Reading v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Duncan Shaw]

Anyone got the odds for Bacuna to score?

[KRS]

Two games in and the team is already under massive pressure, which in turn will also have an effect on confidence.
Confidence will be low after 2 games, just 2 BLOODY GAMES!

I don't think this team with this manager can cope with pressure of expectation.

We might nick a draw at Reading, but suspect we will lose.

Exactly. The manager and all the players know that they are favourites for promotion this season, and they have to live up to these expectations. They are expected to perform and get results week in week out, and there can be no excuses when you have to do so on a consistent basis.

[itbrvilla]

Same again.

Defeat.  Destroyed by much better team than Cardiff. 3 or 4 - 0

[VinnieChase84]

Same again.

Defeat.  Destroyed by much better team than Cardiff. 3 or 4 - 0

If this one is 3 or 4 then Bruce won't see the weekend

[footyskillz]

Bruce was lucky here before and maybe again tomorrow?? Last minute penalty last time I m sure he'll mention this how won first time in ages . I hope sneak some kind of win need at least 4 points next two matches

I can see a system change to a 3-5-2

And a few player changes

[footyskillz]

The 3-5-2 being

                       Johnstone
      Hutton samba Terry Chester Taylor
Bjarnasson Whelan Lansbury Hourihane
              O hare
                    Hogan

I fear he'll play agbonlahor though

[cdbearsfan]

3-0 (Bacuna 3)

[Reuben]

Sadly I've gone for a defeat....along with Blues to draw and Wolves to win all at 30/1

[mr underhill]

A draw is the best we can hope for tomorrow i think, given how Steve will set us up to try and not lose, and that means a win against Norwich is essential. Lose or draw that one, and golf/football punditry beckons.

[Hookeysmith]

The 3-5-2 being

                       Johnstone
      Hutton samba Terry Chester Taylor
Bjarnasson Whelan Lansbury Hourihane
              O hare
                    Hogan

I fear he'll play agbonlahor though

Shhhhh don't mention that his cunning plan is to play 12

[in exile]

The 3-5-2 being

                       Johnstone
      Hutton samba Terry Chester Taylor
Bjarnasson Whelan Lansbury Hourihane
              O hare
                    Hogan

I fear he'll play agbonlahor though

Shhhhh don't mention that his cunning plan is to play 12

Brand new season, same old footyskillz

[tomd2103]

A draw is the best we can hope for tomorrow i think, given how Steve will set us up to try and not lose, and that means a win against Norwich is essential. Lose or draw that one, and golf/football punditry beckons.

I think he has got to go with a three man midfield seeing how easily we were taken apart at times on Saturday and that after two games it is looking increasingly like Whelan is struggling in a two.  Unless he goes to three at the back, that probably means we will only play 1 up front.     

[Clark W Griswold]

See, with the players we currently have and no more coming in, with everyone fit I'd play:
--------------------Johnstone-----------------
---------Chester----Samba----Terry---------
-Elhommady--------------------------Taylor-
---------------------Jedinak------------------
-------Hourahane-----------Onomah--------
----------Hogan-------------Kodjia----------

Big unit in the middle with 2 ball playing centre backs either side, get the wing backs fit so that they can cover some ground and get the attacking midfielders to join the attacks.
Subs: Steer, Bree, Whelan, Bjarnasson, Lansbury, Grealish, O Hare.

So, for this one put Whelan and O Hare in for Jedinak and Kodjia.
Extra subs, Gabby, Davis and Hutton
                           

[Matt Collins]

A draw is the best we can hope for tomorrow i think, given how Steve will set us up to try and not lose, and that means a win against Norwich is essential. Lose or draw that one, and golf/football punditry beckons.

I think he has got to go with a three man midfield seeing how easily we were taken apart at times on Saturday and that after two games it is looking increasingly like Whelan is struggling in a two.  Unless he goes to three at the back, that probably means we will only play 1 up front.     

Which is basically the Jedinak problem too. Only Whelan was playing in a 4231 all last season so surely it can't be as simple as this??

Bruce must feel a sense of deja vu compared to his last visit to reading

He could really do with hourihane finding his shooting / set piece boots, or hogan showing more confidence

[adrenachrome]

A draw is the best we can hope for tomorrow i think, given how Steve will set us up to try and not lose, and that means a win against Norwich is essential. Lose or draw that one, and golf/football punditry beckons.

I think he has got to go with a three man midfield seeing how easily we were taken apart at times on Saturday and that after two games it is looking increasingly like Whelan is struggling in a two.  Unless he goes to three at the back, that probably means we will only play 1 up front.     

That is quite possible as SB stated in the post match interviews that we were not ready to play 2 up front.