Guest Darth Toon Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I think we'll definitely see the use of a target man up front - either Viduka or Smith - with the question being who misses out. Personally I would be tempted to stick with Oba for his pace on the break, but Owen is probably the more likely starter. Midfield I think will probably be the same, unless Milner starts for N'Zogbia - pretty sure Barton will have to make do with bench for at least one more game. Reassuring thing is that I've agreed with just about all of Sam's selections in recent games, so happy enough to trust his judgement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lamby1976 Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Is there any chance he may go for a 4-3-3 and play Martins and Owen off a target man (Smith or Viduka)?? It may be a bit to attack minded for BS however as long as Owen and Martins know they have a job to do when we dont have the ball this may work. As a target man is available to play against Reading I would be suprised if BS did not play with one especially away from home. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Cant drop Martins, he scores goals and you can tell he will be our top goalscorer once again lets hope he always plays him unless hes injured Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guinness Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I'd go with the same team again. Hopefully having played the same back four for two consecutive games we'll have a bit more solidity on the road. Reading are a decent side at home, but hopefully we'll go into this one full of confidence on the back of two home wins. If we want to be challenging for Europe we need to be winning matches like this. We were extremely poor at Derby and City, we need to up our game massively away from home and there's no better time to start than now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest teepee Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Same team, Smith takes Ameobi's place on the bench, Barton comes on earlier into the 2nd half something like this! viduka and smith on the bench - bring on viduka if the two small uns aren't working out. martins is essential away from home imo - his pace will be key this season! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussiemag Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Given Beye Faye Taylor Enrique geremi butt emre owen smith milner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
STM Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Can't see anyway in which Allardyce could drop Martins or Owen but think he would prefer a target man to play. So.... Given Beye Cacapa Faye Enrique Butt Emre Geremi N'Zogbia Owen Martins Subs: Harper Rozehnal Milner Barton Smith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Given Beye Faye Taylor Enrique geremi butt emre owen smith milner Dropping N'Zogbia and playing Owen wide? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 wots the situation with zog? Isn't he injured? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 wots the situation with zog? Isn't he injured? Don't think so. Came off at half-time for "tactical reasons" according to Setanta. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon55544 Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Can't see anyway in which Allardyce could drop Martins or Owen but think he would prefer a target man to play. So.... Given Beye Cacapa Faye Enrique Butt Emre Geremi N'Zogbia Owen Martins Subs: Harper Rozehnal Milner Barton Smith I must say that is a strong team and a very strong bench. We seem to have a good squad building up now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazza ladra Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Smith will start. Death and taxes... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sittingontheball Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Tricky tie. Reading's home form is decent, our away form is poor. Decent-ish - played 5, won 3 lost 2 goal difference of -1 Our away form - played 4, won 1, drawn 1, lost 2 goal difference of -1 Nailed on draw on form I'd say Reading have only scored five in five home games, so their wins can't have been convincing ones. Same team for me. Their defensive record is so poor that we should be positive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggio Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 That wanker Phil Dowd is the ref for this one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Good time to play them, i think we can keep a clean sheet with this one, and Martins & Owen could really hurt them on the counter. But we could see a Derby performance as well, so i'm not sure how this one is going to work out. A point would be good, a win would be mint, a loss wouldn't annoy me as much as it would usually at this stage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I can't comment too substantially as i didn't see the game last night, therefore have no firm idea of how the team actually worked. But, going purely off what i've read both here and elsewhere, the only positions subject to change is the striking department. The rest of the team: defense - solid, midfield - creative/balanced. I'll be livid if Smith walks straight back into the midfield. So, as i say, the only position that could possibly change is upfront. But i don't even think we should do that. It depends largely on how Reading form their defense. If they push up, as you'd expect them to do (they need a win and will feel they can get that at home), then we might aswell stick with Martins and Owen and hit them with pace and use the counter-attack. If they sit deep and try and contain us (which i can't see them doing as they know we're on good attacking form and they need to win), then we should bring Smith/Viduka on. Starting with Owen and Martins is probably the best option though, i feel. They're a weak side and we should be continuing our 'un-afraid' form. There's no need to go 4-3-3 and play for a draw. There's every chance we can play attacking football, yet still come away with a clean sheet aswell as a victory. Given Beye Faye Caçapa Enrique Geremi Butt Emre N'Zogbia Martins Owen Subs: Harper, Rozehnal, Barton, Milner, Smith 0-0. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toptoon Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I can't comment too substantially as i didn't see the game last night, therefore have no firm idea of how the team actually worked. But, going purely off what i've read both here and elsewhere, the only positions subject to change is the striking department. The rest of the team: defense - solid, midfield - creative/balanced. I'll be livid if Smith walks straight back into the midfield. So, as i say, the only position that could possibly change is upfront. But i don't even think we should do that. It depends largely on how Reading form their defense. If they push up, as you'd expect them to do (they need a win and will feel they can get that at home), then we might aswell stick with Martins and Owen and hit them with pace and use the counter-attack. If they sit deep and try and contain us (which i can't see them doing as they know we're on good attacking form and they need to win), then we should bring Smith/Viduka on. Starting with Owen and Martins is probably the best option though, i feel. They're a weak side and we should be continuing our 'un-afraid' form. There's no need to go 4-3-3 and play for a draw. There's every chance we can play attacking football, yet still come away with a clean sheet aswell as a victory. Given Beye Faye Caçapa Enrique Geremi Butt Emre N'Zogbia Martins Owen Subs: Harper, Rozehnal, Barton, Milner, Smith 0-0. Pretty much agree 100%. Tempted to start with Milner on the right this time or at least bring him and Barton on at some point. Need to carry this attacking momentum on and not do what we did at Derby i.e. invite them to attack us by playing too many defensive players. If Oba and Owen doesn't work this time then try Smith up top again as he was impressive v Everton. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Viduka if fit will start instead of Martins Big Sam would have seen little and large partnership for Blackburn work effectively Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hakka Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Think we will beat Reading. Hoping we see more of Barton. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skirge Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Would you try? -------------Given Bye--Cacapa---Roze---Enrique --------------Faye ----Barton-------------Emre -------------Martins -----Owen----------Viduka Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Would you try? -------------Given Bye--Cacapa---Roze---Enrique --------------Faye ----Barton-------------Emre -------------Martins -----Owen----------Viduka That's the kind of thing that I'd only be comfortable with us trying at home. Possibly the Portsmouth game? I don't think it's safe to test it out away from home. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 if we pick up 1 point i would be happy a draw will be better than reading last season then we must go into the pompey game with a win by christmas i think we will see roughly where we will finish Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toptoon Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Would you try? -------------Given Bye--Cacapa---Roze---Enrique --------------Faye ----Barton-------------Emre -------------Martins -----Owen----------Viduka No. i don't think that will suit Owen and Viduka + vidukas lack of mobilitly against good defenders worries me. Nothing/not enough down the flanks imo + Cacapa and Faye are forming a very impressive partnership i'd like to see that continue. No Zoggy or Milner means we are not going to stretch teams enough imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredbob Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 In my opinion, Barton will start if he's match fit, SA will want a bit if bite in midfield away from home and Barton will provide that. cant really decide what formation he'll play. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Snrub Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 if we pick up 1 point i would be happy a draw will be better than reading last season I don't see how anyone could go into a game against Reading thinking a draw would be a good result. These are definite must win games if we want to finish top 6. I for one won't be happy with anything other than 3 points. We have a far better squad and a farrrr better manager than we did last season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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