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With the automatic promotion places already sorted and maybe the relegation places this Saturday our game at Reading could well be another pick for Sky.

With the other one quite possibly being Forest v Brighton

Well we are on again

Didn't take much deducting I suppose

Pretty clear where sky's priority is after picking those 2 games.

I was actually hoping that Birmingham would get a result against Wigan which probably would have meant that btards v Wigan would have likely been a pick.

Just to gloat like

Quote:

fulledgelad
I was actually hoping that Birmingham would get a result against Wigan which probably would have meant that btards v Wigan would have likely been a pick.
Just to gloat like

Pointless game tho given the goal difference otherwise I'd have to agree

Rovers have to go for goals, which could leave them wide open at the back, a field day for Wigan. Or does football not work like that ?

BC
Prediction League Champion 2006/7
Fantasy League Winner 2007/8

Sports Mole


Preview: Reading vs. Burnley

Reading go into Saturday's Championship meeting with Burnley knowing that a win would be enough to secure the final playoff place on the last day of the season. The Royals currently occupy the coveted sixth place in the Championship table, with one point separating them from seventh-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Seagulls take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but Reading would make the result at the City Ground irrelevant if they can claim all three points against the already-promoted Clarets. However, due to goal difference being level between Reading and Brighton, the Royals also know that if they fail to at least match the Seagulls' result then they would miss out on the playoffs in agonising fashion.

There is no doubting the importance of this weekend's match, then, and Nigel Adkins will be pleased that his side seem to have found a bit of form at the perfect time for a final push.

Following a spell of just one win in six that fortuitously fell at the same time as those around them were also slipping up, Reading have recorded back-to-back victories for the first time since January/February to put themselves in the driving seat. They have, however, only won once in their last eight home matches, and it will be a concern that they have fared better on the road than they have at the Madejski this season. That factor may be valuable in the playoffs themselves, but it has certainly hampered their attempts to get there. Adkins is still without Jem Karacan and Danny Guthrie due to injury, but Danny Williams could return to the side having missed last weekend's win over Doncaster Rovers.

Burnley, meanwhile. could be forgiven for having one eye already on next season having secured a place in the top flight over the Easter period. They can no longer finish any higher or lower than second place, but manager Sean Dyche will still be keen to end what has been a hugely successful campaign with a fourth consecutive victory. The Clarets have kept clean sheets in their last three outings and only conceded once in their last five to help towards the best defensive record in the league this season.

Ominously for a Reading side that needs a win to guarantee playoff football, Burnley have also been the toughest team to beat in the current campaign, losing just five times.
The Lancashire outfit have not been beaten away from home in the league since Boxing Day, a fine run of 11 matches that includes six victories. Only leaders Leicester City have amassed more points on the road this season, with Burnley picking up 41 of their 92 points on their travels.

Dyche may opt to field some fringe players throughout the match ahead of what is sure to be a busy summer, but Sam Vokes is definitely out with knee ligament damage.

Recent form

Reading: WLDLWW

Burnley: DWLWWW

Possible starting lineups

Reading: McCarthy; Gunter, Pearce, Morrison, Obita; Akpan, McAnuff, Williams; Le Fondre, McCleary; Pogrebnyak

Burnley: Heaton; Trippier, Shackell, Duff, Mee; Jones, Arfield; Kightly, Ings, Marney; Barnes

Sports Mole says: 1-1

Royals Rendezvous - a specialist and friendly Reading FC forum ...

Another few quid in the coffers before the big money hits. Can't complain really. I might make it a back-to-back of the Reading game, followed by a re-run of the win at Ewood on Sky+ which I promised myself I wouldn't watch until we'd secured promotion.

One fact that seems to have been omitted from that preview CE,Is the fact that Burnley have only won 4 times in 21 games away to Reading.

I think the Reading fans are well aware of it FL, not that it'll make any difference, Sean Dyche wasn't manager for those 21 games.

BC
Prediction League Champion 2006/7
Fantasy League Winner 2007/8

Terrible records at Leeds, Ipswich and Bolton previously but it doesn't seem to bother this team.

looking forward to this match just to see how Reading set their stall out..will they come out all guns blazing and let Burnley counter attack,or will they be very cautious and play a defensive game to make sure they get at least a point.. should be compelling viewing whatever happens.. I reckon it will be a very very close game ...I really cant see the clarets not getting at least one goal whatever the outcome..

They came out all guns blazing and more or less kept it up for 90 minutes in that play off 2ndleg but still lost 2-0.

Quote:

fulledgelad
They came out all guns blazing and more or less kept it up for 90 minutes in that play off 2ndleg but still lost 2-0.

but to be fair to us Royals, those were absolute wonder peaches of goals, not even Barca would have resisted those! I personally think Adkins won't risk too much, but our frustration this season has been we've got absolutely no idea which team is going to turn up - we can win 7-1 and 5-1 at home then get hammered by Barnsley 3-1 !!

Royals Rendezvous - a specialist and friendly Reading FC forum ...

Quote:

daib0

Quote:

fulledgelad
They came out all guns blazing and more or less kept it up for 90 minutes in that play off 2ndleg but still lost 2-0.

but to be fair to us Royals, those were absolute wonder peaches of goals, not even Barca would have resisted those! I personally think Adkins won't risk too much, but our frustration this season has been we've got absolutely no idea which team is going to turn up - we can win 7-1 and 5-1 at home then get hammered by Barnsley 3-1 !!

To be fair they were wonder goals, neither Pato or Thommo have scored any remotely as good since, in fact between them they haven't scored many of any sort since.

And the best of luck tomorrow, as you seem to be a thoroughly genuine football fan, I hope just for your sake that you make it into the play-offs, even at our expense. After all it won't really make any difference to us now, just niggle Sean a bit if we lose, but I'm sure he'd soon get over it.

BC
Prediction League Champion 2006/7
Fantasy League Winner 2007/8

Sorr y BC you need to ne more relentless in you attitude to tomorrow's game. I'll be watching it live and I don't want to end the season with a whimper, I just watched the Orient game highlights on Clarets Player and 2-1 will do nicely thanks.

Honestly past caring now soapy, I know Sean and the team will be relentlessly going for the 3 points, and it'll be nice to watch another win, but it won't be spoiling my weekend if Reading win, and besides it'll be the final nail in Blackburn's coffin.

BC
Prediction League Champion 2006/7
Fantasy League Winner 2007/8

Quote:

bordeauxclaret

Quote:

daib0

Quote:

fulledgelad
They came out all guns blazing and more or less kept it up for 90 minutes in that play off 2ndleg but still lost 2-0.

but to be fair to us Royals, those were absolute wonder peaches of goals, not even Barca would have resisted those! I personally think Adkins won't risk too much, but our frustration this season has been we've got absolutely no idea which team is going to turn up - we can win 7-1 and 5-1 at home then get hammered by Barnsley 3-1 !!

To be fair they were wonder goals, neither Pato or Thommo have scored any remotely as good since, in fact between them they haven't scored many of any sort since.

And the best of luck tomorrow, as you seem to be a thoroughly genuine football fan, I hope just for your sake that you make it into the play-offs, even at our expense. After all it won't really make any difference to us now, just niggle Sean a bit if we lose, but I'm sure he'd soon get over it.

Harsh on Thommo, he's scored plenty in the highly competitive Scottish League.

Corking game anyway.

Cracking game.. With a wonder goal from Reading,but it wasn't enough to get them into the play offs.. Still thought they had done enough with a draw though until The gaygulls scored a late winner against Florist..

bitter late pill for us Royals, but the table doesn't lie, especially after the last game of the season has finished. GOOD luck in the Premier, lads, anyway I'll look in occasionally if you can put up with me!

Royals Rendezvous - a specialist and friendly Reading FC forum ...

All the best daib0. Horrible way to lose out.

Cheers Daibo..I Just hope that neither QPR or Brighton dont get into the premiership,of the four it has to be Derby for me..

Very Disappointed to draw that. Their equaliser was a taste of the quality of volleys and speed of reaction we will be up against next year. I am sure SD will be looking to sharpen reactions in pre-season. Everything has to be faster - thought, reactions first touch, closing down etc etc. I watched the last half hour of the WHU v Spurs game and it was played at an entirely different pace.

Daib0 - hope you make it next year, Burnley missed out in the past on goal difference never mind by a point and it is sickening.

cheers lads, but don't worry for us, even 7th was better than many predicted at the start of the season. We'd have probably got slaughtered in the premier. Worries are rather more with the boardroom mess than the squad in the summer.

Have a few beers on me, and don't forget we've got the WC coming up !!

Royals Rendezvous - a specialist and friendly Reading FC forum ...

A decent game really and probably about the right result in the end.

Now to plan for next season. Just heard the end of Savage suggesting if we have a bad start to board might get rid of Dyche after 10 games! Jesus the fixture aren't even out yet and some already have us being so bad we knee jerk sack the manager. I can't imagine any circumstances under which the board or majority of fans will see sacking Dyche as an option - we are simply not that daft, he's a keeper and if he does stay a while he will build something special here!

"A truth’s initial commotion is directly proportional to how deeply the lie was believed. It wasn’t the world being round that agitated people, but that the world wasn’t flat. When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic."

"The ideal tyranny is that which is ignorantly self-administered by its victims. The most perfect slaves are, therefore, those which blissfully and unawaredly enslave themselves."

Savage in 'say something that the clubs fans in question will disagree with' shocker

Dyche won't be sacked 10 games in no matter what the results, and that's a fact.

I suppose this is something we'll have to live with now though, halfwits like Savage talking garbage on a subject about which they know jackshit.

BC
Prediction League Champion 2006/7
Fantasy League Winner 2007/8



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:05:04:15:28:07 by bordeauxclaret.

Savage just did the usual 6-0-6 hatchet job.

"10 games.... four points..... what if".

He knows nothing about, like the majority of the meejah.

If we keep this side together, especially the back four, we have nothing to fear next season. Some of the Prem defending is just dross.

Savage's comment was of a horrible bitter person and total ignorant arrogance.

SD has carte blanche to do as he wants in the prem for me, no expectations at all and thoroughly looking forward to the adventure.So glad we played the final game in the manner we did.None of this limp wristed sh*te that it doesn't matter, that would be an insult to Reading and co.

This astonishing side with a tweak or two plus this inspirational down to earth common sense manager will get a shock-the-football-world 7th place next season...

you heard it here first

I have to say Dave my 13th is looking a bit negative = maybe tenth! I am pretty confident about reaching a cup final though.

I'm such a pessimist but like many I don't care what happens. Dyche can lose every game and I wouldn't want him gone. Of course he won't and whilst we will still, arguably rightly, be relegation favourites I do think this manager is capable of doing something very special given the right support.

Only downside would be he'd almost definitely be gone the summer after - though not to a club only 10 years ahead of us, be one light years ahead

"A truth’s initial commotion is directly proportional to how deeply the lie was believed. It wasn’t the world being round that agitated people, but that the world wasn’t flat. When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic."

"The ideal tyranny is that which is ignorantly self-administered by its victims. The most perfect slaves are, therefore, those which blissfully and unawaredly enslave themselves."

What a strike for the equaliser.

Some @#$%& on CM thought Heaton should have done better.
Some times you just have to hold your hand up and admit it was a good strike.

Really enjoyed the moment Brighton got their winner and then the Reading lot ran on the pitch thinking it had ended in a draw..

Quote:

vinnicombe
What a strike for the equaliser.
Some @#$%& on CM thought Heaton should have done better.

No doubt one of the many @#$%& on there who were saying last summer that we'd dropped a bollock letting Grant go and signing Heaton.

BC
Prediction League Champion 2006/7
Fantasy League Winner 2007/8

Unstoppable goal, no 'keeper would have saved that. Perfectly hit, perfectly placed.

Don't know if anyone else noticed yesterday but we had three minutes added time at Reading, or we should have had. There were no substitutions, no goals, no injuries, no timewasting, no hold-ups of any sort, yet Referee Russell played on for 4 minutes, 20 seconds.

In the event it didn't matter, but it could have done, why were Reading allowed so much extra time to put Brighton out of the play-offs ? If these clowns can't even be trusted to time 3 minutes on a watch what can you trust them with ?

Fergie got loads of stick over "fergie time", but maybe he had a point.

BC
Prediction League Champion 2006/7
Fantasy League Winner 2007/8

Its time they started doing what rugby league do and stopping the clock,so everybody knows how long is left and its not left up to a dodgy referee..

Quote:

bordeauxclaret

Quote:

vinnicombe
What a strike for the equaliser.
Some @#$%& on CM thought Heaton should have done better.

No doubt one of the many @#$%& on there who were saying last summer that we'd dropped a bollock letting Grant go and signing Heaton.

Just looking at the thread and it was that quoon bloke so no real surprise. He was one who did a lot of @#$%& about Grant, McCann and Pato leaving if I remember rightly.

Quote:

vinnicombe

Quote:

bordeauxclaret

Quote:

vinnicombe
What a strike for the equaliser.
Some @#$%& on CM thought Heaton should have done better.

No doubt one of the many @#$%& on there who were saying last summer that we'd dropped a bollock letting Grant go and signing Heaton.

Just looking at the thread and it was that quoon bloke so no real surprise. He was one who did a lot of @#$%& about Grant, McCann and Pato leaving if I remember rightly.

His chuff chum Claretspice was also in tears about one of the best keepers in the division leaving and being replaced by a lesser one. He was also still criticising Heaton well into the season, he'd drawn his neck in and gone quiet by Xmas though. Right pair of belms them two.

BC
Prediction League Champion 2006/7
Fantasy League Winner 2007/8

"Belm"

Belmers.

Belmtards

"A truth’s initial commotion is directly proportional to how deeply the lie was believed. It wasn’t the world being round that agitated people, but that the world wasn’t flat. When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic."

"The ideal tyranny is that which is ignorantly self-administered by its victims. The most perfect slaves are, therefore, those which blissfully and unawaredly enslave themselves."