United vs Reading Match Thread - Sponsored by Brian McDolan

[SHORT AND CURLY]

As posted on the SPOTTED thread,

Hal Robson Kanu was in the M6 services after the game with a bloke (presumably his driver) but none of the rest of the team were there.

Wonder why he didn't travel with the rest of the team

Prolly joining up with Welsh Squad

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Plenty of effort with no cutting edge to get through a well drilled Utd team who were in cruise control.

We have to do something about our set pieces to try and hurt teams as the corners we had in the second half were all wasteful.

Lee Mason - when a player is pushed away by the opposition in the box it is a penalty.

[ZacNaloen]

What we saw yesterday was how dolans academy teams play, unfortunately without the the cutting edge up front. If Dolan remains in chargec any longer I'm sure we'll see that though come through. He only had 4 days...
What yesterday also demonstrated was exactly what I was getting stick for last week. Absolute nonsense that we had to go back too 442 because of pogs suspension.


I even thought karacan had a decent game on the ball and off it. Which has been an usual combination for him.

[If you still hate Futcher]

Karacan was good off the ball but there were still too many missed passes - at least he was trying to play through balls for the forwards to run on to though

[Maguire]

What yesterday also demonstrated was exactly what I was getting stick for last week. Absolute nonsense that we had to go back too 442 because of pogs suspension

Yes, I too was impressed by both losing the match and barely mustering a shot on goal

[Maguire]

FWIW thought the boys did pretty well yday but United never really got out of first gear.

Our set-pieces disappoint.

[sandman]

United : "you can keep it there all you want you're not going to hurt us"

And yet utd needed a deflection to hurt us and we should hsve had a penalty.

Yes because they were playing at full pelt and there is no way they would've had another gear to go to if they got into trouble. Fact is teams like United are perfectly happy to let you have possession if you have it in areas that don't hurt them.

[windermere_royal]

Yes all the cruise control and second great shit is bollox.

[ZacNaloen]

What yesterday also demonstrated was exactly what I was getting stick for last week. Absolute nonsense that we had to go back too 442 because of pogs suspension

and barely mustering a shot on goal

You mean exactly like we did with pog up front? Glad you agree with me.

[The Beardy Man]

Can't understand the moaners here today. In terms of keeping possession and using the ball, that was one of our better performances this year...and shows that these players have been capable of it all year. They were told not to play that way.

Notable also how much tighter at the back we look when we don't spend 90 minutes giving the ball to the opposition needlessly.

Had we been playing football of that style all year, even were we still in 19th place, McD would still be in the job today I suspect.

I hope we hire someone who will encourage possession football from here on in, we should be there or there abouts next year in the championship.

[Maguire]

What yesterday also demonstrated was exactly what I was getting stick for last week. Absolute nonsense that we had to go back too 442 because of pogs suspension

and barely mustering a shot on goal

You mean exactly like we did with pog up front? Glad you agree with me.

Doesn't even make sense you daft little man

[sandman]

Yes all the cruise control and second great shit is bollox.

So you don't believe that these players some of whom are worth more than half of our whole club never mind our team could step up a level if they needed to? Have a day off.

I watched Real Madrid last night, they were 2-1 down at half time and not playing particularly well yet Mourinho made some substitutions, they came out for the second half, scored goals and blitzed a team they were struggling against. That's what top teams do, it's how they get to the top of their profession and how they win trophies.

I'd like to think you're on a trip but I fear you're serious.

[ZacNaloen]

There aren't enough roll eyes in the world for you right now maguire.

[loyalroyaldaz]

Quote from Dolan on skysports website:
"And an annoyed Dolan said: "It was a clear penalty but I think the referee thought I was on work experience and, 'perfect a little 1-0 loss for Reading' and would be fine.

"I wouldn't have expected that from the referee but what can you do?"

Meanwhile, Dolan has expressed his shock at Reading's decision to axe McDermott on Monday.

"No-one was more surprised than me," said Dolan. "It is well documented that Brian is a good friend of mine but the decision was made and WE MOVE FORWARD."


Hmmmmmm

[ZacNaloen]

Yes all the cruise control and second great shit is bollox.

So you don't believe that these players some of whom are worth more than half of our whole club never mind our team could step up a level if they needed to? Have a day off.

I watched Real Madrid last night, they were 2-1 down at half time and not playing particularly well yet Mourinho made some substitutions, they came out for the second half, scored goals and blitzed a team they were struggling against. That's what top teams do, it's how they get to the top of their profession and how they win trophies.

I'd like to think you're on a trip but I fear you're serious.

Last night is definitely no indication of how we'll play against sides other than Man U.

We aren't good enough for this league, we all know that.

At the same time, that was no excuse for tactical suicide from McDermott against sides that aren't Man U, with the exception of January. I certainly feel last night showed what we should have been doing the last two games in particular. We still may not have won those games, because we aren't very good, but I don't think it would have been as shockingly bad as it was against Villa and Everton. Wigan was a whole other problem, right shape wrong team selection and completely the wrong emphasis placed on the match.

[Royal91]

Can't understand the moaners here today. In terms of keeping possession and using the ball, that was one of our better performances this year...and shows that these players have been capable of it all year. They were told not to play that way.

Notable also how much tighter at the back we look when we don't spend 90 minutes giving the ball to the opposition needlessly.

Had we been playing football of that style all year, even were we still in 19th place, McD would still be in the job today I suspect.

I hope we hire someone who will encourage possession football from here on in, we should be there or there abouts next year in the championship.

This!

The result was irrelevant! The game showed these players are more technical than what they've been producing and its clearly evident Brian's style was to hoof it. The inclusion of Shorey was a massive improvement as well.

But it clearly showed we've lacked a top premier league striker and a CAM all season. What 90% of believed we were short of at the start of the season.

[Man Friday]

"The ref thought I was on work experience" says Eamonn.

Brilliant comment. I've been saying all season that the little clubs are handicapped to around 6 points each season in the PL. Make that 10. Another two points today. As Eamonn says, we're not expected to get any points away at Man U so denying us a clear penalty doesn't matter in the whole scheme of things. It's not even worthy of discussion on MOTD. Don't rock the apple-cart Mr Lineker. Absolutely futile us being in the PL. Just cannon fodder.

[RoyalBlue]

So why do the pillocks at ESPN count the ones that were wiped clean?

The bookings up to now aren't wiped clean. You currently require 10 cautions across the whole season to pick up a 2 match suspension. I think that changes to 15 games and 3 matches come around mid April?

Thanks for the explanation.

What we saw yesterday was how dolans academy teams play, unfortunately without the the cutting edge up front. .

Really makes me wonder why we didn't make a move for Kevin Doyle in the January window.

Could have done worse than reunit the Hunt brothers too!

[Maguire]

There aren't enough roll eyes in the world for you right now maguire.

You have clearly never played football. Let's leave it at that.

[Maguire]

Oh kudos to Garath McCleary by the way - thought he showed some of his potential last night, at last. Good game.