We all know the premier league sides and their players and don’t need to much preseason to educate us fantasy premier league managers. However, lets be honest, the Championship is really for those Friday nights when the missus wants to watch Coronation St and anything is looking better on the 14 inch TV in the spare room. That’s not my girlfriend by the way, a good night in for her is Stoke v Fulham on the TV. Yes I’m very lucky.
Reading team stats
Anyway, to help everyone through the friendly season and in picking their opening game team here’s my low down on what I think will be the Reading line up. Unfortunately Reading aren’t really playing any challenging friendlies (I mean Didcot town and Salisbury City Come on!) which complicates the situation. It will therefore be difficult to assess what is the full line up. However, bearing in mind that they play twice in the first game week and as you will see had the best defensive record in the championship it is possible that we will all have, subject to price, a Reading defender in our team. This is slightly complicated by them only having the 15th best start fixture wise according to my rankings.
Before assessing individual players lets look at Reading in comparison to the other 2 promoted Clubs:
Goals scored
Tot H A
Reading 69 36 33
Southampton 85 49 36
West ham 81 41 40
So you an see that Reading weren’t exactly pulling up any trees in the attacking stakes. They had no one in the top 10 scorers. Clutching at straws attacking wise you have to look to Jobi McAnuff who was top 5th equal on assists and Jimmy Kebe equal 10th.
Defence was a different story though.overall they conceded less than any team in the Championship and only 1 team conceded less at home and 2 away. They also had the most clean sheets with a phenomenal total of 20.
Here’s the defence comparison
Tot GC H GC A GC CS
Reading 41 18 23 20
Southampton 46 18 28 18
West ham 48 26 22 15
So in Summary then fantastic in defence, not so much on attack. So its a good thing then that they have been taken over by a money bags Russian.
Here’s a few quotes from the Daily Mail about him
“Zingarevich – whose family is worth around £460million – revealed his company Thames Sports Investments are working on a summer shopping list of high-profile players.
‘We have been scouting for the past three weeks and already have a shortlist, so we’ll see what happens,’ Zingarevich told BBC Radio Berkshire. ‘We will definitely make some moves.’
Meanwhile, outgoing owner Madejski, who will remain club chairman, said: ‘When we got relegated from the Premier League, the ambition was to get back and we have achieved this now.
‘The Zingarevich family have deep pockets and can take the club further. I could not have done this. This is a golden era for Reading.’ ”
The lack of goals has started to be addressed by the purchases of Guthrie and Pogrebnyak.
Individual player stats
Anyway on to the individual players as I expect them to line up
GK
Federichi – 27 year old Australian international who played all 46 games last year. Sure to line up. Could be in a double up with another cheap keeper depending on price.
DEF
Pearce – 46 starts. 5 goals 2 assists 6 yellow cards.
Last years player of the season and fans favoutite who came through the clubs academy. Only 23, last year was his first full season. Strong in the air and scores goals. Reliant last year on Ian Hartes delivery who must be a questionable starter this year.
Gorkss – 42 starts. 3 goals no assists.
Unbelievably has now won the Championship for the 2nd year in a row.
Harte – 30 starts plus 2 as sub. 4 goals and 8 assists
Slow, old and can’t tackle. A total defensive liability but when you can take free kicks and deliver set pieces like he does, then from a fantasy premier league perspective, who cares? Unfortunately these slight defensive decencies may lead to some doubts over gametime. This will have a knock effect on goals scored from set pieces. Danny Guthries purchase also increases the doubts
Cummings – 32 starts plus 2 as sub. No goals or assists plus 2 yellow cards.
Right back signed from Chelsea two years ago, only 22
MID
Karacan – 36 starts plus 1 as sub. 3 goals 2 assists 5 yellow cards.
A defensive midfielder who will be replaced by Guthrie unless its Leigertwood who gets the chop.
Young energetic, likes to tackle. The engine of the midfield
Leigertwood – 41 starts. 5 goals 1 assist
The other prospect to be replaced by Guthrie. Another defensive midfielder.
McAnuff – 40 starts 5 goals 11 assists
Winger who is team captain. May come under pressure from Forest signing Mcleary. The assist king of the team
Kebe – 30 starts plus 3 as sub. 3 goals 10 assists
Exceptionally fast winger who will thrive on the break in the premier league.
Guthrie – Newcastle 13 starts plus 3 as sub 1 goal no assists
Injury hit last year with Newcastle before being released. Will bring greater attack to the side and maybe involved in set pieces.
FOR
N Hunt – 33 starts plus 8 as sub. 8 goals plus 7 assists
Has to be under threat for his position. Covers a lot of ground in games but poor goal return.
Pogrebnyak – Fulham 12 starts 6 goals no assists. An event every 158 minutes which is respectable
Had a very good goal scoring record for Fulham. My own view is that he overperformed for his base shooting stats. Price will be everything
