Skip to main content

Team vs Reading

Team vs Reading

BPIG

BPIG

Joined
Nov 30, 2016
Messages
13,376
Can't see a thread on it so here we go.

Personally, I don't think our lack of CDM options will be a huge problem against these. They're likely to sit in and try and frustrate us so I think we could cope playing 4-1-4-1 and trying to break them down.

I'd go:

Maxwell

Fisher
Hunts
Davies
Hughes

Browne (if he's fit)

Barker
Harrop
Johnson
Robinson

Moult

Subs: Rudd, Earl, Gallagher, Clarke, Burke, Nmecha, Barkhuizen.
 
Rudd

Fisher
Huntington
Davies
Hughes

Gallagher
Johnson

Barkhuizen
Robinson
Barker

Moult

Maxwell, Clarke, Storey, Earl, Harrop, Burke, Nmecha

This is obviously assuming that Browne is unfit. Browne for me will take the place of Johnson who will drop to the bench for Storey if he's alright to play. This is trying to minimise square pegs in round holes although I do think one of Clarke or Davies could play in DM if needed. Barkhuizen must play because he's the most defensively-minded of our wingers and will help in the absence of Pearson, Ledson and Browne.

Dropping Rudd now could ruin his confidence. I remember a match the season we went up against Chesterfield, we let a 3-0 lead slip to 3-3 - the next game Grayson named the exact same team and in hindsight it sent the right message out to the players involved to just forget about it and carry on.
 
Question lads, you've all picked Barkhuizen to start, how do you justify that?
 
BenPearsonIsGod said:
Question lads, you've all picked Barkhuizen to start, how do you justify that?
Click to expand...

Hasn’t been playing very well, but he’s the only one who is a natural fit on the right, and at the very least offers a lot of work rate and help for his full back, even if he isn’t doing well offensively.

Burke was just lost on the right vs Bolton, and his failure to track back vs Stoke cost us a goal.

Norwich scored a minute after Robinson was moved over to the right, which left Fisher exposed.

Bodin’s been a big miss.
 
MattPNE17 said:
I justified it in my post.
Click to expand...

Apologies, missed that somehow. Fair enough, I do agree somewhat with what you and KBD are saying but we'll basically be playing with 10 men if he plays, especially at home. Barker prides himself on being two-footed so I think he would work on the right but I do agree that he and Burke offer no protection to Fisher.

I can't see Reading's full backs bombing on too much so I think we would be alright without that protection for this one.
 
Maxwell

Fisher
Storey
Davies
Hughes

DJ
Gallagher
Harrop

Barkhuizen
Nmecha
Robinson


subs: Rudd, Clarke, Earl, O’Reilly, Barker, Burke, Moult
 
BenPearsonIsGod said:
Apologies, missed that somehow. Fair enough, I do agree somewhat with what you and KBD are saying but we'll basically be playing with 10 men if he plays, especially at home. Barker prides himself on being two-footed so I think he would work on the right but I do agree that he and Burke offer no protection to Fisher.

I can't see Reading's full backs bombing on too much so I think we would be alright without that protection for this one.
Click to expand...

And I can see what you mean that Barkhuizen is out of form. But at least with him you'll get a basic level of defensive cover whether he plays well or not, and with our current midfield situation we need wide players who will come back to help.

I don't think we can afford to underestimate Reading in the way that you appear to be as well. They might be bottom, but as far as I'm aware there's still 40 games to play and they once went from 23rd after 6 games to Champions after 46 games - no reason why they can't kick off against us. Obita is virtually a winger at LB, Gunter at RB played wingback for Wales when they went on their Euro 2016 run, Modou Barrow is a tricky player and Gareth McCleary and Sone Aluko are decent wingers at this level too. Paul Clement is also no Simon Grayson - he likes his teams to get forward.
 
Maxwell

Clarke
Huntington
Davies
Hughes

Gallagher
Browne

Robinson
Harrop
Barker

Moult

Rudd, Fisher, Storey, Johnson, Barkhuisen, Burke, Nmecha
 
Rudd

Fisher, Clark, Huntington, Davies, Earl

Johnson, Gallagher, Harrop

Robinson, Moult


Browne for johnson if he's fit. 5-3-2 to keep it solid in the middle, fisher and earl pushed up.
 
Last edited:
Maxwell

Fisher
Hunts
Davies
Hughes

Gallagher
Johnson

Barkhuizen
Browne
Barker

Robinson

I don't think Nmecha gives us anything that Robinson doesn't, and CR7 played well against Bolton. Should keep his place there.
 
Puzzles me on these threads why people start to name different formations whilst trying to predict the team. Everyone knows with AN 4-2-3-1 is pretty much nailed on.
 
What on earth we do if Browne is not fit I don't know - it would have to be either Gallagher and Johnson as the 2 or one of them partnering an improvised defensive midfielder in the form maybe of Clarke. What I do know is that two players who have to start are Harrop and Moult. Robinson can then drop back slightly to one or other side of the 3 where he can feed on the flicks and lay-offs that Moult can provide.
 
Back
Top