Team for Forest

[Ian Royal]

Ok, I can't see another thread, but Dodd away.

Sig a worry, so I'm assuming he won't play. Probably best to be careful with him anyway.There's definitely an argument for playing the same side, however I think it will be a completely different proposition.

Forest are more than capable of a scrap, have sky high confidence and are in incredible form right now. Which means IMO they are a more dangerous prospect than Liverpool were, especially when you add in how drained we're going to be due to the extra time and the one day fewer to recover.

So I'd make some fairly hefty changes. I'm assuming Tabb is still injured.

..................Federici
...Griffin, Mills, Ingimarsson, Bertrand
..................Karacan
.........Matejovsky, Howard
Church.............................McAnuff
....................Rasiak

Hamer, Cummings, Pearce, Gunnarsson, Long, HRK, Kebe

Gunnarsson has got to be shattered, and he had a torrid time up against Mackie(?), so I worry about a flying Forest targetting him. Bit early for Griffin really, and I know Gunnar was outstanding, but I just have visions of him being destroyed.

General idea is to have Marek and Howard to keep the ball and Karacan to win it. Church and McAnuff to get forward on the break. I don't think we can afford Cisse's loose passes and headless chicken act against Forest, they'll run straight through us and we'll never see the ball.

Without Siggy I don't think we've got a great many decent options on the left, which is why I'd revert to a Brendanesque formation, but much more direct and quick style.

[ZacNaloen]

Can't disagree with the lineup, a lot of last nights squad have to be tired today. But I have a feeling Thor may come in this weekend.


Also i'd probably expect more of a 4-4-1-1 formation if he does.

[Ian Royal]

Can't disagree with the lineup, a lot of last nights squad have to be tired today. But I have a feeling Thor may come in this weekend.

OOO forgot him....

Maybe him up instead of Rasiak as he's likely to be quite tired as well. I think Church can cope with the running at his age.

[Sun Tzu]

I'm worried about putting Marek in with the idea that he'll keep the ball ! A dramatic change in his approach there ....

I'd also be rather concerned at having Howard and Marek in midfield with both having missed games through injury. Bit of a dilema there as I agree with your reasoning re Cisse and Bryn.

I'd possibly go with a midfield 4 of McAnuff, Karacan, Howard and Tabb (although that still has 2 players coming back from injury !) and then have Church and Rasiak up front. Feels better balanced than going with just the one winger and no protction for the right back.

[shaka's shorts]

Fed

Griffin
Mills
Ingi
Bertrand

Jem
Howard
McAnuff (RM)
Tabb (LM)

Thor
Church

Subs Long, Rasiak, Kebe, Gunn, Pearce, Hamer, Cisse

[andrew1957]

I really think it would be unfair to expect Gunnar to play again after the fantastic shift he put in last night so I would bring in Griffin at the back.

Both Karacan and Cisse came off so should be fresh enough but I think Sig (probably injured) and Church deserve a rest and personally I don't think Rasiak is good enough to start.

I would bring in Tabb on the left side for Sig and the in form Long and new Icelandic for Church and Rasiak up front. Stick with 4-4-2 - we seem to play better that way.

Bench - Gunnar, Church, Rasiak, Marek, Pearce, Hamer and Kebe

[savage 4 england]

Federici

Griffin
Mills
Ingimarsson
Bertrand

Tabb
Karacan
Cisse
McAnuff

Thor
Rasiak

[Comfortably Numb]

I don't think Rasiak is good enough to start.

Our leading goalscorer not good enough to start? Not fit enough, maybe.

[howser]

Fed

Grifin
Mills
Ingi
Bertie

McAnuff
Tabb
Karacan
Sigs (if fit)

Church
Long

Subs:

Hamer
Gunner
Cisse
Marek
Howard
HRK
Thor

would change Griffin for Gunner, after that display on wednesday he has earned a rest, and put Long up with Church, he played well when he came on, scored confidence should be up. As for the others that played so superbly on Wednesday, will be on high, are young and fit, in reality should be no problem playing another match on Saturday.

[SteveRoyal]

I'm thinking there will almost definitely be changes, but not as many as you would think.

------------------Federici
-Griffin-Mills-Ingimarsson-Bertrand-
--McAnuff-Karacan---Howard-Kebe--
---------------Long---Church-----------

Bench: Hamer, Pearce, Cisse, Thorvaldsson, Robson-Kanu, Matejovsky, Gunnarsson

[West Stand Flash]

Federici
Griffin Mills Ivar Bertrand
McAnuff Karacan Cisse Sig
Long Church

[CMRoyal]

Federici
Griffin Mills Ivar Bertrand
McAnuff Karacan Cisse Sig
Long Church

That's what I expect too. Kebe for Sig if the latter's injured.

[No Hoops]

Federici

Griffin
Mills
Ingimarsson
Bertrand

Tabb
Karacan
Cisse
McAnuff

Thor
Church

[brendywendy]

following the coppell school ogf football management i think thor will be on the bench, unless long/church are injured
thor eased on with 20 to go
if like to do the same with griffa, but the lack of other options may oxf*rd that up, and may have to play him from the off
the kebster for sig

[zummerset]

Back five seems to pick itself (amazing given our leakage in this area) but IMO midfield should be Kebe, MaNuff, Marek and Karacan with Long and Rasiak up front. Church and Thor perhaps replacing the front two with 30 mins to go. Can't see a spot for Howard, Tabb or Cisse in starters (and to be honest they bore me a bit). Lets be creative and attacking.

[jollyjiminy]

If Sig's injured then ****THANK OUR LUCKY STARS!!!!**** LM is the one position where we've got the talent. Howard and Tabb both highly reliable highly performing left-footed midfielders, and Kebe can play there too. My guess is that Howard should slot in, with the other two on the bench.

We really need to keep it the same as Weds otherwise. None of this demotivating dropping to the bench after a superb performance. Gunnar should play - he'll raise his game for Forest. Expect more nutmegs and fine crosses. I didn't realise he could do that and I don't think he did either. He's just discovered that bit of extra talent he never knew he'd got.

Really difficult choice for the bench. I reckon: Hamer, Griffin, Pearce, Matejovsky, Tabb, Kebe, Long.

No room for Thor just yet.

Perfect.

[Wycombe Royal]

Can't see a spot for Howard, Tabb or Cisse in starters (and to be honest they bore me a bit). Lets be creative and attacking.

And how many goals/assists have Karacan and Marek got this season? The facts do not back these two as being creative and attacking, and certainlyno more so than the other 3 you mention.

[RoyalBird]

Federici

Gunnar Ivar Mills Bertrand

McAnuff Cisse Karacan Sig (if fit, if not Tabb or Howard)

Rasiak Church

Don't change the first XI unless there is an injury. Have Griffin, Thor, Long, Tabb, Howard, Pearce and Hamer on the bench and add Robson-Kanu if Sig isn't fit enough.

[brendywendy]

Expect more nutmegs and fine crosses. I didn't realise he could do that and I don't think he did either. He's just discovered that bit of extra talent he never knew he'd got.

always had it

[zummerset]

Can't see a spot for Howard, Tabb or Cisse in starters (and to be honest they bore me a bit). Lets be creative and attacking.

And how many goals/assists have Karacan and Marek got this season? The facts do not back these two as being creative and attacking, and certainlyno more so than the other 3 you mention.

Since when has any Reading manager given a sustained chance to Marek. If you overlook his petulance and fouls(frustration?)he is a class above anyone in our midfield for some time. If our wingers and centre forward could anticipate his passes or ran better lines we could be a bit of a handfull.

Your point about the number of assists implies that others have been performing well and as you will be aware 4th from bottom does not demonstrate that we are a slick goal scoring machine.