Team for Norwich

[Rex]

We'll do the normal 15 minutes of pressure, see if they wilt. This game (and with what's riding on it for both teams could be edgy) and could be fairly tentative but hopefully if we play with the passion shown at Derby, Reading will loosen up, play the game our way and dominate. A nice early goal to settle us down would be the best laid plan. I so hope the team is kept from Derby which showed the hidden promise or the earlier part of the season.

[Ian Royal]

Hahnemann
Rosenior, Duberry, Bikey, Harding
Little, Karacan, Tabb, Kebe
Kitson, Long

Fed, Harper*, Matejovsky, Doyle, SHunt.

If not fit Baggie.

Who the oxf*rd cares if we don't have a defender on the bench. We HAVE to win. We may as well oxf*rd go for it.

[glass half full]

Shane Long has scored 1 goal in ages, he's still a dreadful player. With the service that Karacan and Tabb can deliver, Doyle would score a lot more goals the reason he hasn't recently hasn't been his fault. He works 10 times harder than Long and has more quality

Shane Long had the service in the game against Derby - and scored. Keep the same, winning team and formation for the Norwich match.

[Ian Royal]

Long: Top Scorer since Xmas. Even if you think he's shit, you'd be mad to leave him out for a half fit Doyle with 2 goals in the same time.

[kc]

Is Dave Mooney allowed play for Norwich?

[Rex]

Is Dave Mooney allowed play for Norwich?

No.

[rg6royal]

USA
Ros Bikey Doobs Stretch (Harding if stretch isn't fit)
LIttle Karacan Tabb Kebe
Long Kitson

[Ian Royal]

Do Norwich actually have any strikers? Will they be able to play an attacking game against us?

[zummerset]

Why not get Duberry out and put Pearce in...thats the normal change that everybody demands week in week out.

Not for me though I hasten to add.

Agreed Doobs is past it now- great in his day but soon out to pasture..

[Ian Royal]

I wouldn't unnecessarily change a defence that has conceeded 3 in the last 5. The only possible change there would be Armstrong for Harding, but that's a hard call to make.

If we don't get the wins we need by all means bring Pearce in for Duberry for the play offs.

[zummerset]

Its all a bit squeaky bum now isn't it (dead exciting though!)

[Dan - B15 Royal]

Long: Top Scorer since Xmas. Even if you think he's shit, you'd be mad to leave him out for a half fit Doyle with 2 goals in the same time.

Agree, im not the biggest Shane Long fan, but he has done a good job when getting the nod scoring vital goals against Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby to name a few, and has to play from the start Monday night.

[rotherwick_royal]

I'd keep things as they are with the exception of bringing Armstrong back.

Just heard that Lee Croft is unlikely to be fit for Norwich. I thought he was their best player when they came here. They are short of strikers, somebody called Cody McDonald is tipped for his first start.

[Wizard]

Apparently this Cody kid is quite a decent player, "one for the future". Alan Gow might also be one to watch if he is still there.

[Man Friday]

Got to be the Derby winning team.

[Ian Royal]

Got to be the Derby winning team.

Derby've had a winning team this season?

[loyalroyal4life]

same team lets get the 3 points and go into game of the season against brum

[Y21_Royal]

It ain't broke so lets not meddle. Same team as beat Derby last week.

There's nobody in that side that should need to be kept fresh for the playoffs. As has previously been mentioned, the constant rotating of the side means that all players should be fit and raring to go

[Norfolk Royal]

I suspect they'll play Cody MacDonald up front who they signed from Dartford in the Jan window for about 50k.

He's not had a league start yet but has looked promising in brief cameo sub appearances. Pretty quick.

Then they'll be Alan Lee at centre forward which should suit Bikey and Doobs down to the ground in a physical battle.

They have another option of playing Alan Gow up front alongside Lee if MacDonald is deemed too inexperienced.

Gow is on loan from Rangers but hadly a prolific striker. Norwich fans don't like him much either after he pulled out of a tackle in the Old Farm Derby last week.

They also have the option of playing Cureton but he hasn't played in the first team for three months so an unlikely starter but may be on the bench tonight.

Lee Croft was rated 50-50 in the local papers up here this morning so probably won't play which will mean an easier time for whoever is our left back tonight.

They will also play David Carney, an Aussie on loan from Celtic I think. He's pants.

What Norwich have tended to do when they play well this season is come out the blocks quick and if they get an early goal, sit on it at home.

If they don't get an early goal they're usually f***ed.

Nightmare for me tonight as I bought my ten-year old daughter at ticket for her first Reading game but she can't get there until about 20 minutes into the first half. I'm going to have to try and persuade one of the stewards to open a gate for her.

[Y21_Royal]

I'd forgotten Cureton was at Norwich, what odds on him scoring the goal the denies us automatic promotion?