What : Reading v Manchester UTD
Where: Madejski Stadium, Reading, England.
When: Saturday, December 1st,2012.
Time: 17.30 GMT.
Referee: M.Hasley.
Last time these two teams met together in a Premier league match, Cristiano Ronaldo was on his penultimate season with the Red Devils which was the Champions League winning season of 2007-2008 where UTD’s two star players then and currently: Ronaldo and Rooney scored to win 2-0 over the Royals. It has quite been a historic week at the Red side of Manchester with the unveiling of Sir Alex Ferguson’s statue for his tremendous achievement at the helm for quarter of a century. And fast forward to the match day 13 and 14, QPR and West Ham United were set to gate crash UTD and Sir Alex’s Party with a wonderful and spirited performance. Two wins out of two with a not-so-convincing performance can only instil hope among their fans that the best is yet to come. The Royals (Reading) on the other hand have had a pretty inconsistent season with see-sawing results throughout their campaign, which just can’t seem to maintain a consistent run of results.
Reading F.C (The Royals)
Manager – Brian McDermott
The Royals entertain UTD once again after getting relegated four years ago. This season once again has been an uphill struggle for them as expected. They have had some wonderful starts this season, but their defense is the 3rd worst in the league conceding 23 goals behind only Southampton, Spurs & Fulham tied together. Analysing their downfall on why they have not been able to maintain their consistent run (yes, they had a 4 match unbeaten streak until they were beaten twice over the last weekend and mid-week), one can only point to their defense. The Royals fans can only hope that McDermott has found a way to stop the leakage of goals at the back. (Remember the 7-5 defeat against an Arsenal side?)
Reading should play a more shrewd type of football against Red Devils which has worked for teams like Everton, QPR and West ham who had put their energies in defending and hitting UTD on the counter attack. We hope McDermott has noticed this! Another reason that could cheer up the Royals fans is they have been difficult to beat at home, where they have drawn twice and won once in their last three home games.
Current Form:
In all competitions (last 10 matches): LLWDDLDLDD
In EPL (last 6 matches): LLWDDD
Team News:
The young 21year old Sean Morrison at the defense has been their star defender. Jimmy Kebe remains a major doubt as he continues a tricky recovery from the groin injury that has kept him out for almost three weeks.
Danny Guthrie should be available following a thigh problem that has laid him low this month but Alex McCarthy and Jem Karacan remain sidelined.
Formation: 4-4-2
Manchester UTD
Manager: Sir Alex Fergusson.
The Manchester United fans around the world know that the Red Devils are known for winning matches despite producing performances that are not-so-convincing enough. Over their most dominant as well as title winning season over the years, UTD have been in the same position with such rusty performances in the first half of the season while coming alive in the second half of the season. It is in the DNA of UTD team that they are currently the league leaders and a victory tonight against the Royals would provide them the much needed catalyst and provide a perfect platform to avenge themselves against their town rivals ahead of the most awaited & the Derby match next week.
While they cannot look far beyond today’s clash, doing so would derail their progress and allow City to take the league lead if they emerge victorious against Everton. UTD are known to take their bottom table opponents lightly and we all found out why: QPR last weekend produced their best display so far only for UTD’s new baby faced assassin and goal poacher to take the game well beyond QPR’s reach. Against West Ham, having taken an early lead, they remained complacent enough that they struggled to put off a wonderful West Ham UTD who was unlucky to atleast get away with a point. If only UTD could be less complacent and their defense could tight the doors today against Reading, they can thrash The Royals and get ahead of City in goal difference.
Current Form:
In all competitions (last 10 matches): WWLLWWWLWW
In EPL (last 6 matches): WWLWWW
Team News:
The man of the month has definitely got to be Chicarito who has now scored 8 goals in his last 8 matches! RVP once again proved the legendary Van Nistelrooy’s statement that RVP gives a cutting edge to UTD by netting his 12th goal of the season in the mid-week clash. RVP & Chica are the men to watch out. Nani is still side lined due to a tight hamstring and will be out for a month while Valencia is out with a hip injury. Kagawa is still recovering from an injury. Paul Scholes is back after his suspension.
Formation: 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1
Likely Line-Ups
Prediction
We at Soccersouls are sure that UTD will once again be put to test, but UTD have time and again proven that they win against all odds. While Reading can take satisfaction that UTD have just won twice against the Royals in 4 times, and this would give them an onus to atleast hold on the league leaders for a draw.
UTD’s (in favour) – 3-1
Reading (in favour) – 2-2