MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by Sutekh » 26 Jul 2019 10:01



When : Saturday 3rd August, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Not going to be around for the next couple of weeks so am knocking this and the Hull matchwatches out early!

Good news is that the seasons back and we can have something meaningful to fret/eulogise about for the next 10 months.

Expectation is unknown really. While realistically survival would keep many happy, as it would enable the decks to finally be cleared of most of the deadwood and get finances back into the territory of having some flexibility, there is also that little bit of positivity about the place thinking that just perhaps Reading might turn out to be a very dark horse indeed. Liklihood is though that a lower mid table finish would be a reasonable bet.

We're into the last couple of weeks of the transfer window and JG still wants that striker (same old story for reading every transfer window it seems) and another midfielder would be useful. Perhaps Ross McCormack or Gary Hooper may yet arrive or even Joe Piggott from Wimbledon, perhaps there's still a small chance that Ejaria may arrive or that nice Mr Bostock from over the sea, whatever happens in the next two weeks I don't think Reading are quite done yet.

Sheffield Wednesday are an unknown quantity. A new manager is still to be appointed and Rui Silva (current Wolves assistant boss) is the current favourite, though Chris Hughton is not without some support. Like Reading they have also had to trim their squad (eg releasing Gary Hooper and seemingly about to offer Jordan Rhodes on loan to QPR) and have been under a soft transfer embargo so it's been a very difficult close season at Hillsborough but they still do have some good quality throughout their squad so whoever takes to the field for them will provide a stern test for the new look Royals.

For Reading, other than the fact that Blackett, Rino, Yiadom and Moore will start the rest of the team is anyone's guess so start your permutations below. Just be grateful that currently, touchwood, for the first time in TWO YEARS Reading go into a league game with no real injury concerns. Loader I did see someone saying had a knock and Obita is still a fair way from match fitness but other than that as far as I know everyone else is up and raring to go. Let's hope the Chelsea friendly doesn't change that.

Referee

To be confirmed next week

Historically

Not really very many league games played with Wednesday since 1920. Only 24 games in total, meaning just 12 seasons together in the same division, and no league games at all played before 1976. In fact 20 of those 24 games have been played since 2002 so Sheffield Wednesday have been reasonably regular opponents since then.

Only 2 home league games have ended all square. Reading have won 6 and lost 4 of the 12 league games played in Reading scoring 20 and conceding 9 in the process.

Opening day fixtures for Reading since moving to the Mad Stad are generally not brilliant (see below) so if that is anything to go by, don't expect too much on 3rd August. For the record the last 2 seasons have seen 2 defeats (1 at home, 1 away).

home
pld -11 w-5 d-3 l-3 f-17 a-15

away
pld-10 w-1 d-4 l-5 f-7 a-16

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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NewCorkSeth
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by NewCorkSeth » 26 Jul 2019 10:02

God I've missed these x

Hound
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by Hound » 26 Jul 2019 10:06

season starts here

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JoeyJoeJoeJnrShabadoo
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by JoeyJoeJoeJnrShabadoo » 27 Jul 2019 00:25

thanks

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by alfie9 » 27 Jul 2019 01:18

Very winnable game but the downside is a loss would really knock the wind out of us. Fans will be expecting a win. I think we will get it, just barely.


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PieEater
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by PieEater » 27 Jul 2019 09:33

Wednesday are more of a shambles than us, so it's a good time to play them. Lose this and it's going to be a long tough season.

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by Snowflake Royal » 27 Jul 2019 11:17

Cheers Sutekh

GK is a big unknown - could be fantastic, could be not up to Championship football yet.

Defence is very strong, but there are two Blackett's that could show up, and if pressed high and hard we have a tendency to get ourselves in trouble.

Midfield is a massive worry, it's not actually clear who and how they'll line up but if the opposition stand off we can do a lot of damage.

Attack is pretty good, but can be quite flakey too. We lack someone to really lead the line, but we have a lot of young talent coming through who could be hit or miss.

Wednesday have been under a similar soft embargo to us apparently, and have lost Bruce. This is the sort of game you really want to win to get a good start and losing it could be a sign of a poor season. I call a bore draw of two teams struggling to score and without fully formed teams yet.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by leon » 27 Jul 2019 15:14

JoeyJoeJoeJnrShabadoo thanks


My favourite bit of the week

StellaPlease

Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by StellaPlease » 27 Jul 2019 15:32

PieEater Wednesday are more of a shambles than us, so it's a good time to play them. Lose this and it's going to be a long tough season.


:lol:


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by URZZZZ » 28 Jul 2019 17:51

Right now, if I was to pick an XI based off friendlies, I'd go for :

Virginia

Yiadom
Moore
Morrison
Blackett

Rino
Swift

Olise
Meite
Barrett

Barrow

Walker, Miazga, Howe, Adam, Loader, Baldock, Novakovich on the bench

Feels extremely harsh on McIntyre but quite simply right now, he's the fourth choice CB IMO. I'm not seeing much to rate East, at fault for their third goal as well. Not sure about Blackett's injury either, Richards looked OK today. Would like Nova to start but seems unlikely considering he hasn't started once with the first XI yet

Bench does look slightly unbalanced though, really could do with bringing a winger in

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by Snowflake Royal » 28 Jul 2019 18:21

For me, it would be:

........................Virginia
...Yiadom, Moore, Morrison, Richards*
..............Rinomhota, Swift^
Meite, ..............Olise, ..................Barrow
....................Novakovich

But I expect it'll be Loader instead of Nova and Barrett instead of Olise.

*unless Blacket fit
^through gritted teeth and no other realistic option.

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NewCorkSeth
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by NewCorkSeth » 28 Jul 2019 19:05

What I want:
-------------------Virginia
Yiadom---Moore---Miazga---Blackett
-------Rinomhota---Olise
Meite------------Swift-------------Barrow
----------------Novakovich

What I expect:
-------------------Virginia
Yiadom---Moore---Miazga---Blackett
--------Rinomhota---Swift
Meite-------------Olise-------------Barrett
-------------------Barrow

WestYorksRoyal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by WestYorksRoyal » 28 Jul 2019 19:10

Please please please get a better option than Swift in for that role. I agree with everyone that he's the best available, but that says more than the squad about him. I'd push him further forward.

We also need to show caution and care with Olise, as Everton did with Rooney back in the day. He's clearly talented but only 17. The pressure to deliver and create should be on experienced players like Swift and Barrow; Olise just needs to enjoy himself and play with freedom.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by URZZZZ » 28 Jul 2019 19:29

NewCorkSeth What I want:
-------------------Virginia
Yiadom---Moore---Miazga---Blackett
-------Rinomhota---Olise
Meite------------Swift-------------Barrow
----------------Novakovich

What I expect:
-------------------Virginia
Yiadom---Moore---Miazga---Blackett
--------Rinomhota---Swift
Meite-------------Olise-------------Barrett
-------------------Barrow


No no no. I know you like Swift further forward but Olise will be wasted back there in CDM IMO. He needs to be in one of the three places behind the striker

Have always been sceptical of Barrett but he’s scored two in two so think that’s harsh as well

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NewCorkSeth
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by NewCorkSeth » 28 Jul 2019 19:38

URZZZZ
NewCorkSeth What I want:
-------------------Virginia
Yiadom---Moore---Miazga---Blackett
-------Rinomhota---Olise
Meite------------Swift-------------Barrow
----------------Novakovich

What I expect:
-------------------Virginia
Yiadom---Moore---Miazga---Blackett
--------Rinomhota---Swift
Meite-------------Olise-------------Barrett
-------------------Barrow


No no no. I know you like Swift further forward but Olise will be wasted back there in CDM IMO. He needs to be in one of the three places behind the striker

Have always been sceptical of Barrett but he’s scored two in two so think that’s harsh as well

I think Swift is better than Olise. Play our best players in their best positions.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by morganb » 28 Jul 2019 20:34

NewCorkSeth
URZZZZ
NewCorkSeth What I want:
-------------------Virginia
Yiadom---Moore---Miazga---Blackett
-------Rinomhota---Olise
Meite------------Swift-------------Barrow
----------------Novakovich

What I expect:
-------------------Virginia
Yiadom---Moore---Miazga---Blackett
--------Rinomhota---Swift
Meite-------------Olise-------------Barrett
-------------------Barrow


No no no. I know you like Swift further forward but Olise will be wasted back there in CDM IMO. He needs to be in one of the three places behind the striker

Have always been sceptical of Barrett but he’s scored two in two so think that’s harsh as well

I think Swift is better than Olise. Play our best players in their best positions.


I have a feeling that Jose will play Loader over Olise.

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Pepe the Horseman
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by Pepe the Horseman » 28 Jul 2019 21:06

Managerless Wednesday. This could be double figures.

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by Snowflake Royal » 28 Jul 2019 22:23

morganb
NewCorkSeth
URZZZZ
No no no. I know you like Swift further forward but Olise will be wasted back there in CDM IMO. He needs to be in one of the three places behind the striker

Have always been sceptical of Barrett but he’s scored two in two so think that’s harsh as well

I think Swift is better than Olise. Play our best players in their best positions.


I have a feeling that Jose will play Loader over Olise.


Olise has looked a cut above, but I do quite like the idea of easing him in carefully and not chucking too much responsibility at him too soon. At worst, he's going to get a lot of sub appearances in this side. That should do for now, and if he excels in them, then he earns his starting place.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by The Enfield Royal71 » 28 Jul 2019 22:44

Loose this and were down

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royalp-we
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h) sponsored by new season optimism

by royalp-we » 29 Jul 2019 01:21

Really hope Tyler Blackett recovers in time for this.

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