Tuesday 2 December 2008

Coppell 'Hunt' Strikers

Steve Coppell may be that man who can find the needle in a haystack.

His craft eye in scouring the country and overseas is the sole reason why Reading have so many priced gems.

Premier League clubs may be walloping the door down with bag full’s of money to snatch these players away but Coppell remains that his modest and honest attitude have helped players develop and become some of the finest he has ever witnessed.
Some have gone and some have stayed but all in all Coppell must be considered a master in changing lower league strikers into fine, top rate players.

Coppell was the man responsible for Ian Wright’s spectacular career as he joined Crystal Palace after being touted from non-league Greenwich Borough. The Wright and Bright combination did Palace a world of good as they gained promotion almost 20 years ago.

Now Coppell is re-establishing the same torment with recent addition Noel Hunt and partnering him with Kevin Doyle.

Hunt’s brace against Coventry City is a welcomed reminder that Coppell has a thing for strikers and plucking them from lower divisions to produce them into world-beaters.

Even though Hunt originally was signed from Dundee United where he had a one in three strike rate, Coppell knew his potential when he started out for Shamrock Rovers and when he struggled at Dunfermline

He has now have eight goals in the Championship so far and have no signs of slowing down. He is sparking up a lethal partnership with fellow compatriot Doyle, they are the envy of any Manager in the division.

Under Coppell’s guidance, Hunt has begun his international career with the senior squad, coming on as a substitute against Poland back in November. He has followed in Kevin Doyle’s steps and Coppell is hoping that Hunt can contribute similar to what Doyle had done.

Doyle scored 19 goals in his first season of English football as Reading achieved promotion in stunning fashion. Coppell will be wanting similar benefits.

Dave Kitson came for a modest £150,000, even though Coppell did take massive advantage of Cambridge United’s worsening financial state. What a player he turned out to be. The club made a smooth £6 million pound profit in the meantime as he moved on to Stoke City.
Leroy Lita could be added to that list. Costing £1 million from Bristol City seems money well spent, even after his phone exploits.
David Mooney joined from Cork City as well and may the next rising talent. He was the top goal scorer in Ireland in 2007 and is the next one for Coppell to take credit.
Shane Long is another up and coming talent. He is now an established squad member of the Republic of Ireland squad and been having more impact than he had in previous seasons.
Now Reading have some strike force and if one is to leave, Coppell will have another gem to pick from.

Robins Left Flapping

Some may say that lightning never strikes twice. Bristol City maybe finding that out.

After a successful season last year, where they were only denied a place in the Premier League by Hull in the playoff final, they find themselves struggling in the bottom half of the Championship.

Gary Johnson will certainly have his work cut out as he tries to inspire his team. Dean Windass’ only goal in a 1-0 win at Wembley last May knocked the stuffing out of The Robins as their momentum did not carry into this campaign.

Poor individual performances and a lack of unity seem to be pinnacle to their failure.

The Bristol City Manager came out after the recent poor form and told BBC Radio Bristol: “They are an honest bunch. Obviously, we’re all disappointed together. We are together in what we’re trying to do.

“Individuals have got to get their games right and then hopefully the team will get their game right.”

City’s failure to win since their 1-0 victory over Southampton has showed a lack of solidarity and togetherness as their latest 2-0 defeat to the hands of a high flying Preston side did not help matters.

The table may say that they are only a mere two wins away from the playoffs but in retrospect terms it is a much greater divide.

The performers last year have not lived up to their potential this term, as players of the quality of Adriano Basso, Bradley Orr, Lee Trundle and Michael McIndoe have hardly reproduced that glittering form that saw them well last season.

Even the additions of Nicky Maynard and Stern John from Crewe and Southampton respectively have not made the impact for what the club were hoping. Maynard being the clubs top goal scorer with four goals. That is not enough to compete at the top end of the table.

Being beaten in the playoff final has not always been a bad omen. In recent times, only Leeds United have dropped right out of the picture when losing to Watford 3-0 back in 2006. Preston, West Ham United and West Brom have made relatively decent pushes the following term with West Ham and West Brom both being promoted.

Monday 1 December 2008

Reading FC: 1995 v Current Squad

As Reading sit pondering in the play off places I threw my mind back to their classic 1995 play-off defeat to Bolton Wanderers and debate whether which is the better team that 1995 team or the current one.
Reading famously went two up with goals from Lee Nogan and Adie Williams, before Stuart Lovell missed a penalty. That allowed Bolton to score two to take the game into extra time. Bolton eventually ran out 4-3 winners with Jimmy Quinn scoring the third for Reading. That heartbreak is often hard to take, but it was a superb season. Reading finished second behind Middlesbrough and had to go into the playoffs as the Premier League was reduced to 20 clubs from 22. Any other season we would have been playing in the Premier League.
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City are currently in the driving seat and with Reading’s inconsistency so far this season, a place in the playoff is on the cards. Of course, I would prefer to see us promoted automatically but a trip to Wembley. How could I turn that down?
I may have been the tender age of eight at the time of the 1995 final, but as an avid Reading fan I have passionately looked back and seen some of the play and been told many stories. The easiest thing I can do is compare every player in every position and debate whether who should take the starting line up spot. I will compare the 1995 play off final side to the current line up.
Shaka Hislop v Marcus Hahnemann
Shaka was one of the finest goalkeepers to wear the jersey for Reading and he led the mass player exodus following ‘that’ defeat to Bolton in 1995 where Newcastle United snapped him up for £1.575 million a British record for a goalkeeper at the time. He became a runner up twice in the top division with Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle.
He was a firm fan favourite and managed to earn the Royals Player of the Year award twice. Hislop was known for his speed and agility in claiming crosses and was a great shot stopper. Hislop’s 20 clean sheets in the 1994/95 season were valuable as Reading took the division by surprise.
Marcus, like Hislop, has always been a fan favourite. Handing his goalkeeper’s shirt to a member of the crowd after every match has given him a cult-like status where kids adore him and everyone else loves him. A fantastic shot stopper and brilliant dispatcher of the ball, he often creates attacks from his big kicks or long throws. Having played in over 280 games for the Royals and was the only one to play in the Premier League. He will be difficult to replace.
Andy Bernal v Liam Rosenior/ Graeme Murty
Bernal may not be remembered solely for his football, as he became a football agent and personal assistant for David Beckham.
His 187 appearances and two goals made him a regular at right back. He signed in 1994 from Ipswich Town. Bernal represented his native Australia 21 times before retiring at the age of 34.
Currently this season, Rosenior has been playing the role of right as Murty has been suffering from injury. Murty will forever be associated as our finest right back ever as he led the club to the Premier League for the first time in their history. Murty and Rosenior play in similar ways, as they both like to attack even though goals came too few and far between.
Dariusz Wdowczyk v Andre Bikey
Wdowczyk was originally the Polish national teams left back before reverting to one of three centre backs for Reading during the 1994/95 season. He was signed from Celtic after Reading supposedly offered him a derisory pay deal. He was able to deliver pinpoint passes and provided the front men with accurate cross balls.
Bikey on the hand is often reckless but with full concentration, he is one of the Championships finest. If he had ten seconds to do something, he will take nine of them and that is often nail biting watching on the terraces. Superb in the tackle and is an often a threat from set pieces.
Adie Williams v Ivar Ingimarsson
Two of the finest centre halves to ever grace Reading football club along with Martin Hicks, and both have been ever influential in the Royals success.
Williams played 398 games and was captain before Coppell ended his love affair with Reading. Since his first appearance in 1991-1992 season, he has played in every position from centre forward to emergency goalkeeper, wearing every shirt number 1-11 in the process. Dominate in the air and an elegant passer of the ball. He was pure genius.
Ingimarsson was Coppell’s first signing and played a crucial since. He formed good partnerships with Williams (in his third spell with the club) and with Ibrahima Sonko, to become the king pin of the side. He took over the captain role from Murty where he has been injured.
Simon Osborn v Chris Armstrong
Osborn is naturally a midfielder but played at left wing back in the final due to the injury of Dylan Kerr. Osborn moved to Premier League club Queens Park Rangers before going into the lower league wilderness but what a fine player he was for Reading.
Armstrong has recently joined the club to replace Nicky Shorey and so far he has not done a great deal wrong as he has slotted nicely in the keeping of the back four.
Jimmy Kebe v Michael Gilkes
A race to the death, these two pace men are probably the fastest two players you will ever see in the hoops. Gilkes played in over 400 games for Reading as his right wing exploits made him a huge fan favourite as he went from the old fourth division to the brink of the top-flight. He was also a part of the 1988 Milk Cup winners squad that defeated Top division side Luton Town 4-1 in the final.
Jimmy Kebe, despite having a poor season in the Premier League, is playing full of confidence and he has made that right wing spot his own after the departure of Glen Little.
Mick Gooding v James Harper
Gooding spent eight years at Reading and was the joint manager for the remainder of the 1994/95 season with Jimmy Quinn as McGhee left controversially for Leicester City. He was a sitting midfielder and linked play very well, bringing in every teammate into the game. He was able to inspire.
Harper covers every blade of grass and certainly makes his presences felt. He joined from Arsenal and was trusted to start in the Walsall play off final ahead of Darren Caskey, since then he was ever present in the teams of Alan Pardew and Steve Coppell.
Keith McPherson v Kalifa Ciise
McPherson also played one the three centre halves and his power and determination has singled him out amongst the rest. He was ever present in the side during the 1990s before his transfer to Brighton.
Ciise plays a defensive position for Reading and he is known to pop up with the occasion goal. Similar in stature with McPherson, and has an uncanny resemblance to the way they both go in for a tackle.
Scott Taylor v Stephen Hunt
Taylor was a flying midfielder and has many attributes that Hunt has. After the playoff defeat, he refused a new contract and swiftly joined Leicester City. He was a trainee at Reading before playing in over 200 games for the Royals and was instrumental in our promotion to the first division in 1994.
Hunt was signed from Brentford on a free in the 2004/05 season, where he was mainly used as a substitute for Bobby Convey in his first season but he soon made that spot his own with an unusual style of flair and hard work. He is loved by Reading and hated by everyone else. Touted by Premier League clubs throughout the summer, he is one of prized assets.
Lee Nogan v Noël Hunt
Nogan came in half way through the 1994/95 season and hit 10 goals in 20 games to make sure Reading secured second spot. He began his career at local rivals Oxford United before moving to Reading via Watford. He scored the first in the playoff defeat.
Noel, Stephen’s brother, have jumped straight into the starting line up and contributed massively to this seasons form. His goals have been constant, as he has sparked up a good partnership with Kevin Doyle. His move from Dundee United came about when Dave Kitson moved on to Premier League side Stoke City.
Stuart Lovell v Kevin Doyle
Lovell was unorthodox striker where he played most of the game trying to create rather than score. ‘Archie’ had a modest goal scoring record for Reading where he scored 58 goals in 227 appearances before moving north of the border to have a relatively successful career in Scotland. Lovell captained Livingstone to an impressive third place in the Scottish Premier League.
What a sensation Kevin has been since his move from Cork City. In his debut season, he scored 19 goals in 51 appearances as we secured promotion, this term it looks like he will be doing better than that. His pace and ability to be at the right place at the right time is one of his finer skills. He works hard for the team as he is often played out of position to accommodate the team.

After remembering the whole squads there were a few I left out. I simply named the 1995 Playoff Final team but added to that –
- Jimmy Quinn came on and scored whilst doing his job as joint manager but was in his autumn of his career.
- Dylan Kerr was out through injury
- Phil Parkinson was beginning to make end rows into the first team.
- Jeff Hopkins came on as a substitute.
- Adi Viveash played a few games that season.
Plus today’s squad I am missing –
- Marek Matejovsky is, par Robin Friday, the most natural gifted player we have had at the club.
- Brynjar Gunnarsson
- Leroy Lita
- Shane Long
- Bobby Convey
- Plus a few others.

My Best Team (Putting both squads together) is:
1: Hislop
2: Murty
3: Kerr
4: Gooding
5: Williams
6: McPherson
7: Gilkes
8: Matejovsky
9: Doyle
10: Lovell
11: Hunt
Subs
12: Ingimarsson
13 Hahnemann
14: Harper
15: Osborn
16: Quinn