Injury watch 2023/24

[Hound]

What did CBC do in the warm up to get so badly injured? The odd minor muscle injury I can accept happen now and again in a warm up

Is all very frustrating though we’ve plenty of numbers to cover. Smith needs to stay fit

In a number of posts you have talked up Smith as being important for us when, eventually , he gets to play.
I do hope you are right because if he does ok it could mean the difference between staying up and relegation.

Unfortunately I can't get out of my head how unimpressive he was when here before and my Oxford United supporting nephew feels the same about his time there.
Obviously he is now a bit older, more experienced and scored a few at Cambridge so there is a chance that he could do the same for us at this same mediocre level.

Assuming Selles sticks with the 2 up and that Kelvin is first choice I guess Smith will play ahead of Ballard although usually if you take a loan player from a higher division club it is expected that he will play.
It does however give us another option in a side that neither creates nor scores many goals in league football and right now we could do with as many options as possible.

Smith is obviously first choice if fit.

He's played off a big strong lump in the past, but doesn't need one anymore. So he may combine well with Kelvin's size and strength (and skill).


Also, whilst we're towards the bottom of the league for total shots and goals, we're top half for shots on target and number of key passes. So a good finisher is likely to up our shots and goals to bring them more in line.

Even when he played for us before he looked to have a bit of a knack for being in the right place etc. He looks a clever player who has clearly got better for experience. Looked good on the warm up games as well

Not saying he’ll turn the season around but our current forwards, whilst all excellent players, aren’t getting the goals we need in the league. I do think he’ll be a good and consistent source of goals for the rest of the year

[Hound]

Also feel Kelv will be better for less minutes on the pitch. Be a bit fresher - he does tend to fade in games

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Couple of bits picked up after the game from the press interviews:

Abrefa and Holmes both injured...explains the odd RB selection with Yiadom suspended.

Ejaria - working with physios - nowhere near ready to be with first team group.

[Snowflake Royal]

Couple of bits picked up after the game from the press interviews:

Abrefa and Holmes both injured...explains the odd RB selection with Yiadom suspended.

Ejaria - working with physios - nowhere near ready to be with first team group.

Pretty sure he was playing Bindon RB with Yiadom on the bench anyway.

There's also Rushesha who played RB at youth level, and is more suited to the position. Or in the absence of a player suitable for the system, change the system.

[Hound]

Couple of bits picked up after the game from the press interviews:

Abrefa and Holmes both injured...explains the odd RB selection with Yiadom suspended.

Ejaria - working with physios - nowhere near ready to be with first team group.

Pretty sure he was playing Bindon RB with Yiadom on the bench anyway.

There's also Rushesha who played RB at youth level, and is more suited to the position. Or in the absence of a player suitable for the system, change the system.

We’ve never seen Rushesha play RB have we?

Binden may well have played RB at youth level tbh. Don’t think the issue is Binden himself as such, whoever has been at LB has been much the same all season. Abrefa or Holmes would be rinsed just the same in the current set up. Yiadom or Mbengue May just about be able to hold their own

[Snowflake Royal]

Couple of bits picked up after the game from the press interviews:

Abrefa and Holmes both injured...explains the odd RB selection with Yiadom suspended.

Ejaria - working with physios - nowhere near ready to be with first team group.

Pretty sure he was playing Bindon RB with Yiadom on the bench anyway.

There's also Rushesha who played RB at youth level, and is more suited to the position. Or in the absence of a player suitable for the system, change the system.

We’ve never seen Rushesha play RB have we?

Binden may well have played RB at youth level tbh

Maybe in a friendly, I can't recall. And can't speak for what you've seen.

It doesn't look like it.

I think midfielders are much more suited to playing attacking fullbacks than CBs anyway. Holmes and McIntyre have done ok as primarily defensive ones, and there's Dickie obviously.

The problem is Bindon just looks out of his depth.

He's clearly not comfortable getting to the ball ahead of someone and running away with it. He's used to getting infront and holding off.

He looks uncomfortable and awkward crossing, although does put the odd good one in.

He's almost never going to beat anyone. His passing is pretty conservative and limited

He doesn't know how to close down a winger, the number of times they've just run straight past him because he’s closed too tight is ridiculous. He's used to being central where a player can't just knock it round him and run because the keeper will be there to sweep up in the centre before they can get it.

Rushesha's role in midfield involves most of the right attributes to apply at fullback. That simply isn't true of CB.

[Sutekh]

Pretty sure he was playing Bindon RB with Yiadom on the bench anyway.

There's also Rushesha who played RB at youth level, and is more suited to the position. Or in the absence of a player suitable for the system, change the system.

We’ve never seen Rushesha play RB have we?

Binden may well have played RB at youth level tbh

Maybe in a friendly, I can't recall. And can't speak for what you've seen.

It doesn't look like it.

I think midfielders are much more suited to playing attacking fullbacks than CBs anyway. Holmes and McIntyre have done ok as primarily defensive ones, and there's Dickie obviously.

The problem is Bindon just looks out of his depth.

He's clearly not comfortable getting to the ball ahead of someone and running away with it. He's used to getting infront and holding off.

He looks uncomfortable and awkward crossing, although does put the odd good one in.

He's almost never going to beat anyone. His passing is pretty conservative and limited

He doesn't know how to close down a winger, the number of times they've just run straight past him because he’s closed too tight is ridiculous. He's used to being central where a player can't just knock it round him and run because the keeper will be there to sweep up in the centre before they can get it.

Rushesha's role in midfield involves most of the right attributes to apply at fullback. That simply isn't true of CB.

Rushesha was a right back in Swansea's academy, think he's played RB a few times in pre season and in a couple of games earlier this season.

[morganb]

ReadingFC team news:

• Holmes, Hutchinson both fit.

• Abrefa and Ejaria both in training. (Selles on Ejaria: "was sidelined until late September but attitude and commitment are still long way to go. He needs to show that he wants to play and wants to do things for this football club. He needs to show a lot if he wants to play for me." Training with the U21s)

• Camara been out with a fever.

• Mbengue serving 3-game ban. (Selles: “Totally unnecessary to do that action. He knows that he let us down for the coming games. We cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour in our team.”)

• McIntyre out for 5 weeks with a ruptured quad.

https://twitter.com/RFCLatest/status/17 ... 8018468087

[Clyde1998]

ReadingFC team news:

• Holmes, Hutchinson both fit.

• Abrefa and Ejaria both in training. (Selles on Ejaria: "was sidelined until late September but attitude and commitment are still long way to go. He needs to show that he wants to play and wants to do things for this football club. He needs to show a lot if he wants to play for me." Training with the U21s)

• Camara been out with a fever.

• Mbengue serving 3-game ban. (Selles: “Totally unnecessary to do that action. He knows that he let us down for the coming games. We cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour in our team.”)

• McIntyre out for 5 weeks with a ruptured quad.

https://twitter.com/RFCLatest/status/17 ... 8018468087

I would expect to see Holmes and Hutch in the squad on Saturday then. Can't imagine we'll see Ejaria again, even if he's actually back in training.

[Hound]

Ejaria fully fit and training. Just his attitude stinks apparently so not being considered

Very poor all round

I’m sure none are blameless but Selles now fallen out with NGW, Carroll, Ejaria and Holmes. Not ideal

[Royal Monkey]

Ejaria must be by far our highest paid player and he still has a bad attitude and doesn’t wanna play.
What a total cnut never wanna see him in Reading shirt again hopefully sell him in January and raise a few quid.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Ejaria fully fit and training. Just his attitude stinks apparently so not being considered

Very poor all round

I’m sure none are blameless but Selles now fallen out with NGW, Carroll, Ejaria and Holmes. Not ideal

Ejaria has caused issues for the last 3 managers, and at Rangers on loan. I suspect he’s the highest paid player, it’s a shame he can’t be sacked.

[Hound]

Ejaria fully fit and training. Just his attitude stinks apparently so not being considered

Very poor all round

I’m sure none are blameless but Selles now fallen out with NGW, Carroll, Ejaria and Holmes. Not ideal

Ejaria has caused issues for the last 3 managers, and at Rangers on loan. I suspect he’s the highest paid player, it’s a shame he can’t be sacked.

Yeah it’s very poor from him no doubts. What a waste of talent

[Snowflake Royal]

Can't imagine we'll see Ejaria again, even if he's actually back in training.

That's been pretty obvious for a long time, hasn't it?

[Clyde1998]

Can't imagine we'll see Ejaria again, even if he's actually back in training.

That's been pretty obvious for a long time, hasn't it?

It's been hard to tell if he's actually been injured, had personal issues or something else was going on that the club weren't telling us about. The fact he's available for selection hopefully means we'll sell him in January - even if its for no fee; just get him off the wage bill.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Can't imagine we'll see Ejaria again, even if he's actually back in training.

That's been pretty obvious for a long time, hasn't it?

It's been hard to tell if he's actually been injured, had personal issues or something else was going on that the club weren't telling us about. The fact he's available for selection hopefully means we'll sell him in January - even if its for no fee; just get him off the wage bill.

Who would take him? Even on a free he'd have to take a wage cut to move anywhere. He'll be here until the summer. The last of the terrible contracts we handed out.

[Clyde1998]

That's been pretty obvious for a long time, hasn't it?

It's been hard to tell if he's actually been injured, had personal issues or something else was going on that the club weren't telling us about. The fact he's available for selection hopefully means we'll sell him in January - even if its for no fee; just get him off the wage bill.

Who would take him? Even on a free he'd have to take a wage cut to move anywhere. He'll be here until the summer. The last of the terrible contracts we handed out.

Could we convince some Middle Eastern club to take him - even on loan, paying some of his wages? At least we've only got him until the start of July.

[SCIAG]

Assuming we could get a Saudi club interested in Ejaria (did he play for Gerrard at Rangers?), we’d still need to get Ejaria interested in moving there.

Think they’ve generally filled their squads with a better class of player.

[Sutekh]

Assuming we could get a Saudi club interested in Ejaria (did he play for Gerrard at Rangers?), we’d still need to get Ejaria interested in moving there.

Think they’ve generally filled their squads with a better class of player.

Not bothered really, he'll be gone in the summer when his contract is up anyway so is in his own interests to get back playing and "shining" and if can't be arsed to do that then who cares anyway.

[Snowflake Royal]

He's basically done as a footballer