Manure match thread ...Sponsered by Shoite officials inc.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Harry Ramsdens isn't and hasn't been for months



Thought Alads' assessment was fair

[floyd__streete]

Thought Alads' assessment was fair

So did I. Alad normally sums things up very well indeed to be fair to the bloke - so why the I know what I am talking about....I expect abuse....don't bother with predictable abuse nonsense? Deliver your opinion - almost always a very decent opinion on the football itself from Alad - without the attitude and you might be pleasantly surprised that people will take to and agree with what you say.....

[RoyalBlue]

Just seen MOTD - both 1st and 3rd goals could be classed as level to be fair. Sodje second yellow was probably technically correct but Rooney's little verbal volley hardly helped -

Watch the Sky slow motion replay of the incident and you will see how completely wrong Dean was - an absolutely scandalous decision full of incompetence by the twat in black. At the time of any contact between Sodje and Rooney Dean is quite happy to let play continue (he does not signal advantage so clearly saw no infringement at that point). Watching the replay you see that, rather than blowing for a foul, Dean continues running forward whilst looking across at his assistant and not even raising his whistle to his mouth. Rooney then puts daylight between himself and Sodje and actually takes 4 or 5 strides before the assistant raises his flag for offside. Only at this point do you see Dean put his whistle to his mouth and halt play!

Having staggered everyone by sending Sodje off, Dean then restarts play with a free kick to United. In other words, overruling his assistant's offside flag. That being the case, why didn't the pratt play advantage in the first place with Rooney having broken clear of the last line of defence and about to pick up possession?!

Incidentally Rooney's tirade at the assistant appeared to have nothing to do with the fact that he felt he had been pulled back by Sodje but rather the fact that he had, in his view, been wrongly flagged for offside.

Shocking refereeing and something that Mr Dean should, but won't, be held to account for.

I think this comment from the Observer report on the match really says it all:

"It was not immediately clear what the visitors' substitute had done wrong, since Rooney was the one with a sense of injustice after being pulled up harshly for offside, but dissent of some sort brought a second yellow card for a player who had only been on the field for nine minutes."

[Im Spartacus]

I was sat near the Stretford End and I thought their support was the best I had seen this season ( bar ours ). It may be an accoustic thing because they were bloody loud, whilst our ususly fervent support was sporadic, from where I was.

Their second goal came as Murts was injured, he wasn't able to get back and prevent the cross, their third also came from our right when Sodjie had been sent off, leaving a gap at RB.

The first yellow for SS looked justified, the second was a joke, can anyone seriously see him sending off say, Ferdinand if the roles were reversed.

Overall I thought we played well enough in the 1st half but took a bit of a battering in the second, it is to our credit that we didn't fold, a lot of other teams would've.

[Far Canal]

Heres a non biased view from someone who knows what he's talking about.....


.....I expect abuse, but my view of the game is spot on and deep down everyone knows it so don't bother showing yourselves up with the predictable abuse.

Chip on your shoulder? More like the Basingstoke Road branch of Harry Ramsden's; get over yourself

Really Floyde, you are clearly not too familiar with the surrounding area of the hallowed Madejski Stadium.
Harry Ramsden's is no more, it has been replaced by Deep Blue and I can personally testify to the quality of their fish and chips.
Have a rolly yourself...

[floyd__streete]

Really Floyde, you are clearly not too familiar with the surrounding area of the hallowed Madejski Stadium.
Harry Ramsden's is no more, it has been replaced by Deep Blue and I can personally testify to the quality of their fish and chips.
Have a rolly yourself...

My apologies. I generally try and avoid the South Reading area except for my fortnightly visits to the the home of Thames Valley progressiveism.

[cmonurz]

It is Sonko's ball-watching that is a growing concern to me - completely lost Solskjaer for the first, and was just running round in circles for the second. Certainly not on top form, a weak link at the moment, imho.

[Dirk Gently]

It is Sonko's ball-watching that is a growing concern to me - completely lost Solskjaer for the first, and was just running round in circles for the second. Certainly not on top form, a weak link at the moment, imho.

I wouldn't go that far - he's still completely unassailable in the air, has a throw which is a potent attacking weapon, and he did score at OT!

Let's not forget where he was playing less than 3 years ago, and that he's still learning all the time. With the aerial ability he's got, if he was as perfect on the ground as you want he'd not still be playing for Reading - he'd have signed for one of the big four long ago.

[Stranded]

Whilst I see what you are saying DG, Sonks habit of ball watching of late is becoming a bit worrying and is costing us goals.

You are of course right that he wins a hell of lot in the air but to do that he has to get there first. By ball watching opponents are nicking ahead of him and scoring, forcing fouls or creating chances.

It is something that has to be worked on and worked on quickly otherwise it'll become an area where teams attack us more as they know they have a chance.

Where he was 3 years ago is pretty irrelevant now but I agree he is learning all the time. I trust this is an area he can learn quickly and improve for if not then it may require a rethink in the centre of defence.

[RoyalBlue]

I was sat near the Stretford End and I thought their support was the best I had seen this season ( bar ours ). It may be an accoustic thing because they were bloody loud, whilst our ususly fervent support was sporadic, from where I was.

Their second goal came as Murts was injured, he wasn't able to get back and prevent the cross, their third also came from our right when Sodjie had been sent off, leaving a gap at RB.

The first yellow for SS looked justified, the second was a joke, can anyone seriously see him sending off say, Ferdinand if the roles were reversed.

Very valid point. He would have been lynched. Then Ferguson would have absolutely slaughtered him in all of the media (unlike Sir Steve's mild approach) and finally MOTD, Sky etc. would have analysed events endlessly from all angles before telling the world how wrong Dean was.