MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Sutekh » 12 Dec 2020 17:04



When : Wednesday 16th December, 8pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161


Norwich. Another of the three relegated PL clubs from last season and another that has, arguably, been preparing for an assault on the Championship title since being promoted to the PL 18 months ago. So this isn’t going to be easy, and most likely not very attractive to watch from a Reading perspective.

Teemu Pukki is the star name and has bagged 9 goals from 17 appearances, Emiliano Buendia is next best with 4 goals and Mario Vrancic with 3, then there’s Jordan Hugill if the former are not pulling up any trees. Defensively only 15 have been conceded so you can see the problem Reading are going to have esp. as Norwich will press high and effectively which is the usual style Reading have great trouble in countering.

Daniel Farke’s team have lost just one of their last 14 games despite consistent injury problems, with Adam Idah and Bali Mumba likely to be out until February with knee injuries and Sam Byram and Onel Hernandez not expected back until January. Add to that a doubt over Tim Krul plus the absences of Gibson, Placheta, Quintilia and Rupp and you can see how difficult it’s been for them. However being just out of the PL their squad is a little larger than most with just that bit more talent spread throughout so it’s not too much of a surprise to see them weathering the situation rather better than Reading (or most other Championship sides) could hope to do in the same situation.

And that’s going to be the stumbling block for Reading. Already up against it by being live on SKY and having a referee who still hasn’t managed to officiate a Reading home win, the few injuries to the clubs thin squad are really making it tough. That said luckily having a poor QPR on Saturday helped keep Reading in the promotion mix but following the loss of Richards in that game it’s likely the Biscuitmen will have a defence comprising 4 centre backs in this one.

Referee

Geoff “no Reading home wins” Eltringham

Previously

26 Feb 20 > Reading 0-3 Wigan Athletic
01 Jan 20 > Fulham 1-2 Reading
02 Mar 19 > Ipswich Town 1-2 Reading
02 Feb 19 > Reading 0-0 Aston Villa
29 Sep 18 > Brentford 2-2 Reading
03 Feb 18 > Reading 0-2 Millwall
22 Apr 17 > Nottingham Forest 3-2 Reading
17 Mar 17 > Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Reading
04 Feb 17 > Ipswich Town 2-2 Reading
13 Dec 16 > Leeds United 2-0 Reading
02 Apr 16 > Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Reading
12 Dec 15 > Preston North End 1-0 Reading
07 Apr 15 > Blackpool 1-1 Reading
23 Nov 13 > Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Reading
14 Feb 12 > Derby County 0-1 Reading

Historically

Norwich are one of those sides that used to be reasonably regular opponents until they found the second division in 1960 and since then, apart from the one season in division 3 in 2009/2010, they've been consistently in the top two divisions, so the two sides went about 35 years or so with no league meetings.

Therefore this game will be the 37th time the sides have played a league game in Reading. The home league record so far reads 18 Reading wins to 11 for Norwich with 64 scored and 46 conceded. On the whole Reading had a better time of these games pre-1960 so will take quite a fight to make it 19 wins.

How to follow the game

  1. Get to be in the lucky 2000
  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)
  6. SKY main coverage just can’t stay away
Last edited by Sutekh on 13 Dec 2020 18:48, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Singing Defective » 12 Dec 2020 17:15

Lucky 2000 again...and it might be interesting to watch the two most injury beleaguered sides go at it. Though with that charming, erudite, super-intelligent and fair ref...

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Zip
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Zip » 12 Dec 2020 17:21

Not the best ref for us. He missed the stamp by Mings on Oliveira.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Singing Defective » 12 Dec 2020 17:22

Zip Not the best ref for us. He missed the stamp by Mings on Oliveira.


No, he saw it, remember, so it could not be dealt with post-match. Scunthorpe.

Edited due to beer. Mmmm.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Sutekh » 12 Dec 2020 17:37

Both Joao (hamstring) and Meite (knee) are out until the new year.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by royalp-we » 12 Dec 2020 17:40

Always so unlucky with injuries. Why can’t someone nobble danjuma, solanke, pukki and do us a favour.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Ascotexgunner » 12 Dec 2020 17:41

Sutekh Both Joao (hamstring) and Meite (knee) are out until the new year.


And Puscas.
Just wondered if there is someone we could push up top......out of position to to speak.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Lower West » 12 Dec 2020 17:41

Sutekh Both Joao (hamstring) and Meite (knee) are out until the new year.


Probably Richards as well.

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Zip
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Zip » 12 Dec 2020 17:46

Sutekh Both Joao (hamstring) and Meite (knee) are out until the new year.


FFS


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Hound » 12 Dec 2020 17:48

Zip
Sutekh Both Joao (hamstring) and Meite (knee) are out until the new year.


FFS


Not surprised though

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Zip » 12 Dec 2020 17:51

Hound
Zip
Sutekh Both Joao (hamstring) and Meite (knee) are out until the new year.


FFS


Not surprised though


No not after Wednesday. What a shit night that was. Baldock up front again then.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Hound » 12 Dec 2020 17:54

Zip
Hound
Zip
FFS


Not surprised though


No not after Wednesday. What a shit night that was. Baldock up front again then.


Yep awful. I’ve come round to the opinion that Brum weren’t actually much cop either and we just didn’t play well

Anyway, luck we’ve got an easy few weeks ahead with those injuries :(

4 or 5 points from the next 4 would be ok tbh

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Zip » 12 Dec 2020 17:55

Hound
Zip
Hound
Not surprised though


No not after Wednesday. What a shit night that was. Baldock up front again then.


Yep awful. I’ve come round to the opinion that Brum weren’t actually much cop either and we just didn’t play well

Anyway, luck we’ve got an easy few weeks ahead with those injuries :(

4 or 5 points from the next 4 would be ok tbh


Luton is the best bet for a win, We need to try and stay in touch. Very frustrating though.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Mid Sussex Royal » 12 Dec 2020 18:23

royalp-we Always so unlucky with injuries. Why can’t someone nobble danjuma, solanke, pukki and do us a favour.


Danjuma has been injured for about 3 weeks and Pukki has just come back from a month out

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by royalp-we » 12 Dec 2020 19:04

Mid Sussex Royal
royalp-we Always so unlucky with injuries. Why can’t someone nobble danjuma, solanke, pukki and do us a favour.


Danjuma has been injured for about 3 weeks and Pukki has just come back from a month out


Poor examples used there, I plucked some top rated performers :lol:

I’m just gutted that we have João, Puscas and Meite all out at the same time. Any of the top sides losing 3 key attackers would struggle, just hope we can grind out some points over Xmas like we did today at QPR.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Jagermesiter1871 » 12 Dec 2020 20:24

Can we not get an emergency loan?

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Hound » 12 Dec 2020 20:26

Nope

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by NewCorkSeth » 12 Dec 2020 21:15

Zip Not the best ref for us. He missed the stamp by Mings on Oliveira.

That son of a bitch.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by Crowbar6753 » 12 Dec 2020 21:33

This will be tough, Norwich are a really good side, who are more than capable of giving us a good hiding!! However, we do seem to play better against the better sides in this league. We do need a performance though, and need to try and dictate the pace of the game a la Bristol City.
The defence will need to bring their "A" game as we're not going to score many moving forward. I would like to see the central attacking midfielder play off the shoulder of Baldock more like a 4-4-1-1 to give us a bit more bite up front...and i think its time for Ejaria to play this role as Semedo clearly hasn't the ability to do this.
I would go with a back four of Holmes, Morrision, Moore & Gibson. Rinhomota and Laurent as the holding midfielders. Aluko as wide left and Olise wide right with Ejaria just behind Baldock.
Olise showed today that he's capable of cutting inside and shooting across goal, as has Aluko when called upon to play on the left. I have a feeling this could be a good game.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (h) sponsored by as tough as it gets

by SouthDownsRoyal » 12 Dec 2020 22:36

Ascotexgunner
Sutekh Both Joao (hamstring) and Meite (knee) are out until the new year.


And Puscas.
Just wondered if there is someone we could push up top......out of position to to speak.


Esteves?

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