RedsUnite: a man utd blog

Manchester United will travel to Madejski Stadium on Saturday for the latest installment in a rivalry full of history.  Well maybe there isn’t that much history.  Dating all the way back to September of 2006, this will mark the sixth meeting between the clubs.  But whatever is lacking in historic competition, the geographic rivalry more than makes up for it, right?  Oh, well I guess the two clubs aren’t very close to each other at all.  But Reading’s manager is a really detestable figure, isn’t he?  No, it’s Steve Coppell, Manchester United record holder for most consecutive appearances as an outfield player.  Well there must be some narrative in this season that ties the two together?  Not really, no.  The two sides are 29 points apart.  Manchester United is trying to defend its crown, Reading is trying to avoid relegation.  Well, then, what is there to be excited about?

Manchester United v Reading, while a rivalry in its infancy, has provided some of the most compelling matches of the past two years.  In Reading’s inaugural season they made a strong first impression on United, with the Reds needing a 73rd minute equalizer from Christiano Ronaldo to avoid an embarrassing loss to the newcomers.

Reading would give us fits in the 2006 FA Cup as well.  A 67th minute goal from Brynjar Gunnarsson pulled the Royals level as they forced a trip to Madejski Stadium after drawing at Old Trafford.  The replay would not prove as kind to Reading as three United goals in the first six minutes sealed the Royals fate.  Coppell’s men would score two goals that day, but the equalizing goal proved elusive as Reading was defeated 3-2.  After the match United boss Alex Ferguson remarked:

“Our side made the best start I’ve ever seen them make with three goals in the first six minutes. Reading’s first goal gave them a lifeline and then their balls into the box gave my defence a hard time. After they scored their second I thought it was going to extra time. It was going that way.”

The Royals have already taken a point from United this season, drawing 0-0 in our home-opener at Old Trafford on August 12.  Now Manchester United must travel south to Reading with hopes of taking three points from a team that defends its home well.

Reading tout the seventh best home form in the EPL this season.  At 6-1-4, the Royals have proven to be a tough home side, conceding nearly 1.5 fewer goals at home than on the road.  Their form against the top half of the table, however, suggests that the Reds should fare well this Saturday.  Having taken only eight points from twelve matches against top-half competition, Reading has struggled when facing the league’s best.  To make matters worse, the Royals come into Saturday having won only two of their previous eight matches.  A visit from the Reds shouldn’t help matters any.

Manchester United travel to Reading atop the Premier League table.  The hottest team in the EPL, the Reds have won seven of their last eight league matches.  Coming off their complete shaming of Newcastle United last weekend, Manchester United are in great form.  The match featured the first career hat trick for Christiano Ronaldo, whose 16 league goals are tops.  Rooney was simply unlucky not to have found the ledger against Newcastle, a wasteful performance left the English striker frustrated.  However, Rooney’s Newcastle performance combined with his brilliant 20 minute cameo against Aston Villa suggest that the Englishman is due for a breakout match of massive proportions.

While I believe that anything less than three points will be a failure for United, as it almost always is, Reading are a side that always seem to relish these fixtures.  The tone of this match will be decided early if history is any indicator and if Reading is able to keep it close going into the second half we could be in for quite a scrap.  Nonetheless, I don’t believe that there is a team in the world capable of stopping Ronaldo in his current form.  He seems able to simply will his way onto the scoreline and Reading, for all their tenaciousness, will not be able to stop him.  I look for Ronaldo to score and Rooney to join him as United win 2-0 away.

How do you think United will fare this weekend?  Leave a comment.