Don't fancy us here. Unless Bilic has a trick up his sleeve we're likely looking have Kabasele/Pollock and Morris starting. I fancy our attackers to hurt them but can't see a clean sheet. 2-2.
Just put Sema at left back for this one, bring Asprilla in to midfield and move Pedro to the wing. We're f**ked at centre back, though.
Depends on which Watford turn up. Just checked the forecast and there's a 50% chance of rain. If it's raining, then I doubt we'll be up for it again. Plus, another game in short succession is not enough time for these precious flowers to recover. Too difficult to predict Watford these days. If it's sunny and we have a full week to prepare then I fancy us, but when that's not the case, as in this game, it reduces our chances. Just goes to show the mental fragilities within the current squad. We need some real battlers/warriors to do well in the Championship. This will allow our talented players to play plus those types of players are always up for it. We don't have any players like that, so this is why we're so inconsistent and this is why we're only going to be mid-table unless we do the right business in the transfer window. But I won't hold my breath on that.
Loved the Cheese and Air Fryer references. Very different way of doing it and it worked very well. As for the game? I don't know. It depends on what Watford side turn up, and if Sarr and JP are rested enough to play a lot better than they did yesterday. If Reading take the lead then stick ten men behind the ball then it's game over. I do not think Bilic has the time from the last game to this one to go through tactics about how to break that sort of unit down. Lose this one and it's going to look very bleak going into Bristol City which will is our final game before the WC mini-break. If we do win and follow it up with at least a point at Bristol City then it's still game on going into the Xmas period. Let's hope yesterday was just a blip in our good form and we can bounce straight back to winning ways - something we are quite good at doing this season. I have faith Bilic can turn us back around, but will that be enough to secure a much needed three points? Personally, I think the mental state of handling a loss after a good run will effect us, and Reading are a decent outfit this season. Prove me wrong lads. Watford 1 Reading 2
Oh god another game. I feel like that dude that was cursed to a life of emptying a flooded cave with nothing but a seashell.
1-1. Reading hold on for a point despite being down to 10 men after having a player sent off in the first half as Sarr misses a late penalty for Watford
All the confidence built by three wins taken out by a limp effort against Coventry albeit three chances should have been tucked away. Davis had he not manhandled the defender (no real need to do so), Sarr's inexplicable miss and Hungbo very unlucky too. Two wins needed to get back on track before the hiatus for the WC.
Has Gaspar played there before? And if so, is he comfortable there, or very much a makeshift option? One of Gaspar and Gosling is OK as we have a much more attacking option on the other side, but we'll be severely blunted having to play both
Andy Carroll heads home after Bachman flaps at a cross which followed a Troost-Ekong misplaced pass. Is it ever thus ?
Reading ping the ball into our 18 yd area at every opportunity. Our regular fragile back four would find it difficult. The probability of a make shift back four is a concern. We don't have anyone else, so man the lifeboats. Please, please don't play that donkey Pollock. Boy, is he slow, bloody slow. The alarm bells will be ringing at high volume. 3-0 to Reading. 5-0 if we doze off at all. For the £20 ticket price, the club deserves a team that will at least try. Enjoy the game.
TBF to Pollock he probably wasn't expecting to play much 1st team football this season . Injuries, however, has meant that he had a baptism of fire away to Millwall instead of a gentle 3rd round FA cup match against Morecambe in January
Perhaps. He is young, but simply has no pace at all and has a turn like an HGV lorry. He makes Cathcart look like Usain Bolt. They spoke about his lack of pace when he was at Cheltenham. Though he did at well at that level. Even at Championship level, once the ball has past him, he was finished. All the young CB's who are being signed up from lower league clubs has height and pace. We lost an excellent CB prospect to Chelsea. Exeter had Alfie Pond, now gone to Wolves. I accept that potential doesn't guarantee a career.
Regulation 2-0 win to get us back on track. COYH am buzzing for this one . Is the bunker open for this ?
I can see that. Some players bloom later, he can learn positional play, etc, etc. His sheer lack of pace will always let him down. He will be targeted by forwards with brains. I can only see him as a lower league plodding CB at best. If you mention Harry Maguire, then l concede defeat
Andy Carroll with no Sierralta to combat him in the air? Lucas Joao after people saying all summer we should've signed him? Tom Ince who loves to celebrate like a bell end in front of the Rookery? Yeah, we're definitely losing this.
They talked about his lack of pace when he was at Grimsby getting relegated from League two before we even signed him. To make it as a player, all his other defensive qualities will have to be that much better to overcome a permanent weakness. Like Maguire for example . He has time but at the moment the omens aren’t great.
Agreed - think we will have to score 3 to win this one, maybe more. If we do win, it will be a great match. Must win game. 1-3 (Ince hat trick)
I hate Andy Carroll. He is a thug. (Also it will be 'interesting' to see how our centre backs cope with him, given Sierralta's absence).