Here we go the start of another season with first up an away trip to the Madjeski Stadium which is were we played our last league away game last season winning 2-1, thereby completing a double over the Royals. Of the sides I saw last season Reading were probably one of the poorest but as with all clubs expectations will be high under their new manager ex Manchester United defender Jaap Stam. The Royals have brought in a few players, Jaakkola, Mendes, Swift, Beerens and also signed Meite from PSG. They have been linked with Liam Moore from Leicester and were also onsidering offering terms to Raphael Van der Vaart. They have a few injuries Samuel has a knee injury Kermorgant has a hip injury Mendes has another hip problem and is due for a scan early this week with Kermorgant the only one likely to be fit, they have only one fit forward in Rakels. McCleary is also injured (calf) and Bond is out until after the season starts. The Royals drew with Bournemouth at the Mad Stad last Friday 1-1 but as we all know pre season matches are only fitness games honest. North End still have one friendly to play at Lancaster on Tuesday, Grayson has said a couple of senior players may play in that game. Injury wise Eoods is out for the season and Browne picked up a head injury at Morecambe last week but was back in training on Monday. The only major concern is who will play right back on Saturday, as it is I'll plump for Liam Grimshaw to play in the number 2 shirt. Anybodies guess what will happen at the Mad Stad a repeat on the 2-1 would not be sniffed at. Next three games for Reading, Plymouth (H) Wolverhampton W (A) Newcastle (A) Next three games for PNE, Hartlepool (H) Fulham (H) Derby (H) Still in the cricket season so once again miss out on a debut appearence at the Mas Stad.
Stam was a very good defender. Not a hoofer but with some ball skills. The Royals, remember Maxwell?, will be hard to break down. Some decent football after that farce called Euro2016!
Not great defending for the goal, acres of space for Swift to score, not a good performance apparently. Will post manager's comments tomorrow
Reading manager Jaap Stam: "We had a lot of possession in the first half and dominated the game totally. We created a couple of very good chances but did not finish it off. We should have scored a second goal. "Some of our play was very good to watch. That's what we're aiming for. You can't do that against every team. But it's hard work and we're not there yet. "We've only been working for six weeks and you can't achieve miracles in that time. But where the players are at the moment, we're very happy with that." Preston manager Simon Grayson: "We were two yards off the pace in the first half. When we did press Reading, we didn't press quick enough to stop them from getting into a rhythm. "We didn't do that as a team and so that was disappointing. And we never really looked a threat going forward, either. "We're disappointed but it's a lesson to learn. We knew Reading were going to play high-risk football and if it comes off, it's all well and good. But when we did our job, we got into some good areas." Possession stats 71%-29% did not have a lot of the ball
A poor first half. Apparently a bit better in the second half. 'A couple of yards' behind the pace? What have the suad been doing over the past 6 weeks?
Sounds like he got the formation wrong always risky playing 352 when the opposition have wingers with pace, should be 442 for me home and away
SG persists in 3-5-2 and that is when the team was overrun last season. At 4-4-2, NE seems to get more control. The possession stats were very poor, about 23% in the first half. Got a bit better in the second half on 4-4-2.
