LATEST NEWS ON 'The Royals'
September 2002
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  • 16th September 2002 - Royals 1 Potters 1

    • The Royals were frustrated at home yet again as they wee held to a 1-1 draw by Stoke City.

    Reading started brightly and deservedly took the lead courtesy of a rare Anthony Rougier goal. The ball was crossed in from the left and the Trinidadian fired home from just inside the box. The home side were in control for most of the first half and played some neat passing football. However, 7 minutes before half-time the Potters equalised from a rare attack when Vandeurzen's speculative effort to a wicked deflection off Adi Williams to leave the Royals keeper helpless.

    In the second half, Reading continued to make most of the running but were not able to find the killer touch in front of goal that would have restored their lead. With full-time approaching, Stoke began to have a period of sustained pressure and looked the better side for the last 10 minutes. However, that final period somewhat distorts the overall picture and this was a game that the Royals did more than enough to win. There was nothing wrong with the performance, just the ability to turn superiority into a winning margin.

    So the Royals must wait a little longer to gain that elusive home victory on a Saturday afternoon.

  • 27th September 2002 - Roving Whitehead

    • Want-away Royals keeper Phil Whitehead has joined 2nd Division Tranmere Rovers on a month loan deal.

  • 21st September 2002 - Hughes Corker

    • Reading got back to winning ways with a magnificant victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. Manager alan Pardew decided to stick with the controversial 3-5-2 formation that had failed so miserably against Norwich. The only change to the starting line-up was Ricky Newman replacing Sammy Igoe in central midfield. This time, the Royals were allowed to settle as they comfortably held off any initial threat from the home side. Indeed, it was arguably the visitors who had the better opportnities in the first half. Hughes and Cureton both wasted decent chances, whilst Wolves were fortunate to survive a goal mouth scramble.

    The only goal of the game came after 58 minutes - and what a goal it was. Hahnemann's long kick upfield was nodded on by Watson and the ball fell to Hughes 25 - 30 yards from goal. The ball sat up nicely and Hughesey volleyed the ball over the stranded keeper for a memorable goal. And the midfielders joyous celebration was quite memorable too. For the remainder of the half, the hosts tried in vain to force an equaliser, but the nearest they came was when a shot from outside the box cannoned back off the upright. But the Royals were still looking dangerous on the break and the tireless Anthony Rougier was causing no end of problems for the home defence. The introduction of Forster for Cureton mid-way through the half injected fresh pace to the side and Fozzy made a couple of excellent runs only to be foiled by the Wolves keeper.

    This was a very hard earned and deserved victory for the Royals, and one that was most certainly needed after the recent sequence of defeats.

  • 18th September 2002 - Singing canaries

    • Norwich City raced into a 2 goal lead inside 5 minutes and the ran out comfortable winners at the MadStad. Royals boss Alan Pardew stunned everyone by dropping Nicky Shorey and Martin Butler (neither of whom even made the bench) and adopted a strange 3-5-2 formation. It was obviously a ploy to accommodate loan signing Matthew Upson (so presumably previous reports that his loan move may be deemed in breach of FIFA regulations have proved unfounded). There was also the shock appearance of Youth keeper Jamie Youngs on the subs bench in place of Phil Whitehead. After finding themselves with a mountain to climb so early on, the night simply got worse for the Royals. With what can only be described as one of the worst refereeing performances of all time, Reading received SIX yellow cards, including 2 for John Mackie which resulted in his dismissal before half time.

    It was a miserable night all round for Mackie, as it was two appalling pieces of defending on his part that lead to both City goals. Firstly, he completely missed what should have been a simple clearance of a ball played across the 6-yard box, leaving the Canaries striker with a simple opportunity to fire home. Just 2 minutes later, and Mackie again failed to clear, succeeding in only whacking the ball against his own body which allowed the ball to be easily stolen from him. The ball was squared across the back of the box and expertly fired into the top corner of the net for a well-taken finish. After taking command so early, it was comfortable for Norwich during the remainder of the game. Although the Royals battled hard, they rarely threatened the visitors goal and you always felt that City had plenty in reserve if required.

    The key questions arising from this game are:
    Why change a solid looking 4-4-2 formation to experiment in a game against one the the Divisions top sides?
    Was Pardew put under pressure by Arsenal to play Matthew Upson?
    Why was Nicky Shorey dropped completely?
    How on earth does John Salako continue to make the starting line-up?
    Over to you Mr Pardew!

  • 16th September 2002 - Upson To Go Back?

    • It has been reported in some newspapers that the loan signing of Matthew Upson from Arsenal may be in breach of FIFA regulations. According to the reports, FIFA are concerned that the actions of English clubs in using the loan system for players to move clubs outside of the transfer window is in breach of the new rules introduced this season. It is expected that FIFA will ratify the new regulations at a meeting on Wednesday and any loan signings made after 31st August involving Premiership clubs may be deemed void. If this is the case, then Matthew Upson would be ordered to return to Arsenal. If anyone can tell me what the supposed benefits to football of such ridiculous rulings are meant to be, I would be interested to know.

  • 14th September 2002 - Royals 0 Dons 1

    • The Royals were beaten by a goal 2 minutes into injury time at the Madstad. A drab affair that saw few genuine scoring opportunities had looked like finishing goalless until Joel McAnuff fire home a winner for the Dons on the stroke of full time. There really is nothing else to report from this poor game.

    The result means that Reading have not won at home on a Saturday for 7 months. Their last victory on a Saturday afternoon at the MadStad was way back on 23rd February against Stoke City. The next opportunity for the Royals to recitify matter will be on 28th September - against Stoke City. Let's hope that is a good omen.

  • 10th September 2002 - Royals Dumped In WC

    • Reading were dumped out of the Worthington Cup at the first hurdle by 3rd Division Cambridge United. Despite a full strength line-up, the game was dominated by the hosts who took a deserved 2 goal lead by half time. In the 2nd half the Royals made 3 substitutions and took the opportunity to expirement with a new diamond formation. Although Reading had much more of the game in the second period, it was the home side who extended their lead and put the game beyond reach. The only plus point for the Royals was a last minute consolation goal by Matthew Upson on his full debut.

  • 7th September 2002 - Millers 0 Royals 0

    • Reading gained a hard-earned point in a goalless draw at Millmoor. The game was played in difficult conditions as torrential rain made for a slippery surface. The Royals had to defend solidly for long periods to secure their 3rd consecutive clean sheet. The visitors had to rely on quick breakaways for the few chances that came their way. The closest that Reading came to scoring was when Nicky Forster rattled the crossbar mid-way through the first half.

    After the break, Martin Butler latched on to a through ball following good inter-play between Cureton and Watson. The tall striker rounder the Millers keeper but saw his effort cleared off the line by a covering defender. Then Watson, playing against his former club, stabbed the ball just wide of the post after a goalmouth scramble. The biggest danger to the Royals rearguard was caused by 2nd half substitute Mark Robins, who missed two excellent opportunities when clear through on goal.

    There was only one change to the starting line-up, with Ricky Newman replacing car-crash victim Graeme Murty. That meant no place for new loan signing Matthew Upson, who had to wait until the 86th minute to make his Royals debut. Hahnemann had a less assured game between the sticks, but was still able to keep out the hosts and help earn a valuable point.

  • 6th September 2002 - Viv Joins U's On Loan

    • Central defender Adi Viveash, who has not featured in the first team so far this season, has joined 3rd Division Oxford United on a one month loan deal.

    The Royals are hoping to arrange more loan deals for other fringe players such as Joe Gamble and James Harper.