Fulwood Blade
Well-Known Member
So, we’re up to Round 5, Reading away on a cold Tuesday evening – think anyone who went deserves a gold star!!
Let’s be right up front early doors – FUCK OFF Football Association. Whichever way you look at it, to try and shoehorn in 5th round ties, into a one off game, in midweek, for the benefit of just a few big clubs in this country, then I am sorry, it’s a big mistake. It ended up to be a long way, in a fast moving world culminating in it being difficult to get out of Berkshire easily at silly-o-clock at night!
Football seems now to be a commodity that can be traded to the highest bidder – except it’s a game that seems to care less and less about the punters that actually make the game what it is.
Anyway – onto the game.
Didn’t want to risk M1/M25 at rush hour, so down M1 off at 15A, A43 past Silverstone and down to the M4 and approach Reading going East on the M4. Done this before and seems generally seems OK. Only 2nd time to Reading for me – a company I used to work for, did remediation work on some old factory to create land for all the new stuff in and around the ground about 15 years ago.
I suppose putting tickets down to £10 for adults was decent, but if a tinpot, plastic club like Reading can’t get anywhere near to selling out then there is something wrong. First time at this ground so another one ticked off in the list – I must check how many I am up to now!. OK, Elm Park could be classed as a real shithole but this ground looks like it’s been built out of Meccano - very Bolton Wanderers ish – but soulless. What a load of empty seats though. Their fans decided to congregate either side of us, but even their banter was shit – if ever there is a club with fans that have some sort of self entitlement, then here it is.
Pitch looked in decent (ish) condition but it highlighted once again the benefits of a desso pitch and the benefits it brings. Our players just don’t have to think about control, where as last night you could just see that they had to be more cautious when receiving passes –and to be fair, we do ping it around sometimes at speed. On a side note to passing, it’s something we must work on in training a lot – think we’re exceptional at controlling a ball now. As they say “first touch dictates the second touch”. To be fair we moved it around extremely well in the first half – Reading just seemed to sit in a shape and weren’t that adventurous. We dominated possession and looked as comfortable as we’ve ever looked.
Then.............oh dear.........Mr Baldock made the game and the whole evening difficult. George, you silly silly boy. We had a great view of the push and consequent penalty – a penalty all day long for us. Two hands on the player, he of course went straight down and the Reading player gave the ref no option. Some might call it soft, but there were two United players and one Reading – it was a no danger situation. So, from a game where we were in zero danger and total control, it’s suddenly a game of football again. After 44 mins, it was heading for one of those games where it just petered out to a two nil win to United like Millwall in a regulation 90mins then toddle off home.
The goal sparked Reading to life and they pushed on us second half without looking too dangerous though, and we looked ragged at times. For me we lost some of our composure. To be fair to us though, this is Wilder’s United and we dug in, got a few patterns of play together and toughed it out. I’ll have a little dig at the glass half empty lot – it’s what a Wilder team does – the past is the past, let it go. We just slowly worked our way back into the game. The game was now always heading for extra time and in the end perhaps we got a little lucky. It was always going to be 2-1 to someone and we just shaded it.
In terms of our team – the back four (Hendo, Bash, Egan and JOC) were colossus. These four are what our team are built on - just rock solid really.
Freeman and Osborn worked extremely hard – Osborn seems like Bash – he seems to have an engine that never stops. Freeman, full of skill and endeavour – it’s a shame we’ve moved away from 3412. As good as those two played last night, I’ve now seen how good Fleck and Stevens are by their absence – I know it’s only opinions, but they make a massive difference to me. Hindsight says we should have played Fleck - missing both those made a difference in quality.
On to Sander...........It’s still early and I won’t get into controversy. WE NEED TO BE PATIENT WITH HIM. He likes to move it around and keep the game moving but he needs time to bed in. For me, and i’ve posted this before, we aren’t going to see the best of him until NEXT season. From a personal opinion, I think it will come we need to give him time.
Lunny – ran himself into the ground again – was really blowing at the end – the lads got what’s needed, but will he sign a new contract?
McG – didn’t look match fit – only to be expected, at least he’s scored now.
Moose – oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. What’s happened here? Something isn’t right – perhaps Eddie Howe knew that. Lots of work to do with Moose – over to you CWAK.
Our fans were in good voice – whilst we were winning – bit quite for 20 mins in the second half, but we came back to life again. Once again the chant of “You’ve seen United, now fuck off home” is brilliant if not a little condescending. Reading, as did Millwall have no riposte - highly amusing and very much piss taking of the highest order. Steady Blades, we’re not massive yet!
Well, getting home was a fucking nightmare – the M4 is being converted to a smart motorway and J11 West bound was shut at the slip road. Headed East bound to pick up M25/M1, but Mrs Google Maps said the J25/M1 slip round was also closed – FFS! Went some convoluted way and eventually Mrs Google Maps got us onto the M40. Road works/lane closures all over the place. It was a long drive - thank fuck we won and Radio 2 at that time was pretty good.
So...........were you the Range Rover (P5 UFC) that blew me off on Dronfield bypass? You naughty boy!
Anyway, leg 3 of 6 now out of the way. A home draw against anyone or Spurs or Man Utd away. Would love to go to the new Spurs stadium when we’ll get 9K tickets. Similar at Man U where we have unfinished business in the FA Cup due to a certain Mr Dean Hammond. Question about Man U this time is...........We were stood on the second back row upper tier at Old Trafford last time – I doubt the same person will be behind us this time............a certain Chris Wilder!! I nudged my boy – hey, there’s Chris Wilder behind us and considering the state United were in, I regret not asking him “when are you going to come and manage us” – little did we know at that time that a short 5/6 months later he started us on this absolutely incredible journey!
Our journey goes on – a good cup draw, perhaps another win and who knows...............perhaps we won’t need 7th or 8th place in the Prem.
All the best
Up the Blades.
Let’s be right up front early doors – FUCK OFF Football Association. Whichever way you look at it, to try and shoehorn in 5th round ties, into a one off game, in midweek, for the benefit of just a few big clubs in this country, then I am sorry, it’s a big mistake. It ended up to be a long way, in a fast moving world culminating in it being difficult to get out of Berkshire easily at silly-o-clock at night!
Football seems now to be a commodity that can be traded to the highest bidder – except it’s a game that seems to care less and less about the punters that actually make the game what it is.
Anyway – onto the game.
Didn’t want to risk M1/M25 at rush hour, so down M1 off at 15A, A43 past Silverstone and down to the M4 and approach Reading going East on the M4. Done this before and seems generally seems OK. Only 2nd time to Reading for me – a company I used to work for, did remediation work on some old factory to create land for all the new stuff in and around the ground about 15 years ago.
I suppose putting tickets down to £10 for adults was decent, but if a tinpot, plastic club like Reading can’t get anywhere near to selling out then there is something wrong. First time at this ground so another one ticked off in the list – I must check how many I am up to now!. OK, Elm Park could be classed as a real shithole but this ground looks like it’s been built out of Meccano - very Bolton Wanderers ish – but soulless. What a load of empty seats though. Their fans decided to congregate either side of us, but even their banter was shit – if ever there is a club with fans that have some sort of self entitlement, then here it is.
Pitch looked in decent (ish) condition but it highlighted once again the benefits of a desso pitch and the benefits it brings. Our players just don’t have to think about control, where as last night you could just see that they had to be more cautious when receiving passes –and to be fair, we do ping it around sometimes at speed. On a side note to passing, it’s something we must work on in training a lot – think we’re exceptional at controlling a ball now. As they say “first touch dictates the second touch”. To be fair we moved it around extremely well in the first half – Reading just seemed to sit in a shape and weren’t that adventurous. We dominated possession and looked as comfortable as we’ve ever looked.
Then.............oh dear.........Mr Baldock made the game and the whole evening difficult. George, you silly silly boy. We had a great view of the push and consequent penalty – a penalty all day long for us. Two hands on the player, he of course went straight down and the Reading player gave the ref no option. Some might call it soft, but there were two United players and one Reading – it was a no danger situation. So, from a game where we were in zero danger and total control, it’s suddenly a game of football again. After 44 mins, it was heading for one of those games where it just petered out to a two nil win to United like Millwall in a regulation 90mins then toddle off home.
The goal sparked Reading to life and they pushed on us second half without looking too dangerous though, and we looked ragged at times. For me we lost some of our composure. To be fair to us though, this is Wilder’s United and we dug in, got a few patterns of play together and toughed it out. I’ll have a little dig at the glass half empty lot – it’s what a Wilder team does – the past is the past, let it go. We just slowly worked our way back into the game. The game was now always heading for extra time and in the end perhaps we got a little lucky. It was always going to be 2-1 to someone and we just shaded it.
In terms of our team – the back four (Hendo, Bash, Egan and JOC) were colossus. These four are what our team are built on - just rock solid really.
Freeman and Osborn worked extremely hard – Osborn seems like Bash – he seems to have an engine that never stops. Freeman, full of skill and endeavour – it’s a shame we’ve moved away from 3412. As good as those two played last night, I’ve now seen how good Fleck and Stevens are by their absence – I know it’s only opinions, but they make a massive difference to me. Hindsight says we should have played Fleck - missing both those made a difference in quality.
On to Sander...........It’s still early and I won’t get into controversy. WE NEED TO BE PATIENT WITH HIM. He likes to move it around and keep the game moving but he needs time to bed in. For me, and i’ve posted this before, we aren’t going to see the best of him until NEXT season. From a personal opinion, I think it will come we need to give him time.
Lunny – ran himself into the ground again – was really blowing at the end – the lads got what’s needed, but will he sign a new contract?
McG – didn’t look match fit – only to be expected, at least he’s scored now.
Moose – oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. What’s happened here? Something isn’t right – perhaps Eddie Howe knew that. Lots of work to do with Moose – over to you CWAK.
Our fans were in good voice – whilst we were winning – bit quite for 20 mins in the second half, but we came back to life again. Once again the chant of “You’ve seen United, now fuck off home” is brilliant if not a little condescending. Reading, as did Millwall have no riposte - highly amusing and very much piss taking of the highest order. Steady Blades, we’re not massive yet!
Well, getting home was a fucking nightmare – the M4 is being converted to a smart motorway and J11 West bound was shut at the slip road. Headed East bound to pick up M25/M1, but Mrs Google Maps said the J25/M1 slip round was also closed – FFS! Went some convoluted way and eventually Mrs Google Maps got us onto the M40. Road works/lane closures all over the place. It was a long drive - thank fuck we won and Radio 2 at that time was pretty good.
So...........were you the Range Rover (P5 UFC) that blew me off on Dronfield bypass? You naughty boy!
Anyway, leg 3 of 6 now out of the way. A home draw against anyone or Spurs or Man Utd away. Would love to go to the new Spurs stadium when we’ll get 9K tickets. Similar at Man U where we have unfinished business in the FA Cup due to a certain Mr Dean Hammond. Question about Man U this time is...........We were stood on the second back row upper tier at Old Trafford last time – I doubt the same person will be behind us this time............a certain Chris Wilder!! I nudged my boy – hey, there’s Chris Wilder behind us and considering the state United were in, I regret not asking him “when are you going to come and manage us” – little did we know at that time that a short 5/6 months later he started us on this absolutely incredible journey!
Our journey goes on – a good cup draw, perhaps another win and who knows...............perhaps we won’t need 7th or 8th place in the Prem.
All the best
Up the Blades.
