Reading v Manchester United Saturday 1st December 2012 - Kick off 5.30 pm (note later starting time!) Madejski Stadium Premier League Game Introduction Away fans â if youâre coming to Reading, see the special Royals Rendezvous Guide for Away fans â Travel and Drinks/Food : http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/topic/9220871/1 FORM GUIDE Table Positions: Reading 19th - 9 points (played 13 games) Man United 1st - 30 points (played 13 games) (True at Wed morning 28th Nov â will try to edit in, if changes occur) Reading Recent form: Last five (most recent first) L-L-W-D-D Just prior to last 5 league games: lost to Arsenal in League Cup 5-7 (a.e.t.) Man Utd Recent form: Last five (most recent first) League: W-L-W-W-W Plus wins 1-0 v Galatasaray and 3-1 v Braga in Champions League, but lost to Chelsea 4-5 (a.e.t.) in League Cup 4th Round. Recent form table â last 8 games: as of Wednesday morning â Reading 16th (W1 D4 L3) Man Utd 2nd (w6 D0 L2) http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/PR/oform.html THE BOSS â the current manager of Man Utd: Sir Alex Ferguson â not only just the current manager, but the leagueâs longest serving, in charge since 1986! Complete wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Ferguson WEB SITES Official Manchester United Club Web Site: http://www.manutd.com Unofficial individual club Web Sites â daib0âs suggestion: United Lounge â http://www.unitedlounge.com/forum/index.php OPPOSING FANS SECTION Rivalries: Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal ... Fan Base: Manchester United is reputed to be the most popular football club in the world, with one of the highest average home attendance in Europe. The club's worldwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the Manchester United Supporters Club (MUSC), in at least 24 countries. Famous Fans: As expected, a big varied list on people who do, or have, supported United - Richard Ashcroft - Verve Frontman, Michael Atherton - England Cricket Captain, Ian Brown - Stone Roses King Monkey, Tim Burgess - Charlatans Frontman, Mark Charnock Actor (Marlon Dingle), Terry Christian - Yoof Presenter (the Word), Steve Coogan - comedian (Alan Partridge), Ulrika Jonsson â tv celebrity, Ian McShane - actor, Steve McFadden - Phil Mitchell, James Nesbitt â actor, Gary Rhodes - TV Chef, Michael Le Vell - actor, John Virgo - snooker player, Russell Watson - opera singer, Sean Wilson - actor, Bertie Ahern - Irish Prime Minister, Geoff Boycott - former cricketer, now commentator, Neil Fairbrother â cricketer, Morrisey â singer, Martin Offiah - rugby player, Jennifer Saunders - comedian (Absolutely Fabulous), Thom Yorke - Radiohead frontman, Victoria Beckham - Posh Spice, Kym Marsh - Pure and very Simple Nicknames and Mascots etc. Red Devils â this nickname originally belonged to nearby rugby league team Salford. Old Trafford is often poetically called the âThreatre of Dreamsâ. âFred the Redâ is the official mascot. Fred the Red represents the club's nickname, The Red Devils. He wears a shirt with the number 55 on it and usually dances in front of the crowd before matches. Fred the Red was voted the most popular mascot in Match magazine in 2011. MATCH DAY EXPECTATIONS Attendances: Reading are at 99.6% capacity, meaning an average home gate of a modest 24,097 by comparison to the Reds - Manchester Unitedâs attendances are simply astonishing. Sitting first in the crowd tables, they are averaging an incredible 75,427 fans per home game, and thatâs 99% of capacity. Squads and Team News: Not available yet - please add any news in your posts and comments - one of the most important things to add here before kick-off! SCORE PREDICTIONS My own verdict: I feel weâll hang on by the skin of our teeth for a draw, ever the optimist â so Reading 2 Man Utd 2 (HT 1-1) What do others say? The Oddschecker site, listing nearly all the major betting companies, shows that although Reading are playing at home there are massive odds of 7/1 on a Reading victory. A Man Utd victory therefore will hardly get you a penny extra, though a draw at nearly 4/1 might tempt a few of you betting guys ... FOR THE RECORD Last Encounter 19th January 2008 Premier League Reading 0 Manchester United 2 Head-to-head Reading and Manchester United Played in total 16 times: 1 Reading win / 8 Man Utd wins / 7 draws Best Reading victory: January 1927 â Reading 2 Man Utd 1 (FA Cup) Best Man Utd victory: January 1955 â Man Utd 4 Reading 1 (FA Cup) Also interesting: Dec 2006 â Man Utd 3 Reading 2 // Feb 2007 â Reading 2 Man Utd 3 (FA Cup) For those whoâd like to read a really detailed match presentation please pop over to the specialist Reading FC forum âRoyals Rendezvousâ where you have even more sections covered and some of these current sections expanded (this present article is simply a resume) and many a photo up too ⦠http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/topic/9772177/1 We even have a separate thread dedicated to your views. Hereâs to a good game, all comments welcome! Any snippet copied will be fully credited (and thanked) with your user name and the forum! ... daib0
