The Madejski Satudium played witness to the most entertaining first half of football in Premier League history on Saturday evening.
United went into the break 4-3 ahead, having been behind twice – not to mention having a goal wrongly disallowed, and making two first half substitutions; of which saw right back Rafael dragged off for a poor performance.
Although on a yellow card and struggling to deal with the pace down the left hand side, I think bringing Rafael off was unfair. Jonny Evans and Anders Lindegaard would have been my choices.
Despite the United faithful claiming Evans has been our ‘best defender’ over the past 18 months, I am still of the opinion he is not good enough to succeed long term at this club.
He may have been our stand out central defender in recent times, but these recent times happen to be a period in which our defence has been at its worst for 20 years.
On Saturday evening, with our defence being pulled all over the place and failing to deal with anything chucked into the box, it was again down to our attack to bail us out.
Rooney scored twice but for me it was his strike partner who stole the show.
When signing Robin Van Persie – many pundits, media types and fans had there reservations with the Dutch forward.
Questions were raised over his ability, his fitness levels and most of all – the price tag for a man of 29 years old.
Five months into the season, every single one of the those doubters have been proved wrong and that £24m fee seems a bargain.
Van Persie is class. On Saturday he may have missed a sitter; but he scored one and had one wrongly disallowed.
Van Persie may have substituted in the 74th minute – but in the time he was on he brought other players into the game and was a constant threat to the Reading defenders; showing pace and the most immaculate of touches.
Leading the Premier League scoring charts, Van Persie was the difference at Reading, and could be the difference in the title race come May.
He is the first name on my United team sheet every week – is he the first on yours?
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