make sense...

.................Bouzanis
Abrefa, Holmes, Clarke, NGW
..............Fornah, Leavy
Hoilett, .....Camara,.........Scott
................Clarke / Ehib

Would rather see a better mix of first team and Andresson in goal, but we're so screwed on depth there's barely anyone we can risk.


COUld we play Sarr just to help,with getting him fit ?
Worst that can happen is we get thrown out of the cup. They couldn’t deduct any points....

Jackson Corner
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Jackson Corner » 06 Aug 2022 19:07

As usual I can see us throwing in the towel before the game even starts, and make 11 changes. Stevenage I’m sure he’ll pay their full strength side and beat us quite comfortably. Why do we even bother to enter this competition? Do the club never realise if you can get through the first two rounds you have the chance of playing one of the big clubs and a chance of a decent payday which during this tough financial time for the club would be welcome.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by AthleticoSpizz » 06 Aug 2022 19:07

It pains me, but

Give this game over to the boys, we aren’t going to win it, let’s see how far that they can go. We cannot afford to oxf*rd about with our diminishing first team squad.
Stevenage will see things differently of course.

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Snowflake Royal » 06 Aug 2022 19:11

Nameless
Snowflake Royal Hmmm, what line up would make sense...

.................Bouzanis
Abrefa, Holmes, Clarke, NGW
..............Fornah, Leavy
Hoilett, .....Camara,.........Scott
................Clarke / Ehib

Would rather see a better mix of first team and Andresson in goal, but we're so screwed on depth there's barely anyone we can risk.


COUld we play Sarr just to help,with getting him fit ?
Worst that can happen is we get thrown out of the cup. They couldn’t deduct any points....

They could probably fine us.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Hound » 06 Aug 2022 19:39

Jackson Corner As usual I can see us throwing in the towel before the game even starts, and make 11 changes. Stevenage I’m sure he’ll pay their full strength side and beat us quite comfortably. Why do we even bother to enter this competition? Do the club never realise if you can get through the first two rounds you have the chance of playing one of the big clubs and a chance of a decent payday which during this tough financial time for the club would be welcome.


I’m sure they’d love to put out a stronger side but considering the injuries at the effort put in today it doesn’t make a lot of sense to

Also good to give the fringe lads some experience

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Hound » 06 Aug 2022 19:40

Snowflake Royal Hmmm, what line up would make sense...

.................Bouzanis
Abrefa, Holmes, Clarke, NGW
..............Fornah, Leavy
Hoilett, .....Camara,.........Scott
................Clarke / Ehib

Would rather see a better mix of first team and Andresson in goal, but we're so screwed on depth there's barely anyone we can risk.


Yeah something like this


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Zip
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Zip » 06 Aug 2022 21:17

Play the Academy boys, We cannot afford more injuries.

AthleticoSpizz
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by AthleticoSpizz » 06 Aug 2022 21:18

Yes

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Crowbar6753
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Crowbar6753 » 06 Aug 2022 21:54

Would be pretty harsh of the EFL to fine us given our current circumstances plus the amount of dithering they take for us to sign players in!!!
Most teams put out their second string in the early rounds of the cup, we're struggling to put out a first team in any competition :cry: :cry:

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NathStPaul
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by NathStPaul » 06 Aug 2022 22:07

We need to play a full strength team, momentum is key. Give the back up keeper minutes of course but the rest should be petty much full strength.


AthleticoSpizz
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by AthleticoSpizz » 06 Aug 2022 22:08

Our entire ‘squad’ are capable Championship players (by their EFL definition)…just let the supernumeraries have their day in the sun against Stevenage.

As an aside Jerial Dorsett played in front of over 46k at Rangers today…

Let the kids run free

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Stranded » 07 Aug 2022 05:29

NathStPaul We need to play a full strength team, momentum is key. Give the back up keeper minutes of course but the rest should be petty much full strength.


Avoiding more injuries by playing our only fit senior players is more key at this point though would normally agree.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by blythspartan » 07 Aug 2022 06:01

Under normal circumstances I’d say play a full strength team. However, given our current injuries I’d play our youngsters with maybe Bouzanis in goal and Loum in midfield, if he gets his visa on time. It gives Ince a great opportunity to see how our youngsters perform against team full of hardened professionals.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by YorkshireRoyal99 » 07 Aug 2022 13:53

Snowflake Royal Hmmm, what line up would make sense...

.................Bouzanis
Abrefa, Holmes, Clarke, NGW
..............Fornah, Leavy
Hoilett, .....Camara,.........Scott
................Clarke / Ehib

Would rather see a better mix of first team and Andresson in goal, but we're so screwed on depth there's barely anyone we can risk.


Seems reasonable enough I'd say.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by The Cube » 07 Aug 2022 16:30

Sutekh In addition former Royal Jake Taylor now plies his trade for Stevenage after spending 5 years at Exeter.

Centre-back VanCouten is ex-Reading as well.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Hound » 08 Aug 2022 08:57

Wonder if there is any chance of Puscas getting a run out in this? Would have been ideal for Dann as well, irritating he is still a week or two away

If you could have played Loum, those two and maybe Fornah would actually give a bit of a spine

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

by Stranded » 08 Aug 2022 09:32

Interesting* to hear Ince state he feels he made a mistake with this game and should have tried to get it brought forward to last week as the Cambridge-Millwall game was - mainly as he will have very few options available to him tomorrow.

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