Reading vs West Ham United U21: EFL Trophy Match Preview
Can the Royals kick off their second cup tournament with a win?
The Bristol Street Motors Trophy starts today with the Royals in southern Group H alongside West Ham United under-21s, Cheltenham Town and Newport County. How will they fair?
The Royals are coming off a big green light in terms of the takeover as well as a solid 2-0 win against Wigan Athletic at the weekend. This week could start off very well if the Royals pick up a win against the Irons’ under-21s.
All will be revealed in today’s match preview.
What? Bristol Street Motors Trophy group H game one
Season? 2024/25
Who? West Ham United under-21s
Where? Select Car Leasing Stadium
When? Tuesday August 20
Time? 19:00
Opposition manager? Mark Robson
Who to look out for
West Ham are renowned to have one of the best academies in the world with many of their players going on to either play for West Ham themselves or other top clubs.
One player I would warn the Royals about is midfielder Freddie Potts. He played 34 games for Wycombe Wanderers last season, picking up two goals while also appearing in every game in this competition last year, with Wycombe losing in the final to Peterborough United 2-1. He received the supporters’ player of the year award and young player of the year award from the club last season.
Potts is 6ft and naturally plays as a box-to-box central midfielder. Matt Bloomfield used him this way last season in a 4-1-4-1 formation, being one of the two in the middle of the park with a sitting midfielder behind. I think he will be the key player for West Ham in this game.
The other game in the group
Cheltenham Town vs Newport County
Tuesday September 2, 19:00
The takeover
The takeover is days away!
Rob Couhig and his team are just waiting on the EFL to sort out their paperwork. But the process is imminent, which would allow the side to strengthen and the facilities to improve.
For fans this will feel like we have a new club due to how long we have been waiting for even a sniff of a takeover to happen. But it is finally here. Reading Football Club can stay a football club.
What does this mean for the team?
Well, it allows the team to be strengthened. In my opinion we need a striker, a full-back who can play both sides, or one of each left-back and right-back, a winger and a back-up/starting centre-back to help us cover.
For example, a signing I think the Royals should make is Sam Amo-Ameyaw on loan from Southampton. I watched quite a bit of Southampton last season and in his appearances he really made an impact. Although he managed no goals/assists, it’s what he does without the ball that impressed me. His pace and his willingness to attack the defender would make the right-hand side a nuisance for anyone playing against us.
Let’s all hope that Couhig can get this over the line to secure the life of Reading FC.
The line-up
In goal will be Coniah Boyce-Clarke. He seems to be our cup goalkeeper at the minute with David Button still injured and he needs all the experience he can get, with a poor performance already this season against Colchester United.
The back four I think will be Kelvin Abrefa, Abraham Kanu, Tyler Bindon and Jeriel Dorsett. There is a good shout for Harlee Dean but he and Kanu didn’t work well together against Colchester last week and I feel he was the one who made more mistakes. As for Abrefa and Dorsett, I think the more game time they can get the better, but Michael Craig could also appear on the right with Abrefa moving to the left side.
My preferred midfield three is Lewis Wing, Ben Elliott and Jay Senga. Charlie Savage has had a good few games but, with Harvey Knibbs injured at the minute, I think Savage will be rested for the game at Wrexham this weekend.
The front three I think will contain Femi Azeez, Mamadi Camara and Sam Smith. Jayden Wareham could start but Smith needs a match where he can boost his confidence to hopefully allow his game to go back to how it was last season.
Side note: Let’s quickly talk about Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan. I don’t know what has happened to him over pre-season but wow. His footwork, his striking of the ball, his athleticism, outstanding. I made a bold prediction at the start of the season that he would be top goalscorer, and at the moment he is proving me right. What a player he has become and I hope he can continue this throughout the rest of the season.
Let’s support the team and get the takeover done.
We are Reading Football Club.
Score prediction: 3-1 Royals!
Come on you Royals!