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Also, ESPN

Iwobi Rated MOTM against Fulham

Odion Ighalo —> Southampton/Fernebahce (Turkish Media, Fanatik)

Efe Ambrose is set to leave Hibernian for free this month (rejects extension), according to the Scottish Sun.

Efe Ambrose —> Cardiff City?


Dominic Solanke has emerged as a top transfer target for Bundesliga side Schalke 04, —Transfermarkrt

Crystal Palace are also planning a swoop for Solanke. (Some reports have it that has already done medicals)

Wolves lead race to sign Abraham

Wolverhampton Wanderers are leading the race to sign Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham this month, according to Daily Mail.

Wolves want Abraham who has scored 16 goals for Aston Villa this season to compete with Raul Jimenez up front.

Huddersfield Town and Burnley are also interested in signing him as the forward eyes Premier League return.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will need to activate a recall option for the 21-year-old to pursue a loan move at a Premier League club for the second half of the season.


—goal

Rotherham beat Preston 2-1 with Seyi Ajayi posting a full shift at RB.

Saka in for Iwobi

Tammy levels things up. It’s Villa 2-2 QPR

Aluko and Ilori have been subbed off. Reading are down at home to Swansea 0-4. 74 mins played

Ebere Eze puts QPR ahead. It’s Villa 1-2 QPR

Aluko’s Reading is currently trailing visiting Swansea 0-2 with Aluko handed a second consecutive start as AM.

Etebo starts for Stoke. It’s 0-0 versus visiting Bristol at the moment

Why always Tammy?! Aston Villa leads Eze Ebere’s QPR at home 1-0. 38 mins gone

Solanke to Crystal Palace looks certain

That’s your own assumption. I only gave an opinion on the one statement he made. Clearly the writer wasn’t too sure Iwobi had not played in the CM position before.

Earthquake1:
Dude you had to condemn a whole write because of one assumption

Why there's hope for 2019, Aluko's final chance and fans' renewed belief - Reading FC talking points

Further analysis of the 0-0 draw with QPR on Saturday

BY JONATHAN LOW
11:45, 30 DEC 2018UPDATED09:51, 31 DEC 2018

JONATHAN LOW REFLECTS ON QPR 0 READING 0

Reading ended 2018 with a goalless draw with QPR at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon.

It was an improved showing from Royals following their 1-0 loss to Millwall just three days earlier on Boxing Day.

Jose Gomes' side had several good chances to win the game, although they had Anssi Jaakkola to thank for some superb stops in the second period as Rangers fought their way back into the game.

The result sees Reading remain in 23rd place in the Championship table and two points from safety, although there were plenty of encouraging signs in the performance.


Here are the main talking points.

Why there's hope for 2019

A draw is never the best result but it's far better than a defeat and here for Reading, it represents small progress.

They will be delighted with the clean sheet - just the third in the league this season and the way they passed the ball around and controlled the game - certainly in the first half - should help them pick up some positive results.

There were a few shaky moments in defence, but between both boxes Royals could not be faulted.

It has given fans, the players and the manager belief and confidence they can win the relegation fight that is ahead of them.

Aluko's final chance

Midfielder Sone Aluko was handed a surprise recall to the side and played in a central role behind lone frontman Yakou Meite.

The former Fulham man has flattered to deceive since joining the club in 2017, with both Jaap Stam and Paul Clement being unable to get the best out of him.

The 29-year-old put in a decent performance though in west London and showed some lovely touches to get away from players in the midfield.

As has been often the case, Aluko tends to do the hard work before slipping up with the simple pass when he does get time and space to distribute the ball.

Whether the change in position from winger to central midfielder improves his performance remains to be seen, but if Gomes can get the best out of him then Reading could have some player on their hands. In truth, it's the final chance for Aluko to prove himself in a Reading shirt.

Fans' renewed belief

More than 1,600 Reading fans made the trip to the capital and certainly made their voices heard throughout the 90 minutes.

The players gave them something to shout about which always helps, but they really urged the side on and tried to suck the ball into the net in the second half.

And there was a nice moment at full time when all the players and manager went over to applaud the fans, who packed out the top tier of the away end.

The chant of 'we are staying up' from the supporters showed the performance has given them some renewed belief for the rest of the season and the battle against the drop.

O'Shea's solidity

It was no coincidence Reading kept a clean sheet with John O'Shea back in the side.

The Irishman may be 37, but he rolled back the years with a vintage performance to help Royals secure a precious point.

Reading FC manager Jose Gomes: 'We lost two points at QPR'

O'Shea was brilliant in the air and time after time cleared the ball away from danger, while he also helped those around him by issuing instructions and advice as much as possible.

His experience could well be key in the coming months and although he is unlikely to play week after week, getting the best out of him on and off the field should help the defence which has been shaky at best this season.

Bodvarsson needs a chance

Scoring goals remains an issue for Reading with just three scored in the past eight matches.

Meite was given the nod at QPR and had a header well saved, but apart from that was largely ineffective. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson came on but did not have enough time to make a contribution.

However, the Icelander deserves a run of games in the side now. He remains the club's joint top scorer with seven goals and is someone who is capable of getting on the end of crosses into the box.

He has not played much recently so will be fresh and no doubt eager to impress Gomes so expect him to feature against Swansea City on New Year's Day.

—football.london

What is this guy yapping? I believe Iwobi has played as CM in a couple occasions under Wenger.

What’s your take on this piece?

Arsenal: Georginio Wijnaldum the perfect transition for Alex Iwobi

by Andrew Dowdeswell20h ago
Georginio Wijnaldum was the best player on the pitch as Liverpool dismantled Arsenal 5-1 on Saturday. His midfield transition would be ideal for Alex Iwobi.

Alex Iwobi was one of Arsenal’s brightest players in Saturday’s humiliating 5-1 defeat to Liverpool. That is a far more praise-enthused sentence than its actual meaning. In reality, hardly any Arsenal players played even remotely brightly. For Iwobi to be the brightest is not to say very much whatsoever.

Nevertheless, after some rather underwhelming performances following a strong to the season, it was nice to see the Nigerian play with the same energy, directness and attacking purposefulness that punctuated his play earlier in the year and as a fearful youth prospect.

Iwobi started on the left wing. That has predominantly the position that he has most commonly been used in throughout his career, especially since Unai Emery’s arrival in the summer. And he does bring some key skills that are useful in that role. He is a good dribbler, has decent pace, is an intelligent and creative player in the final third, and is improving in his end product.

That said, his lack of goals and assists, especially the former, does limit his value and efficacy when playing so high up the pitch. In the modern game, wingers and attacking midfielders are expected to contribute to the attacking returns of the team. In fact, it is often the case that wingers are the team’s leading scorers — Eden Hazard, Mohamed Salah, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo. Iwobi, though, will never really be that kind of player. He simply does not have the quality or striking mentality.

The same was said about Liverpool central midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum. He was an attacking midfielder and winger built very much in a similar mould to that of Iwobi. Skilful, smart on the ball, athletic and intelligent, but lacking in the number of goals that he created and scored. And so, Jurgen Klopp, when Wijnaldum arrived at Anfield from Newcastle United, decided to change his position.

Now, two years later, Wijnaldum is one of the best central midfielders in the country, a dominating force with terrific range, composure, consistency and power. This slightly deeper starting position accentuates what Wijnaldum can do well and limits what he does not so well. And those pros and cons are comparable to Iwobi’s — for the record, I have long spoken of Iwobi’s potential in central midfield.

It took Wijnaldum time to adapt to the new role. There were some defensive vulnerabilities, with his positioning sometimes exposed on the counter-attack. But as he grew into the position and became more acclimated with his responsibilities, such was the complementary nature of his physical and technical skills that he took to it superbly. The modern game demands a mobile a central midfielder with comfort and composure on the ball. Wijnaldum, and Iwobi, offer precisely that.

Whether Iwobi will every try central midfield or not remains to be seen. I cannot remember a time that he has played in midfield, but it is something that I would like to see. Hopefully Emery will give him a chance to do so sometime soon.

—FANSIDED

Na Onyekuru this morning eh. Make una continue

Make Sarenren try convince am for us

tbaba1234:
Akpoguma joins Hannover 96!!

Haha this my bro u too funny. Na better point and kill I dey do for Ethiope River.

komekn:
Bros d toreee too long.

Merry Christmas Eéeeeeee oh in arrears happy prosperous new year 2019 in advance.

Remember us in the cold eating bland Turkey while you are eating sumptuous Ukodo with fresh fish from Ethiope river.

Hahahahaha

Icon4s:
Now I can confirm you are an old member with a new moniker.

So which moniker were you last year?

On the Awards I think it was initiated by boss Joseph 1013. He did it before and can do it again.

Oya tell us about his performances

komekn:
100% however he has been 100% forgotten by the NFF for reasons that have nothing to do with performance.

If you are referring to Liverpool, say Liverpool. Likewise Arsenal etc. if you don’t have a stake in those club don’t say, “we”.

QPR 0-0 Reading FT

Eze VS Aluko (WhoScored)

Runaway Liverpool

Eze VS Aluko so far

Tammy is to the championship what Maja is to League one

Modified
I expect him to be he top scorer at he end of the season. He is joint 3rd atm

andrew444:
Lord Tammy Abraham the king of championship

And of course, why always Tammy Abraham?!
Lukas Nmecha is his opposite number.
Preston 0-1 Aston Villa

Tomori on the scoresheet. Aluko and Ebere Eze start as opposite numbers.

It is impossible for a 20 year old Igbo man to marry. But when an Igbo man has made it, he marries.
A 20-year old Igbo man has made it.

Sorry Pep. Big game for Ndidi

The Tilehurst End 2018 End Of Year Awards: Full List

Get down the red carpet to see who’s won
By ThatMarcMayo
on December 25, 2018 9:00 am

The ‘Hal Robson-Kanu’ Award For Underachievement
Previous winners: Hal Robson-Kanu (2013 & 2014), Jordan Obita (2015), Jake Cooper (2016), Sone Aluko (2017)

Nominated: Sone Aluko

Winner: Sone Aluko. Sorry Sone, but it’s still not working out and you’re still our record signing. Win this next year and you can keep the trophy.

—SBnation