Do you fancy our chances on Saturday?

[Adrian's Fool]

We played 4-4-2 against them at home I recall, and it worked pretty well - we weren't exactly torn apart. I know OT is different but as Stranded said this is a cup game.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I don't. For the league game it made sense - for a one off it doesn't.

All this 'its a one off' because its a cup tie is utter rubbish. Its just an old cliche.

Every single game is a one off unless its over 2 legs.

A premiership season is a series of 38 'one off' games isn't it?

As SC says, we approach our season game by game, always just focusing on the next game. Every single game is a one off.

[When Hicks went up...]

I don't. For the league game it made sense - for a one off it doesn't.

All this 'its a one off' because its a cup tie is utter rubbish. Its just an old cliche.

Every single game is a one off unless its over 2 legs.

A premiership season is a series of 38 'one off' games isn't it?

As SC says, we approach our season game by game, always just focusing on the next game. Every single game is a one off.

Though of course, the human brain never quite works like that. It's true that league matches in themselves are discreet occurences, but the mind of the players will always be on where they'll be if they win, what will happen if they lose, how many more games they need to win to stay up etc.

Cup games are different in that for the smaller clubs, while winning brings rewards, losing is not really a problem. It's therefore natural that the games are approached in a slightly different manner...

[coyrls]

Here's something to consider if you fancy us to pull off a shock at Old Trafford.

over the last 3 seasons there have been over 170 premiership matches where a big 4 team has been at home to a non big 4 team.

The away team has won on just 2 occasions.

Good thing we don't have to win there then; a draw and a win in the replay would do nicely.

[Fred Sharpe's Nose]

I expect us to start with 5 4 1 or 4 5 1 on Saturday.

I don't. For the league game it made sense - for a one off it doesn't. It'll be 442 of that I am pretty certain. Better to go down swinging than try and sneak a draw.

With you on that one. There'll be no room for caution on Saturday.

[Gordons Cumming]

I find it astonishing that Reading fans can now talk about us as having any chance of knocking Man.Utd out of the FA Cup.

How times have changed..........


Still won't happen though................a bit of a reality check I'm afraid.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I find it astonishing that Reading fans can now talk about us as having any chance of knocking Man.Utd out of the FA Cup.

How times have changed..........


Still won't happen though................a bit of a reality check I'm afraid.

I agree.

Somebody on this thread said that they thought 8/1 was a good bet!

We are playing away to the best team in the country with our reserves.

Our chances are very slim.

A few home wins against inferior opposition seems to have gone to some peoples head.

[Huntley & Palmer]

No

[When Hicks went up...]

I find it astonishing that Reading fans can now talk about us as having any chance of knocking Man.Utd out of the FA Cup.

How times have changed..........


Still won't happen though................a bit of a reality check I'm afraid.

I agree.

Somebody on this thread said that they thought 8/1 was a good bet!

We are playing away to the best team in the country with our reserves.

Our chances are very slim.

A few home wins against inferior opposition seems to have gone to some peoples head.

I think it's the fact that Aston Villa and West Ham are now counted as inferior opposition that has got people excited!

But you're both right. We'll be in the game for 60 minutes, and then they'll bring on Ronaldo to put us to bed.

[Sharpy]

what side are utd likely to put out?!!

[When Hicks went up...]

what side are utd likely to put out?!!

Reading.

[Finchley Royal]

No, Coppell will not put out a significantly stronger side. Look at his record so far - the man stays true to his course.

I think we will play our fringe players, but i would disagree that Coppell stays 'True to his course'.

Coppell stated earlier in the season that we would not be changing our tactics to cope with particular opposition. This backfired against Arsenal and he rightly back tracked and adopted more defensive tatics at Anfield Stamford Br & old Trafford.

I expect us to start with 5 4 1 or 4 5 1 on Saturday.

I don't. For the league game it made sense - for a one off it doesn't. It'll be 442 of that I am pretty certain. Better to go down swinging than try and sneak a draw.

For the OT game we changed to a 4-4-1 + a man marker for Cronaldo. If Cronaldo plays I'd expect the same (or rather similar to account for the fact that I don't think that any of our fit forwards could fill in at left wing in the way that Doyle did). If he doesn't play, I'd have thought we'd play our normal 4-4-2.

As to preferences, Utd are always going to score against us so we should be as attacking as reasonably possible. We've got more chance of scoring more than them than trying to concede less than them (if you ignore the obvious stupidity in that sentence).

Either way, our chances are pretty low. But I'd rather attack and lose 3-2 like last time than the wimpering 2-0 defeat at Anfield.

[Royalee]

I reckon we'll beat them 3-1.

[Seal]

what side are utd likely to put out?!!

Judging by the team they played against Pompey, I would imagine a pretty strong one. Although with the Champo League being a few days after I could see Giggs & Scholes in particular being rested.

Something like:

Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Park, O'Shea, Carrick, Fletcher, Larsson, Solskjaer

Bench: VDS (if fit), Richardson, Ronaldo, Silvestre, Saha

[Maguire]

I fancy our chances of being able to concentrate on the league after Saturday.

[readingbedding]

I find it astonishing that Reading fans can now talk about us as having any chance of knocking Man.Utd out of the FA Cup.

How times have changed..........


Still won't happen though................a bit of a reality check I'm afraid.

Reality check?
I'm checking the reality and it's fantastic!
Of course you're the only person who knows how this season is to pan out.

6th in the Prem is the reality, we haven't lost since Manchester United by the odd goal in the league, they have a CL game on Weds, Rooney's out and yes, the reality is we do have a chance, the best chance we have ever had.

[Sharpy]

what side are utd likely to put out?!!

Judging by the team they played against Pompey, I would imagine a pretty strong one. Although with the Champo League being a few days after I could see Giggs & Scholes in particular being rested.

Something like:

Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Park, O'Shea, Carrick, Fletcher, Larsson, Solskjaer

Bench: VDS (if fit), Richardson, Ronaldo, Silvestre, Saha

heinze got murked all day by seoul at ours.....
carrick got bossed by harper/sidwell combo
bikey will do a job on larsson
kuszczak wont be able to cope with doyle's accuracy
kitson will murk ferdinand

[brendywendy]

thats better, a bit of optimism

[Gordons Cumming]

Of course you're the only person who knows how this season is to pan out.

.

As a matter of fact i do have the pleasure of possessing a couple of crystal balls, so mark my words....................

[Gordons Cumming]

carrick got bossed by harper/sidwell combo

Did you see that with your RTG's?