Big up our academy. Agree with those warning of caution, but at least 5 or 6 from tonight need to start. Carroll is not suited to Selles ball. Bench. Time to break up Tmac and Holmes. NGW hasn't done enough to justify keeping his spot. Yiadom probably stays, but these guys deserve a chance to show what they can do in the league.

First away game in our new "Grey" away shirt!! maybe it's a lucky omen!! not that we needed the luck in any way tonight by the sounds of it.
Shame Port Vale play in white home shirts for Saturday!! Guessing it'll have to be the lucky "Purple Turtle" kit instead

Selles should just put this team out on Saturday (well, as many as are fit) and see what happens.

Thoughts?

Well, that was a pleasant surprise!!!

I vote we start with 2 keepers on the bench on Saturday.

How to beat Championship sides away from home

Step 1: Go down to League One

When is the draw?

We won 4-0 dude. It wasn’t a draw perhaps your stream is still buffering

In recent years the young players failed to show anything to suggest they deserve a go in the first team when it comes to it but can’t argue against a scoreline like that. Huge confidence booster for Kelvin E who we’ll need goals from while Smith is out too.

A few smart stops from CBC too.

He did little wrong tonight

Glad I followed my own astonishment at the odds and lumped on! Decent portion of season ticket covered - come on uuurrrrrzzzzz!!

Amazing result

Kids must get a chance on Saturday

DD's very quiet for a change. Oh and Millsy

Tonight confirms it. Kelvin E should start games whilst Sam Smith is injured. Carroll should be on the bench.

P2W1L1 doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Just seen the highlights, loving the press, where the oxf*rd was that on Saturday?

The first 20 mins.

This formation and style will always do better with younger, fitter players with an extra something to play for too. Going a goal ahead is crucial for moral too tbh, a lot easier to chase lost causes and hassle and close down when you’re winning.

It was definitely there in the first 30 minutes on Saturday and sporadically after that. The issue was that our pre-season has been so shambolic that a lot of the players that making up the starting 11 on Saturday had done little to no pre-season so couldn't keep the intensity up. Tonight's starting 11 contained a lot of the Academy lads plus the likes of Rushesha who have been around all pre-season.

I think we have to accept that you can't high press for a whole game but Selles' definitely wants us to do it wherever possible. It's just going to take a few weeks before everyone gets to the level required and it will suit certain individual players more than others.

Also will need to factor in that you'd expect there to be more teams that play more direct football which will make a high press redundant but again it may take some time for us to adapt to this over the course of a season.

Personally I saw plenty of things on Saturday to give me encouragement that over the course of the season we have the makings of a pretty good side. Tonight was a further reinforcement of that view for me.

Assuming they don’t get injured first.

Assuming they don’t get injured first.

I mean hopefully after tonight this season's manager will be more prepared to utilise the whole squad at his disposal regardless of their age.

Because I have a life and friends and don't constantly have to come on here to talk 24/7

That's not what you tell people on AE.

Highlights very encouraging. Aggression, direct, speed, pashun all over the pitch.

Great to see them really celebrating everything as well

Assuming they don’t get injured first.

I mean hopefully after tonight this season's manager will be more prepared to utilise the whole squad at his disposal regardless of their age.

We should have the squad to suit the style. Great to see Selles make early subs as well so we can keep the energy high

We’ve lots of young players all of a relatively similar standard who can swap in and out seamlessly

If (big if) Selles can get this to work properly it could be a very enjoyable season regardless of where we end up in the league

I’m a little surprised it clicked so early last night but it’s highly encouraging that we can see what he is trying to do. If we can get Smith back fit, add a couple more along the lines of Weir and Stansfield, we should be in a good place

Trying hard not to get too excited after a game like that but it's been so long since a Reading team performed in that way that is difficult not to. The LC throws up random results each year but this wasn't a case of Millwall throwing in a whole new team - they made 5 changes from Saturday - this was a case of a Reading team getting on the front foot early and not settling for holding out for 1-0 but looking to kill the game. As fans, sure we can all agree that that is a wonderful change after years or praying for a 1 goal win.

It is one game but the likes of Vickers, Kelvin E, Camara, Carson, Bindon and especially Abbey have shown Selles that they know what they are doing, understand the way he wants us to play and can step in, or may even be better than the more senior names.

I mean hopefully after tonight this season's manager will be more prepared to utilise the whole squad at his disposal regardless of their age.

We should have the squad to suit the style. Great to see Selles make early subs as well so we can keep the energy high

We’ve lots of young players all of a relatively similar standard who can swap in and out seamlessly

If (big if) Selles can get this to work properly it could be a very enjoyable season regardless of where we end up in the league

I’m a little surprised it clicked so early last night but it’s highly encouraging that we can see what he is trying to do. If we can get Smith back fit, add a couple more along the lines of Weir and Stansfield, we should be in a good place

I wonder if the performance of some of those out there last night will impact the recruitment we are still trying to do - GK is a given, though CBC was solid but I do wonder if the confidence in the Academy lads is growing and instead of the 5 or 6 more previously wanted, Bowen, Carey & Selles may feel that just bringing in 2 or 3 players to add to the mix is all we now need - so Button, Weir and Stansfield plus maybe 1 more outfield player if the right deal comes around.

Would be happy either way as trust the recruitment this year but the kids get it and hope we don't block the path of too many - don't get the feeling Selles is that kind of coach though.

We should have the squad to suit the style. Great to see Selles make early subs as well so we can keep the energy high

We’ve lots of young players all of a relatively similar standard who can swap in and out seamlessly

If (big if) Selles can get this to work properly it could be a very enjoyable season regardless of where we end up in the league

I’m a little surprised it clicked so early last night but it’s highly encouraging that we can see what he is trying to do. If we can get Smith back fit, add a couple more along the lines of Weir and Stansfield, we should be in a good place

I wonder if the performance of some of those out there last night will impact the recruitment we are still trying to do - GK is a given, though CBC was solid but I do wonder if the confidence in the Academy lads is growing and instead of the 5 or 6 more previously wanted, Bowen, Carey & Selles may feel that just bringing in 2 or 3 players to add to the mix is all we now need - so Button, Weir and Stansfield plus maybe 1 more outfield player if the right deal comes around.

Would be happy either way as trust the recruitment this year but the kids get it and hope we don't block the path of too many - don't get the feeling Selles is that kind of coach though.

Agree - I’d be happy with those 3 mentioned for now. If another opportunity presents itself like Wing then great but otherwise no point bringing in players for the sake of it

Would feel from the little I know of them both Weir and Stansfield would suit the style, and again just add depth and a bit of class to what we already have

100% this.

Taking nothing away from them, but not surprised the Millwall fans were upset, there's some very halfhearted challenges and save attempts in there. Looks like our youngsters had Millwall on the ropes so much they just gave up!

Question the motivation of the Millwall players, but nonetheless we've battered a team full of experienced Championship players, pretty decent ones at that as well.

All very promising signs, good to see the young lads impressing as always, it's just trying to maintain a level of consistency and producing in the league for us now, if they can do that then no reason to believe we won't be in for a good season.

Happy for Kelvin E. He has seen his opportunities increase over the last 12 months or so and has knocked in a few for us (albeit cup games majority of the time) as well. Always looking to do the right things as well which is pleasing. Reiterating though, it's just making sure he's producing in the league now.