Manchester City v Reading [R]

[Lynne_mcfc]

MCFC v Reading

Saturday 24th November 2007 kick off 3.00pm


Where is everyone? :eek: CB where are you? Too much turkey/shopping? MVF? The match is tomorrow?


I think this will be a tough one. I hope we're hungrier than Reading for a win, we need everyone to be on their best game (and SGE selecting the best team :)).

Come on you Blues :D

[CityBlues]

Haha, sorry, too much Turkey indeed. Thanks for starting the thread. I will be watching this game, even though I will be at the inlaws place... Should be a win though I am thinking as Reading hasn't looked too hot lately. Looking probably at 1 - Nil or 2 - Nil is my guess.

FSC 4:30 PM EST on delay.

[CityBlues]

Eastlands
Saturday, 24 November
Kick-off: 1500 GMT

Manchester City striker Rolando Bianchi is out after he suffered an ankle injury in training on Thursday.

Andreas Isaksson has been promised the keeper's berth by manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, while Richard Dunne should be fit to play in central defence.
Reading will be without defender Michael Duberry (cracked ribs), and Glen Little (Achilles) remains out. But defender Ibrahima Sonko has been passed fit to play following treatment for a groin problem.



Man City (from): Isaksson, Hart, Corluka, Sun, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Fernandes, Geovanni, Petrov, Elano, Vassell, Mpenza, Samaras. Reading (from): Hahnemann, Federici, Murty, Rosenior, de la Cruz, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Shorey, Oster, Gunnarsson, Harper, Fae, Hunt, Convey, Doyle, Kitson, Long, Lita, Cisse.


Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson:
"We have a lot of games coming up. It is an important few games for us now with no more international breaks, which is a good thing.
"If we can keep the team fit and keep doing well then I will be thinking very positively. "I will be very happy if we can stay where we are."


Reading manager Steve Coppell:
"You have to say it's unlikely they will go the full season being unbeaten at home, so why shouldn't we be the ones to break the record?
"We need to be more of a unit away from home, obviously not to concede so many goals, but also be effective going forward. "As a team we have to be more together and not so stretched."


BIG-MATCH FACTS

Manchester City are one of only two clubs in England with a 100% home league record, alongside Ipswich.
City aim to extend their club record start, with an eighth successive Premier League victory at Eastlands.
Neither of these clubs can climb from their current positions in the Premier League table. Reading have gained a point a game on average, but are the only club with just one draw.
A stalemate here would take Reading's total of league points under Steve Coppell to 300.
Despite both scoring just 16 goals, the Citizens have won as many Premier League matches as the Royals have lost (eight), and have twice as many points (26 to 13); City have claimed maximum points at home while Reading are yet to win away, pitting therefore the strongest home form against the equal weakest away. Reading are defending a 100% Premier League record over Manchester City, having won both fixtures last season, by an aggregate of 3-0.
CLUB FORM

MANCHESTER CITY
Club stats (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/club_stats/default.stm)
Fixtures (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/fixtures/default.stm)

Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 6th
1. Lost one of 10 in all competitions, and not conceded a goal in three.
2. Avoided defeat in seven of the last eight Premier League fixtures.
3. Kept clean sheets in three of the last four league games; the exception being the 6-0 thrashing at Chelsea on 27 October.
4. Won eight of 13 Premier League matches under Sven-Goran Eriksson, and won 11 of 16 league and cup matches under the former England coach.
5. Averaging two points per game. The current tally of 26 points after 13 matches beats their previous Premier League best of 21 points to this stage in 2005-06, when they went on to finish only 15th.
6. Conceded a goal a game on average; 13 in 13 league matches.
7. Always win when scoring first, having done so on seven occasions. Only Portsmouth can identify with that, having won all five Premier League fixtures in which they have opened the scoring.
8. Unbeaten against lower half clubs so far; won five and drawn one of their six fixtures against clubs currently in the bottom 10.
9. Aiming to add Reading to Derby, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Birmingham and Sunderland as league scalps claimed in successive matches at the City of Manchester Stadium. 10. This match precedes three fixtures against clubs in the bottom six; Wigan (a), Tottenham (a), Bolton (h).

READING
Club stats (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/club_stats/default.stm)
Fixtures (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/fixtures/default.stm)

Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 12th
Lowest could fall: 15th

1. In danger of losing three Premier League matches on the bounce for the second time this season, having been defeated by Fulham (a) and Arsenal (h) in their last two outings.
2. Lost twice as many league games as won (won four, lost eight).
3. Lost seven of the last 10 league matches.
4. Six points down, year on year.
5. Conceded 29 Premier League goals; only Derby exceed that with 31.
6. Their 13 league matches have produced 45 goals (16 for, 29 against); only Tottenham's exceed that (47 goals, 23 at home and 24 away).
7. The only club to have failed to pick up a single Premier League point from a losing position.
8. The highest placed on seven clubs still to win away from home in the Premier League. Gained just one point on the road (0-0 with Manchester United at Old Trafford on 12 August), and not won in seven away from the Madejski.
9. Registered one win in 12 away Premier League fixtures; 1-3 at Bolton on 21 April. Also they have only recorded five victories in 25 away matches in Premier League history. 10. Lost successive away matches to Bolton (3-0), Sunderland (2-1), Portsmouth (7-4), Blackburn (4-2) and Fulham (3-1).

KEY PLAYER NOTES

MANCHESTER CITY

ELANO is Manchester City's leading scorer with five goals, and top Premier League marksman with four.
If selected:-
Richard DUNNE will be making his 300th club career appearance (Everton and Manchester City).
Nedum ONUOHA will be making his 50th Premier League appearance - all for Manchester City.
If on the field from the outset:-
Darius VASSELL will be making his 200th club career start (Aston Villa and Manchester City).
READING

Dave KITSON and Kevin DOYLE are Reading's joint top scorers with four Premier League goals each.
KITSON is a double shy of 50 league goals in Reading colours.
Leroy LITA needs to score one to total 50 career league goals (Bristol City and Reading).
Marcus HAHNEMANN are the only remaining player to have been involved in every minute of every one of Reading's Premier League matches this term.
If selected:-
Nicky SHOREY will be making his 50th career Premier League appearance (all for Reading).
Glen LITTLE will be making his 400th club career appearance (Burnley, Reading and Bolton).
If on the field from the outset:-
Steve HUNT will be making his 200th club career start (Crystal Palace, Brentford and Reading).

HEAD TO HEAD

Manchester City have failed to score in six of their last eight league meetings with Reading.
The Citizens are chasing a first home league victory over the Royals since their 3-2 triumph in the second tier on 3 May 1997.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Man City 6 wins, Reading 6, Draws 2
Prem: Man City 0 wins, Reading 2, Draws 0
at Man City only
League (inc PL): Man City 4 wins, Reading 2, Draws 1
Prem: Man City 0 wins, Reading 1, Draws 0
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Manchester City 0-2 Reading
3 February 2007 - Ref: Howard Webb
Reading scorers: Lita 79, 89
Sent Off:

[Razcle]

Geovanni in the 92' had a chance to put the game in the bag for city and missed.....OH GOD!!! 1-1 after 93'

[Razcle]

IRELAND>>>>>>>GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLl

93' 2-1 Man City

[Lynne_mcfc]

IRELAND>>>>>>>GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLl

93' 2-1 Man City

Very understated Razcle!! Another super Stephie Superman Ireland goal. Isaksson ran all the way up the pitch to join in the pile of Blues on the ground congratulating Stephie Superman - what a team spirit!

We started the match well, firing on all five cylinders (exiciting stuff). Petrov's bullet of a goal was unstoppable! Then around 25mins, we slipped into a lower gear, the crowd went quiet and 43rd minute, Reading equalised. Once again we seemed to be sleeping and let them 'walk' in. Our passing was more accurate than it has been in the past, less pressure was put on the mid-field and defence as a result, but the fantastic start was becoming a distant memory. Reading kept up the pressure and we didn't seem to be going anywhere.

My heart sank when Samaras started the second half. :eek: We're going to lose this one I thought. But he's showed much improvement on his previous poor performances and was actually winning the ball and showing some spirit. I would've liked to have seen the ball go in when he had to stretch to reach Petrov's well timed pass, but Hahnemann had other ideas and stopped the ball with his legs. Then Geo's miss of what should've been a 'sitter'. I'm sure that if he'd have been a regular feature of the squad, that shot would've gone in. He redeemed himself by playing the key role in Stephie Superman's goal. :D

My MOTM: Richard Dunne - 300th match - his knowledge of the game was instrumental in keeping us in the running. Great tackles and being in the right place at the right time to intervene in passes. Showed once again why he is the Captain (leading by example), a great fan favourite (reliable and calm) and one of the top three defenders in the country.

Much improved players: Samaras and Stephie Superman (his passing has improved greatly).

Injury worries: Elano and Corluka (had Corluck stayed on the pitch, he could possibly have been my MOTM - great defending and supportive in attack).

Not our best game, only flashes of inspirational play, but we stuck with it, believed we could do it, never gave up, gave 110% and were rewarded with the 93rd minute Stephie Superman goal. Reading will feel hard done by, even though they are only the 2nd? team to get a goal at COMS.

Fantastic display of team spirit and determination.

Guess which team of supporters will be celebrating in Manchester tonight? :rolleyes: :

Bolton 1 Man Utd 0 - Bolton wanted the win more and considering their position in the league, had great self-belief that they could do it. As a result we're 1 point behind Man Utd. Our next match - Wigan away.

Have a great week-end everyone.

[Lynne_mcfc]

A comment by a Man City fan on the Manchester Evening News (newspaper) report on the match:

Never felt more like singin' the Blues, When City win and united lose..... :D
barnham blue
24/11/2007 at 17:47

Another fan that had been at the match said that only 25,000 were there at the end to see Stephie Superman's goal. And what a goal they missed, they'll all be crying in their beers and then rushing home to watch the highlights on TV! It's another reminder, it isn't over until the final whistle and we have to have faith.

[ForzaGrifo]

I didn't watch the whole game, only the highlights on the 2nd half.

Ireland's goal was awesome, but credits to Samaras for that header flick-on. That's the difference between Samaras and Mpenza - Mpenza just doesn't have any headers. Now I hope Samaras can pick up his form (if Sven doesn't bench him again) to the level when he first arrived at City.

btw, on Reading's goal -- where was the marking? There were 2 Reading players unmarked running into the box. There should be a DMF marking one of them, and I think Garrido should have marked the other one closer. Just a complete lapse in defense on that goal.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the winter signings by Sven. When is Bojinov coming back? Last I heard he has been healing much faster than expected, and is close to coming back to training. Can we expect him to make a start pretty soon?

[ProfZodiac]

Only just seen Ireland's goal.

Damn.

How did Isaksson look? I really like him as a keeper, and I want to see him get some time. He really had no chance on that goal that was scored on him.

[thejuggernaut]

Chelsea beat us by six goals but still can't take our spot. Ireland is Superman!

[Manchester City]

Although, as Lynne said, this was not our best match, I am impressed with the amount of class city showed. Reading had quite a few nasty and careless challenges and acted like the odd spoiled child for most of the match, while we conducted ourselves with a fair amount of control and dignity.

This is even further showcased by our dwindled ranks, being without Bianchi, Johnson, Elano (he was not himself), and Corluka (he was not fit for most of the match). The fact that we were able to defeat--albeit narrowly--a fairly decent side with these impairments is a credit to our squad, our supporters, and Sven's guidance.

And I have to say, the Samaras-Geovanni-Ireland volley goal was one of the best I have seen our side produce.

You can view it here (click quickly, as it may be gone soon--thanks Netresult):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE8CTcLZyPk

[MVF]

I found this, All three goals.

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/man+city+reading/video/x3kosl_man-city-v-reading-bramki_sport?from=rss

Elano went very very close for that first goal, and Petrov just smashed it home.

Bad defending for readings goal however.

Samaras looked good !

[Lynne_mcfc]

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the winter signings by Sven. When is Bojinov coming back? Last I heard he has been healing much faster than expected, and is close to coming back to training. Can we expect him to make a start pretty soon?

He is doing better than expected. He's not training with the team as yet but is getting some gentle personal training in. It sounds as though everyone is taking the steady but sure road to recovery, so I don't expect to see him any time soon. :(

[CityBlues]

Wow, if only all matches could leave me as satisfied at the end. We should have never been in that position in the first place, but winning it at the end like that was brilliant. The dreaded Samaras actually looked decent this go around. City 3rd in table, 1 behind United. Pinch me.

[thecitizen]

That game was just going to be a draw but when he scored...that made me shiver. I haven't actually jumped up and began screaming for dear life like that goal. I was laughing for about 30 mins after just ecstatic.

It wasn't necessarily the cleanist win, but it was a good win overall.

Now all we need is a win next week and a draw or loss for ManU and then we can really get excited (even if it ends up for just a week.)

[MVF]

That goal.

Just amazing, control, power, placement.

[thecitizen]

It's also amazing that it was a one timer coming straight from a header. You can't get a better finish then that.

Thanks to former citizen Anelka, we are able to actually pass ManU now. He's helping us even when he's not here.

[Lynne_mcfc]

Wow, if only all matches could leave me as satisfied at the end. We should have never been in that position in the first place, but winning it at the end like that was brilliant. The dreaded Samaras actually looked decent this go around. City 3rd in table, 1 behind United. Pinch me.

CB, consider yourself pinched. It's not a dream or a fairy story, IT'S REAL. :D Long may it continue. Has anyone got any news on the injuries?

[Lynne_mcfc]

That game was just going to be a draw but when he scored...that made me shiver. I haven't actually jumped up and began screaming for dear life like that goal. I was laughing for about 30 mins after just ecstatic.

It wasn't necessarily the cleanist win, but it was a good win overall.

Now all we need is a win next week and a draw or loss for ManU and then we can really get excited (even if it ends up for just a week.)

I think I heard you screaming, or was that me! Never before has a goal had me punching the air so furiously and screaming at the top of my lungs. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face for the whole week-end, the Reds loss was the icing on the cake. :D More please. :p

[thecitizen]

CB, consider yourself pinched. It's not a dream or a fairy story, IT'S REAL. :D Long may it continue. Has anyone got any news on the injuries?

Everyone is expected to be back next week so it's all not a real big deal.

And Samaras was brought on because Mpenza was a bit injured at the half, and Elano was just tired.

So far, the only injuries we have to worry about is Bojinov's, and he's supposed to be coming back sooner than thought.