I live exactly one hour walk from the "Mad Stad" which should be done under the trades description act as there is nothing mad about it at all.

What a game. Bizarely, despite the incredible win, it is now nearly impossible we can avoid the drop due to Palace's win and the problem with goal difference.

A game of - the first twenty minutes - the rest of the match...

First twenty minutes - absolutely dire - could have been 4-0 to Reading - Collins, Lowry and Mattock all over the place, making Shane Long look like Ronaldo.... We created nothing and it was all Reading..

After that... one of the best United away performances since 2000 in my view. Henderson scored out of nowhere and either Reading completely switched off or it just gave us the encouragement that we needed.

Henderson took both his goals well and so did Williamson (or was it Slew?. We had so many chances, mainly on the counter attack.

Player ratings:

Simonsen - 7 - possibly at fault for their first - but made 3-4 good saves despite being given a hard time by a small section of our support.

Mattock - 6 - both Reading goals came down his and Collins' channel - but after that defended well under pressure.

Lowton - 7 - Solid - neither goal was his fault

Collins - 6 (2 for the first twenty) but then defended well

Lowry - 6- (1 for the first twenty - ditto Collins

Quinn - 9 - his best game in a United shirt for me - bossed it

Monty - 7 - solid and good assist for Hendo's 2nd goal

Williamson - 7- took his goal well - the entire midfield was superb (mobile/full of engergy, KEEPING THE BALL!.

Risse - 9 - top performance

Hendo - 8 - Reading's back four couldn't deal with him.

Slewwww - 7 - a real prospect

Philliskirk came off the bench mainly to chase shadows....

All of this begs the question? WHY IN THE NAME OF GOD HAVE THEY NOT DONE THIS ON A SEMI REGULAR BASIS!??!?!

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH - so frustrating...


Chris Armstrong did lead both teams out and got a prolonged standing ovation from both sets of fans. I didn't realise he had MS... He never let United down and I wish him well.

Reading had Michaele Leigetwood in their team - we made him look like Zidane for the first twenty minutes but then he reverted to the player we all know (and love?).

Brian Howard came on for them - and then hit the bar - other than that, did his usual hiding from the ball trick. He got booed (not by me). I couldn't see the point of it - it just didn't work out at the lane for him.

Our win was all the more remarkable given that the referee was a "homer" - I'm sure not deliberately - but we got nothing from him. Henderson had a stone wall penalty turned down and a bizare goal was disallowed when Hendo knocked the ball out of their keepers hands (or did he? I've not seen the replay?) - the linesman flagged for a foul but I'm fairly sure he wasn't watching.

Reading fans their typical quiet, snidy selves - is there a less impressive home support anywhere? I don't think so. "LETS BACK THE BOYZ AND MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!" followed by near silence... It is a horrible sanitised environment that I'm sure the premier league loves but it's not what the game is about for me...

Their team ran out of ideas, probably due to shock after 30 minutes and resorted to lumping it - much as we did at times.....

For next year - as per my previous post - got to give the kids a chance - that midfield today - Quinn, Monty, Williamson and Risse would be too good for league 1 in my view - although there's no chance of that happening I guess...

Keep Lowton - start again otherwise with the back four - play Maguire

Hendo/Slew combo looked good - and I think would do well in League 1 - be very surprised if Hendo is there next year... so Slew and a decent target man ..... I'd get rid of the rest of the strikers - no pace/strength and more importantly - no goals...

Some hope for the future with that performance - some of the players should be ashamed it's taken until now to do it...

Games like this are why I love the Blades. Off for a nap now!

UTB

Reading Blade

Thanks for the report.

One small point: I think you will find that it was Tonne who came off the bench - not Phulliskirk.

Does anybody understand this? We are still in with a shout of survival.
On Saturday Simmo made a dreadful mistake for first goal and then again was at fault on Monday with first goal.So each match we gave them a goal start.
The youngsters last Saturday were brilliant. Do not sell them Mr McCabe.
Hendo cannot run with or without the ball=--is he injured? the crowd were fed up with him on Saturday.
Two top earners are no longer first choice--Collins and Doyle--thank God. But why are they paid so much. Who else has been signed on such wages in the last 12 months?
The more I look at the performances, the more confused I get. The more I know about the wage lack of structure the more I understand about potential for bad feeling.
If we get rid of all of our worst players will we get rid of all of the top earners?

Are Collins and Doyle 'top earners' or is this just another myth.

I have no idea. Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

Someone on BladesMad heard a bloke say it as they were sitting on the Kop, therefore it is a fact. I think it was the same bloke who said the entire academy team was already sold to Aston Villa or someone, which is also a fact.

Shame on you not knowing this. You really must try to keep up...

Villa have an option on 3 and Spurs on a 4th but there will be sell-on clauses, yet to be agreed.

As I understand it, the first team is already selected for first match of the season and includes 6 youngsters. Unfortunately, SUFC cannot gurantee not to sell any of them at some stage.

Sorry, but that sounds like complete nonsense.

How can anyone possibly know what players we will have by the start of next season? There will be a lot of wheeling and dealing between now and then.

Hi Broomhhll--suggest you watch Kids Final coming up and see if your selection for next season matches expectations!

If its not too much trouble Braemar, could you let me have next weeks lottery numbers..?