Reading U21 1-4 Monaco (Premier League International Cup Group Stages)
Erik ten Hag has been sacked from Manchester United. No surprise, the big news of the day for me is that Ian Culverhouse has also left his post at Boston. I did the Pilgrims last home game last week and said by the time of my return to the Jakemans (which will be 9th Nov v Dagenham & Redbridge) that Culverhouse won't be in the dugout. Turns out I was right.
Tonight it's U21 action as Reading take on Monaco in the Premier League International Cup, I always enjoy watching young new talent and am excited to see what Monaco in particular have to offer. The principality that gave us Henry, Trezeguet, Mbappe, Amoros, Petit, Thuram and many more, are as good a school of football as there is in Europe.
Reading haven't been bad in recent years either, Michael Olise, Omar Richards, Alex McCarthy, Hal Robson-Kanu, Shane Long, Simon Cox all graduating from their Academy, the Royals punch above their weight taking the pick from a large catchment area across mainly Berkshire from London and the Chilterns to Wessex and the South Downs.
I'm off at 3pm for this 7pm kick off, dropping the dog at the mother in law's and heading south down the M1 which comes to a standstill at Leicester whilst some idiot is talked out of jumping off a bridge. Back moving, eventually, I'm across the A43 past Silverstone to the M40 and along the Oxford Bypass before reaching the M4.
The Venue
The Select Car Leasing Stadium is just off junction 11. A modern facility in a modern part of town full of wide roads, warehouses and retail parks.
It was built in 1998 by then Chairman John Madejski and is like any other built around the same time, bowl-like and some would say soulless, I could be sitting in Leicester City's King Power for me? It's very hard to tell the difference.
But inside you get a good view and it feels when full, it can create a good noise, just under 25,000 it's homely and certainly better than it's current status hosting League One football. Much better (although some would disagree) than the old Elm Park too.
The Game
I know little about either team ahead of kick off so am intrigued to see how both set up and play. Reading are high line and don't particularly press which spells for trouble, Monaco comfortable on the ball in all areas, 4-3-3 with technical, talented footballers dropping in pockets, they're caught offside on a number of occasions before left back Platret breaks the lines, he plays a neat ball to Lucas Michal who slides to Tincres who cannot miss. A brilliant team goal.
For all their possession, Monaco don't really look like adding to the tally in the first half. I'm impressed with their little and large centre half duo. Nibombe is very tall and reminds me of Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid, Bery next to him is tiny, but he sprays it like Franz Beckenbauer, surely too short for centre half but what an array of passing he has.
As we approach half time there's a bit of a scuffle when one or two handbags are thrown after a heavy challenge on a Monaco player in midfield, three yellow cards I count, are issued, it could easily have been more.
The Score
Reading come out guns blazing in the second half, they look decent, going at their opponents and giving them less time in possession. It's the best spell of the game from them as they put balls into the box and win a fair number of corners, but at the other end Monaco look good on the break, again the Royals high line fails and Michal races through, he's taken down by goalkeeper Boyce-Clarke, it looks to be outside the area but the Referee points to the spot.
Baranik makes it two to really put the game to bed before Tincres finishes off another lovely move by dipping one over the keeper for his second with 12 to play. Reading do get a penalty themselves which is dispatched by Okine-Peters but Michal finishes things off late on with a low left footed shot that cannons in off the post.
The Stars
I really like Monaco who have a lot of technique and tenacity, right back Babai is tiny, talented, tenacious, left back Platret is full of running with real end product in the final third, wiry centre back Nibombe looks to have Premier League potential whilst Bery who played next to him, probably better suited as a holding midfielder due to his small size, is intelligent, calm, possessing a wonderful right foot, the best on show of the evening.
In midfield I liked their no8 Baranik who reminded me a tad of João Moutinho, Bamba their number seven had good size and stature and did the ugly stuff well. Up front their star was the long blonde haired Bouabre who glided like an Olympic ice skater, looked golden like Beyonce, but what a talented boy he is aged just 18.
For Reading, they had talent too, just not as technical as their opponents, their ability was more about their heart, desire and combative nature that's traditional with the English game. I liked their heart on sleeve skipper Michael Strickland who put a couple of big tackles in at centre half, Sam Harrison next to him looks to read the game well, whilst left winger Emmanuel Osho looked to be creative just lacking a bit of explosion to get away from his man. In midfield Wellens and Spencer did well.
It was a quiet night though for Jeremiah Okine-Peters who scored four v Tottenham at the weekend, but he did at least get on the score sheet from the penalty spot. I expected more but against classy opponents he may have met his match.
The Verdict
Despite the result, Reading should be relatively happy with how they played against a bloody good side and this sort of game has been set up to help improve English youngsters, they'll learn from facing such smart and talented opponents.
For Monaco, they'll no question continue to churn out world class potential and the big boys will always come knocking with the cash. Bouabre, Michal, Tincres, could easily become the next Henry, Trezeguet, Mbappe, it'll be exciting to see how some of these wonder-kids progress.
The Teams
Reading: Coniah Boyce-Clarke, Jacob Borgnis, Boyd Beacroft (Maddox McMillan 83), Shay Spencer, Michael Strickland, Sam Harrison, Emmanuel Osho (T'Shay St Louis 83), Charlie Wellens (Carter Bowdery 83), Jeremiah Okine-Peters, Lynford Sackey (Jack Senga-Ngoyi 67), Joe Barough (Kai Source 76).
Monaco: Yanis Benchaouch, Nazim Babai, Aurelien Platret, Samuel Nibombe (Enzo Couto 83), Jules Bery, Mayssam Benama, Mohamed Bamba (Boubacar Dembaga 76), Florian Baranik (Pape Cabral 67), Joan Tincres, Saimon Bouabre (Amal Boura 76), Lucas Michal.
7:00pm Kick Off. Monday 28th October 2024, Madejski Stadium, Reading (att 1,500).
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