Team for Watford (A)

[Snowball]

Plus he is hardly being supported by the higher echelons in the club when it comes to strengthening areas that need refreshing.

I think I'm detecting a trend in your posts, TB...

[Big Foot]

I think dropping Mills for Pearce could potentially be disastorous for squad morale - just look at the impact it had last season to have him playing in the stiffs/on the bench.

This would be my starting XI

Federici

Harte
Mills
Zurab
Griffin

Antonio
Tabb
Karacan
McAnuff

Hunt
Church

[gazzer, loyal royal]

Federici

Griffin
Harte
Mills
Pearce

Karacan
Tabb
McAnuff

Church
Hunt

Long

[Hoop Blah]

I'd be sorely tempted to bring Armstrong in at left back and move Harte to left midfield. Plating players out of position is not something I'm a fan of, but if Kebe isn't fit then it might be another short term option.

It would leave the team as

Federici
Griffin
Armstrong
Mills
Kishanishvili

McAnuff
Karacan
Howard
Harte

Long
Hunt/Church

With Hunt (or possibly Church) operating behind Long and getting close enough to Harte to help him out where he can't use his pace. That lack of pace will be a real hinderance to Harte on the wing, but if he, Howard and Hunt can get some understanding going on that side then they might be able to make it work.

As I've said all season we're a winger light. After Kebe and McAnuff we don't have a credible option so we've scratching around trying to find something that works until both Kebe and McAnuff are fit again.

[andrew1957]

I have also been wondering about playing Harte at left midfield - it is an option.

Another alternative would be CB instead of Mills but he is slow - although probably will be positionally better.

Poor Brian does have issues because of the club's fire sale policy. We simply do not have a first 11 that is good enough to be clear cut at the moment. We have about 20 players - all of a similar standard and almost any combination could be good or awful on any given day.

[Snowball]

I'd be sorely tempted to bring Armstrong in at left back and move Harte to left midfield. Plating players out of position is not something I'm a fan of, but if Kebe isn't fit then it might be another short term option.

That would be interesting. Sort of "as slow as Blakey. Harte is hard to get the ball off.

It's a crazy idea, Cap'n, but it might just work

[Charles Dapper]

Interestingly those last five games coincide with Howard coming back into the side. And Howard came on on 61 against Bristol... did we pick up as the game went on in that one? I haven't seen it.

Just saying like...

As much as I not a fan of Howard, don't know what he brings us. You're right about the Brizzle game. We were awful until Howard came on then we actually started testing James and thought for the last 20 minutes we didn't look too bad. Everyone forgets that because we were truely rubbish for the rest of the game.

Saying that only got room for Howard on the bench playing cards with McAnuff, who I just don't think is bothered at the moment. Reading fan in the Observer thought he was Man of the Match against Norwich?

Anyway lets really shake things up...

I'm suggest an unconventional 4-4-2 systems, it's new very rarely used..

Feds

Griff Mills Zurab Armstrong

Antonio Jem Jay HRK

Long Hunt

Bit of a risk, but I do think Antonio needs a run

[georgerob]

Federici
Cummings Zurab Mills Armstrong
McAnuff Karacan Tabb Antonio
Long Hunt

Subs:
McCarthy
Church
Pearce
Howard
Griffin
Harte
Kanu

[Hoop Blah]

Federici
Cummings Zurab Mills Armstrong
McAnuff Karacan Tabb Antonio
Long Hunt

Subs:
McCarthy
Church
Pearce
Howard
Griffin
Harte
Kanu

Any reason for dropping Griffin or just fancy it?

[georgerob]

Federici
Cummings Zurab Mills Armstrong
McAnuff Karacan Tabb Antonio
Long Hunt

Subs:
McCarthy
Church
Pearce
Howard
Griffin
Harte
Kanu

Any reason for dropping Griffin or just fancy it?

Defensive changes need to be made after Norwich and due to the goals we have conceded recently. There needs to be more pace in the defense and it needs to be freshened up. Its worth giving Cummings another try in the team against Watford as there is no pressure to get a win, and Cummings should have never been dropped in the first place.

[Hoop Blah]

Fair enough. I disagree that right back is the place to do it, especially as I don't think Cummings actually did that well when covering for Griffin, but agree we need some more pace. It's just a shame we don't have any from any of our central defenders.

[georgerob]

Games played by Shaun Cummings in 2010/2011 Goals Cards
28-08-2010 Football League Championship Leicester 1-2 Reading 0
11-09-2010 Football League Championship Reading 3-0 C Palace 0
14-09-2010 Football League Championship Millwall 0-0 Reading 0
18-09-2010 Football League Championship Middlesbro 3-1 Reading 0
25-09-2010 Football League Championship Reading 3-0 Barnsley 0
28-09-2010 Football League Championship Reading 1-0 Ipswich 0
02-10-2010 Football League Championship Preston 1-1 Reading 0
Goals: 0 Yellow cards: 2 Red Cards: 0

I though Cummings covered for Griffin well, apart from the Middlesbrough game when the whole team were poor. Only 2 goals conceded in 6 games.

[Hoop Blah]

But he didn't actually play that well, irrespective of the result....are you snowball in disguise?

He did ok for me but I think that was more against the expectations from his performances last season and he was still getting caught out a lot and still looked a bit too lightweight. His pace got himself out of trouble at times, but I feel a lot more comfortable with Griffin there.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

But he didn't actually play that well, irrespective of the result....are you snowball in disguise?

He did ok for me but I think that was more against the expectations from his performances last season and he was still getting caught out a lot and still looked a bit too lightweight. His pace got himself out of trouble at times, but I feel a lot more comfortable with Griffin there.

Agreed, if you discount his performances last season Cummings didnt do that well. Some good stuff, but positionally he was still pretty much all over the place. I doubt bringing him in is even a consideration for BM.

The Harte/Armstrong one is a tough call, theres no doubt we will be more solid with Armstrong at LB but you gain defensilvely you lose out elsewhere, id rather see Harte stay in the side myself. We are destined for Mid table and with that id rather see some excellent distrubtion whilst in the knowledge that our free kicks are always a major threat, etc. Far better to watch. If we were in a dog fight down the bottom, that would be a different kettle of fish though.

[Sarah Star]

What about starting with Armstrng and swapping for Harte if we need to be mre attacking?

[Tony Le Mesmer]

What about starting with Armstrng and swapping for Harte if we need to be mre attacking?

rather we start with Harte and bring on Armstrong if we are winning.

[bcubed]

I have also been wondering about playing Harte at left midfield - it is an option.

Another alternative would be CB instead of Mills but he is slow - although probably will be positionally better.

Poor Brian does have issues because of the club's fire sale policy. We simply do not have a first 11 that is good enough to be clear cut at the moment. We have about 20 players - all of a similar standard and almost any combination could be good or awful on any given day.

This is where he was playing before he joined and I can see why

He is way way to slow to play left back and if he is to stay in the team (for his goal threat) centre back is the only option. I can't see him doing any worse than Mills and won't be much slower