Bandini What the McDermott h8rs don't realise is that if he was given the same support as Adkins has, then we would be as good as promoted already.
A little simplistic, perhaps Bandini, but quite possibly true. However, we are already in danger of our season being defined by this ridiculous squabbling over who might theoretically be the better manager of this squad, regardless of where we end up. It's ludicrous!
Unquestionably, McDermott did a phenomenal job here, one we should all be very grateful for. His achievements on the pitch have helped to lay the foundations of our future, a future now based on infrastructure and long term planning. It's a crying shame that the record books cannot show his contribution to the future of our club in real terms, which, I believe, are far reaching and more than most of us will ever truly know the full extent of. Brian was the right man at the right time for Reading FC, but that time expired almost as soon as the final whistle went against Forest in April 2012. He was given an opportunity in the top flight, but, due in part to a summer of poor transfer dealings that blotted the copy books of most of the senior officials at the club, he eventually, failed. Transfers are obviously a very important factor following any promotion, but he also showed a lack of tactical ability and relied too heavily upon his tried and trusted, even when results and performances were proving him wrong. In my opinion, someone should build a statue of McDermott, for guiding this club through potentially it's most difficult period since we moved to the Madejski stadium, yet still becoming more successful than anyone thought possible.
Time marches on though and as we enter a new era, Zingarevich has decided that the right man for us this season is Nigel Adkins. A manager of his credentials and with his CV, could have had his pick of clubs, some of which would have been in the Premier League, so we are lucky to have him. Charged with changing the style of the team, bringing through youth and winning promotion, coupled with the added pressure of high profile signings, is arguably harder than the situation that McDermott found himself in. Perversely, even if Adkins does manage to realise all of those goals this season, he will be judged on next seasons performance regardless, as many will claim that promotion to the PL with a blend of home grown talent and exciting signings, whilst playing attractive football, is the minimum requirement expected of him. In Zingarevich and Adkins we must trust for this season at least.
Time will tell if Adkins can achieve the same legacy as McDermott leaves behind, but judge him with reference to the size of the task he has to fulfil, not in comparison to McDermott's management in a time of cloth cutting and strict financial management. It's not fair on either man.
