Match Preview...Sheffield United+predictions(H)..Jan 20th

[higher]

The Match:
Sat 20th Jan 2007
English Premiership league
K.O 3pm at the Madejski Stadium.

Well a chance for another double having beaten Sheffield Utd 2-1 at Brammell lane to grab our 1st 3 away points in the premiership --->Match Report
As we all know Sheffield United came up with us last year from the championship where we drew 1-1 at Brammell Lane and a tense 2-1 win at home where a certain Mr Warnock had to be escorted from the pitch foaming at the mouth.

A HISTORY OF SHEFFIELD UTD AND OTHER ASSORTED BITS


The ref:Mark Halsey http://hobnob.royals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=55664


Current Team Positions:
Reading 9th with 31 points
Shef utd 16th with 24 points

Last 6 Prem matches:
READING:DWLDLL ..... SHEFFIELD UTD DLWLLW

SQUAD NEWS: Sheffield Utd have so far signed Matthew Kilgannon(defender from Leeds 1.75m) and Jonathan Stead (Striker from Sunderland 0.75m)in the January transfer window.They have also signed Jamaican striker Luton Shelton from Swedish outfit Helsingborgs IF.Also Senegal defender Mamadou Seck on a free from French side Le Havre.
Blades are also being linked to Levante striker Albert Meyong Ze in a 2m deal.The striker was top scorer in Portugal last year but move to La liga has not worked out.Another player Warnock is targeting is defender Greg Halford from Colchester in a poss 2,5m deal
If anyone thinks the critisism of Marcus on here is a tad harsh the stick Paul Gerrard is getting from Blades fans suggests they really dont rate him!Other keepers Ian Bennett and Paddy Kenny are still receiving treatment but neither are too far from a return.

The royals are definately going to be without Kevin Doyle(hamstring) for this game although possible returns to the squad could be Murty,Kitson and Convey.Gunnar has a hamstring injury and unlikely to be included.



Odds:(Bet 365 mon 2.30 pm)
Reading 5/6
Draw 11/5
Sheff Utd 3/1



Celeb Fans:Apart from Colin himself theres Sean Bean,Joe Eliot(out of Def Leppard),Richard Caborn(Sports minister),Paul Heaton(Beautiful South),Ray Ashcroft(the bill),Alex Hammond(sports presenter),Michael Palin,The Duchess of Kent and John Walton(off the Waltons)

Blades fan perspective:
I asked them the following:

- What differences are you finding between the Coca Cola and the Premiership?
- Who are your outstanding players?
- What are the weak links in the team?
- What are the realistic targets for the Blades this season?
- Apart from Sean Bean what other famous Blades fans are there?
-What are your thoughts about Reading fc?
- Allegedly Reading are your bogey team.Is this true and if so whats it like?
- Score prediction?
Results BLADES FANS VIEWS



Past league encounters: Played 29 Reading w 13 Sheffield Utd w 10 .....6 drawn

Trivia:
.They are the only League club to score ten goals in an away fixture; versus Burslem Port Vale in 1892
.They were the first team in the world to be promoted; a test match victory against Accrington in 1892-93
.They were involved in the first British radio commentary of a football match; versus Arsenal at Highbury in 1927
.They were the first club to sell two £100,000 players; Mick Jones to Leeds United and Alan Birchenall to Chelsea
Bramall Lane was the first ground to have floodlights installed
.They are the first foreign team to own a Chinese football club. Chengdu Blades, formerly known as Chengdu Five Bulls in the China League.
.They were the first team from the Coca-Cola Football League Championship to be awarded with a plate for finishing runners-up; 2005/06 season.
.They are the oldest team in the English football league to have the name United
.They were involved in the first Premier League game to be shown in High Definition; verses Liverpool F.C. 19/8/06
.They scored the first goal in the 2006-2007 Premiership season, thanks to a header by Rob Hulse.

STOCK EXCHANGE

Overall playing record for 20 January: Played 14, Won 6, Drawn 7, Lost 1, Scored 18, Conceded 15

[M4 Junction 11]

The plan was clearly to rough Arsenal up which I guess worked on the night.

the incident

[higher]

Wherei s Terry Hurlock when you need him?

[rg6royal]

thats a disgrace what morgan has done how much was he charged? ( i suppose it was for violent conduct ? )

[oxmiller]

Quite ironic after he copped one in the face from McCulloch of Wigan a few weeks ago.
Mind you, he didn't make a big fuss over being on the receiving end so probably thinks a quick dig in the ribs to a young snapper is no big deal.
Morgan, definitely one from the old school of centre halfs

[phil in cornwall]

From BBC website:

"Whilst Sheffield United do no condone this sort of behaviour, we cannot reconcile this incident with violent conduct."

He only punched him.

So what is violent?

[TFF]

Paddy Kenny likely to miss it too.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 227595.stm

Shame that.

[M4 Junction 11]

If the Blades sing their Greasy Chip Butty song can we sing this

You fill up my senses
Like a hat-trick from Kitson
Like a packet of hobnobs
Like a great football game
Like a night out in reading
Like your best football buddy
LIKE A WIN FOR THE ROYALS
Come thrill me again
na na na na na na oooooohh!!

[Nezhen]

I hope Gunnarsson plays in this one and scores another 2 beauties like he did last season. He is both under-rated and under valued IMO at the moment. Some of his exploits and particularly his important goals were nothing short of fantastic last season.

We MUST beat Colin's tits !!

[biscuitsrus]

I hope Gunnarsson plays in this one and scores another 2 beauties like he did last season. He is both under-rated and under valued IMO at the moment. Some of his exploits and particularly his important goals were nothing short of fantastic last season.

We MUST beat Colin's tits !!

Bryn's lack of pace is a problem. Not overated, squad player at best but gives it 100%

[Woodcote Royal]

I'm assuming "squad player at best" has now replaced "not good enough" for 2007.

I seem to remember that Sonko and Kitson were once holders of this infamous title.

So, I guess it should come as no surprise to see it attached to a midfieder who stood in at right back, whilst the defence kept a clean sheet, as they hammered the oppo 6-0, one of which he scored..........................as ever, we are grateful to our resident experts for their input.

[RoyalBlue]

I hope Gunnarsson plays in this one and scores another 2 beauties like he did last season. He is both under-rated and under valued IMO at the moment. Some of his exploits and particularly his important goals were nothing short of fantastic last season.

We MUST beat Colin's tits !!

Bryn's lack of pace is a problem. Not overated, squad player at best but gives it 100%

I used to think he was lacking in pace but watching him on Tuesday I began to reconsider my opinion. Yes, he has comparitively slow leg speed but at the same time he has a very long stride length, which enables him to cover the ground PDQ.

[readingfc_4_life_and_beyo]

I hope Gunnarsson plays in this one and scores another 2 beauties like he did last season. He is both under-rated and under valued IMO at the moment. Some of his exploits and particularly his important goals were nothing short of fantastic last season.

We MUST beat Colin's tits !!

Bryn's lack of pace is a problem. Not overated, squad player at best but gives it 100%

I used to think he was lacking in pace but watching him on Tuesday I began to reconsider my opinion. Yes, he has comparitively slow leg speed but at the same time he has a very long stride length, which enables him to cover the ground PDQ.

Agreed. I reckon many will be suprised at how quick he (along with Kitson who is said to be slow) really is... yes, sometimes players outpace him (after taking it past him) and that comes down to reaction time, which everyone has.

[blade 1]

not in the same league as what lee mcullock did. Or jp angel He didn't like it so much when it happened to him did he?

dig in the ribs of van persie and that was the last time he as seen in the match too scared to play after that.... job done. Although i can see why he had been banned

Also heard that is was because van persie was going on about the size of his pay check. Diving arsehole.

still i hope we start better than we did last time, when lita and doyle shreded our defence. (jags and davis would hopefully put up more resistance)

[Royal Rother]

I wonder whether Morgan went in and apologised to Van Persie?

The whack he took in the eye was far worse than what he dished out to VP yet he did not want to make a big thing of it; he must feel right cheesed off now.

[Mr Angry]

It didn't seem that much different from the punch that Ivar got from Johnson in the game v Everton.

[alad]

Van Persie is a nasty arrogant piece of work, he deserved that little dig. Another wannabe hard man who dishes it out but can't take it.

[blade 1]

arsenal always go on about how rough other teams are.

Yet their cowardly tackles were far and asway worse than any united did.

farbigas studs are probably still in montys chest from the last meating and roskiky took down leggiertwood from behind as well hes no facing another stretch on the side lines.

didn't even shake hands afterwards no class!

[M4 Junction 11]

it's not a level playing field ... deal with it!

[Bath Hoops]

Van Persie is a nasty arrogant piece of work, he deserved that little dig. Another wannabe hard man who dishes it out but can't take it.

You never cease to amaze me, how you can justify any act like that is beyond me. If that was done to any Reading player you'd be up for hanging the guy. Morgan got what he deserved there was no justification regardless of how he was provoked.