MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

147 posts
User avatar
Sutekh
Hob Nob Super-Addict
Posts: 18386
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 14:05
Location: Undiscovered pyramid somewhere in Egypt

MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by Sutekh » 02 Dec 2019 21:27




When : Saturday, 7th December, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161


Birmingham City are the next team to come and test their mettle at the Mad Stad and no doubt it’ll be another hard struggle to get anything.

The blues are fourteenth in the division and four points better off than Reading so the Royals need the points to start making inroads and climbing into some nice safe mid table obscurity alongside their midland opponents. Until recently Birmingham had been specialising in the erratic by regularly winning and losing games but now the wins seem to have petered out and been replaced with draws putting the club onto a run of five games with only three points to show for their efforts. The points though have all come by 1-1 in each of their last three games so perhaps some sort of consistency might be finally emerging for our friends from St Andrews.

Brum should not be taken lightly as they have notched up one or two useful wins including away at Brentford and they also seem to be very useful at keeping things tight with games tending to be decided by just one goal in either direction so there is going to have to be some real invention and creativity from a Reading to try and break that mould. As usual Lukas Jutkiewicz is the main threat and again he is leading the way for them with five goals from eighteen starts, while other names that are usually ones to watch are Jacques Maghoma and Kristian Pedersen.

Pep Clotet is caretaker manager at the club having moved up from assistant when Garry Monk left in June however his tenure is becoming ever more slight as results continue to fall short of expectations and ex Royal Mark Robins is being rumoured to be the next one in line.

Marc Roberts is likely to be missing for Birmingham through injury while Reading will be without John Swift though Jordan Obita is expected to at last be fit enough to be considered.

Referee

TBC

Previously


Historically

No meetings before 1986 in any competition

It took 8 games to record the first home win

In 17 previous home league games Reading have managed just 4 wins compared to 6 from Birmingham so really need to start putting that statistic to rights.

How to follow the game

  1. Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
  2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
  3. Ring/text a mate for updates
  4. Use an iFollow subscription
  5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

URZZZZ
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 7279
Joined: 20 Apr 2013 18:30

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by URZZZZ » 02 Dec 2019 21:50

Rafael

Yiadom
Miazga
Morrison
Moore
Obita

Pele
McCleary
Ejaria

Puscas
Joao

Walker Blackett Rino Adam Baldock Boye Meite

I'd then give Boye, Richards and Rino a start against Barnsley, keep the team fresh with a busy schedule in mind

However, if we're struggling with the 5 at the back, I'd change it up at half time to the 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 formation we saw against Wigan. Only trouble is not sure we'll see Ejaria or Swift play/thrive doing that
Last edited by URZZZZ on 02 Dec 2019 22:21, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
NewCorkSeth
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 9519
Joined: 05 Jul 2013 00:17
Location: Wherever Nameless may be.

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by NewCorkSeth » 02 Dec 2019 22:07

URZZZZ Rafael

Yiadom
Miazga
Morrison
Moore
Obita

Pele
McCleary
Ejaria

Puscas
Joao

Walker Blackett Rino Adam Baldock Boye Meite

I'd then give Boye, Richards and Rino a start against Barnsley, keep the team fresh with a busy schedule in mind

Swap McCleary for Rinomhota and this is my team.

URZZZZ
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 7279
Joined: 20 Apr 2013 18:30

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by URZZZZ » 02 Dec 2019 22:15

NewCorkSeth
URZZZZ Rafael

Yiadom
Miazga
Morrison
Moore
Obita

Pele
McCleary
Ejaria

Puscas
Joao

Walker Blackett Rino Adam Baldock Boye Meite

I'd then give Boye, Richards and Rino a start against Barnsley, keep the team fresh with a busy schedule in mind

Swap McCleary for Rinomhota and this is my team.


Close one between them but I'm not sure the role Rino plays with Swift out necessarily allows him to play all three games from the start and I think I'd rather him miss this one. Since the three games after the break, he hasn't looked quite right, hopefully giving him a game off will help

Hound
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 24934
Joined: 27 Sep 2016 22:16
Location: Simpleton

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by Hound » 03 Dec 2019 07:19

Martin Hicks :)

Blast from the past that
Last edited by Hound on 03 Dec 2019 08:06, edited 1 time in total.


Old Man Andrews

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by Old Man Andrews » 03 Dec 2019 07:43

WHO IS THE REFEREE????????????????????????????????????????

Stranded
Hob Nob Subscriber
Hob Nob Subscriber
Posts: 19587
Joined: 14 Apr 2004 12:42
Location: Propping up the bar in the Nags

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by Stranded » 03 Dec 2019 09:31

This game feels a bit like a bellweather for the rest of the season - a win here and mid-table at worst looks likely - lose and it looks like we will be in for a 2nd half of the season of peaks and troughs where everytime we think we are about to pull away from the scrap at the bottom we throw ourselves back in.

Looking at the fixtures on Saturday, we could open up a 7 or 8 point gap over the bottom 3 and even as much as a 6 point gap over the bottom 6 - or it could be back to a 2 point gap again.

User avatar
NewCorkSeth
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 9519
Joined: 05 Jul 2013 00:17
Location: Wherever Nameless may be.

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by NewCorkSeth » 03 Dec 2019 09:38

URZZZZ
NewCorkSeth
URZZZZ Rafael

Yiadom
Miazga
Morrison
Moore
Obita

Pele
McCleary
Ejaria

Puscas
Joao

Walker Blackett Rino Adam Baldock Boye Meite

I'd then give Boye, Richards and Rino a start against Barnsley, keep the team fresh with a busy schedule in mind

Swap McCleary for Rinomhota and this is my team.


Close one between them but I'm not sure the role Rino plays with Swift out necessarily allows him to play all three games from the start and I think I'd rather him miss this one. Since the three games after the break, he hasn't looked quite right, hopefully giving him a game off will help

I was hoping Olise would be back soon. Play Rinomhota till Olise can be put in. I miss Olise.

Hound
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 24934
Joined: 27 Sep 2016 22:16
Location: Simpleton

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by Hound » 03 Dec 2019 09:50

Stranded This game feels a bit like a bellweather for the rest of the season - a win here and mid-table at worst looks likely - lose and it looks like we will be in for a 2nd half of the season of peaks and troughs where everytime we think we are about to pull away from the scrap at the bottom we throw ourselves back in.

Looking at the fixtures on Saturday, we could open up a 7 or 8 point gap over the bottom 3 and even as much as a 6 point gap over the bottom 6 - or it could be back to a 2 point gap again.


yes, Wigan was a little like that as well.

I'd be a little concerned if we were still only 5-6 points clear going into a tough January


User avatar
John Smith
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 4717
Joined: 20 Jan 2010 23:47
Location: Astronauts The New Conquistadors

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by John Smith » 03 Dec 2019 09:52

NewCorkSeth I was hoping Olise would be back soon. Play Rinomhota till Olise can be put in. I miss Olise.

Would have thought Adam would be above Olise in the pecking order

User avatar
NewCorkSeth
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 9519
Joined: 05 Jul 2013 00:17
Location: Wherever Nameless may be.

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by NewCorkSeth » 03 Dec 2019 10:02

John Smith
NewCorkSeth I was hoping Olise would be back soon. Play Rinomhota till Olise can be put in. I miss Olise.

Would have thought Adam would be above Olise in the pecking order

Not in my pecking order..

User avatar
John Smith
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 4717
Joined: 20 Jan 2010 23:47
Location: Astronauts The New Conquistadors

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by John Smith » 03 Dec 2019 10:08

NewCorkSeth
John Smith
NewCorkSeth I was hoping Olise would be back soon. Play Rinomhota till Olise can be put in. I miss Olise.

Would have thought Adam would be above Olise in the pecking order

Not in my pecking order..

I suggest you peck elsewhere then because Adam is a seasoned pro.

User avatar
NewCorkSeth
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 9519
Joined: 05 Jul 2013 00:17
Location: Wherever Nameless may be.

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by NewCorkSeth » 03 Dec 2019 10:09

John Smith
NewCorkSeth
John Smith Would have thought Adam would be above Olise in the pecking order

Not in my pecking order..

I suggest you peck elsewhere then because Adam is a seasoned pro.

I'll peck where I want to bro. Olise is the future. And the future should start asap.


Royals and Racers
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 4741
Joined: 05 Jan 2012 16:48

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by Royals and Racers » 03 Dec 2019 17:07

Old Man Andrews WHO IS THE REFEREE????????????????????????????????????????

Mr Tim Robinson

Old Man Andrews

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by Old Man Andrews » 03 Dec 2019 17:08

Royals and Racers
Old Man Andrews WHO IS THE REFEREE????????????????????????????????????????

Mr Tim Robinson

THANKS

User avatar
Sutekh
Hob Nob Super-Addict
Posts: 18386
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 14:05
Location: Undiscovered pyramid somewhere in Egypt

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by Sutekh » 03 Dec 2019 17:11

Royals and Racers
Old Man Andrews WHO IS THE REFEREE????????????????????????????????????????

Mr Tim Robinson


Last seen at Hull in August for a 4th straight league defeat. Mr Robinson’s last visit to the Mad Stad as referee resulted in 3 points for Swansea City

Mid Sussex Royal
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 3249
Joined: 02 Nov 2008 17:56

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by Mid Sussex Royal » 03 Dec 2019 19:19

This feels like a narrow loss....every time we get a good result we then have a couple of bad ones to drag us back down... I'd actually take a draw from this.

windermereROYAL
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 7998
Joined: 19 Feb 2008 11:18

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by windermereROYAL » 03 Dec 2019 20:00

Mid Sussex Royal This feels like a narrow loss....every time we get a good result we then have a couple of bad ones to drag us back down... I'd actually take a draw from this.


You would take a draw from a team sitting 15th, 3 places and 4 points above us with an away record of 8 points from 10 games?
You`re expectations are very low my friend.

Hound
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 24934
Joined: 27 Sep 2016 22:16
Location: Simpleton

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by Hound » 03 Dec 2019 20:03

windermereROYAL
Mid Sussex Royal This feels like a narrow loss....every time we get a good result we then have a couple of bad ones to drag us back down... I'd actually take a draw from this.


You would take a draw from a team sitting 15th, 3 places and 4 points above us with an away record of 8 points from 10 games?
You`re expectations are very low my friend.


And the stuff about ‘every time we get a good result...’ isn’t true either.

User avatar
JoeyJoeJoeJnrShabadoo
Member
Posts: 381
Joined: 12 Apr 2005 14:42
Location: Moe's

Re: MATCHWATCH : Birmingham City (h) sponsored by Martin Hicks

by JoeyJoeJoeJnrShabadoo » 03 Dec 2019 21:11

thanks

147 posts

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: From Despair To Where?, WestYorksRoyal and 346 guests

It is currently 28 Mar 2024 18:40