MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (a)

[Hound]

Didn’t watch it all but I liked what I did watch

More energy, more aggression. Strangely considering we swapped out most of the side we looked better balanced, quicker and fitter

It’s the dilemma with the likes of Wing and Marriott (and to a lesser extent Paudie coz he’s not been great) that the main guys who get us a lot of points actually inhibit our general play through lack of mobility

Lane played well - has to come in for DK surely. Good to see Brown have a successful run out. Masterson was good

[Sutekh]

Now Reading have reached the round of 32 in the League Cup, I presume that the already rescheduled trip to the Ox will be moved back a week to Sep 15 (after Cambridge rather than before it)?

[Stranded]

Now Reading have reached the round of 32 in the League Cup, I presume that the already rescheduled trip to the Ox will be moved back a week to Sep 15 (after Cambridge rather than before it)?

It will depend on who we draw as ties will be played over 2 weeks due to the start of the CL and EL competitions.

If we draw a Europa League team then yes it will have to move - if we draw anyone else, then we will play our cup games on the week beginning 14th September.

[Gunny Fishcake]

Lets have Arsenal, we haven`t been beaten by them in a while.

Still can't get over when we were 4-0 up to them and still lost

[The Cap]

Didn’t watch it all but I liked what I did watch

More energy, more aggression. Strangely considering we swapped out most of the side we looked better balanced, quicker and fitter

It’s the dilemma with the likes of Wing and Marriott (and to a lesser extent Paudie coz he’s not been great) that the main guys who get us a lot of points actually inhibit our general play through lack of mobility

Lane played well - has to come in for DK surely. Good to see Brown have a successful run out. Masterson was good

Spot on Hound. Certainly looked better balanced, quicker and fitter for sure.

[South Coast Royal]

Pleasantly surprised by our midfield play tonight. Glad Brown had a decent game. Ahmed could turn out to be a right handful.

Team selection was a bit of a gamble but they went weak also. Do the managers conspire on this?! 3-0 flattered us a bit.

Yes, Stevenage only really threatened early on and late when their first team forwards came on.

An enjoyable watch for a change-I got the impression that the fringe players may have been told that first team places are up for grabs as there was plenty of effort for the full 90 minutes+.

A decent debut from Earthy who looks as though he can play.
With Ahmad continuing to progress where does that now leave Abrefa?

[RG30]

Comfortable evening, never in doubt. Paddy Lane's best game for us by far. He has to be pushing for a start next Wednesday. Matterson looked more than capable of filling in as well.

Everton, Brentford, Tottenham or West Ham (A) in the next round please.

[windermereROYAL]

We started the game with 2 players that started Saturday, we finished the game with 4, Stevenage started the game with 4 and finished with 7

[Sutekh]

Comfortable evening, never in doubt. Paddy Lane's best game for us by far. He has to be pushing for a start next Wednesday. Matterson looked more than capable of filling in as well.

Everton, Brentford, Tottenham or West Ham (A) in the next round please.

Anyone, anywhere, whatever earns the most cash for the club.

[morganb]

Comfortable evening, never in doubt. Paddy Lane's best game for us by far. He has to be pushing for a start next Wednesday. Matterson looked more than capable of filling in as well.

Everton, Brentford, Tottenham or West Ham (A) in the next round please.

Anyone, anywhere, whatever earns the most cash for the club.

If we drew one of the Premier League big boys - would we earn more from a packed out SLC or a half full Prem ground?

Also, regardless of who we draw would we ever be the Sky Sports Main Event?

[Sutekh]

Lane and Masterson showing up the boo boys tonight

Savage seemed anonymous though, definitely looking for a new challenge IMO

Why would Masterson be getting stick, it was his debut and he was playing ok!

Thought Brown was generally anonymous, only knew he was playing as he managed to score, but then if he can continue like that I’d take it!

Should we sell Savage, Marriott and Wing now and invest the cash into better balancing out of the squad

[Steve_Upper_West]

Lets have Arsenal, we haven`t been beaten by them in a while.

Still can't get over when we were 4-0 up to them and still lost

Should have beaten them in the FA Cup semi final, when we wasted a late two on one chance before extra time

[ReadingRog]

Lets have Arsenal, we haven`t been beaten by them in a while.

Still can't get over when we were 4-0 up to them and still lost

We have beaten the Arsenal first team once. It was in 1947. By 67 runs. A pre-season cricket match.

[Royal Rother]

Lane and Masterson showing up the boo boys tonight

Savage seemed anonymous though, definitely looking for a new challenge IMO

Thought Brown was generally anonymous, only knew he was playing as he managed to score, but then if he can continue like that I’d take it!

I only watched the 1st half but apart from the goal which was a fantastic finish, I thought his 1st touch was horrendous.

[Royal Rother]

Lets have Arsenal, we haven`t been beaten by them in a while.

Still can't get over when we were 4-0 up to them and still lost

We have beaten the Arsenal first team once. It was in 1947. By 67 runs. A pre-season cricket match.

[Sutekh]

The non-junior games in which Reading have beaten Arsenal:

January 4, 1941 - London Cup
Reading 2-0 Arsenal (Edelston, MacPhee)
January 11, 1941 - London Cup
Arsenal 0-1 Reading (Cothliffe)
January 4, 1941 - London Cup
Reading 2-0 Arsenal (Edelston, MacPhee)
March 4, 1944 - League Cup South
Arsenal 2-3 Reading (MacPhee 2, Chitty)
March 25, 1944 - League Cup South
Reading 5-1 Arsenal (Williams, Chitty, Edelston, MacPhee 2)
November 4, 1944 - Football League South
Reading 3-1 Arsenal (Leyton (p), Edelston 2)
March 31, 1945 - Football League South
Arsenal 0-2 Reading (Chitty, Fisher)

[rabidbee]

Thought Brown was generally anonymous, only knew he was playing as he managed to score, but then if he can continue like that I’d take it!

I'd like to see the stats, because I thought he was getting quite a few flick-ons and generally making a nuisance of himself.

[Jackson Corner]

The non-junior games in which Reading have beaten Arsenal:

January 4, 1941 - London Cup
Reading 2-0 Arsenal (Edelston, MacPhee)
January 11, 1941 - London Cup
Arsenal 0-1 Reading (Cothliffe)
January 4, 1941 - London Cup
Reading 2-0 Arsenal (Edelston, MacPhee)
March 4, 1944 - League Cup South
Arsenal 2-3 Reading (MacPhee 2, Chitty)
March 25, 1944 - League Cup South
Reading 5-1 Arsenal (Williams, Chitty, Edelston, MacPhee 2)
November 4, 1944 - Football League South
Reading 3-1 Arsenal (Leyton (p), Edelston 2)
March 31, 1945 - Football League South
Arsenal 0-2 Reading (Chitty, Fisher)

l never new we were in London?

[The Royal Forester]

The non-junior games in which Reading have beaten Arsenal:

January 4, 1941 - London Cup
Reading 2-0 Arsenal (Edelston, MacPhee)
January 11, 1941 - London Cup
Arsenal 0-1 Reading (Cothliffe)
January 4, 1941 - London Cup
Reading 2-0 Arsenal (Edelston, MacPhee)
March 4, 1944 - League Cup South
Arsenal 2-3 Reading (MacPhee 2, Chitty)
March 25, 1944 - League Cup South
Reading 5-1 Arsenal (Williams, Chitty, Edelston, MacPhee 2)
November 4, 1944 - Football League South
Reading 3-1 Arsenal (Leyton (p), Edelston 2)
March 31, 1945 - Football League South
Arsenal 0-2 Reading (Chitty, Fisher)

l never new we were in London?

Good job the Luftwaffe didn't know either! Seriously though, Reading were placed in the London Area for fixtures during WW2 and clubs were able to play anyone who was available. Aldersh*t being close, we could call on any footballer who was stationed there at the time, which I think included Matt Bushby playing for us at least once.

[Sutekh]

The non-junior games in which Reading have beaten Arsenal:

January 4, 1941 - London Cup
Reading 2-0 Arsenal (Edelston, MacPhee)
January 11, 1941 - London Cup
Arsenal 0-1 Reading (Cothliffe)
January 4, 1941 - London Cup
Reading 2-0 Arsenal (Edelston, MacPhee)
March 4, 1944 - League Cup South
Arsenal 2-3 Reading (MacPhee 2, Chitty)
March 25, 1944 - League Cup South
Reading 5-1 Arsenal (Williams, Chitty, Edelston, MacPhee 2)
November 4, 1944 - Football League South
Reading 3-1 Arsenal (Leyton (p), Edelston 2)
March 31, 1945 - Football League South
Arsenal 0-2 Reading (Chitty, Fisher)

l never new we were in London?

Good job the Luftwaffe didn't know either! Seriously though, Reading were placed in the London Area for fixtures during WW2 and clubs were able to play anyone who was available. Aldersh*t being close, we could call on any footballer who was stationed there at the time, which I think included Matt Bushby playing for us at least once.

And Bill Shanksley too at one point