MATCHWATCH : Colchester United (a)

[Sutekh]

When : Tuesday August 13, 2024, 7.45pm
Where : JobServe Community Stadium, United Way, Colchester, CO4 5UP
Capacity : 10,105

Cup glory beckons. A Tuesday night trip, for what will probably be a mix of what remains of this season's u18s and u21s, follows hot on the heels of the superb success at Brum (ruined only by the standard state of officiating in the lower leagues).

Given the club's recent cup trips, this will be equally as challenging as Reading go in seek of a trail to the 3rd round and a possible valuable home ties against some PL misfits for £££ along the way.

Colchester started their season with a 4-2 loss away at Wimbledon on Saturday as they look to have a first season in god knows how long that doesn't involve just managing to be better than two other League 2 teams. Managed now by Danny Cowley and his brother Nicky there should be an upturn in the standards set in recent seasons (and indeed they have only lost 7 of the 21 games they've had in charge). Lyle Taylor is probably the most well known player at the club having joined in the summer for free with 6 other players .

Reading will be without long term absentee Ryan (ACL) and Yiadom (knee) will be out until October. Azeez may well be the one experienced first team pro that gets a run out after missing the Birmingham game with a reportedly minor back problem. Button would be the expected keeper but he also missed the trip to the West Midlands so would expect there's an injury there somewhere which leaves the way open for CBBC.

Referee

Neil Hair

Previously...

07 Oct 23 > Leyton Orient 2-1 Reading

Historically

Reading have played Colchester 7 times previously in the League Cup and won on 3 occasions (the last win being by 1-0 back in 2015 on Reading's only previous visit to Colchester's new ground). They have also lost on 3 occasions, the last being on the away goals rule back in September 1983.

No doubt the Essex massive will be right up for a bit of giant killing so it's up to Ruben to get it sorted on this occasion and avoid something similar to the recent FA Cup disasters Reading have had to endure.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and go
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
5. That Sky+ thing
6. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM ; 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4, BBC iPlayer Radio (other radio apps are available ))

[Snowflake Royal]

Be interesting to see how far the changes go, and whether Azeez will play.

Something like:
................Boyce-Clarke
...Abrefa, Dean, Kanu, Garcia
......................Craig
Camara, Sackey, Savage, Tuma
..... .............Wareham



Defence should be fine if up against Lyle Taylor unless he found the desire to actually try in games since leaving Cambridge.

[Clyde1998]

Be interesting to see how far the changes go, and whether Azeez will play.

Something like:
................Boyce-Clarke
...Abrefa, Dean, Kanu, Garcia
......................Craig
Camara, Sackey, Savage, Tuma
..... .............Wareham



Defence should be fine if up against Lyle Taylor unless he found the desire to actually try in games since leaving Cambridge.

Yeah. I can see a team like that - possibly with Garcia further up the park and Osho playing LB. Certainly a good opportunity for a number of young players.

[Sutekh]

Quite a bit stronger than I was thinking. Debut for Akande? Still no Azeez (off to Stoke after all)?

[traff]

Quite a bit stronger than I was thinking. Debut for Akande? Still no Azeez (off to Stoke after all)?

Hoping he is playing safe with Azeez for the league game on Saturday,

Bit surprised J Clarke isn't getting any game time, especially as we are short of left-back options.

[Snowflake Royal]

Quite a bit stronger than I was thinking. Debut for Akande? Still no Azeez (off to Stoke after all)?

Hoping he is playing safe with Azeez for the league game on Saturday,

Bit surprised J Clarke isn't getting any game time, especially as we are short of left-back options.

He had some major injury set backs a while ago, and from the youth team we're pretty solid with Garcia and Osho both playing there in pre-season.

I dunno if Osho is actually a CB a la Dorsett, but surprised he's been behind Garcia as he has looked excellent, and physically up to the men's game.

Presumably Garcia LW, with Akande RW?

Hope to see a bit of Tuma and Sackey.

[Royals and Racers]

Quite a bit stronger than I was thinking. Debut for Akande? Still no Azeez (off to Stoke after all)?

Hoping he is playing safe with Azeez for the league game on Saturday,

Bit surprised J Clarke isn't getting any game time, especially as we are short of left-back options.

As he’s injured that probably explains why.

[Snowflake Royal]

Quite a bit stronger than I was thinking. Debut for Akande? Still no Azeez (off to Stoke after all)?

Hoping he is playing safe with Azeez for the league game on Saturday,

Bit surprised J Clarke isn't getting any game time, especially as we are short of left-back options.

As he’s injured that probably explains why.

Again?

Shame, he looked really promising a couple of years ago, but looks like he might have good old Royal Injury Blight.

[Royal_jimmy]

Really not bothered how this one goes. But here to cheer the kids on.

[Orion1871]

The Reading classic poor start.

[Snowflake Royal]

Not a great start. Not that I can see it because someone hasn't turned the stream on, which does appear to be included in the season pass.

[Royal_jimmy]

Getting out muscled by a more physical side. I'm surprised Wing is being risked in this.

[Orion1871]

Harlee Dean is a waste of oxygen.

[Snowflake Royal]

Don't understand why Selles has Abrefa at LB, not his flank, and Osho at RB, who seems more a LB.

[Orion1871]

Nice of us to invite Stam back to manage for a game.

[Royal Ginger]

This dark second camera is almost as shit as the sprinkler system.

[Sutekh]

Harlee Dean is a waste of oxygen.

He just ran

[Royal Ginger]

Dean chugging at full speed looked barely faster than walking.

[Sutekh]

Pitch seems to be a bit slippy

[Orion1871]

Harlee Dean is a waste of oxygen.

He just ran

Shame he just stood still and watched the ball as it slowly drifted past him, and Kanu had to bring the Colchester player down to stop them going through.