MATCHWATCH : Barnsley (h)

[Snowflake Royal]

Roberts straight in- Burns on bench
Lane starts in place of Ritchie

Ahmed and Stickland are the other two that have been dropped.

Glad to see Lane in over Ritchie. Far more mobile and able to press, beat a man. Hope he's fit and can start showing his quality.

Assuming Dorsett into CB? Either way him or Roberts should give some much needed pace in the centre of defence.

[Snowflake Royal]

Only 2 from the Academy in the squad today. Dorsett and Steven’s. When was the last time we had so few in a match day squad? When was the last time we only had 1 in the starting lineup

This is what happens when you sign about 20 senior players... no Academy pathway, something that had been our saving grace the last two years. We're paying so much money for the Academy we can't afford to not use it.

Stevens
O'Connor
Burns
D Williams
Jacob (returned)
Fraser
Doyle
Lane
Ritchie
Kyerewaa
O'Mahoney
Marriott
R Williams
Rinomhota
Keane
Nyambe
Roberts

It's too many, imo.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Only 2 from the Academy in the squad today. Dorsett and Steven’s. When was the last time we had so few in a match day squad? When was the last time we only had 1 in the starting lineup

Was Stevens really in the Academy, wasn’t he just an associated schoolboy for a year before signing with *xf*rd’s youth system?

Kelvin too.....think some have been introduced too early in the past though through necessity due to the restrictions the club were under.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Only 2 from the Academy in the squad today. Dorsett and Steven’s. When was the last time we had so few in a match day squad? When was the last time we only had 1 in the starting lineup

Was Stevens really in the Academy, wasn’t he just an associated schoolboy for a year before signing with *xf*rd’s youth system?

Kelvin too.....think some have been introduced too early in the past though through necessity due to the restrictions the club were under.

I think Kelvin and Garcia at least should be in the squad. Torn on Abrefa as he has had plenty of opportunities and should be judged as a senior player now. Loans would do Ahmed and Stickland well.

I personally think cups and loans are normally the best path for kids unless they're exceptional. For example I'd be disappointed if Kanu doesn't get a chance next season after an excellent loan.

We were forced to try some too early due to the club situation. It was a great success for the likes of Abbey and Bindon, but it didn't work out for players like Holzman, Stickland and Kanu last season, it still hasn't worked out for Camara. You need consistency to get promoted, you can't keep doing "sink or swim" with academy players and have a 50% success rate.

[Uke]

Finally someone switches on the commentary on the stream

[Sutekh]

Just take the game to the opposition, you are at home!

[Snowflake Royal]

Kelly is an ugly pug faced little bugger isn't he.

Roberts started well.

[Sutekh]

Shepherd off, thankful for that he was pretty useful in their cup game at Liverpool.

[Snowflake Royal]

Lots of pressure, can't find a shot. Promising

[Brogue]

Goal

[Snowflake Royal]

I'm not sure how Marriott didn’t put that in, great from Roberts backing him up.

Really good build up play.

[morganb]

Roberts

[Vision]

Definitely don’t need Roberts

[WestYorksRoyal]

Just saying, in 2012 January signing called Roberts scored on his debut and we know what happened next. Against a team in red starting with B too!

[Orion1871]

Roberts beats Matt Jacob's entire Reading career inside 45 minutes.

[Sutekh]

Paying back the fee already

[Millsy]

It was always coming, we were battering them nonstop, let's hope we don't do a Southgate now.

[bcubed]

I'm not sure how Marriott didn’t put that in, great from Roberts backing him up.

Really good build up play.

Pass from Wing was superb

[Snowflake Royal]

34 minutes into his debut, some idiot has messaged RoyalsTV to say Roberts is our best LB since Shorey.

Incredible.

[Brogue]

Goal