Oli Winton's View - a fair one I think

[Platypuss]

Still struggling to think if more than 3 shots on target though. Please help.

[alad]

It's a fair report. Reading never threatened and only had one 'chance' in the whole game. They played to stop United, not to win a football match.

The fact the best Reading players were defenders say it all.

That's utter rubbish.

We tried to win the game, we started up 4-4-2 and tried to take the game to them. The fact is Man Utd have far better players than us and are a far better side, they restricted us and dominated the game as they will against nearly every side in this division, including teams that are better than us.

But to say we didn't try to win the game is utter nonsense.

I'm not having ago, as it worked and the job was done.

If you'd have said once it went to 1-1 that Reading tried to hang on for a point you would then be right, but to suggest we didn't try and win the game at the start is nonsense.

Oh and your fishing again!!

Let's be fair, Sidwell and Harper may aswell have played in defence, as they never crossed the half way line except for corners.

.

Ok I'll play along

James 'the crab' Harper never does anyway and Sidwell was stopped from doing that after the first half when Scholes was finding tons of room in front of our defense. He was going to win it for Man Utd so second half Sidwell stuck on him and he was slightly less effective.

United are too good a side for us to bomb on gung ho and leave tons of gaps.

Don't like unfair criticism of our side, even if it is wriggling away!

We can't be criticised in any way for the Man Utd game.

I felt Reading could have won the game, especially at 1-0. The players need to have more self confidence and belief and go for it. If you sit back you invite pressure.

[Alan Partridge]

Seem to recall the away side on Saturday played with only one up front.

Very adventurous. Presumably 4-4-2 was too risky against a team with our home record?

Formations mean very little at this level as top sides change shape during a game. The fact United dominated possession and chances are proof of this.

The fact Utd dominated posession is because they are a world class side with world class players and we are not. They did not dominate chances, unless shots from Ronaldo that threatened JM up in the directors box count as chances?

[Mr Optimist]

I like the "we support our local team" comment. It is perfectly true...

I was reading the report of the match in the NOTW and did anyone else see the Your Shout question to some of the Man Yoo fans at the game?

Duncan Savage - Seaford
Eamonn Ruane - Leeds (?)
Richard Heathcote - Bordon
Shaun Hollis - Plymouth
Rob Graham - Watford
Peter Gimpsuit - Henley

When they sing United Road do you think they actually have a clue where OT is?

[Alan Partridge]

It's a fair report. Reading never threatened and only had one 'chance' in the whole game. They played to stop United, not to win a football match.

The fact the best Reading players were defenders say it all.

That's utter rubbish.

We tried to win the game, we started up 4-4-2 and tried to take the game to them. The fact is Man Utd have far better players than us and are a far better side, they restricted us and dominated the game as they will against nearly every side in this division, including teams that are better than us.

But to say we didn't try to win the game is utter nonsense.

I'm not having ago, as it worked and the job was done.

If you'd have said once it went to 1-1 that Reading tried to hang on for a point you would then be right, but to suggest we didn't try and win the game at the start is nonsense.

Oh and your fishing again!!

Let's be fair, Sidwell and Harper may aswell have played in defence, as they never crossed the half way line except for corners.

.

Ok I'll play along

James 'the crab' Harper never does anyway and Sidwell was stopped from doing that after the first half when Scholes was finding tons of room in front of our defense. He was going to win it for Man Utd so second half Sidwell stuck on him and he was slightly less effective.

United are too good a side for us to bomb on gung ho and leave tons of gaps.

Don't like unfair criticism of our side, even if it is wriggling away!

We can't be criticised in any way for the Man Utd game.

I felt Reading could have won the game, especially at 1-0. The players need to have more self confidence and belief and go for it. If you sit back you invite pressure.

Well now you make a fair point......finally.

Noises from the players and staff afterwards backed that up, they were gutted that they didn't win having been in front. United HAD to go at them and with the 4 strikers they had on at the end they were always going to be dominant in that area, Ronaldo came up with a bit of class and we got done. That's the way it goes.

I think this game will give them that belief and it will be interesting to see how we geton in the next couple of home games that are against similar opposition.

[alad]

Still struggling to think if more than 3 shots on target though. Please help.

I expected better from you. Your arguement is flawed. If a team dominates a game and has 10 shots go wide by an inch, yet the other team has 1 shot on target which team would you consider to have looked more threatening?

*The above stats are an example and do not reflect the game Saturday*

[starbug]

I wonder what else Oli can see with his Red spectacles on, I get the feeling he has also missed Chelsea winning the title the last 2 seasons

[The Goat was fed]

Seem to recall the away side on Saturday played with only one up front.

Very adventurous. Presumably 4-4-2 was too risky against a team with our home record?

Formations mean very little at this level as top sides change shape during a game. The fact United dominated possession and chances are proof of this.

Thank you for the football education. I didn't realise formations mean very little at this level. How stupid of me. Clearly it's proof that the hatful of goals and chances the away side created was in the finest tradition of this wonderful side. Not. Apologies on behalf of the Reading team for having the nerve to grace the pitch with you. I'm sure Steve Coppell will learn that he too must change the team's shape if we are ever to be considered a top side.

Thank Goodness. I thought for one minute there might be a condescending Man United fan on this site....

[Sam Tubber]

RA posts a balanced assessment of Saturday's game and you all wet yourselves. Reading FootbaLOLLOL CLOLub.

[72 bus]

Seem to recall the away side on Saturday played with only one up front.

Very adventurous. Presumably 4-4-2 was too risky against a team with our home record?

Formations mean very little at this level as top sides change shape during a game. The fact United dominated possession and chances are proof of this.

And they still could not beat Reading, 4-5-1 says it all, no bottle

[MrMadMax]

Ronaldo wan't that great either. I remember he kept miss hitting his long range shots, which went well over the bar. What that guy kept saying about him ripping Reading apart was rubbish- anyway i thought Murty did very well agains him. Sonko was world class aswell, that tackle on the half way line was great!

[alad]

Seem to recall the away side on Saturday played with only one up front.

Very adventurous. Presumably 4-4-2 was too risky against a team with our home record?

Formations mean very little at this level as top sides change shape during a game. The fact United dominated possession and chances are proof of this.

Thank you for the football education. I didn't realise formations mean very little at this level. How stupid of me. Clearly it's proof that the hatful of goals and chances the away side created was in the finest tradition of this wonderful side. Not. Apologies on behalf of the Reading team for having the nerve to grace the pitch with you. I'm sure Steve Coppell will learn that he too must change the team's shape if we are ever to be considered a top side.

Thank Goodness. I thought for one minute there might be a condescending Man United fan on this site....

United were very much like Arsenal, plenty of possession but very little penetration, although they created the majority of the chances. No one can argue with that. It's also proof that despite the different formations the teams deployed, only one side really went at it. It was clear that despite United's dominance, they weren't on top form and the game was there for the taking.

I apologise for expressing a view that you don't agree with

[BallRoyal]

Can't be bothered to read all posts on this thread, but Oli, you seem to have a little bit of sour-grapes mate.
Agreed Man utd played pretty fast attacking football, but realistically apart from Ronaldo, your team weren't much better than any team I saw at the Mad last season.
It pleases me that Man Utd didn't know how to break down a pretty solid unit. Bring on the other big teams.
By the way Iam not a newbie, just changed my username.

[Millsy]

Still struggling to think if more than 3 shots on target though. Please help.

I expected better from you. Your arguement is flawed. If a team dominates a game and has 10 shots go wide by an inch, yet the other team has 1 shot on target which team would you consider to have looked more threatening?

*The above stats are an example and do not reflect the game Saturday*

Wow, such a passionate and woefully biased supporter of Man Utd.

Nice to know I sometimes miss out on wathcing my beloved hometown club by one who's loyalties are divided.

We support our local club.

[alad]

Still struggling to think if more than 3 shots on target though. Please help.

I expected better from you. Your arguement is flawed. If a team dominates a game and has 10 shots go wide by an inch, yet the other team has 1 shot on target which team would you consider to have looked more threatening?

*The above stats are an example and do not reflect the game Saturday*

Wow, such a passionate and woefully biased supporter of Man Utd.

Nice to know I sometimes miss out on wathcing my beloved hometown club by one who's loyalties are divided.

We support our local club.

Incorrect on all counts son

[Platypuss]

Still struggling to think if more than 3 shots on target though. Please help.

I expected better from you. Your arguement is flawed.

Not an argument, just an observation.

quiet here, isn't it?

[alad]

Still struggling to think if more than 3 shots on target though. Please help.

I expected better from you. Your arguement is flawed.

Not an argument, just an observation.

quiet here, isn't it?

RA will be most pleased, this will be upto 5 pages by tomorrow

[Huntley & Palmer]

Have you been relegated to assistant fisherman?

[alad]

Hung up my rod awhile back, just speak sense now

[reading_fan]

Still struggling to think if more than 3 shots on target though. Please help.

I expected better from you. Your arguement is flawed. If a team dominates a game and has 10 shots go wide by an inch, yet the other team has 1 shot on target which team would you consider to have looked more threatening?

*The above stats are an example and do not reflect the game Saturday*

Correct alad, but you have to admit that many of the shots from Ronaldo (in particular) were speculative at best, particularly when flying high and wide over the bar - the weakest part of his game on Saturday I thought, in an otherwise very good performance from him