MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Sutekh » 31 Jan 2023 10:28




When : Saturday 4th February 2023, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

It's Watford again already, though this time it's the proper league game which means Watford will field their strongest line up so expect a very different game to the FA Cup fixture.

Watford are 4th in the table, some 12 places and 7 points better off than Reading but recent form hasn't been too brilliant for the Hornets with just 2 wins and a draw from the last 6 league games, the main reason for this slip for the Hertfordshire side though has been an injury crisis of Reading proportions with a great many players in the treatment room. In addition Watford have scored only once in their last 4 away games, but that was the winner at Norwich so don't think it'll be an easier game just because of the injuries abounding everywhere.

Still surviving the injury crisis though is Ismaila Sarr who is attracting great interest from Villa apparently so let's hope he is sold in the next 12 hours. Injury has, though, thankfully shorn the club of leading scorer Joao Pedro but there's Keinan Davis and Vakoun Bayo with 8 goals between them to provide cover and the ex Reading contingent threat is provided though Tom Dele-Bashiru, Ben Hamer and Leandro Bacuna.

In an attempt to bolster their promotion campaign (as well as cover the injuries) Watford have had a busy time in the January window with midfielder Ismail Kone arriving from Canada, defender Ryan Porteous moving from Hibernian and forwards Joao Ferreira from Rio Ave and the regular right royal pain in the ass Britt Assombalonga coming back to the country (and former club) after a brief stay in Turkey. In addition they've added a couple of loans in Matheus Martins (from Udinese) and Henrique Araujo (from Benfica).

Injuries continue to blight both clubs with Reading losing the services of Liam Moore, Ovie Ejaria and having a big doubt over Shane Long while Andy Carroll misses the game through a 1 game ban after being dismissed at Old Trafford. But it's Watford who have the serious issues, last week they added to the injury problems with Serrialta and Ferreira both getting knocks at Middlesbrough to add to Joao Pedro, Tom Cleverly, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Edo Kayembe, Kortney Hause, Imran Souza and Daniel Gosling. The unknown in all this will be Reading's one January loan acquisition - the supposedly highly rated 15m Euro worth midfielder Cesare Casadei. As he is the 6th loan at the club one of Lumley, Hendrick, Fornah, Rahman and Loum will have to be left out of the matchday squad for him to be involved. Hopefully it'll be Rahman but most likely it'll be Fornah.

Referee

Steve Martin

Previously

13 Aug 22 > Rotherham United 4-0 Reading
04 Dec 21 > Reading 1-1 Hull City
18 Sep 21 > Fulham 1-2 Reading
13 Mar 21 > Nottingham Forest 1-1 Reading
22 Jul 20 > Reading 1-4 Swansea City
07 July 20 > Reading 0-0 Huddersfield Town
05 Oct 19 > Bristol City 1-0 Reading
13 Apr 19 > Reading 2-1 Brentford
13 Feb 19 > Reading 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
22 Dec 18 > Reading 0-1 Middlesbrough
14 Apr 18 > Reading 2-2 Sunderland
27 Feb 18 > Nottm Forest 1-1 Reading
11 Dec 17 > Reading 2-2 Cardiff City
23 Sep 17 > Reading 1-1 Hull City
26 Aug 17 > Birmingham City 0-2 Reading
24 Jan 17 > Reading 1-0 Fulham
15 Oct 16 > Queen's Park Rangers 1-1 Reading
15 Mar 16 > Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Reading
23 Jan 16 > Reading 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
19 Sep 15 > Bristol City 0-2 Reading
25 Mar 14 > Reading 1-3 Barnsley

Historically

This is another of the "should be but isn't" derbies. Reading v Watford is one of the most played fixtures outside of games between sides in the top division. The two clubs have been at it "hammer and tongs" with each other pretty consistently in all competitions since February 1920, which is now 120 games ago so you'd think there'd the some sort of frission between the two but for whatever reason it's just never caught on - perhaps a sign of games that are largely pretty inoffensive and unmemorable?

Reading have beaten Watford 46 times while Watford have won 49 with the gap in victories largely being down to Reading's league cup deficit against the Hornets.

How to follow the game

  1. Ticket up and travel
  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 a RoyalsTV subscription
  5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

Hound
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Hound » 31 Jan 2023 10:50

Thanks Sutekh

going to be another grim battle to try to win a point or scrape another close 3 points. Hopefully long is fit

Lumley
Yiadom Mbengue Holmes McIntyre NGW
Loum Hendrick
Ince Long Meite

Bouzanis, Hoilett, Cesar C, Baba, Joao, Dann, Azeez

Or something like that. Really don’t know tbh

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by URZZZZ » 31 Jan 2023 11:58

Hound Thanks Sutekh

going to be another grim battle to try to win a point or scrape another close 3 points. Hopefully long is fit

Lumley
Yiadom Mbengue Holmes McIntyre NGW
Loum Hendrick
Ince Long Meite

Bouzanis, Hoilett, Cesar C, Baba, Joao, Dann, Azeez

Or something like that. Really don’t know tbh


A team low on confidence, it’s really important we set our stall out to attack from the off

Would go with an out and out 4-4-2, Hoilett in for Loum, and push Mbengue in midfield. Haven’t been impressed with Hoilett recently but he played well on Saturday. If he sticks with the 5-3-2 and plays Rahman, then there’s no hope

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Snowflake Royal » 31 Jan 2023 12:38

Hound Thanks Sutekh

going to be another grim battle to try to win a point or scrape another close 3 points. Hopefully long is fit

Lumley
Yiadom Mbengue Holmes McIntyre NGW
Loum Hendrick
Ince Long Meite

Bouzanis, Hoilett, Cesar C, Baba, Joao, Dann, Azeez

Or something like that. Really don’t know tbh

Yeah, toss up for me between two of the three of Yiadom, Hoilett and Mbengue.

I'm tempted to push Ince upfront with Long / Meite and put in Fornah to midfield, who I rate.

I think we need to do more to control games and moving Ince back into a flatter midfield 3 to accommodate second striker hasn’t really worked for me

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Vision
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Vision » 31 Jan 2023 15:04

Any news on Long's fitness?

He seemed to pull up pretty badly at the end of the game at Old Trafford.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by YorkshireRoyal99 » 31 Jan 2023 15:44

Hound Thanks Sutekh

going to be another grim battle to try to win a point or scrape another close 3 points. Hopefully long is fit

Lumley
Yiadom Mbengue Holmes McIntyre NGW
Loum Hendrick
Ince Long Meite

Bouzanis, Hoilett, Cesar C, Baba, Joao, Dann, Azeez

Or something like that. Really don’t know tbh


I'd probably bring Dann into that back 3, at least for experience anyway. Tough to drop any of Holmes, McIntyre or Mbengue though, I still think Mbengue needs to be playing in our back 3. It's a bit of a cliché now, but I can't see NGW starting ahead of Baba, particularly after playing in the U21's today.

Would agree with dropping Hoilett, again can't see it happening because he did well at United at the weekend. In terms of the loans, god knows who will be in or out in that one, although Lumley and Hendrick will be pretty much assured of a place.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Coppells Lost Coat » 31 Jan 2023 15:46

Looking forward to us lining up with out Carroll up front tbh. We looked such a better team when Yids played at RWB just that extra bit of energy. With out Hoilet and Carroll in the side we lose that bit of quality, however it makes us a more adaptable / dynamic team

Dont think Fornah will feature with the newbie loan replacing his bench spot.

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Snowflake Royal » 04 Feb 2023 11:57

Whoscored Preview expects this line up, which I think looks a bit surprising...


Lumley
Yiadom, Holmes, McIntyre
Hoilett, Fornah, Hendrick, Casadei, Rahman
Ince Joao

With Loum dropped after a string of poor performances apparently.

Ince doesn't seem as keen on Fornah as Loum (different roles usually too) so that would surprise me, as would Casadei coming straight in and moving Ince upfront.

They're predicting a 1-2 defeat

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Sutekh
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Sutekh » 04 Feb 2023 14:00

New bloke starts



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Sutekh
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Sutekh » 04 Feb 2023 14:02

No Rahman, he’s the loanee dropped from the squad entirely. However still no room for NGW so expecting another Ince loony decision and TMac to be out of position at left back.

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Snowflake Royal » 04 Feb 2023 14:09

Sutekh No Rahman, he’s the loanee dropped from the squad entirely. However still no room for NGW so expecting another Ince loony decision and TMac to be out of position at left back.

Hoilett be moved across and Yiadom RWB surely?

Has NGW shat on Ince's desk?

Look forward to seeing new guy. Surprised he's gone straight in.

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From Despair To Where?
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by From Despair To Where? » 04 Feb 2023 14:47

Sutekh New bloke starts



Fcuking hell, that picture makes him look like a Moai.

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Snowflake Royal » 04 Feb 2023 15:03

Yeah, Hoilett at LWB and Yiadom RWB


Well in Hendrick


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Sutekh
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Sutekh » 04 Feb 2023 15:03

Got Berks coverage live on the internet rather than reverting to the usual “unavailable” message.

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Snowflake Royal » 04 Feb 2023 15:10

Ok, so Casadei is big and strong enough that moving up from youth football shouldn’t see him bullied then.

Some big leaps and strong challenges so far. Nice interchange just then nearly getting a break.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by karbota » 04 Feb 2023 15:15

O dear Loum struggling already.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Snowflake Royal » 04 Feb 2023 15:17

Wow, that nearly dribbled in the corner. Nice counter and good save.



Ooof and nearly again. Argh, replay shows all 3 of our players went far post, any of them runs near and that ball from Ince is a tap in.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Brogue » 04 Feb 2023 15:29

Goal

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Pepe the Horseman » 04 Feb 2023 15:30

Ffs. Shocking defending. How many goals has Sarr scored against us now?

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Sutekh
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h)

by Sutekh » 04 Feb 2023 15:31

More god awful defending.

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