Reading - end-of-season report
Monday, 02 Jun 2008 19:11
Reading - fan's 2007/08 end-of-season report
Good, bad or just the same old, same old? What the fans made of the 2007/08 season.
After a brilliant debut season in the Premier League ended with an eighth-place finish, most Royals fans headed into the new campaign with a mixture of optimism and caution.
Manager Steve Coppell bristled at suggestions during the summer that his side would suffer from 'second season syndrome', culminating in a memorable foul-mouthed tirade after being asked the question one too many times.
Coppell vowed to keep faith with the players who had served him so well over the previous two seasons, with only Kalifa Cisse, Emerse Fae and Liam Rosenior arriving during the transfer window at a combined cost of £3.2 million.
After a topsy-turvy start to the season, Reading appeared to be finding their level as they reached the halfway point in a respectable 12th place.
Their easy-on-the-eye attacking style still seemed to ensure goals, a fact that most pundits thought would keep the threat of relegation at bay.
However, a surreal 6-4 defeat at White Hart Lane against Tottenham at the end of December sparked a woeful run of eight straight losses in the league and suddenly the Royals were in trouble.
Ten points from five games in March appeared to have hauled them clear, but with just seven games remaining they embarked on a fatally-timed run of six games without a goal.
Defensive performances during the season were often embarrassingly inept, and heading into the final day the Royals found themselves in the bottom three and in need of help from elsewhere.
And sure enough, results went against them and relegation was confirmed to end their brief fairytale ride in the Premier League.
Grade: E
High Point
On the pitch, the 3-1 victory over Liverpool at the Madejski Stadium in November proved to be the highest point of an otherwise miserable campaign.
Reading's fluid passing game and quality from wide areas were too much for the Reds to cope with that night, and the performance was a perfect example of what made them so successful during the two previous record-breaking seasons.
More significantly, most Royals fans will point to Coppell's recent declaration that he intends to stay on next season as a real high point amidst the gloom.
Despite relegation Coppell is still feted by the loyal Reading faithful, who see him as the perfect man to ensure an immediate return to the top flight.
Low Point
Relegation was bad enough, but the manner in which it was achieved was all the more distressing.
On the final day, the Royals did their job by thumping Derby 4-0 but it was too little, too late – wins for Birmingham and Fulham meant Reading were down on goal difference, finishing in 18th place just three goals worse off than the Cottagers.
The stats highlight the reasons for Reading's sudden demise – 29 goals scored before New Year but just 12 goals scored in 2008, and a season total of 66 goals conceded, compared to 47 last term.
Other low points were the staggering Spurs result mentioned above; an equally bizarre 7-4 reverse against Portsmouth; and early exits from both domestic cup competitions.
The manager
After the dust settled on Reading's relegation, Coppell candidly expressed regret at his decision to resist strengthening considerably during the January transfer window.
Some might also argue that he failed to adequately replace midfielder Steve Sidwell, who had been the heartbeat of the side before his move to Chelsea.
He failed to rouse the players he trusts so much for one last push, with Kevin Doyle failing to scale the heights of last season and Leroy Lita unable to push on from an impressive summer tournament with the England under-21s.
Coppell – a proud and passionate man behind the cool exterior - probably had some dark moments in the wake of relegation but the support of fans ultimately made his decision to stay easier.
Fan's Player of the Year
- James Harper -
The former Arsenal trainee was the one player who maintained a high level of performance throughout the season.
He valiantly attempted to fill the void left by Sidwell's departure with a series of technically sound, high-energy displays while also adding much-needed goals to his game.
He edges out winger Steve Hunt and striker Dave Kitson, who both impressed in the first half of the season, and keeper Marcus Hahnemann, who often kept the score respectable as Reading's back line self-destructed.
Needs for Next Season
Coppell's main aim must be to keep the nucleus of his squad together because he knows they are more than capable of competing at Championship level.
Let us not forget that Reading won the division at a canter during the 2005/06 season, smashing 99 goals and amassing a record total of 106 points in the process.
He must also ensure that he buys wisely to replace the players likely to leave for Premier League clubs, such as Hunt and England left-back Nicky Shorey.
As long as he uses his man-management skills to reignite the belief that suddenly vanished halfway through this season, Reading should be a force to be reckoned with next year.
Chris Bryant