MATCHWATCH : Crawley Town (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday October 19, 12.30pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

The "Saturday lunch time home game for the telly" fixtures continue with another challenge for AFC Charity, in the shape of Crawley Town.

This game sees 16th take on 22nd so is another struggling side looking for points but we all know that no matter how good Reading are at home they are more than capable of real stinkers from time to time (so let's hope the Orient performance doesn't resurface).

Crawley are a new name on the fixture calendar and like Orient earlier this season are struggling in the relegation places already. However while promoted last season this level is not unknown to them having previously survived three seasons in the third tier around a decade ago.

The Red Devils have only picked up 1 point since winning their first two league games of the season and that point was from a home draw with Stockport a month ago since then it's been a run of 5 straight defeats (so you can see this one is in prime charity territory) culminating in being done 5-3 at home by Shrewsbury last week. They have, however, only played 4 away league games (though they have managed 1 more win in that time than Reading have on their league travels), and while losing 3 of them they are hard to break down as all defeats have been by a solitary goal so expect them to be defensive and looking for set pieces and breakaways, while Reading huff and puff and struggle to blow the Crawley bus over.

Despite promotion they've pretty much overhauled the squad that was so successful with 19 new faces arriving over the summer (including 5 loans) and 9 moving on including star striker Daniel Orsi (to Burton) and former Reading favourite Liam Kelly (to franchise). Despite that they won their first two games but whereas you'd expect such a new look squad to build an understanding and improve the wheels have rather unexpectedly fallen off their bus (so that'll make it even harder to move on Saturday then).

The player to mark out of the game is midfielder Junior Quitirna who has hit 4 (50%) of Crawley's league goals this season, which is 1 more than their three strikers combined.

While Reading will be without the injured Dorsett and suspended WiFi there is a possibility that both Pereira and Camara will be fit enough to return to the squad. Crawley will also be upset though as they will be missing defender Josh Flint due to suspension after he was sent off v Shrewsbury last Saturday.

With WiFi out would expect Selles to stick Knibbs out onto the left side and bring Savage back into midfield.

Referee

Edward (Joe) Duckworth (Lewis method)

Previously

Nothing

Historically

First ever league game time again and seem to remember about a year ago another first ever league game against a side in a bit of a struggle in this division. Remember future FA Cup opponents Fleetwood? Hoping Reading can collect the points this time rather than embarrassingly collapse into the same dreary forgettable nothingness.

While first time league visitors, Reading did win 3-1 at Crawley in the FA Cup back in 2013 but that's the only time the two have played each other - and last time Reading bought one of their players straight after the game!

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and go
2. Sky red button thing
3. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
4. Ring/text a mate for updates
5. Use a RoyalsTV subscription
6. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Garry Baldy]

I watched the Crawley v Shrewsbury game on Saturday and, whilst it would be a stretch to say they were unlucky, the game certainly turned after the red card. Crawley showed plenty of spirit and even managed to go 2-1 up with ten men. Eventually, Shrewsbury dominated the last quarter and deservedly won but I don't think it will be an easy three points for us.

Hope I'm wrong !

[Snowflake Royal]

Against Crawley I wouldn’t risk Perreira, I'd give him a youth game run out for a half at least first. I think Button has been playing well and been let down by those in front of him for the goals. Though Pereira should move back into poll position quickly. Crawley aren't exactly the biggest threat.

I really want to see the end of this Craig at RB experiment, he's a good player but he still spends lots of games playing midfield and we're left very narrow and vulnerable on the flanks.

We need an enforcer in midfield and none of Knibbs, Elliott and Wing fit the bill.

.........................Button
Abrefa*, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia
..........................Wing
..Campbell, Knibbs, Savage, Akande
................ ........Smith

Rowley, Dean, Osho, Craig, Elliott, Wareham, Camara^

In the case people aren't back yet...
*Craig with Rushesha on the bench
^Tuma or Ahmed or Sackey

[Royals and Racers]

Against Crawley I wouldn’t risk Perreira, I'd give him a youth game run out for a half at least first. I think Button has been playing well and been let down by those in front of him for the goals. Though Pereira should move back into poll position quickly. Crawley aren't exactly the biggest threat.

I really want to see the end of this Craig at RB experiment, he's a good player but he still spends lots of games playing midfield and we're left very narrow and vulnerable on the flanks.

We need an enforcer in midfield and none of Knibbs, Elliott and Wing fit the bill.

.........................Button
Abrefa*, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia
..........................Wing
..Campbell, Knibbs, Savage, Akande
................ ........Smith

Rowley, Dean, Osho, Craig, Elliott, Wareham, Camara^

In the case people aren't back yet...
*Craig with Rushesha on the bench
^Tuma or Ahmed or Sackey

Again you leave out Elliott !! and again i say thank goodness you are not the manager !!

[Snowflake Royal]

Against Crawley I wouldn’t risk Perreira, I'd give him a youth game run out for a half at least first. I think Button has been playing well and been let down by those in front of him for the goals. Though Pereira should move back into poll position quickly. Crawley aren't exactly the biggest threat.

I really want to see the end of this Craig at RB experiment, he's a good player but he still spends lots of games playing midfield and we're left very narrow and vulnerable on the flanks.

We need an enforcer in midfield and none of Knibbs, Elliott and Wing fit the bill.

.........................Button
Abrefa*, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia
..........................Wing
..Campbell, Knibbs, Savage, Akande
................ ........Smith

Rowley, Dean, Osho, Craig, Elliott, Wareham, Camara^

In the case people aren't back yet...
*Craig with Rushesha on the bench
^Tuma or Ahmed or Sackey

Again you leave out Elliott !! and again i say thank goodness you are not the manager !!

Yeah. As I said last time,and clearly explain this time, he gives the ball away a lot and we need someone sterner in there, like Savage, and Elliott is clearly the first midfielder to lose his place out of him, Wing and Knibbs.

Why do you think he's so irreplaceable? Which of Knibbs or Wing would you drop instead of him if he's irreplaceable and why?

Educate me if I'm so wrong.

[Royals and Racers]

Against Crawley I wouldn’t risk Perreira, I'd give him a youth game run out for a half at least first. I think Button has been playing well and been let down by those in front of him for the goals. Though Pereira should move back into poll position quickly. Crawley aren't exactly the biggest threat.

I really want to see the end of this Craig at RB experiment, he's a good player but he still spends lots of games playing midfield and we're left very narrow and vulnerable on the flanks.

We need an enforcer in midfield and none of Knibbs, Elliott and Wing fit the bill.

.........................Button
Abrefa*, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia
..........................Wing
..Campbell, Knibbs, Savage, Akande
................ ........Smith

Rowley, Dean, Osho, Craig, Elliott, Wareham, Camara^

In the case people aren't back yet...
*Craig with Rushesha on the bench
^Tuma or Ahmed or Sackey

Again you leave out Elliott !! and again i say thank goodness you are not the manager !!

Yeah. As I said last time,and clearly explain this time, he gives the ball away a lot and we need someone sterner in there, like Savage, and Elliott is clearly the first midfielder to lose his place out of him, Wing and Knibbs.

Why do you think he's so irreplaceable? Which of Knibbs or Wing would you drop instead of him if he's irreplaceable and why?

Educate me if I'm so wrong.

Because he has made real progress this season and is now consistently our best player.

[Sutekh]

Pereira (if fit, Button otherwise)
Craig, Bindon, Mbengue, Garcia
Savage, Wing
Campbell, Elliott, Knibbs
Smith

Subs:

CBC/Button, Camara, Dean, Wareham, Akande, Osho, Tuma

[Snowflake Royal]

Again you leave out Elliott !! and again i say thank goodness you are not the manager !!

Yeah. As I said last time,and clearly explain this time, he gives the ball away a lot and we need someone sterner in there, like Savage, and Elliott is clearly the first midfielder to lose his place out of him, Wing and Knibbs.

Why do you think he's so irreplaceable? Which of Knibbs or Wing would you drop instead of him if he's irreplaceable and why?

Educate me if I'm so wrong.

Because he has made real progress this season and is now consistently our best player.

He's certainly made progress, but I doubt many would agree with you that he's consistently our best player.

I certainly don't.

For the record the whoscored ratings (which I think are a poor overall measure) have him 8th highest rated in the squad.

[tidus_mi2]

Crawley fans don't seem remotely confident with this game, particularly with the lack of defensive bodies available.

So 0-1 defeat on the cards.

[Sutekh]

Peterborough fan tells almost 15 people that the SCL is the worst ground in the division

[Snowflake Royal]

The guy sounds like screaming moron.

[Orion1871]

Peterborough fan tells almost 15 people that the SCL is the worst ground in the division

So he has never been to a Peterborough home game?

[Snowflake Royal]

Hang on, he's a Posh fan and he ranked the Abbey above the Mad Stad?

[Wycombe Royal]

Yeah. As I said last time,and clearly explain this time, he gives the ball away a lot and we need someone sterner in there, like Savage, and Elliott is clearly the first midfielder to lose his place out of him, Wing and Knibbs.

Gives the ball away a lot, but by that score so do the others:

Passing accuracy this season:
Elliot - 80.8%
Wing - 79.9%
Savage 80.1%
Knibbs - 74.1%.

They all have the pros & cons and are all different types of player and I would suggest the three we choose and the position they play in depends on our set up and the opposition we are facing.

[Snowflake Royal]

Yeah. As I said last time,and clearly explain this time, he gives the ball away a lot and we need someone sterner in there, like Savage, and Elliott is clearly the first midfielder to lose his place out of him, Wing and Knibbs.

Gives the ball away a lot, but by that score so do the others:

Passing accuracy this season:
Elliot - 80.8%
Wing - 79.9%
Savage 80.1%
Knibbs - 74.1%.

They all have the pros & cons and are all different types of player and I would suggest the three we choose and the position they play in depends on our set up and the opposition we are facing.

Passing accuracy isn’t the only way of giving the ball away.

Dispossed per 90
Elliott - 2.1
Craig - 1.1
Savage - 0.1
Knibbs - 1
Wing - 0.7

Unsuccessful touches per 90
Elliott - 2.3
Craig - 1.2
Savage - 0 5
Knibbs - 1.2
Wing - 1.1

Pretty much twice as much as the others on those measures, and little in it on passing accuracy except Knibbs, and that's still not huge.

We need more steel to our midfield no? Who would you drop out of the three to give us it?

[Hound]

Against Crawley I wouldn’t risk Perreira, I'd give him a youth game run out for a half at least first. I think Button has been playing well and been let down by those in front of him for the goals. Though Pereira should move back into poll position quickly. Crawley aren't exactly the biggest threat.

I really want to see the end of this Craig at RB experiment, he's a good player but he still spends lots of games playing midfield and we're left very narrow and vulnerable on the flanks.

We need an enforcer in midfield and none of Knibbs, Elliott and Wing fit the bill.

.........................Button
Abrefa*, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia
..........................Wing
..Campbell, Knibbs, Savage, Akande
................ ........Smith

Rowley, Dean, Osho, Craig, Elliott, Wareham, Camara^

In the case people aren't back yet...
*Craig with Rushesha on the bench
^Tuma or Ahmed or Sackey

Basically this - though I think Osho is well down the list for a place on the bench. Prob have Rushesha there instead who I like but doesn’t seem to be getting a look in

[Clyde1998]

Against Crawley I wouldn’t risk Perreira, I'd give him a youth game run out for a half at least first. I think Button has been playing well and been let down by those in front of him for the goals. Though Pereira should move back into poll position quickly. Crawley aren't exactly the biggest threat.

I really want to see the end of this Craig at RB experiment, he's a good player but he still spends lots of games playing midfield and we're left very narrow and vulnerable on the flanks.

We need an enforcer in midfield and none of Knibbs, Elliott and Wing fit the bill.

.........................Button
Abrefa*, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia
..........................Wing
..Campbell, Knibbs, Savage, Akande
................ ........Smith

Rowley, Dean, Osho, Craig, Elliott, Wareham, Camara^

In the case people aren't back yet...
*Craig with Rushesha on the bench
^Tuma or Ahmed or Sackey

Basically this - though I think Osho is well down the list for a place on the bench. Prob have Rushesha there instead who I like but doesn’t seem to be getting a look in

I think the issue with Rushesha is Selles primarily sees him as a CM/DM and that's an area where we've got a lot of cover. He's played RB plenty of times in the past, so would be a full-back option should he be on the bench.

He's someone I'd like to get more of an opportunity, as he's looked decent (at worst) when I've seen him play.

[Clyde1998]

Crawley's website saying they've got less than 200 tickets left: https://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/2024 ... et-update/

I don't know what allocation we gave them though - maybe 1,000? They took 494 to Cambridge and 408 to Wycombe, so likely their biggest away following so far this season.

[Wycombe Royal]

Yeah. As I said last time,and clearly explain this time, he gives the ball away a lot and we need someone sterner in there, like Savage, and Elliott is clearly the first midfielder to lose his place out of him, Wing and Knibbs.

Gives the ball away a lot, but by that score so do the others:

Passing accuracy this season:
Elliot - 80.8%
Wing - 79.9%
Savage 80.1%
Knibbs - 74.1%.

They all have the pros & cons and are all different types of player and I would suggest the three we choose and the position they play in depends on our set up and the opposition we are facing.

Passing accuracy isn’t the only way of giving the ball away.

Dispossed per 90
Elliott - 2.1
Craig - 1.1
Savage - 0.1
Knibbs - 1
Wing - 0.7

Unsuccessful touches per 90
Elliott - 2.3
Craig - 1.2
Savage - 0 5
Knibbs - 1.2
Wing - 1.1

Pretty much twice as much as the others on those measures, and little in it on passing accuracy except Knibbs, and that's still not huge.

We need more steel to our midfield no? Who would you drop out of the three to give us it?

Doesn't quite constitute giving it away "a lot" - the stats are very similar for all the midfield players. There is also a difference in what Elliot is trying to do with the ball as well. When he receives it he is always looking to make a positive move forward, whether that be through dribbling or looking for a more difficult pass. Savage on the other normally looks immediately for a sideways or simple lay-off pass.

Depending on the opposition I would like to see someone in the team who takes a risk, rather than just playing it safe. However there times when playing it safe is the best option, but that isn't against Crawley where we need to playing on the front foot and look for those killer passes - that isn't Savage's strength. However if we were playing Birmingham then I would prefer Savage in the side for his ball winning capabilities.

[morganb]

Does Selles ever tailor the team based on the opposition (or even whether we are home or away)?

If he could he would play the same 11 every week