[Albion] Reading match report

The Albion team changes were intriguing – one obvious and essential - the return of King Beram Kayal in place of Steve Sidwell. The other unforced – James Wilson’s pace for Tomer Hemed’s guile. Hemed could consider himself hugely unfortunate, having been in excellent form recently – indeed nominated for the Championship Player of the Month, for February. Chris Hughton would have explained the clear thinking though – the strengths and deficiencies of Reading’s centre back pairing of McShane and Ferdinand are writ large. Big and strong, but slow and cumbersome, and uncomfortable on the ball.

Hughton made exactly the same call last season, pairing Baldock with the out of favour Mackail-Smith, to terrorise a couple of lumbering Leeds stoppers. It worked to devastating effect that night, so clear logic to the selection.

The Reading team sheet was encouragingly positive – Hal Robson-Kanu and Ola John wide, in support of front pair Kermorgant and Vydra. I say encouraging, as to my thinking, we have performed better against sides willing to attack us, than those who set up to defend. Attacking – but nothing to fear. I’d watched the Reading cup game on TV Friday night, and my main conclusions were that Ali Al Habsi is in good form, that the hugely limited Michael Hector is absolutely not a midfielder, that Ola John’s full Holland cap must have been a prank or a betting scam, and that Hal Robson-Kanu is enormous. And angry.

And shit.

Click to expand...

BrianWade4 said:

Perfect report except Hector was, and is, shit

Click to expand...

clapham_gull said:

Unlike Sheebo I know f'all about football although I've watching it longer than him. If I didn't sit round people like him my major observation of the other night would be to the Reading kit man.

Don't mix your coloured washing with your whites.

What the hell were they wearing ?

Click to expand...

Exile said:

Wasn't great was it?

Not the worst though. Bolton's orange one was nasty and someone had a grim grey one last season?

Quite liked Birmingham's 'Belgium' job.

Click to expand...