Marching On Together

Another tough encounter against Jaap Stam's high-flying Reading team

Difficult to know which team Monk will start with as Phillips is suspended, Jansson possibly injured, O'Kane is struggling with his injury, Hernandez seems nowhere near returning & Bridcutt has barely had a few training sessions.
Looking likely Grimes will start his first championship outing since the first day of the season v QPR alongside Vieira. So if this is the case our starting eleven could look like :

Green, Ayling Bartley, Cooper, Taylor, Vieira, Grimes, Sacko Roofe, Doukara, Wood

I would like to see Berardi & Green gradually drafted into the first X1 as I do rate Berardi above Ayling as a defender & Silvestri will make more saves than Green.
Always difficult to make wholesale changes in this competitive league especially bearing in mind we have so many players injured & Monk doesn't want to lose the rhythm, consistency & spirit he has created over the last five months

As with previous defeats, the important thing now is how the team bounces back.

Think we'll nick it by the odd goal

Reality is that we are in the top six and got there with some of our better players missing or playing with niggles. The futures bright if Monk stays and gets the support he needs.

Monk today
"We are expecting everyone to be available barring Eunan O'Kane and Pablo Hernandez, along with Kalvin Phillips"
"Liam Bridcutt is fit, whether he is ready to play a game is something I need to decide"

Grand opportunity for Dave or Murphy to get some time. Don't think Grimes is ready for prime Leeds time.

So the team could be :

Green

Ayling Bartley Jansson Taylor

Bridcutt Vieira

Sacko Roofe Doukara

Wood

Difficult decision with Bridcutt. If Injuries and suspensions were not hurting us so much in midfield, you would ordinarily put him on the bench for this and Brentford games to ease him back in after such a long absence. However I really would not want to start with Grimes with Viera against what is a very good Reading team so I think Liam will have to start.

Following on from what Dan said, I'd put Murphy in alongside Vieira. I know he's been out of the frame, but he can play there and he can also pick a pass. Vieira and Grimes together is asking for trouble.

Get in you beauty !!!! One up !!!

What a first half !

Bad news about Wood though.

Superb win.......sounded on radio like a great game and atmosphere....well done lads !!!

And on the day i celebrate 4 years Cancer Free


MOT

YESSS 2-0 Well done lads

Ronan wrote:Superb win.......sounded on radio like a great game and atmosphere....well done lads !!!

And on the day i celebrate 4 years Cancer Free


MOT

Congratulations, Ronan!

Great result and delighted for Garry Monk.
And well done Ronan and keep positive mate.

Ronan wrote:Superb win.......sounded on radio like a great game and atmosphere....well done lads !!!

And on the day i celebrate 4 years Cancer Free


MOT

You deserve a couple to celebrate Ronan.

Excellent result, especially as we are getting short on first team players, hopefully the Roofe and Wood injuries aren't serious.

Ronan wrote:Superb win.......sounded on radio like a great game and atmosphere....well done lads !!!

And on the day i celebrate 4 years Cancer Free


MOT

Congratulations Ronan

Ronan wrote:

Superb win.......sounded on radio like a great game and atmosphere....well done lads !!!

And on the day i celebrate 4 years Cancer Free


MOT

I'm so happy for you on a personal basis Ronan - defiitely worth celebrating.

It was a good win too. I keep having the heeby jeebies over our shortage of fit first teamers. It beats me how we've done as well as we have - we've really been under the cosh.

As we beat Reading there’s now only 5 points separating 3rd from 10th – if Derby win tomorrow they’ll be in 5th, pushing us to 6th. Another match Saturday. Brentford have had a bad spell but won tonight. We’re good enough to beat them but how many more injuries are we going to get – Wood and Roofe now. We’re stretched thinner than gauze.

I read a report that said Reading played keep ball in their own half for a good part of the game – all I know is we won with 23% possession. Bizarre.

Norm wrote:As we beat Reading there’s now only 5 points separating 3rd from 10th – if Derby win tomorrow they’ll be in 5th, pushing us to 6th. Another match Saturday. Brentford have had a bad spell but won tonight. We’re good enough to beat them but how many more injuries are we going to get – Wood and Roofe now. We’re stretched thinner than gauze.

I read a report that said Reading played keep ball in their own half for a good part of the game – all I know is we won with 23% possession. Bizarre.

So bizarre Norm I even started a seperate topic on their inane tactics

We even win this game with Mowatt & Grimes on the pitch

Report up later.....

Ronan wrote:Superb win.......sounded on radio like a great game and atmosphere....well done lads !!!

And on the day i celebrate 4 years Cancer Free


MOT

So pleased for you Ronan. Stay well my friend.