A New Era Magnificent 7

A lot can happen in a week. After a thrilling weekend rocking and raving at Reading Festival followed by a ‘lads’ week in Bulgaria, football kind of took a disappointing backseat in my agenda in the last week or so. English papers were hard to come by in Eastern Europe and I don’t think they’ve discovered internet yet, so I was thoroughly intrigued to see whether Reading had been able to improve their squad before deadline day on my return.

Straight on the internet, I go, what a wonderful thing it is, and I see James Harper and Liam Rosenior had both departed to rivals Sheffield United and Ipswich Town respectively on season long loans. What? I had to read again. These players were important ones in the last two years and practically releasing them can’t be good business for us, my only logic is that they were on heavy wages and the clubs that secured their signatures agreed to pay them.

Harper’s departure especially, was particularly baffling; he’s been at the club at nine years and has seen Reading through the complete transformation from struggling in League One to top half in the Premier League. Has he been denied a testimonial now? Who knows but the finest memory of Harper I have is after the 1-0 defeat against Tottenham when we were practically relegated he was the only player to give a lap of appreciation, well can’t really call it honour. That moment will stick to remind me what a character he was and how much he contributed to club and how much the club meant to him. For that, he will be fondly remembered.

In all honesty I was never a big fan of Harper as he normally runs around passing backwards for most of the game but handing him to Sheffield United is disappointing, I thought Wolves were interested and even though how much I dislike Wolves moving there would have been more satisfying.

It shows that Brendan Rodgers is getting rid of everything Coppell and bringing in his own stamp on the team. I understand the ‘new era new start’ motto but giving good players to local promotion rivals cannot make sense, can it?

The additions of Brian Howard, Shaun Cummings and Darren O’Dea on deadline day will strengthen the squad and we have potential three main first team players that could have significant impact for the rest of the season. I just hope these weren’t panic buys, something the club is not fond off after Tommy Burns’ hardly magnificent seven back in 1998.

A couple of weeks ago, Gzegrorz Rasiak and Jobi McAnuff joined Ryan Bertrand and Matt Mills, who were signed earlier on in the window, and we look to have substantial cover in most departments. I still believe we remain a quality striker shy of being ultimately competitive come the end of season but we should have enough in the bag to be on course for a playoff spot.

The seven players we signed back in 1998 on deadline day were Scott Howie, Robert Fleck, Stuart Gray, Jimmy Crawford, Paul Brayson, Jim McIntyre and Patrick Kelly and this group of players struggled to change a side on poor form and out of luck. I’m hoping this new crop of players will do a lot better.

I’m not saying we are in anywhere the dangers of yesteryear but the flurry of players entering the club is certainly a revelation. Does Rodgers believe the squad currently is good enough? Did he panic buy and only found some players available? How will these players adapt? and how long will it take them?

I’m not sure what to make of this signings. Cummings is 20 and for the future, Howard is still relatively young and adds some experience to a very young midfield. O’Dea I presume will act as cover across the back four. Rasiak is another option up front, something different; McAnuff will add competition for Jimmy Kebe and Hal Robson-Kanu. Mills and Bertrand are regulars at the back; so in all some good players have come through the door but is it a case for too much too soon? I hope they can gel as soon as possible.

Lessons Learnt

Well that was certainly an eventful weekend. The trip up there was long, and the performance was, in the end, disappointing. It wasn’t a weekend where Reading went to enjoy themselves but it was one where they were educated by brutal realisation that football in this division maybe harder than first expected.

Newcastle United, full of emotion, played outstanding and it’s a win they wholly deserved without question. Reading however, made it easy for them. Forever pumping long balls to an isolated Shane Long will never, ever work. Long started to sulk in the manner he approached the game and he clearly wasn’t enjoying himself or relishing playing this ‘lone’ striker role. It wasn’t until the introduction Noel Hunt that Long started to look himself again.

The defence looked as stable as a Katie Price relationship and had no answer for the power that was Shola Ameobi. The striker taught Alex Pearce many lessons with endless torments of physical presence and Ameobi, to his credit, took his goals very well. The defender may not come up against a more physical opponent this season, but if the case occurs, he may know how to handle it better next time around.

The midfield was completely overrun and even the enthusiasm of Jay Tabb and Scott Davies had no answer for the vastly Premier League experienced duo of Alan Smith and Kevin Nolan. They completely dominated proceedings and if the Magpies are able to keep them from joining average top-flight teams they would surely be a contender for automatic promotion.

Jem Karacan looked a tad nervous in front of a 36,000 crowd, as some wayward passing was very uncharacteristic of him. Perhaps the occasion got the better of him but as the game wore on, he improved and his passing had rhythm and purpose.

It was obvious that a very young Reading team would have days like this but the fact the team failed to perform, even slightly, as they did against Nottingham Forest is a cause for concern. The last time I remember Reading being completely out played and without any answer was probably the 2-0 defeat against Fulham at the Madejski.

Positively Brendan Rodgers praised the performance and the man does speak a lot of sense: "In the first half we were well in the game but went to sleep a couple of minutes before the first goal. Newcastle deserved to win the game but I am very proud of the young players, this is a great experience to come here. We will be better."

It was an experience for the youngsters and perhaps it was good to get these nerves out of the system early before it could matter at the end.

Trip to Newcastle

I woke up this morning with a slight spring in my step and thrill of football fever.

A trip to the Loony Toons awaits Reading and us loyal royals. The hotel is booked, the transport is ready and the beer’s are in the fridge so it’s set to be a spectacular weekend.

The last journey up there I endured delayed trains, rain and a comprehensive 3-0 defeat courtesy of Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, and Mark Viduka under the leadership of Kevin Keegan. How times have changed?

From that starting XI for Reading only four remain, but only two can possibly feature this Saturday, which may be a concern. Andre Bikey is suspended for his foolish outburst at Burnley last season; Ivar Ingimarsson is injured so that leaves Liam Rosenior and James Harper who had played at St James’ Park. The fifth member could had been Stephen Hunt but he has now gladly got his wishes and entered the gateway of Hull.

The concern for the game is that our young players could become fazed with all of the attention and emotion surrounding the hysteria at Newcastle. Alternatively, on the other hand, they will relish the opportunity, perform above expectations, and record a famous win. I do hope it is the latter.

Newcastle has been a delicate place for the last few years and it’s been nothing short of a drama starring Robson Green, but Reading have the chance to lay down their early season credentials showing the league that they will not settle for mid-table.

It is anyone’s guess what the outcome will be. Nonetheless, with a little bit of optimism, Newcastle are there for the taking and, although it will be an emotional first competitive match since the death of Sir Bobby Robson, Reading will be a little too wise for the home side as they can dictate the pace play the way they want too.

On paper Newcastle should walk all over the Royals with players at their disposal: Nicky Butt, Steve Taylor, Damien Duff, Steve Harper, Fabricio Coloccini, Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith, Geremi, Jonas Gutierrez are all Premier League class but Reading will have the expertise to make them struggle in a new climate and we’ll give them a true welcoming to the Championship.

So Reading’s youngsters have the chance the portray their talents in front of the Sky Sports cameras, I do hope they put on a great show.

Prediction: Newcastle 0 – 3 Reading

Reading Youngsters Prove Worth

The performance was quite simply breathtaking; a burst of goals that coincided with some excellent football to make an all-enjoyable evening but many did miss it. The sea of blue seats was a little disheartening but the fans that turned up still made good voice and saw five top quality strikes in a comprehensive 5-1 win.

Although it was ‘only’ Burton Albion, Reading produced a fine display and it just goes to show what a hungry, young squad Brendan Rodgers has at his disposal. This little youngster Nicholas Bignall made his debut and what a debut it was. Not many can claim that they scored two for their hometown club within 9 minutes of the start.

Bignall’s took his goals brilliantly and his all round game was equally as impressive. He caused constant havoc, his speed and energy troubled Burton’s helpless defence, as they didn’t know how to handle him.

I’m sure Burton defenders would have loved some rope to tie him to the corner flag just to have a moment’s rest from his movement off the ball, he must have tried to cover every blade of grass. He was always an option and the midfield consisting of Marek Matejovsky, Gylfi Sigurdsson and James Harper loved picking him out, he chased everything.

Irish eyes must have been smiling over David Mooney; he took his two goals very well, one from an almost impossible angle, to show case his talents in front of new manager Rodgers and fans alike. There’s a fans’ favourite in the making here.

The crowd sung ‘Mooney, Mooney, Mooney, Mooney, Mooney, ahaha’ in a remediation of the Kaiser Chiefs ‘Ruby’, inspirational stuff and no doubt it’ll be heard again. I fancy it for a ringtone in all honesty.

What a cracking little player Sigurdsson is. Before last night’s performance, he seemed a little unhurried and a tad weak to dominate the midfield, but those thoughts are now forgotten.

His goal flew in and I couldn’t believe I missed it. Damn dehydration. However, having the luxury of Sky Sports News and Sky+ I was able to watch it over and over again and once more after that. What a sensational strike it was; Cristiano Ronaldo would be eating his heart out.

Sigurdsson is the youngster in Reading’s Iceland contingent and has fine role models and compatriots he can look up to in Brynjar Gunnarsson and Ivar Ingimarsson. No doubt he has been given guidance and understands what it takes to succeed at the Mad Stad and on this perform, his career certainly looks promising.

New signing Matthew Mills also made his debut and performed amicable alongside skipper Alex Pearce and this is possibly, and hopefully, Reading’ first choice centre back pairing for the season. Mills looked commanding and has a bit of pace about him; first signs are very encouraging.

Rodgers would have a learnt a little more about his side. Now a trip to Newcastle awaits us.

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