Leam in or out

[stealthpapes]

This "who would replace" question is bothering me a bit. Pardew and McDermott had no managerial experience and did a great job for us. Coppell obviously had some big previous success, but it was >10 years before he managed us which no doubt many would have written off as belonging to a different era. Lincoln was Skubala's first managerial job apart from a few interim games for Leeds.

We're not trying to find a candidate to manage Real Madrid or England.

I was one of the minority who voted "in" earlier for reasons already articulated, but this "who would replace him?" is a non-argument for me.

What our successful managers all had in common is they were right for the team and the club. We had a clear cultural identity in those days and clear roles and responsibilities. We don't currently have that which is a bigger problem than Leam. So let's say the owners have a big reset and try to think about what the identity of the club is, how a manager fits in with that and ultimately conclude Richardson is not the right choice. In that case, get rid of him, as replacement options will be available.

Add McGhee to that list, no previous managerial experience.

Not even giving a manager a Summer to try and enforce his identity on the side is some top tier nonsense. We get rid, next guy doesn’t fly out of the blocks, maybe only a few wins short of play off form. Loses to Swindon in the EFL trophy. Yeah, get rid, I want a new thing.

This cycle, it will not work out well.

[stealthpapes]

It seems there are much deeper issues than the manager and players at the moment though.

Well, yes.

One of the biggest impacts on this season has been an ineffective summer. Hopefully, there’s an agreement on the three groups responsible, if not the amounts.

We had seven players. We’ve been bringing in players and trial lists all season. Everything, every game, has been a work in progress whether under Hung or under Leam. Had we had even a marginally better start, we’d be in a much improved position.

(That said, if we’re going to get rid, do not waste a summer on him. Foment a ‘mutually agree to part ways’ and move on.)

[South Coast Royal]

This "who would replace" question is bothering me a bit. Pardew and McDermott had no managerial experience and did a great job for us. Coppell obviously had some big previous success, but it was >10 years before he managed us which no doubt many would have written off as belonging to a different era. Lincoln was Skubala's first managerial job apart from a few interim games for Leeds.

We're not trying to find a candidate to manage Real Madrid or England.

I was one of the minority who voted "in" earlier for reasons already articulated, but this "who would replace him?" is a non-argument for me.

What our successful managers all had in common is they were right for the team and the club. We had a clear cultural identity in those days and clear roles and responsibilities. We don't currently have that which is a bigger problem than Leam. So let's say the owners have a big reset and try to think about what the identity of the club is, how a manager fits in with that and ultimately conclude Richardson is not the right choice. In that case, get rid of him, as replacement options will be available.

Add McGhee to that list, no previous managerial experience.

Not even giving a manager a Summer to try and enforce his identity on the side is some top tier nonsense. We get rid, next guy doesn’t fly out of the blocks, maybe only a few wins short of play off form. Loses to Swindon in the EFL trophy. Yeah, get rid, I want a new thing.

This cycle, it will not work out well.

You and Ian have staunchly supported the manager based on facts alone, i.e. points gained during his tenure.
Seldom have you or he commented negatively on what we have been watching.

Football is littered with managers given the sack because of the style of play ;in some instances it has appeared to be the wrong thing to do, in others the right thing.

In the end it will depend upon Couhig & Co as to whether results are the only things that matter.
They must surely have noticed the discontent from fans despite the fairly lofty position in the division, yesterday apparently it was more pronounced than ever and a poor performance v Cardiff could make the stadium toxic.

"Be careful what you wish for" has been apt on many occasions, one of the best examples being Curbishley at Charlton who supposedly had taken the club as far as he could in getting them to mid-table in the Premier League and a similar comment applied more recently to David Moyes at West Ham and Man Utd.

None of us know , nor even have a say in ,whether LR keeps his job or is binned to be replaced by somebody who turns out to be better or worse.
What I do know is that there are a number of fans who won't be renewing their season tickets because what we have been watching is oh so dull and Sky/streaming offers a facility where you can switch off and do something else.
Is that important for the owner?

Unlike for any other season I have yet to go to an away game this season but have watched every game on TV so I do know what has happened and there have been so few occasions when I have felt that this team shows any signs of being able to compete at a higher level.

Hiring and firing in theory doesn't work but the same can apply if a club sticks longer than it should with a manager.
Would Rodgers eventually have come good?
Would Clement have come good?
Was Atkins really that bad?

So, we wait and see but, with many more performances as abject as the last 3,the likelihood of LR being kept could well be lower that 50/50.

[WestYorksRoyal]

What is Team's job title? I imagine Football Manager or Football Coach?

So, do your job. Manage and Coach

I don't get the "they are not his players" excuse. How many managers last long enough to have a squad full of their players? Surely the majority come in part way through a season when a team is doing badly and have to work with what they've got? They must look at what players they have and try to play to their strengths. Are we playing to our squads strengths or simply playing a style that doesn't suit?

So, he has a summer to buy his own players. What then? Entertaining football, winning games and promotion of course

We are definitely operating with a "manager" model; both Couhig and Richardson have said this. JJ is a CEO who's remit also covers budgeting, marketing, real estate management etc.,

This means the manager has a lot of responsibility for having a footballing vision, making recruitment decisions. This differs from a "Head Coach" where a director of football (which we don't have) sets a lot of the direction and the coach's role is day to day implementation of that. Head coaches also become more expendable using that model.

So it does mean Richardson is tasked with quite a lot which is challenging when inheriting someone else's squad.

[Hound]

Performances have been abject all season tbh. I can’t remember a less enjoyable season in recent times tbh, even those miserable ones hanging on in the champ with Clement, Ince and co were better

Not even any players coming through really; Savage gone a bit backwards, Kelvin inconsistent, DK flattering to deceive - our best players late 20 or 30 something journeymen

Dull, dull, dull

At least I think LR has a plan in mind for what he wants, he knows the current failings

The summer window is huge - tbh if they don’t get the sort of players he has talked about getting, I won’t be patient for long next year

[WestYorksRoyal]

Performances have been abject all season tbh. I can’t remember a less enjoyable season in recent times tbh, even those miserable ones hanging on in the champ with Clement, Ince and co were better

Not even any players coming through really; Savage gone a bit backwards, Kelvin inconsistent, DK flattering to deceive - our best players late 20 or 30 something journeymen

Dull, dull, dull

At least I think LR has a plan in mind for what he wants, he knows the current failings

The summer window is huge - tbh if they don’t get the sort of players he has talked about getting, I won’t be patient for long next year

LR speaks well out of the heat of the moment. His fans forum session was good, and I agreed with everything he said on the EPR podcast. I don't like his post match interviews where he gives every excuse under the sun for fundamentally poor performances, but he needs to manage his own emotions and consider those of the dressing room too.

He'll know what needs to happen, and should hopefully know he needs to deliver improvements this summer to keep his job. What will affect ownership decision making on him? Empty seats and lower matchday revenue, so I think they will feel a need to act if next season starts the same way this season is finishing.

[Brogue]

So you don’t have an answer.

I mean, the whole purpose of this place is to allow people to debate their opinions on Reading FC which is what he's asking us to do.

Are you suggesting he shouldn't start the debate because you don't agree with him?

If only there was already a (premature and pointless) thread on this already.

Not one with a poll. A poll which is showing the majority of the fan’s that have voted in, want him gone.

[The Royal Forester]

What is Team's job title? I imagine Football Manager or Football Coach?

So, do your job. Manage and Coach

I don't get the "they are not his players" excuse. How many managers last long enough to have a squad full of their players? Surely the majority come in part way through a season when a team is doing badly and have to work with what they've got? They must look at what players they have and try to play to their strengths. Are we playing to our squads strengths or simply playing a style that doesn't suit?

So, he has a summer to buy his own players. What then? Entertaining football, winning games and promotion of course

He has had one window so far. As I do not go to games now, I feel I am unable to access the abilities of the "new" players. I would like to hear the thoughts on the players he has brought in on full signings and loan players which have joined the club since LR arrived with comparisons to last year/ start of this season from the fans that DO GO to the matches.

[Scutterbucketz]

Maybe it’s just the level we’re at now, but the matches I’ve seen this season were possibly the most dull I’ve ever witnessed.

Although dullness is a fairly constant complaint from Reading fans. For my own part I find the traipse to the Madejski particularly dull these days, so when the football is boring that experience becomes painful.

[Hound]

Maybe it’s just the level we’re at now, but the matches I’ve seen this season were possibly the most dull I’ve ever witnessed.

Although dullness is a fairly constant complaint from Reading fans. For my own part I find the traipse to the Madejski particularly dull these days, so when the football is boring that experience becomes painful.

Yes - though generally last year the football side of things was good fun. Maybe it was because it had Dai and all that came with him hanging over our heads, appreciated it more

[Mid Sussex Royal]

What is Team's job title? I imagine Football Manager or Football Coach?

So, do your job. Manage and Coach

I don't get the "they are not his players" excuse. How many managers last long enough to have a squad full of their players? Surely the majority come in part way through a season when a team is doing badly and have to work with what they've got? They must look at what players they have and try to play to their strengths. Are we playing to our squads strengths or simply playing a style that doesn't suit?

So, he has a summer to buy his own players. What then? Entertaining football, winning games and promotion of course

He has had one window so far. As I do not go to games now, I feel I am unable to access the abilities of the "new" players. I would like to hear the thoughts on the players he has brought in on full signings and loan players which have joined the club since LR arrived with comparisons to last year/ start of this season from the fans that DO GO to the matches.

The full signings Ward and Roberts look solid, the loans less so, particularly Keane.

[morganb]

Another question - is it all on Leam or should his coaches or our group of senior players also take some of the blame/responsibility. They must realise that the football and results are poor, can't they speak up?

[WestYorksRoyal]

When we say deeper issues than the manager and players, what are they? We have a clear off pitch structure, investment going into the stadium and facilities, healthy sized coaching team, a Cat 1 academy and owners who seem willing to invest and cover losses.

I'd say the team is the only big issue. We don't have a squad with the fitness, pace and general balance to play how we would want. The blame on that can still be placed on the old regime and the inherited shit show, but over the next 12 - 18 months that won't be the case any more. There are no excuses if we're in a similar position this time next season.

In fact, if you asked me the one non-playing problem that could be deeper, it's the culture of excuses instead of accountability. Richardson, Couhig, JJ and everyone else has what we need to make this team better - now own it and get on with it.

[West F]

What is Team's job title? I imagine Football Manager or Football Coach?

So, do your job. Manage and Coach

I don't get the "they are not his players" excuse. How many managers last long enough to have a squad full of their players? Surely the majority come in part way through a season when a team is doing badly and have to work with what they've got? They must look at what players they have and try to play to their strengths. Are we playing to our squads strengths or simply playing a style that doesn't suit?

So, he has a summer to buy his own players. What then? Entertaining football, winning games and promotion of course

He has had one window so far. As I do not go to games now, I feel I am unable to access the abilities of the "new" players. I would like to hear the thoughts on the players he has brought in on full signings and loan players which have joined the club since LR arrived with comparisons to last year/ start of this season from the fans that DO GO to the matches.

Randell Williams - A quick left footed wide player who can play all down the left hand side of a team. Struggles for fitness and a lack of end product still haunt him wherever he goes. Managed a handful of games in each of his last three seasons. He was a free and has contributed when fit.

Andy Rinomhota - is Andy Rinomthota if he plays. May be good next season with a pre season under him.

Will Keane - Signed probably off the back of the Marriot injury. Manager is deluded into thinking that he is the same player he was seven years ago, and also from recent comments seems to have him confused with Harry Kane.
Keeps Patton off the bench before making ineffective cameos, frequently as some sort of ‘false 8’ shambles. Will probably be signed on a free in the Summer for old times sake.

Ryan Nyambe - Derby County 4th choice right back who played at Wigan. A powerful right back who is relatively strong defensively and was initially willing to push high and wide. Seems to be dogged with niggles and hasn’t really looked match fit over the last few weeks. It is his thing, to be out more than in over the last five seasons or so, after leaving Wigan obviously. Has removed Abrefa from the first team squad entirely. One imagines we will sign him on a free in the summer before he takes up residence in the Jack Marriot wing at Bearwood.

Hayden Roberts - Looks like a positive signing if he can remain fit. A former Brighton product who is capable at overlapping from left fullback and potentially play from a left centreback berth in a three. Direct and comfortable in possession. A good age with room to develop further. The sort of signing we used to make.

Benn Ward - Young centre back signed from Accrington. Signed to provide covering pace at the back. Looks
OK in possession but has been pushed out to left back for his last couple of games. Burnley product who has a lot of development potential in him. Again, the sort of signing we used to make.

[Hound]

To be fair to Keane he scored double figures in the champ 2 seasons running 2 years ago

10 goals in the champ > 20 in L1. He was making PNEs squad when we got him

For whatever reason, maybe age, injuries, it just hasn’t happened for him here. On paper it looked a good signing

I mean Marriotts stats are pretty woeful last few years really and he obvs came good in the short term at least (6 in 41/ 6 in 25)

[leon]

To be fair to Keane he scored double figures in the champ 2 seasons running 2 years ago

10 goals in the champ > 20 in L1. He was making PNEs squad when we got him

For whatever reason, maybe age, injuries, it just hasn’t happened for him here. On paper it looked a good signing

I mean Marriotts stats are pretty woeful last few years really and he obvs came good in the short term at least (6 in 41/ 6 in 25)

Keane has no first touch, mobility, awareness or passing ability. Can he finish? I don’t actually know. But he’s not been anywhere good enough.

[RoyalBlue]

To be fair to Keane he scored double figures in the champ 2 seasons running 2 years ago

10 goals in the champ > 20 in L1. He was making PNEs squad when we got him

For whatever reason, maybe age, injuries, it just hasn’t happened for him here. On paper it looked a good signing

I mean Marriotts stats are pretty woeful last few years really and he obvs came good in the short term at least (6 in 41/ 6 in 25)

Keane has no first touch, mobility, awareness or passing ability. Can he finish? I don’t actually know.

Didn't he miss a sitter yesterday? And there was a couple in the first home games that he appeared in.

[leon]

To be fair to Keane he scored double figures in the champ 2 seasons running 2 years ago

10 goals in the champ > 20 in L1. He was making PNEs squad when we got him

For whatever reason, maybe age, injuries, it just hasn’t happened for him here. On paper it looked a good signing

I mean Marriotts stats are pretty woeful last few years really and he obvs came good in the short term at least (6 in 41/ 6 in 25)

Keane has no first touch, mobility, awareness or passing ability. Can he finish? I don’t actually know.

Didn't he miss a sitter yesterday? And there was a couple in the first home games that he appeared in.

I didn’t see the game but possibly. He’s not exactly Marriot

[Hound]

Scored a couple of nice goals early on but yeah he looks dire in recent weeks

[Clyde1998]

I think another point we need to consider is whether any replacement for Richardson would resolve the fundamental issues.

Constantly sacking managers feels like we'd be back to the Championship Dai-era run of Stam; Clement; Gomes; Bowen; Paunovic; Ince which covered about six years. You can't progress towards anything when the manager's constantly changing and is often just used as a mask for deeper issues.

Also would any replacement be an improvement on Richardson? Let's not forgot one of the arguments for getting rid of Hunt is anyone would improve the style football.