Reading v Newcastle – Match Chat (29/09/2012)

Reading v Newcastle United
Saturday 29th September 2012 - Kick off 3.00 pm
Madejski Stadium
Premier League


Away fans – if you’re coming to Reading, see our own special Royals Rendezvous Guide for Away fans – Travel and Drinks/Food :
http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/topic/9220871/1



FORM GUIDE

Table Positions:
Reading 20th - 1 point (played 4 games)
Newcastle 10th - 8 points (played 5 games)

Newcastle Recent form:
From a fine pre-season match sequence which included eye-catching victories over Hartlepool and Braga, Newcastle’s league campaign has also started solidly; the five games played showing a W2 (Spurs, Norwich), D2 (Villa & Everton) and L1 (Chelsea) reading. But Newcastle are also involved in the Europa League – coming successfully through a H & A qualifying round against Atromitos, their first ‘proper’ match has been a creditable 0-0 draw away to Maritimo. A tough proposition awaits Reading ...

Reading Recent form:
Reading have played one game less – due to the waterlogged pitch at Sunderland, but it’s a well different story. In the Royals case it’s win-less: the sequence reading W0 D1 L3. The Peterborough League cup game did end up favourably – but only just! – and the QPR tie will be edited in or included on later posts.


THE BOSS – the current manager of Newcastle Utd:
Alan Pardew - someone common to the progress of both Reading and Newcastle United!
Alan Scott Pardew (born 18 July 1961 in Wimbledon, Surrey) is an English football manager and former player who has managed Newcastle United since 2010.


Official Newcastle United Club Web Site:
http://www.nufc.co.uk


Unofficial Web Sites – daib0’s suggestion:
The Toon Forum



FANS

Rivalries and Fans:
Sunderland, Manchester United and Middlesbrough ...
Traditionally, Newcastle's main rivals are Sunderland, against whom the Tyne–Wear derby is competed.
Supporters of Newcastle United are drawn from all over the North East and beyond, with supporters' clubs all across the world. The club's supporters are also known as the Magpies, the Geordies or the Toon Army. The name Toon originates from the Geordie pronunciation of town. In a 2007 Virgin Money survey of football supporters who held season tickets or otherwise paid to attend games, it was found that Newcastle fans were the most loyal in terms of making sacrifices to attend the game.

Famous Fans:
Chiefly a mix of actors and sports personalities for the Magpies –
Ant'n'Dec - TV Presenters, Tony Blair - ex Prime Minister, Brian Blessed – actor, Steve Harmison – cricketer, Tim Healy – actor, John McCririck - horse-Racing Expert, Chris Eubank - retired boxer, Robson Green - actor (Wire in the Blood), Brian Johnson - singer (AC/DC), Jimmy Nail - singer / actor, Sting - musician / actor, Frank Williams - Williams F1 team owner, Brendan Foster – athlete, Donna Air - ex Big Breakfast, Robson Green - Soldier Soldier, Gabby Logan - On the Ball, Jimmy Nail - Crocodile Shoe's, Jack Ryder - Jamie Mitchell,
Sid Waddell - Darts Commentator

Nicknames and Mascots etc.
One geographical and other two on club colours:
Toon - local pronunciation of 'Town', meaning City Centre where the ground is situated
Magpies - based on black and white colour of home strip
Skunks - from black and white home strip
“Monty Magpie” is the official mascot – he’s a dinosaur.


MATCH DAY EXPECTATIONS

Attendances:
Reading have only played two games at home this season (not including Peterborough in the cup) so the average between them is 24,066 – the first time we’ve averaged above 24,000 in our history! This game should be only those lines too ... Still, compared to the big boys it’s not that special; only Swansea, QPR and Wigan are averaging less in the Premier.
Worth mentioning a fantastic attendance start for Newcastle too, averaging a most impressive 50,315 fans per game – only Manchester United and Arsenal can better than of the league’s 92 clubs!

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 we’ll get a win, but only just! Reading 1 Newcastle 0 with a goal about 10 minutes from the end of the game!

What do others say?
The Oddschecker site, listing nearly all the major betting companies, shows Reading and Newcastle are about similar odds to take a victory, but the best odds are a draw at about 5/2.


FOR THE RECORD

Last Encounter
13th April 2010
Championship
Reading 1 Newcastle United 2
Two goals from Kevin Nolan helped Newcastle to victory at Reading which all but sealed the Championship title for the Magpies. The Royals, who went into the match having lost only two of their last 15, began well with forward Shane Long coming close with a half-volley from a tight angle inside the area. However, Nolan scored his first when he turned marker Alex Pearce before firing past Adam Federici from 12 yards. And just before the break Nolan scored his 18th of the season when he was on hand to tap in Wayne Routledge's cross. Danny Simpson's own goal gave Reading hope when a clearance hit his back and rolled in, but Newcastle clung on. The Magpies now held a nine-point lead and plus-13 goal difference over West Brom who had just three games remaining of their season. Chris Hughton's men rarely needed to get out of third gear against a Reading side who still at that moment held an outside chance of reaching the play-offs.


Head-to-head Reading and Newcastle United

Played in total 12 times: 3 Reading wins / 8 Newcastle wins / 1 draw

Best Reading victory: September 1989 – Reading 3 Newcastle 0 (League Cup)

Best Newcastle victory: January 1969 – Newcastle 4 Reading 0 (FA Cup) // October 1989 – Newcastle 4 Reading 0 (League Cup)

Also interesting: Sept 1989 – Reading 3 Newcastle 1 (League Cup) // Jan 1990 – Reading 3 Newcastle 3 (FA Cup) // Jan 1990 – Newcastle 4 Reading 1 (FA Cup, replay of previous game) // Dec 2006 – Newcastle 3 Reading 2 (Reading would have gone 3rd in Premier table had they won!)


THIS DATE in history

Reading have a ‘middling’ record this day – W6 D5 L7. Only once was a victory by more than the odd goal (2-0 v Rotherham 1990), but the team has suffered 2 antagonizing games: a 5-1 (A) loss to Millwall in 1928, and who can’t remember the 4-7 loss to Portsmouth away in the Premier in 2007? This remains a Premier league aggregate goal tally till today …

Newcastle – how do they look? Slightly worse than Reading: W5 D2 L8, especially noteworthy being large wins 5-1 against The Wednesday (H) in 1906, 6-0 v Walsall (A) in 1962, and a 5-0 loss to Man Utd (A) in 1928. Last time was in 2007 – a 3-1 loss (A) to Man City.


For those who’d like to read a really detailed match presentation please pop over to the specialist Reading FC forum ‘Royals Rendezvous’ where you have even more sections covered (this present article is simply a resume) and many a photo up too … http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/topic/9715742/1

Here’s to a good game, all comments welcome!

Daib0

 

Interested to see what Pardew's reception is like, is he well liked by you guys? Not really aware of the terms you and him parted on...

 

Good question there! I think his reception will be 'a friendly lukewarm' thing but always respectful ... here's a bit of insight:


Pardew was doing a great job for Reading, got us promotion and the following season in the play-offs as well. In fact, he was on the map as one of the game's best up and coming young managers. Early into the 2003–04 season, West Ham United asked Reading permission to appoint Pardew as their new manager. Although Reading refused permission, Pardew resigned from his position forcing the issue. Eventually, a compromise agreement was reached allowing Pardew to become manager at West Ham. But just before that boiled over he had publicly committed himself to our club, so it was a jug of cold water when we learnt of the West Ham negotiations. Even so, our fans are rather more against the Hammers for their role in the shady dealings (still!) than Pardew himself - after all, you never know what your next opportunity might or might not be and we've largely forgiven him now!

 

If that's the case I'd probably be expecting a mixed reception towards him to be fair. With regards to the game I'm hoping if Ba, Cise, Ben Arfa & Cabaye are on their game that we should win.

However, even if we do win (been around long enough to know we could quite easily lose this game) I more than expect you to stay up. I see you finishing 12th - 14th. What is your expectation come the end of the season? Would you regard 17th as successful?

 

yes, a cosy secure 17th would certainly be welcome news for most of us the first couple of seasons up. The new Russian president's plan is to be pushing for the Europa League only after 5 seasons up, and having a ground extension made from the present 24,000 to about 38,000. But we're not at all sure what money he is thinking of inverting in a big way if needed. Meanwhile if you catch a glance of his super-model wife, she's absolutely gorgeous!!

 

I think people will be supprised by the ammount of hostility he'll still get on Saturday. As for the game, hopefully we'll have some confidence after the game at Loftus Road. Newcastle have quality all over the pitch, but I'm hoping for a sneaky 1-0 win.

 

Our allocation of tickets was snapped up straight away leaving a lot of regular travelling fans without one.

If one or two were crazy enough to get tickets in with the home fans, what kind of reception would they get?

 

I don't personally think there'd be much problem (we're softies!!) but I'd prefer Tilehurstsouthbank's opinion as well on this ...

I also believe that the players themselves are defusing any possible bad long-term memories on the 'Pardew' affair: here's a couple of quotes today in the local evening paper -

Guthrie - “I had a great time there,” he recalled. “It was a bit of a roller coaster with five managers. However, the last year was really good and I’ve nothing but great things to say about the club. We work hard here and Pardew’s team at Newcastle was all based on that solid, hard-working nature. It was about making it difficult for teams who played against us. When you get the ball both managers give you freedom to play.”

Left-back Nicky Shorey also paid tribute to Pardew for bringing him to Reading in 2001 from Leyton Orient. He said: “It’s always good to see Pards. He did a lot for my career and improved me as a player, I’ve got a lot of time for him. I think the fans should give him a good reception, hopefully they will. I know when he left for West Ham it wasn’t great and the fans weren’t happy. But he did a lot for the club and he has shown what a top manager he is at the other clubs that he has been to. As a trainer, a coach a manager and person I have always had a lot of time for Pards and it doesn’t surprise me one bit how well he has done there.”