Reading V Chelsea match thread

[higher]

Well weve frustrated one of the champions elect now we just need to annoy Moanrinho and scupper the others.
Teams:
1 Marcus Hahnemann : Petr Cech 1
2 Graeme Murty : Paulo Ferreira 20
16 Ivar Ingimarsson : Tal Ben Haim 22
29 Michael Duberry : Ricardo Carvalho 6
3 Nicky Shorey : Ashley Cole 3
11 John Oster : Shaun Wright-Phillips 24
15 James Harper : Steve Sidwell 9
4 Kalifa Cisse : Frank Lampard 8
10 Stephen Hunt : Florent Malouda 15
9 Kevin Doyle : Didier Drogba 11
24 Shane Long : Salomon Kalou 21

22 Andre Bikey : Claudio Pizarro 14
19 Seol Ki-Hyeon : Carlo Cudicini 23
6 Brynjar Gunnarsson : Joe Cole 10
23 Ulises De la Cruz : Glen Johnson 2
32 Adam Federici : Mikel Obi 12

[Ian Royal]

A slitghtly more attacking formation, though with Cisse it looks like a more defensive central midfield. Need those wings to create.

[Baines]

I guess Coppell thought that two big games for Gunnar in 3 days would be too much for him. Interesting to see how Cisse does (and find it hard to believe he would be more defensive than Gunnar...).

[higher]

Sid starting interesting.

[Ian Royal]

Sid starting interesting.

Jacks!

[Ian Royal]

I guess Coppell thought that two big games for Gunnar in 3 days would be too much for him. Interesting to see how Cisse does (and find it hard to believe he would be more defensive than Gunnar...).

Gunnar pops up and has a dig on plenty of occasions, that would suggest a fair amount of attack.

[Baines]

Not sure how many games you've seen...Gunnar's a defensive midfielder.

[Ian Royal]

Not sure how many games you've seen...Gunnar's a defensive midfielder.

I never said he wasn't.

[Friday's Child]

Excited about Cisse starting and Oster in.

Happy with Terry out and their defence being definitely breakable.

Not sure on our wing coverage vs theirs and breaking down their wing-play.

Sid vs Harper is interesting.

Doyle/Long with no other options is also interesting although slightly concerning.

[Baines]

Not sure how many games you've seen...Gunnar's a defensive midfielder.

I never said he wasn't.

I think you could argue with yourself quite successfully - you don't need my help.

[Baines]

Excited about Cisse starting and Oster in.

Happy with Terry out and their defence being definitely breakable.

Not sure on our wing coverage vs theirs and breaking down their wing-play.

Sid vs Harper is interesting.

Doyle/Long with no other options is also interesting although slightly concerning.

Long's pace against Terry might have been quite interesting...(unless we just lumped it up to him of course).

[Ian Royal]

Not sure how many games you've seen...Gunnar's a defensive midfielder.

I never said he wasn't.

I think you could argue with yourself quite successfully - you don't need my help.

allow me to explain. Gunnarsson is a defensive midfielder in that he breaks up play a lot, however, he does also tend to find himself in advanced positions on a fairly regular basis and tends to score plenty of goals. His shots don't all come from corners and freekicks. Thus in my view, he is reasonably attacking as defensive midfielders go.

Whilst I don't know a lot about Cisse at this moment, I get the feeling he is much more of a holding midfielder, and not one who does much scoring, thus it suggests to me the central midfield will be more defensive than a Harper Gunnarsson partnership, which in turn means the wings will need to be more productive.

better?

Watch as Cisse gets a hat-trick and and I'm made to look a fool.

[higher]

Peeing down at the mad house.

[Baines]

In recent seasons, he's been the most defensive of our midfielders. Saying that someone who hasn't played for us in a competitve game is going to be more defensive isn't a brilliant statement.

[Friday's Child]

Oh FFS don't bicker before the game. Wait for something worth bitching about.

[Ian Royal]

In recent seasons, he's been the most defensive of our midfielders. Saying that someone who hasn't played for us in a competitve game is going to be more defensive isn't a brilliant statement.

it's an opinion. It may well prove to be unfounded. I would also argue that Harper has played a more defensive role than Gunnar a lot of the time. The difference being Gunnar can tackle.

But as it's upsetting FC I'll stop.

URRRRRRRRZZZZZZZZZZZ etc.

[Archie's penalty]

Hope that Cisse and Oster do a good job. Think that it's a good line up call by Coppell. Seol obivously didn't give a crap against United and Gunnarson's a bit old for two big games in 3 days. Also interesting to see how Long does against Chelsea's back line - remember he was great against Bolton (with Ben Haim there) at the end of last season. I think Long may be much more of a threat this year but we shall see.

Watching it in the States on Fox soccer channel - exicted but also nervous - come on urrrzzzzzz!!!!!

[higher]

Hmm bet 365 have changed Reading to win from 5/1 to 9/2. Just had a few bob on a 3-1 royals win @50/1. Garn urzz

[phil in cornwall]

Commentator on Reading World just said that Steve Sidwell is in the Reading lineup.

[cmonurz]

Drogba puts a volley wide, Chelsea were queueing up in the box.