20/21 Matchday Thread

[That Fat Centre Half]

Watford are appointing Xisco Munoz, most recently of Dinamo Tbilisi, as manager. Seems like more of the same from them.

Might work out but these appointments stink of them getting someone who the club hierarchy know isn’t going to rock the boat and demand further control of things so I suspect will end up with more of the same over the longer term.

 

[Super_horns]

Probably!

He might be great but won’t last long if the players don’t like him .

 

[Atavistic]

How much money do all these managers get offered to go to Watford when they know full well that they'll be sacked in a matter of months?

 

[Super_horns]

How much money do all these managers get offered to go to Watford when they know full well that they'll be sacked in a matter of months?

The last 2 only had short term contracts thankfully!

Ivid might have stayed longer had we played some kind of attacking attractive football like you guys do rather than trying to play for 0-0 draws.

I wish we could sack the players tbh.

They probably earn more and have longer contracts.

 

[thewwfc]

What happened to our pitch? Its been great for years and suddenly two managers in succession say its the worst they played on.

We haven’t played Bristol City yet (though we’re just about to for the first time in ages) - how’s their pitch holding up?

If there’s one surefire way to make your pitch unsuitable for football, it’s a groundshare with ruggerbuggers, as we have bitter experience of sharing with Wasps until we managed to offload them onto Coventry.

 

[skadhatter]

What happened to our pitch? Its been great for years and suddenly two managers in succession say its the worst they played on.

The pitch has been relaid every summer for about the last five years, unfortunately we never had the chance to do that this summer, probably why it showing some wear and tear now.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

The pitch has been relaid every summer for about the last five years, unfortunately we never had the chance to do that this summer, probably why it showing some wear and tear now.

It was definitely relaid this summer. I remember the videos the club did straight after the Blackburn game at the end of last season.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1286263770105491456

 

[Atavistic]

Our latest injury news ahead of Boxing Day:

Krul not set to return until the FA Cup game against Coventry at the earliest, but almost certainly for the game afterwards if not. Placheta is back individual training, but won't be ready for Boxing Day. Stiepermann is likely to be out with an ear infection that's affected his balance and given him headaches recently. Gibson and Quintilla should be back involved with the squad in some capacity and Rupp has gotten some more minutes in training so will hopefully be fit to start soon. Aarons is fine after his injury scare towards the end of the Cardiff game.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Maybe you can start a post with 'our latest championship adventures, top of the league and having a laugh, five points clear of the rest of you lot'........the doom and gloom of your poor little injuries is more than a little repetitive, boring and tbh a little condescending considering

FFS. Enjoy it. Dont keep complaining

 

[Atavistic]

I'm actually not complaining at this point about our injuries, given that most of our players back now. How else would you suggest I open a post updating about our latest press conference and who is and isn't fit?

There's a stark difference between the matter-of-fact tone of my most recent post and the ones around the time we played your lot in the league. It's just a little something to update while we all wait for the next batch of games.

On another note, Tyrese Omotoye has earned himself a contract until 2024 after getting his chance in the squad in recent weeks. Good news for the youngster, though I expect he'll be loaned out for the rest of the season come January, especially with our promising young American striker Sebastian Soto finally being able to earn himself a work permit having broken into the USA national team.

 

[SF_]

Derby away on Boxing Day, they seem steady under Rooney and our away form has dropped off, would take a draw.

Not sure how bad the injuries were for Ledson & Potts but they might be back, bit harsh to drop Gallagher after Bristol City though - although we might need the legs against Derby's midfield. Maguire deserves another start, with Riis coming on to run at tiring legs.

Rudd
Fisher, Huntington, Davies, Earl
Browne, Ledson
Barkhuizen, Johnson, Sinclair
Maguire

​

 

[BelizeHatter]

For us its Reading who have gone a bit patchy from being white hot. Not sure what to expect but they looked amazing when they tonked us at the end of last season. Believe they got a few injuries to key players.

For me on top of the normal expectation to chop and change due to amount if games. Id like to see Bree come back in soon and have Clark get a run of games in the side for the first time, see what hes got with consistentcy of gametime.

Harry just nowhere even close as dangerous as before. Has he even set anyone up or had a chance to miss lately? Its not all on him as we dont play to his strengths any more, looking to slip him in the channels. Shinnie and Stacey were awesome at this. But thats another reason to shift him out as theyre both gone

 

[Atavistic]

Young centre back Andrew Omobamidele is the latest to sign a new contract at the club, signing on until 2024 like Omotoye has also done. Good to see the stepping stones for succession in key areas put into place so early.

Adam Idah also signing a new contract until 2024. Seems like we're busy behind the scenes getting contracts sorted before the transfer window kicks off.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

For us its Reading who have gone a bit patchy from being white hot. Not sure what to expect but they looked amazing when they tonked us at the end of last season. Believe they got a few injuries to key players.

For me on top of the normal expectation to chop and change due to amount if games. Id like to see Bree come back in soon and have Clark get a run of games in the side for the first time, see what hes got with consistentcy of gametime.

Harry just nowhere even close as dangerous as before. Has he even set anyone up or had a chance to miss lately? Its not all on him as we dont play to his strengths any more, looking to slip him in the channels. Shinnie and Stacey were awesome at this. But thats another reason to shift him out as theyre both gone

Bree is injured, sounds like the only one who isn’t available for tomorrow. Incredibly frustrating that since coming back he hasn’t been able to have a run of games - missing most of what was already a short pre season must have really hurt him.

Not sure I agree that we don’t play to Harry’s strengths any longer. We are still on the whole a side looking to play on the transition rather than play through teams with controlled possession, which should suit him - im not sure that greatly changed this season from last. Even the Bournemouth game that looked ready made for him to come on and impact with the space that they afforded to us by committing to the attack, his sub appearance was pretty lacklustre.

I actually think the way we play should suit him more as we press better and higher up the pitch this season, with his mobility he should be perfect for that winning the ball closer to goal and exploiting the space. KDH can play those balls you are referring too, Pelly can as well, so we definitely have them but he’s just not doing much when getting in dangerous areas so far this season. Personally just think he’s in some poor form due to the amount of games. He’s got a good scoring record on Boxing Day so maybe this is the one where he finds a bit of a groove again.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Id be inclined to agree..........but we havent. I cant remember a single ball into the channel hes either run thru on goal, thru wide to cut a chance across the box. Thats gotta be shape and style mismatch?

He hasnt looked like scoring, let alone score. Or created chances. He hardly put in any effort when he came on v Bournemouth. Needs a break for me. Clark please. I fancy he will do well with a run in the side.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Id be inclined to agree..........but we havent. I cant remember a single ball into the channel hes either run thru on goal, thru wide to cut a chance across the box. Thats gotta be shape and style mismatch?

He hasnt looked like scoring, let alone score. Or created chances. He hardly put in any effort when he came on v Bournemouth. Needs a break for me. Clark please. I fancy he will do well with a run in the side.

Clark certainly seems a more well rounded player than Cornick who is a little one dimensional. Certainly when Cornick plays as a genuine wide player I think he is pretty ineffective as his final pass/action can be very poor.

 

[Super_horns]

Will we see a new manager bounce?

I’d take a draw and more positive performance today .

 

[Kenneth E End]

It’s been a whole seven days without a game.., feels like a lifetime ago.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Certainly does!

Rea back in for us today and Clark starts which seems to suggest that NJ is of similar opinion to us about Cornick. Wonder what NJ has seen in Reading that means Dewsbury-Hall, who has undoubtedly been our best player so far, doesn’t start. Would have thought he is well rested enough given the relative gap between games.

A good option to have off the bench to affect the game in the second half, maybe looking to keep it tight and see if we can nick something second half?

 

[SF_]

Unchanged side, without looking, I don't think our record at Derby is good in recent years and they seem to be improving. Not confident.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Looking at who Reading are missing, doubt there is a better time to play them this season. Most of there fans expect g a defeat today which always make me nervous! Hopefully we will make it count

 

[Kenneth E End]

Blimey, I hope Norwich and Bournemouth aren't playing at the Madejski Stadium over this Christmas period... the pitch is like a beach today.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Reading 1-0 up already, with Luton having virtually 5 at the back and minimal attacking options. Over 7 hours without scoring away from home already and not come from behind to win a game for over 2 years away. Hmm...

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Reading 1-0 up already, with Luton having virtually 5 at the back and minimal attacking options. Over 7 hours without scoring away from home already and not come from behind to win a game for over 2 years away. Hmm...

Too much turkey etc etc... we’ve looked rubbish so far.

Not won away having conceded the first goal in over 2 years apparently.

 

[Kenneth E End]

So three Reading chances and two goals. Luton have and deserve absolutely nothing. Three league games in a row we haven't turned up against them and now 10 goals without reply dating back a year. Pathetic again.

Now 8 hours without an away goal dating back nearly 2 months.

This is a mentality thing - if we go into games playing for a tight 0-0 we come unstuck.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Tempted to just write this off as Reading clearly have got our number, we never seem to play well against them in the league, but we have just been unbelievably poor. They got a decent goal off a set piece routine and basicaly looked happy to sit on that until we gave them a second off a simple counter.

Just all over the place and our lack of care with the ball continues to be of major concern. With KDH not there there is just 0 quality or threat about us.

 

[SF_]

Definite red for Waghorn, we've had some good pressure and a handful of chances but need to turn it up a few gears in the second half.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Only 1 out of 4 players that could be at the Euros are on the pitch today for Luton. Yet the management believe the team put out are better than that supposedly. How can RND and KDH not get in that side ahead of Potts and Rea?

For what it's worth, Luton didn't get a blatant penalty towards the end of that half.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Only 1 out of 4 players that could be at the Euros are on the pitch today for Luton. Yet the management believe the team put out are better than that supposedly. How can RND and KDH not get in that side ahead of Potts and Rea?

For what it's worth, Luton didn't get a blatant penalty towards the end of that half.

Thought it was strange that KDH didn’t start at least, he is quite clearly, our best player.

Think you are right on the mentality thing, the approach away from home seems to be to try and keep it tight and nick something late in the game with fresh legs later or on a set piece, but it’s lead to us being incredibly conservative on doing anything creative with the ball. When it goes wrong and you concede early you just aren’t set up to remedy it until too late.

 

[SF_]

We were really poor in that second half, offered no quality to break down Derby who defended well in fairness to him. Beilik was very good.

Browne had yet another poor game but great finish to nick it in the 96th minute. 5 minutes injury time and Rooney makes a sub to take it to 6. Cheers Shrek.

Get fucked Derby, wanker club.