Reading v Bournemouth

[AFCB_Mark]

The second of our local away double header. After sneaking past Brighton 2-0 in a laboured game, and then seeing everyone else immediately catch up with us the next day, we move onto Reading tomorrow.

A sold out 4000 traveling to our most local away of the season, it's very rare that I can do a full day's work before an evening away game and still make it in plenty of time. Train after work up to Reading station, in the pub next door to meet everyone, stagger to the ground possibly with the help of a bus, and then hope for the best. Got some mates in Caversham to stay with after.

Surprisingly at Brighton Marc Pugh started out wide, although he didn't look fit and was replaced on the hour much to the improvement of our attack. So it'll be interesting to see if he starts again, and if so what shape he's in. Otherwise it'll probably be as you were with our very regular 11.

Reading obviously have their big game with Arsenal coming up, and from what Clarke says, they're likely to make some changes. Of course Clarke could just be playing us, and he might send out his normal side. They drew for the 3rd successive game, up at their fellow Cup achievers Blackburn.

We always have a good crack with Reading, not quite a local derby but something a bit different about it all the same. Probably more like the 'middle class Waitrose derby' these days.

 

[Madejski]

5-0 win for Bournemouth against our reserves.

 

[Dazza]

About time we turned Bournemouth over having lost the last 3 meetings.The last 2 down there we were crap.Mind you our recent record against them is so crap we even lost to them when they were playing at Dorchester's ground.Can't see us turning them over tomorrow night.

Be interesting to see how many changes Clarke makes with the Semi Final on Saturday evening.

 

[Madejski]

10 changes I would guess. Everyone who started Saturday rested except for Ake as he can't play Arsenal.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Seems that Matt Ritchie has several stitches in his leg following a challenge on Friday and is unlikely heal sufficiently to play. That's a shame, our main creative outlet.

 

[RavenBish]

Football League completely forgetting Keith Stroud is from Bournemouth and that his entire family support Bournemouth. Great stuff.

 

[TomPNE94]

Football League completely forgetting Keith Stroud is from Bournemouth and that his entire family support Bournemouth. Great stuff.

Is that the end of your posting strike then?

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Referees have to declare their footballing affiliations and preferences obviously, and we've had Stroud before so I would therefore assume he isn't registered as a Bournemouth fan?! Wasn't an issue in the two occasions we've had him this season, let alone prior to this season.

Let's hope its a good game free of controversy either way.

He lives in basingstoke I believe which is why he got this game being just down the road from Reading.

 

[RavenBish]

Is that the end of your posting strike then?

It wasn't a strike, I wasn't protesting - just will hardly be on here much for a while.

 

[markwwfc1992]

I'm calling Bournemouth to get 1 or 2 penalties this game in that case, hope so to since I've bet on them.

 

[Super_horns]

Won't make much odds anyway - Bournemouth will win easily.

If anything the ref might try harder not to be bias towards the Cherries!

 

[RavenBish]

Referees have to declare their footballing affiliations and preferences obviously, and we've had Stroud before so I would therefore assume he isn't registered as a Bournemouth fan?! Wasn't an issue in the two occasions we've had him this season, let alone prior to this season.

You've had him 5 times overall...won all 5.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Reading going full strength with 1 jus change, unlike Watford.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Heroic stuff. Under siege for most of the second half, Reading applied all sorts of pressure. And we stood firm. And for all those Watford fans et all, the ref was appalling for us, gave us feck all for the entire game.

But we still won.

A really, really stressful game. But amazing scenes at full time. Pure joy.

 

[GodsGift]

Nearly there Cherries! Keep it up.

 

[PDS]

That was terrifying, Reading threw everything at us and we found a way to cope, a huge save from Boruc and some last, last second blocks, but we managed it in a situation we'd normally crumble in.

However, I can't go through that three more times, I aged about 5 years during injury time of that one.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I've literally never seen Bournemouth cope, defend and keep a clean sheet under that much pressure before. Given the importance of the result and the inability to get out our own half.

Hopefully a good sign, but we really cannot ride that luck again for 3 games. Incredible stuff.

 

[Dazza]

Yeah we threw everything at you but created sod all in the second half.We really need more up front.Mackie is wasted out wide.Get him upfront. He's the only finisher we've got at the moment.Really hope Robson Kanu leaves in the summer as well.

 

[Madejski]

How much did Bournemouth create though?

We matched and put real pressure on a team probably getting promoted this season for the first time in a while.

At least the missed point(s) - probably 1 was fair - won't really change anything for us this season.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

How much did Bournemouth create though?

We matched and put real pressure on a team probably getting promoted this season for the first time in a while.

At least the missed point(s) - probably 1 was fair - won't really change anything for us this season.

Very little really, few set pieces and suchlike but I can't recall Federeci having to make any decent saves.

Reading probably just a creative midfielder and a striker short of having a good season next year.

 

[Dazza]

How much did Bournemouth create though?

We matched and put real pressure on a team probably getting promoted this season for the first time in a while.

At least the missed point(s) - probably 1 was fair - won't really change anything for us this season.

Very little but as we all know the defense isn't the problem in our team.Its in the midfield area as well as up front.
I would have started with Appiah. He looks like he has goals in him given the chance.The last 20 minutes when he came on was when we looked the most threatening.How many times do we see the ball being played across from wing to wing and then back to midfield/defense because we get closed down?

As Mark above said we are only a couple of players away from being a decent side who could challenge for the playoffs next season.

As for Bournemouth i think they will go on and win their last 3 games which are all against sides with nothing to play for and win the league/Gain promotion.

 

[Madejski]

It's the slim margins between the top and bottom of the Championship due to how tight the league is. Sign 3 quality players and you'll move from bottom to top 6. Lose quality players (i.e Wigan/Brighton, and somewhat us) and you'll go from top 6 to bottom 6 as quickly.

This Summer is crucial.

 

[The Southbank]

I can't share your optimism in the club signing 3 quality players, Madejski.

 

[Madejski]

We'll sign 3, but then also sell 1 or 2, so the difference the team won't be much.

Expecting us to be around 9th-14th next season, just outside the play-off race, but further away from the drop.

 

[Dazza]

In looking forward to the Summer.It gives Clarke a chance to get rid of the players who he doesn't want and start to bring in his own players.Will also be interesting to see how much money he is given to spend.

 

[The Southbank]

Didn't go to the game yesterday but I heard Robson-Kanu came in for a bit of stick, was this true?

 

[Dazza]

Didn't go to the game yesterday but I heard Robson-Kanu came in for a bit of stick, was this true?

Yeah there was a very loud cheer when he was subbed in the second half.