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Reading v Boro: Pre...
 

Reading v Boro: Preview

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With now just three games to go to save their Championship status, Boro head to Reading as they continue to display a consistent run of inconsistent form. Neil Warnock will be hoping this doesn't end up as another right royal mess but in truth his team are running out of opportunities to clamber away from the drop zone.

The game against Bristol City proved that playing the same team in the same shape against opposition playing the same formation can produce completely different performances. The Riverside display was the antithesis of the one seen at the Den with little energy or commitment on show. Many will expect changes but it's no longer clear if there's any guarantee that will make much difference to a team that has not convinced it will turn up when needed.

Perhaps the schedule of a game every three days is taking its toll and with no crowd or atmosphere to feed off, only the players and a few isolated shout from the dugout can set the mood. In the absence of Robbie Keane's visualisation methods, maybe everyone could wear blue-tooth headphones with full-volume crowd noise to get their adrenaline pumped up to 10 or at the very least Neil Warnock permanently in their ears.

The Boro manager said “I feel sorry for the lads because they keep shooting themselves in the foot” – though I suspect that is purely by accident as if most were aiming to do so they would have surely missed. However, while Neil Warnock is already looking ahead to recruitment for next season, he claims that he has not yet discussed being in charge himself. We can only hope that the club don't rush out and sign his type of players only to appoint an expansive up-and-coming coach in a few weeks, who is stuck with no-nonsense agricultural types where their first touch is normally their last.

Reading have been also a little unpredictable since the restart and have won two, drawn two and lost two – including a 5-0 hammering of Luton and also a 3-0 home defeat to Brentford. The Royals are now looking safe in mid-table with 56 points and in reality have nothing to play for unless they suddenly opt to go into administration like Wigan. Of Boro's three remaining fixtures this is probably the best opportunity to pick up what may turn out to be the three points needed to avoid the drop - especially if the Owls get a points deduction and need to win to stay up and Cardiff need victory to secure a play-off spot.

After originally being appointed sporting director last August, Mark Bowen became the Reading manager in October after the Portuguese coach José Gomes left the club. Rather amusingly, Bowen had been responsible for drawing up a shortlist of candidates to replace Gomes but it seems he must have placed himself at the top of the list - or at the very least gave a Woodgate-style presentation to prove he was the outstanding candidate.

Interestingly at 55 years old, Reading became his first post as a manager having previously spent most of his coaching career as assistant to Mark Hughes at a long list of clubs that included Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City, Southampton and Wales.

Despite his vast experience, Bowen had declared in his sporting director role that he made a "conscious effort" to stay away from training. It obviously was a difficult thing to do as he admitted: "Believe me it's hard because you look out the window and you want to get out and have a look, but it's not my job" – though in the end it has become his job and he has now extended his contract as manager until the end of next season!

As to whether Neil Warnock extends his stay on Teesside is another matter but it would be less likely if Boro carelessly find themselves in League One. Can the 71-year old plot a way to victory and offer a chance for the Boro faithful to enjoy a brief summer break? I think much will depend on getting the players up for this game and perhaps making a few changes to add some energy and forward momentum. It should be time for Tavernier to start and Roberts must now be fresh after nearly two games rest, though in the end it may be down to a random piece of luck to decide our fate.

So give your thoughts on Tuesday's six o'clock trip to Reading – will it be an evening to remember or another night best forgotten...

 

This topic was modified 4 years ago by werdermouth

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No surprise to anyone.....

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53387306


   
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Thanks Werder. A very amusing preview - I suppose if we didn't laugh we'd cry!

I agree re Tav and Roberts. We desperately need some zest in the attacking third and playing them both doesn't automatically mean you lose solidity, we just have to define roles clearly and be "at it". Clayton and Howson n the middle can provide bite and cover.

With so much inconsistency from both sides, who can possibly predict what will unfold?

I think that, as is so often the case and especially with Boro, the first goal will be the decider. If we score first, confidence will rise and Reading may feel that they have nothing to play for or fight for. If Reading score first, our confidence will drop and Reading may start to enjoy themselves. They certainly have the firepower to make it a difficult early evening for us.

So that's my wild guestimation for the game - a comfortable enough victory either way, depending on which side scores first.

This post was modified 4 years ago by Andy R

   
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Werder,

A witty preview, particularly about feet and shooting. Perhaps Mr Warnock should say the plan is to be relegated and Boro will do the opposite. Maybe not.

I'm dreading Tuesday...

UTB,

John


   
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Posted by: @grovehillwallah

No surprise to anyone.....

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53387306

Not sure what the defence was other than their emails were hacked to expose the wrong doing

 


   
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Posted by: @werdermouth
Posted by: @grovehillwallah

No surprise to anyone.....

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53387306

Not sure what the defence was other than their emails were hacked to expose the wrong doing

 

 The sad thing, is that at the time they were punished everyone knew that it would be overturned.

This post was modified 4 years ago by grovehillwallah

   
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Practically everyone was in agreement that Warnock should play the same team against Bristol City, and that included the City coaching staff. They knew exactly how we would line up and put in very effective measures to counter us.

 

Once it transposed that City had nullified our tactics we sadly had no other option except to plod along hoping for a break. This is our main problem ( and has been for some time) if Plan A doesn’t work we have no Plan B, this is down to the lack of quality/depth/versatility in the squad.

 

Once again we are headed to a season end that requires a shake up and repositioning of the playing staff. Just who is best to oversee that remains to be seen.


   
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@grovehillwallah

In the general despair it should be remembered that we still refuse to start Tav. After the disaster of three goals,

It's ' go on lads and show them what you can do'. Perhaps it would be better to start with Tav. And Wing, they could do no worse than the present starters.

In the angst at the shambles, we must remember that we had three sitters at the finish.

First was Wing putting Britt in for an easy one, then Roberts ran through them into the box for an easy two yard pass to Wing a couple of yards out, he had other ideas, like beating another man, next was Roberts again, same rout to goal, ran over the dead ball line whilst beating his third man, a couple of yards from goal. Can you see any sign of a pattern? If you can sing out.             


   
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jarkko
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I think most of the teams below Boro are playing at least once but sometimes two times against another team below us. So they cannot all take maximum points from the remaining matches.

So I still believe it will be Wigan and Barnsley who go down. The third team to go down is either Hull or Charlton. 

Of course we do not know if Sheffield Wednesday will be there if they will have some points reduced. As RR said, it could be more than Wigan's twelve points.

Royals is a long way to go. I have once travelled from Boro to Reading with the Twelwth Man mini bus. It was also a Tuesday evening kick-off. Later than tomorrow but it was veryblate before we were back in Boro after a sorry defeat.

I will go for the most unlikely result. A 0-0 draw. Of course I hope for a win as that would make us safe. But by drawing this and winning one of the remaining matces will do for me.

Up the Boro! 


   
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Thanks Werder for an amusing preview.  I have us down for a draw in the Exmil challenge but at present I have a 100% record of getting it wrong!

I am now convinced we will lose our three remaining games and end up in the bottom three.  I expect to see Gary Monk with a big grin on his face as he consigns us to the third division on the last day of the season!

Royals 2-0 Lambs to the slaughter. 😎😣


   
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@k-p-in-spain if Wednesday get a points deduction that last day fixture could take on an entirely different complexion. If we are safe by then I can see Boro mentally not turning up despite how unfair that would be to other strugglers. If Wednesday are already down I could see them not turning up. There again if we both desperately need a result then it could be very tasty.

The amount of times we seem to finish at Hillsborough would seem to call into question how "random" the fixture program is.


   
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@redcarred.  Heavens above RR your not suggesting the fixtures are on a spreadsheet where they just change the date from one year to the next and substitute the promoted teams with the relegated teams and vice versa! 😎😉


   
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@k-p-in-spain of course not, its far more complicated than that. They have to shuffle the teams by geographical location so that those wet Tuesdays are always at Blackpool, Rotherham, Wigan or Barnsley!

For example:

1. Boro

2. Leeds

3. Preston

4. Hull

5. Blackburn

6. Huddersfield etc. etc. etc.

Lets say Hull get relegated and Sunderland got promoted. Next season with Sunderland being furthest North they would be the new 1 and Boro would be 2 as they are then the second furthest North. Of course if Leeds get promoted then Preston would remain as 3. Now if Hull go down then Blackburn would move up to 4.

 

I need to get out more!


   
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Looking at the Championship table Blackburn in 12th spot are only 4 points off a play off place with 3 games and 12 points left to play for. Even tomorrow nights opponents Reading are in 13th and 8 points behind Cardiff in the final play off spot in 6th.

At the other end Stoke are in 17th with everyone below them spluttering and in the brown stuff as we know only too well. So that only leaves three other sides in the Championship, Wednesday, Wigan and QPR. Of those three Wigan and Wednesday are looking at point deductions so in the entire Championship probably only QPR are safe from not being relegated and highly unlikely to make the play offs being 11 points behind Cardiff.

I don't remember previous seasons being this open at this stage of the season. Maybe one for Ken to ponder?


   
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Excellent intro, Werder

 Consoling words from my daughter:

 "Don't worry, Dad.  If the Boro go down they can always pitch for a Netflix series."


   
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Posted by: @lenmasterman

Excellent intro, Werder

 Consoling words from my daughter:

 "Don't worry, Dad.  If the Boro go down they can always pitch for a Netflix series."

If they did it would surely have to be a Spaghetti Western trilogy:

"A Fistful of Dollars"covering the 90' and early 00's.

"For a few Dollars more" aka The Strachan era.

"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" Karanka's promotion, Pulisball and then the Woodgate season.

 

 

 


   
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In collaboration with Weight  Watchers and Netflix a new programme is being planned. It will follow a group of Boro supporters as they try to give up a life of Pints & Parmo’s . 

“Boro ‘til I Diet” should be hitting your screens sometime this autumn......

   
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If they did it would surely have to be a Spaghetti Western trilogy:

"A Fistful of Dollars"covering the 90' and early 00's.

"For a few Dollars more" aka The Strachan era.

"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" Karanka's promotion, Pulisball and then the Woodgate season.

Not to mention that we currently have the man with no name in charge next season...


   
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Pedro de Espana
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Great preview Werder, it had me laughing out loud for the first time in ages.

I cannot see us picking up another point and believe that will get us relegated.

We can only now hope for a miracle, devine intervention our something similar like a result out of the blue. I cannot even guess at the team line up as half the team will pick itself, there being a shortage of defenders as NW tell us.

i think we have to now throw (controlled) caution to the wind somewhat and from the off pick at least a couple of players with pace. As much as both Tav and Roberts have been disappointing at times they do have a will to do well, so they would be my first two picked. After that, it’s a throw of the dice.

Redcar Red .....I must have missed the article, but who has actually said that Sheff Wed, could be docked points? The investigation ongoing, is there a date for its conclusion and punishment for non compliance. Or could it be next season before the report is issued. 


   
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@redcarred

I would suggest a yo-yo. One of those with lights, red ones obviously, and you can sit on your patio imagining Boro were/are a yo-yo club. No more worrying about spread sheets just a little flashing light therapy. I think we're all going a little crazy on this blog. Madness on the A19.

UTB,

John

PS Don't forget the Rioja.


   
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Posted by: @redcarred

Looking at the Championship table Blackburn in 12th spot are only 4 points off a play off place with 3 games and 12 points left to play for. Even tomorrow nights opponents Reading are in 13th and 8 points behind Cardiff in the final play off spot in 6th.

At the other end Stoke are in 17th with everyone below them spluttering and in the brown stuff as we know only too well. So that only leaves three other sides in the Championship, Wednesday, Wigan and QPR. Of those three Wigan and Wednesday are looking at point deductions so in the entire Championship probably only QPR are safe from not being relegated and highly unlikely to make the play offs being 11 points behind Cardiff.

I don't remember previous seasons being this open at this stage of the season. Maybe one for Ken to ponder?

Not that I remember it, but as I’ve just started reviewing 20 of Boro’s most memorable seasons good and bad on the History pages of this forum, one of those I’ll be looking at in the future is Boro’s 1927/28 First Division season when with 3 matches to play no fewer than 9 clubs were in danger of relegation with 3 matches to play.The clubs were:- 

Man Utd 33 points, finished 19th with 39 points 

Sunderland 34 points, finished 16th with 39 points 

Newcastle 36 points, finished 9th with 39 points 

Birmingham 36 points, finished 11th with 41 points 

Liverpool 36 points, finished 17th with 39 points 

Boro 36 points, finished 22nd with 37 points 

Sheff Utd 37 points, finished 15th with 40 points 

Burnley 37 points, finished 20th with 39 points 

Spurs 37 points, finished 21st with 38 points 

The crunch match was the final match of the season Boro home to Sunderland. A draw would have saved Boro as Sunderland would have finished bottom with 37 points and Boro’s 38 had a superior goal average than Spurs. Typically Boro lost 0-3 and were relegated.


   
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Posted by: @werdermouth

If they did it would surely have to be a Spaghetti Western trilogy:

"A Fistful of Dollars"covering the 90' and early 00's.

"For a few Dollars more" aka The Strachan era.

"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" Karanka's promotion, Pulisball and then the Woodgate season.

Not to mention that we currently have the man with no name in charge next season...

And of course the recruitment team mustn’t be forgotten - so I give you Deadwood The Movie! 

 Or The Unforgiven

 

Of course the film that nobody has clearly seen is True Grit! 

 


   
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Boro’s record at Reading is quite good with 5 defeats, 6 draws and 5 wins, 2 of which have occurred in the last 2 seasons. In fact Boro have won the last 6 meetings between the 2 clubs.  However Boro’s record should be better than that as in August 2006 Reading, making their Premier League debut found themselves 0-2 down to Boro at the Madejski Stadium as Stewart Downing and Ayegbeni Yakubu scored in the first 20 minutes. However Dave Kitson and Steve Sidwell scored within 2 minutes of each other just before the interval, and Leroy Lita scored the winner for Reading 10 minutes into the second half in this televised match. 

This season though Reading have already lost 10 home matches and won only 7 times at home whilst Boro have won 5 times on their travels at West Brom, Preston, Charlton, Stoke and Millwall, and drawn 6 times so their away record although not great is almost on a par with Reading’s home record so a draw might be on the cards tomorrow. Will that be enough to save Boro this season, who knows, but Boro drew 0-0 at Huddersfield this season and Reading drew 0-0 at home to Huddersfield, in both cases the only goalless draw that Reading have been involved in at home and that Boro have been involve with away this season so maybe tomorrow’s match will also end goalless.


   
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If we stay in the Championship I see an away trip to Wycombe on the cards now and if we go by Redcar Red’s theory it will on a Tuesday or Wednesday night.

 Come on BORO.

 

 


   
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Powmill-Naemore
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A quick hello, sorry I've been away and not had any time to even follow the conversation in here, let alone what is happening with the Boro. We have just moved house after a mammoth renovation project. To be honest, still some renovating to finish, but at least we can live here now.

But with everything going on here, I have not been able to do much more than catch the scores... and sometimes i wish i hadn't even done that!!

So as for tomorrow evening, i really have no idea what to expect. Lets hope for some typically untypical Boro and an unexpected 3 point bonus....


   
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Selwynoz
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Frankly, I think that we have more chance of getting points from the two away games than we have from getting anything at home to Cardiff. Something about playing at an empty Riverside seems to have really spooked the team.

I hope that this turns out like the Millwall game. I wasn't able to watch that because of a sudden health issue and we managed a win. I then stayed up to watch the Bristol City game and it was about as sad as one could imagine. The whole game turned around Fry missing a sitter from the six yard line. From then it was doomed. Kick off tonight comes at 3.00am Sydney time and so I'll be giving it a miss and hoping for good news when I wake up.

We have to make it a really uncomfortable game for Reading. I don't to say 'kick anything that moves' but I'd expect us to be pressing like mad and fighting for every scrap of territory. Playing that type of game presumably demands a back three of Fry, Shotton and Friend and then build forward from there. 

 

UTB


   
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I think if we are to go with a pressing, high energy game then the Players with the mindset to do that are those playing to stay in the Championship. I think anyone not contracted beyond this season will not be inclined to run themselves into the ground. Obviously there will be a few exceptions who will be professional regardless but if we need the extra mile I think its more likely to come from Tav, Wing, Coulson etc.


   
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I have absolutely no idea what will happen today! What team NW will select, what formation or what Boro will turn up. All I can guarantee is that there won’t be a crowd!

Agree with RR that if we are to play a high pressing game, then only the committed should play and if I were NW I would be looking each player in the eye and asking them how committed they are to the club.

At this juncture, we do not want players who are half hearted and are looking at their next move. What we want is 100% commitment.

I am going to predict a 1 1 draw and then hope that all the results go in our favour.

 

UTB


   
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This film could be linked with Boro over the last few years. 'One Flew over the Cuckoo's nest'

Tonight, very difficult to forecast but I will go for a .........eh eh....a 1-Nil win for Boro.


   
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Posted by: @powmillnaemore

A quick hello, sorry I've been away and not had any time to even follow the conversation in here, let alone what is happening with the Boro. We have just moved house after a mammoth renovation project. To be honest, still some renovating to finish, but at least we can live here now.

Hi to you too Powmill - there speaks a man after my own heart - nothing like a project or two to keep your mind off Boro's woes. btw hopefully the mammoth is now looking as good as new 😉


   
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