Reply With QuoteWe have two very different away games now. West Brom could go above us if they win at QPR in the week in their game in hand against a rapidly deteriorating QPR side but we also could put some distance between us. We now have a handy lead in terms of the play off places but of course we are now right back in the top two mix. Leeds have a game in hand but nice to be back in those positions for now. We really do have a chance. If we can get a result next week (take a draw) and turn them lot over the week after then we have two home games to come after that and would have a great chance. I think whatever happens we just need to enjoy it. We have a superb manager. A team playing great football. They all try their best and we are entertaining. Not sure we can ask for much more than that.
Reading – Woeful really from start to finish. They had a mini spell for 10 minutes in the first half where they passed it about and won a few corners but did nothing with it and then a shot on 85 minutes Henderson saved and a free kick wide. A few other moves were cleared but outside of that they were soundly beaten. Conceded first minutes as they did not mark, pick up or react and this set the scene for a defensive horror show. They reminded me of the David Weir side where they just kept trying to pass it out of the back. Wilder had seen this and we pounced every time wit players snapping at them. This led to the second goal with a ridiculous turnover of possession. They carried on undeterred after this goal and this led to more chances for us. It was ridiculous.
They gave it away time after time and it meant as they did, they were then so deep so Madine and Hogan could play right up the last defender/keeper. When they did move it out, they gave it away in midfield. We looked like creating a chance every time we attacked. The manager threw his hands in the air after a few free kicks were not given but in truth they were masters of their own downfall. He should have changed the shape, formation or how they were playing at 1-0 but did not. At 2-0 he did not and it continued. They deserved everything they got for a woeful approach. Even at 4-0 they did not really change this stupid tactic. We had so much time on the ball and although we played very well; it was like a practice game once we picked them off and moved them about all game. If they had lost by even more, they could not have complained.
They have a few loan players with the more well-known Oliveira the striker from Norwich, defender Matt Miazga and the midfielder Lewis Baker from Chelsea and Ovie Ejara on loan from Liverpool. They still have Aluko around who is a real threat when I have seen him but seems to be heading to China this month. They lack experience really and I know O’Shea is old but he may have got them organised. I assume McShane another experienced lad is out injured. They looked all at sea at the back but it was if they would be fined if they dare kick it long or try and move it on rather than the possession stuff that often did not go out of the box and got them into trouble. Like us under Weir we did not have the players good enough to do that – and Neil Collins and the lads Reading have cannot so what Man City do!
They were down near the bottom last season and are again this year but the only saving grace is that they will survive I feel just as the bottom three are so poor and Rotherham as well as they have done toss away winnable situations. They face Rotherham next week and that is a crucial game. I expect they will win this at home but if they don’t then you worry for them. You look at the side and they still have enough pace in the forward and goals but the defence and the approach of the manager is a worry. I am not sure having him and his lack of experience of the Championship is helping them. They were going nowhere under Clement but someone like Mick McCarthy even short term would have been preferable I feel even if they have picked up a bit recently. They folded like a pack of cards today and had no real fight or leadership allied to being outplayed and outballed.
Opponent man of the match – Martinez made an error early and did not convince but had little chance on the goals and then he actually made some good saves second half to keep them respectable-ish. The lad Swift is a good player that is not used properly (I like Kelly who he came on for too) but the stupid tactics meant by the time he often got the ball men were on him. He would do better in a decent side. The rest of the side were abysmal on and off the ball save for a few flashes from The two lads Barrow and Meite who flanked Nelson Oliveira showed a bit of pace at times and got away from us a few times but by this time we were in control. I liked the way we gave them a kick when/if they got away and stopped them penetrating much. Not sure either had much service. The lad on the right had a decent spring in the air for a smaller player. Oliveira must have been fed up as he fed off scraps. They were playing about it with it so much at the back he never saw it as they either lost it or took an age to even get to midfield.
Weak link – Not sure really but may say something I don’t normally do and pick someone who did not play. It was the manager for me rather than individuals – many players were poor of course! His tactics were baffling. Sure, the defender and keeper made mistakes but had obviously been told to play like that. They just kept doing it time after time. It was bizarre. Richards and Yiadom played wing back but never got out of their own half. The Moore was highly rated 12-18 months ago but being part of a team fighting against relegation has probably seen his stock plummet. He was poor today and our front lads ran him and the other defenders ragged. They had no organisation. They were not marking and often two would come out and the other would stay back and vice versa. It was kamikaze defending. They did not offer much at all going forward and gave it away a lot all over the field. On and off the ball they were soundly beaten.
Henderson 7/10 – Little to do first half at all. I am not sure he had anything to do other than a few kick outs. It carried on 2nd half as he intercepted a few through balls but the first shot they had I think was on 85 minutes. This was a long ranger and a really good save. He then saw a curler and a free kick go wide but it was a really easy game for him.
Freeman 7/10 – Was surprised he played as he seemed to be in the dog house not even being on the bench at times in recent weeks after the Barnet game and Baldock getting in and staying in before Xmas. He did what he does well, which is get forward and be a goal threat. He scored in a minute as he anticipated well and bundled home and then had another great jinking run which nearly led to a chance. He also made another clever run and cross as he was a real threat. Defensively he did ok and 2nd half did not get forward as much as we saw the game out but pleasing that he showed he was back to the form he can show. He does offer that goal threat which Baldock does not. I would still restore Baldock at WBA as against good and pacey wingers, he struggles to defend – got done with a reverse ball after a give-away first half as an example but that is nit picking.
Johnson 7/10 – Did ok today. At times he still makes poor decisions on and off the ball and does not seem the most intelligent footballer as runs behind players or plays passes where players do not run. However, he was good first half. He got to the ball first defensively and showed his pace. He put in several excellent crosses and we nearly scored from a few and did scored with the third one. Second half his running and overlapping was a real outlet and he got forward more than Freeman. He should have scored – the first chance he was pushed a bit wide but went near post and was wide and then he did go across the keeper but he made a good save. Maybe the best he has played for United but I will argue it is the first time he has started a game when many of the other normal players have played and he could feed off some of the passes.
Stevens 7/10 – Played a steady game in an unfamiliar left centre back position but he got to the ball first several times and still got forward. Should have scored with a header after the head tennis in the box. Against some pacey players he stuck to his task and felt he read the game really well and can come onto it more at centre back; technically he is much better than we probably think and a really solid top end Championship defender that has shown his versatility this week.
Egan 7/10 – Steady performance where he faced a different opponent to the mid-week Boro game. Oliveira was a bit trickier and more mobile than Hugill but Egan dealt with him well. He did not have too much to do in terms of crosses or through balls but got a few foot ins when he had to and was just reliable and made no mistakes of note.
