Let's talk about the Reading game

[selby]

 The next fixture up in a season that has seen us play in little periods right from the start of the season where we have played well for a few games and then hit the skids for a period, the skids periods always seeming longer and harder to get out of.
  Reading, the team I expect supporters with a few years behind them supporting the club would be one of the last teams we would want to be playing when there is a lot depending on the result. After yesterdays abysmal display when nobody on the field of play and in the management team supporting the side came out with any glory attached to themselves, as we looked more like a struggling Sunday league side going through a bad patch.
  Of course the injuries to our central defenders was a catastrophic event that completely wrecked any plans we had for the game something I have never seen before to be honest and would no doubt have caused most teams big problems in any game.
  Reading themselves after a poor start to the season have pushed on and sit in eighth place vying with a couple of other clubs to finish in a
playoff position after a few years of financial problems which hopefully are now resolved.
  Yesterday they succumbed to Lincoln at home who have been fantastic all season and gained promotion, congratulations to them a club that have quite a few coaches in their academy who used to coach here, so very pleased for them.
   Just what our line up will be for this game  is anybody's guess with injury, loss of form and let's face it. some just not good enough at the moment making it difficult to take a guess, and if Byrne and Pearson are not fit a complete disaster, after they have been the corner stone of our last improvement in form, and Bailey and Molyneux looking tired and jaded since their reputations as our main threat has attracted special treatment including some sly shoeing and group attention in games, the rest looking impotent  in front of goal and job done.
  So at both ends of the team we look to have major problems as we come up against two good sides looking for just the few points we need to get over the line and time to think in the closed season.
  Reading the last team I would pick to play on past history, and we certainly owe them one if we can stop them getting in the play offs some compensation for ending Jones's career here with a terrible foul shoving him into the goal post.
  What do you think? can we lift ourselves off the floor again? what would you do?  Lot's to discuss, lot's of frustration to vent, please have your say,
 

[Fal]

If neither Pearson or Byrne are fit it will be Grehan and McGrath at the back, cant imagine he will put Bailey back there after yesterday.

I'm confident we will get the 3 points we need, just not so much against Reading, who we haven't beaten at home since 1982 (That 7-5 game) and only once away since then. They seem to be the biggest bogey team of the lot, 45 meetings over the years of which we have won 5, reading have won 30.

As other will no doubt say all runs will come to an end eventually

[Danmckay456]

I just don’t see us getting a result we look disjointed a real lack of urgency in our attack play

[Alan Southstand]

We look like a National league side at the moment, no insult to any Club in that league, by the way, with not one player coming out of the Exeter game with any credit.

However, statistically, you wonder why we didn’t make more of a game of it - more possession, more shots, etc. Well, the reason is simple, we are just so toothless up top. No threat at all. The few shots/headers we had were fairly easily dealt with by a side desperately seeking a win. Trouble is, that side should have been us but we fell well short in every department.

I fear the worst, but hope for a miracle!

[Metalmicky]

If we are without our two centre backs, it will be Bailey and McGrath I think and we could sorely do with Billy coming back - if only to provide some experience and leadership...  I don't expect us to win this one and I think GM will pack the midfield and hope to reduce Reading to limited opportunities..

[ncRover]

Big Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan is a handful up top for Reading.

[goalkick]

Just imagine Grehan and McGrath as our back two the mind boggles.

[vaya]

Big Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan is a handful up top for Reading.

Handful for the club shop as well.

[mushRTID]

Danny Schofield returns as their assistant.

Hopefully they try and play out from the back on that pitch! We really do need to get our fundamentals right for this one!

[Metalmicky]

Big Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan is a handful up top for Reading.

Handful for the club shop as well.

I'd be inclined to go for just 'Kelvin' on my shirt

[Chris Black come back]

The historic record is absolutely abysmal so you wouldn’t hold out hope for anything come Saturday.

If you were looking for microscopic crumbs, their recent away record in the league isn’t amazing. Last 3 have seen a loss, draw and win at struggling Burton 2-1 thanks to 89th minute winner.

Would be astounded if we even register an attempt on Saturday, let alone get anything from the game. Probably one to rest up some of the lads so they are fit come Northampton and Peterborough.

[GazLaz]

Big Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan is a handful up top for Reading.

Must admit he’s one I’ve filtered into other clubs as a potential signing. He’s decent.

[Thorney]

For anybody that likes a bet a cannot see us getting a thing out of this then you can get 14/5 on a reading win.

We are 5/6 favourites.

Dont know how they have come to those odds

[Padge_DRFC]

Sounds like Pearson will be available

[Canadian Rover]

TLT
Senior Sterry
McGrath Pearson
Gotts
Bailey Clifton
Hakib Luke
Lee

That's how I'd set up. I know Hakeeb hasn't set the world on fire but he's a legit goal threat that in turn will help give space for Like.

[Nudga]

TLT
Senior Sterry
McGrath Pearson
Gotts
Bailey Clifton
Hakib Luke
Lee

That's how I'd set up. I know Hakeeb hasn't set the world on fire but he's a legit goal threat that in turn will help give space for Like.

A 221221 is a bit narrow haha

[vaya]

TLT
Senior Sterry
McGrath Pearson
Gotts
Bailey Clifton
Hakib Luke
Lee

That's how I'd set up. I know Hakeeb hasn't set the world on fire but he's a legit goal threat that in turn will help give space for Like.

A 221221 is a bit narrow haha

Lot of depth though, as long as you look at it straight on.

[RoversInSpain]

Last win v Reading 1984.
All runs come to an end.
Need 3 points and then we are all relieved and happy.
No players need resting, they’ve just had nearly 2 weeks prior to Mansfield.
The players have to respond and the Black Bank on cheaper tickets will make some noise.
Great ingredients for a cracker!

[Lesonthewest]

From being a nipper in the 60s to now, I have seen Rovers beat Reading the grand total of once, that being the 7-5 in 1982. How much I/we would love that to change this Saturday.

[Upton Rover]

Get as much money as you can on Reading scoring 3+ goals

[Canadian Rover]

TLT
Senior Sterry
McGrath Pearson
Gotts
Bailey Clifton
Hakib Luke
Lee

That's how I'd set up. I know Hakeeb hasn't set the world on fire but he's a legit goal threat that in turn will help give space for Like.

A 221221 is a bit narrow haha

Haha... Tactical genius though. That or I thought it would be easy to read.

[Metalmicky]

For anybody that likes a bet a cannot see us getting a thing out of this then you can get 14/5 on a reading win.

We are 5/6 favourites.

Dont know how they have come to those odds

Had a bit of that....

[Draytonian III]

I’m almost certain we played Reading on the Tuesday or the Tuesday week before we played away at Everton in 85, it because we wanted Ian Snodin ( the best player I’ve seen in a Rovers shirt ) to serve a suspension and not miss the cup match

[richtherover]

I must be one of the lucky ones. I saw us win there 1-0, mid 70's, with a goal from Les Chappell who had previously scored bundles for them, and 4-1 early 80's with a hat trick from Alan Brown. There were a few hammerings in between, and not much joy since.

[BobG]

I was at Elm Park for our 1-0 win too. Behind one of the goals on what my memory says was a high bank.

Les Chapell played for them for aeons before joining the Rovers. The only two goals I remember him scoring in a Rovers shirt was that one and a tantalisingly slow dribble into the wrong net at White Hart Lane.

BobG


Later: apparently he scored 10 in 58 matches.

[Chris Black come back]

We are currently on a winless run against Reading home and away of 13 games dating back to 8 September 1984, consisting of 11 defeats and 2 draws. We have only ever beaten them 4 times in the league in our entire history and needed to score 5 goals and 4 goals to secure 2 of those wins.

[Pintolager]

As I said in another thread a week or two back, now is the time for us the fans to really get behind the team in what is turning back into a relegation scrap after our last 2 games. Reading are favourites of course, but as my mate reminds me, every game is different and maybe just maybe, we can upset the odds  and win. I know it works both ways, but let's give the lads some encouragement and give some positive energy.

We will stay up!

[roversdude]

Remember their keeper Steve Death always seemed to have a blinder against us

[The Red Baron]

Rovers and Reading have met on 45 occasions in all competitions and Rovers have won five of them. Of the others Reading have won 30 and there have been ten draws including our 1-1 draw at Reading earlier this season.

Home (2 wins- both Football League):

10th October 1970. Rovers 2 Reading 0. (John Regan & John Haselden).
25th September 1982. Rovers 7 Reading 5. (Colin Douglas, Ian Snodin (3), Billy Russell, Tommy Graham, Glynn Snodin).

Away (3 wins, 1 FA Cup, 2 FL)

7th January 1950- FA Cup Round 3. Reading 2 Rovers 3 (Paul Todd (2), Peter Doherty).
6th March 1976. Reading 0 Rovers 1 (Les Chappell).
8th September 1984. Reading 1 Rovers 4 (Alan Brown (3), Glynn Snodin).

PS. Even if you don't regularly buy a match programme, do purchase one on Saturday. There is a detailed description of the 7-5, including a future Rovers manager enjoying a bittersweet afternoon at Belle Vue.

[roversdude]

Kerry Dixon