by paultheroyal »
08 Jun 2016 20:48
A good read... And more I read the more I want Stam in....
Following the departure of Brian McDermott from the Madejski after a particularly tough end of the season which saw Reading once again struggling in the league; there has been one name that has been getting mentioned time and time again in relation to the now vacant managerial position in Berkshire – Jaap Stam. It may not have been the first name that many would have expected to be leading the frontrunners for the job, but it is one that has had a pretty positive response from the Reading faithful.
It is pretty difficult to estimate how well Stam could do working with Reading as he has no previous managerial experience and was mostly recently working as an assistant manager with Jong Ajax who play their football in the Dutch second tier. However, Stam had a tremendous playing career and no doubt would have learned a great deal about the game and how it should be played from some of the very best coaches in the business.
As a player Stam had a reputation as defender who took absolutely no nonsense from any of his opponents and will surely have little trouble motivating his players. The Reading fans have wanted to see passion and commitment from their side over the past couple of seasons as many performances have become flat with players casting their eyes elsewhere. It is likely that a former Dutch footballer of the year and Champions League winner would have the respect of a Championship side.
With a deal expected to be signed in the coming days, it may just be the start of a Dutch revolution at the Madejski Stadium. Reading have already appointed Brian Tevreden, who had previously worked in the Ajax youth systems, as Director of Football following the departure of the long-standing Nicky Hammond and quickly followed up with the signing of Dutchman Danzell Gravenberch who had previously graduated from Ajax’s academy.
Reading fans will be slightly weary of the possibility of a number of young Ajax players joining on loan however, as loan signings were not particularly successful during the last campaign. Although, the owners at Reading have expressed their wish for the new manager to work with young players and bring them through as members of the first team. Stam’s experience working at one of the most respected academies in Europe will certainly help him and he will have a wealth of experience to pass on to the Reading academy set-up which has produced some very talented players in recent years.
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The deal that Stam has on the table is a one year deal with a possible one year extension should his first season be successful. This may well mean that should things not improve at in Berkshire that Stam could be yet another manager to face the axe at the Madejski – as the new Thai owners have sacked 3 managers since their arrival two years ago. However, Stam does have a buzz of excitement around his potential appointment so he will definitely have the backing of the Reading fans as he enters into his first games as a senior manager.
It is unclear as to which way this appointment could go for both Stam and Reading. It is a bit of a gamble by the Thai owners to choose a manager who has no previous experience managing at a senior level and will be entering a team that has been struggling for ideas with an increasingly dissatisfied fanbase.
The Championship is also one of, if not the, most challenging leagues in the world so the former Manchester United man will have a task on his hands to get Reading back where the fans and owners want them to be – The Premier League. Stam is a big name in the football world though, so it may prove to be a master stroke to appoint a manager who will bring a real buzz with his arrival.
Brian McDermott was a seen a safe option and didn’t deliver. The owners have now taken a u-turn to that approach and are seemingly putting their faith in a very unexperienced manager. Time will tell how Stam gets on, but this could be the start of a new chapter for Reading with a possibility of a heavy Dutch influence moving forward.