Richardson out

[Mid Sussex Royal]

I don't think Richardson will go. I'm fairly sure (but not 100%) that he should go.

But if Parky was available and wanted to do it, I'd probably make the switch.

I can't see Parky going anywhere unless Wrexham regress next season. They must be well ahead of where the Yanks thought 6hey'd be whe they took over.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I don't think Richardson will go. I'm fairly sure (but not 100%) that he should go.

But if Parky was available and wanted to do it, I'd probably make the switch.

I can't see Parky going anywhere unless Wrexham regress next season. They must be well ahead of where the Yanks thought 6hey'd be whe they took over.

Think when Parky does go he'll take a well earned break.

[grey_squirrel]

I think he has got to go. He has clearly lost the dressing room. He has clearly lost the fans. HE clearly hasn't a clue.

I don't know whether Couhig will stick or twist though. I wouldn't be surprised either way, but if he sticks Richardson will be gone by October.

The biggest LOL at anyone thinking Parkinson would ever consider it. Even if Wrexham sack him, his stock is way higher than us. Besides he's been in frame numerous times before and he wasn't remotely interested. Don't blame him.

[fred sharpes nose]

March April May - 12 games - 12 points - relegation form

[leon]

It’s not working. The fans don’t want him. The team increasingly don’t look interested.

Get rid and get a young progressive coach before pre season.

[The Cap]

I don't think Richardson will go. I'm fairly sure (but not 100%) that he should go.

But if Parky was available and wanted to do it, I'd probably make the switch.

I can't see Parky going anywhere unless Wrexham regress next season. They must be well ahead of where the Yanks thought 6hey'd be whe they took over.

Think when Parky does go he'll take a well earned break.

Whenever you see Parky on the sidelines these days, he looks shagged. Then again, he is managing a team in Taffy land.

[JR]

Perhaps finishing below Wycombe will be what convinces Couhig to sack him?

I said this when leaving the stadium - might be the bash for his pride that we need.

For the first time ever in 20+ years as a season ticket holder I was completely oblivious to the fact that we were playing certain matches.

Ashamed by my apathy but it’s 95% the fault of Richardson being the worst and most uninspiring Reading manager of the 21st century.

When we were winning we said it was masking the reality (thanks Jack!) and now we are losing it’s a true reflection of how shit Leam has made this team.

[Brogue]

Perhaps finishing below Wycombe will be what convinces Couhig to sack him?

I said this when leaving the stadium - might be the bash for his pride that we need.

For the first time ever in 20+ years as a season ticket holder I was completely oblivious to the fact that we were playing certain matches.

Ashamed by my apathy but it’s 95% the fault of Richardson being the worst and most uninspiring Reading manager of the 21st century.

When we were winning we said it was masking the reality (thanks Jack!) and now we are losing it’s a true reflection of how shit Leam has made this team.

It was never going to work. From day one I knew it was a terrible appointment. His record at Rotherham was awful and the comments from the Wigan fans in his style of play exactly resembles what’s going on here. His philosophy isn’t going to change all the Wigan fans say this is how he plays. He can bring in as many players he wants over the summer but if you set you team up to play the way he does nothing will change and come November we will be fcuking around in 18th place having brought in a load of players the next manager doesn’t want. He needs to go now and get someone else in before the summer.

[tidus_mi2]

At this rate I'm definitely not wasting my time renewing my ST, would rather do something enjoyable on a Saturday afternoon. Thanks Leam.

[katweslowski]

Was it my imagination or was Richardson boo'd when he he retrieved the ball during the game?

Yes he was. About 10 minutes in the ball was kicked out and Leam (quite nicely I would say), tapped it on a short volley back to the player

As that happend a large number boo'd him

[katweslowski]

Will reply properly at some point but a few random thoughts:


1) I said I wouldn't come today as I was so sick of wasting my time. I rarely enjoy the games. I did go and it was dire and miserable. The atmosphere was toxic.

2) the fans around me were rightly negative. But some were just annoying and tedious. Like when we did have a shot (if you can believe it!!) and it was blocked the guys behind said "we're so shit"... For the 100th time

3) it's sad really. I think this team isn't at the standard we need. But I think they're better than we're seeing. They seem devoid of confidence, spirit, belief, energy, motivation.

4) I can't believe this time last year, despite not getting a play off place, I had one of the best days of being a supporter for ages. Pure sunny day, packed ground, DY finally gone. All that positivity, the momentum, all gone it seems.

5) I think they sacked Noel Hunt too quickly and he deserved more time. I appreciate that's essyto say in hindsight

6) I think a grown up discussion needs to happen. Leam is a nice guy, he's tried but I don't think it's worked or will work. No personal ill feeling. Shake hands, all go out separate ways and that's it.

7) obvious to say but I sat there today. For 97 miserable minutes and saw nothing. No shots. Almost nothing resembling excitement. It was just the worst football I've seen for years.

I watch the premier league (yea yea I know it's totally different) but it's so odd to see surging runs up the pitch, passes through the defence, crosses whipped in, shots at goal. It just baffles me sometimes as I get conditioned at watching the Reading team and forget that football should be exciting

9) think back and even our wins were boring. Everytime - mostly anyway - I walked away just confused how we got 3 points. It was never convincing and it was never dominant.

10) the owners need to act. Our two options are below and neither are that good:

A) he goes and we're back to square one and it's a gamble who we get, who they sign, their style, fan connection etc

B) we keep Leam. The rot and miserable atmosphere in the squad remains into the summer. Fans come back in smaller numbers and from the first game it just feels negative

[tmesis]

Couhig has a lot of thinking to do. Richardson, it seems, was his pick. He's going to be reluctant to sack him for that reason alone.

A large section of the fan base wants him gone though, and with season ticket renewals critical for next season, that's got to be a factor.

If he does really rate him, and thinks he's the man for the job, then he has to really back him in the summer, and allow him to build a genuine promotion chasing team. Not one that can get in the play-offs. One that's going for automatic promotion. The fans will not tolerate another mediocre season with him in charge.

If he has doubts, he has to get rid now, and get someone in who can do a proper rebuild. I can see a 'mutual consent' termination in the next week or two.

[tmesis]

I watch the premier league (yea yea I know it's totally different) but it's so odd to see surging runs up the pitch, passes through the defence, crosses whipped in, shots at goal. It just baffles me sometimes as I get conditioned at watching the Reading team and forget that football should be exciting

I wish managers would realise this isn't the premier league, and stop trying to play as if we have players who can play the way they can, when we don't have the players to do so. How many goals are scored at this level because teams are fannying around at the back, and they give the ball away? How many opportunities are wasted because players are tippy-tapping around the box waiting for the perfect opening?

This is not a good division. Lincoln stormed it, getting 103 points, just by being organised, with a bit of pace, and a bit of strength. I'm probably doing them a disservice, but they kept it simple.

[katweslowski]

Agree on all of that

I trust couhig, particularly and mainly as a businessman. He's been transparent that he's intent on promotion and then selling on. Fair enough - that's actually good to know

So as you say, we need to avoid becoming a permanent league one club, and not waste another season in this division

I'll sound spoilt and immature here, but I don't want to just be bouncing around 5-10th place next year as the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester probably go straight back up.

Get the squad built with real, credible players and FFS some strikers.

[leon]

I watch the premier league (yea yea I know it's totally different) but it's so odd to see surging runs up the pitch, passes through the defence, crosses whipped in, shots at goal. It just baffles me sometimes as I get conditioned at watching the Reading team and forget that football should be exciting

I wish managers would realise this isn't the premier league, and stop trying to play as if we have players who can play the way they can, when we don't have the players to do so. How many goals are scored at this level because teams are fannying around at the back, and they give the ball away? How many opportunities are wasted because players are tippy-tapping around the box waiting for the perfect opening?

This is not a good division. Lincoln stormed it, getting 103 points, just by being organised, with a bit of pace, and a bit of strength. I'm probably doing them a disservice, but they kept it simple.

They probably had a midfield that could drop into space in front of defence to pick the ball and move it up the pitch.

Maybe we should try that?

[windermereROYAL]

He didn`t even come out for his normal pre-match applause to the crowd, he think he knew what was coming. nice bloke, but if he had an ounce of decency he`d walk away.

[Sutekh]

OK, time to move forward, let’s see what the close season brings and wait until at least HT in the first PSF before getting back on the manager’s back.

[Brogue]

Agree on all of that

I trust couhig, particularly and mainly as a businessman. He's been transparent that he's intent on promotion and then selling on. Fair enough - that's actually good to know

So as you say, we need to avoid becoming a permanent league one club, and not waste another season in this division

I'll sound spoilt and immature here, but I don't want to just be bouncing around 5-10th place next year as the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester probably go straight back up.

Get the squad built with real, credible players and FFS some strikers.

One of the many issues I have with Couhig is, he seems incredibly naive. Appointing Joe Jacobson - what was he thinking? He may turn out to be a fine CEO in the future at another club but he has no business being here. After the shit show of the last decade why on earth did he think appointing someone with zero experience was the right move. He has been very poor with the management of Hunt, the appointment of Richardson, and the two terrible transfer windows.

Couhig has openly admitted his knowledge of football Is limited, and that’s fine. So you surround yourself with people who do have knowledge and experience. Not a wet behind the ears type who has never had a role like this,. I mean who the fcuk goes straight from playing the game straight into a CEO role? The guy is cutting his teeth in the role, at our expense. Go cut your teeth in League 2 or the conference ! Not at a club that was on the verge of going out of existence a year ago, that has a massive rebuild on its hands. We needed experience. A very poor appointment from couhig and one the primary reasons we are in this mess.

[Brogue]

OK, time to move forward, let’s see what the close season brings and wait until at least HT in the first PSF before getting back on the manager’s back.

Maybe you can move forward. I think the damage he’s done and the irretrievable connection with the fan base means a lot of people cannot/will not ‘just move forward’

[Extended-Phenotype]

I wasn’t really in favour of sacking Hunt when we did, but understand why we did. In terms of LR, it truly does feel like we are in a worse place - results are similar if not worse, team spirit is worse, confidence is worse, quality of football is worse, and outlook feels worse - we had seen better times under Hunt so it was always possible he could turn things around; I’m just not sure there are any signs the football under Leam will get any better.

Couhig said there would be a club-wide review at the end of the season. He will either buy into the idea that the football will improve with the right investment, and that Leam is suffering the effects of injuries, low confidence, low quality players and incomplete team. Or like many of us, he will lack the confidence that Leam can get anything better out of this team even with new players.

I think what is pushing me into the Leam out camp is that, since failing to be able to make the playoffs, we have had a number of games where the results didn’t really matter, giving LR zero pressure (or excuses) for trying out some new ideas, giving different players a go and taking more attacking risks. He’s had a few games to actually prove to the owners, fans and players he has creative football in him, without needing to worry about losing. Instead it’s been the same old setting us up not to lose and still losing. To me that shows a reluctance and/or inability to change, and little desire to experiment and evolve.

So it’s not so much the current state of the football, it’s that there just isn’t any indication Leam is capable of anything else. And that’s a massive problem. Obviously it’s a gamble either way, but I’d be happier putting my money on new blood coming in this summer and putting together a team from the scraps, than on an LR team coming out next season with positive football and play-off chasing results.