Who remembers when we used to have to play Reading? On Wednesday, there's a trip down memory lane to those days back in the Championship when the Biscuitmen were regular opponents. Whilst we've obviously gone from strength to strength and have become Premiership mid-table regulars, whatever happened to poor old Reading? Things haven't been going so well for the rickety Royals. They narrowly escaped relegation last season (finished 20th) and it's all looking a bit grim for them again this season as they flounder around at the bottom of the division having drawn two and lost three of their opening five games. They got rid of the awful Jap Staam (first managerial job - unemployed since) after one win in 20 games last year and replaced him with the equally disappointing Paul Clement (sacked by Derby, sacked by Swansea). They're getting around 11 or 12 thousand attendances in a 24 thousand seat stadium, so the definition of "half empty". They seem to be on a remorseless and inexorable slide towards lower league football. ECHO! Echo! echo! echo! - Where are they when they are sh!t? The empty Madjeski. Reading Players There aren't too many of them that we will have heard of these days, I'm afraid. In goal there's that Vito "easy-to-beat-oh" Mannone. He used to be at Sunderland when they were in the Prem, remember? Then he leaked 8 in an absolute embarrassing thrashing at Southampton and got more or less permanently dropped in favour of our lanky old boy Costel 'Lemon Pants' Pantillimon. My career. My poor, poor career. A moment of reflection for Mannone as another one flies past him. Another that you've maybe heard of, is Leandro Bacuna - a sometime defensive midfielder - who turned out for Villa a few times in that season where they were a laughing stock in the Premiership and got relegated in about February. Well Bacuna wasn't quite good enough to get in that team. He also played for Villa in the Championship, but following a bizarre headbut assault on a linesman which led to a six match ban, they decided he was a complete liability and offloaded him onto Reading. He is officially an international though. For erm....Cura*ao. Lost it. Bacuna gives a 'Cura*ao Kiss' to a linesman last season. About the only other name in the Reading side I've heard of is that Aluko lad, who's sister plays for England. She's brilliant. Him, not so much. I believe he's out injured anyway. As for her, well she could certainly do me an injury. Pert - the lovely Eniola Aluko Watford Team Obviously we won't want to be playing any of our big stars - especially against lower championship defenders who, if not exactly cloggers as such, aren't quite so good at timing their challenges let's say. We certainly shouldn't allow players such as Pererya or Delofeu anywhere near this match. We need to rest the big boys for our table topping clash with Spuds on the telly on Sunday also. I'd like to see Heurelho back between the sticks. I've missed him and his celebrations. Massina ought to get his debut at left back, with Holebas given a well-deserved rest. Not sure about right back. I'm hesitant to say Kiko, because of the aforementioned concern about clogging from the opposition. Perhaps let Mapps stretch his legs in that position? It should be an easy enough evening for him. A good time for Wilmott to get a run out and perhaps he and Prodl could fill in for Kabasele and Cathcart in the middle. Across the midfield, I'd have Sema and Quina out wide. Interesting to see what those two can do. A chance for them to impress. I'd maybe play Capoue and Hughes in the middle. First half at least. Replace them will a couple of the U-23s at half time when we're two or three goals up. That just leaves Isaac Success and Stefano Okaka as the front two. Should be more than enough to easily see us into the next round.
They really have suffered from the old post play off blues ! Just be nice to win one of these ties ..
Can’t play any worse here then we did against Bristol City last season. Reading away is still not a shoe in win. Second string should have enough to get us into round 3. Won’t be a classic match and I don’t expect it to be a goal feast either. Success to maybe start and see if he can get at least 45 mins then if he’s fit Okaka second half of not I’d rather Gray over Deeney to be risked. Agree that most should be rested who beat Palarse, and its a good opportunity for fans to see some of the youngsters maybe getting a run out too. 1-3
Our best chance at some silverware. Dahlberg Navarro, Mapps, Prodl, Masina Femenia, Wilmot, Quina, Sema Success Okaka Bench: Gomes, Britos, Kaboul, Zeegelaar, Charles, Pereira, Folivi This team should be more than enough to do a job on a Reading side that need to focus on the league. They will rest their players for the big crunch match against Watford B on Saturday.
Interesting comment on the Hobnob site: Liked what I saw from Watford on telly yesterday, but I`m thinking it will be nothing like that team given they have Spurs next Sunday. we might have half a squeak. It seems that Capoue vs Zaha is not foremost in WindermereROYAL's thoughts.
Anyone else mental enough to go to this? Hoping to see a few debuts and, particularly if some first-teamers play, zero injuries before we play our top 4 rivals on Sunday.
Every season I convince myself that our squad players will be good enough to squeak past a lower league side that's also made about 8 changes. Never happens though. Reading Reserves 2 Watford Reserves 1
Absolutely. A short away trip with nothing else to do on a Wednesday evening. And Clive, I think that picture of a half empty stadium is actually the away end.
Hmmm. Our best chance of silverware, yet you'd risk it by fielding players who between them have managed no more than an hour's competitive football this season. Haven't our last few League Cup results taught you anything? I'd start 6 first teamers and 5 fringe players including Sema and Success
Yep, I'm going and so are quite a few others apparently which I'm surprised at. In fairness this is my closest game to where I live so I'm not really putting myself out! These games are usually terrible and we normally go out so would be nice to buck the trend
Reading could be Paul Clement's quickest 'destroy and exit' project yet. Emphatic away win - regardless of whether Garcia plays the stiffs or not
Looking forward to this match and seeing some of our players who are bubbling under the first team. The last three weeks have shown we have a very decent starting eleven, plus a few decent players waiting to come back from injury. However, I think many of us are still worried about the lack of backup in some key positions once injuries strike. An injury to either Kabasele or Cathcart, or Deeney or Gray might leave us in trouble. So tomorrow night will be a good chance to see who is next in line and hopefully they can play well and reassure us we would have good cover. Gracia has done very well so far this season. If he could take us on a decent cup run in either of the two competitions, his stock would rise higher still. It would be great to have one this season.
Every season the Coca Cola/Milk/Rumpty Tumpty/Littlewoods/ Thingy Cup trots up and I tell myself not to attend,as it is always wretched and we always lose. See you there!
Had no idea Reading were so bad, they've won 3 of their last 31 Championship games. Should be a good opportunity to give some fringe players a shot, I'd start Grey as well to keep his confidence up.
Gomes Paula Suarez Navarro,Willmot-Brown ( without Kathy Beale and the lead piping, in the study) My Little Prodl,Massina Charles Charlie Charles,Kkk Ken,Mighty Quina,Gerard Depardieu. Isaac,Three Bottles of Baileys and a packet of Chas and Onion. Subs;Packet of Hob Nobs.
This is just a distraction from our title push. Rest the first team and give the kids a run out. Dahlberg; Navarro, Wilmot, Prodl, Masina; Femenia, Doucoure, Quina, Sema; Success, Gray
Same here, plus it’s a tenner. Bit of a bargain these days. Going with some Reading supporting friends so guaranteed to lose. Reading have actually had, what’s turned out to be, a pretty though start to the season and have only been losing by the odd goal. Good away draw at Villa at the weekend (unlike Man Utd there is only one Villa so you know who I mean, hey may as well kick them whilst they’re down). Of course that is pretty irrelevant as both teams will have their reserves out and our reserves always seem to be, let’s say less interested than the other teams reserves.
Club Biscuits are/were made in Reading. Not sure the bag of crisps will get much change out a Club Orange 7 pack.
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!!!! This thread - Entitlement or what? The number of times I've read this on "Premier League" opponents forums before we have played them when we were in the lower leagues......... Half expecting to see Nath on here suggesting we play our U18s.
I don't think it's entitlement. More panic that we daren't lose any of our first 11 to injury when league results are more important to staying up. I'm happy to play the second 11 here and concentrate on this or the fa cup more when we have a lot more points in the bag.
Fair enough suggesting we play our "second 11" (if there is such a thing), but expecting to cruise through - as some seem to be certain we will - is flying in the face of so much evidence from past Premier Reserve v. Championship 1st team. Or maybe I'm missing a big "Biscuitmen" wind up....I am getting on a bit and won't be able to get to Elm Park for the game.
Dahlberg Navarro Prodl Wilmott Masina Kiko Quina Hughes Sema Success Gray Tough night for the Hornet Reserves, 3-0 Reading
Do we really need to put 11 out for the this game? I mean isn’t it better to make sure we have a fully rested squad for our top of the premier league clash on Sunday? I know this suggestion might might come across as ‘entitled’ but just running the idea up the flagpole and see who salutes it.
You mean put out 8 outfield players and no goalie for Watford. Mmmmmm - would make the game interesting for the neutrals.
Not entitlement, just optimism (possibly misplaced) based on the fact that we are rather good and Reading are sh1te and a game between our reserves and their's is likely to reflect this
I will agree if indeed Reading do put out their "reserves" - the term is not much used these days - is it to spare players' feelings?
Don't follow the non-league so I've never heard of 'Reading Football Club'. What are they, a bunch of librarians? I'd like Javi to pick the U15s for this as the older age groups will have more important things to do. Prediction: 'Reading' 0-9 Watford