MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by Sutekh » 25 Dec 2021 06:44




When : Wednesday, 29th December 2021, 8pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161


Should there be another Reading game before the end of the year then it will come in the shape of Fulham’s biennial league visit to RG2. Although the game is a scheduled midweek fixture it seems it will NOT be available on SKY’s Red button service as looking at their Christmas coverage it seems only selected games are available which on Wednesday means just Brum v Peterborough and SheffU v Hull (though for those not going to the game being able to keep tabs on those clubs in the relegation mire might be useful ).

As usual Fulham are among the favourites to return to the PL for another relegation season so this game is going to be yet another struggle not helped by Reading’s magnificent home form which has seen no wins since October 16.

Fulham’s form has dropped like a stone in recent weeks. After 7 straight wins, which included a 7-0 stuffing of Blackburn at Ewood Park, it has been 4 draws and a 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield United last time out (on 20 December) to show for the last 5 games.

The main issue for Reading on the night will be one of keeping Mitrovic away from the ball. As usual in this division he is in his element and enjoying life again now he is away from his struggle to find the net in the Premier League. This time round from his 22 league appearances so far he has managed just the 22 goals which is 16 more than the next Fulham net bulging contributor Harry Wilson. And Harry Wilson is the other problem offering sizeable issues for opposing teams not just in midfield but from dead ball situations as well.

Fulham’s awful injury problems amount to whether Ivan Cavaleiro will be fit enough to be involved, while Reading’s problems are a complete unknown as the enforced lay off has meant that at least acquiring new injuries would have been very unlikely (least for any normal club not suffering under an injury curse). Of the 12 known injuries in the squad after the WBA game (Azeez, Clarke, Dann, Drinkwater, Ejaria, Joao, McIntyre, Meite, Morrison, Rinomhota, Swift and Yiadom) there is a very slim chance that everyone except Clarke, Meite and Morrison could be be involved in VP’s thoughts for the game, though expectation should be set at seeing just Dann, Drinkwater, Ejaria, Swift and Yiadom being available.

While Fulham won’t have played since 20th December, Reading will have been without a game since the malaise that surfaced at the Hawthorns on 11th December, so put that with the limited amount of training that the club would have been able to organise since then and you can see why the performance is going to be a even more of total unknown thsn usual for the Biscuitmen.

Finally, season’s greetings to one and all. Hope you are all able to have a Merry Christmas followed by a Happy New Year.

Referee

John “no Reading wins” Brooks

Previously

13 Apr 21 > Reading 1-1 Cardiff City
04 Nov 20 > Reading 0-3 Preston North End
04 Jan 20 > Reading 2-2 Blackpool (FA Cup 3)
27 Apr 19 > Middlesbrough 2-1 Reading
09 Feb 19 > Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Reading
26 Jan 18 > Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Reading (FA Cup 4)
23 Dec 17 > Reading 1-2 Burton Albion

Historically

22 previous visits from the west Londoners in the league. 10 wins for Reading and 7 for Fulham.

Reading and Fulham have both scored 26 in these games but Reading have only kept one clean sheet at home against them in the last 7. Reading have only lost 1 of the last 6 at home v the Cottagers but it was a 4-1 trouncing the last time the clubs met in Reading.

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 a RoyalTV subscription
  5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
  6. Red button

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Zip
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by Zip » 25 Dec 2021 14:56

Merry Christmas Sutzz. Keep up the good work.
God knows what side we will have out on Wednesday night but looking forward to the game.

MR.CYNICAL
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by MR.CYNICAL » 25 Dec 2021 16:28

Personally, would like this game postponed, in our precarious position are can't afford to put out a weak side

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by windermereROYAL » 25 Dec 2021 17:42

Well Puscas is fit, bumped into him in Basingstoke road pharmacy the other day, really nice guy and stopped for a quick chat.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by tidus_mi2 » 25 Dec 2021 17:52

windermereROYAL Well Puscas is fit, bumped into him in Basingstoke road pharmacy the other day, really nice guy and stopped for a quick chat.

Be careful, we don't need more injuries.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by Hound » 25 Dec 2021 19:30

No there’s a preview :)

Cheers Sutekh and merry Christmas.

As for the game - didn’t realise Fulham were in such average form and they were unimpressive vs sheff utd so certainly a chance there. God knows what our team will look like. Will have a go though

Southwood
Yiadom Moore Dann Baba
Laurent Drinkwater
Halilovic Swift TDB
Carroll

Rafael, Holmes, Hoilett, Ejaria, Puscas, Clarke, Tetek

With McIntyre, Rino, Morrison, Joao maybe back by the cup game

Up to me it’d be Holmes in for Moore but doubt that will happen

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by royalp-we » 27 Dec 2021 13:37

Jlo reporting no fresh cases in the squad and he hears game looks like it’s going ahead. I have my doubts.

Fulham have lost just the once since Oct 2nd. That run of games has taken in two international breaks. That’s not what I call average form.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by Hound » 27 Dec 2021 13:40

4 points in their last 5 games is what I called average form though

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bcubed
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by bcubed » 27 Dec 2021 15:00

tidus_mi2
windermereROYAL Well Puscas is fit, bumped into him in Basingstoke road pharmacy the other day, really nice guy and stopped for a quick chat.

Be careful, we don't need more injuries.

Or covid cases


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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by Snowflake Royal » 27 Dec 2021 15:58

Hound 4 points in their last 5 games is what I called average form though

Yeah, form is traditionally somewhere between 5 and 12 games really.

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royalp-we
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by royalp-we » 27 Dec 2021 16:11

Ok. Conversely we are also winless in 5 at home (D2, L3). Which is garbage really, and the worst run for a few years.

Anyway. It’ll be interesting to see if Pauno goes unchanged from the West Brom disaster.

But it wouldn’t surprise me.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by Royals and Racers » 27 Dec 2021 20:49

POSTPONED

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Zip
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by Zip » 27 Dec 2021 20:52

Game OFF. Our squad is still to injury hit/covid affected.
Given Luton was postponed something like 12 days ago because of covid it’s pretty surprising sufficient numbers haven’t recovered.

Surely we need to get on with things v Derby. There cannot be justification for that to be postponed too.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by Franchise FC » 27 Dec 2021 21:06

Zip Game OFF. Our squad is still to injury hit/covid affected.
Given Luton was postponed something like 12 days ago because of covid it’s pretty surprising sufficient numbers haven’t recovered.

Surely we need to get on with things v Derby. There cannot be justification for that to be postponed too.

More time for the injured to recover is helpful
Less time to play Andy Carroll is the compromise

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by Elm Park Kid » 27 Dec 2021 21:07

Franchise FC
Zip Game OFF. Our squad is still to injury hit/covid affected.
Given Luton was postponed something like 12 days ago because of covid it’s pretty surprising sufficient numbers haven’t recovered.

Surely we need to get on with things v Derby. There cannot be justification for that to be postponed too.

More time for the injured to recover is helpful
Less time to play Andy Carroll is the compromise


You mean more time for new injuries to occur!

Half Horse
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by Half Horse » 27 Dec 2021 21:08

Zip Game OFF. Our squad is still to injury hit/covid affected.
Given Luton was postponed something like 12 days ago because of covid it’s pretty surprising sufficient numbers haven’t recovered.

Surely we need to get on with things v Derby. There cannot be justification for that to be postponed too.


My Fulham-supporting next door neighbour told me yesterday that Fulham were trying to get the game postponed, so it may not be us this time.
Last edited by Half Horse on 27 Dec 2021 21:35, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by Franchise FC » 27 Dec 2021 21:08

Elm Park Kid
Franchise FC
Zip Game OFF. Our squad is still to injury hit/covid affected.
Given Luton was postponed something like 12 days ago because of covid it’s pretty surprising sufficient numbers haven’t recovered.

Surely we need to get on with things v Derby. There cannot be justification for that to be postponed too.

More time for the injured to recover is helpful
Less time to play Andy Carroll is the compromise


You mean more time for new injuries to occur!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by The Royal Forester » 27 Dec 2021 21:40

Half Horse
Zip Game OFF. Our squad is still to injury hit/covid affected.
Given Luton was postponed something like 12 days ago because of covid it’s pretty surprising sufficient numbers haven’t recovered.

Surely we need to get on with things v Derby. There cannot be justification for that to be postponed too.


My Fulham-supporting next door neighbour told me yesterday that Fulham were trying to get the game postponed, so it may not be us this time.

According to the RFC website, we asked for it to be postponed. It seems not enough of the squad has recovered in time.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by royalp-we » 27 Dec 2021 21:55

Seems as if we requested the postponement. And I feel sorry for those of our fans who didn’t see that coming :lol:

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Fulham (h)

by CountryRoyal » 27 Dec 2021 22:13

royalp-we Seems as if we requested the postponement. And I feel sorry for those of our fans who didn’t see that coming :lol:


At this point I’ve forgotten we had a football team.

Been quite nice not watching us plod around uselessly every week.

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