Reading – Post Match

[vlahka]

Yes but they brought on Valencia and Owen in the second half and still couldn't hit a cow's arse with a handful of rice. And let's not forget that Ferguson said that last season he had his best ever squad (only Ronaldo's gone from that squad). They were predictable, totally lacked invention and creativity and were reduced to long hopeless hoofs upfield for the last 25 minutes. And let's also not forget that Leeds are playing in a division even lower than Reading too. Apparently it was a disaster to draw with Reading according to the media. It's a pound to a penny that Man U getting outplayed by a (old) Third Division club at home won't be seen as a worse result in the fawning media tomorrow. It's a funny old game

Making comparisons can go either way depending on whats being focused on. Theres a few important things here. The team total cost is one. It can be pointed out that what we paid for may be less, but half of those players UTD fielded were youth players who they didnt pay anything for. We had 1 youth player on the field. Thats a very sad number.

Ronaldo was easily their best player and the main reason UTD won last season. They now dont have him. We also sold our best player in Alonso. At least for me he was always our best player since midfield is extremely important. Remove that specific link and it doesnt matter how awesome a striker you have infront. Thats another reason UTD are struggling some because Ronaldo always took the ball up himself. Yet now without him they are 2 points off first place and we are 22 points off.

Pointing to them screwing up an FA cup is one thing, but that doesnt excuse our teams performance. What we did out there is no different to what we're doing int he league and every other competition the team is or was involved in. Somehow the same thing cant be said for UTD. How do they manage? The manager is how. We got 2nd because we overachieved. I'm not saying this season is relative to how the team plays. But its not really that much better when they do.

[SimonNo7]

I avoided this thread yesterday for obvious reasons but my opinion for what it's worth is - Leave Insua, Darby, Lucas and NGog alone, they are all young players and regardless of how many games they have played they will have ups and downs.

Gerrard was a disgrace. Club captain my ****ing ass. Still now in interviews he'll say he wants to play centre midfield yet we played 4-4-2, so did Reading and he was outplayed, out muscled and out desired (I know that isn't a proper phrase) by the 2 lads playing for Reading. Lucas was miles better than Gerrard, his passing was terrible, workrate non existent, positionally off by yards and the worst sin for me was he didn't provide inspiration, I know he can't do it himself every week but the very least you expect of the captain is to get onto Aurelio and Insua when they were struggling, get in Torres' ear asking for a bit more rather than letting NGog do all the donkey work for him.

Souness was a proper captain, Roy Keane was a proper captain hell even that cunt John Terry is a proper captain.
We have a tempremental prima donna.

Have to agree with this. Yes he scored the goal that got us back in to game but the rest of his game was poor. Most worrying was his apparent lack of interest or desire or leadership. He just doesn't seem to be the kind of captain that points out to his teammates that they are not doing enough. Maybe him and Carra should swap so that he can concentrate on his game and Carra can be the captain.

[rudedog]

Making comparisons can go either way depending on whats being focused on. Theres a few important things here. The team total cost is one. It can be pointed out that what we paid for may be less, but half of those players UTD fielded were youth players who they didnt pay anything for. We had 1 youth player on the field. Thats a very sad number.

Ronaldo was easily their best player and the main reason UTD won last season. They now dont have him. We also sold our best player in Alonso. At least for me he was always our best player since midfield is extremely important. Remove that specific link and it doesnt matter how awesome a striker you have infront. Thats another reason UTD are struggling some because Ronaldo always took the ball up himself. Yet now without him they are 2 points off first place and we are 22 points off.

Pointing to them screwing up an FA cup is one thing, but that doesnt excuse our teams performance. What we did out there is no different to what we're doing int he league and every other competition the team is or was involved in. Somehow the same thing cant be said for UTD. How do they manage? The manager is how. We got 2nd because we overachieved. I'm not saying this season is relative to how the team plays. But its not really that much better when they do.

12 point you mean - at one point last season we were a similar ammount of points behind the leaders and ended up running them to the wire so its still too early to be making these comparisons.

[vlahka]

Oops sorry, didnt realise I pressed 2 instead of 1. My bad.

[Parr_Zee]

12 point you mean - at one point last season we were a similar ammount of points behind the leaders and ended up running them to the wire so its still too early to be making these comparisons.

Were we? Didn't we lead for most of it, and then drop off at the end? Can't remember us ever being 12 points behind...

[SK]

Were we? Didn't we lead for most of it, and then drop off at the end? Can't remember us ever being 12 points behind...

i think it was just before we went to old trafford. we won there and cut the gap to 9 and then utd i think lost or drew the next two games. something like that...

[Exiled_red]

Is now a good time to say that the scum were 12 points behind Newcastle around the turn of the year in 95/96 and came back to win the league

[Lee]

Is now a good time to say that the scum were 12 points behind Newcastle around the turn of the year in 95/96 and came back to win the league

True

Let's hope that United, Chelsea and Arsenal buckle under the pressure. Their bums go half a crown, thrupney bit, and we steam the League

[anfieldanfield]

based on yesterdays game

Reina - couple of flappy moments, I think he could have come for their goal. Panicked when Carra passed it back and scue whiffed it with his left foot. Also couple of poor throws and kicks. Much better second half.

Darby - our best player imo. Got better as game went on and made some good interventions. reads the game well. Must be hard for a youngster coming into this side at present that is so devoid of confidence. And playing next to the sack of **** that is Skrtrel.

Skrtel - another woeful performance. Can't jump won't jump. Will lunge in at tackles won't win **** all.

Carra - steady game. did what he needed to do for the most part. not at his best on the left of the two centre backs. always shouting and trying to organise the defence.

Insua - ****e. I've been one of his biggest fans but he needs a break. he was getting torn a new arsehole by their right winger. did make a good interception at one point and got forward well once too.

Kuyt - i think personally he tried to get a touch on gerrards goal but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt. did ok at times. but as the match wore on his touch and class got worse. he's ****ing frustrating to watch. I loved the comedy moment where he ran with the ball and kicked it ten yards ahead. reminded me of a moment on the old playstation where the button got stuck.

Gerrard - either the injury is hampering him big style or he's had enough of the manager. something is not right. very subdued again.

Lucas - decent first half but was ****e at times in the second, gave one awful pass away when we were in 'the balls a ****ing live hand grenade' moments of play. he doesn't really offer much. he plays it simple but in the present team is that enough? if we had other players moving to make space then he would prove a better asset. why can't he shoot anymore? he scored a blinder against havant & waterlooville and although they were **** the goal was class. yet he doesn't even attempt shots these days. weird.

Auerlio - can't stand him. rubbish. offers **** all. one decent free kick in every 50 games. someone burn him.

Ngog - looks better every game. has a really good touch and works hard. does seem to tackle from the wrong direction though and gives goal kicks and throw ons away with every tackle. one to keep.

Torres - I can't help but feel sorry for him having to chase long ball after long ball. i'm sure his injuries are down to the way we play. he's forever running after aimless punts forward. he spends 70% of his energy trying to win headers. imagine him in a decent team.

Manager - again too much respect for the opponents. why two left backs? why no babel or benni? he looks a dead man walking. i want him to suceed to stick two fingers up to the world. nut if we sign the horse I hope rafa loses his right foot in an alligator attack.

at least we're still in the draw for the next round.

Pretty much spot on

[vlahka]

Is now a good time to say that the scum were 12 points behind Newcastle around the turn of the year in 95/96 and came back to win the league

I wouldnt go hoping for too much. The way we're playing theres no chance. We couldnt win the league when we were infront, let alone 12 points behind.

[Fan65]

Instead of slagging off the team and Rafa on here, why don't you write him a letter, with bullets points to emphasise how you see he's doing wrong, maybe it'll have more influence than posting your tedious bollocks about why this player is ****e and how he is so complicated in his team selections.

Fact is:

1) This same team came second, 4 points off Man. Utd last season and playing the most attractive football in the PL (add to that we scored the most goals).

2) We have been consistently improving each year under Rafa up to this season, when clearly something is going wrong. So please stop it with the stereotyped phrases such as 'burying your head in the sand ...' etc ...

Sacking Rafa and putting another manager in charge (which will probably be Jurgen Klinsmann - I doubt the Americans have a vast football knowledge which will make them see past the Germans' merits) will put our club in an even deeper quagmire.

Then we'll all have to endure your constant tediousness about how bad Klinsmann is .... Some things will never change.

ffs.

I do not slag off our team and I have never asked for Rafa to be sacked

You did not watch the game and yet you criticise others who did, who voiced concerns about the team they love.

The tedious bollocks is coming from you my friend.

Point 1 ) Bollocks....Last years performance is history

Point 2 ) YES the improvement has stopped and YES THAT IS THE WORRY WE ARE ALL POSTING ABOUT

And where has anyone, let alone me suggested Klinnsman as the answer ?????? ( having said that if anyone has, surely that's their right anyway)


You may not agree with this but the team is under performing this year, I am concerned, I want our team to be the best, I can see no easy answer but I hope & prey it happens soon. I do not want Rafa out.

Try being constructive yourself instead of slagging me off for no reason.

[Guest]

ffs.

I do not slag off our team and I have never asked for Rafa to be sacked

You did not watch the game and yet you criticise others who did, who voiced concerns about the team they love.

The tedious bollocks is coming from you my friend.

Point 1 ) Bollocks....Last years performance is history

Point 2 ) YES the improvement has stopped and YES THAT IS THE WORRY WE ARE ALL POSTING ABOUT

And where has anyone, let alone me suggested Klinnsman as the answer ?????? ( having said that if anyone has, surely that's their right anyway)


You may not agree with this but the team is under performing this year, I am concerned, I want our team to be the best, I can see no easy answer but I hope & prey it happens soon. I do not want Rafa out.

Try being constructive yourself instead of slagging me off for no reason.

Well you slagged me off for voicing something related to people posting when we do badly, nothing to do with how bad or well we played. There's a nuance there.

I've never said that the team isn't under performing, I would look foolish if I said so. As for the Klinsmann bit, well, he's the most favoured man to replace Rafa judging what's spouted in the press.

[Scratch]

Wasnt specifically aimed at you, but its no different. Person A comes in and says the team was ****. Person B comes in and locks onto person A saying their judgement is pathetic for questioning the team and manager. Person A points out the constant crap in defense. Person B abuses A. Continue each week as the team screws itself more and more.

I think Fredo was more referring to the Person C type fan, who only comes out when the team loses, but stays quiet when it wins...back in the day it used to be people like Rage, Rashid and Sarb24...now there's a new batch appearing, who only appear to berate when we lose, but can't be arsed if we win, cos they only want to see Rafa gone.

[FatTony]

Well you slagged me off for voicing something related to people posting when we do badly, nothing to do with how bad or well we played. There's a nuance there.

I've never said that the team isn't under performing, I would look foolish if I said so. As for the Klinsmann bit, well, he's the most favoured man to replace Rafa judging what's spouted in the press.

Didnt one of G&H say Klinsmann would never manage LFC just the other week?

[Bender]

Didnt one of G&H say Klinsmann would never manage LFC just the other week?

Yeah Hicks ....but then again he says alot of things