review: MANCHESTER UNITED 0 v 0 READING

Article by Mark Graham, Stats Nerd

Match Review
Manchester United 0 v 0 Reading, Old Trafford, Manchester, 15.00pm, Saturday 11th August 2007.
Goals: Manchester United : n/a, Reading: n/a.
Attendance: 75,655

United simply failed to capitalise on boat loads of possession (75%-25%) & over 24 shots on & off target, as an organised & honest Reading side held the Champions on the opening day at Old Trafford. Although it is only the start of the season & all of the Reds title rivals won, thee most worrying aspect of the game was a broken foot for the White Pele who at time of press will be out for two months.

With Reading's only offensive tactic likly to have been trying to bore EVDS & our back four into sleeping, the Royals camped in their own half for the entire game, this was a gauntlet thrown by Reading to invite United to break them down & the Reds failed, Ryan Giggs would have the best chance of the 1st half as the Welsh forward struck a post with a volley.

Man marked for the entire game & man marked very well, Ronaldo, Rooney & Giggs struggled & battled on thorough a congested Reading defence, seeing plenty of the ball making Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann earn his crust. The American keeper read a Michael Carrick pass to Rooney well which resulted in the on form keeper eliminating danger by collecting the ball.  As the half wore to a close, Rooney was tackled (nothing malicious) by Ex Leeds & Chelski defender Michael Duberry after a goalbound chance & went down heavy clutching his left foot, before taking some time to try to walk off the pain, however hobbling heavily the striker didn't continue in the second period & was replaced by debutant Nani.

Later it was confirmed that the striker had suffered his third major foot injury of his short career & would be out for some time.

Hahnemann was starting to earn his MOTM award by saving several shots throughout the half from makeshift centre forward John O'Shea with Michael Carrick, Ronaldo and Paul Scholes getting in on the act of trying to break the deadlock, all resulting in Reading's keeper thwarting the United cause.

United were dealt further injury woe as Easter Island's favourite son Mikael Silvestre limped off the pitch to be replaced by JOS, the Irish utility man was deployed as a make shift striker due to the problems with United's depleted attack.

Nani on for the injured Rooney showed glimpses of why SAF invested in him as the young Portuguese winger flashed a powerful shot inches wide.

Dave Kitson on for Kevin Doyle on 73 minutes then tried his best at imitating a "Ginger Ninja" as the flame haired substitute almost kicked Evra into the stands & within a minute of coming on was sent off for his lunge on Evra.

Even with United's dominant possession & numerical advantage, the Reds despite a huge late effort could not find a breakthrough & once again for the second season running shared points with Reading in a league fixture.

United's Man of the Match
Ronaldo tried hard to change the game but for once the sparkle has faded and Readings tactics worked, however there will be similar games where United will win very comfortable indeed.

MUFC.COM's Reaction
I know you can't win them all & Hahnemann was exceptional, and not taking anything away from JOS who was asked to play up front in a three man attack, but could a 1/2 fit Carlos Tevez or Anderson not have provided SAF with a better option than Pique, O'Shea &  Fletcher?

Considering the rest of the Premierships big guns scrapped, jammed & fluked there way to maximum points, United I felt, dropped two vital points especially with Portsmouth's bogey ground & the all New Manchester City show our next two fixtures.

Was our prediction correct?
No! We said 3-1.

Milestones
SAF's 132nd draw of his Premiership career.

United's Next Match
Wednesday 15th August 2007 against Portsmouth in the Premiership at Fratton Park with a 19:45 kick off.

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