News and Views
Cardiff Match Preview And Popa Transfer Rumour
27 January 2017
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading returned to winning ways on Tuesday night as they played out a 1-0 win in the re-arranged game against Fulham. After three straight defeats, fans were expecting the worst. However, the fog stayed away until full time this time around, and Reading won the fixture despite starting without a recognised striker on the pitch. It was a game of two penalties - with Reading scoring theirs from the rebound thanks to Roy Beerens and Al Habsi taking all the credit with a last minute penalty save to secure the full three points. The win was just about a fair reflection of an entertaining game, and saw Reading briefly return to third place. Cardiff City are the visitors to the Madejski Stadium this weekend, where a victory for Reading would lift back to third and close the gap on Brighton and Newcastle who are both in FA Cup action on Saturday.
Cardiff City turn up at the Madejski Stadium under the charge of our favourite manager Neil Warnock. Colin has guided Cardiff to 16th place in the Championship after his arrival and the Bluebirds are in decent form, despite their recent defeat to table toppers Brighton on Tuesday night. Cardiff were always unlikely to get any points from their trip to the South coast - but before that they picked up a maximum of 9 from 9 with victories over Aston Villa, Bristol City and Burton Albion. Despite Reading turning the corner with their win on Tuesday night, Warnock will be hoping, perhaps expecting, to leave Reading with some points.
Reading manager Jaap Stam is likely to shake things around again for Cardiff's visit. He may choose to include a striker in the starting eleven this time out, with Yann Kermorgant hoping to be back in the side. Meanwhile, Jordan Obita is likely to make a return after Tyler Blackett struggled to cope on Tuesday night and found himself substituted. Obita was suspended on Tuesday night but is available again after serving his one match ban.
Off the pitch, the proposed Chinese takeover still continues to simmer away without confirmation in either direction if they will eventually take control of the club. The takeover continues to wait with the Premier League unhappy with the history of the Chinese, leading to them keeping the brakes on the deal. The Thai's have made it clear they want out of the football side of the club and are desperate for the take over to complete.
After splitting the club into two, to enable them to redevelop the area surrounding the Madejski Stadium via their own separate entity company, they allowed a large percentage of the property development company to be used as security on a loan provided by the Chinese two weeks ago. The 10.4 million pound loan, the details of which were released on Monday this week, came into the Football Club before the Ilori deal completed. This was essentially the Chinese funding the transfer via a loan ahead of their takeover.
Jaap Stam is still likely to get a remainder of that loaned cash before the transfer window shuts next week, and will hope to add at least one player to continue an unlikely promotion push. Stam may include winger Adrian Popa in his incoming transfers if Romanian media is to be believed. Reports suggest after a 500K Euro bid was turned down, the club upped it to 600,000 Euros, and that bid has now been accepted by Steaua Bucharest. Popa is a Romanian international and Steaua are reported to be set to cash in with the player's contract up in the summer. The same reports suggest Popa will sign a three and a half year contract with the Royals. True or not, it is likely to be one of many rumours over the next week.
Recent Meetings With Cardiff City
| DATE | COMPETITION | OPPOSITION | SCORE | REPORT |
| 27 August 2016 | Championship | Cardiff (Away) | W: 1-0 | Read report... |
| 19 March 2016 | Championship | Cardiff (HOME) | D: 1-1 | Read report... |
| 07 November 2015 | Championship | Cardiff (Away) | L: 0-2 | Read report... |
| 04 April 2015 | Championship | Cardiff (HOME) | D: 1-1 | Read report... |
| 24 January 2015 | FA Cup | Cardiff (Away) | W: 2-1 | Read report... |
| 21 November 2014 | Championship | Cardiff (Away) | L: 1-2 | Read report... |
| 02 January 2012 | Championship | Cardiff (Away) | L: 1-3 | Read report... |
| 19 November 2011 | Championship | Cardiff (HOME) | L: 1-2 | Read report... |
| 17 May 2011 | Championship Play-Off | Cardiff (Away) | W: 3-0 | Read report... |
| 13 May 2011 | Championship Play-Off | Cardiff (HOME) | D: 0-0 | Read report... |
| 01 February 2011 | Championship | Cardiff (Away) | D: 2-2 | Read report... |
| 10 November 2010 | Championship | Cardiff (HOME) | D: 1-1 | Read report... |
| 10 April 2010 | Championship | Cardiff (Away) | D: 0-0 | Read report... |
| 16 September 2009 | Championship | Cardiff (HOME) | L: 0-1 | Read report... |
| 03 January 2009 | FA Cup | Cardiff (Away) | L: 0-2 | Read report... |
| 26 December 2008 | Championship | Cardiff (HOME) | D: 1-1 | Read report... |
| 25 November 2008 | Championship | Cardiff (Away) | D: 2-2 | Read report... |
Discussion On This Story:
Sutekh
Colin is back in town. This time with his new charges, Cardiff City. Cardiff are on a bit of a slide and have been since their relegation from the PL a few seasons ago. However they do spring surprises in games if they're not treated with the right respect so once again Reading will need to prove that their recent pick up in terms of performance is not just a flash in the pan.
And, as with all games where Mr Warnock is in the opposing dugout, our opponents are going to be suitably wound up and in the mood to give seriously good account of themselves. So we should be well warned.
To be honest I see no reason for Reading to change formation from the team that started against Fulham, however with Jordan Obita back from suspension Jaap has another option to consider so there could be a couple of changes. Harriott, Rakels and Quinn are the only injury worries.
Cardiff pose the standard threat through Peter Whittingham who always seems to have blinders against us. Sol Bamba is another pain we need to watch out for as will be Rickie Lambert, while on the injury front they will be missing Bruno Manga and Anthony Pilkington. Recent signing Greg Halford has joined other ex-Royals Sean Morrison and Matthew Connolly at the club though it seems only Halford and Morrison are likely to play.
Referee
Comes all the way from Nottinghamshire in the shape of James Adcock
Previously....
13 Feb 2016 > Reading 0-0 Burnley
28 Sep 2014 > Reading 3-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
22 Apr 2014 > Reading 2-0 Middlesbrough
28 Sep 2013 > Reading 2-0 Birmingham City
Historically
Cardiff are one of those fairly regular opponents of Reading with games stretching all the way back to our Southern League days. Since joining the FL though there have been 55 league games with this game being the 28th at home against them. Of the previous 27 games Reading have won 11 and drawn 10 with the remaining 6 games going the way of the Welsh
Reading though have something to prove against Cardiff as they have failed to win any of the last 6 home games (or 7 if you include the 0-0 play off semi first leg) managing four 1-1 draws and two defeats in that time. In addition, since the war, Reading have played 37 league games with Cardiff and conceded at least 1 goal in 33 of them.
Sutekh
Subs : Jaakkola, Blackett, Obita, Mendes, Samuel, Meite, Evans
Cardiff XI : McGregor, Peltier, Morrison, Bamba, Halford, Richards, Ralls, Gunnarsson, Hoilett, Zohore, Healey
Subs : Murphy, Whittingham, Noone, John, Connolly, Kennedy, Harris
No left backs in the starting team and Ilori has disappeared altogether so **** alone knows what the management are up to
CountryRoyal
Much more improvement needed second half.
Ian Royal
Thought we looked like we could open Cardiff up at any moment with a bit of magic, but were just being pedestrian rather than producing that moment of magic. And a little vulnerable to a mess up at the back. Stream went off before either goal, but I'm guessing from the descriptions that's exactly what happened.
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