Often Partisan

GAMEDAY – Reading Away

Blues travel south to take on Brian McDermott’s Reading knowing that a playoff place is all but mathematically gone. Following two consecutive 2-1 defeats Gary Rowett may experiment somewhat with his line up with one eye on the future.

Reading

The Royals lie four places and seven points behind Blues and come into the game on the back of two wins against Nottingham Forest and Bolton. Although they did lose to Crystal Palace at the Madejski Stadium last month in the FA Cup they haven’t lost a league home game in 2016 with their last reverse being against Brentford on December 28.

McDermott is hoping Deniss Rakels and Garath McCleary are fit for the game but Welsh winger Hal Robson-Kanu is still out injured.

Blues

Blues have a clean bill of health barring Neal Eardley who remains sidelined for this campaign and as such may experiment with their line up. One of those in line to come back into the squad is Viv Solomon-Otabor while Charlee Adams was a noticeable absentee from the u21 squad that played against Millwall on Thursday. Kyle Lafferty may well continue in the strikers role in place of Clayton Donaldson.

Ref

Nigel Miller takes charge of this game, his 28th of the season. In his preceding 27 games he’s shown 66 yellows and 3 reds. His last Blues game was also against Reading – the 6-1 win in December 2014 which featured Demarai Gray scoring a hat-trick. That game saw two cautions but both were for the away team.

Suspension Watch

One red card (three match suspension served): James Vaughan

9 Yellow Cards: Maikel Kieftenbeld
8 Yellow Cards: Stephen Gleeson
7 Yellow Cards: Jonathan Grounds
6 Yellow Cards: Diego Fabbrini, David Davis and Paul Caddis
5 Yellow Cards: Jon Toral
4 Yellow Cards: Michael Morrison and Paul Robinson
3 Yellow Cards: David Cotterill,  Clayton Donaldson and James Vaughan
2 Yellow Cards: Jonathan Spector and Neal Eardley
1 Yellow Card: Tomasz Kuszczak

The cutoff date for 5 yellow cards to attract a suspension was November 30, 2015
The cutoff date for 10 yellow cards to attract a suspension was March 13, 2016

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89 Responses to “GAMEDAY – Reading Away”

  • BhamCityJulian says:

    Good. Look like Adams for Gleeson and VSO for Cotterill

  • mark says:

    blues will either steal a draw or reading home win, stats say nothing between them…..

  • mark says:

    7 players have more yellow cards than PR bloody hell hes improved lol

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Might as well get some payback for our loan money. Also, I’d play Davis to keep an eye on Adams. I wouldn’t trust Gleeson or Kieftenbeld to do that job.

    Kuszczak

    Caddis Morrison Shotton Grounds

    Adams Davis

    Buckley Toral Maghoma

    Lafferty

    SUBS: Legzdins, Spector, Gleeson, V S-O, Cotterill, Donaldson, Jones

  • Pods says:

    Good call StaffsBlue with regards to team selection.
    V S-O and Jones to be given some game time, what have we to lose.
    Do we all think GR will release the likes of Vaughan, Shotten and Buckley at end of season?
    Who would come through the door in the close season?

    KRO

    • StaffsBlue says:

      With Shotton, Buckley and Vaughan, I suppose it depends on what happens in the last 7 games. If they play and do well, it’s worth considering. If they don’t get much of a chance, I don’t see a reason to keep them tbh.

      As for coming in, I’d love to see Lee Tomlin, maybe on a season’s loan. He’d make a huge difference to our attacking play. Also, someone like Kyle Bartley, (surprisingly, he’s still only 24) or any big beast of a centre back, someone hard to beat in the air.

  • Tony E says:

    Vaughan has already agreed a contract for next season, the other two will be released. Buckley is an enigma, his debut was one of the best I’ve seen for a long time, since then nothing!

    • StaffsBlue says:

      After not playing all season, Buckley has had 5 starts and a few minutes here and there as sub. Not much of a chance to build up any form tbh. Since he came back, Cotterill has had 6 starts.. and he’s hardly tearing the place up. Wingers need games to find form.. look at Maghoma, people thought he was hopeless, until he got a run of games. He then became our most dangerous player for a while.

      • steve says:

        Maghoma hasn’t warranted a place for some time now. He flatters to deceive. If he’s out of contract then i’d let him go. Like to see Buckley get some proper game time before a decision is made. He was doing ok but seemed to lose favour.

    • BhamCityJulian says:

      Re: Vaughan – I hope it hasn’t been signed.

  • Bluenosesol says:

    Just leaving and a great day for it!! KRO!!

  • Dave Mann says:

    Already here mate , enjoy KRO

  • Mitchell says:

    Why the generous Vaughan deal with Huddersfield? There has to be a very good reason for this. Vaughan was not rated nor wanted by them.Bolton at the time showed an interest but ‘missed’ out to GR. Surely no sensible manager would remotely consider such a ludicrous deal for a player who is not rated,doesn’t score goals and continually injured. Perhaps GR is buying for future potential. This manager at times baffles me. Alex Jones would imo been a better bet to put your trust in and a few goals.

  • steve says:

    Huddersfield fans loved him. It was due to injuries that he was let go. Where are we gonna get money from to buy a goalscorer? We were desperate for a striker and he was all we could afford. Get used to it because until the ownership changes,things aren’t going to change. You’re talking about kids that are scoring in U21 games. It doesn’t mean they’re ready for the championshp.

    • Mitchell says:

      Steve. If it was due to injuries then why come to us. I don’t buy this ‘get used to it- we can only afford this and that. Yes we are on the breadline but believe me our manager has got through some dough mainly on Buckley wages,Farcical signings of Brock and Fabrinni ,not to mention Shotton wages. We had enough cover for all those players when a decent CH was all that we needed which would have enabled a few 1-0 wins with a solid twin centre halves. However we look forward to today’s games and hopefully a couple of the young fringe players taking in some decent minutes.

      • atko says:

        Why do people persist in arguing our defence is poor and is the key area to strengthen? I’d have decent midfielders and proven goalscorers ahead of a Centre Half. We currently have the 8th best defence in the league and only behind 3rd by about 5 goals. If we were more creative from midfield and scored more up front we would be chasing automatic never mind play offs.

    • BhamCityJulian says:

      Huddersfield are less discerning than us so easily pleased.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Lafferty as one in one , keeps that up and he’s a legend if he stays . KRO

  • steve says:

    Don’t think he’ll be cheap Dave. He’s on Prem wages and Norwich will probably want a fee.

  • Pods says:

    Again good call StaffsBlue,Looking at all potential / possible players for next season,
    Lee Tonkin
    Kyle Barkley
    Seb Larson
    Kyle Lafferty – pull out all stops to get him.
    Just to name your.
    Who else.
    KRO

  • All you’ve got brum.no mercy ……KRO….

  • Dave Mann says:

    No surrendering you mean . KRO

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Legzdins in. Kuszczak on the bench. Shotton at centre back. Kief, Glees and Davis in. Lafferty and the Don up front.

  • We did that last week Dave ……..He who dares brum

  • AdamTrueBlue says:

    Dissapointing no Jones in the line up. Kro

  • BhamCityJulian says:

    Disappointed no Adams and VSO. Shotton must gr being eyed up as next season’s centre half

  • Pharmablue says:

    I don’t think it is possible to bring Denny Johnston back from Morton, since we agreed a season long loan with them but surely we must give him an opportunity to show what he can do for us next season. He has scored 15 goals for them this season so he knows where the goal is and he is still young enough to improve. Why do we agree for other teams to have a release clause in the loan agreements with us, but we never insist on the same for us?

  • Keep right on blues to the end …

  • Sheffield we’d 3-0 dwn

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Can’t believe the 3 teams above us all lost today. A win against Leeds on Tuesday will move us above Cardiff and 6 points from the play-offs again lol.

  • Lichblue says:

    3 points. Vile down. Not a bad day. All ok today Mr Mann? Come on me Blues.

  • ChrisG says:

    Ssshhhhhhh don’t tell anyone but blues are back in it & I still think it will go to the last day of the season, it wouldn’t be us otherwise. And my horse came second in the national.lol

  • steve says:

    We’ve all got to play each other so you never know. Unlikely,but you get some strange results at this time of the season. Time to fill St Andrews for the three games this week.

  • Andrew says:

    same old blues…

  • Texas Pete says:

    Great that Shotton was put in. Didnt expect him to be another striker.

  • Berkshire Blue says:

    Overall we played pretty well without ever threatening to run away with the game. We were sound defensively although Reading were no great shakes, with a lot of collective hard work to deny them clear cut chances. Legzdins made a couple of good saves although almost let one shot squirm under his body. Standout players were Cotterill (assists for both goals), Grounds and Davis. Lafferty and Shotton both gave solid performances and Viv S-O created a couple of opportunities when he came on. Can we build on this for Leeds?

  • I think GR did the right thing leaving the young players out till there is no chance of the playoffs , although I wanted a couple to play , I wouldn’t expect him next game to change things either , KRO

  • Mitchell says:

    Just one question for Dave Mann. Is Shotton the answer for Morrison partner next season.

  • Bromsgrove Blue says:

    Good result today but to little to late.kro

    • atko says:

      Well listening to Broady on the Blues Player he still insists we can still do it. He thinks winning our remainīng games would probably be enough. After all it was pointed out we won our last 5 games of last season. Like Broady says any result can happen with any game in this league. Nobody would have seen that Bristol result over Wednesday.

      • steve says:

        We’ll know by next Wednesday atko. Massive few days coming up with 3 home games. Players and fans need to be up for it. I think the club are doing 3 games for the price of 2.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Good day yesterday , we won , my horse won, I won the card on the coach and the vile are all but relegated so yes Lich everything is ok mate , as for shotton he scored a good goal and looked good along side Morrison so why it’s took so long i don’t know …the half time entertainment on behalf of the vile result was trully memorable and brought tears to my eyes and the biggest goose bumps I’ve ever had . :-) KRO

  • Dave Mann says:

    I want Leicester to win the league but Sunderland beat them today and the vile are down officially .KRO

  • Dave Mann says:

    It was an all round good day Jonny and your name is spelt the same as my late great boxing champion dad Jonny Mann. KRO

  • I wondered where you got your swagger from Dave , yes I want leicester to win I hate all the Midlands clubs being also rans , it’s not good for buying top players to stay at the top , the Midlands was buzzing when we and Stoke won cups and were in Europe , let’s have more I say …

  • Dave Mann says:

    I love to see the midlands clubs do well , bar one ofcourse . KRO

  • I agree with that Dave ..

  • mark says:

    why o why does he not listen to us fans we would have had a great chance of the play-off…this should have been sorted maybe five or 10 games ago imo….a big well done to lads coming into the side probably one of the best 90 mins display for along time. players got stuck in grounds had one of his better games, shotton what breath of fresh air and scored. We looked solid at the back. Now back to back results hopefully brush leeds aside where zigic when you want him lol

  • Big man for big occasion big space left. kRO

  • bluenoserob says:

    I had to laugh at the Villa fan having a go at Robbie Savage after he said that they where the worst team in EPL history. Robbie told her that Blues were a bigger club. The 5 LIVE host added that he could see them going down again next season…. hilarious. The Vile haven’t got a leg to stand on. Bang bottom of the league and unlike the likes of Norwich and Sunderland whos fans can at least be proud that their players have given everything, the Vile fans have a team that are rubbish and couldn’t care less about the fans. I normally dont give a toss what the villa are doing, but like I said you have to laugh.

    • mark says:

      i had ante post that vilers and Sunderland will go down ones almost there cracking at around odds 7-1 each…. tbh if sunderland and its possible newcastle great fan bases coming to the stans. next season…… should definately help the tickets sales

  • mark says:

    mindless piece of information but i thought i would forward it anyway averages in line up age for leicester players Leicester 28 years…average height 5 11 weight 12st…..not a very tall team, but blessed, power, paced and good footballing brains…..kro

  • mark says:

    not forgetting a very a good manager the tinkerman……

  • Dave Mann says:

    Hasent tinkered to much this season though as he Mark. KRO

  • mark says:

    If you can avoid injuries thats helpful aswell dave

  • Dave Mann says:

    ofcorse it is , and winning games helps aswell . KRO

  • Come on blues don’t leave all the glory to the foxes , Get in there ….

    • Mitchell says:

      William.just watched Leicester and cannot help being impressed at what Gray is now doing as a total team member. Shows what a pro.outfit they are with top coaches and able to bring out the best of not so great names such as Drinkwater,Albrighton,Morgan and Huth.These players previously not wanted by their last clubs. Gives us a bit of hope as to what could be achieved by a decent ownership.

  • Your right mitchell a few new players of the right sort can change an average side I hope we sign the likes of Tesche / shotton / jokic / Henry / Bradshaw / or Clough KRO…..


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