Reading 2-0 Watford Fc - Fa Cup Third Round - 07/01/2023

I know it's only Thursday, but amazed by the apathy around town for this game.

I expected at the very least to see yellow and black ribbons hanging from every lamp post from the High Street to St Albans Road and beyond.

Is no one up for the cup?

 

Not sure about where you are ITK, but round my way the shops have all sold out of tinfoil. I assume because so many people are making their FA Cups for the weekend.

 

We need to win this so the Middlesbrough game in delayed until we have more players to pick from.

 

'Boro are home to Brighton - difficult one to call.......

 

Assume this is on ITV1 with Ant & Dec

 

Hadn't thought of that, good shout

 

Reading are currently 6/4 to win which seems pretty good odds given the club have essentially just said we'll be using largely academy players...

 

Who will be playing for them mind you?

 

Their fans say they've got a lot of injured players back and have a strong squad to pick from.

 

Up for the cup.

 

Hopefully just play the academy and rest a few players the last thing we need is anymore injuries.

 

It should be the case, but where have they said this?

 

On the team news article on the website

 

"Wait all night for calls like these".

Great mug!

 

Luckily the games not on a school night otherwise with our expected squad we may have had to cancel.

 

Is it an early kick off so the under 16 team can play and be home before it's dark?

 

Can we expect "That old bag Ewell" or Jimmy Edwards to be in temporary charge tomorrow or perhaps Mr Chips?

 

Recap of the players who ARE available -

G: Bachmann, Hamer, Angelini
D: Ngakia, Gaspar, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Kabasele, Sierralta, Pollock, Morris
M: Kone, Asprilla, Bacuna
A: Bayo, Sarr, Hungbo, Blake

Not much flexibility for Bilic.

 

I would have Sarr on the bench, can't risk an injury. Kone needs the match to get up to speed, probably a good time for another run out for Morris.

 

...plus the kids that the prem clubs didn't think were good enough to steal ??

 

No cup run this season then, a shame but understandable.

 

Is Okoye injured as well?
From the younger players I'd like to see Abbott and Grieves play as well as Blake.

 

I’m sure I saw somewhere he was (an Andrew French tweet maybe?) but he’s not in the list of injuries the club put out yesterday.

 

From the darts video the club put out yesterday it looks like Andrews, Hunter and Adeyemo are all training with the first team. As well as Blake obviously.

 

Is darts a safe sport to be playing with the amount of injuries our lot seem to be getting?

 

For some reason I've just bought a ticket for this in what I expect to be a complete battering
Hamer
Ngakia Pollock WTE Morris
Kone Bacuna and a an U23 player
Blake Bayo Hungbo
Give Sarr, Asprilla the day off, not even on the bench. Shame Martins can't play

 

Is Martins not being available definite?


edit - yes it is.

 

Bacuna struggles to last the full 90 in the Champ still. Given our lack of midfielders I'd be surprised if we risked him for this. It could be Jack Grieves and Adian Manning alongside Kone.

Given we have no other CFs I'd also be surprised if we risked Bayo. It's a surprise we've not announced Ezio Touray yet though, as he'd have been an obvious choice to start in his place given he's been first choice CF for the U21s lately while on trial. In his absence Shaq Forde would seem the most obvious candidate to lead the line; if he's not available then Damani Hunter.

So I'd guess:

Hamer
Ngakia Pollock WTE Morris
Kone Grieves Manning
Blake Forde Hungbo

 

Unfortunately, Shaq Forde will not be available to play because he has been sent on loan to York City for the rest of this season.

 

Ah yeah, so then maybe Hunter in his place.

It makes it all the more bizarre that Touray doesn't seem to have been announced yet then.

 

Gon 2 Marseille m8.

 

Also playing darts, with no casts or leg supports etc were Cleverley, Louza and Chaudhury and they were all moving freely and I've seen elsewhere Chaudhury may be available for Blackpool.