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.