FT: CARDIFF CITY 0 - 1 READING. Match thread

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Originally Posted by binman

We've hardly had possession in the opposition half in the last 3 games to win any dangerous set pieces

Our tactics appear to be our keeper kicking it out wide to either full back (who are both centre halves) to head on in the hope of the winger Giles picking the ball up.
It's percentage football at best
It's easily counteracted by leaving a striker on our keeper as he attempts to kick the ball as it will inevitably lead to him kicking it straight out. Our hope is that you foul our 'full backs' by trying to header the ball. We can then attempt to launch the ball to our centre forward
However our centre forward will probably be on the bench anyway
I do worry for Swift though as he may get knackered with the amount of space Vaulks will leave him
If you have anybody who runs around a lot the trick is wait for Pack to get the ball. Hes the one who actually attempts to pass the ball. Unfortunately it takes him approximately 15 seconds to get this pass off. By which time an asthmatic 50 year old with a limp will have caught up with him.

Alternatively let our defender Nelson have the ball. He'll create something for you

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Ha ha perfectly summed up

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Originally Posted by Former Labour leader

I think McGuinness will start, as will Ralls and Moore. Will MM revert to 442? Wish he would, but I doubt it.

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I don't think we have the correct players for the formation. It means players out of position.

Even with the players 442 wouldnt be the answer. With this squad wed be relegated.

Cant believe anyone even suggests it.

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Originally Posted by Rhiwbina Blues

For me go 4.4.2

.......... ..smithes
Ng Mcquiness flint bagan
Sang, vaulks, pack, giles
.......moore......collins

Not sure if Ralls is fit to start morrison deffo isnt. Nelson also seems to be struggling although that might just down to MM tactics.

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0 - 6.

I've endured the dross of the last few (many?) matches, but my son isn't too well; he normally drives me to the game.
So...
Do I want the hasle of getting two busses each way, sitting on my own like billy-no-mates for two hours in the forecast wind and deluge-leevl rain, or do I stay at home, nice and cosy?

Well, I've got to ook after my bones at my age, so I'll be following the game from home

I therefore predict a massive turnround, City to win an enthralling game of free-flowing football, just to spite me.

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Originally Posted by Hilts

Even with the players 442 wouldnt be the answer. With this squad wed be relegated.

Cant believe anyone even suggests it.

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By playing 442, or 451, MM can get an extra body in midfield. Many of our problems stem from midfield. You can also have full backs who are full backs, not doing a role that is unsuited to them in a 532

Smithies
Ng McGuinness Flint Bagan
Ralls Pack Vaulks Giles Harris
Moore

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Originally Posted by Former Labour leader

By playing 442, or 451, MM can get an extra body in midfield. Many of our problems stem from midfield. You can also have full backs who are full backs, not doing a role that is unsuited to them in a 532

Smithies
Ng McGuinness Flint Bagan
Ralls Pack Vaulks Giles Harris
Moore

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Ive had enough of centre halves but id rather anyone of them in there than have Vaulks as an extra body.

I also want to go into what is going to be a relegation battle with Morrison.

Agree with the full backs.

Morrison for Vaulks isnt far from what id pick from your 11.

If Pack & Vaulks start together as a midfield 2 we'll lose.

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Originally Posted by Hilts

Ive had enough of centre halves but id rather anyone of them in there than have Vaulks as an extra body.

I also want to go into what is going to be a relegation battle with Morrison.

Agree with the full backs.

Morrison for Vaulks isnt far from what id pick from your 11.

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I’ve seen snatches of Reading on tv. They are Not a great team, though better than us at the moment. Quite impressed with Hoilett, a player we miss, lost his pace, but neat and tidy and can find an opening.
We have to be more positive, that goes without saying, I don’t think it would take a great deal for us to beat them. They will be vulnerable at the back, if we can get decent service to Moore.
Morrison has been City’s most important player for a number of seasons, but he has been hopeless this season. Perhaps injuries have caught up with him. McGuinness must start, if it means leaving Morrison out, so be it, but I tend to agree that Morrie will start at Vaulks expense in a 532.

Being honest I think us getting well beaten here would be the best thing to happen for the long run...

We appear to have picked up yet more injuries with Halilovic and Tetek both injured. We could have half our first squad out. It is beyond belief.

Forgot we could have Hoilett against one of our new centre half/wing back hybrids.

Dear oh dear.

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Originally Posted by blue lewj

Forgot we could have Hoilett against one of our new centre half/wing back hybrids.

Dear oh dear.

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That’s if Hoilett is fit. This is the worst injury crisis I have known at Reading in the best part of 50 years supporting the club.

We're going to get a soaking....

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

I'm having a tenner on Swift to score first

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Add to that bet Cardiff failing to score in 1st half

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Originally Posted by Pearcey3

That’s if Hoilett is fit. This is the worst injury crisis I have known at Reading in the best part of 50 years supporting the club.

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Will you stop trying to inject false hope into us? It’s not working.

Could be quite an occasion today. Mick's last game? Or the first game of Mick's miraculous turn around.

It's pouring rain, we could be going into our next game in two weeks (Swansea away) on a five game losing run

Mick's team line up will be interesting, will the players turn up for him?

Match facts

• In all competitions, Cardiff are winless in 11 games against Reading (D7 L4) since a 2-0 home win in November 2015 in the Championship.
• Reading are looking to win consecutive away league matches against Cardiff for the first time since October 1988.
• Cardiff have lost their last four league games, as many as they had in their previous 28 in the Championship.
• Despite beating Fulham 2-1 in September, only Peterborough (0) have earned fewer points away from home in the Championship this season than Reading (3).
• Half of Cardiff’s 18 league goals conceded this season have come in their last two games, losing 5-1 at Blackburn and 4-0 at home to West Brom.

Attachment 4586

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Originally Posted by Freitag 4.17

Being honest I think us getting well beaten here would be the best thing to happen for the long run...

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Hate to say it, but I feel the same way.

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Originally Posted by Dave Blue

Will you stop trying to inject false hope into us? It’s not working.

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Totally pissed off with it. Don’t forget we are going to be getting a points deduction so our current position isn’t safe. We actually have a very good squad and that is what is so frustrating.

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Originally Posted by bobh

I've endured the dross of the last few (many?) matches, but my son isn't too well; he normally drives me to the game.
So...
Do I want the hasle of getting two busses each way, sitting on my own like billy-no-mates for two hours in the forecast wind and deluge-leevl rain, or do I stay at home, nice and cosy?

Well, I've got to ook after my bones at my age, so I'll be following the game from home

I therefore predict a massive turnround, City to win an enthralling game of free-flowing football, just to spite me.

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Only one bus for me but I'll be sitting in the rain on my own. I hope you are right about the massive turn around but I doubt it.

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Originally Posted by Pearcey3

That’s if Hoilett is fit. This is the worst injury crisis I have known at Reading in the best part of 50 years supporting the club.

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You will still win so chin up

Yet another defensive minded line up by Mick

Only four centre-backs in the team today!

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Originally Posted by PontBlue

Yet another defensive minded line up by Mick

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I'm not sure we have an attacking one in us. Better than last week anyway

McGuiness looks like a really good centre back, so of course, pick him at full back.

Moore is back for us. Laurent will continue as emergency centre back with Dann on the bench with Rafael and the rest are young Academy boys

Missing

Joao
Meite
Azeez
Halilovic
Tetek
Holmes
McIntyre
Morrison
Araruna
Rinomhota

It’s a decent starting line up but with no options at all off the bench

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Originally Posted by LeningradCowboy

Only four centre-backs in the team today!

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Mick is learning his lesson, fair play to the man.

Cardiff City XI: Smithies; McGuinness, Flint, Nelson, Brown; Bowen, Ralls, Pack; Bacuna, Moore, Giles.

Subs: Phillips, Ng, Bagan, Vaulks, Colwill, Harris, Collins.

Reading XI: Southwood; Yiadom, Moore, Laurent, Rahman; Dele-Bashiru, Drinkwater, Hoilett, Swift, Ejaria; Puscas.

Subs: Rafael, Dann, Stickland, Bristow, Osorio, Clarke, Ehibhatiomhan.

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Originally Posted by jon1959

Cardiff City XI: Smithies; McGuinness, Flint, Nelson, Brown; Bowen, Ralls, Pack; Bacuna, Moore, Giles.

Subs: Phillips, Ng, Bagan, Vaulks, Colwill, Harris, Collins.

Reading XI: Southwood; Yiadom, Moore, Laurent, Rahman; Dele-Bashiru, Drinkwater, Hoilett, Swift, Ejaria; Puscas.

Subs: Rafael, Dann, Stickland, Bristow, Osorio, Clarke, Ehibhatiomhan.

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can't work out the formation at all

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Originally Posted by Rjk

can't work out the formation at all

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Bacuna rwb, brown lwb probably.

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Originally Posted by Trigger

Bacuna rwb, brown lwb probably.

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Mcguinesss and Bowen wing backs. Flint Nelson and brown CB

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Originally Posted by Pearcey3

Not really because your strengths will be at set pieces which is where we are poor.

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We're really not ÷that strong at set-pieces. We just have a couple of really tall blokes in the team.

Attachment 4587

could be this I guess

A relatively balanced team.

Is Morrison injured? When I saw the team, I assumed he'd been dropped. But he's not even on the bench. Maybe MM is trying to spare him the embarrassment.

Looks a better team to me.
Come on City!

Any streams, game not being broadcasted on ifollow?

Commentator saying Hoilett got booed as he was in possession.

Yes you fool, nothing to do with drowning out the Reading chant.. Wonder what that could have been

Why would the crowd boo Junior? He did well for us. Lame.