MATCHWATCH : Charlton Athletic (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Wednesday December 6, 7pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161


One cup competition left following Selles latest masterplan. Charlton are in town as Reading attempt to progress through the knockout rounds of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. Charlton have already beaten Reading at The Valley in the league and will presumably fancy their chances again though whether they'll field as strong a side in this competition as they would in the league remains to be seen.

Previously Charlton haven't played their first XI in this competition but now they're into the knockout rounds they might start taking it more seriously so there could be places for the likes of Alfie May, Tennai Watson and Michael Hector. Meanwhile we can be fairly certain Selles will go with another experimental mix of "god knows what" like he did when throwing away a chance to make a small bit of money for the club on Sunday.

Penalties will follow if the scores are level at 90 minutes as there must be a winner on the night to take themselves into the next regionalised knockout round.

The game can be followed via BBC Berks and RoyalsTV if you can't be arsed to go.

Referee

Peter Wright

Previously

12 Aug 23 > Port Vale 1-0 Reading

[Hound]

Can see us going out of this and removing any last remaining bits of fun from the season

Not really sure what Selles has planned, Saturdays line up confused me - and not sure if that was to save players for this or the league game next week

Done even know what system they are playing atm but My guess is something like

Perreira
Mbengue Holmes Abbey Mola
Elliott Craig Savage
Azeez Kelv Knibbs

Gk, Carson, Rushesha, Smith, Wing, Hutch, Dean

[Clyde1998]

Looking at the starting XI we've played in the competition so far: Craig, Mukairu, Vickers and Wareham have started every game; Dean's started two and come off the bench in one.

Wareham started for the U21s yesterday, so probably won't be starting tomorrow. Rushesha has started two matches and wasn't in the U21 squad yesterday (although that may be because he was in the first team squad on Sunday).

Bindon and Abbey haven't featured at all; Dorsett and Smith have only appeared once from the bench; Wing twice from the bench.

Can see it being:

Pereira
Mbengue - Holmes - Dean - Carson/Mola
Craig - Rushesha
Vickers - Knibbs - Mukairu
Ehibhatiomhan

Hope we play a strong side though - play Smith, Wing, Abbey, Bindon and Dorsett. We need to bounce back from Sunday with a good result.

[Crowbar6753]

Looking at the starting XI we've played in the competition so far: Craig, Mukairu, Vickers and Wareham have started every game; Dean's started two and come off the bench in one.

Wareham started for the U21s yesterday, so probably won't be starting tomorrow. Rushesha has started two matches and wasn't in the U21 squad yesterday (although that may be because he was in the first team squad on Sunday).

Bindon and Abbey haven't featured at all; Dorsett and Smith have only appeared once from the bench; Wing twice from the bench.

Can see it being:

Pereira
Mbengue - Holmes - Dean - Carson/Mola
Craig - Rushesha
Vickers - Knibbs - Mukairu
Ehibhatiomhan

Hope we play a strong side though - play Smith, Wing, Abbey, Bindon and Dorsett. We need to bounce back from Sunday with a good result.

Agreed, this is a winnable competition this can generate money in the final rounds with a possible Wembley appearance at the end. We also need to get back to winning ways as winning can become a habit much like losing which we know all to well!!

I would be inclined to go with a near full strength team, which in SeLLLes eyes could be anything!!

[WestYorksRoyal]

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/d ... -charlton/

This reads like one giant piss take; fair play that the club's staff still have a sense of humour. TTE on Twitter picked out this highlight:

It has been quite the year or so for Mukairu, who featured in back-to-back Champions League games against Manchester City last October. Now he can add a backflip at St James Park and this award to his CV.

[Sutekh]

[blythspartan]

Two pretty strong teams today. I reckon Selles has been told we need to get to Wembley to save the club.

[Royality creeps In]

Two pretty strong teams today. I reckon Selles has been told we need to get to Wembley to save the club.

Or his job!

[Brogue]

Honestly what the oxf*rd is this guy doing putting a stronger team out tonight than in the FA Cup

[Sutekh]

Honestly what the oxf*rd is this guy doing putting a stronger team out tonight than in the FA Cup

Simples - the blokes an idiot.

[Snowflake Royal]

Vickers is so class

Mola is an abomination.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Honestly what the oxf*rd is this guy doing putting a stronger team out tonight than in the FA Cup

Simples - the blokes an idiot.

more chance of progression to the ‘money shots’?

We weren’t going to win the FA Cup, that’s reserved to Prem teams nowadays


……..and Charlton have gone pretty strong

[Snowflake Royal]

There's just so little movement or showing for the ball in central midfield going forward

[Snowflake Royal]

Oh, how did we not score that. Incredible ball to Wing, first touch not quite there, save and then Vickers puts the follow up wrong side of the post under pressure.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Vickers is so class

Mola is an abomination.

Even if he is off in January, it's mental that we're not playing him while he's still here.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Classic Reading defending.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Shit cross. Loads of Reading players in the box. Somehow it still goes in.

[Snowflake Royal]

There it is. Stopped moving and passing. Gave it away and then wide open to a quick ball forward

Game over

[Snowflake Royal]

That is utterly pathetic from Mukairu. Runs it into the box and then just lets the defender step infront of him and walk off with the ball.

[WestYorksRoyal]

So, so, soft. Had been playing OK. Easy to blame Selles, but every manager has struggled with it.