Regarding Middlesbrough, they now have a new manager in ex defender Gareth Southgate, who actually has no managerial experience. The team have also lost some key players in striker Jimmy Hasselbaink and inspirational left back Frank Queudrue. They have had a mixed pre season, drawing with Chievo at home 0-0 and losing to Feyenoord 2-0, (a team Reading beat preseason).

Reading ended the Championship season on an eleven game unbeaten run, and it looks like they have continued that form through to pre season. They had an impressive 2-1 win over Dutch giants Feyenoord and also beat Swedish side Orgryte 2-1 away. The signs are looking good at the Majeski Stadium, and it looks like they will be trying to emulate Wigan of last year, staying up with little funds. sick of hearing this season the old phrase "we deserved better".we got what we deserved and wud have lost more only for he put a weaker side out.thats man u and arsenal now two weakened teams and two defeats. shows the respect we are held in by the higher teams.
howard-we gotta keep the chap if he wants to stay hibbert-people say we need cover for him.id say we could use him as cover to a new right full. yobo-sell him.good player but hasnt gone on from his potential.better out there lescott-looks a class act and future captain as long as a bigger club dont come in for him valente-solid and does his job but aint getting younger naysmith-was doing well but limitations exposed weir/stubbs/pistone-a joke.club a laughing stock the way we got rid then resigned these three.stubbs weir give all but surely why keep hughes and play these three.if he aint good enough then sell him instead of stalling the lads career osman-done ok last year but aint a premiership player imo.ossie for england u having a laugh moyes
van der meyde-makes bryan robson look fit!hard to know but shud be given a game if not to see how good but rather to try atract attention and sell him.has been a disaster signing davies-hasnt worked out at all tho has been hard done by the managers favouritism towards osman. ossie been worse in games and magaer takes or drops davies.wrong imo and a moyes weakness. done same with killa mc fadden-s h i t.always has been and always will be.out of his league cahill-been class this season and along with lescott we gotta build the team round these arteta-done v well and a class player but isnt imo putting it all in lile a lot of the playersneville-good solid pro and an example to all.shud only be a right full at best imo carsley-has been knocked by a lot on here.moyes had him sold to wolves at start of the season yet he stayed as he reknd he owed the club and fans a season.has gone about his job to the best he can and aint getting younger. like neville an example to the others and young players and what does this say bout moyes that he wanted him gone yet has played him in every game,what would we have done without him

Regarding this match, all the signs are pointing to a Reading win. Gareth Southgate is still learning management and is assessing his squad and have had a poor pre season, - he is still trying to sign Distin from Man City - while Reading are on a high, carrying their superb form through preseason, and I think this can carry on through the Premiership for a few games at least. Their form after Christmas will be key. Reading boss Steve Coppell has worked wonders at the club.

I think his team can pull off an opening day win at attractive odds of 9/5 with Bet365