MATCHWATCH : Sheffield United (h) sponsored by Colin

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday 8th December 2018, 5.30pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161


Sheffield United are next to descend on Reading for a top v bottom clash as their ascending star hits town to play Reading's rapidly plummeting meteor.

Expectation is that Sheffield will win fairly comfortably especially as it’s a home game on the telly and Reading just don’t really do very well in league games at home on the telly in recent years. However Reading’s overall form in play is very slowly on the turn into something better so if Reading get it right and Sheffield don’t there could be happy outcome for the beleaguered followers of the hoops.

Sheffield United had a good start but, fortunately, it would appear that now is the best time of the season so far to play them as they have only recorded 2 wins from their last 8 games. However both of those wins were against currently struggling sides (Wigan and Brentford) while the 3 defeats they’ve suffered in the same run have all been against promotion contenders (Forest, Derby and Leeds).

As ever Reading’s opponents are injury free while Reading’s injury list is still as bad as ever. Expectation is that Moore will be fit again but that is not a given. O’Shea is in the same boat while Meite still has a problem with his ankle though he remains playable. Baldock is back but no doubt so will be the mystery injury game as it continues to aid Paul Clement’s selection plans.

So another hard game awaits then. Something that Reading will need to be on their mettle for otherwise it’ll all be rather disappointing again.

Referee

Already returning after just over a month away is your very own James Linington



Previously....

03 Nov 18 > Reading 3-2 Bristol City
06 Mar 18 > Reading 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
02 Jan 18 > Reading 0-2 Birmingham City
09 Sep 17 > Reading 0-1 Bristol City
08 Apr 17 > Norwich City 7-1 Reading
24 Sep 16 > Reading 1-0 Huddersfield Town
21 Nov 15 > Reading 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
02 May 15 > Derby County 0-3 Reading
28 Dec 14 > Reading 2-1 Norwich City
21 Nov 14 > Cardiff City 2-1 Reading
12 Aug 14 > Reading 3-1 Newport County (League Cup)
10 Sep 11 > Reading 0-2 Watford
30 Apr 11 > Coventry City 0-0 Reading
22 Jan 11 > Reading 1-1 Hull City
02 May 10 > Reading 4-0 Preston North End
30 Jan 10 > Reading 1-0 Barnsley

Historically

Reading and Sheffield United are in the process of sharing their 20th season together. This basically works out as more or less one game a year against each other since the clubs first met in 1979.

Home form is not particularly impressive. Yes Reading have the edge but as draws are about as common as an injury free Reading squad this edge is by ten wins to eight from nineteen games. Particularly depressing is the fact the fact that Sheffield United have rolled up scored three and departed happy from each of their last three league visits. Add to that a 1-0 win from the game immediately before and that makes for a run of four successive home league defeats to the Blades.

So some steel that needs to rather quickly needs to be blunted then.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Use an iFollow subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
6. SKY TV

[Old Man Andrews]

Think Sheffield United will come and do a job on us, they need to bounce back after their defeat to Leeds on Saturday. Can see it being 0-1 in a tight, dull game.

[NewCorkSeth]

Sheffield have been powerhouses of wing play this season so we would be foolish to play with Wing Backs again.

-------------Jaakkola
Yiadom--Ilori--Moore--Gunter
--Rinomhota---Bacuna
McCleary------------------Barrow
----------Meite---Baldock

Walker
Gunter(or someone who isn't in my starting XI)
Blackett
Swift
McNulty
Sims
Loader

[Old Man Andrews]

Sheffield have been powerhouses of wing play this season so we would be foolish to play with Wing Backs again.

-------------Jaakkola
Yiadom--Ilori--Moore--Gunter
--Rinomhota---Bacuna
McCleary------------------Barrow
----------Meite---Baldock

Walker
Gunter
Blackett
Swift
McNulty
Sims
Loader

The all powerful Chris Gunter starting and on the bench! Is there nothing this man cannot do??

[NewCorkSeth]

Sheffield have been powerhouses of wing play this season so we would be foolish to play with Wing Backs again.

-------------Jaakkola
Yiadom--Ilori--Moore--Gunter
--Rinomhota---Bacuna
McCleary------------------Barrow
----------Meite---Baldock

Walker
Gunter
Blackett
Swift
McNulty
Sims
Loader

The all powerful Chris Gunter starting and on the bench! Is there nothing this man cannot do??

[John Smith]

Expectation is that Sheffield will win fairly comfortably especially as it’s a home game on the telly and Reading just don’t really do very well in league games at home on the telly in recent years.

Nonsense.

Sheffield United can be quite inconsistent and I am confident we will get a point from this game.

[URZZZZ]

--------------------------Jaakkola
Yiadom---------Moore------------Blackett---------Gunter
-----------Kelly----------Bacuna-----------Rinomhota
------------McCleary-------------------Baldock
---------------------------McNulty

Mannone
Ilori
Richards
Lawless
Meite
Barrow
Loader

[Old Man Andrews]

Would rather start with Meite in this one and bring him off if necessary. No way we could play McNulty and Loader against their defence from the start, they'd be eaten alive. Let Meite start and beat them up a bit, hopefully he can last for 60 minutes then bring McNulty or Loader on to run at them.

[Hound]

Watched them a few times and they seem to start very intensely and then drop off as the game goes on

Need to keep them at bay in the first 20 and then I think we’ve a good chance of a result. Need to sit tight on Norwood and not let him dictate

Good manager there though, like what he has done with a bit especially talented side.

[Kulshaw72RFC]

Expectation is that Sheffield will win fairly comfortably especially as it’s a home game on the telly and Reading just don’t really do very well in league games at home on the telly in recent years.

Nonsense.

Sheffield United can be quite inconsistent and I am confident we will get a point from this game.

agreed.
they have not been very good as of late.

[Coppells Lost Coat]

Would rather start with Meite in this one and bring him off if necessary. No way we could play McNulty and Loader against their defence from the start, they'd be eaten alive. Let Meite start and beat them up a bit, hopefully he can last for 60 minutes then bring McNulty or Loader on to run at them.

You could say them same about Stoke, but thought McNulty held his own, made a few clever runs which weren't spotted- Loader not so much. Meite and Mcnulty could work wel,l Loader and Baldock on bench. Gives plenty of options of play.
If fit, Meite must start and stay on for as long as possible.

[Snowflake Royal]

Jaakkola
Yiadom, Ilori, Moore, Blackett
Rinomhota, Bacuna, Kelly
McCleary, McNulty, Baldock.

No point risking Meite in a tough game unless we have to. McNulty did ok. Loader isn't there yet, but got some valuable experience and Baldock will stiffen us up a little.

Don't mind Blackett or Gunter particularly. Kelly will give much more cover than Swift and Bacuna can break forward to get involved. Ilori gets a second chance with a partner he's more used to.

[windermereROYAL]

Glad to see others are seeing Loader the same way that I do.
He`s a very promising youngster, but nowhere near good enough yet, he`s getting bullied as I suspected would happen when all the plebs were clustering for him to be called up.

He`s worth a place on the bench at this time but not yet ready for a first eleven start.

[NewCorkSeth]

Glad to see others are seeing Loader the same way that I do.
He`s a very promising youngster, but nowhere near good enough yet, he`s getting bullied as I suspected would happen when all the plebs were clustering for him to be called up.

He`s worth a place on the bench at this time but not yet ready for a first eleven start.

Responded well to the bullying though. (Not arguing for a starting position) his head didn't drop and he tried a few things on And off the ball. All promising.

[Snowflake Royal]

A bit disappointed he didn't seem more confident in his attacking play... some efforts and runs seemed a bit lacking in belief.

He acquitted himself well and shows great potential. One to be drip fed and preferably against less physical sides than Stoke.

[Victor Meldrew]

Tricky selection dilemma for Marshall.

It's not as if we have had a settled side with Clement making so many changes every week.

I presume Jakkola is now our number one and Yiadom and Moore are automatics.
After that, Rhino has made such a good start and Meite has to play.
Then it is toss a coin time , as Clement seemed to do, but I would have thought that McCleary has shown enough form to start as has Bacuna.

Beyond that 7 it is anybody's guess.

[PieEater]

Their entire tactics seem to get Basham forward to nick a goal, I don't think they are as good as their league position indicates.

[Sutekh]

Incidentally was Nigel Gibbs offered caretaker duties and turned them down or did the club just go straight to Scott Marshall. I'm presuming the former as it wouldn't make the atmosphere too brilliant if it was the latter.

[Royals and Racers]

I have heard that Moore is out until the new year.

[BR0B0T]

We scored yet?
I know