United vs Reading Match Thread - Sponsored by Brian McDolan

[Royal Prince]

£2 on the win at 50/1

I've got a good feeling about this...

[Royal Dee]

Some great football, no panic, no crazy hoofs and no stupid runs from mcanuff. Hope we can play like this when we play weaker teams

[RFCSPACE]

I suspect that to outsiders (i.e. MOTD / ESPN / National Newspapers) that we appear to have turned shit now BM has gone as we've only had one shot all half. The reality is that we've halved the number of shots against us and doubled our usual posession. Improvement for sure.

[Ian Royal]

The ESPN half time pundits, seem to think Man Utd are likely to score loads in the 2nd half, bit farfetched seeing as they've only created about 2 decent chances from close range and we've mainly restricted them to ineffectual long range shots

TBH they look like they know they've won both the game and the title already, so I'm not sure how hard they'll try. It all depends on how worried Fergie is about a late Reading ALF inspired come back. If he's concerned about it, there's no way he'll let the players get complacent and relaxed enough to let it happen.

[P!ssed Off]

Leigertwood is playing like Xabi Alonso, Hunt doing really well. In your face HNA?

I've been keeping tabs of Leigertwood's passing stats.

So far 3 inaccurate passes (all forward, fairly long range)

Successful passes: 11 backwards, 8 sideways, 9 forwards.

Unlike usually, Leigertwood is not just passing backwards because of panic or lack of options. We're really trying to retain possession and Leigertwood has been largely the reason for this.

His problems have mainly been his heavy legged laconic style and a total lack of options leading to dithering, risky passes or hoofs.

when we give him quick options he plays pretty well.

This is right, McDermott attempted to play him as a ball-winning midfielder in a counter attacking style team but he's shown in the 1st half today that he is much more effective as a deep lying playmaker in a team that attempts to keep possession.
If we'd attempted to use him to retain possession throughout the season rather than to break up opposition play I think we would have been far more successful.

[Millsy]

Can see this game as an audition for Dolan, Keep the score down, play well and he'll be given the rest of the season...

So can I.

I like Dolan.

Still shocked at Brian's sacking, should never had done it. But now that we have Anton needs to get someone good. If we wanted to go with an untried we'd have kept with King Brian.

And a new man needs to come in to learn the squad before the summer.

I'm partially hoping if we're going to lose we may as well get thrashed so we get another man in.

[buzzby]

How's that not a penalty then?

[Royal Rother]

I suspect that to outsiders (i.e. MOTD / ESPN / National Newspapers) that we appear to have turned shit now BM has gone as we've only had one shot all half. The reality is that we've halved the number of shots against us and doubled our usual posession. Improvement for sure.

Very good point.

Much better football, very positive reaction to Dolan's instructions, but only the fans will recognise that.

[72 bus]

Because it is at Old trafford

[Royal Rother]

How's that not a penalty then?

And how come Rooney wasn't booked in the 1st half?

We know the answer really.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

74%!!!!

[Big Ern]

How's that not a penalty then?

Because it's Man Utd at Old Trafford.

[Whitleyroyal]

Can see this game as an audition for Dolan, Keep the score down, play well and he'll be given the rest of the season...

So can I.

I like Dolan.

Still shocked at Brian's sacking, should never had done it. But now that we have Anton needs to get someone good. If we wanted to go with an untried we'd have kept with King Brian.

And a new man needs to come in to learn the squad before the summer.

I'm partially hoping if we're going to lose we may as well get thrashed so we get another man in.

Cant help thinking that this game will fail to show much really as all team's step up against Man Utd.
For me give Dolan the game against Southampton and see how that plays out..

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Maybe Anton saw what Eamonn was doing with the academy & wanted to give him a go?

Seen nothing to suggest he can't have a shot for the season so far we look good.

[royalstu]

Think we need to bring on more of an offensive threat now.

[P!ssed Off]

great tackle from Karacan, he's playing well today.
Shite, he's injured

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Think we need to bring on more of an offensive threat now.

I don't we're doing just fine thanks. Lets not go kamikaze. Would take a 1-0 defeat.

[Royal Lady]

Can't let them score another one or we will be confirmed bottom.

[P!ssed Off]

Kelly needs to calm down, if not bring on gunter, last thing we want is a red card

[RFCSPACE]

Think we need to bring on more of an offensive threat now.

I don't we're doing just fine thanks. Lets not go kamikaze. Would take a 1-0 defeat.

Wouldn't take a defeat, but I agree it's not time to go all out just yet. ALF time at 75 mins IMO.