Lowe Point for Southampton

Hurry, Hurry, everything must go. The players, the coaches, the board, the chefs, the stewards, the car park attendants, the grounds men, the sweepers, the kids, the balls, the kits, the training ground, the reverses, the specialist academy, must go.
Southampton Football Club are in dire straits and the recent resignation of Head Coach Jan Poortvleit has certainly helped their cause for playing League One football.
Stability is everything and continuity is pinnacle. The Dutchman’s departure came as no surprise in this trigger-happy age but that fact he walked is bemusing. It’s properly a matter of jumping before initially being pushed.
He took over from Nigel Pearson in the summer, and was introduced by idiotic chairman Rupert Lowe, as a new wave of continental coaching that would use the excellent academy that Southampton can boost, too fast track these youngsters to the first team.
To an extent Poortvliet did that, no big fancy or experienced loan players were brought in, he used the youth and still managed some notable performances. Two particular games against high flying Reading were the high points where the Royals were completely outplayed. However, the solitary win at home, a 2-0 win over Norwich City, is the only highlight at St Mary’s this season.
The club lie second from bottom and will have a difficult task on their hands. Financially, they make the British economy look secure, administration is a certainty and they are at the point of no return.
Any decent player will be sold instantly in an attempt to balance books, the likes of Andrew Surman, Adam Lullana and David McGoldrick will be flying out the door without a choice. Hurry, Hurry, everything must go.
Michael Wilde and Lowe will have their work cut out; they will feel the full brunt of Saints fans as the protest is proposed to be before the next home game against Swansea City. These fans have every right to be disgruntled and the incompetent running can only infuriate the club.
In a silly step, they have installed Poortlviet assistant Mark Wotte as the man to save them for the doldrums of League One.
Fair enough, cut costing measures are in place but they need a proper manager, with a proper know how to save them from this mess.

Taylor to the Rescue Once Again

In another life, Graham Taylor may have been a yellow coloured Yo-yo constantly heading back towards the hand of Watford. His immediate return to Watford hasn’t come as a big surprise; he has flung back in aid of his beloved club.
The 64 year old has been appointed as a non-executive director on the club’s new-look board as Watford look to escape from the dangers of a relegation battle.
Taylor’s return will be one for the purist, a typically justified old head that will give the Hornets a wealth of footballing experience in taking the club forward.
He was brought in, not be involved with Brendan Rodgers but, for his depth of knowledge regarding Watford as a club that will support Chairman Andy Wilson to get to grips with the state that the last regime left the club in. Graham Simpson angered Honorary Life President Sir Elton John so much, so that he quit his post; Simpson incidentally left the club after he appointed Rodgers.
Taylor joins fellow veteran Frank Lampard Senior (Football Consultant) in attempting to restore structure and stability at Vicarage Road.
Graham Taylor is and always will be remembered fondly and has the upmost of respect at the club, fans idolised him and it is a return of a legend. He finds himself in a different capacity that what he is used too but he will let the new management get on with the job in hand.
Brendan Rodgers would not be intimidated by Taylor’s presence he will welcome his advice. No doubt, Taylor will voice his thoughts and worries and Rodgers will take that aboard, he is still a student of the game with much to learn. This will help Rodgers develop as a manager and a coach as well.
Watford find themselves in a very delicate situation, Championship football next season must be the priority. After a terrible start and the departure of Aidy Boothroyd, Watford started to look steady to say the least.
Boothroyd was not popular with the Watford faithful and they blame him for the current crop of players at Rodgers disposal. The new manager is always pursuing his own players and his own squad, this will take time as money resources are not currently available. Watford fans will support Rodgers and having Taylor back on hand will reaffirm their support.

Reading calling the Tabb

The Irish contingent continues at Reading with Jay Tabb joining Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Stephen Hunt and Noel Hunt at the Madejski Stadium.
Tabb joins on an undisclosed fee from Coventry City and he will add more flair and balance to the flourishing Reading side. Coventry will miss the midfielder as their side are urgently losing much creativity; he was the Sky Blues player of the year last season.
Tabb had played for Steve Coppell before, giving him a chance at a youthful 17 years of age. However, he made more of an impression when Wally Downes was at the helm at Brentford becoming a huge cult figure a Griffin Park.
Being a modest 5’7” in height will not give him the powerhouse affect but he has the craft and cunning ability to find that through pass. He has already played at the Madejski this term and was on the end of 3-1 defeat.
He will find it difficult to break into the first team at Reading as the midfield is brimming with talent. Tabb will have to get through the competition of Hunt, James Harper, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Marek Matejovsky, Kalifa Ciise, Jem Karacan, Bobby Convey, and Jimmy Kebe. Being a versatile midfielder will obviously aid his cause. However, the signing of a midfielder where the competition is fierce signals a departure.
Coppell must have a big offer coming in for one of his players, Hunt has been linked with a host of clubs and Harper has been touted by Middlesbrough.
Despite the defeat at Swansea City, Reading look on course to an immediate return to the Premier League and adding a player of Tabb’s ability will only be an asset to the squad.

Kieren Westwood aiming High

Keiren Westwood never gets the praise and the credit he deserves. He is, at present, the best goalkeeper playing in the Championship.
This is a league with some very good goalkeepers -Marcus Hahnemann, Kelvin Davis, Adriano Basso, to name a few but Westwood is sensational and is the next up and coming goalkeeper. He will be the next name on the list of transfer targets for Premier League teams that need a decent goalkeeper.
He has been called up to the Republic of Ireland squad recently and on current form Ireland looks like they have found their replacement for Shay Given when he finally hangs up his gloves. A worthy replacement when the inevitable happens.
However, Weswood’s first inclusion caused much controversy with some Irish fans as many thought he was not a worthy choice. He even foolishly claimed, “I’m not Irish as such, but I’m a Catholic boy.” Lessons have been learnt.
For his club side, Westwood is proving to be a key player at Coventry City, after his £450,000 move in the summer from Carlisle, he has been pinnacle to their mid table ‘success’. For Carlisle he was he stand out player and was easily voted the League One’s Goalkeeper of the year with a string of brilliant performances to propel the northern club into the play off places.
He has great reflexes, very dominant in the air and is one of the most agile in the game. The Irishman will have to make the step up to continue his development, he will not become the best at Coventry City but fortunately, for the Sky Blues, he has plenty of time on his side. Being 23 years old seems a long way until a goalkeeper reaches his peak. If he progresses as quickly has he had done, he will be playing with the elite in no time.

Goodbye Glenn Roeder, and that could be it!

A long time ago there was this skilful technique called the “Roeder Shuffle” that was ultimately a smart step over and was used to extricate from numerous tight spots. Well Glenn Roeder may have been its creator but he has not performed that perfection for a while now.
His sacking as the Norwich City Manager came as no surprise, these trigger happy chairmen and executives demand perfection instantly. Roeder couldn’t get out that tight spot.
He paid the ultimate price as he watched his depleted side being knocked out of the FA Cup by Charlton Athletic, and it was their first win in 20 games, quite a sad state of play.
In the league, they have not fended much better either, with only goal difference separating them from the relegation zone, as they have not won in five.
A massive lack of depth in the squad as well as quality key areas cost are the reason they are playing poorly. When Reading striker Leroy Lita came in on loan, the team looked a threat offensively but still remained vulnerable defensively.
Roeder didn’t find the right players in the summer and had to rely on the loan market, he has done a bad job, and he had to go. He lost a massive sledge of his popularity when he decided to release fans favourite Darren Huckerby and it went spiralling down from there.
The football he tried to produce was not pretty and he always spoke of the 5-2 win over Wolves, where Lita scored a hat trick, as a reason to look hopeful. Sorry but you simply can’t rest on your laurels. Even a 2-0 win over Ipswich in the ‘Old Farm’ derby could not restore respect.
Roeder did an average job at West Ham United and did a reasonably good job at Newcastle United before his initial move to Norwich. It’s just a shame his reputation has been tarnished and dragged through the mud as this failure may have just put him in managerial wilderness.

No Way Back for Charlton!

Let’s face it, being five points adrift at the bottom of the Championship is not the most ideal position to start giving up hope especially with so much riding on it. Newly installed Charlton Athletic manager Phil Parkinson gives his somewhat subdued rally cry to his players and fans, “Once we get that first win we’ll go on to get several very quickly.”
I’ve heard more sense coming out of Gordon Brown. It’s quite the ordeal.
Charlton are rooted to the bottom, scoring 28 goals so far this season, as their defence has more holes than a colander shipping an awful 47 goals. It’s a cause without hope.
Parkinson has dug deep and somehow managed to conquer the loan signing of Reading’s captain Graeme Murty, in all honesty it was probably not for his defensive ability but more for his bottle and character; A leader, something that Charlton have desperately missed.
It’s a matter of too little too late.
There latest defeat to another relegation candidate Nottingham Forest left nothing to the imagination, Charlton are stuck in a rut.
They have passed the point of no return and as ex-Premier League clubs shown previously, Charlton should be preparing for a massive clear out and establish themselves once again, even if that is in League One.
Leicester City and Notts Forest are the inspiration to aspire to, but these are two massively supported clubs unlike Charlton. They really are going struggle whatever the outcome at the end of this season.
Leeds United have been struggling to get back. Swindon Town and Bradford City have gone through the whole cycle all the way down to League Two. Southampton are so far in debt their playing their under 14s and still are doing a lot better than the Addicks.
There is a genuine chance of Charlton going out of business (Takeover must be immediate), and a sensible plan should be put in place to guarantee the future of the club rather than rely on Championship football next season. There should be no gung-ho.
Let’s remember this team was a whisker of a play-off last term and were even candidates for European football a couple of years back.
This club have fallen quicker than the government’s popularity and fans must be worried. They must start saving their pennies, especially in the time of recession, to fund the luxurious trips to Carlisle, Brighton and Yeovil.

Hungry like a Wolf

Wolverhampton Wanderers missed out on a play off place last season due to a pure lack of firepower, this season they are finding no such problem.
For much of last season goals were as rare as Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane sharing pleasantries. As the 53 goals scored in 46 games was, in truth, excessively laughable. Last Christmas was not generous as Wolves only picked up 4 points from a possible 21 over the festive period, despite having a strong finish they fell agonisingly short, in fact a mere two goals was the difference between sixth and seventh spot.
The ‘goals for’ tally was the second worst in the top 16 of The Cola-Cola Championship, even the team known for its pedestrian sideways pass and punt up field - Bristol City - conjured up an extra goal. Rock Bottom Colchester United somehow scored 9 more goals as they were condemned to hell (League one, well Leeds United do reside there).
However, in January 2008, they made a shrewd signing of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and the clubs fortune swiftly changed. The undisclosed fee agreed was well and truly worth it.
The Ex- Manchester United youth player became pinnacle to the Wolves side, scoring 12 goals in 20 games becoming their top goal scorer. Ironically, he remained Plymouth Argyles top goal scorer for the season as well.
This season, McCarthy’s team have taken the Championship by storm, the end of last season form carried on into this one. Ebanks-Blake continued his prolific streak and been fundamental in his team’s success as they have scored 55 goals this term already with 19 games still left to play.
McCarthy kicked out the untainted waste in the summer – the mediocre strikers Freddy Eastwood and Jay Boothroyd, as they could not find water from a boat. The Yorkshire man replaced them with experienced Charlton Athletic forward Chris Iwelumo and Bournemouth’s youngster Sam Vokes to freshen up the attack.
With the new forwards, Wolves embarked on the clubs strongest start since 1949. Ebanks-Blake (16) and Iwelumo (13) have scored 29 goals between them already this season to fire Wolves to top spot.
McCarthy won’t be counting his chickens quite yet, there is still a massive job to do. Ebanks-Blake will need to be fit and on form to fire Wolves a return to the top flight.
As last season proves, goals come at quite a price but Ebanks-Blake looks quite the bargain.

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.

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