Team for Chelsea

[M Brook]

Kebe didn't take part due to injury.

Now there's a surprise!
#playswhenhecanbearsed

[melonhead]

he does what he wants, and rightly so

[RoyalWire]

Whilst McCleary was great against Stoke, I think he may be best used as impact off the bench, running against tired defenders.

I would also consider an 4-5-1 to help absord chelsea's strong midfield.

But after such a short time of supporting Reading...what do I know ha-ha

[maffff]

Daily Mail article for this originally went up saying

Reading midfielder Jem Karacan will miss Wednesday's game at Chelsea after failing to recover from a leg injury.

Striker Jason Roberts misses out through suspension, but Jimmy Kebe is in the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury

it now says

Reading midfielder Jem Karacan will miss Wednesday's game at Chelsea after failing to recover from a leg injury.

Striker Jason Roberts misses out through suspension, but Jimmy Kebe is unavailable due to a hamstring injury.

[Optimist]

I'd be very surprised if the formation changed, but I wouldnt mind seeing,

Federici
Gunter - Pearce - Gorkss - Harte
McCleary - Guthrie - Leigertwood - McAnuff
Robson-Kanu
Pogrebnyak

I know it'd be unfair to drop ALF but I reckon an impact striker would be more useful vs Chelsea, whereas an impact winger was more useful vs Stoke.

[Kebe Cummings]

_______________McCarthy_____________
Gunter_____Pearce____Gorks_____Shorey
Cummings_____Leigertwood____McCleary
________________Guthrie_______________
___________Pog_______Le Fondre________

at dropping our first choice keeper after one mistake.

Not a mistake is the reason. Everybody makes mistakes. Just think that Alex is the better. Fed never tries to stop the crosses, always stays on the line. This makes additional work for both our CBs. Plus Gorks have to cover Harte on the wing in addition. So little remain for their main responsibilties.

[Kebe Cummings]

Whilst McCleary was great against Stoke, I think he may be best used as impact off the bench, running against tired defenders.

I would also consider an 4-5-1 to help absord chelsea's strong midfield.

But after such a short time of supporting Reading...what do I know ha-ha

To be realistic I doubt that Chelsea defenders will be tired

[Upper West Ginger]

Daily Mail article for this originally went up saying

Reading midfielder Jem Karacan will miss Wednesday's game at Chelsea after failing to recover from a leg injury.
Striker Jason Roberts misses out through suspension, but Jimmy Kebe is in the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury

it now says

Reading midfielder Jem Karacan will miss Wednesday's game at Chelsea after failing to recover from a leg injury.
Striker Jason Roberts misses out through suspension, but Jimmy Kebe is unavailable due to a hamstring injury.

Well the BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/19328880 says
1315:
FOOTBALL
News from Brian McDermott's press conference ahead of Reading's game at Chelsea on Wednesday. Midfielder Jem Karacan misses the match after failing to recover from a leg injury while striker Jason Roberts misses out through suspension, but Jimmy Kebe is in the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.

New goalkeeper Stuart Taylor is available but is unlikely to start.

and also


1338:
FOOTBALL
Roberto Di Matteo has been talking about Oscar and Ramires at a press conference ahead of Chelsea's Premier League home game with Reading on Wednesday.
"We're slowly looking to integrate Oscar like we did with others," says Di Matteo. "He hasn't been with us long so we have to give time."
On Reading, Di Matteo adds: "They don't concede many and are a threat on the counter-attack. I always found it hard to play against them."
Di Matteo says Ramires is back in contention, but Marko Marin is still out and may not return before the international break.

[melonhead]

Whilst McCleary was great against Stoke, I think he may be best used as impact off the bench, running against tired defenders.

I would also consider an 4-5-1 to help absord chelsea's strong midfield.

But after such a short time of supporting Reading...what do I know ha-ha

good points, youve picked this up quickly

[RoyalWire]

Whilst McCleary was great against Stoke, I think he may be best used as impact off the bench, running against tired defenders.

I would also consider an 4-5-1 to help absord chelsea's strong midfield.

But after such a short time of supporting Reading...what do I know ha-ha

good points, youve picked this up quickly

Thank you kindly!

Having watched our game on Saturday and Chelsea's on Sunday, the big threat for me will be Hazard and Torres, and their right back that scored could have a field day running behind Harte. So if we pack the midfield I would hope it would help.

For those not going to Chelsea on Saturday, be sure to watch your favourite Rugby League team in the Challenge Cup final on the BBC ha-ha!

[RoyalWire]

*Sunderland sorry...getting my days mixed up

[bassavage]

Not sure why you'd pick Hunt to start over ALF, when ALF scored and Hunt came on for Pog against Stoke.

Because when we've played "bigger" teams in the past we tend to play 4-4-2 when attacking and 4-4-1-1 when defending with it usually tending to be Hunt as the man dropping back a little.

For me I still don't see ALF as a starter. I love the guy don't get me wrong but I think for the way we play it's better for us for Hunt to start and for ALF to make the impact, rather than the other way round.

[Reading Aloud]

Not sure why you'd pick Hunt to start over ALF, when ALF scored and Hunt came on for Pog against Stoke.

Because when we've played "bigger" teams in the past we tend to play 4-4-2 when attacking and 4-4-1-1 when defending with it usually tending to be Hunt as the man dropping back a little.

For me I still don't see ALF as a starter. I love the guy don't get me wrong but I think for the way we play it's better for us for Hunt to start and for ALF to make the impact, rather than the other way round.

I agree with Bassa in as much as IF McD plays 4-4-1-1 then Hunt is more suited to play 'in the hole' than ALF. However, Pog looked a bit unfit on saturday so what happens when he tires late on? I can't see either Hunt or ALF playing the lone striker. I think McD will start with the same 11 as on saturday in a 4-4-2 formation with the option of Hunt coming on late in the game for either Pog or ALF (depending on the score and how effective our strikers have been)

[Ian Royal]

Not sure why you'd pick Hunt to start over ALF, when ALF scored and Hunt came on for Pog against Stoke.

Because when we've played "bigger" teams in the past we tend to play 4-4-2 when attacking and 4-4-1-1 when defending with it usually tending to be Hunt as the man dropping back a little.

For me I still don't see ALF as a starter. I love the guy don't get me wrong but I think for the way we play it's better for us for Hunt to start and for ALF to make the impact, rather than the other way round.

I agree with Bassa in as much as IF McD plays 4-4-1-1 then Hunt is more suited to play 'in the hole' than ALF. However, Pog looked a bit unfit on saturday so what happens when he tires late on? I can't see either Hunt or ALF playing the lone striker. I think McD will start with the same 11 as on saturday in a 4-4-2 formation with the option of Hunt coming on late in the game for either Pog or ALF (depending on the score and how effective our strikers have been)

I agree with that point to, although I think that Guthrie is a better choice than Hunt, with preferably Karacan and maybe Tabby slipping into midfield.

[thirtyyarder]

Looking at last year's tactic to select the substitute striker depending on whether we are looking to close the game out or fight back to get something I cant help wondering if Brian will try this from the start in the prem.

Home to Stoke; start with Alfie. Home to Spurs for example; start with Hunt.

Having said all that, tomorrow we are away to Chelsea, so who knows what he's gonna do.

[Royal Ginger]

Looking at last year's tactic to select the substitute striker depending on whether we are looking to close the game out or fight back to get something I cant help wondering if Brian will try this from the start in the prem.

Home to Stoke; start with Alfie. Home to Spurs for example; start with Hunt.

Having said all that, tomorrow we are away to Chelsea, so who knows what he's gonna do.

This ^ . Alfie is proven as an impact sub, one of the best we've ever had, and in a game we're likely to be chasing, our best chance is to employ last season's top scorer in the way he was most effective, ie. running at tired legs. Hunt's a lot better at tracking back and doing the business defensively, and we're going to need that. Our only chance in this game is to frustrate them in the first half and try and nick one towards the end.

More likely that we'll get destroyed in the 1st and have a chance to experiments in the second.

[robbieroyal]

We'll need Pace for this one.

Defend in numbers and counter with speed.

100% McCleary will start for HRK. Hunt in for Alfie (higher work rate).

[Girdler_Massive]

Feds, Gunter, Mariappa, Pearce, Shorey, McCleary, Guthrie, Ledge, HRK(Kebe if fit), ALF, The Pog. Which may go to show that we still need a left wing of class! One who isn't always injured! Pearce might be changed for Gorkks but, I still remember how Terry was continually left on the sidelines long after he should have been in the team - thus Pearce.

Proper mentalist

[Maguire]

Not a mistake is the reason. Everybody makes mistakes. Just think that Alex is the better. Fed never tries to stop the crosses, always stays on the line. This makes additional work for both our CBs. Plus Gorks have to cover Harte on the wing in addition. So little remain for their main responsibilties.

Federici was exceptional last season; you'd have to be a mental to drop him.

Having not seen any of our new signings actually play, I feel confident suggesting McCleary is given a start on the basis that HRK can't have got much better over the summer and he was toilet last year.

Only other option is the coward's option of playing Pog on his own up top and flooding the midfield. I've not idea who you'd actually flood it with though, so let's just stick to the same as last week.

[Maguire]

Only other option is the coward's option of playing Pog on his own up top and flooding the midfield

Yeah so that then