MATCHWATCH : Wycombe Wanderers (a)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday December 7, 3pm
Where : Adams Park, Hillbottom Road, High Wycombe, HP12 4HJ
Capacity : 10,000

Another away trip to face on Saturday as the "not all that brilliant but at least it's improving" away record of Reading heads up the road to Wycombe for a spicy* local derby against the current league leaders.

The current division leaders, Wycombe, are 2 points clear of Hollywood at the top of the table so a Reading "result" could spell the end of their top spot reign which I'm sure they'll be more than anxious to prevent.

The Chairboys lost their first 2 league games (away at Wrexham and at home to Birmingham) but since that Birmingham defeat on 17 August Wycombe have played 15 league games winning 12 and drawing 3 so they are long overdue a league upending. They are also the current top scorers in the entire football (& premier) league with 38 strikes so this is going to be a very very difficult game to get anything from.

Biggest threat posed to opposing teams is Wycombe striker Richard Kone with 9 goals. But note should also be taken of midfielders Luke Leahy and Fred Odyedinma and, of course, former Reading favourite Garath McCleary who is still causing problems for teams at the grand old age of 37. Wycombe have also scored at least one goal in every league game played since a 0-0 draw at home with Derby in April this year (that's now a run of 23 games), in that time they've stuffed Stockport 5-0 away and Orient 3-0 at home, two games that Reading were spectacularly ******* awful in.

Reading will be without Abrefa, Yiadom and Wifi plus Selles may well have departed to Hull, leaving a team most likely led by caretaker, and probable next full time manager, Noel Hunt. So all in all a time that sees the club either spiralling even further into the unknown or a time where, if Selles elects to remain employed by Reading FC, every one is mightily chipper.

* May not actually be all that spicy

Referee

David Rock

Previously

26 Dec 23 > Peterborough United 2-2 Reading

Historically

This will be the7th league game at Wycombe between the two clubs. So far Reading have won thrice and lost twice. A win in this one though would be amazing and quite probably the best thing yet achieved by the players and management.

How to follow the game

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

[Mr Angry]

The obvious result here is a shellacking.

However...........I think the players will be even more motivated to put in a performance on Saturday regardless as to whether Selles has gone or not.

Reading to win 2-1

[Snowflake Royal]

The obvious result here is a shellacking.

However...........I think the players will be even more motivated to put in a performance on Saturday regardless as to whether Selles has gone or not.

Reading to win 2-1

GUO shellacking.

I don't think we'll get a heavy defeat. But any points would be a good result. And aren't out of the question.

[WestYorksRoyal]

If we lose, please keep it in perspective. They're top of the league and Hunt deserves a chance.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

If we lose, please keep it in perspective. They're top of the league and Hunt deserves a chance.

Agreed.

Going in to this, there's nothing like a betrayal to demotivate a bunch of young lads.

[AthleticoSpizz]

“betrayal”?

Will be interesting to see if Ruben explains his decision-making process behind his move, and if things are so bad behind the scenes that he had no choice.

If nothing else, he has always been honest with us…..let’s hope that, that hasn’t changed.

[Stranded]

Wycombe 3 Reading 0 after the team refuse to take to the field.

[WestYorksRoyal]

“betrayal”?

Will be interesting to see if Ruben explains his decision-making process behind his move, and if things are so bad behind the scenes that he had no choice.

If nothing else, he has always been honest with us…..let’s hope that, that hasn’t changed.

I think it will undermine the siege mentality. They've all been in this together and now the manager is leaving. If a couple of big players leave in January, those who stay may just feel like they've been left on the slag heap.

[AthleticoSpizz]

…but, is that betrayal?

[WestYorksRoyal]

Not quite "betrayal" I'd say, unless he's made promises behind the scenes. Merely a reminder that while it's a team sport, people also look out for themselves. You see it in many workplaces tbf that someone will leave for a promotion and payrise elsewhere; it just is what it is.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Of course, and I sincerely hope that he presents us with an honest explanation.

[Snowflake Royal]

If we lose, please keep it in perspective. They're top of the league and Hunt deserves a chance.

Has Selles even gone yet? I've seen nothing official, just panic, assumption and prediction!

[AthleticoSpizz]

If we lose, please keep it in perspective. They're top of the league and Hunt deserves a chance.

Has Selles even gone yet? I've seen nothing official, just panic, assumption and prediction!

has national media (like the BBC) ever been known to be wrong?


Don’t answer that…..

[Snowflake Royal]

Done get me wrong, if I had to speak to Tim Dellor after every game I'd say Yes to any offers too.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

…but, is that betrayal?

Well, I was being a bit hyperbolic.

But how will the player's feel? If it was bad enough for Selles to leave that may suggest to them the ship is sinking. It doesn't feel like it's for football reasons, so the lads will probably conclude there's no future to this club.

The betrayal goes further than just Selles.

[AthleticoSpizz]

…but, is that betrayal?

The betrayal goes further than just Selles.

well quite.

What I am kind’ve asking is, has Selles been betrayed? (once too often)

[leon]

Done get me wrong, if I had to speak to Tim Dellor after every game I'd say Yes to any offers too.

tbf to Dellor he'd have already hung himself from a door

[Snowflake Royal]

…but, is that betrayal?

The betrayal goes further than just Selles.

well quite.

What I am kind’ve asking is, has Selles been betrayed? (once too often)

Everyone associated with the club below CEO has been betrayed repeatedly.

Selles going isn't any sort of betrayal.

[Sutekh]

“betrayal”?

Will be interesting to see if Ruben explains his decision-making process behind his move, and if things are so bad behind the scenes that he had no choice.

If nothing else, he has always been honest with us…..let’s hope that, that hasn’t changed.

Hope he might be reasonably candid in a goodbye interview with the intrepid, no stone unturned, Tim.

BTW isn't there usually a press conference for Saturday's game on Thursday? I assume Hunt will take that?

[Mid Sussex Royal]

“betrayal”?

Will be interesting to see if Ruben explains his decision-making process behind his move, and if things are so bad behind the scenes that he had no choice.

If nothing else, he has always been honest with us…..let’s hope that, that hasn’t changed.

Hope he might be reasonably candid in a goodbye interview with the intrepid, no stone unturned, Tim.

BTW isn't there usually a press conference for Saturday's game on Thursday? I assume Hunt will take that?

I don't think they have them when there's a midweek game