Jan 21
Reading 0-2 United: Rooney, Ronaldo Keep United Top
Rooney and Ronaldo continue to underline their importance to our team. No amounts of overtures from Real or Barcelona can really be enough to tempt our prized asset away from our club. It just is not worth it. Even an injection of a 100 million pounds for each player will not do justice.
United were not at their very best yesterday. In fact, Reading had the upper hand for a big part of the game. And for that credit must be given to Coppell’s men for taking the game to us. Reading has shown, although to a smaller extent than last season, that they are a much better team than many others around; definitely not relegation material. For the ones with longer memory, they held us to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. In that game though, they did it by parking the bus (and breaking Rooney’s heel).
Here, they played well, and till the 77th minute, I had a feeling that it might be one of those days. However, Rooney came up with a goal as instinctive as you would ever see him score — from an excellent ball from Tevez — to make it 1-0. Later on, Ronaldo took the ball from his own half, running 60 yards to score yet another goal making it 2-0.
However, it wouldn’t be wrong if one were to say that Reading could have got something from this game — at least 3 clear cut chances were denied by some last ditch defending. This was where the experience of EVDS helped us get out of jail. He stood tall to deny Harper when we were 1-0 up, but it was also down to some sloppy work early on to allow him to burst clear into goal.
In terms of performances, there weren’t too many stand out performances. Carrick and Hargreaves’ pairing in central midfield would have been something that might have lured Capello into watching this game. Carrick was actually okay and it is obvious that a prolonged period playing in the first team would do better for him. He is still terribly inconsistent, but yesterday he made some fine passes that could have been put away. Hargreaves made a welcome return from injury and his free kick was excellent. It is good to see Ronaldo allowing him to take one.
We do have a tough fixture list coming up over the next few weeks and SAF said how much of a relief winning against Reading was:
“By the end we were quite happy to get through it. Considering the number of opportunities we had, maybe our decision-making in the final third of the field wasn’t at its best. We kept making chances, but you do start to worry when the game goes on and you haven’t scored. You worry whether you’re going to get the goal, and it took a lovely flick from Wayne to get us in front. Credit to Reading they kept going at us. They really do make you work.â€
The players now have the small matter of travelling a few thousand miles to Saudi Arabia for Sami Al Jaber’s testimonial game. Oh the distance one would go for a million pounds! I honestly don’t believe the trip to be worth it — especially at this stage of the season. But it is not for us to argue anyway. There is a piece by Daniel Taylor, the Guardian’s resident Man Utd journalist (reporting from Riyadh) where Fergie maintains that the trip won’t affect the players.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Preparing to beat Reading
- 5 reasons why Tevez needs Manchester United
- United vs Reading: Preview
- So What Does United Do Now?
- United win easy, questions on Evans and Rossi
Tags: Match Reports
January 21st, 2008 at 11:45
Daniel Taylor recently published a book titled “This Is The One” (same title as the Stone Roses song), which talks about Fergie in the last two seasons. I just finished reading it and thought I’d recommend it to Man Utd fans. Of course, it’s from the perspective of a football journalist who I don’t think has more or less access to the inner workings of OT compared to his peers.
At worst, it’s a compilation of news (and rumours) you would have probably read in the newspapers these past 2-3 years. But it does shed some light on Fergie as a person and how he has dealt with what has gone on over the past couple of seasons.
January 21st, 2008 at 11:57
Red Ranter; Dont u mean “Reading 0-2 United” instead of “Reading 2-0 United”?
January 21st, 2008 at 13:33
In light of yet another failed season that promised so much, Liverpool have decided to take a bold step with regards to their new stadium. Being the club who have had more false dawns than the dark side of the moon, they have decided to build their new stadium, where else, but on the dark side of the moon.
After several consultations with NASA and Pink Floyd, the plans have been approved and construction is expected to start later this year. The American owners hope this bold move will go some way to repairing their fragile relationship with the fans. Financing the project could prove troublesome, but it is believed the owners have approached a number of potential investors about the venture. One interested investor is legendary moonwalker Michael Jackson, however the club are circumspect about Jackson’s condition of investment being that he becomes youth team head coach.
Rafa Benitez was unavailable for comment on the plans but sources close to the manager believe he is very open to the idea. The lack of gravity on the moon is seen as a big positive for Benitez as he fine tunes the trademark long-ball game of his side. Captain Steven Gerrard has also given his full backing to the ambitious plans. Gerrard has been looking for a potential new home on the moon, and has been encouraged by the low crime stats, with zero house burglaries reported in the last 3 decades.
Fans initially expressed concern about the idea, with many worried about how they will manage to get to the dark side of the moon for games. However, many of these fears have been resolved, in light of the news that Norway is stepping up its space program, and that commuter shuttle trips from Oslo to the moon should be in place within 3 years. Exciting times for the Merseyside club.
January 21st, 2008 at 13:57
and why do we have loosefools news here
and the title looks odgy dude
Mrs giving u a hard time bro ?
January 21st, 2008 at 14:07
u can veiw the match here.u need to download tv ants.
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=5285&part=sports
January 21st, 2008 at 15:01
Missus eh Ranty? Nice. Been busy while I was away it seems.
Carrick had more than an Okay performance. It was pretty darned neat. His passing apart, some of those tackles were brilliantly timed and well executed. He’s not half as bad as Grogger would make him look…
January 21st, 2008 at 17:21
Ranter; when are you going to post the rest of those Half-time Reports on the team? I look forward to reading them.
January 21st, 2008 at 18:16
ROONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 21st, 2008 at 18:38
the final score is 3-2 to al halil.tevez scored in 25mins and ronaldo 33mins
the goal can be downloaded here.
http://manutd-red-devils.blogspot.com/. i only started to watch the 2nd half.manchester united miss apenalty.danny welback
January 21st, 2008 at 19:02
i am watching the game on this site.
http://livefooty.doctor-serv.com/mon21.1/AlHilal_ManU.html
January 21st, 2008 at 19:33
what was the team line up
January 21st, 2008 at 19:51
HAHAHA! what a game of jokes
January 21st, 2008 at 22:27
Dan- This was the line up: Van der Sar (Kuszczak, 30./Heaton, 65.), Simpson, Ferdinand (Vidic, 46.), O’Shea, Evra (Park, 46.), Eagles, Fletcher, Anderson (Welbeck, 65.), Nani, Ronaldo (Hargreaves, 46.), Tevez (Rooney, 46.).
Carrick and Giggs got injured in the warm up. Not serious, but it was not worth a risk playin them. Anyone notising Brown wasnt in the team.
January 21st, 2008 at 23:08
Can’t believe Welbeck messed up the pen that badly.
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:07
Ouch! Was a tough match, it’s no wonder Fergie made those comments.
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:46
Who really gives a shit if Welleck missed a penalty,
Or if we lost 5-0.
We went there for the cash and the sun… that is it and that is fine.
Red Ranter totally agree with your comments on Edwin, he has been really good for us and you don’t really notice untill he is not in the side.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:28
I know it was a friendly, and I don’t really care about the scoreline, but we were pissssss poor. Absolutely shockingly so. Hargreaves for all his running didn’t have a clue how to playmake. Ditto Anderson, surprisingly really. And if ever, EVER fletcher is put at right back again I’m calling for Fergie’s head. To call him woeful would imply that he’d actually played the position, which is credit he doesn’t deserve. Other than the penalty miss and one missed header (both by wellbeck) we did not create a chance in the second half. Not one.
January 22nd, 2008 at 15:21
Beachryan: Fletcher filled the RB role quite competently on a couple of occassions (competitive games) last season.
January 22nd, 2008 at 16:33
i guess hargo and fletch were meant to swap positions during the game? just my guess though.
January 23rd, 2008 at 21:16
Manucho scored