Monday, March 18, 2013

Manchester United 1-0 Reading

It's been a curious season, before christmas, when nothing was decided we saw some cracking football, not always great performances, but enough memorable moments to be more than happy with the entertainment we had been served up. Since City started to fall away, the football, the Madrid games apart, has become more and more mundane. I'm not complaining too much after last season, we just want to get that title sewn up.
The team was completely reshuffled, with Buttner and Anderson in the starting line, a pretty sure sign, that Fergie didn't rate the opposition too highly. Unfortunately once again, both those players showed why neither will ever make it at Manchester United. Smalling came in at right back, and whilst i think he's a reasonable centre half, he is not really a right back. He can do a job there, defensively, but he gets a nose bleed when he crosses the half way line, so creatively, we were lacking a bit from the start.
Given the result at Goodison, earlier in the day, United's start to the game wasn't what was hoped for, or what i expected. Never mind not having a shot on goal during the first ten minutes, we didn't even muster an attack worthy of the name. Eventually United started to look a bit livelier, and eventually a goal came, even then it needed a deflection to ensure it beat the Reading keeper Taylor. It was a great run from Rio Ferdinand that led to the goal, a rare excursion into the opponents area that rolled back the years.
The rest of the game was just completely forgettable, i could say Anderson faded out of the game as usual after an hour, except one surging run apart, he might as well not been on the pitch. Van Persie is still a way off the form we saw until around a month ago. And when Carrick is rested, you don't half know about it.
Reading had a couple of decent chances, and should definitely have had a penalty when Vidic lost his marbles for a moment and rugby tackled a man out of the way to try and win a header. But United saw the game out comfortably enough in the end, to see that twentieth league title hove into view.
I'm not sure why everybody was so surprised at City slipping up, after last week's debacle against Everton, that was the perfect fixture for us, as Everton had to put up a show for their fans, and they did that to a tee.
It will be interesting to see the team selected at Sunderland next week, as i'm sure United really fancy a trip to Wembley and i think we'll see the stronger eleven start st Stamford bridge. At least we can be certain that won't be a dull forgettable encounter.

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