Team for Forest

[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.

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.

Why can't people read posts properly before responding?

Where did I imply that others had been performing? I actually said "and certainlyno more so than the other 3 you mention".

As for Marekhaving a decent run, isn't that exactlywhat he has had untilhe got injured again? How many goals did he score? How many goals did he set up? I don't think you will need more than one finger for the total of that.

[Ian 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.

Karacan and Marek have both got assists. Howard has a goal, Cisse has a goal. Marek has created a lot of the opportunities where McAnuff has then put in the cross which is the assist.

Cisse is in no way creative given he struggles to pass the ball, but he can strike a goal. Howard is a bit of an alround work horse (like Karacan, but bigger, slower and more experienced) Tabb seems injured given I don't think he was in the Liverpool squad.

//
Tabb hasn't been a left winger for years and iirc wasn't especially good there when tried previously with us. Oh and still probably injured. Howard has also been at his poorest and most ineffective when played wide.

//
Rasiak is not our leading goalscorer and hasn't been for several weeks. Sigurdsson has 8 goals. Rasiak has 6. Still good enough to start though, only question is whether he is fit enough or fits best with the tactics.

[Wycombe Royal]

Based on the latest league stats from the Official site:

Matejovsky - 14 appearances, 0 assists, 0 goals
Karacan - 16 appearances, 1 assist, 0 goals
Cisse - 15 appearances, 0 assists, 1 goal
Tabb - 14 appearances, 0 assists, 0 goals (but mostly played at right back)
Howard - 13 appearances, 1 assist, 1 goal

So based on that we don't have much effective creativity or attacking ability in our central midfield.

Sigurdsson has 4 assists and 6 goals.

[Ian Royal]

Based on the latest league stats from the Official site:

Matejovsky - 14 appearances, 0 assists, 0 goals
Karacan - 16 appearances, 1 assist, 0 goals
Cisse - 15 appearances, 0 assists, 1 goal
Tabb - 14 appearances, 0 assists, 0 goals (but mostly played at right back)
Howard - 13 appearances, 1 assist, 1 goal

So based on that we don't have much effective creativity or attacking ability in our central midfield.

Sigurdsson has 4 assists and 6 goals.

Well I was tracking it myself (details at home, and I was fairly sure Marek had got at least one assist.

And you can't just measure creativity on goals and assists. That's snowball territory.

[Wycombe Royal]

Based on the latest league stats from the Official site:

Matejovsky - 14 appearances, 0 assists, 0 goals
Karacan - 16 appearances, 1 assist, 0 goals
Cisse - 15 appearances, 0 assists, 1 goal
Tabb - 14 appearances, 0 assists, 0 goals (but mostly played at right back)
Howard - 13 appearances, 1 assist, 1 goal

So based on that we don't have much effective creativity or attacking ability in our central midfield.

Sigurdsson has 4 assists and 6 goals.

Well I was tracking it myself (details at home, and I was fairly sure Marek had got at least one assist.

And you can't just measure creativity on goals and assists. That's snowball territory.

Matejovsky has one assist listed in the cup.

I agree that there ismore to attacking and creativity than just assists and goals, but for me Matejovsky is a luxury we currently can't afford to have in the team as he just gives the ball away far too much. We didn't miss him in either match against Liverpool. As long as the two central midfielders can get the ball to the wide players we don't need to have to much creativty in there.

However this is digressing from my original point which was that to say those other 3 shouldn't be in the team as they aren't as creative or attacking as Matejovsky and Karacan has no basis whatsoever. The only two midfielders who are being creative and attacking on a consistent basis are Sigurdsson and McAnuff.

[ZacNaloen]

Mareks stats would probably bare out when it comes to key passes, he puts the ball where it needs to be for the "plays" (to steal a term from American Football) to start. Just as important, but doesn't show up too well when you look at stats like assists and goal scored. Basically, he keeps attacks ticking over and provides a vital link between midfielders and forwards, whilst not contributing anything obvious to the final outcome.

Readings equivalent of Alonso whilst being nowhere near as good, look how much Liverpool miss him. Wouldn't say we need Marek like that though, we never built the team round him so he isn't a key squad member.

[zummerset]

I looked up the number of games that Marek has had this season and at thirteen it's more than I thought - around the same as Tabb in actual fact

My selection was really subjective when I think about it - I like watching talented players like Marek, Jem, Sig and McaNuff play - even Kebe is growing on me. Players like Tabb, Howard and Cisse bore the pants off me and lack both charisma and creativity.

Isn't the point that Marek has a more cultured pass and we are now developing players that have a bit of flair who might be able to link in with him. Regardless of the result v Forest I really think we have turned a corner and are starting to develop a team that plays 'the Reading way' and are not hoofball artists or headless workhorses (to mix a metaphor)

[Wycombe Royal]

Mareks stats would probably bare out when it comes to key passes, he puts the ball where it needs to be for the "plays" (to steal a term from American Football) to start. Just as important, but doesn't show up too well when you look at stats like assists and goal scored. Basically, he keeps attacks ticking over and provides a vital link between midfielders and forwards, whilst not contributing anything obvious to the final outcome.

Readings equivalent of Alonso whilst being nowhere near as good, look how much Liverpool miss him. Wouldn't say we need Marek like that though, we never built the team round him so he isn't a key squad member.

He probably also starts more opposition attacks than any other player on our team. He puts pressure on our defence and when we are struggling that is something we can't afford.

Basically from mypoint of view, despite being in this country for around 2 years he still hasn't adapted to the English game. He wants far toomuch time on the ball and then either gets challenged or misplaces his pass. When he does get the time he wants then he can produce excellent passes butr most teams are aware of his passing ability and close him down very quickly.

[Ferris]

Based on the latest league stats from the Official site:

Matejovsky - 14 appearances, 0 assists, 0 goals
Karacan - 16 appearances, 1 assist, 0 goals
Cisse - 15 appearances, 0 assists, 1 goal
Tabb - 14 appearances, 0 assists, 0 goals (but mostly played at right back)
Howard - 13 appearances, 1 assist, 1 goal

So based on that we don't have much effective creativity or attacking ability in our central midfield.

Sigurdsson has 4 assists and 6 goals.

Well I was tracking it myself (details at home, and I was fairly sure Marek had got at least one assist.

And you can't just measure creativity on goals and assists. That's snowball territory.

He got the assist for the winner in the Blackpool game didn't he? Where is Snowball by the way? I kind of miss him...

[Wycombe Royal]

Based on the latest league stats from the Official site:

Matejovsky - 14 appearances, 0 assists, 0 goals
Karacan - 16 appearances, 1 assist, 0 goals
Cisse - 15 appearances, 0 assists, 1 goal
Tabb - 14 appearances, 0 assists, 0 goals (but mostly played at right back)
Howard - 13 appearances, 1 assist, 1 goal

So based on that we don't have much effective creativity or attacking ability in our central midfield.

Sigurdsson has 4 assists and 6 goals.

Well I was tracking it myself (details at home, and I was fairly sure Marek had got at least one assist.

And you can't just measure creativity on goals and assists. That's snowball territory.

He got the assist for the winner in the Blackpool game didn't he? Where is Snowball by the way? I kind of miss him...

The BBC live text says it was McANuff, but I'm not so sure........

[Ferris]

Was definitely Marek. Plus I remember after the game Mick Gooding saying how pleased he was for Marek getting the assist for the winner

[rob the royal]

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

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

Thought that was Sigurdsson?

Rasiak wouldn't be first choice for me, but maybe it's just because he's not the sort of player that I enojoy watching that I don't see what he is offering us apart from the odd occasion when he can't miss. Most of the time his headers are wildly mis-directed or he doesn't even get off the ground to challenge.

Picking the team for tomorrow I guess will come down to fitness or lack of it, who was on longer, who worked harder etc.

I'm assuming Gunnarsson is wrecked, and that Church might be too. And I'm assuming Sigurdsson could be rested completely if he's a doubt.

Federici
Griffin
Mills
Ivar
Bertrand
McAnuff
Karacan
Cisse
Tabb
Long
Thorvaldsson

Hamer
Pearce
Gunnarsson
Matejovsky
Kebe
Church
Rasiak

[winchester_royal]

Fed

Griff
Mills
Ivar
Bertrand

Kebe
Tabb
Howard
HRK

Thor
Long

Can't afford to have the starting front 6 from Wednesday on the field. They'll be knackered, and we need to be at our high-tempo best to have any chance against Forest.

[rob the royal]

Fed

Griff
Mills
Ivar
Bertrand

Kebe
Tabb
Howard
HRK

Thor
Long

Can't afford to have the starting front 6 from Wednesday on the field. They'll be knackered, and we need to be at our high-tempo best to have any chance against Forest.

I'd go with that one as well. But I'd be tempted to put HRK on the right and Tabb on the left, leave Kebe on the bench for later and have Cisse in the middle with Howard, I doubt he'd be as knackered as the rest. Or start kebe and have HRK on the bench... whatever.

[Ian Royal]

Was definitely Marek. Plus I remember after the game Mick Gooding saying how pleased he was for Marek getting the assist for the winner

They both got assists against Blackpool according to my painstaking records which involved watching replays several times.

[Rawlie19]

Matejovski won't be involved, he has a stomach problem. Sigs got a foot problem so is doubtful, I think Bryn is just knackered.

This is what I THINK the line-up will be

..........................FEDS..........................

GRIFFIN.....IVAR....MILLS.....BERTRAND

McANUFF.....KARACAN.....CISSE.....KÉBÉ

................THOR......CHURCH................

BENCH: HamerTime, Pearce, Tabb, Gunner, Sig, Long, Raziak

[UpNorth]

With Cisse and Karacan in midfield there is no one to hold up play and keep possession. This was noticeable against Liverpool. I'd drop Cisse and put in Howard or Marek. Alternatively a five man midfield could accommodate both.

[Rawlie19]

With Cisse and Karacan in midfield there is no one to hold up play and keep possession. This was noticeable against Liverpool. I'd drop Cisse and put in Howard or Marek. Alternatively a five man midfield could accommodate both.

Which part of Matejovski being injured didn't you understand? Howard may well start ahead of Cisse, but I suspect Brian won't want to disrupt the team that performed so well in 3 and a half hours against Liverpool where he doesn't have to.

[Upper West Ginger]

Larch

Oak Ash Beech Maple

Pine Cedar Spruce Fir

Chestnut Birch

[RFCBoy]

Fed

Berty
Mills
Ingi
Griffin

McAnuff
Karacan
Siggy (if fit) otherwise Howard
Robson-Kanu

Church
Long

Subs:
Hamer
Cisse
Thorvaldsson
Rasiak
Kebe
Cummings