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by Balders8/7 19:21Tue Jul 8 19:21:39 2025
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Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1428
They've just been dumped out of the FA cup too... but they had a 2 goal lead in the 90th minute against non-league Carlisle.
Patchy league form but a good record against us.
I hope we really go for them, big pitch so use the width and press aggressively.
Roberts and Pheonix wide for this one would be my choice. With Reid through the middle over Gassan.
Butler or Freestone will be a telling decision, safety first with Freestone or more attacking with Butler.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 586
No Dan Sweeney in the squad for the first league match this year with no other centre half named as sub is I’d say a statement.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 549
A better statement would be to drop Roberts and play two up front.
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 413
Would we score more? The strikers haven’t been providing goals. They are shared around. Ahadme’s miss last night is still haunting me, but if he was a clinical finisher he wouldn’t be playing for us.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 434
How would that work though? He seems reluctant to change the shape of the team, despite side adjusting to the way we play, but that's perhaps because he doesn't have to bodies to do it. How would the midfield look with two up top?
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 396
4-4-2 ?
Harvey, Jordan H, Chem and Beryl across midfield.
Which means Kemp misses out. But playing a 10 doesn't work in a 4-4-2 without unbalancing the side. And Kemp isn't getting many touches of the ball anyway. Lowest in the side first half again last night.
Maybe more of a 4-1-3-2 with Jordan H sitting as a DM and Harvey pushing up between the wide players. Very attacking and a bit Kevin Keegan, create a lot of chances, and concede a lot of chances.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 354
One does not simply leave Kemp out.
Need to change our tactics to make sure he gets on the ball more. Late on yesterday he seemed to find the ball out wide a bit more.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 324
I agree he's a very good L1 player, but he's not been getting on the ball as much as we'd like. Even when we are winning.
Can't play him wide.
Can't drop him deep.
Can't really play him as a second striker.
So we're stuck with 433 to fit him in. Even if it doesn't suit the rest of our attacking players.
Which I've never much liked for us or anybody else.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 312
We are 1 million times better off accommodating Kemp than playing two goalshy strikers
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 371
Think we may need to use squad players a bit more at, Earley and Malcolm not sure re Young ? Also perhaps on horizon before Xmas Thompson might be around .Just thinking of freshining things up.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 377
I agree a 10 doesn't work in 442, but Kemp can't be excluded for me, he's too good. That's part of the reason I don't think he'll change shape. We just need to get better at getting him on the ball.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 778
I think there’s a serious issue with management if Roberts starts again.
Not as good as the thought we were. Too many average players for a play off challenge.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 753
Luther looked rusty
Pidge and Goode did fine but no impact in their box
Freestone isn't a flying fullback. Defensively solid enough.
Houghton was.poor first half, gave the ball away and didn't play it forward enough.
White our best player, again
Kemp was anonymous first half, better second but still not the Kemp he has been.
Campbell was our most potent threat but ran dry and was rightly hooked.
Roberts was the Roberts we see too often. Wholly ineffective.
Gassan isn't a L1 striker.
Subs were early enough, Pheonix tried, we looked way more dangerous with Butler, Reid and Pheonix pushing on, but too many players below par so we got what we deserved.
Edited by BALDOCKBORO at 22:22:51 on 6th November 2025
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 317
Didn’t think White was as good as he has been.
Brilliant trio in the middle though. White and Kemp temind me a bit of Berry and Barrowcliff
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 321
Harvey was sat next to me having dinner in da Wade tonight.
Always said he was of a better breed. Good lad.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 266
Hope not living there still if he did as think we used to put a few players up there only short term.Sure at one stage we had a few houses they then lived in , possibly via Mick Shortlamd.One was in Hitchin as used to set Roberts and Byrom around town.
Edited by HITCHIN CALLING at 09:29:49 on 8th November 2025
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 296
Chuds please, that man has a family. You've got to let him go.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 747
Why does everybody spell Phoenix wrong?
Harry does it every time, abbeyfield did it this evening, and now you are at it.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 497
It's not just a thing on here, its a word people struggle with. There was a trance track that had the word in its title recently. On Spotify the track had been added as both Phoenix, Pheonix and Pehonix, which was my favourite.
Think the way its pronounced as Fe-nix makes it sound like it should be Phe at the start
Edited by AndyC at 08:10:03 on 7th November 2025
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 486
There is a thinking spelling errors ate ok if the reader can still understand the meaning. Good for keyboard warriors like me.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 282
Yes, you carry on. I’m glad the spelling errors had enough to eat.
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2 people
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 566
Stop Getting Bond Wrong
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 679
I don't.
Tip, if you aren't sure call him Patterson.
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 619
Did I see you at the game tonight Sev? Was that you standing on the far left?
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 464
Was that you standing on the far left?
No, that was Jeremy Corbyn.
/satire
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 623
Aye, unusual for me to be on the far left....
Took 3.5hrs to get to. Only went because I'm staying overnight and onto Southampton tomorrow, a convenient coincidence that it was moved to Thursday night. Shame the game was so infuriating.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 464
Cruise today?
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 458
Yep, off to Hamburg, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge and Le Harve. For the 6th time. 🙄🤣
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 436
😂
Enjoy!
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 641
It was a frustrating night. Apologies for not coming to say hello but I wasn’t 100% certain! I was sitting on the same row as you, just across the walkway
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 486
Ah right, no worries
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 677
My spelling is shocking and my fast typing is worse. Don't feel like I'm a benchmark!
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 686
To annoy you.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 873
Just me or was Roberts huffing and puffing at coming off there? Not like he had an hour and a quarter to do something.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 432
I noticed that
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 868
Guy is a prick.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 820
Speaking of pricks. I really dislike Reading FC.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 738
Reading are a has-been club, on the way down. We are on the up even though we lost tonight. Two and a half weeks to get these two, recent, poor results out of our system. Then we go again...not the end of the world. More lessons to be learnt by everyone and we'll come out fighting again. COYB
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 783
We've lost a league game I didn't attend, I can start going again
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 843
It's ok the new Rice is on to save us... 🙄
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 977
We had a nice start to the season, but now we can concentrate on cementing that 14th place.
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2 people
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 984
Not good until about 34-40 minutes in but showed enough in that final bit of the first half to suggest we can get something from this game. They've got a couple on bookings to run at now.
Campbell looks our most potent threat so far.
Edited by BALDOCKBORO at 20:51:30 on 6th November 2025
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 929
If we could compete a single move it could lead to a goal. They don't look great at the back, but we need to get the ball and pass it to our own players to do that.
They look like they could another on the break quite easily too.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 973
Time for Revs to earn that contract.
People will say I'm overreacting, but if we lose this we could easily go into freefall.
Edited by RockyBottom at 20:54:29 on 6th November 2025
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 456
You’re over reacting
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 429
Depends what your expectations are. If you expecting us to finish in the automatics then yes we will certainly be on decline.
If you're expecting us to finish top half you should have your expectations met.
I'm thinking we'll finish 7 or 8 again and would make that a good season.
Would be a dream to finish in the playoffs.
Anything below 10 and I'd be a bit disappointed given our start.
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 393
I'm predicting somewhere mid table 10-14th.
Lack of goalscoring forwards may hurt us, but that's what you pay the big bucks for.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 390
You want to see improvement year on year, so we want to finish higher than last season, with more wins, points and goals scored.
Last year we ended 14th, with 15 wins, 57points and 42 goals scored.
Say a 10% improvement in each and we are looking at 12th place, with 17 wins, 63pts and 46 goals scored.
From where we are now you would certainly want better than that, mind, but that is where our strong start has almost created an issue for Revs and the team in that it seems expectatioms have raised a lot with many.
I think a top ten finish with 65pts and 50+ goals scored would be a decent finish, albeit I would hope to be pushing for the playoffs at least, it not making them. FWIW 10th place last season was Huddersfield on 64pts.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 378
'From where we are now you would certainly want better than that, mind, but that is where our strong start has almost created an issue for Revs and the team in that it seems expectations have raised a lot with many'
Yes I think that's the core of the problem. I'd have no problem at all with a top half finish, but it would just feel disappointing given the start we've had. I just want Revs to be a bit more proactive, rather than reactive, but that's easy for me to say sitting here.
I was however just as frustrated at going out the FA Cup, in a tie would should have probably won, but a lot of the other higher ranked teams seemed to struggle so perhaps it was just a cup thing!
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 924
Do you not think sides have worked out how to play us the last few weeks?
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 893
No. I think we have played two bad games in a week.
As most sides do every single season.
Edited by Chuds at 21:18:32 on 6th November 2025
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 927
It’s a mental comment, but keep typing. You’re anxious and this helps. Borochat is here for you.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 746
Seen Roberts play lately and hes absolute dog sh*t
No fight, no thrust to push forward, then moans when be gets taken off
Poor tonight just like Saturday
PS Ahadme has to score
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 627
Roberts highlight was when he got the ball passed to his feet and he managed to not stop the ball which rolled out for a throw in. Summed up everything about tonight. Was like they'd never seen a football before half the time.
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Ref bottle job
Views: 1032
Made up a chat with the lino when he realised it was a second yellow
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1 person
Re: Ref bottle job
Views: 983
To be fair he showed the yellow and red straight after so knew it was a second yellow. The players then all told him it was the other player and the lino confirmed it.
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Re: Ref bottle job
Views: 469
First foul was from the player he went off. He knew it because he saw it but then bottled it.
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Re: Ref bottle job
Views: 939
People don't want experts or the truth. I'm sticking with my opinion
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3 people
Re: Ref bottle job
Views: 924
Both players fouled him I'm told, so he took the easy get out. And only because all the players surrounded him which I thought wasn't allowed.
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Re: Ref bottle job
Views: 899
Absolutely bottled it there. Even if it was a bit of a 50-50, once you’ve shown the cards then own it.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1055
2026:
Gassan Ahadme set to join AFC Welwyn on loan from Potters Bar.
Edited by CDawg at 20:31:42 on 6th November 2025
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1058
Our passing the last three games has been awful and continuing the same tonight
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1022
That's the biggest factor between us and the sides that can pay that bit extra for players.
Watched a few Championship games recently and the jump is scary.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 934
We play like 1970 Brazil when the ball's on the edge of our own area ...
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1112
What a shit start. None of the ball in the first 3 minutes and concede
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1088
Very sloppy. Frustrating, just haven’t settled into the game.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1095
The team are all stunned at seeing a thin Steve Evans, it may take them time to settle into the match
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 893
From the eat all the Milk Tray man to the Milk Tray man real quick.
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 890
All because the manager loves Milk Tray
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1091
The curse of the new contract.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1177
I really really really fucking hate Reading
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1194
Glad Gassan is starting over Reid (despite everybody in the replies on Twitter moaning about it, but Reid has done very little for weeks and hasn't scored in months).
Also glad Freestone is back in ahead of Butler. And Goode ahead of Sweeney.
Harsh on Pattenden, who has been excellent, but good to see Luther back.
I am NOT glad to see Roberts start again, after contributing the grand total of sweet fuck all yet again at the weekend, when given a rare start of late. Hopefully being on TV he may decide he can be arsed today.
Expected a draw earlier today, but am a bit more confident after seeing the team. Not sure why. Still wouldn't say I expect or am confident of a win, mind.
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2 people
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 911
So far it looks like this team has never played together before.
Added to the fact, we can't control the ball, pass the ball or keep the ball and it's creating a fantastic spectacle.
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2 people
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 842
Footage of our attacking play at 2.32 here:
https://youtu.be/Nc2To-pKMSg?si=tTzZvwOyjo01PquD
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 860
That's what happens when Roberts starts games. Just like Saturday.
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1164
Agree with that, but think Jasper and Roberts had serious communication issues last week.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1151
I'm not a Roberts fan but he's our best option if Beryl is out.
Hassan hasn't convinced me he's anything but a big workhorse. Hope he proves me wrong.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1151
Puts himself about, and seems to have a good first touch, I don’t think he’s good as a lone striker though.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1165
New manager bounce incoming.
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1188
https://x.com/StevenageFC/status/1986505136630370396/photo/1
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1187
Can't see X posts .
And the club can't be arsed copyingnit across to, or updating their BlueSky account :(
One for the SLO to kick them about?
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1235
Can we go back top?
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Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1117
Little Steve! Hardly recognisable.
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 1112
There is no way he has done that as quickly as he has with just diet and exercise, he is slimmer than Jobi!
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1 person
Re: Reading - Match Thread
Views: 926
Ozempic and Manjaro sandwiches for lunch?
Edited by BALDOCKBORO at 20:52:57 on 6th November 2025
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Previous thread: TV by AndyC7/11 14:31Fri Nov 7 14:31:16 2025view thread