MATCHWATCH : Nottingham Forest (h) sponsored by Steve Stone

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday 12th January, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

The saga that is this season continues with a visit from Nottm Forest. Again we will get to see just how far behind the leading teams in the division Reading are.

Or perhaps we won't. Perhaps there will be a continuation of the ManU performance and a corner will be turned by managing to win the fist game since the beginning of November. One thing is for certain this will not be easy. Reading will be unlikely to get the time on the ball that ManU afforded them in the FA Cup so there has to be some steel in the team and something to win the right to play the way Reading want. If there isn't then I fear another Swansea might be heading our way.

Forest are on a small downer at the moment with only 1 win in their last 6 league games but so many teams have been on a bit of a downer and rolled up, collected their points and said "thanks very much" so that is probably nothing to get excited about.

Reading's form as we all know is utterly awful as the winless league run now stretches to 10 games and a point haul of 5 from the 30 available.

Injuries as ever are a real problem defensively. Gunter is fit again but Ilori and O'Shea are both doubtful. Blackett and Bacuna will return from suspension to offer more of a backbone to the team. New signing Ejaria is not yet injured and therefore I reckon is most likely to start on the bench.

Referee

A big "hi" to Oliver Langford



Previously

24 Nov 2018 > Wigan Athletic 0-0 Reading
22 Aug 2018 > Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Reading
17 Mar 2018 > Norwich City 3-2 Reading
26 Dec 2017 > Bristol City 2-0 Reading
28 Oct 17 > Reading 0-2 Middlesbrough
12 Jan 17 > Reading 0-1 Queen’s Park Rangers
03 Dec 16 > Fulham 5-0 Reading
04 Oct 16 > Portsmouth 2-2 Reading U23 (Checkacrowd Trophy)
27 Sep 16 > Brentford 4-1 Reading
19 Jan 16 > Reading 5-2 Huddersfield Town (FAC3R)
16 Dec 15 > Hull City 2-1 Reading
11 Mar 14 > Leeds United 2-4 Reading
14 Dec 13 > Huddersfield Town 0-1 Reading
06 Mar 12 > Reading 1-0 Portsmouth
27 Aug 11 > Hull City 1-0 Reading
16 Oct 10 > Reading 0-1 Swansea City
09 Feb 10 > Reading 1-0 Plymouth Argyle

Historically

Forest have made 20 previous visits to Reading for a league game with all but 4 being at Division 2 level. They have won on 6 of those visits and when Reading lose at home to Forest in the league they fail to score. Reading have managed 9 wins from those visits so, the record v Forest isn't particularly impressive.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Use an iFollow subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Hound]

massive game for us. Absolutely have to get the 3 points.

Jaakola
Yiadom Moore Blackett/Ilori Richards
Bacuna Rinomhota
McCleary Swift Harriott
Meite

Walker, Loader/Barrow, Osho, Kelly, Bod, Aluko, Ejaria

[JoeyJoeJoeJnrShabadoo]

thanks

[Old Man Andrews]

Really can't stand that ref, he fills me with dread.

I'd go

Jaakkola

Yiadom
Moore
Blackett
Richards

Rinhomota
Kelly
Aluko

Meite (LW)
Bodvarsson
Harriott (RW)

[Sutekh]

So two new midfielders and possibly a new keeper all could be making their debuts in this one.

Wonder if the club will ever sign players for the positions they actually need to cover eg a left back.

Pereira
Yiadom
Moore
Blackett
Ilori
Bacuna
Rinomhota
Baker
Harriott
Meite
McCleary

[URZZZZ]

Looks like some bigger names may miss the squad this week. If you think about it we'll have

2x goalie
3x fullbacks
3x CB's

Then there's the problem
10 spaces can be realistically filled by

Kelly
Bacuna
Rino
Ejaria
Swift
Baker
Aluko
Barrow
McCleary
Harriott
Loader
Bodvarsson
Meite

Assuming we do have 8 goalies and defenders in the matchday squad, that's at least 3 of those that will miss out. I'd probably guess Bacuna, Barrow/Aluko and Loader/Bodvarsson to miss out but there's some tough choices in there

[nevo1970]

Forest part company with the manager this morning. Could disrupt them a bit maybe?

[Hound]

you'd think so. Strange day to do it

Slightly annoyed I'm missing this match as think its an interesting one

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Forest part company with the manager this morning. Could disrupt them a bit maybe?

I get the feeling we tend to struggle against teams that just lost their manager. Not sure if the stats back this up. Sure someone will pop up having done extensive research to prove me wrong though.

[Hound]

from reports I read , the players liked him. Would hope it would work to our advantage

[Hopeful]

Would like to see:
Jaakola
Yiadom
Moore
Osho (not sure if injured?)
Blackett

Bacuna
Rinomhota

Harriott
Baker
Barrow

Bod

But suspect JG will go with:

Jaakola
Yiadom
Moore
Blackett
Richards

Bacuna
Rinomhota

Harriott
Aluko
Barrow

Meite

[Hendo]

Seems like a lot of their fans are unhappy with this as well, could leave them in a bit of disarray.

It's not like they were playing badly and needed to get a new manager in.

[PistolPete]

We really need a win here, but I fear Forrest will be stubborn to break down and will pounce on any error we make; we’re going to have to attack well.

I’d go very similar to the way we set up at Man United, with Baldock in for GMac:

Jaakola
Yiadom-Moore-Illori-Richards
6 Rino 8 Kelly 10 Swift
Harriot- Loader - Baldock

Mannone
Blackett
Bacuna
Baker
Barrow
Aluko
Bod

- I really don’t know why Ejaria is here!
- I wish we had a left back in for a Richards (can’t bank on obita coming back) as Blackett is better at centre half.
- Not sure if Meite is fit? Either way, I see him as a Clement player rather than a Gomes player sadly

[URZZZZ]

We really need a win here, but I fear Forrest will be stubborn to break down and will pounce on any error we make; we’re going to have to attack well.

I’d go very similar to the way we set up at Man United, with Baldock in for GMac:

Jaakola
Yiadom-Moore-Illori-Richards
6 Rino 8 Kelly 10 Swift
Harriot- Loader - Baldock

Mannone
Blackett
Bacuna
Baker
Barrow
Aluko
Bod

- I really don’t know why Ejaria is here!
- I wish we had a left back in for a Richards (can’t bank on obita coming back) as Blackett is better at centre half.
- Not sure if Meite is fit? Either way, I see him as a Clement player rather than a Gomes player sadly

For me, Gunter is a better LB than Richards at this moment in time

Our current best back four is Yiadom-Moore-Blackett-Gunter IMO
But I appreciate Ilori and Richards are decieved as "ball players" so may be favoured

Lots of B's on the bench changed from the M's every week

[Snowflake Royal]

This is the Blackett who just got suspended for three games and has been positionally at fault for several goals at CB?

I think it's very hard to say a back four that has never played together (I think) could be our best one mid-way through a season.

[URZZZZ]

This is the Blackett who just got suspended for three games and has been positionally at fault for several goals at CB?

I think it's very hard to say a back four that has never played together (I think) could be our best one mid-way through a season.

I don't recall Blackett actually making a single fault this season that has led to the other team scoring? Correct me if I'm wrong, if we're talking about last season then obviously you are correct

Way I see it is Moore is our best CB. Then you have Ilori and Blackett competing next to him and I prefer Blackett, if you prefer Ilori then fair enough. Yiadom is probably our best FB then it's out of Gunter and Richards and in all honesty I don't mind which one of the two, I do think Gunter is slightly better

Don't think they have played together yet so far, but I'm going off what I think the four best individual defenders have been so far this season and if it doesn't work, then it doesn't work

[Snowflake Royal]

This is the Blackett who just got suspended for three games and has been positionally at fault for several goals at CB?

I think it's very hard to say a back four that has never played together (I think) could be our best one mid-way through a season.

I don't recall Blackett actually making a single fault this season that has led to the other team scoring? Correct me if I'm wrong, if we're talking about last season then obviously you are correct

Way I see it is Moore is our best CB. Then you have Ilori and Blackett competing next to him and I prefer Blackett, if you prefer Ilori then fair enough. Yiadom is probably our best FB then it's out of Gunter and Richards and in all honesty I don't mind which one of the two, I do think Gunter is slightly better

Don't think they have played together yet so far, but I'm going off what I think the four best individual defenders have been so far this season and if it doesn't work, then it doesn't work

If you're talking about blatant clangers no. But when he was paired with Ilori he was all over the shop with his positioning and was definitely at fault for some goals

Putting a defence together based on best individuals is a poor choice IMO. defence is first and foremost a unit.

Not saying you're wrong as such, just that there's not a lot to support it.

[Hound]

Certainly be very interesting to see who plays tomorrow - have the majority fit and available for once

[Sutekh]

Jaakkola
Richards
Yiadom
Ilori
Bacuna
Moore
Rinomhota
Ejaria
Barrow
Bodvarsson
Swift

Subs

Walker
Gunter
McCleary
Aluko
Baker
Blackett
Loader

Harriott and Kelly don’t even make the squad

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Can't travel up today which is a shame as that line up is pretty much a first choice 11 in my view, aside a fit Obita at LB.