Reading, Injuries, Champions League, World Player of the Year

I'll have the pleasure this evening of going to the Reading v Crystal Palace game at the Madejski. I last went to see Reading when they drew 1-1 at home to Ipswich, and since then have finally broken their home hoodoo with a 2-1 win over Blackpool. Before that game they hadn't won a home game in the league since January, and it was looking possible that they might go that entire 365 days without a win, a record which would not have been welcome. Tonight then is their 1st home game since that much needed Blackpool result, and you feel that Reading will want to win again, just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. The Royals sit 19th at the moment, thanks to an impressive 2-0 win at Hillsborough on Saturday, and the way this league is they're only 10 points from the playoffs. I don't personally hold out much hope for a charge up the table, I expect this to be a relatively tough year for them which will end with a 12th-17th position, but there is always one team who makes that late surge and who knows, it could be Reading. Tonight's opponents Palace are 6 points and 6 places (told you it was tight) better off, under the stewardship of Neil Warnock. He's good copy is Warnock and I'm hoping for some good banter tonight - come to think of it I think I went to this fixture last year which off the top of my head was a 3-2 home win. Palace are technically operating as a non-professional team right now because for whatever ridiculous Simon Jordan based reason, they can't pay their players. Of those skint players, Darren Ambrose is the big danger man tonight. He just scooped the Championship player of the month after scoring in every game from midfield, taking his tally to 12 for the season. I'll go for a 1-1 draw.

Man Utd confirmed yesterday that O'Shea and Evans will both be out until the New Year, and they join the likes of Vidic, Ferdinand, Brown, Neville and the Brazillian Jedward twins on the treatment table. Fergie has a bit of a crisis going on now, and it looks like tonight's Champs Leage game against Wolfsburg (who can still de-throne Utd as group winners) will see a back 4 of Fletcher, Carrick, Gill and Evra. Gill? Yes, Oliver Gill, who sounds like he's a chef or a celebrity hairdresser. He's actually the son of chief exec David Gill, and the 19 year old will receive a quick baptism of fire tonight in Germany. It's gotta be a long term worry for the boss, I wouldn't be too concerned about buying Ribery/Villa/Dzeko, I'd be getting my defensive scouts on the case. You can have Silvestre back if you like? The other bit of injury news is that Jimmy Bullard will 'only' be out for 6 to 8 weeks after scans revealed he's got no bad ligament damage. I think we all want to see the cheeky chappy on his feet playing football and doing silly celebrations, to a speedy recovery sir.

Champions League matchday 6 part 1 is on tonight with a few places left up for grabs in the last 16. Chelsea's group (D) is all sorted and Utd (A) are through with either CSKA or Wolfsburg in tow. If my maths serves me correctly the Germans need to equal or better the CSKA result to ensure they make it, the Russians face a tricky trip to Besiktas. Utd will probably play a 'rotated' team, some of that injury enforced (above) and some of that just to give some players a rest ahead of Villa on Saturday. The big game of the night is in group A where Juventus take on Bayern in Turin. A draw will be enough for the Italians so Bayern will be going all out for the win, whatever happens we're sure to lose one of the European giants already. Finally in group C it would take the mother of all fuck ups for Madrid not to qualify, I think they have to lose 4-0 in Marseille, but the French side will be gunning for a win regardless in case Milan slip up to Zurich - who already beat them at the San Siro.

Finally, the 5 nominees for World Player of the Year were released yesterday, and they are; Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Kaka and Ronaldo. Messi will deservedly win but the 2 other Barca players deserve a great amount of credit for they way their team played last year. They are 2 mind boggling passers of the ball and can chip in with a goal or 2 themselves - just ask Chelsea fans. It was Iniesta who threw a dagger into west London hearts last April/May, where his late late goal sent Chelsea out of the semis. And I might be wrong, but I THINK Xavi got both assists in the final against Utd. Barca don't half have some talent. Take her easy.