EPL : Reading vs Manchester United - Sept 23
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o no wonder valid reasonOriginally posted by Dead_Man_Inc:fletcher - a scottish, fergie training him to represent their country scotland, fergie's favourite godson
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i'm just jokingOriginally posted by ghimpheng:o no wonder valid reason -
Coppell 'half-pleased with point'
Reading boss Steve Coppell was disappointed his team couldn't beat United after taking the lead against Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
Kevin Doyle put the Royals ahead just after half-time, but Cristiano Ronaldo's superb equaliser 20 minutes from the final whistle ultimately split the points.
Former Reds winger Coppell told PremPlus: "We got our noses in front with the penalty and I thought it was going to be one of those days where it was going to come our way.
"Then, as you're always going to get with players of this quality, a piece of individual brilliance - a really good finish.
"We're half-pleased with a point. We've gone away from the game thinking what might have been, I suppose."
Reading battled ferociously throughout the game, and Coppell was delighted with his players' unwavering application.
"It's always going to be an uphill tasks against teams of this quality," he said. "But I have to give a big round of applause to my players for the way they went about the task." -
Gaffer upbeat despite draw
Sir Alex Ferguson felt United should have taken three points against Reading, but was far from downbeat over his side's performance at the Madejski Stadium.
Cristiano Ronaldo's second-half strike salvaged a draw for the Reds, who dominated the Royals in terms of possession and passed up several decent chances.
The Gaffer told PremPlus: "I think in terms of possession and shots at goal we were a bit unlucky, but you have to admire Reading.
"They played a survival game, they fought for every ball, worked their tails off and made it difficult for us but when you look at the amount of possession we had, particularly in the last third of the field, we should have done better.
"It can happen that way some times. When a team puts eight bodies in front of the penalty box it's not easy."
Despite taking one point from the last two games, Sir Alex is still satisfied with his side's start to the season.
"It's a worry when you drop any points," he admitted. "The name of the game is to win games, win points and be up there. But we've had a solid start to the season.
"Last Sunday was a disappointing performance but not today, I think it was a good performance today."
While Ronaldo was the oustanding player on show, Sir Alex was buoyed by the performances of Wayne Rooney, who showed sustained glimpses of his best form.
"I thought Wayne was much better today," he said. "He looked much sharper. Towards the last 15 minutes there were signs that maybe he was getting a bit tired.
"It's only games that's going to get him back to his best. That was his sixth game in six months, and that's not a lot for a young lad."
Special praise was also reserved for Nemanja Vidic and Gabriel Heinze, who both made their first starts of the season after returning from injury.
"Vidic was fantastic today and showed what a fantastic centre half he is," said Sir Alex. "Gaby did really well for about an hour but it took its toll because he's required to put in more energy than the centre-backs.
"We decided to take him off when we were chasing a goal because obviously there was going to be a lot of energy spent trying to get a goal back."
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=365698 -
Report: Reading 1 United 1
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Carrick salutes battling Royals
Michael Carrick praised Reading's battling defensive display after United were held to a 1-1 draw at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
A penalty from Kevin Doyle put the Royals ahead just after half-time, before Cristiano Ronaldo fired a sublime equaliser seventeen minutes from time. United continued to create chances after that but were unable to find a winner, much to Carrick's surprise.
"After we got ourselves back into the game I really fancied us to go on and win it," he told MUTV at the final whistle. "We wanted to come here and get a result after the Arsenal defeat last weekend, but it wasn't meant to be.
"Reading deserve a lot of credit because they defended very well and made it difficult for us, particularly around the edge of the box where they closed us down quickly.
"When you come to places like this and go behind it makes it extra hard," added Carrick. "But Cristiano came up with a little bit of magic and gave us a glimmer of hope. I really thought we'd get the winner after that but things just didn't drop for us."
Reading's goal came about after referee Peter Walton deemed Gary Neville had deliberately handled in the area.
"I'd have to see it again to be sure, but I think it did hit Gary's hand," admitted Carrick. "I'm not sure whether or not it was deliberate, but it's just one of those things.
"They tend to even themselves out over the course of the season and hopefully that will be the case for us. The goal gave them something to hold on to and their energy levels stayed pretty high the longer the game went on which made it more difficult for us.
"One point out of six is very disappointing, but I'm fully confident we'll get back to winning ways soon."
The Reds will put Premiership business to one side this week as they set about picking up three points from their Champions League visit to Benfica.
The Portuguese side dumped the Reds out of the competition at the group stages last season, and Carrick insists United will be determined to settle that score on Tuesday.
"It's a big occasion for us," insisted Carrick. "The boys suffered disappointment there last season and we'll be trying to make amends for that. We had a good start against Celtic and we want to keep that going."
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I think fletcher played ok this match. much better than richardson.. remember that both giggs and park is out on injury, hence SAF have no other alternative to play richardson and fletcher in the midfield..Originally posted by F.raon.I.R:n i dun freaking understand y fergie keeps on play DARREN FLETCHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????? when he can't perform...freaking hell.I bet its favourtism..i rather have ole starting!can any1 tell me wat specialised talent fletcher has? for eg
ronaldo-for all his pace,trickery n dribbling
giggs-set pieces,experience
oshea-our only dm?defends well in midfield
Js park-effective runs in area n short crucial passes
carrick-excellent passing
scholes-great vision,dictates play,powerful shots
fletcher-_______________________???????????? -
after the last game against Gooners, I expect more fire in their bellies cause the rest are catching up fast.
but to my disappointment again, our team played like shambles.
If Rio would bother to boot that ball out of touch, it won't reach GVN for a penalty.
And we don't have any width with Richardson, he wants to cut in and fire. And all his shots are off-target. Sell him to west-brom.
Fletcher, is one hard-working dude. he is running, pressing, but his lack of quality is showing. Yes, Fergie is planning for him to learn and maybe do a miracle, but he is too short. Sell him.
I am quite impressed with Ronaldo. He is energetic, and pushing. At the moment, only thru him, can feel some urgency..
Rooney has seems to lose a bit of thunder.
In short, we have experienced a high with 5 out or 5, don't it be followed by a slump. cause it is now not a marathon, with other teams pratically "eating" oil, it is a 38 match sprint. -
Reading management unhappy with Man Utd result
tribalfooball.com - September 26, 2006
Reading management admit they were disappointed with their players' performance in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Royals manager Steve Coppell told the Reading Evening Post: "For the town and the club what the game and result means is fairly obvious.
"It was a great occasion, but the actual performance on Saturday wasn't to be honest.
"Realistically in the cold light of day you have to say things went our way and we will have to raise our game in future when we play teams like this.
"But this is a massive learning curve for us. Their (Man Utd) style of play is totally different to what we've been used to. They have played football in the top flight for years and have accumulated millions of pounds worth of top players."
Coach Kevin Dillon said: "I'm not really happy with a point, we could have got all three.
"People outside the club might not have thought we could compete at this level but everyone inside knew we could." -
you got a point there just looke @ Rafa.B how many spainish players he got..........Reina,Alonso,GarciaOriginally posted by Dead_Man_Inc:i'm just joking
And Arsene Wenger.........Henry And Gallas
And Jose.M......Carvalho And Ferriera
maybe u really got a point there