Any of you gangeleys watching Monday Night Footy?

[officergroyman]

Reading v Arsenal

Madejski Stadium
Monday, 12 November
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day.

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Reading defender Michael Duberry is doubtful after damaging ribs in the recent defeat at Fulham.

But winger John Oster (ankle) and utility man Kalifa Cisse (knee) are both back in contention.

Arsenal's Kolo Toure (calf) and Tomas Rosicky (groin) have been passed fit, but Philippe Senderos will not be risked following a back injury.

Midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb are likely to feature having been rested in midweek.


Reading manager Steve Coppell:
"In my mind I have probably got about three different ways of playing against Arsenal - or trying to.
"We are at home so we have got to have a go. But if we do push men forward we will obviously be leaving ourselves open at the back.

"We have to try to attack them when possible but also make sure we have a strong base so we are not vulnerable to the counter-attack."


Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"I think what Steve Coppell has done at Reading is absolutely exceptional.
"With less potential you can achieve less. But what is the purpose of every manager? To do the maximum with what he has at his disposal.

"If you judge him on that, then he has done very well for Reading."

Reading (from): Hahnemann, Federici, Murty, Rosenior, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Duberry, Shorey, Doyle, Gunnarsson, Harper, Hunt, Convey, Lita, Kitson, Long, de la Cruz, Bikey, Fae, Oster, Cisse.

Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Song, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Flamini, Gilberto, Rosicky, Fabregas, Hleb, Diaby, Adebayor, Walcott, Lehmann, Diarra, Eduardo, Denilson, Hoyte, Traore, Bendtner.


BIG-MATCH FACTS
After securing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, Arsenal now attempt to increase their club record undefeated sequence in all competitions to 27 games.

Mid table Reading have beaten Wigan, Derby and Newcastle in their last three Premier League matches at the Madejski Stadium, but they've lost three league matches against London clubs so far this season.

Arsenal hold a 100% record over Reading with seven wins from seven league and cup meetings.


CLUB FORM
READING


Club stats
Fixtures
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Lost every other of the last seven Premier League matches, winning all three of the intervening games.

2. Won 20 of 50 Premier League matches under Steve Coppell.

3. One draw short of picking up 300 league points under Coppell.

4. The second best club to watch for Premier League goals in the current campaign. Their 12 outings have produced 41 (15 for, 26 against). Tottenham's have yielded 43.

5. Three points worse off year on year; had 16 points on the board after their first 12 Premier League fixtures last season, and 19 after 13 games.

6. Not scored a Premier League goal earlier than the 29th minute; the latest by any club.

7. 17 of the 26 Premier League goals they have shipped, have been conceded in the second half.

8. The lowest placed of three clubs with just one Premier League draw. The others are Manchester City and Everton.

9. Own the weakest defence in the Premier League, with rock bottom Derby. Both have conceded 26 goals, at one every 42 minutes on average.

ARSENAL


Club stats
Fixtures
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Won 18 and drawn eight of a club record undefeated 26 league and cup games.

2. One of two remaining unbeaten clubs in the Premier League, with Liverpool, and one of three clubs with eight Premier League wins. The others are Manchester City and Manchester United.

3. Dropped only six points this season, and unbeaten in 18 Premier League matches bridging last season; won 11 and drawn seven since losing 0-1, home to West Ham on 7 April; their last defeat in any competition.

4. The only club to have scored in every Premier League game this season. Wednesday's goalless away draw against Slavia Prague in the Champions League was the first time they had failed to score in any competition this season.

5. The top scorers in the Premier League; netted 24 goals at one every 41 minutes on average.

6. Yet to concede a penalty kick in Premier League competition this season, and converted three of the four spot kicks awarded. Only Portsmouth have also been awarded that many, but only two were converted.

7. Gained an unrivalled eight points from losing positions this season; won two and drawn two of four games in which they were trailing.

8. Last had 27 points after the first 11 fixtures of a Premier League season in the title-winning campaign of 2003-04, when they had 30 points after 12 matches.

9. Not beaten in seven league games on the road. Won two and drawn two away from the Emirates this season, and won two and drawn five on their Premier League travels since losing 4-1 at Liverpool on 31 March.

10. Hoping to add Reading to Tottenham and West Ham; clubs they have taken maximum points off from their away trips this term.


KEY PLAYER NOTES

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).

Midfielder James HARPER is the only player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Reading's league and cup matches this season.

HARPER and Marcus HAHNEMANN are the only remaining players to have been involved in every minute of every one of Reading's Premier League matches this term.

If selected:-

HARPER will be making his 250th league appearance in a Reading shirt.

Graeme MURTY will be playing on the eve of his 33rd birthday.

ARSENAL


Cesc FABREGAS is Arsenal's top scorer with 11 goals.

Emmanuel ADEBAYOR and Cesc FABREGAS are the clubs joint top Premier League marksmen with six each.

Arsenal have never lost when ADEBAYOR has scored; winning 16 and drawing two of the 18 matches in which he's netted. But he has not found the net since getting a double, home to Derby on 22 September.

Only Kolo TOURE has been on the field for every minute of every one of Arsenal's Premier League matches this season.

If selected:-

Emmanuel EBOUE will be making his 50th Premier League appearance in an Arsenal shirt.

If on the field from the outset:-

FABREGAS will be making his 100th Premier League start for Arsenal.

Gilberto SILVA will be making his 200th start for the Gunners.


HEAD TO HEAD
Arsenal completed the double over Reading in their first ever league meetings last season, with a 6-1 aggregate.

Prior to last season's Premier League clashes, these clubs were paired five times in Cup competitions (three times in the FA Cup, and twice in the League Cup) since 1935. Arsenal won all five, without having to resort to a replay - the overall aggregate score from these ties was 10-2.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Reading 0 wins, Arsenal 2, Draws 0
Prem: Reading 0 wins, Arsenal 2, Draws 0

at Reading only
League (inc PL): Reading 0 wins, Arsenal 1, Draws 0
Prem: Reading 0 wins, Arsenal 1, Draws 0


LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Reading 0-4 Arsenal
22 October 2006 - Ref: Alan Wiley
Arsenal scorers: Henry 1, Hleb 39, Van Persie 50, Henry 70 pen


REFEREE
Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire)

[officergroyman]

so far 8 views of this bad boy BUT no responses

you bastards, is noone watching.

[HURLOCK]

what do you reckon the result will be then, I'll go for a draw myself

[Neko Bazu]

Too much effort to watch it

[Alex]

I have work.

[Tony Yeboah's Lunchbox]

Nah...2 nothing teams.

Bolton v Middlesbrough is FAR more exciting.

[HURLOCK]

you serious when you say that about the arse Lee?

[Tony Yeboah's Lunchbox]

hurlock said:

you serious when you say that about the arse Lee?

Note serious face....

[HURLOCK]

just trying to wind up the gangsta, Hurls style I see

[Tony Yeboah's Lunchbox]

hurlock said:

just trying to wind up the gangsta, Hurls style I see

To be honest, its not worth watching anyway. Reading will run about like headless chickens chasing the Gooner's shadows.

One sided games suck for the neutral.

[HURLOCK]

hulsey said:

To be honest, its not worth watching anyway. Reading will run about like headless chickens chasing the Gooner's shadows.

One sided games suck for the neutral.

I think Reading will be very defensive, therefore making it uniteresting to watch. Arsenal may catch them on the break - which is where all their goals come from.

Portsmouth game was good yesterday!

[Tony Yeboah's Lunchbox]

hurlock said:

hulsey said:

To be honest, its not worth watching anyway. Reading will run about like headless chickens chasing the Gooner's shadows.

One sided games suck for the neutral.

I think Reading will be very defensive, therefore making it uniteresting to watch. Arsenal may catch them on the break - which is where all their goals come from.

Portsmouth game was good yesterday!

I dunno pal, caught some of the highlights on MOTD, looked alright. I was round a my parents as we have the family get togethers on Sunday and in between entertaining the kiddies I noticed Star Wars was on in the background, haha!

[HURLOCK]

hulsey said:

I dunno pal, caught some of the highlights on MOTD, looked alright. I was round a my parents as we have the family get togethers on Sunday and in between entertaining the kiddies I noticed Star Wars was on in the background, haha!

Was good, managed to get down the pub for a few jars, can't beat a bit of Star Wars

[Tony Yeboah's Lunchbox]

hurlock said:

hulsey said:

I dunno pal, caught some of the highlights on MOTD, looked alright. I was round a my parents as we have the family get togethers on Sunday and in between entertaining the kiddies I noticed Star Wars was on in the background, haha!

Was good, managed to get down the pub for a few jars, can't beat a bit of Star Wars

Ah...now your talking. Sunday evening's down the pub, I love that feeling especially late afternoon at this time of year.

Is your pub a good'un or a bit of a rough one?

[HURLOCK]

hulsey said:

Ah...now your talking. Sunday evening's down the pub, I love that feeling especially late afternoon at this time of year.

Is your pub a good'un or a bit of a rough one?

It's a good'un mate, everyone in there is sound. It's being refurbed at the moment, so have had to go to less pleasant establishments for the past month or so!

Big opening on Wednesday, so I won't have to walk far for a pint anymore ;D

[Tony Yeboah's Lunchbox]

hurlock said:

hulsey said:

Ah...now your talking. Sunday evening's down the pub, I love that feeling especially late afternoon at this time of year.

Is your pub a good'un or a bit of a rough one?

It's a good'un mate, everyone in there is sound. It's being refurbed at the moment, so have had to go to less pleasant establishments for the past month or so!

Big opening on Wednesday, so I won't have to walk far for a pint anymore ;D

Haha...they aren't the type where you go in and it all goes silent why they eye you up for being an outsider?

Nice one sounds pretty homely. Ours is quite nice too as we got a fireplace...its been done out but it still feels like a warm, cosy rustic pub, just my thing.

[officergroyman]

hurlock said:

what do you reckon the result will be then, I'll go for a draw myself

It seems that tis thread has went a bit


HOWEVER - I will answer your question Hurls, I'm thinking it will be Reading 0-3 Arsenal ..... Fabregas, Adebayor, Hleb

[HURLOCK]

hulsey said:

Haha...they aren't the type where you go in and it all goes silent why they eye you up for being an outsider?

Nice one sounds pretty homely. Ours is quite nice too as we got a fireplace...its been done out but it still feels like a warm, cosy rustic pub, just my thing.

No not come accross any American Warewolf pubs, the only time I have ever felt uncortable in a pub was on the Isle of Dogs. Really grim I can tell you.

I like it because I can walk up there and have a chat with someone over a few jars, relaxed atmosphere - no hassle. Did really need the refurb - the carpet was thread bare. Just hope the place does not lose it character

[Tony Yeboah's Lunchbox]

hurlock said:

hulsey said:

Haha...they aren't the type where you go in and it all goes silent why they eye you up for being an outsider?

Nice one sounds pretty homely. Ours is quite nice too as we got a fireplace...its been done out but it still feels like a warm, cosy rustic pub, just my thing.

No not come accross any American Warewolf pubs, the only time I have ever felt uncortable in a pub was on the Isle of Dogs. Really grim I can tell you.

I like it because I can walk up there and have a chat with someone over a few jars, relaxed atmosphere - no hassle. Did really need the refurb - the carpet was thread bare. Just hope the place does not lose it character

I have been down one in Pompey before, rough as fuck. I've never drank a pint so quick and thought it was time to move on. I'd have felt more comfortable in a gay pub in truth.

Thats cool. You don't want any trouble just a nice pint and a bit of friendly chat. Any nice barmaids?

[officergroyman]