The Rouge's Season Preview 2009/10

[The Rouge]

Once again The Championship promises to be close league with many surprising results and games decided through one bit of skill, a mistake or a controversial decision. The fate of clubs can be decided by many factors - injuries , key players losing form, exceptional/poor management, disruptive players, great teamwork – and unlike some Premiership games, you often leave a Championship ground thinking how all 3 results could have been possible from the game you have just seen.

The fate of Reading in the 2009/10 Championship season is a hard one to predict. Reading’s most successful manager in history, Steve Coppell, has departed and with him has gone a sense of stability and some of the senior players largely responsible for recent success.

Brendan Rodgers is now seated at the helm and he has already displayed his addictive positivity, man-management skills and high regard in the game to the Reading team and public. His appointment not only coincides with the departure of the excellent Kevin Doyle and a certain amount of cloth-cutting by the RFC moneymen, but also a big crop of youngsters itching to secure a first team place.

Just how good these youngsters prove to be will hold the key to Reading’s season. Pub conversations about desperately needing strikers, wingers and defenders will fade into insignificance if Reading can remain injury-free and the majority of Church, Henry, Robson-Kanu, Davies, Karacan and Pearce have great seasons. Alternatively, if they seem unable to consistently match the better players in this league then a season of mediocrity beckons.
Mills and Bertrand look like good additions and alongside Armstrong, Pearce, Mills, Ingimarsson and Bikey (if he stays) there can be some confidence that left back and centre-back will not be problem positions this year. Right back is a matter for debate as the jury is still out on Kelly’s suitability for the role this season and Rosenior’s form last season, after a great first 15 games or so, was subsequently pretty poor.

Whilst there are many central midfielders at the club, the less optimistic would argue that there are not too many top quality players amongst them and they could struggle to match the likes of Brian Howard, Ferrie Bodde, Jonathan Greening, Joey Barton and Guy Moussi. Reading’s best chance in this area may be an inspired Marek Matejovsky well supported by Tabb, Karacan and Davies throughout the season. With Doyle departed and Stephen Hunt looking a shadow of his former self (and maybe bound for new pastures) Reading may seemingly lack a few matchwinners and the likes of Matejovsky, Robson-Kanu and Kebe will be required to produce some great solo moments.

The league will be competitive throughout and whilst predictions are generally for fools in this league, I expect West Brom, Sheff Utd, Middlesbrough, Cardiff, Newcastle to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. Ipswich and QPR may remain on the verge of great things but I expect Notts Forest and Peterborough to surprise a few this year. The likes of Scunthorpe and Doncaster have long seasons ahead of them and Coventry, Bristol City, Preston, Crystal Palace and Watford may all do worse than their finishing position last year. Reading’s fate is perhaps harder to predict than many teams, bit anything outside of the top half would still be a genuine surprise.

ROYALS PREDICTION: 5th-7th

[Royalee]

A good attempt, but I will pick my holes in this in the morning when I am sober.

[The Echo]

Just how good these youngsters prove to be will hold the key to Reading’s season. Pub conversations about desperately needing strikers, wingers and defenders will fade into insignificance if Reading can remain injury-free and the majority of Church, Henry, Robson-Kanu, Davies, Karacan and Pearce have great seasons. Alternatively, if they seem unable to consistently match the better players in this league then a season of mediocrity beckons.

It's exciting to see so many young players coming through the ranks at the same time. Not for over 15 years has a home grown youngster made an impact at RFC so if this were to change that in itself would represent a degree of success.

Are they good enough? To date all of these players have played only bit part roles in an otherwise mature, experienced and self servicing squad so there is an enourmous challenge to take on more responsibility. Ingirmarsson and Boris will be key. Can they hold the youngsters together when times are tough?

One charachter who will be missed is big USA. You have to wonder how much time Boris and Ingi will spend on the pitch. If they're not there who will lead? Last campaign leadership on the pitch was a significant weakness. Have things changed over the close season? Surely Hanhneman could have had one more year on his contract possibly as club captain. He's the type of keeper such a young and inexperienced squad need.

[Barry the bird boggler]

We need an experienced striker, that is all.

[The Echo]

We need an experienced striker, that is all.

Don't be surprised to see the Tommy Smith deal resurected. Looking at recent comments by Watford Charman Jimmy Ruzzo they need to sell players to balance the books. They will not get the £2 million fee they want. The price will come down in the last week of the transfer window to about 1.2 million or £500,000 in January. Remember he is out of contract at the end of the season.

Smith would be a significant piece in an otherwise inexpeienced jigsaw.

[No Hoops]

We need an experienced striker, that is all.

Don't be surprised to see the Tommy Smith deal resurected. Looking at recent comments by Watford Charman Jimmy Ruzzo they need to sell players to balance the books. They will not get the £2 million fee they want. The price will come down in the last week of the transfer window to about 1.2 million or £500,000 in January. Remember he is out of contract at the end of the season.

Smith would be a significant piece in an otherwise inexpeienced jigsaw.

+1 I can see him coming to The Mad Stad within a few days. Especially if we struggle to score in the first couple of games.

Q 3 5-0 thrashings!!!!

[Woodcote Royal]

Make that + 2

Whilst Mill's transfer fee shows beyond all doubt that we are still willing to stump up these figures when deemed appropriate, a 29 year old Championship striker does not fit the bill.

However, if Watford accepted Sheff U's inflated offer they are clearly not that desperate to keep him or, most likely, just need the money.

And, with the player making it crystal clear where he wants to go, expect a nice round million to seal the deal just before the window closes as Watford hang on for every last penny.

[The Rouge]

I find it strange that the possible Smith transfer dominates people's thoughts when considering the whole season...