Changes -  erahon for sheehan,  half time tea lady for randall and derek Scott for cogley.

We,ll piss it,  I,m going 3-1 victory.

4 hours ago, desperado said:

The problem being, the two times he’s gone into that number 9 forward role this season, he’s looked completely ineffective.

FWIW I still think there’s a player there behind the forward.

We definitely need another replacement for Burstow that doesn’t include Mcatee having to do it.

 

I know its just a turn of phrase, but I do think it there's a tendency for us to make everything black and white.  He wasn't a 1 out of 10 in any game, and Burstow wasn't a 9 out of 10 in any game.  Much lower than that at Barnsley and Stockport IMO (but very good v Plymouth). 

So arguably the drop in quality isn't massive, they bring different styles to the table but yes we do lose physicality.  We'd be replacing a L1 forward with another, for maybe 20 minutes, and with no reduction in goalscoring potential.

Edited August 19, 2025Aug 19 by Johnnyrotten

4 hours ago, Ani said:

Think the 9 and 10 roles are tough. There is a real need to be closing their defence down when out of possession as well as being a factor when attacking. 
 

Strangely we had a centre forward that could do this last season but sold him. Not arguing to bring Dion back but he really did work hard. 

He worked hard but he can't hold the ball up. He's too little. Totally different system now with one up top. The one has to at a bare minimum be able to deal with long balls, and hold it up. Not dion's game.

Edited August 19, 2025Aug 19 by Arrested development

7 hours ago, masi 51 said:

Dalby back in full training for over a week.........Taylor since Friday

Can see Dalby getting last 20/30 both games to ease Burstow workload......Taylor again could get the last 15 depending how the game lies

Two more out of the squad  to sit with Schon and Gomes

No way no pre season and 1 weeks training and you see dalby playing 40/60 minutes for the first team in 4 days 🤦‍♂️

. he might play some part in the B team Wednesday against preston at best 

29 minutes ago, Farnywhite said:

he might play some part in the B team Wednesday against preston at best 

I think SS did say he and Taylor were likely to turn out for the B team this week

32 minutes ago, Farnywhite said:

No way no pre season and 1 weeks training and you see dalby playing 40/60 minutes for the first team in 4 days 🤦‍♂️

. he might play some part in the B team Wednesday against preston at best 

Seems they have a B team game tomorrow may get mins there.....Dont see any harm giving him 15 mins

Schumacher has said he has looked sharp in training

He has been out for about a month not a year with a hamstring injury 

Maybe you might be right and they give Mcatee the last 30 up front instead

30 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I think SS did say he and Taylor were likely to turn out for the B team this week

Taylor definitely. Dalby possibly.

Dont think injury is going to be the issue this year many still believe it is. Even amongst the players people still see as sick notes. 

We need to smash these and get our season on track 

Live down here. Up early in t'morning.

36 minutes ago, Big E said:

We need to smash these and get our season on track 

We do mate, although I’d be happy with any win and I don’t give a monkey’s how we get it. Just need to start churning out victories and piling up the points. We are a good watch with stylish players but that means nowt in the scheme of things. 

3-0 win takes us above Stockport. Thatll do .

I fancy us tonight. As long as we can keep within touching distance of the top 6 clubs for the next few fixtures, once Dalby, Taylor and Erhahon is fully up to speed, I think we'll be a much better team, those 3 players were pretty much our main signings this season.

Can see quite a bit of rotation tonight with a game on Saturday. I'm predicting:

TSL

Cogley, Total, Forino, Conway

Erhahon, Morley

Cozier Duberry, McAtee, Cissoko

Burstow

And a 3 nil win!

Hopefully a good fast start will get the crowd into it tonight, with it being school hols, on the telly and them probably bring a couple of hundred it might be a bit sparse looking and quiet. Couple of good runs and hits from the wingers will get things going. 

Edited August 20, 2025Aug 20 by ianofcleveleys

Our biggest problem tonight will be underestimating the opposition. For me Reading are in a false position and are not to be taken lightly, including by an expectant crowd. We still haven’t solved the problems of conceding and not scoring so until we do every game will be a challenge and probably low scoring. I’d love a win but I’m not over confident we’ll get it.

2-0 Burstow, Duberry

19,593

Come On You Whites!!!

14 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

Our biggest problem tonight will be underestimating the opposition. For me Reading are in a false position and are not to be taken lightly, including by an expectant crowd. We still haven’t solved the problems of conceding and not scoring so until we do every game will be a challenge and probably low scoring. I’d love a win but I’m not over confident we’ll get it.

Work to at both ends, but with only 3 games gone, and decent teams played, there is plenty to be positive about.

Still in the cup half full zone.

A couple of poor performances and results may loosen that view somewhat!

 

Must win game tonight. It will put extra pressure on Saturday if we don't. Already the bigger clubs are gathering in the top places. We need to close the gap.

1 hour ago, Whitesince63 said:

Our biggest problem tonight will be underestimating the opposition. For me Reading are in a false position and are not to be taken lightly, including by an expectant crowd. We still haven’t solved the problems of conceding and not scoring so until we do every game will be a challenge and probably low scoring. I’d love a win but I’m not over confident we’ll get it.

Underestimating the opposition seems to be a perennial problem for us and for managers who rotate a lot in general. I think that statement is hard to justify seeing as they presumably analyse the opposition in detail and then pick the best players and system to protect us and exploit weaknesses - but if that was truly the case you’d expect less rotation as certain players will always be the best equipped to exploit particular weaknesses e.g ACD always seems the best option wide right or Simons in the middle so I think that rotation is a compromise to some extent. And then there are occasionally attitude issues with some, McAtee coming across as particularly up himself and petulant. However we need a win and I would expect every player tonight to be 100% focused and up for it because we know damn well Reading will be as they need a win even more than us.

First goal and full concentration is vital as we do not want to be chasing this game.

 

Wonder if we might see a cheeky system change...

6 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Wonder if we might see a cheeky system change...

I don’t see any reason to do that really as we’ve effectively played well in all our games but yet again failed to score from the many chances we’ve created and conceded goals we shouldn’t have. If we weren’t creating chances I’d maybe agree but we’re just not putting them away as we should then letting ourselves down at the back with mistakes. Let’s hope that changes tonight because it certainly needs to?

always enjoy the midweek games, breaks the week up nicely 

1-1

10 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Wonder if we might see a cheeky system change...

As long as it's not the return of Evatt's 523

12 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Wonder if we might see a cheeky system change...

Turnstiles 1&3 instead of 2&4? 

4 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

I don’t see any reason to do that really as we’ve effectively played well in all our games but yet again failed to score from the many chances we’ve created and conceded goals we shouldn’t have. If we weren’t creating chances I’d maybe agree but we’re just not putting them away as we should then letting ourselves down at the back with mistakes. Let’s hope that changes tonight because it certainly needs to?

so, is our biggest issue underestimating the opposition or is it missing chances

seeing as youve chucked two biggest issues in already today