2013 Out with a whimper Readingfc

Marching band played better than Readingfc

After another defeat away from home, at the Riverside 2013 ends with a whimper for Readingfc

Now is the time for all true Reading fans to voice their support for their club, there are so many things wrong, even those with expert analytical skills would struggle to unravel a sorry state the club finds itself in, a "Downward spiral" to quote the words of Nigel Adkin's.

The quality of football has been dire, the atmosphere reduced to moans, groans and booing, along with the wall of silence from the Board.

Mr Madejski has been hoodwinked by the Zingarevich clan, as has the supports, players and staff.

Time is ripe now to bit back, and reclaim the club from this chancer, (stronger words avoided in case a liable action is to follow).

An AGM or EGM, should be called so that the clubs intentions and those at board level are clarified, even owners with a majority share must be accountable, action or inaction's can effect the share value of any commodity, others involved at board level will know the legal terms if I have stated incorrectly.

Nigel Adkins was brought in by Anton Zingarevich (AZ), and has clearly a reputation to protect, but in his interview with Tim Dellor on Radio Berkshire proved, he is biting back. He wants backing from the board, and players to do what they are being asked.

On Wednesday, New Years day, I will take up my seat in the Lower West Stand, and give 100% support for Nigel and the players that show they care, when we take on Nottingham Forest.

For too many games this season, I have moaned and booed, as I have seen fit to show my displeasure, only because I care for my hometown club.

As a supporter I am placing my trust in those that have control, to do the right thing by this club.

Nigel Adkins deserves to be backed, if he fails, then that is down to him, but at the moment he is being too kind to those around him just like Brendan Rogers did. As soon as Brendan dare question the clubs commitment he was shown the door, but subsequently succeeded at Swansea and Liverpool.

Readingfc, the ball is in your court, do the right thing before the damage is irreparable.

Watching Reading is a chore, which more and more Season Ticket holders are turning away from, Nigel said he wanted fans to enjoy the experience and watch the game with a smile.

Come on you Royals

Make us smile at the matches!

Urz

Reading 4-1 Doncaster Rovers

Finally football returns to the Madstad, following two weeks of speculation conspiracy theories etc regarding the ownership or future ownership issues surrounding the delayed takeover.

A reasonable crowd of 17,000 + in the circumstances is a little more than I had anticipated, the travelling Doncaster fans were never going to be in the thousands, as we would not take thousands to an away game at the Keepmoat Stadium.

The match build up on the radio at least realised a previous error in predicting a rout at Barnsley, it was more cautious optimism.

The game began with Reading playing good approach work left right and centre, and deservedly took an early lead  through a long range effort from Danny Gutherie and his strange hair style, not sure if it is for luck part of a bet or some other obscure fashion reason.

The response from Paul Dickov was swift, quick to realise that Reading were being totally unchallenged and made a tactical substitution to bring on another striker on the 23rd minute.

This changed and within 8 minutes after only parrying a strike Federici was to be beaten in the Reading goal.

Alfie restored the lead after an audacious flick to send the ball trickling across the goal line to ensure the Royals had a  half time lead.

The second half showed Donnie were looking very much to recover parity, but the game was to take a bizarre twist. Their central defender was involved in a heavy collision with the goal post, presumably after a coming together with Sean Morrison, who checked to make sure the defender was ok.

Clearly Rob Jones was injured as the stretcher team and medical team rushed to his aid as he was still kneeling in the back of the goal, still not moving. Bizarrely he received some treatment and was walked off the pitch into the exit of the South Stand. He was supporting his own arm with his other hand as he left the field of play, why he went that way is a mystery. Normally an injured player goes down the tunnel, unless it was the shortest route for access to an ambulance. Maybe a lesson learnt from the Petr Cech incident for Chelsea.

As Donnie had used all three subs they went down to 10 men, for which they were to remain at throughout the rest of the match.

McCleary struck home to make it a third for Reading, and as a contest the game was over.

At 3-1 the game entered added time, 7 minutes for the prolonged injury to Rob Jones

Pavel Pogrebnyak worked tirelessly throughout the game and capped a fine performance in the final minute of the seven with a cracking individual goal. Clearly the "Bigf*ckingrussian" has found both the desire and appetite for the game. 

Despite his banter with the Reading fans, our Aussie goal keeper may have picked up a suspected hamstring injury.

Good all round performance, thoughts of the takeover were not so imperative as they were for the fans before the game kicked off. Rising to sixth in the table is not bad for a team that clearly has only it patches of good form, they now need to do it consistently over a match.

Hope the injury to Rob Jones is not too serious, and wish him a speedy recovery

Readingfc transfer update

Nothing to report.

Well there isn't the biggest surprise in my life.

The only offer the club could provide now, is to have the words "Mugged by Reading FC" printed for free on the back of the replica shirts, somehow don't think they would stump up for that even.

I am not deluded, they promised, and strung everyone along all summer, feel very very let down.

Down down deeper and down

No not status quo, the status quo we speak of is the state of mind.

Following an appalling season, the bitter pill of relegation was made easier to swallow by the expected turnaround in both management and style of play.

Looks like we peaked in the first half against Watford, since going ahead and completely commanding the game, we hit the proverbial bar of soap.

Surrendered a two goal lead, to snatch a draw, which we only deserved on our first half performance.

One step down, we travel to Blackpool, and by all accounts it is not will we win but by how many. Wrong, played a dire game and a costly defensive error meant nil points.

Last night we were thrashed 6-0 to Peterborough United, not another step down, but a club now sky diving from  above into the depths of despair, free falling without a parachute (apart from the wad of cash in the sky rocket, from BPL) We have been mugging people off, and now the players and all the staff are mugging the fans off.

Read today, Adkins read the team the riot act last night.

Not good enough, sell, sack suspend or do what you like, but if this is not a watershed moment, people in responsibility should do one.

As for those fans who travelled last night should all be named, by the club as they both publicly apologise and perhaps those players that turned out last night, form a guard of honour  as they applaud them onto the pitch at the next home fixture.

The jury are starting to take their seats with Adkins, I do hope he can turn this sorry mess around.

Fact,  one win in five games.

 Fact, Conceded nine goals since we last scored

Fact, from second favourites for promotion, four games in we have slide to fith

Fact, 13th in the league

Reading 3-3 Watford

Finally in all the years of watching Reading play football, a good game against Watford, and we even got a point, where we almost snatched a defeat from victory.

This was a classic game of two half's some of the football played by Reading was of the calibre we had seldom witnessed before. Good flowing football. controlled possession, closing down in all areas of the pitch. Good value for their 2-0 lead at half time.

The second half saw Watford on the the pitch early and eager to kick off, attacking the end housed by the three and half thousand travelling fans, impressive for Watford. Once the Royals were on the pitch the game could commence.

Like all games at 2-0 the next goal is vital, and Watford struck the first blow, but before they had finished celebrating, Karajan had restored the two goal advantage to make it 3-1

Watford were now bossing the game, Reading looking stretched, tired and out of shape, Watford were going for it, and got their reward with a penalty on the 76th minute. Called by the linesmen who had been subjected to abuse in the early moments of the match for what they thought was a bad call. But he stood statue style with his flag draped across his chest.

At 3-2 Reading now looked like a team of strangers, and not knowing which way to turn or chase, a couple of fine saves from McCarthy and a goal line clearance was keeping the Royals in the lead. But before we were told how much added time was to be added on a long range shot was deflected and the onrushing two Watford players were half a yard quicker than our defence 3-3

After the extra time was played out it remained 3-3; for the neutral this was a good game that had lots of action incident and excitement. For the Watford fans it was like a victory, for some Reading fans they acted like it was a defeat.

For me it was a good game to watch, good atmosphere and feel like it was money well spent.

Somehow from the reactions of Nigel Adkins and his assistant, there were going to be some players having their ears warmed after this result.

Far more positives than negatives, clearly work in progress.

As once said by Steve Coppell the table doesn't lie and we will finish where we deserve to finish.

Did note that we have now dropped to fourth favourites in the promotion odds.

MOM Drenthe; Exciting to watch with great skills and willingness to get a result, would have been a different result had he stayed on the pitch

Table toppers Watford coming to the Madstad

Saturday we host Watford for our second home game. They stumbled in the play offs last year after having been close to automatic promotion, condemned for their misuse of a loophole in the loan system.

Saturday they come to the Madstad, table toppers and on the back of a 6-1 win over Bournemouth.

This fixture is one I dislike, in all the years of following Readingfc there has never been a good game played, difficult to sum up in a few words, but it always seems dour and not very exciting.

Given the close proximity there has never been much of a local rivalry, not sure either team is excited to bothered by the other. The signing of Brendan Rogers  stirred the pot a little, but outside of the two clubs barely even a ripple was noticed. Though the ghost goal brought feelings to a Luke warm tepid temperature.

So on a positive we meet as two unbeaten teams, one top, the other seeking a return to the Premiership, both teams with managers who want to play exciting football. So this has the recipe and all the ingredients for an exciting game, or will history remained unchanged.

Reading need to be making more impact on the game especially in the first half, both against Ipswich and Bolton we were fortunate not to be more than one goal down.

No news on a strickercoming in, and still no signs of Pogrebnyak moving on, and in the local press statements such as we don't want to put the club in a bad place by overspending, is getting to be the annual statement. One has to say that the commercial side is still that of a club that has not moved on since our days at Elm Park, harsh, but given the potential earnings and rewards that have been within touching distance, still eludes us.

Heart says 

a close, exciting game won in the dying moments by the Royals

Head says

Poor game to watch through the eyes of a Royal,where we lacked promise in the final third which cost us the match, and questions murmured again about strategy on signings.

Reading 2-1 Ipswich Town

The season, begins today, news from the radio is that Sean Morrison is Captain and Jobi is relegated to the bench. Well lets see how it pans out, under the changing skies in the Madstad.

Concern is aired around me that a centre back partnership of Morrison and Pearce is too slow and square, and Alfie up front on his own is not a big change from last season.

From the kick off Royals look solid and are quick to make a few chances, but after ten minutes or so a familiar diagonal ball cross field was being used too many times and becoming predictable. Not for the first time visitors to the Madstad sensed there was something in the game for them, and through indecisive defending former Royal Jay Tabb see his initial shot come back yo him to bury it into the net. Fair play to him he celebrated his goal with enthusiasm and his team mates. Too many times you see players who do not want to celebrate scoring against their old clubs, a feat of scoring was never achieved as a Royal, so good luck to him.

Now the grumblings and impatient s was emanating from the home crowd. The predictable cross field ball was not working, Pearce incapable of a forward short pass, Kanu less and less effective.

Then came the effective switch of McCleary and Kanu and half time approaching, Alfie nods a cross in from the left, despite the close attentions of two defenders dwarfing him. Cue celebrations, fans on their feet singing clapping and dancing, music interrupts and changes the tempo of celebrations, music after a goal worked with Tom Hark, but not music associated with darts.

The second half began with the Royals playing a more progressive game, and with the Tractor Boys failing to close him down, a long range shot from Gutherie, reported to be deflected, looped over the Town keeper, cue music and celebrations. 

Then Ipswich came in search for an equaliser, and gradually all in the ground now accepted that the die had been cast as the final minutes were drawing to a close. 

In the final minute of normal time, out come the forth official to advise the crowd how much time was to be added. SIX, the whole crowd were aghast, suddenly Ipswich could see a barn door opening before their eyes, and the Royals suddenly in full retreat to salvage what they had.

The game concluded, as it had stood in the 89th minute, the Royals were the victors, the visitors feeling hard done by, but should have been a little more ambitious when they had Reading on the rack.

Concern at the performances of Kanu, Pearce, Pog especially.

A positive start to their Royals career for Bridge, Drenthe and Williams, consistency will be their 

greatest judge, but I liked what I saw.

Adkins made a change in the first half, which brought the Royals out of their slumber, but I did not see the high tempo one touch passing which I was expecting

For the Royals to get automatic promotion this performance fell way short, at best it was a mid-table performance, but no one ever won promotion on their first game.

URZ

A bit of a worry

So as the season is about to begin I notice today that we have slipped to third favourites to promotion behind Queens Park Rangers and Bolton Wanderers, yet the local paper "Get Reading"lists us as favourites in an article today.

Now on-line I read from and article from "The Telegraph" we are to kick off the season amid a threat of investigation by the government into their finances. TSI as the Parent Company need to provide information on cash flow, which has been outstanding since 1st March 2013. There are claims and counter claims between interested parties, over validity of exemptions for disclosure.

So is this the reason that we have failed to make any marquee signings, and with the previous Manager being singled out for failing to spend monies available, allegedly. Yet opportunities have been there to improve the quality of the squad, have not been taken up.

If this season does not pan out as hoped/expected, it will not be the blame of the supporters, players, manager or training staff, the blame will sit at the door of  Anton Zingarevich and John Madejski.

Despite the above, tonight after work I will purchase my replica shirt and look forward with increasing inpatients to the game tomorrow.

My heart says we will win and set the Championship alight with stylish flowing attacking football with commentators salivating the wonders of Adkins team, and how rosy the future is for the Royals.

Sadly my head says that we will be lucky to get a draw at best and the air will be filled with disgruntled groans at the full time whistle, about what could have or should have been.

My only plea to the owners is please do not stitch this club up, and stop making us doubt your intentions, and take us on an incredible and unforgettable journey, for the right reasons.

URZ

Ready or not the season starts next week

This time next week our first game in the Championship will be behind us, but are we ready yet.

No, we are not, in my opinion, with one of their worst seasons still ingrained on their minds, the fans are not going to be too patient. The sacking of the old Manager and his replacement have altered very little so far to grasp at positive outcomes.

The talk of money being available, quality signings and progressive on and off the pitch activities, have done very little to satisfy my appetite for the new season. 

This is not being pessimistic but realistic, maybe it is that talk is cheap, and actions speak louder than words. If we seriously want to spend big on a striker, how come an offer  was not even made for Gary Hooper for example, is it because they can't off-load the "Pog". 

Why not make him our main striker, or if he wants to move on, bring in the player who will fill that role, but for all that is sacred in the world, pull ones finger out of ones arse and do something.

If Adkins is to make a mark, he has to hit the ground running, so far there seems few signs we are any further forward than the day before Brian was released.

Having got all that off my chest, it will be nice to go down to the Madstad and watch football again.

With season ticket in my back pocket, and new away shirt on my back, I will be driving down to the ground and taking my seat in the lower West in blazing sunshine, along with another 18000+ crowd looking out onto the beautifully manicured pitch to watch the Royals begin an unbeaten run, returning home feeling that all in the world is great, and reading all the plaudits about how Reading FC are back and playing fantastic football, like a breath of fresh air in the football league.

URZ

Where are the new signings

The 2013/14 season will soon be upon us, and Royals fans wait patiently to see the acquisition of new blood into the club.

Recently the local media have made a lot of news about Hunty going to Leeds, and a player with top four ambitions extending his contract. Hal Robson Kanu has obviously put his ambition on hold for a couple of more seasons.

Season tickets have been received by the majority, but still the wait goes on. Is Pog staying or going, will the club get their secret targets, or is it a stalling tactic, for a club that made a lot of noises about buying in quality players to win the championship, very little is coming out, and more worrying is the local media have so little to feed the starving fans, it now is with reluctance That I troll the Internet to see our build up for next season.

We have always remained second favourites for promotion, behind QPR, who, have, and needed to make big changes in staff.

So with my glass half empty, I am no longer looking at a quick return to the Premiership, however with my glass half full, we could and should see a better quality of football at the Madstad.

Looks very much like Nigel Adkins has really got his work cut out, no luxury or marquee signings to boost the players and fans, but he has a proven track record at this level, come on August, com' on you Royals

 Urz

New players

So after a week where numerous signings were to herald Readingfc stating their intentions, it has all been a bit of a damp squib.

Players valued at £8m, but so far to add to the acquisition of Wayne Bridge, there is still only the signing of Alex Pearce, and an agreement of interest in Royston Drenthe. So reality is a week that promised much has delivered very little.

The signing of Alex Pearce is an odd one, was this a case that he was built up by others, to inflate his worth, only to fail to deliver at the highest level. He did become a poor player, no doubt last season, but in that he was not alone.

Looking occasionally at the online betting, the Royals are static at 7/2 for promotion, lets see what investment comes this week, rumour is Kebe could be another outgoing player, luxury player who was never used to his full potential.

Urzz

Royston Drenthe

Could the Royals be achieving their second signing, if Royston's Instagram account is to be believed, he has signed a deal, though there has been no official comment from the club itself.

The local press have been saying since the beginning of the week he is about to sign, then there was a minor hitch, but here we are Thursday morning, with no official announcement.

The former Everton and Real Madrid player, is a left winger who also can fill in left back, looking at You Tube he has a bit of a bad boy image, as shown on one clip driving a Ferrari at speed around the streets.

To be honest, it is about time Readingfc got some characters for the fans to latch onto, the football we have seen over the last few years as been a bit sterile and safe. Yes it has had exciting moments but generally the football has been dire over the last eighteen months, possession being a naughty word.

So have we signed Royston, or did he just break in the Madstad, donned a Reading Fc shirt and posed in the stadium to force the deal through.

Our return to the Championship has been welcomed by most fans, it is a safe place where we have proved in the past we can compete, so it may be a bit premature to welcome "Roy of the Royals" but from where I sit, he will bring much needed spark and someone who the fans will take to.

Seeing the fixture list has come out, it is too early to get excited about any games yet, but that will all change come kick off when the season begins at home to Ipswich Town on 3rd August 2013, where Jay Tabb will be welcomed back to the Madstad

HRK = Top 4

Hal Robson Kanu is saying he wants to go to a top four side, well glad to see relegation has not cost the players their sense of humour.

HRK is proven at the top level and internationally, but whilst that is so, it is said with tongue in cheek.

Having watched him come on as sub, he has an unusual style when taking defenders on, almost a bit of a stumbly dribble as if he has little control over the ball. It is effective as a sub, but on the rare occasions he has started, his effectiveness tails off as the game progresses.

No one can knock ambition, we all have dreams, but as much as I may have wanted to play for the Royals or Biscuitmen as they were called when I was a kid, I didn't have the skill to achieve it.

His chances of playing for a top four side, in my honest opinion is a best pie in the sky, he has not even been a full time regular for the Royals being used mainly as a sub.

To be fair though he has nailed his colours to the mast, the ball is in his court, do a Steve Sidwell or Frankie Lampard and make it happen and prove your worth.

But if he stays at Reading he needs to be playing at Reading, not dreaming of what could have been but getting out there and proving his true value, one way would be to make himself the first person on the team sheet, but not going down the same path as Alex Pearce.

Urzz

Gareth McCleary

Skysports are reporting that newly promoted Crystal Palace are interested in signing him.

Following the departure of their star winger Wilfred Zaha, Gareth could be seen as a worthy replacement having just had a spell with the Royals in the Premiership.

First signing; Wayne Bridge

Nigel Adkins makes his first signing, Wayne Bridge. Reportedly on a year deal to fill in at left back.

So barely into the first month of the summer break, the Royals are starting to build for next season, like all new players that ply their trade with the Royals, we say welcome and good to have you on board.

There are a lot of positives in this, he has a wealth of experience, knows this league after his loan spell with Brighton and Hove Albion last season. 

He was reportedly very favoured by Harry Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers, so we will see who won or lost out by his signing for Readingfc.

So the Reading way is not dead, business is done before declaring interest in public, low outlay, but before sounding a little cynical Wayne will help promote the clubs intentions to get back on track with their long term ambitions.

When Wayne and the Royals take to the pitch I will be there in the Lower West, with the wife and our two season tickets.

Urzz