MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Sutekh » 18 Oct 2022 22:54



When : Saturday 22nd October 2022, 3pm
Where : Select Car Leasing Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

After 2 games of woeful cr@p, comes the annual visit from Bristol City and no real clue what to expect from them as they’ve been rather erratic. Safe to say then that this one isn’t going to be easy given they comfortably won at WBA on Tuesday while Reading couldn’t be bothered against the same opposition at home last Saturday.

Form wise City have been pretty good and then pretty ****** awful with Tuesday’s showing at the Hawthorns being only their second win in their last 8 attempts, however what it does show is a team that can play if they are allowed and that seems to be a real issue for Reading at the moment as the Royals are turning up and letting teams play for some ****** stupid reason. See last week v WBA followed by the attempt to “sit back and rest” while Swansea tried to claw back a 2 goal deficit….

This game is now rather important to Reading, they really need a win as the next game is the ominous trip to Burnley followed by another midweek TV game at the ever unforgiving Luton so points really have to be collected otherwise the terrific start could well begin to morph into the Paunovic nightmare start from last season.

Top of the “must be stopped” list is the usual pain in the Reading arse of Nakhi Wells who already has 7 goals, then there’s a very useful Tommy Conway to watch and the experienced Andreas Weimann too, finally, usually off the bench, comes Antoine Semenyo so there’s going to be no rest for what’s left of Reading’s defence.

So come on Mr Ince instead of sitting back and trying to counter the opposition please play to the forward strengths of Andy Carroll et al and give the Robins serious problems to worry about rather than just fart arsing about hoping for a break. Keep their defence and midfield busy trying to stop Reading then they might get frustrated and make mistakes - certainly rather that than to total tripe of the last couple of games.

As ever Reading’s injury problems continue to grow with Yiadom back on the list (though he would have been suspended anyway after his 5th booking of the season). This particular crisis has seen 7 (SEVEN) central defenders (well 6 plus a right back who hasn’t done too badly there) reduced to just 2 left so Holmes and McIntyre will start and PI will have to decide whether to revert to a traditional back 4 given his available resources or try one of the youngsters (Abbey or Clarke) there or try shoehorning Loum or Mbengue into there instead.

As ever Reading’s opposition have naff all injury problems with City just missing Kal Naismith.

Referee

John Busby

Previously

19 Feb 22 > Preston North End 2-3 Reading
03 Jan 22 > Reading 2-2 Derby County
29 Sep 21 > Derby County 1-0 Reading

Historically

This will be the 99th time the two teams have met in the league. Pretty even down the years with 40 wins to the Biscuitmen and 40 to the Robins with 18 draws. At home Reading have 25 wins to 14 defeats (10 draws) and have netted on 79 occasions while conceding 67. Not much to live up to given last year’s utterly pathetic home showing against City back in August 2021 so hopefully things will be better this time round.

How to follow the game

  1. Get a ticket
  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 RoyalsTV subscription (audio only)
  5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

Hound
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Hound » 19 Oct 2022 08:38

Other than at CB and RB we have plenty of options for once

Difficult to drop Meite or Ince after they’ve just scored and wouldn’t do anyway

Midfield is too samey atm. Get Ejaria in there I think, maybe also Hoilett further forward, though may be needed at RB. Need more energy in there as we were slow and cumbersome against Swansea

Lumley
Hoilett Holmes McIntyre NGW/Baba
Ince Fornah Loum Ejaria
Meite Long

Mbengue Bouzanis Abbey Joao Carroll Hendrick NGW/Baba

Maybe? Have to attack with that side not sit back

YorkshireRoyal99
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by YorkshireRoyal99 » 19 Oct 2022 08:49

I'd be tempted to say

Lumley
Abrefa Holmes McIntyre Rahman/NGW
Hendrick Loum Ince
Meite Joao Ejaria/Hoilett

Subs: Bouzanis, NGW/Rahman, Fornah, Ejaria/Hoilett, Mbengue, Carroll, Long.

Can completely understand a 4-4-2 with Meite and Long up top, but it relies on the rest of the team from the defence up pressing as well. I do think a reshuffle is needed, particularly when options are stretched (Mbengue at wing back is never going to work for example).

Hound
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Hound » 19 Oct 2022 09:20

I think Jeff needs a break. I don’t subscribe to the view he’s been rubbish but he didn’t impact the game at all yesterday and has played a lot of minutes

Not sure if Mbengue is a better option at CM than RB but he would also be an option to come in and give it a bit more bite in there. He looks full of energy at least

Royal_jimmy
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Royal_jimmy » 19 Oct 2022 09:24

Absolutely have to bounce back in this game


windermereROYAL
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by windermereROYAL » 19 Oct 2022 09:29

City filled the away end at WBA last night and were noisy so it`s fair to assume Saturday will be no different, C1871 will need to up their game from the weekend

YorkshireRoyal99
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by YorkshireRoyal99 » 19 Oct 2022 09:34

windermereROYAL City filled the away end at WBA last night and were noisy so it`s fair to assume Saturday will be no different, C1871 will need to up their game from the weekend


I think the players/manager will have a part to play in that though. Sit in like we have and look sluggish like we have in the last couple of games, the atmosphere will be dead. Get after them a bit, particularly in the opening exchanges, and that will lift the crowd.

Royal_jimmy
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Royal_jimmy » 19 Oct 2022 09:37

windermereROYAL City filled the away end at WBA last night and were noisy so it`s fair to assume Saturday will be no different, C1871 will need to up their game from the weekend


We played rubbish and showed no momentum in the game v WBA so you can't blame C1871 for a lack of atmosphere. If the players are in the ascendency then the atmosphere will be better

windermereROYAL
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by windermereROYAL » 19 Oct 2022 09:38

Bristol city are the only side to concede more than us (24) but are the league's top scorers (25) so I guess we can rule out a 0-0.


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Zip
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Zip » 19 Oct 2022 09:42

Hound Other than at CB and RB we have plenty of options for once

Difficult to drop Meite or Ince after they’ve just scored and wouldn’t do anyway

Midfield is too samey atm. Get Ejaria in there I think, maybe also Hoilett further forward, though may be needed at RB. Need more energy in there as we were slow and cumbersome against Swansea

Lumley
Hoilett Holmes McIntyre NGW/Baba
Ince Fornah Loum Ejaria
Meite Long

Mbengue Bouzanis Abbey Joao Carroll Hendrick NGW/Baba

Maybe? Have to attack with that side not sit back



Yep I would go with this team.
Worryingly we have lost the second half in three successive games.
Hendrick won't be dropped of course but needs to be. He is slow and offers little.
Last edited by Zip on 19 Oct 2022 09:43, edited 1 time in total.

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Hendo
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Hendo » 19 Oct 2022 09:42

windermereROYAL Bristol city are the only side to concede more than us (24) but are the league's top scorers (25) so I guess we can rule out a 0-0.


Or bank on it?

Royal_jimmy
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Royal_jimmy » 19 Oct 2022 11:15

I'd love to drop McIntyre but we have no one else who could come in who's fit

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morganb
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by morganb » 19 Oct 2022 12:18

Reading FC will be without full-back Andy Yiadom for their Championship fixture against Bristol City this weekend after the 30-year-old picked up his fifth caution of the season in their 3-2 defeat to Swansea City.

https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/foot ... w-25297223


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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Snowflake Royal » 19 Oct 2022 12:39

Hound Other than at CB and RB we have plenty of options for once

Difficult to drop Meite or Ince after they’ve just scored and wouldn’t do anyway

Midfield is too samey atm. Get Ejaria in there I think, maybe also Hoilett further forward, though may be needed at RB. Need more energy in there as we were slow and cumbersome against Swansea

Lumley
Hoilett Holmes McIntyre NGW/Baba
Ince Fornah Loum Ejaria
Meite Long

Mbengue Bouzanis Abbey Joao Carroll Hendrick NGW/Baba

Maybe? Have to attack with that side not sit back


.................. ...Lumley
..Abrefa, Holmes, McIntyre, NGW
... ...Hendrick, Ejaria, Fornah
Meite, .... .. .....Joao, ................ Ince

Bouzanis, Rahman, Clarke, Loum, Hoilett, Carroll, Long

Tell me that isn't a decent side, of players in their best positions, capable o scoring goals, keepinh possession and pressing high with a strong bench.

Hound
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Hound » 19 Oct 2022 13:59

It’s an option

Would worry about two relatively inexperienced and attacking FBs with 3 cms ahead of them mind you. Also think there are better options than Hendrick atm

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Dave the rave
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Dave the rave » 19 Oct 2022 14:17

Going to this one with the missus (her 1st game since 96 play off final !!), my eldest boy and a few of his mates.

Please let him have a happy 11th birthday day out!

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Crowbar6753
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Crowbar6753 » 19 Oct 2022 16:08

Snowflake Royal
Hound Other than at CB and RB we have plenty of options for once

Difficult to drop Meite or Ince after they’ve just scored and wouldn’t do anyway

Midfield is too samey atm. Get Ejaria in there I think, maybe also Hoilett further forward, though may be needed at RB. Need more energy in there as we were slow and cumbersome against Swansea

Lumley
Hoilett Holmes McIntyre NGW/Baba
Ince Fornah Loum Ejaria
Meite Long

Mbengue Bouzanis Abbey Joao Carroll Hendrick NGW/Baba

Maybe? Have to attack with that side not sit back


.................. ...Lumley
..Abrefa, Holmes, McIntyre, NGW
... ...Hendrick, Ejaria, Fornah
Meite, .... .. .....Joao, ................ Ince

Bouzanis, Rahman, Clarke, Loum, Hoilett, Carroll, Long

Tell me that isn't a decent side, of players in their best positions, capable o scoring goals, keepinh possession and pressing high with a strong bench.


Finally, a team with players playing in their preferred positions!! We've been playing to many square pegs in round holes....someone mentioned playing Hoilett at RB, we have abrefa waiting in the wings who is a natural RB so why not play him there. What message does it send to our amazing academy players when when senior pro's are being played out of position in your spot!!

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Zip
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Zip » 19 Oct 2022 16:42

windermereROYAL City filled the away end at WBA last night and were noisy so it`s fair to assume Saturday will be no different, C1871 will need to up their game from the weekend


They sold out the away end weeks ago

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Franchise FC
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by Franchise FC » 19 Oct 2022 17:35

Bad news everyone
This is my one home game per season, and with my losing track record we’ve had it

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tidus_mi2
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

by tidus_mi2 » 20 Oct 2022 11:27

Their away form wasn't too hot before turning over West Brom yesterday, hopefully they'll return to form against us.

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