Team v Reading

[Cottager58]

No press conference today by Kit – and I wouldn’t read too much into that given all the interviews he’s given over the last couple of days. We already knew that O’Hara is out suspended and that Cairney is back after his period in the sin bin. Ream has been training but is still having physio work done on his hamstring strain. All the signs are that he’ll fit for selection however. No word on Lonergan.

Without O’Hara there is cause, opportunity even, to change the system and adopt the one oft repeated here – 3 at the back, Fredericks and Husband as wing backs and Cairney in the centre midfield. But Kit won’t do that. In fact I reckon he’ll take as few risks as possible and change very little. Parker for O’Hara and Cairney for LVC. Oh and probably bring Ream back in for Dan Burn.

Folly in my opinion. Way too light weight all over the pitch and no pace whatsoever.

…………………Lewis/Lonergan……………………….
…Richards……Stearman…..Ream…….Garbutt..
………………Tunnicliffe…Parker…
......Cairney………………………….Pringle….
………………<McCormack>……………
………………………..Dembele………………


At the very least he should go for –

…………………Lewis/Lonergan………………………..
..Richards…..Stearman…..Burn……..Ream……
……………………..Tunnicliffe……………….
….Fredericks………Cairney………Husband…..
…………………..<McCormack>…………………
…………………………Dembele…………………


I guess it’s a step forward that he has options. Right now however, Kit is between a rock and a hard place. Not sure I’d like to be in his shoes.

 

[Super Brian McBride]

Not going to happen but I'd go
…………………Lewis/Lonergan………………………..
...Fredericks....Stearman…..Burn…...Ream…Husband……
……......Cairney……Mattila……LVC………….
…………………………Dembele…………………
................................Smith...................

Obviously I'd use the ploy of attacking wing-backs.
Not sure on LVC anyone there Pringle/Hyndman/Williams
First thing I'd do is kick towards the Hammersmith End in the first half if we can.
or
…………………Lewis/Lonergan………………………..
..Richards.....Stearman…..Burn…... Garbutt………
……Fredericks.....Cairney ...Parker………Husband……….
................................McCormack...................
...........................Dembele.................

 

[Fulham COYW]

I can't predict the team but it looks like a start for Parker and glad to have Cairney back - and I'd have Fredericks starting.

What worries me is Sa - I can just see him scoring against us. At least Chris Baird is no longer with them.

 

[kunye]

there is only one that should be added and you must al know his name.,
will he be included by Kit " NO"

 

[Cottager58]

First thing I'd do is kick towards the Hammersmith End in the first half if we can.

That's a good and very interesting point SuperBri. Struggling to remember, apart from the QPR game, when we last scored in the second half playing towards the Hammy End.

Mind you I do remember two 'old hands', Pardew (Newcastle?) and Redknapp (Spurs), upsetting our apple cart when their teams won the toss and forced us to change ends at kick off.

 

[Super Brian McBride]

That's a good and very interesting point SuperBri. Struggling to remember, apart from the QPR game, when we last scored in the second half playing towards the Hammy End.

Is there still a toss of a coin to choose? I think it's a done deal now a days in all games that home team chooses the end in the first half and away kicks off, saves teams swapping over, and I can't remember seeing any TV games where the home teams have kick towards a different end than normal for ages.

 

[silkship]

Does anyone know a link for the game?

 

[FFC_Madness]

Couldn't find a link either... Listening to Gentleman Jim we are as always dreadful!

 

[FFC_Madness]

And as I was typing the last line we equalised, and now 3-2 up...

 

[Cottager58]

Is there still a toss of a coin to choose?

There you go SuperBri, good call earlier! The ref did toss a coin, we won the toss and elected to swap ends. The tactic didn’t pay off for 50 minutes though – we were so tentative and once again over run in midfield. Couldn’t understand either why Kaca went right when Richards went off and LVC stayed, stranded on the left. Not even the ROAR lot at half time could raise a smile.

It’s clearly a confidence thing because from the moment we equalised, we actually played as a TEAM. Everybody was contributing, everybody wanted the ball and Reading were forced into a rash of panic substitutions. Credit to Kit, a small but significant change in our set-up was to switch Kaca (left) and LVC (right) at the start of the second half and we were more balanced, with width which created space elsewhere on the field.

My MOTM, was Jimmy Husband. Not because he was the answer in the half time Conundrum question but because he was an all round good egg; bringing stability, strength and boundless energy down our left side.

Great result after such a poor start and a definite message – turn the clock back and revert to the Putney Stand being the Home End!

 

[GeraScores]

First thing I'd do is kick towards the Hammersmith End in the first half if we can.

Good call! Only problem was that our 4 goals were all at the other end. A small sacrifice for a 4 goal turnaround.

3 goals in 7 minutes was somewhat.... unexpected! Great Moussa brace reflecting hard work by the 19 year old.

Pleased to have Tim Ream back - makes a good back five. And Kit got it right bringing on Kaca when Richards went off.

Glass Half Full? Incredibly, despite doom+gloom, as evidenced by the atmosphere at The Cottage, we are that's undefeated in 4 with a trip to Bristol next week - Got my tickets for that.

COYW!

 

[Cookie-6262]

This is how my day went...... Had to work instead of go to Fulham, bad mood already, didn't realise that it was an early kick off so checked what the team was at 1450pm to see we were 2-0 down, put my phone away in arage vowing to never support Fulham again, as per usual lasted about 5 minutes before I had my phone out again to see we were 3-2 up.... Spent 10 minutes telling all the guys in the office how amazing we are before finally finding the Reading fan hiding just as we score the fourth..... Train home via the off licence and might even get a take away!!!

 

[Cravingawin]

Didn't see that one coming at all. Maybe confidence is the element that's been missing.

 

[kunye]

I don't think anyone saw that result especially after the 1st half, still think the midfield
needs tinkering with.lets hope we have now found some momentum no more blips.
my MOTM ,only just shading it Dembele

 

[Cookie-6262]

Man of the match surely has to be Dembele?? I didn't see the game but when your 19 year old striker in his debut season scores twice and gets an assist he has to get the vote?

 

[Cottager58]

Man of the match surely has to be Dembele?? I didn't see the game but when your 19 year old striker in his debut season scores twice and gets an assist he has to get the vote?

Not if you watched the 50 odd minutes before he scored Cookie. My vote went to Husband because he did all the things I mentioned earlier for 95 minutes.


PS Of the 4 choices on the Official site "Man of the Match Vote", Moussa was the one that got my tick. On merit of course, but every little helps getting him to sign that new contract!

 

[Super Brian McBride]

There you go SuperBri, good call earlier! The ref did toss a coin, we won the toss and elected to swap ends. The tactic didn’t pay off for 50 minutes though

I got to my seat 5 mins before KO, and said to someone I think we should kick towards the Hammersmith End, I wasn't even looking when he told me I'd got my wish I looked up and smiled.
I thought when Richards went off it would have been the ideal situation to bring Burn and play the 5 at the back, found it strange that Kaca came on, but what do I know after 2nd half by him.

 

[kunye]

Does anyone know how our 2 injured keepers are progressing

 

[Cottager58]

Does anyone know how our 2 injured keepers are progressing

You're surely not worried about Joe Lewis rosc? Andy Lonergan was on the sub's bench yesterday; Magnus Norman and Marcus Bettinelli are still on the physio's bench. Marcus is in for the long haul though and I doubt if we'll see him in the first team again this season.

 

[kunye]

Still would like to see Al back, though I have nothing against JL, no need ,to again, explain my views on MB