MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by Sutekh » 28 Sep 2020 20:00




When : Saturday 3rd October 2020, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161


Watford at home next. Personally think this is the toughest test the Championship will have to offer any side this season if Watford manage to keep all their current squad together. Add to that the (still) unconvincing home form and you can see the work is cut out before the day of the game even dawns.

On one hand Watford have only scored twice, but on the other hand no goals have been conceded in the league and the couple of goals scored have been sufficient to collect 6 points so this would appear to be a well organised defensive unit that Veljko's Serbian compatriot, Vladimir Ivić, has put together.

Despite the lack of goals the likes of Ismaïla Sarr, Joao Pedro are an immense handful going forward, in addition Gerard Deulofeu is till at the club, though he has not played a part yet, not to mention the right royal pain of Troy Deeney hanging about plus the likes of loanees James Garner and former Reading loanee Glenn Murray to give extra options if things are quite working out. In addition another former Reading loanee, Nathaniel Chalobah, is doing very well in midfield. Of course, with the transfer window still very much open, things could change with Sarr in particular attracting interest from a list of PL clubs as long as your arm.

Only three games into the league season and Reading's injury problems are already starting to stack up. Yiadom and Swift have both left the building for what might be the best part of 3 months each. Joao has picked up yet another injury though a) at least it's not the usual one and b) he may still be available for this game. Right back is now a particular concern with the loss of Araruna, for what may also turn out to be a lengthy period, on top of Yiadom meaning there is no experienced specialist in the squad for that position so either VP has to play someone out of their natural role (eg. Rinomhota) or take a chance on the inexperience of Watson or a bit of both in Tom Holmes.

The transfer window does mean Reading have the opportunity to try and redress that by bringing someone in, and have been linked with Perry Ng of Crewe, but given the protracted saga of just getting a couple of loanees signed up (eg Semedo and Riquelme) I'm not going to hold my breath on that front.

Therefore this is certainly going to be the toughest test of the season so far for Reading and should show just how far the club is away from those teams currently perceived to be the best in the division. If additional cover can't be brought in before Saturday though I think it's going to take one hell of a performance to get something but at least there seems to be a little more confidence and belief now starting to brew about the place and that, in itself, can go a long way to bridging gaps in individual quality.

Referee

Mr Gavin Ward

Previously

04 Feb 2020 > Cardiff City 3-3 Reading (FA Cup)
22 Apr 2019 > Reading 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
12 Mar 2018 > Reading 0-3 Leeds United
01 Sep 2018 > Reading 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
25 Aug 2015 > Portsmouth 1-2 Reading (League Cup)
20 Dec 2014 > Reading 0-1 Watford
25 Oct 2014 > Reading 3-0 Blackpool
17 Apr 2012 > Reading 1-0 Nottingham Forest
01 Feb 2011 > Cardiff City 2-2 Reading
16 Mar 2010 > Reading 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
11 Aug 2009 > Reading 5-1 Burton Albion (League Cup)

Historically

This is another of the "should be but isn't" derbies. Watford is around 40 miles from Reading and the two clubs have been fairly regular opponents down the years with this being the 51st season shared together. Over that period of time you cannot divide the two clubs with the 100 league games played yielding 39 wins to both camps.

As you may expect, the passing years has seen the home team dominant with Watford managing just 8 league wins in Reading from their 50 previous visits and a whopping 30 wins for Reading in that time with 12 games drawn. However, in recent years, Watford have started to get rather better at collecting points with 2 wins and 0 defeats from the last 5 visits

How to follow the game

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

Old Man Andrews

Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by Old Man Andrews » 28 Sep 2020 20:02

Gavin Ward is a weak charlatan.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by Notts Royal » 29 Sep 2020 08:00

Do they still have Deuloufeo or is he injured? Thought he’d be the first to be snapped up by a Prem club

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by Old Man Andrews » 29 Sep 2020 08:04

Notts Royal Do they still have Deuloufeo or is he injured? Thought he’d be the first to be snapped up by a Prem club

Still at Watford.

www.google.com

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by WestYorksRoyal » 29 Sep 2020 08:17

Think this is the game where injuries will hit us hardest. After that, an international break and maybe some strengthening on deadline day. I'm going for a 2-0 Watford win :(


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by NewCorkSeth » 29 Sep 2020 08:20

OK well. To say it again, as I did during the Derby game and many times since, lets protect Joao. He doesn't have to start and probably shouldn't. I know everyone is a bit 'meh' on Puscas right now but he is a good player who has unfortunately been tainted by a high transfer fee and an inability to replicate the things that make Joao so important.

I think we are somewhat fortunate in the fact that set pieces are proving to be very important to us right now so perhaps the demands on our front line to be free scoring are somewhat reduced and, given the ability of both Ejaria and Olise to win fouls, we could be looking at a more comfortable game to bring Puscas back into the fold.

What I dont want to see, and it is something Bowen often did, is Puscas play 60 minutes where the ball is never genuinely given to him in a goal scoring manner, only for him to be hooked off for Baldock who will only offer the same sort of play up front.

Reckon we have to go for the same team and formation with Watson in for Araruna (sorry but he is a RB and we need a RB) and Puscas in for Joao.

I dont think too much fiddling right now would be smart. The team has done well at grinding down opponents and think a change in formation might distract from the "good time" feeling the squad will have.

Old Man Andrews

Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by Old Man Andrews » 29 Sep 2020 08:24

NewCorkSeth OK well. To say it again, as I did during the Derby game and many times since, lets protect Joao. He doesn't have to start and probably shouldn't. I know everyone is a bit 'meh' on Puscas right now but he is a good player who has unfortunately been tainted by a high transfer fee and an inability to replicate the things that make Joao so important.

I think we are somewhat fortunate in the fact that set pieces are proving to be very important to us right now so perhaps the demands on our front line to be free scoring are somewhat reduced and, given the ability of both Ejaria and Olise to win fouls, we could be looking at a more comfortable game to bring Puscas back into the fold.

What I dont want to see, and it is something Bowen often did, is Puscas play 60 minutes where the ball is never genuinely given to him in a goal scoring manner, only for him to be hooked off for Baldock who will only offer the same sort of play up front.

Reckon we have to go for the same team and formation with Watson in for Araruna (sorry but he is a RB and we need a RB) and Puscas in for Joao.

I dont think too much fiddling right now would be smart. The team has done well at grinding down opponents and think a change in formation might distract from the "good time" feeling the squad will have.

I'd rather we played Holmes at right back and just have him as a defensive RB, sit deep and help cope with Watford's obvious attacking threat. Watson is just not good enough, he will cost us goals.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by NewCorkSeth » 29 Sep 2020 08:32

Old Man Andrews
NewCorkSeth OK well. To say it again, as I did during the Derby game and many times since, lets protect Joao. He doesn't have to start and probably shouldn't. I know everyone is a bit 'meh' on Puscas right now but he is a good player who has unfortunately been tainted by a high transfer fee and an inability to replicate the things that make Joao so important.

I think we are somewhat fortunate in the fact that set pieces are proving to be very important to us right now so perhaps the demands on our front line to be free scoring are somewhat reduced and, given the ability of both Ejaria and Olise to win fouls, we could be looking at a more comfortable game to bring Puscas back into the fold.

What I dont want to see, and it is something Bowen often did, is Puscas play 60 minutes where the ball is never genuinely given to him in a goal scoring manner, only for him to be hooked off for Baldock who will only offer the same sort of play up front.

Reckon we have to go for the same team and formation with Watson in for Araruna (sorry but he is a RB and we need a RB) and Puscas in for Joao.

I dont think too much fiddling right now would be smart. The team has done well at grinding down opponents and think a change in formation might distract from the "good time" feeling the squad will have.

I'd rather we played Holmes at right back and just have him as a defensive RB, sit deep and help cope with Watford's obvious attacking threat. Watson is just not good enough, he will cost us goals.

I accept that. I do think in general I would prefer to see someone who is a specialist rather than shoehorned into it. The fact that Watson has only played as a CM this season isn't very positive and I thought Holmes did very well upon his introduction. I'm not certain but I am leaning towards Watson. Hopefully NG joins this week and we can forget all about it.

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morganb
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by morganb » 29 Sep 2020 08:36

It's been said before but wouldn't Holmes and Watson make a good pairing?


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by Hound » 29 Sep 2020 08:55

had totally forgot about Watson tbh. Guess it depends on how he has been showing in training and U23 games. If he has been performing ok then he is the obvious choice

Holmes did fine, but he isn't a RB

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by Old Man Andrews » 29 Sep 2020 08:59

Wouldn't necessarily play him as a traditional right back, wouldn't want him crossing the halfway line really. Would have him playing very defensively.

Another left field option would be to go 3 at the back with Richards as LWB and Sam Baldock as RWB.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by SpaghettiHoop » 29 Sep 2020 09:05

morganb It's been said before but wouldn't Holmes and Watson make a good pairing?

Elementary.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by NewCorkSeth » 29 Sep 2020 09:06

Old Man Andrews Wouldn't necessarily play him as a traditional right back, wouldn't want him crossing the halfway line really. Would have him playing very defensively.

Another left field option would be to go 3 at the back with Richards as LWB and Sam Baldock as RWB.

I dont think too much fiddling is smart right now. Let the team stay as settled as possible. However if we were to do that Meite is the obvious choice to be RWB surely? His performance against Sheffield United last season stands out as his defensive contributions were immense.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by NewCorkSeth » 29 Sep 2020 09:08

Hound had totally forgot about Watson tbh. Guess it depends on how he has been showing in training and U23 games. If he has been performing ok then he is the obvious choice

Holmes did fine, but he isn't a RB

He is easy to forget about. I'm sure there will be a deluge of responses here shortly telling me im an idiot and Watson wouldn't crack it in the conference so we should play a CB there instead.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by andrew1957 » 29 Sep 2020 09:14

If Watson does not get picked on Saturday then I doubt he ever will be. Surely as a specialist RB he deserves at least one shot at it bearing in mind our injury crisis in that position.

As for this match the good news is that Watford have not been prolific in front of goal yet and so I am hoping we can get a draw out of this - 1-1.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by SCIAG » 29 Sep 2020 09:14

Yeah I’d go with Watson all day long.

Rafael, Watson, Morrison, Moore, Richards, Laurent, Rinomhota, Ejaria, Meite, Joao (if fit, otherwise Puscas), Olise

Subs: Southwood, Holmes, McIntyre, Tetek, Sackey, Baldock, Puscas/Melvin-Lambert/McGiff

Assuming we make no further signings, which, yikes.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by URZZZZ » 29 Sep 2020 09:28

SCIAG Yeah I’d go with Watson all day long.

Rafael, Watson, Morrison, Moore, Richards, Laurent, Rinomhota, Ejaria, Meite, Joao (if fit, otherwise Puscas), Olise

Subs: Southwood, Holmes, McIntyre, Tetek, Sackey, Baldock, Puscas/Melvin-Lambert/McGiff

Assuming we make no further signings, which, yikes.


Yeah would go with that although would have Aluko on the bench somewhere

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by WestYorksRoyal » 29 Sep 2020 09:36

Pauno's call on how to replace Araruna, but agree Watson must be finished if he doesn't play. He's already 23 and if he can't get picked in these circumstances then he'll never make it.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by Old Man Andrews » 29 Sep 2020 09:38

WestYorksRoyal Pauno's call on how to replace Araruna


Thanks for confirming Ian Royal doesn't get final say on tactical decisions.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Watford (h) sponsored by Chris Armstrong

by Stranded » 29 Sep 2020 09:45

Definitely our toughest test to date - going into the international break undefeated will be a massive confidence boost ahead of an "easier" run of games where some of the injured may be fit (or fitter) that this weekend.

Only been 2 goals in Watford's games to date, both scored by them so not expecting a high scoring affair going for 1-1, but think we will need to get ahead to get anything from this, if Watford score first then will be very tough.

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