Five-a-side: Best of both! Reading

This weeks game for Birmingham City sees them travel south for the second time in three games as they face Reading on Saturday.

The Royals have had an inconsistent season away from home but Brian McDermott’s side are currently unbeaten in the league at home since the start of December.

Gary Rowett’s Blues haven’t won on the road since the 16th of January so the result could be decided before anyone even arrives at the Madejski stadium on Saturday.

Choosing this weeks five-a-side team has been quite difficult for me because there are players from both teams that could be included but unfortunately, there are no real stand out players from either team and that is a disappointment.

I have opted to go with the usual selection of three players from the home side and two from the away side as that works best so down below is this weeks team.

GK: Tomasz Kuszczak.

I know he hasn’t been in great form recently but his 15 clean sheets this season speak volumes about him as a person and a player as well.

Neither of Reading’s keepers come anywhere near what Kuszczak has achieved this season so choosing him to go in goal this week was a no brainer really.

I choose him most weeks but that is because he has been one of the most consistent performers out of any of the teams we have played against this season.

DF: Michael Hector.

The on loan Chelsea defender has been a real rock for the Royals this season and although he hasn’t necessarily been playing as a centre half, that is his traditional position.

His ability to use the ball in good spaces means that I am going to brand him as the Championship’s John Stones (big claim I know) but whenever I have watched him he has been superb.

Although he hasn’t played in recent weeks, I still wanted to include him in this weeks side because he has been fantastic all season.

MF: Stephen Gleeson and Lucas Piazon.

I decided to choose Gleeson in midfield because he has really improved this season once again under the management of Rowett and his team.

On Tuesday night, for me, he was the best player on the pitch in a Blues shirt, hence why he got my Man of the Match, but he has been so influential for us this year.

Yes, he may not be the quickest or the most clinical, but his passing range is fantastic and if he can keep improving then Blues will have most certainly found a real gem from the lower leagues.

Next to Gleeson I went for another Chelsea loanee. This time I have chosen Piazon, another player who hasn’t really played a lot this season but when he has he has been very good to watch.

With five goals to his name in 24 league and cup appearances, I would say that Piazon has had a fairly successful season with the Royals and his development under McDermott has been something that I have enjoyed watching.

If he plays on Saturday then he could be somebody that will cause us all sorts of problems in attacking positions, especially if he links up with the strikers well.

ST: Matej Vydra.

The 23-year-old striker is somebody that I would love to see down at St.Andrews next season and I think he has done really well this season for Reading.

He has nine goals to his name, which in actual fact could be classed as a poor season for the Watford loanee, but I still think he is a fantastic player on his day.

Not only does he score goals but Vyrda is a selfless worker for the team and his running off the ball is some of the best in the current Royals team and for that alone he deserves his place in this weeks five-a-side team.

Blues and Royals fans, what do you make of this weeks five-a-side set up? Is it one of the best you have seen? Let us know in the comment section down below!