Leicester City
Before each game we’ll try to get the view from a fan of the opposition and this Saturday, Leicester City come to the Madejski Stadium.
Dean Goodsell from Foxes Talk was kind enough to give us his thoughts about Saturday's game.
How would you describe your season so far?
I think that it is more than fair to say it has been a rollercoaster season for us. We could not have made a worse start under Paulo Sousa, numerous defeats lead us to the bottom of the league and, of course, the sacking of Paulo. However, our season turned a corner after the appointment of Sven. Very quickly we found ourselves gaining on the playoff places which seemed almost impossible at the beginning of the season. Life is certainly never dull as a Leicester fan!
Where do you think you'll finish?
Our inconsistency recently may prove to be a big factor in where we finish. We have been unable to capitalise on the teams above dropping in form, as a result of this I believe we may just miss out on the playoff places in 7th.
There was quite a stir when you appointed Sven earlier this season, how has he fared in the Championship and will he be your manager this time next season?
Sven completely turned our season around. In September we were looking at another possible League One season if our form continued but Sven's vast knowledge of the game has had a clear impact on our players. Everyone seems to want to play for him and it has been terrific to see a positive vibe amongst the players. I have no doubt that Sven will be in charge next season, however, he needs to pick up where he has left off this year. I fear if we finish lower than expected he may well be let go, the new Thai owners have made it clear they want to be in the Premiership as quickly as possible. If Sven fails to do this next season then he may not be around afterwards.
Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson replaced Paulo Sousa as Foxes boss in October
Sven's signed a few experienced pro's that have played at the very highest level, how have the likes of Ricardo, Yakubu and Darius Vassell handled life in the second tier?
Sven has certainly been making good use of his contacts in the game! Ricardo had a shaky start after signing for us, which lead to most fans getting on his back every time he played. Personally I do not think he has performed badly per se, yes he did make a couple of mistakes but I believe the defence also played a part in quite a few of the goals he conceded. Yakubu may not spend the entire game running around the pitch, but he does know where the goal is. Given chances he can certainly put them away and I believe he has settled in the Championship perfectly fine. Vassell has also coped with the challenges of the Championship after signing. He has pace and skill which a few full backs this season have not been able to cope with.
Which Leicester players should Royals fans watch out for?
Diomansy Kamara has recently joined us on loan and so far his work rate on the pitch has been phenomenal. He works hard to create opportunities on goal for both himself and others, if he can carry on this form he will be a major threat for Reading. Richie Wellens is another player that most people seem to forget. He may not get many goals but his efforts in midfield cannot go unnoticed.
Diomansy Kamara will be a threat to the Reading defence
Who are Foxes fans worried about from Reading?
Your attack is a major threat. Shane Long has shown that he has a keen eye for goal this season and this form is very worrying. Also Ian Harte has been a terrific performer for Reading since signing from Carlisle and once again poses a big threat to us.
How many fans do you think will make the trip?
Leicester are known for having a decent away following. With this being a big game as both Leicester and Reading are fighting for a playoff place, I can see a fair few making the trip. I do not think we will sell out but you can expect a decent amount travelling down!
Score Prediction?
I want to say a win, however, the realist in me says that we will probably get a draw. I shall say it will be a thoroughly entertaining encounter finishing 2-2.
Thanks again to Dean for helping us out and you can follow him on Twitter @deangoodsell also stay tuned tomorrow for a full Tilehurst End match preview.