posted Jul 12, 2007

oops forgot to end my sentence

...Lita may suffer second season sydrome

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posted Jul 13, 2007

i honestly think reading will struggle next season, they bwill no longer be the suprise package and certinly wont emulate last season. however, i still don't think that they will go down

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posted Jul 13, 2007

oh no we have lost the element of surprise.....

cos i remember last year loads of teams going

"OH my god, reading have disrupted things in midfield, passed quickly down th ewings and created chances, and scored a goal"

what subtle tactical genius from the boys.

and what stopped teams"working us out adfter say 4 months, or even 4 games ?
were they waiting for preseason before they dissected our set up?

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posted Jul 13, 2007

I just can't wait for the new season to get started. I think it's an advantage that we play United and Chelsea (in fact all teams that we play in August finished above us last season). If we don't get many points so be it. As long as the players don't loose confidence, we should get better and better as the season gets underway.

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posted Jul 15, 2007

I hope they do well and dont suffer second-season syndrome! Reading were a joy to watch last season, lets hope they are again this upcoming campaign!

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posted Jul 16, 2007

Reading need players at the back to move forward and not suffer. A holder in the middle is also needed.

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posted Jul 17, 2007

I personally think its a case of clubs improving themselves too quickly. Think about it. Most clubs come up to the Prem, they survive the first season and the next window they spend and bring in tons of new faces. One side of the coin is that those players in theory improve your team as they are often better individuals than the ones you had, the other side of the coin is that those new players have to spend weeks and weeks gelling together and learning how their new teams mates play and adapt to the system.

Some reading this will possibly say that getting bigger players is more important. Im not so sure I agree. Look a Reading. They have kept the same nucleus of players now for 2-3 seasons. The squad that finished 8th last year were almost exactly the same squad that won the Championship bar Soeul Ki-Hyeon.

Those players have had 3 years now to gel and know exactly what to do in which situations. I think thats probabaly the main reaosn why Reading did so well last year.

If Reading were to go out, spend big money on 4-5 big players, and then chuck them into the first team, I very much doubt it would improve the side. It'd be harder for them as they'll need time to gel again.

So far the only major Reading sale is Sidwell. And they're only purchase is this French dude I think. Similar to what they did with bringing in Ki-Hyeon. One player in, one player out. This season Reading will again line up with pretty much all the same faces, and the only difference will be that they will have a a year of playing together as a unit in the Premiership.

Thats the reason why I think Reading will once again be another top half table finish this forthcoming season. Steve Coppell seems to know exactly what he's doing by not changing things. Why try to fix something thats not been broken?

It'll be a tougher season, but providing they dont spend big and bring in a load of new faces I honestly feel Reading will have another good year under Coppell.

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posted Jul 18, 2007

Exactly my sentiments Chillic great post. Why try and fix something that is not broken

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posted Jul 28, 2007

As a blues fan I know exactly what the premierleague holds beyond the first season but the truth is, although I believe Steve Coppel is a class act of a manager without Sidwell this will be difficult season for Reading, people underestimate the value of a quality midfieldler these days the focus always seems to be on the strike force and as I believe players like Lita & Doyle if they are starved of service they may have a miserable season and confidence may certainly drop simalar to Zamora and Harewood last season Good look to reading though I hope they stay up as the are a real footballing side with no premadonna's.

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