v Reading (a) - 17/8/22 - Mark 1

[TheRevAshton]

Think we'll have an unexpectedly tough first half, but will steady the ship in the second and grab a couple of goals.

Will go 2-0 Rovers. Szmodics and BBD to score, Hedges to assist both.

[smiller14]

Anyone know how many we've sold for this one? Tickets priced nicely but appreciate it's a tough trip midweek, especially with everyone being a bit lighter financially with all the goings-on. 

[JacknOry]

2 hours ago, arbitro said:

I've just read that and was about to edit my post. I wrongly assumed it was the knock to his head that forced him off. Ironically I'd said to me brother he looked tired after he made a run forward close to half time. And he was playing in the shaded side 😂😂.

Yeah, in fairness though, wingbacks do have to do a lot more running than most. Especially with that rapid Diangara on his side. 

[roversfan99]

8 hours ago, yellowsubmarine said:

Pickering, imo, seems to perform quite well when he was in CB, better than he was at left back. Maybe that could be a stop-gap measure.

He reads the game quite well anyway but as soon as he plays someone with an aeriel threat, he would likely struggle. Moving him from left back also creates a weakness there.

3 hours ago, JoeH said:

Will be a tougher game than it looks on the face of it. They'll be looking avoid shipping that many again.

Kaminski

Brittain
Phillips
Ayala
Edun

Travis
Buckley

Dolan
Dack
Brereton Díaz

Gallagher

for me.

3 changes?

I definitely would not take Pickering out, Edun was horrendous yesterday whereas Pickering was one of our best players.

Dack is the one potential change that I would perhaps go with out of that.

[Admiral Nelsen]

10 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

He reads the game quite well anyway but as soon as he plays someone with an aeriel threat, he would likely struggle. Moving him from left back also creates a weakness there.

3 changes?

I definitely would not take Pickering out, Edun was horrendous yesterday whereas Pickering was one of our best players.

Dack is the one potential change that I would perhaps go with out of that.

 

Agree that Dack is the obvious one to bring in. He didn't look particularly off the pace yesterday, albeit as a sub. He should get some opportunities to show what he can do against a lesser side. I'd definitely keep the defence the same, fitness permitting, and cross everything that Ayala can get through unscathed. Other changes would depend on how well we can recover between now & Wednesday, but I definitely wouldn't be averse to putting Dolan in. He's done well off the bench so far.

 

Win on Wednesday and that'll already be 9 points from games that we didn't get any from last season. Not the most reliable measure of progress, but nice all the same. 

[rigger]

I think Hedges will start.

[Herbie6590]

Crumbs…next up is the Biscuitmen…or is it the Royals these days ? 

Either way…they are led by Paul Ince…expect lots of shots…

[JacknOry]

Tactical mastermind. 

[roverstdt]

Can't wait for this as a London rover technically my first game of the season now 🙂

[joey_big_nose]

Tricky selection with injuries. Sounds from the injury update that we could potentially start the same XI as against WBA... But I think given the injuries we already have not pushing Brittain and Phillips may be the call...

Could look pretty makeshift at the back (Edun-Pickering-Ayala-Buckley?)

Playing Ayala three games in a week also sounds to me like an accident waiting to happen... But really no other choice.

Need this Sepp lad and 2 more

[rebelmswar]

JDT against the best manager we ever had... This could be a nerve wracking encounter.

2-0 Rovers and no injuries.

[Exiled_Rover]

39 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Tricky selection with injuries. Sounds from the injury update that we could potentially start the same XI as against WBA... But I think given the injuries we already have not pushing Brittain and Phillips may be the call...

Could look pretty makeshift at the back (Edun-Pickering-Ayala-Buckley?)

Playing Ayala three games in a week also sounds to me like an accident waiting to happen... But really no other choice.

Need this Sepp lad and 2 more

Do we know how serious the Carter injury is?

We've just been told Wharton is out for a couple of weeks.

[tomphil]

Another of the leagues underachievers but not an easy place to go and given our already mounting injury situation i'll take whatever we can get down there.

Reading  1      Rovers   1

[Andy]

38 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Tricky selection with injuries. Sounds from the injury update that we could potentially start the same XI as against WBA... But I think given the injuries we already have not pushing Brittain and Phillips may be the call...

Could look pretty makeshift at the back (Edun-Pickering-Ayala-Buckley?)

Playing Ayala three games in a week also sounds to me like an accident waiting to happen... But really no other choice.

Need this Sepp lad and 2 more

Brittain was heat exhaustion and Philips was cramp, so I’d be very surprised if they don’t make Weds.

However, we do need numbers in defence pretty sharpish.

[DE.]

We're struggling with injuries for sure, but at the same time Reading have just been smashed 4-0 by Rotherham and lost 2-1 to Stevenage at home. Also beaten 1-0 by Blackpool - and are managed by Paul Ince. Nothing to fear here, and we aren't the same team who would fail to impress in fixtures like this under other managers.  2-0 Rovers, and the JDT revolution continues unabated. 

[oldjamfan1]

It will be an unchanged starting line-up, unless JDT fancies freshening things up at the offensive end of the pitch.

The form book suggests that Rovers will win by the odd goal, but Reading has always been a bit of a bogey place for us and from what I saw of their game on Saturday they are due a bit of luck, so it is definitely a banana skin.

Ah fuck it, 1-2 (Diaz and Dack off the bench) and a free hit at Bramall Lane at the weekend.

[JacknOry]

So, since 1988 we hadn't won our first three games - how many for 4?

[only2garners]

Can this thread be merged with the one Jim started yesterday?

[Oldgregg86]

I’m pretty confident he will start Dolan 

[AllRoverAsia]

27 minutes ago, JacknOry said:

So, since 1988 we hadn't won our first three games - how many for 4?

In the 1913-14 season we won our first 5 Div 1 games, I can't see a 4, but quite a few 3s in earlier times.

So the answer is a long, long time ....

[TruRover]

1 hour ago, roverstdt said:

Can't wait for this as a London rover technically my first game of the season now 🙂

Likewise first game of the season for me! As a LDN based Rovers fan you have to savour every game. 
 

Anyone know how many we’ve sold for this? Tickets are at a decent price for once.

[Darrenbot]

After the great start to the season i'd settle for a point to keep things going,especially with the injury problems atm.After the thrashing they got at the weekend their confidence can't be high so an early goal could lead to a few more,heart says easy 3-0 win,head will settle for a 1-1 draw.

[rebelmswar]

So much optimism on here today, I'm begining to think they did something to the water when it was having problems yesterday. My experience with Rovers is when this board is optimistic fate kicks us square in the tender parts. Still think we are going to win tho.

[roverandout]

1 hour ago, oldjamfan1 said:

It will be an unchanged starting line-up, unless JDT fancies freshening things up at the offensive end of the pitch.

The form book suggests that Rovers will win by the odd goal, but Reading has always been a bit of a bogey place for us and from what I saw of their game on Saturday they are due a bit of luck, so it is definitely a banana skin.

Ah fuck it, 1-2 (Diaz and Dack off the bench) and a free hit at Bramall Lane at the weekend.

I wouldn’t call Sheffield utd a free hit. There's nothing to fear over them.  We have a better manager.  Their players are nothing special.  We are in better form.  I would go there with real expectation 

[JHRover]

If we mean business this season, and I think the manager and at least a good portion of the dressing room does, then we can't be going to Reading or indeed many other places this season and being happy with a point.

They are a poor side and have a very poor manager. I expect them to react after their Rotherham thrashing and their home form hasn't been the worst but we should have enough about us.

In times gone by this would have been a crashing back down to earth fixture so just hope that Tomasson has another plan up his sleeve.