FA Cup 1st round draw Monday 14th October

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Christ the whinging on social media over the scheduling of the game. We're playing Harborough Town, a team that we should be beating comfortably even with a weakened team out.

Agree to an extent but as well as the 2 first team games the U21's play Sat one day before (Liverpool) and the following Wed (Euro game).

I can see U18's being involved V Harborough.

[Clyde1998]

Christ the whinging on social media over the scheduling of the game. We're playing Harborough Town, a team that we should be beating comfortably even with a weakened team out.

Agree to an extent but as well as the 2 first team games the U21's play Sat one day before (Liverpool) and the following Wed (Euro game).

I can see U18's being involved V Harborough.

Recipe for disaster playing the U18s.

Depending on who's fit, I can see the team being:

Button/CBC
Ahmed/Abrefa - Holzman - Dean - Garcia/Dorsett
Rushesha - Spencer - Sackey
Tuma - Wareham - Akande

Could possibly have one of Elliott or Savage playing, if we don't have midfield problems, although I'd imagine at least one of them would be on the bench in case of emergency. That team should be strong enough to win the game, but doesn't risk any of the players who should be starting against Cambridge.

This assumes the team for the Cambridge game is along the lines of:

Pereira
Craig - Mbengue - Bindon - Garcia/Dorsett
Elliott/Savage - Wing - Knibbs
Camara - Smith - Campbell

[morganb]

Think the teams above should work out ok

Other options:

start fairly strong, win it in the first half, sub everyone off at half time

or:

start fairly weak, go a goal behind in the first half, panic and throw everyone on at half time

[RoyalBlue]

Christ the whinging on social media over the scheduling of the game. We're playing Harborough Town, a team that we should be beating comfortably even with a weakened team out.

A bit like Eastleigh then!

Never underestimate non-league teams full of strong, physical, reasonably skilful, highly motivated players who are keen to make a name for themselves.

[Sutekh]

Christ the whinging on social media over the scheduling of the game. We're playing Harborough Town, a team that we should be beating comfortably even with a weakened team out.

A bit like Eastleigh then!

Never underestimate non-league teams full of strong, physical, reasonably skilful, highly motivated players who are keen to make a name for themselves.

Exactly this, as you all must know by now, that makes up for a lot of “missing ability” if it’s organised properly so a lot will depend on their manager (Mitch Austin) too.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Doncaster are playing Sunday in the cup and their scheduled League 2 game the following Tuesday V Fleetwood has been re-arranged to the Wednesday....really need to know why our game hasn't been.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

James E now tweeted that it was the club's call to keep the Cambridge game on Tuesday. Tells us all we need to know re likely team selection in the cup.

[Clyde1998]

James E now tweeted that it was the club's call to keep the Cambridge game on Tuesday. Tells us all we need to know re likely team selection in the cup.

I'm guessing that's because of the U21 matches on the Wednesday, which is the International Cup against Dinamo Zagreb (played at Aldershot) - the club will be wanting all of the better U21 players available for that.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Christ the whinging on social media over the scheduling of the game. We're playing Harborough Town, a team that we should be beating comfortably even with a weakened team out.

A bit like Eastleigh then!

Never underestimate non-league teams full of strong, physical, reasonably skilful, highly motivated players who are keen to make a name for themselves.

Exactly this, as you all must know by now, that makes up for a lot of “missing ability” if it’s organised properly so a lot will depend on their manager (Mitch Austin) too.

It's significantly different to the Eastleigh game.

Harborough are two divisions lower, we're at home and we're not in the more we were in this time last year.

[Royals and Racers]

Christ the whinging on social media over the scheduling of the game. We're playing Harborough Town, a team that we should be beating comfortably even with a weakened team out.

Agree to an extent but as well as the 2 first team games the U21's play Sat one day before (Liverpool) and the following Wed (Euro game).

I can see U18's being involved V Harborough.

Liverpool match on the Saturday switched to Aldershot.

[Sutekh]

James E now tweeted that it was the club's call to keep the Cambridge game on Tuesday. Tells us all we need to know re likely team selection in the cup.

Not exactly the brightest idea is it though, the club should be taking every opportunity to maximise their chances of winning league games and this is basically reducing player options in a squad that is already of very limited resource. But then this club hasn’t operated on the brightest of ideas for years.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

James E now tweeted that it was the club's call to keep the Cambridge game on Tuesday. Tells us all we need to know re likely team selection in the cup.

Not exactly the brightest idea is it though, the club should be taking every opportunity to maximise their chances of winning league games and this is basically reducing player options in a squad that is already of very limited resource. But then this club hasn’t operated on the brightest of ideas for years.

Or, we play a team similar to the Cheltenham squad against Harborough, it doesn't impact the squad for the Tuesday match against Cambridge, and we get the full rest time for the Wycombe game.

It's really not too difficult to understand the rationale.

[Sutekh]

James E now tweeted that it was the club's call to keep the Cambridge game on Tuesday. Tells us all we need to know re likely team selection in the cup.

Not exactly the brightest idea is it though, the club should be taking every opportunity to maximise their chances of winning league games and this is basically reducing player options in a squad that is already of very limited resource. But then this club hasn’t operated on the brightest of ideas for years.

Or, we play a team similar to the Cheltenham squad against Harborough, it doesn't impact the squad for the Tuesday match against Cambridge, and we get the full rest time for the Wycombe game.

It's really not too difficult to understand the rationale.

Good, nice to know the FA Cup and opponents are being taken seriously.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Not exactly the brightest idea is it though, the club should be taking every opportunity to maximise their chances of winning league games and this is basically reducing player options in a squad that is already of very limited resource. But then this club hasn’t operated on the brightest of ideas for years.

Or, we play a team similar to the Cheltenham squad against Harborough, it doesn't impact the squad for the Tuesday match against Cambridge, and we get the full rest time for the Wycombe game.

It's really not too difficult to understand the rationale.

Good, nice to know the FA Cup and opponents are being taken seriously.

It's pragmatism. Our Under 21 team regularly win the Berks & Bucks cup, the opposition we are playing in the cup are of the same standard of the teams we play in that competition. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that we win the Harborough game playing the youngsters, a full strength and rested team play (and beat) Cambridge on the Tuesday, and we go into the game against Wycombe well rested and in good form.

[RG30]

Same pricing as the Fleetwood game with the exception of 13 & Under being £2 ticket rather than £4.

Tickets for Reading's Emirates FA Cup second round tie with Harborough Town will go on sale from 10am on Wednesday 13th November.

Ticket pricing starts at just £2 for young supporters, with fans of the Royals set to be housed in the Sir John Madejski Stand - entry gates 7 and 8 will both be open for the fixture.

Hospitality will also be available for the tie with the Leicestershire outfit, offering the best seats in the house alongside exquisite cuisine in the Royals Suite.

Full ticket and hospitality details can be found below.

Adult £15 £20
65 & Over £12 £15
18-24 £10 £13
17 & Under £6 £9
13 & Under* £2 £7

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2024/november/10/harborough-home-tickets/

[RoyalBlue]

Or, we play a team similar to the Cheltenham squad against Harborough, it doesn't impact the squad for the Tuesday match against Cambridge, and we get the full rest time for the Wycombe game.

It's really not too difficult to understand the rationale.

Good, nice to know the FA Cup and opponents are being taken seriously.

It's pragmatism. Our Under 21 team regularly win the Berks & Bucks cup, the opposition we are playing in the cup are of the same standard of the teams we play in that competition. .

As a club we've won it three times in the last 30 years albeit two of those wins have come in the past three years. Depends on definition of 'regularly' I guess but I wouldn't be tempted to underestimate what Harborough might be able to do on the day.

[Clyde1998]

Same pricing as the Fleetwood game with the exception of 13 & Under being £2 ticket rather than £4.

Disappointing they've not changed the pricing. Obviously they think they'll make more money with £15 tickets compared to £10 ones.

[Sutekh]

Good, nice to know the FA Cup and opponents are being taken seriously.

It's pragmatism. Our Under 21 team regularly win the Berks & Bucks cup, the opposition we are playing in the cup are of the same standard of the teams we play inthat competition. .

As a club we've won it three times in the last 30 years albeit two of those wins have come in the past three years. Depends on definition of 'regularly' I guess but I wouldn't be tempted to underestimate what Harborough might be able to do on the day.

Yes very slight difference between an annoying midweek competition that no-one really cares about and the country’s primary domestic football cup competition, that people actually are bothered about, with cameras and media all looking on for the “shocks”. The club better be calling it right.

[Silver Fox]

The FA don't care about the FA cup so I'm not sure why anyone would get so butt hurt if we don't put out our strongest XI

[Sutekh]

The FA don't care about the FA cup so I'm not sure why anyone would get so butt hurt if we don't put out our strongest XI

The club should be caring because there is the chance the club can get some much needed cash in to help pay wages when the Olise money runs out. Not to mention the supporters who don’t want to be on the end of what would be the most embarrassing FA Cup defeat in the club’s history.

Presume the club are also getting some TV money for agreeing to shift the tie.