The team for Reading will be interesting - it could look like this:

Hladký
Sonne/ Worrall/ Egan/ Pires
Agyei/ Laurent (capt)/ Massengo/ Koleosho
Foster/ Rodriguez

Bench to include:
Barnes/ Ekdal/ Hountondji

They don't all need a rest. Flemming, for example, has started 11 games this season and (so far as I know) doesn't go away at international breaks. He can't be tired.

Isn’t Laurent suspended?

They don’t all need a rest agreed, but it might be more a case of avoiding unnecessary injuries and/or risking any potential transfer exits.

Murger wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2025 4:47 pm

Isn’t Laurent suspended?

Has he got 10 bookings?

Suspect Hountondji may have gone out on loan by then.

I’d go for

Hladky
Sonne Worrall Egan Pires
Massengo Laurent
Flemming
McDermott Foster
Jay

Some players need some game time. Others need a rest. Big schedule coming up. Part of me wants to see a stronger team hit a load of goals though to boost that attacking confidence .

Row x wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2025 4:52 pm

Has he got 10 bookings?

Thought it said misses next game n Sky?

A rest?

They should try doing 12 hours shifts in a slipper mill.

Murger wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2025 5:00 pm

Thought it said misses next game n Sky?

Don't know, but I thought cut off point was mid December

We want to make sure of the win. A defeat to a League One side won't help.

For me I'd have a mixture. Any tweaks at all, anybody 'leggy' etc, can be benched / rest. Always want to see a strong bench just in case.

Definitely time to get some rest for a few, but importantly some clear time together on the training pitch to work on attacking play.

Hope we don't go overboard with the changes, we saw often enough with Dyche it just ends up a disjointed mess. Perfect chance to try Flemming behind Foster or Barnes. Worrall, Egan and Kolesheo probably all need a game.

We might want put one or two in the shop window.

Bump

Murger wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2025 4:47 pm

Isn’t Laurent suspended?

Only has 4 yellows according to transfermarkt.com
Plus championship yellow card suspensions don't affect FA Cup, only the competition they are acquired in

Murger wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2025 4:47 pm

Isn’t Laurent suspended?

No - Hannibal is

Roosterbooster wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 05, 2025 1:29 pm

Only has 4 yellows according to transfermarkt.com
Plus championship yellow card suspensions don't affect FA Cup, only the competition they are acquired in

Laurent has five but we are way past the five yellow cut off which, as you say, doesn’t affect cup ties.

He’s got two yellow cards for us against Watford and yesterday but had three in three league appearances for Stoke at the start of the season.

Start with the strongest team, go 3 up, then bring on the subs

Start with the strongest team, go 3 up, then bring on the subs

Hladkey
Sonne worral ekdal Egan pires
Massengo laurant
Sarmiento foster koleosho

Get Tresor in the shop window

jos wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 05, 2025 4:04 pm

Get Tresor in the shop window

He'd love to get his boots on but unfortunately he's just developed piles and bed sores. What are the chances.

He'll be in to collect his dole on Tuesday though before something else pops up.

Our lads put a real shift in but out of them all the one who I think has struggled in the last 3 has been Laurent, I don't think we should see any of the regulars tbh at Reading.

It’s great that we have a full team of “fringe” players that should see off Reading.
This gives us a very, very good break to fully prepare for a vital home game against an impressive Sunderland, who meanwhile will have to get past a stubborn Stoke side to progress in the FA Cup.

As some have already alluded to I would be having a mix - no real need to rest everyone and would be a good chance to bring some players back into the mix who have been on the fringes recently.

Be good to see Sonne, too.

helmclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2025 5:01 pm

A rest?

They should try doing 12 hours shifts in a slipper mill.

Interesting (to me, anyway) you mention the slipper mill. The reason I support Burnley is because my partner's dad (Tom) is a lifelong claret and I started going to games with him. He's in his 70's now so doesn't get to Turf as often as he used to. He met his wife, and mum of my partner (Christine), where they both worked at a slipper mill.

helmclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2025 5:01 pm

A rest?

They should try doing 12 hours shifts in a slipper mill.

Slipper Mill oh I wish .Me and my dad worked 30 hrs days downt pit ,only every had Christmas Day off every 5 years and were paid twupence a month ,thas never had se gud.

Is it just me, or is this Reading game the most insignificant we've had for years?

I forgot we were playing them til I saw the thread, I just assumed it was another break week..

Looks like a few days off have been granted. Roberts has just posted on Instagram a picture in Dubai.

Saturday’s low-key FA cup fixture against lower league opposition came as a huge bonus for Scott Parker.

Apart from giving his entire first team 2 weeks rest and preparation time for the important game against Sunderland, it enabled him to give game time to most fringe players/ to introduce new signing Sonne/ to debut two promising youngsters/ to unveil the returning Basher Barnes/ to showcase the class of a fully fit Ekdal/ and above all to resurrect the career of Magic Mike.

At last Lady Luck may have returned to Turf Moor.

Stonehouse wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 06, 2025 10:24 am

Slipper Mill oh I wish .Me and my dad worked 30 hrs days downt pit ,only every had Christmas Day off every 5 years and were paid twupence a month ,thas never had se gud.

Lukshury

When we often have a 'rest' we seem to have more injuries than we started with.

Walking footy is a bit like that too.

IWOODLOVETT wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 13, 2025 5:36 pm

Walking footy is a bit like that too.

I've just returned from a session of WF,my back is killing me

I knew all those Cruyff turns would catch up with you.