The Joy of No Media

Hello, is anyone there?

The Mad Stad is a ghost town with only the living dead walking around.

It’s official no one in Reading is remotely happy. When getting my eagerly anticipated Graeme Murty testimonial ticket (I urge you to get yours) at the stadium, it remained me of a funeral. There wasn’t even a glimmer of a smile; even a smirk would have been a long shot, there was just people speaking about the good times.

I must have walked past ten people and they must have been all stuck in their dejection of another season in the Championship. I even asked what was wrong with that. Foolish. I almost lost my head. The Burnley defeat hurt but for Pete’s sake, more on.

Even the man who sold the tickets looked like he lost the will to live.

I walked quite happily humming the tune to that latest Take That song (forgive me), people must have thought I was nuttier than squirrel shit but this is a season not to be down. This is one season I am looking forward too.

Yes, there is no Premier League - blah blah blah - but this season the Championship is going to be the most competitive it’s going to be for years. And as my brilliant (I have to say that) university housemate Dave Kifford pointed out in his blog Black and White Toon – media coverage this season so far has been sparse at this level.

Fair enough, Newcastle’s scintillating soap opera may be a tad more extreme than ours but the media hasn’t been out in their masses labelling us ‘relegated Reading’ or asking the question ‘will they bounce straight back up?’

Now it’s time to go through a pre season without the pressure of previous seasons and expectations are not as high neither.

The fact remains no one can judge us yet nor see what we can be capable of doing but at least we know who are manager is (sorry Newcastle and West Brom fans). No doubt Brendan Rodgers is busy preparing himself for a hopeful preseason and an eventful season, when it finally gets here.

We can get players on the quiet and spring a real surprise next term. Fly under the radar so to speak.

Let’s hope that’s the case.

Nevertheless, Murty’s testimonial is on July 21st and the game itself seems a bit of a farce. Reading Now versus Reading 4 years ago is not ideal. It was going to be Celtic but surely the organisers could conjure up something better. An ex-England 11, like Parkinson’s, would be a lot better suited and be more potentially fun for spectators.

However, it does give us the chance for us to familiarise ourselves with some ‘famous’ faces.

What does Chris Makin look like again?

Gladly, Clubs are in the 'Hunt'

Depending on how you see it, there was great news coming out of Reading today.

Nick Hammond says the club have no qualms about Stephen Hunt declaring he wants to leave.

Brilliant, send him packing and to the next bidder, whatever that bid might be.

Don’t get me wrong, Hunt is a very good player - his natural ability is questionable but his exuberance and work rate shines out like a beckon. He has scored some important goals in the Premier League, after playing only a mere cameo role in our promotion season. His dedication to stay with the club was inspiring and down to him Reading’s good (ish) name tarnished in the media with his incident with Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech. Did he mean it? Did he bollocks.

However, the second half of the previous season he was appalling, non-existence and if it wasn’t for the performances of Chris Armstrong our entire left side would have been very weak.

It’s beyond me what Sunderland, Wigan, Everton, Fulham and Bolton potentially see how Hunt could add anything to their teams but maybe a fresh start would be good for the Frodo look alike and propel him to perform to his ability rather than sulk like an irritable child.

Recently Hunt showed a vast lack of enthusiasm for Reading and rarely looks bothered whether he’s involved in the game or not. Therefore, the club and the fans should not want him at the club if he doesn’t want to be there.

It looks if he thinks he has gotten too big for the club so Reading should cash in – a £5 million pound release clause maybe a bit excessive and may scare of any bidders– and buy young player bursting with potential or give Hal Robson-Kanu a go down the left.

Even if he does go, it would be on a slight sour note, Hunt has given us all some good and some very funny memories.

The winner at Everton at home, the cheeky offside goal at Goodison, the one of six against West Ham, his involvement in Keith Gillespie’s sending off, they are all memorable but as this is a new era (it’s kept being said) and Hunt, a big personality living on past glories, needs to move on.

He will be missed. Who else can be as deceptive as he can in passing? or when he takes on defenders? The thing I will miss the most would be his tackling; it’s just not normal.

The Loyal Royal

A heart-warming story or crazy fool?

You decide.

Nevertheless I am in awe of you - Charles McLeod, you take the term Loyal Royal pass all expectations.

And I honour you.

Full Story

'Winning Football'

Brendan Rodgers’ battle cry is in full force. The Reading website seems to have a different interview published every day on the manager’s intentions. Well it fills the void of nothing I suppose.

Today’s strong message was about him wanting the fans’ to be on his side.

“Our supporters are absolutely vital.” Rodgers told the Reading website, “They are down as number 13 on the teamsheet – and they certainly are just that.

“The atmosphere they can create, and the intensity of their emotion, it helps the players, no question.”

It’s all a rather nice sentiment at the moment and it reassure fans that something is happening, even though I expect these words were just an extension of the press conference when he was appointed but oh well it gives us something to read.

Rodgers says he is ‘the biggest Reading supporter’ and pledged to ‘give his life’ in order to bring success.

It’s all saying this but nothing has happened of note yet, us fans don’t quite know whose names we can be put on the back of our pending new shirts.

He continues, “It’s my job, with the players, to ensure that energy returns and the way to do that is with entertaining and exciting football – and of course winning football.”

His words do excite me a little.

‘Winning football’ – hallelujah!

Please, please, please, let that be the case.

On a lighter note, I’ve booked and reserved the hotel up in Newcastle for our first away trip of the season; Dick has volunteered to drive up there and that will be one fun road trip.

Let’s just hope it won’t be a fruitless journey.

Not the Sale I Thought

Thank God – the weekend huge clearance sale at Madejski was just limited to the season’s kit and glossy books and not our first team squad. Although I’m sure promoted teams will be able to pick up a bargain or two when the transfer window gets underway.

When this sale was first mentioned to me, I joked that Nicky Hammond and Co went devastatingly loopy and were going to get rid of everything – the players, the management, the match day staff, etc - when they mean a ‘new era’, they mean a ‘new era’. It wouldn’t be entirely bad, would it?

But after calming down from too many dodgy tasting Carling’s and exchanging way too many awkward stares with unattractive women, rationality kicked in and I realised that the items on sale are just endless reminders of when we were unconditionally loved by world football, well England anyway.

Merchandise is cheap; memories are priceless.

The football we played was sensational – the Arsenal of the Championship, some touted – and the support we got was tremendous. But all these memories are ever so slightly in vain if they are going to be casted of the shelves for a pound a piece to capricious supporters that only ‘like’ Reading when the going is good. It is a little disheartening to say the least.

All of this illusive merchandise was all going for bargain prices, it epitomises our distinguishing past, to those that paid hundreds, even thousands to live those memories of promotion but I least I can say, like many others, I was there and knowing that means a lot more. Those feelings can’t be merely brought for a flipping pound.

In essence, it looks as if the club just made the most of our small stint in the Premier League and completely overestimated how many fans supported Reading as their first club.

I, being the complete sad fuck I am, have all of them. The promotion DVD, the Premier League season– both discs, the relegation season and I will probably buy last season’s failure as well just remind myself what reality is like.

Now many of those players that made my wildest dreams come true – well not all of my wildest dreams, I’m still waiting for Jessica Alba to get back to me – will be sold off to the highest bidder and the good luck to them.

I saw Kevin Doyle’s first goal, I saw Leroy Lita slam in the winner against Middlesbrough, I saw Dave Kitson’s chip, and Bobby Convey running the length of the pitch to score against Millwal – these memories will forever be with me.

But I dwelling too much on the past so thanks for the memories lads, but it’s time to have some new ones.

A new season, a new manager, a new team, new prospects and a new way of doing things, this is going to be one hell of a season. I just hope more Reading fans will live every kick with me and perhaps the next lot of merchandise may not end up being worthless.

Wolves are Biting Again

Those Brown shirt-wearing bastards are at it again.

This time it’s for Kevin Doyle. According to Reading Chronicle, well Anthony Smith,
Wolves are closing in on the striker for an estimated £6.5 million to bolster their Premier League survival hopes.

I really, really, really hope he doesn’t join the ignorant, selfish Wolves side.

Those bullies always take our best players, this is a team we comfortably beat twice the previous season and know have the goalkeeper and potentially the striker that played so well against them.

To make daggers in the back hurt a little more, it was Marcus Hahnemann quotes saying that all these players will be leaving, and he probably hopes for company at his new side.

The ex-loyal Royal said, “I think its inevitable will go. They could well move on because I think the club are trying to off load some salaries.”

And to be fair he is right. Hahnemann is 37 years old and on a supposed £12,000 a week, so yeah his salary would probably be good to get off the wage bill.

Doyle’s worth his salary a little more and he will be a lot harder to replace. As long it’s not Robbie ‘I can barely score and cost a lot of money’ Earnshaw it’ll be fine.

Doyle will probably end up going but he can do much better than Wolves. I’m sure Everton or Aston Villa would be great options. He is that good. He’s a starter for his international side and he should be number one choice for his club side too, whoever that might be.

Wolves eat up Hahnemann

Marcus Hahnemann has joined the enemy.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been snapping at our players again. Fair enough, he’s out of contract but geez he could have joined anyone else.

Simon Osborne, Aidy Williams and Michael Gilkes all moved up north and it was painstakingly punishing for any Reading fan to see our players put on the horrible brown of Wolves. It does leave a bitter taste in my mouth that Hahnemann elected to join them.

I don’t like Wolves. Never have done.

It’s not a case of being bitter but not much about Wolves I like. I remember coming back from a goal down to win 2-1 in the last minutes of the game at Elm Park years ago and I have never felt such relief and excited at a victory. It was the proudest victory I ever saw with my dad and it remains one of my fondest memories at the old Stadium.

Mick McCarthy pounced on a good goalkeeper that we’ve unfortunately released, and he
knows a good one when he sees one. He’ll be a brilliant back up to Wayne Hennessey, and he’ll probably eventually take over the Number 1 spot.

Hahnemann was as important as anyone else in our recent era and it will be difficult to see him wearing any goalkeeper jersey other than Reading’s. Will he be throwing his top into the crowd after a win – I hope not. That was special for us, and kids including my 38-year-old sister adore him to the ground.

The United States international is now back in the Premier League and his eight years at Madejski Stadium will be remembered fondly.

I hope he does well.

Planning for Next Season

The Fixtures are out and it’s sweet, sweet, sweet.

Nottingham Forest at home to begin with will be a good test but should be an expected win; although last season’s 1-0 defeat is trembling in my mind. God, I’ll be nervous.

Then a luscious trip to St James’ Park to play Newcastle United, the biggest away fixture will be out of the way before Reading gets into the thick of the action in the Championship. I’m already planning my trip up there. Last time I was up in the heavens at Newcastle, I witnessed, like many poor Loyal Royals, a convincing 3-0 defeat- damn you Viduka, Owen and Martins ruining my six-hour trip. I hope that we can catch them cold this time around, as they won’t be up to the pace of the Championship, but it’s anyone’s guess.

August in all will be a difficult month with away trips to Swansea City and Barnsley, and a grudge home match to Sheffield United. It would probably be fair to say that this month could outline our season. Maximum points and we are laughing, a few defeats would be damaging. I’m sure Brendan Rodgers will have his team playing slick football when the season starts; well we can hope can’t we?

A game that I’m particularly pleased in seeing is an away trip to Leicester City late March; more or least a repeat of the 2005/06 promotion season where a Kevin Doyle goal sealed our promotion (sobs). I doubt history would repeat itself but there is no harm in dreaming. I am a dreamer after all.

We finish the season with a tough home encounter against Preston North End but I doubt that game will be important; we would have promotion wrapped up in April. See told you I was a dreamer.

My wishful thinking may get the better of me again. Oh well, I have hope and far too excited for the new season.

Urzzzz

Burton Albion are coming

God, it’s only June 16th and the season has started already.

Southampton began pre season training yesterday, and the Carling Cup first round draw was today. Burton Albion could be the first team at the Madejski Stadium (we find out tomorrow with the fixtures) and its hit home that we have succumbed to another season of Championship.

But hey ho, I’m excited.

A summer of unpredictability is upon us, who will stay and who will go. It’s anyone’s guess.

We now have the manager in place, Brendan Rodgers, and now it’s about establishing a team and making them a dominate force in what is going to be a difficult league. The management team is on board with Frank Lampard snr, Dean Austin and Karl Halabi have all joined from Watford to replace Kevin Dillon and Wally Downes. Now the players need sorting.

At present, we know one game next season and it will probably draw in a crowd of 10,000 if lucky. After winning the Conference last term, Burton will be on a massive high and a trip to the Madejski will be special for them. A huge upset is, potentially, on the cards.

I’m waiting in anticipation for the fixtures tomorrow, when we go to Newcastle and Middlesbrough, when our big home games are. Will the trip to the Walkers Stadium be as good as last time?

It’s anyone’s guess , but it’s all rather exciting.

Urzzzz

Jog on Moyes

Transfer speculation continues to grow and there is no sign for any players coming in.

Rumours are circulating that Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle are targets for Everton in a combined £7 million bid.

Jog on Moyes!

Doyle alone should be worth that. If Andy Johnson fetched £10 million when he was at Crystal Palace, Doyle should fetch something similar.

Fair enough, Hunt could go as small as £3 million after his abysmal end to the season. He was with the left side midfield position in the PFA team of the year somehow, now that spot should have gone to someone more worthwhile.
Hunt will still have that £5 million get out clause, but I doubt that would be activated.

Imagine still having Doyler in the team next season, we would be so good – well a top six finish at least.

Annoyingly, Newcastle and Middlesbrough already have bides for the first round of the Carling Cup. The Football League must be incredibly happy to have two huge teams in their region and preferable treatment is already underway. Let’s wait to see the fixtures if there really is favouritism.

Newcastle were in the Champions League not so long ago and Boro’ were UFEA cup finalist and it looked that the League may already be leaning in favour of the ‘Top Two’ in the Championship. It’s like they’ve been rewarded for being relegated, surely the playoff finalist should have one of those spots as they played a very season for nothing.

It’s a competition that we’ve not taken seriously for some time now and I’m not sure to prepare myself for a possible cup run. I was hoping for a trip to Wembley last season, I think I’ll keep my excitement to myself and who knows what will happen.

So here's the New Era

So here it is. The fresh start of the new era.

Brendon Rodgers takes the helm at the Mad Stad to begin his quest for a royal return to the Premier League. Unfortunately we will have to endure a nourish summer where anything is possible.

The Rodgers appointment didn’t shock me, he is a good candidate and he will do a good job. In a perfect world I would had seen Preston’s Alan Irvine at the helm as has done a stunning job in the North West and his man management and keen eye for potential would be vended well a Reading.

Now that’s not the case and it’s all Brendon Rodgers. I hope that inspirational crowds will be at the stadium next term to support Rodgers quest ‘to be the second man to take Reading to the top flight.’

He worked for the club as youth manager before being promoted to coach, he will be able to judge how good players like Jem Karacan, Hal Robson-Kanu, Simon Church, Julian Kelly are and how to implement them into the first team. They are our future and I would love them to have a big impact next season.

Commercially, Sir John Madejski labelled Rodger’s as ‘our chosen one’ and believes his time under the ‘chosen one’ Jose Mourinho at Chelsea will only be good for us.
No doubt, his connections and contacts will come in handy as we may see a flurry of Chelsea reserves turn out in the hoops next term.

Rodgers expressed and gave of the impression that he is somewhat of a local boy, something we been longing for some time.

Rodgers said epically, “I’m one of you”, well if that is the case, he will have the unconditional backing of the fans. I loved how Alan Pardew showed his passion and how much he had his heart on his sleeve, Sir Steve Coppell was a little different to say the least.

It’ll be more animated in the dugout, and I don’t mean Londoner Wally Downes starting a brawl, Rodgers will be on the touchlines kicking every ball along with his players.

It will certainly be interesting.

Now with passion once again firmly in our bleeding eyes, Rodgers may be that man to boost Reading’s fortunes as this season is going to be make or break – failure to win promotion may cause us to do a Norwich, Charlton, Southampton the following season.

Rodgers – good luck, it’s down to you.