UK Pre-season games

**eirebhoy** · 16/07/2007, 1:14 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

According to football365.com, he's aggravated a hamstring injury

Strachan: "Darren has a hamstring injury. It's something he has had from last year. We told him to have five weeks' rest.

"But, being the young boy he is, he gave himself two and started running, so it has not cleared up. That's enthusiasm and stupidity chucked in at the same time."

**youngirish** · 16/07/2007, 1:41 PM

Reading beat Lyon 1-0. Stack, Hunt, Long and Doyle all played with Long and Doyle being possibly the two best players on the pitch. Stack also made some good saves.

**tetsujin1979** · 16/07/2007, 2:28 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Reading beat Lyon 1-0. Stack, Hunt, Long and Doyle all played with Long and Doyle being possibly the two best players on the pitch. Stack also made some good saves.

Doyle had a penalty saved, Long got the assist for the goal, official site report here: http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk...073787,00.html

**tetsujin1979** · 16/07/2007, 2:29 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Strachan: "Darren has a hamstring injury. It's something he has had from last year. We told him to have five weeks' rest.

"But, being the young boy he is, he gave himself two and started running, so it has not cleared up. That's enthusiasm and stupidity chucked in at the same time."

That's him out of the Denmark friendly so?

**Dr. Ogba** · 16/07/2007, 3:00 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Doyle had a penalty saved, Long got the assist for the goal, official site report here: http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk...073787,00.html

no sign of Alan Bennett....is he injured or just not in favour?

**tetsujin1979** · 16/07/2007, 3:15 PM

Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba

no sign of Alan Bennett....is he injured or just not in favour?

He was an unused substitute, for the second game in a row
Full line up here: http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1073610,00.html

Reading (4-4-2): Stack; Murty, Golbourne, Bikey, Duberry; Harper (Gunnarsson 28), Cisse (Oster 65), Cox (Halls 78), Hunt; Doyle, Long.
Subs: Federici, Shorey, Halls, Ingimarsson, Pearce, Bennett, Robson-Kanu, Henry, Kitson.

**beautifulrock** · 16/07/2007, 3:36 PM

I cant help feeling that Reading will have a long tough season ahead. Have not streghtened the squad and Sidwell will be a massive loss.

**Torn-Ado** · 16/07/2007, 4:17 PM

Originally Posted by beautifulrock

I cant help feeling that Reading will have a long tough season ahead. Have not streghtened the squad and Sidwell will be a massive loss.

One season wonder me thinks. They had their day in the sun and now I think they'll be in a relegation battle this coming season.

**youngirish** · 16/07/2007, 4:36 PM

Originally Posted by Torn-Ado

One season wonder me thinks. They had their day in the sun and now I think they'll be in a relegation battle this coming season.

Doubt it. They'll be ok this year. Ignoring the loss of Sidwell they've a lot of young inexperienced players who will be better this year now they've a season behind them in the top flight. Convery coming back from injury could be a big player for them also (unfortunately at the expense of Hunt) and with Doyle and Lita they've two of the best young strikers in the Premiership including anything in the top four. Also Coppell being as shrewd as he is will probably make a couple of new signings before the transfer deadline.

Derby, Fulham, Wigan, Middlesboro and Birmingham are the teams most likely to be involved in the relegation battle. I wouldn't be surprised to see Portsmouth struggle either despite having a good season last year though their home form probably will keep them going.

**Cymro** · 16/07/2007, 4:53 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Doubt it. They'll be ok this year. with Doyle and Lita they've two of the best young strikers in the Premiership including anything in the top four.
Derby, Fulham, Wigan, Middlesboro and Birmingham are the teams most likely to be involved in the relegation battle. I wouldn't be surprised to see Portsmouth struggle either despite having a good season last year though their home form probably will keep them going.

Doyle maybe. Not Lita. Lita has potential but has yet to deliver on it really. Unless he improves tenfold next year I certainly wouldn't count him as one of the Premiership's best.

Also, Doyle may leave Reading in January, if he plays the first half of next season as he did most of last year.

Certainly wouldn't rule Reading out of relegation.

**Paddy Garcia** · 16/07/2007, 8:20 PM

Liam Lawrence notched one for Stoke in a pre-season friendly. He was playing very well for Stoke at the end of last season, and pushed them towards the play offs before getting injured.

Delap is also back.

**tricky_colour** · 16/07/2007, 10:30 PM

I would say Reading will do OK, the bookies have them at 5-1 for relegation thats about eighth favourite, I don't think Coppell is planning on getting relegated and he seems to be able to pick up good players on the cheap. I wouldn't be surprised if they finished in the top half again. As for Hunt losing his place, well he finished in the Actim index top 100

Anyone else think Hunt looks disconcertingly similar to Kevin Keegan?

**tetsujin1979** · 17/07/2007, 3:30 PM

John O'Shea came off the bench in Man United's 2-2 draw with Urawa Red Diamonds: http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pa...&newsid=444919
Plus �a change...

**tetsujin1979** · 18/07/2007, 12:40 AM

Michael Timlin played the second half for Fulham in their 1-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge: http://www.fulhamfc.com/MatchAndTeam.../Dagenham.aspx

Shay Given played the first half, and Stephen Carr played the whole game as Newcastle beat Hartlepool 3-1: http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page...074491,00.html

Andy O'Brien played the whole game as Portsmouth beat Havant & Waterlooville (South African side) 2-0: http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/

Alan Sheehan and Jonathan Hayes played the full game, while Conrad Logan was an unused sub as Leicester City beat Hinckley 3-1: http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page...074589,00.html
(where is CraftyToePoke these days??)

JJ Melligan and an on-trial Fred Murray played as Leyton Orient beat SD Portmany (from Ibiza) 4-1, Melligan was substutited for Sean Thornton in the second half: http://www.leytonorient.premiumtv.co...074603,00.html

Jim Goodwin scored a rare goal as S****horpe beat Brigg Town 1-0: http://www.s****horpe-united.premium...074587,00.html
<EDIT>
hmm, the offensive word in the url has been converted to asterisks - you'll have to change it manually after clicking it if you want to read the report

Steve Finnan played the first half as Liverpool beat Werder Bremen 3-2: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/match/last...port/index.htm
Incidentally, the guy who came on for Finnan scored an OG.

**dr_peepee** · 18/07/2007, 4:17 PM

Folan scored for Wigan in their Pre-Season Friendly win yesterday. Can't remember who the played but he scored the 2nd goal in a 2-1 win.

**paul_oshea** · 18/07/2007, 4:21 PM

A.N.Other?

**tetsujin1979** · 18/07/2007, 4:25 PM

Originally Posted by dr_peepee

Folan scored for Wigan in their Pre-Season Friendly win yesterday. Can't remember who the played but he scored the 2nd goal in a 2-1 win.

It was Dutch side FC Zwolle: http://www.wiganlatics.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10429~1074571,00.html
The game finished 2-0, and Kilbane played in defence, line up here: http://www.wiganlatics.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10429~1074355,00.html

-Mike Pollitt in goal
-Defence, from right to left: Mario Melchiot, Emmerson Boyce, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane
-Midfield, from right to left: David Cotterill, Paul Scharner, Denny Landzaat, Jason Koumas
-Strikers: Julius Aghahowa, Caleb Folan