Team for Reading

Walton
McCarthy Pearson Lindsay Yids
Williams Bird
Hedges Mcgeehan Barnes
Bradshaw

Subs: Davies, Fryers, Mcdonald, Moncur, Potts, Ugbo, Adeboyejo

Gardner makes the team bus just so we can drop him off in the Midlands.

Don’t imagine it will happen but there’s still hope.

 

Definitely no chance of that.

It’ll be:

Davies
Yiadom, McDonald, Lindsay, Fryers
Potts, Williams, McGeehan
Hammill, Bradshaw, Hedges

Maybe you might be correct with McCarthy coming in at rb and Yiadom across to lb though.

 

Hammill suspended?

 

I’ve not a clue what I’d go with.

I think I’d keep Davies in.

Don’t agree with many about Pearson at centre back, he had virtually nothing to deal with against Cardiff & his distribution was poor, I wouldn’t fancy his chances against strikers who would run at him.

Davies
McCarthy MacDonald Lindsay Fryers
Hammill Williams Bird Barnes
Mallan
Bradshaw

Subs - Pearson, Yiadom, McGeehan, Potts, Hedges, Ugbo, Walton

I want to see the McCarthy & Hammill partnership again.

Yiadom’s been poor in the last 2 games, maybe struggling after 5 games in quick succession after months out.

I don’t think Hedges can play right side well & he only seems to perform off the bench so Barnes on the left.

None of Gardner, Potts, McGeehan & Moncur deserve a start on recent form so I’d give Bird & Mallan a chance. Was told they both did well on Friday & Bird’s done ok in the other games I’ve seen him

 

I'll have a guess at:-
Davies
Yiadom
MacDonald
Lindsay
Fryers
Potts
Williams
McGeehan
Hedges
Bradshaw
Barnes.
Substitutes:-
Townsend
McCarthy
Pearson
Gardner
Bird
Ugbo
Thiam

 

Ahh yeah forgot, I guess Barnes comes in. Let’s hope he’s a bit more mobile this game.

 

be more interesting to try and estimate how many changes he'll make i'll go for 4

 

There has to be a point though. He's gifting the opposition about 6 goals a season through a lack of concentration. He seemed to fall asleep for the first one on Saturday. It's not like you can say he might have been taken by surprise like the QPR one which he should have saved too. When you're down the bottom and a point or two can mean the difference between relegation and staying up pressure has to be put on him to cut out the howlers. Over a year after the Northampton equaliser he's still messing up.

 

I know what you mean but it’s a massive risk dropping him for a kid who’s never played league football above conference north.

It’ll wreck Davies’ confidence & if Walton’s not ready it’ll wreck his as well

 

I

I’ll be honest, Davies confidence looks completely shot anyway.

 

I agree with this. Of the 25 goals we have conceded this season, i'd say at least 10 of them he could have done better with. There were more from him last season too. It's time he was dropped, it could benefit him in the long run.

 

Davies

Yiadom MacDonald Lindsay Fryers

Williams Gardner

Barnes McGeehan Hedges

Bradshaw

Subs: Townsend, McCarthy, Pearson, Potts, Moncur, Ugbo, Victor

 

Gardner. shudder.

 

Re Davies.

Are we saying drop him because of his kicking or his shot stopping?

His kicking has always been poor, but he's not a bad goalkeeper overall.

If we drop him we replace him with someone with no experience, and that could be even worse.

 

The kicking is a long term issue for me but not the reason for dropping him. His shot stopping and command of his area over the season are the reason he gets the chop for a short period. Hopefully he will come back better for it.

 

Can't see him getting dropped for someone with no experience. Could be wrong like!

Thing is, we don't know the character of these lads like the management team do. You could drop some players and they would come back fighting. Others it might make them worse.

Best thing as a player at any level is feeling valued by your team mates.

Some of the goals he's conceded in the last few games have been ridiculous flukes anyway. Wednesday, Norwich and Cardiff came from a misskick and two deflections.

Yes he conceded a soft first goal against leeds, but the whole team had a torrid time.

Sometimes he makes up for woeful defending in front of him, sometimes he doesn't.

I'd keep him in the team myself.

 

The Cardiff goal was a poor flap from Davies which is where a lot of the issues stem from. Most of the time he seems rooted to his line then makes a last minute decision and is out of position.

 

Wiggy - What is your rational for chucking Bird in the mixer?

 

The dwarf dropped Davies. It was a crap decision that you all rightly pillocked him for. Some people have short memories.

 

10 pints at lunchtime.