Reading have come off a good pre-season after a victory against Hull City last Saturday. Ruben Selles started a similar side to what I think he will use against Birmingham City and, overall, this team looks promising, to maybe cause a few problems to the Blues defence.
A big cash injection may come as this game has been chosen to be on Sky Sports.
Ahead of the match, here’s your pre-game preview.
What? League One, match day one
At the moment, Reading have a few players out injured.
With them all being full-backs, this is making it tricky to predict who is going to start against Birmingham.
The newly relegated side have been very active in the transfer market so far. The Blues have spent £14.12 million and are rumoured to spend even more.
Highlighted is who I think will be Birmingham’s most dangerous signing so far. Alfie May scored 23 goals in 43 appearances for a Charlton Athletic side who finished on the same points as Reading last season. An out-and-out goalscorer was what Brum were missing last season in their fight to survive and I feel May will provide that and more.
Games to keep an eye on
Naturally Joel Pereira will start in goal unless he gets injured. He played very well against Hull City and there is no doubt of him losing his position as the number one.
There is a debate on who is going to play right-back. Kelvin Abrefa might be back from injury, but with how Michael Craig has performed in that right-back spot over the past two games, I think Selles will keep him there. He was the star man in a victory against Championship opponents Hull City, starting the move that led to Reading’s first goal and was defensively solid throughout the match.
Olympic star Tyler Bindon was available for the Hull game but wasn’t involved as he earned a well-deserved rest from his time away with New Zealand. He will partner Amadou Mbengue in the heart of defence, forming the same, strong pairing that played in most of our games in the second half of last season.
Another debate is at left-back. Reading are very short of full-backs due to Injury but things look like they are once again on the up. Jeriel Dorsett looks to potentially be available for the opener, meaning Reading fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
The rest of the team should stay the same as they all played very well against Hull, providing good attacking threat and retaining the ball very nicely when they had it. If you missed it, this contains Lewis Wing, Ben Elliott, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, Harvey Knibbs, Femi Azeez and Sam Smith.
Tactically Selles will play a 4-3-3 (gegenpress). (I know, Football Manager nerd). To those who don’t understand the term gegenpress, it’s a pressing style of play, also known as pressing from the front. Ultimately the idea is to win the ball back as soon as it is lost as this is where the defenders are at their most vulnerable.
The key players in this system for Reading are Smith and Knibbs. In almost every game that Reading are on the back foot, you see these two press the opposition back line, trying to get them to make a mistake. This then leads into counter-attack football in which fast wingers such as Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan and Mamadi Camara allow us a great chance at goal.
I think this would be beneficial against Birmingham due to their lack of speed in defence.
Don’t forget to fill St Andrews, be loud and enjoy the first game of the season in style!
Come on you Royals!…Read more by The Tilehurst End Guest Writer
