Brian: The right decision?

[Basingstoke Royal]

It was the right decision.

Mcdermotts tactics were never going to work in the premiership.

To establish Reading as a premiership team we need to change and play the same sort of passing game as saints and Swansea.

Anton realised that we were going down and the appointment of adkins is all about next season. We have more chance of getting promoted by giving adkins these games to fully assess the squad and start planning for next season now.

Yes mcdermott might also be able to get us back up, but we would then still face the same problems in the premiership.

We may go back up next season, or in two or three seasons, but for the long term this is the right move.

[WAZZOCK]

I will start by saying I have nothing against Adkins. But I hope all of you who wanted Brian sacked for making an odd strange team selection or tactical decision are happy about Saturday. It seemed to me that then both team selection and substitutions were very odd indeed.

Team selection - No
Substitutions - yes

Realistically, that starting 11 has every chance of being the team that starts the first game of next season (except possibly in a 442). You can't blame him for wanting to give that team some time to play together and gel.

The substitutions were odd though. Guthrie is the player most adept to Adkins' style, so it was very odd to see him go off so early. Bringing Noel on was also quite strange, as I see him as a similar yet inferior player to Alfie. Why not bring the Pog on for something a bit different. Hope was injured, so I'll let him off that one.

[Rollerbob]

I liked the starting lineup too tbf -
Not sure Kelly really settled at LB though, plus Gunter looked as poor as ever to me.

I'll defend Mr. Adkins on his subs though, true, Guthrie seems to be the most adept to his style, but we were losing the game in midfield, so Guthrie was as good a player to have been subbed as any imo.

Clearly with Hunt coming on instead of Pog, he tried to further encourage us to keep the ball on the floor (yes we ignored these instructions).

To me, these subs make sense; though I would have taken Jem off instead of Guthrie (not sure that would have made any difference mind you).

[Hoop Blah]

What is the point of this. Brian could have got us promoted again using the same tactics as before and then Anton could have invested massively in the squad - building on what we had. Now it has to be all change as the confidence of these players has been shot to pieces – not least by Brian’s sacking.

I really hope Anton has very deep pockets as he will need them - and a lot of patience if we try and change the way we play. I hope I am wrong but I fear a long stay in the Championship beckons.

It takes longer than one pre-season to re-build a squad and make the required changes to the way we play for the long term (which is presumably what we're looking to do). If McDermott had stayed and taken us up again then we'd pretty much be in the same position we were in 9 months ago.

The sacking was partly about a last roll of the dice for survival (McDermott had blown his last chances with the gutless displays against Wigan and Villa and there was no way his team was turning a corner to go on a survival winning run of form) but mainly, I believe, about starting the process of changing the way we play and building for the future.

[Rollerbob]

It takes longer than one pre-season to re-build a squad and make the required changes to the way we play for the long term (which is presumably what we're looking to do). If McDermott had stayed and taken us up again then we'd pretty much be in the same position we were in 9 months ago.

The sacking was partly about a last roll of the dice for survival (McDermott had blown his last chances with the gutless displays against Wigan and Villa and there was no way his team was turning a corner to go on a survival winning run of form) but mainly, I believe, about starting the process of changing the way we play and building for the future.

THIS. yes. yes. YES.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

It takes longer than one pre-season to re-build a squad and make the required changes to the way we play for the long term (which is presumably what we're looking to do). If McDermott had stayed and taken us up again then we'd pretty much be in the same position we were in 9 months ago.

The sacking was partly about a last roll of the dice for survival (McDermott had blown his last chances with the gutless displays against Wigan and Villa and there was no way his team was turning a corner to go on a survival winning run of form) but mainly, I believe, about starting the process of changing the way we play and building for the future.

Agreed, but the big fly in the ointment (that would have to be faced by any manager) is how you rebuild a squad when you're likely to lose a number of key players in teh summer - or even worse in August.

[winchester_royal]

It takes longer than one pre-season to re-build a squad and make the required changes to the way we play for the long term (which is presumably what we're looking to do). If McDermott had stayed and taken us up again then we'd pretty much be in the same position we were in 9 months ago.

The sacking was partly about a last roll of the dice for survival (McDermott had blown his last chances with the gutless displays against Wigan and Villa and there was no way his team was turning a corner to go on a survival winning run of form) but mainly, I believe, about starting the process of changing the way we play and building for the future.

Agreed, but the big fly in the ointment (that would have to be faced by any manager) is how you rebuild a squad when you're likely to lose a number of key players in teh summer - or even worse in August.

We were going to lose these players regardless, we were going to have to rebuild regardless. Better we do that with a guy capable of building a team and system that might be able to compete next time we reach the big time.

[Hoop Blah]

It takes longer than one pre-season to re-build a squad and make the required changes to the way we play for the long term (which is presumably what we're looking to do). If McDermott had stayed and taken us up again then we'd pretty much be in the same position we were in 9 months ago.

The sacking was partly about a last roll of the dice for survival (McDermott had blown his last chances with the gutless displays against Wigan and Villa and there was no way his team was turning a corner to go on a survival winning run of form) but mainly, I believe, about starting the process of changing the way we play and building for the future.

Agreed, but the big fly in the ointment (that would have to be faced by any manager) is how you rebuild a squad when you're likely to lose a number of key players in teh summer - or even worse in August.

Well that's just part and parcel of a normal pre-season and a crucial part of the managers job to make those changes as smoothly as possible.

I've argued for a long time that we've been a bit too reactive in the summer transfer market and I'm hoping that Adkins might drive us to be a bit more aggressive this summer, both with incoming and importantly outgoing moves.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

No argument with those two last posts.

I just hope that when we do lose the key players we lose them quickly - rather than have it strung out until well into August.

[Hoop Blah]

Agreed, for example we should've pushed Long out the door instead of still looking to build the team around him, and playing him, once it was clear we were going to lose him after the play-off final defeat.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Which manager is better at building a side?

Not sure about McD. What signings have actually worked out in the long run, and how pitiful was he this season? Off the top of my head they have had only short-term success at best - any actually part of a building side?

- Lwood (fail)
- Gunter (fail)
- Roberts (fail)
- Le Fondre (?)
- Shorey (fail)
- Harte (fail)
- Gorkss (fail)
- Mariappa (?)
- McCleary (?)
- Pogrebnyak (fail)
- Blackman (pfft)
- Carrico (fail?)
- Guthrie (fail?)

Adkins? Well, look where Southampton are and how easily they beat us.

Adkins for the job all the way, surely?

[melonhead]

thats utter bollox. he built a side to take us up.

so your fails against the likes of ledge and roberts and lefondre are utter rubbish

[joeroyal]

Which manager is better at building a side?

Not sure about McD. What signings have actually worked out in the long run, and how pitiful was he this season? Off the top of my head they have had only short-term success at best - any actually part of a building side?

- Lwood (fail)
- Gunter (fail)
- Roberts (fail)
- Le Fondre (?)
- Shorey (fail)
- Harte (fail)
- Gorkss (fail)
- Mariappa (?)
- McCleary (?)
- Pogrebnyak (fail)
- Blackman (pfft)
- Carrico (fail?)
- Guthrie (fail?)

Adkins? Well, look where Southampton are and how easily they beat us.

Adkins for the job all the way, surely?

Day off today from shelf stacking ?

[andrew1957]

It takes longer than one pre-season to re-build a squad and make the required changes to the way we play for the long term (which is presumably what we're looking to do). If McDermott had stayed and taken us up again then we'd pretty much be in the same position we were in 9 months ago.

The sacking was partly about a last roll of the dice for survival (McDermott had blown his last chances with the gutless displays against Wigan and Villa and there was no way his team was turning a corner to go on a survival winning run of form) but mainly, I believe, about starting the process of changing the way we play and building for the future.

THIS. yes. yes. YES.

But the point is we already tried this experiment with Rodgers - who we must all now acknowledge is a top manager. He was given the brief to change the style of play, but neither the club nor the fans had the stomach for it and he was sacked after 21 games. I felt it was wrong to sack Rodgers then - just as it was wrong to sack Brain for exactly the opposite reasons now.

I think the same is likely to happen with Adkins. He will be given the brief of "change the way we play" AND "instant success". If we are not top contenders from the off next season I wait for the baying for Adkins blood and then no doubt he will be sacked and we will promote Dolan to bring things back to the Reading way again.

This is a farce. If you want change then it will take several seasons in the wilderness and quite likely a visit to League 1 along the way (like Southampton did).

[Snowball]

[quote="andrew1957"

This is a farce. If you want change then it will take several seasons in the wilderness and quite likely a visit to League 1 along the way (like Southampton did).[/quote]


Disagree. It may mean a near-miss next season, maybe not, but Adkins has a decent shot
next year (of going up, possibly via the POs) and if not I'd think we'd be top-two, very
possibly Champions, the year after.

[andrew1957]

Which manager is better at building a side?

Not sure about McD. What signings have actually worked out in the long run, and how pitiful was he this season? Off the top of my head they have had only short-term success at best - any actually part of a building side?

- Lwood (fail)
- Gunter (fail)
- Roberts (fail)
- Le Fondre (?)
- Shorey (fail)
- Harte (fail)
- Gorkss (fail)
- Mariappa (?)
- McCleary (?)
- Pogrebnyak (fail)
- Blackman (pfft)
- Carrico (fail?)
- Guthrie (fail?)

Adkins? Well, look where Southampton are and how easily they beat us.

Adkins for the job all the way, surely?

I assume that is a complete wind up. If not it is probably the most moronic post ever made on here - and that is saying something.

How the likes of Harte, ALF, Roberts, Leigertwood and Gorkks could be considered failures when they achieved possibly one of the greatest out performances of success over ability by winning the Championship against all the odds in beyond me.

And the jury is out on many of the newer additions.

[Haag Royal]

If anyone honestly thinks that after the huge clear out needed in the coming summer that Adkin's team will be pushing for promotion next year then they are deluded.

I am not sure it will take a year in League One to do it but this will be 2-3 years minimum in the making. And the fans need to get used to it before getting on his case when we are mid table at best in November/December.

But when we do get it right can we not try and do the Prem on the cheap for the 3rd time?

[Extended-Phenotype]

Ok ladies, maybe I worded it wrongly.

The point was that these signings look unlikely to offer anything long term; they may have done a job for us, but I'd hardly call Gorkss, Roberts and Harte players which are building towards a new Reading. They ticked a box short-term but their expiration has left us rather wanting and now looking like having to start over rather than make additions.

As for the (?)'ed ones, not sure if any have decisively proved themselves.

Not sure why everyone is getting their tits out over this.

[Hoop Blah]

But the point is we already tried this experiment with Rodgers - who we must all now acknowledge is a top manager. He was given the brief to change the style of play, but neither the club nor the fans had the stomach for it and he was sacked after 21 games. I felt it was wrong to sack Rodgers then - just as it was wrong to sack Brain for exactly the opposite reasons now.

I think the same is likely to happen with Adkins. He will be given the brief of "change the way we play" AND "instant success". If we are not top contenders from the off next season I wait for the baying for Adkins blood and then no doubt he will be sacked and we will promote Dolan to bring things back to the Reading way again.

This is a farce. If you want change then it will take several seasons in the wilderness and quite likely a visit to League 1 along the way (like Southampton did).

It might be a painful process to start with but this is certainly something the club needs to do if it wants to keep up and make a challenge for a more prolonged stay at in the top flight in the future.

There are a few differences to Rodger time too.
- it's a different owner
- he's presumably looking to stand by his appointment, and back him the funds
- Rodgers was, apparently, booted out because of issues with certain senior officials at the club and you can't assume that the new owner will allow Adkins to follow the same fate
- with Adkins on board now he'll be able to shape the squad over the summer as he'd like instead of Rodgers picking up a squad who'd had a lot of summer changes already enforced by Hammond before he was appointed (eg Murty & Hahnemann) and so his rebuilding will be months ahead of anything Rodgers could've had

[MmmMonsterMunch]

But the point is we already tried this experiment with Rodgers - who we must all now acknowledge is a top manager. He was given the brief to change the style of play, but neither the club nor the fans had the stomach for it and he was sacked after 21 games. I felt it was wrong to sack Rodgers then - just as it was wrong to sack Brain for exactly the opposite reasons now.

I think the same is likely to happen with Adkins. He will be given the brief of "change the way we play" AND "instant success". If we are not top contenders from the off next season I wait for the baying for Adkins blood and then no doubt he will be sacked and we will promote Dolan to bring things back to the Reading way again.

This is a farce. If you want change then it will take several seasons in the wilderness and quite likely a visit to League 1 along the way (like Southampton did).

It might be a painful process to start with but this is certainly something the club needs to do if it wants to keep up and make a challenge for a more prolonged stay at in the top flight in the future.

There are a few differences to Rodger time too.
- it's a different owner
- he's presumably looking to stand by his appointment, and back him the funds
- Rodgers was, apparently, booted out because of issues with certain senior officials at the club and you can't assume that the new owner will allow Adkins to follow the same fate
- with Adkins on board now he'll be able to shape the squad over the summer as he'd like instead of Rodgers picking up a squad who'd had a lot of summer changes already enforced by Hammond before he was appointed (eg Murty & Hahnemann) and so his rebuilding will be months ahead of anything Rodgers could've had

Good post. Agree with that.

I also feel that the proverbial penny has dropped with RFC fans. After this season's woeful Prem effort they get the need to change the style of play & improve technically. Don't forget that when Rodgers came in he gave it all the messiah spiel about how amazing he was & after having just missed out on auto promotion & then in the play-offs, expectations were quite high.

Rodgers was partly to blame for that IMO.

Not the same this time. I think Anton will back Adkins with cash & support personally. I think we could potentially have a squeak at promotion next season but if we end up mid table but playing pretty football & progressing then I won't be too concerned.

IMO, the championship next year will be easier than last year when we won it. Not saying that'll mean we do well by any stretch but the competition isn't that fierce.

I'm confident Adkins can get us back up within 2-3 years - look at his record he's a winner through & through.