Ahead of the visit of Reading, dcfc.co.uk sought to get the lowdown on Jaap Stam’s team from BBC Berkshire’s Tim Dellor.
Since reaching the Play-Off Final last season, can you pinpoint the reason as to why Reading have not been able to hit the highs this time around?
TD: So far this season the absence of Ali Al Habsi and Yann Kermorgant has been very apparent. The former pulled off so many “wordies” last season, and the latter scored crucial goals. Without the contribution of both these senior professionals, Reading have looked vulnerable defensively and blunt in attack. New ‘keeper Vito Mannone has done nothing wrong, but has not pulled off the outrageous saves we were treated to by Al Habsi, who is now in Saudi Arabia. The squad has been blighted by injuries to key players at crucial times this season, which sounds like an excuse, but has certainly caused unwanted disruption each week.
On top of that, losing last season’s top goalscorer Yann Kermorgant and Jordan Obita to injury has not helped. How big a blow has that, and other injuries, been for Jaap Stam?
TD: In my commentary notes this season the column where I list the injured players has been lengthy. Generally, it runs to about eight first team players out each matchday. I know the manner of these injuries is concerning manager Jaap Stam. Inevitably any team will pick up injuries during a season, but Reading seem to be victims of misfortune (see Tiago Ilori’s sickening clash of heads with fellow central defender Liam Moore during the defeat to Middlesbrough last weekend). They also seem to be picking up injuries to their most crucial players. Yann Kermorgant’s return to action last weekend was encouraging, but for the excellent Jordan Obita the prognosis is not so good. He is likely to be out till this time next year.
That said, there’s a lot of quality and experience in the Reading squad, but who do we need to be keeping our eye on when the two sides meet a week on Saturday?
TD: It has been increasingly difficult to predict Jaap Stam’s starting eleven in recent weeks, as he tries to find a formula that works. You would have to look hard to find a more reliable central defender in the Championship than Liam Moore. Chris Gunter is the consummate professional and a gifted athlete. Modou Barrow is capable of some eye-catching trickery and blistering pace.
In terms of playing style, Reading were very much a possession-based side. Has that changed this year or can we expect more of the same at Pride Park?
TD: Most fans are hoping it will change, because playing at slow tempo and with a lack of intent the style mentioned is excruciating to watch. That said, for all to brief periods of play you can see it working and can understand why Jaap Stam persists with it. They do look one dimensional at times without a big target man upfront, but perhaps the return of Kermorgant will give them that extra option. They changed their approach at Leeds, with the hardworking Jon Dadi Bodvarsson playing up front, and it worked much better. Unfortunately, he then picked up an injury.
If you could see one member of Derby’s current squad in the Reading team, who would it be and why?
TD: Having suffered a chronic shortage of goals, based on current form probably Matej Vydra. He was at Reading for a season before moving to Derby and was dreadful. Three goals in more than 30 games, and squandering straightforward chance after chance, he looked completely lost. You could see in practice how talented he was, though, and we all suspected we were watching a good player horribly out of form. In terms of character and status at Reading most fans would mention Alex Pearce. In nine years he established himself as a real favourite, and for several seasons was the best player in a very good Championship team.
With three months of the season down, based on what you have seen where do you expect the Royals to finish come the end of the campaign?
TD: Nobody expected them to finish anywhere near third last season. Predicting Reading results is a perilous business. Based on what we have seen since the end of August anywhere above the relegation zone will be fine. Based on what we have seen from the squad in the last 18 months under Jaap Stam anywhere below 10th would be disappointing, even after the sluggish start. I think as players return from injury, and the further back in time the trauma of losing a penalty shootout in a Play-Off Final goes, Reading should be fine for at least a mid-table finish.