Nigel Adkins

[Avon Royal]

I really don't get all the negativity

We are going through change, yet are right now averaging the points required for 8th/9th and WILL improve,
so, IMO, we are good for at least the POs.

I fully agree.

The reason why people are confused is that the club are outwardly stating that we are committed to bouncing back this year, yet a lot of their actions point towards a longer term approach.

I genuinely think the latter approach is best, but the club seem reluctant to come out and say it.

[No Fixed Abode]

We are going through change, yet are right now averaging the points required for 8th/9th and WILL improve,
so, IMO, we are good for at least the POs.

Don't be so sure. You can see the style Reading are trying to play, but I have my doubts over the technical ability of the majority of the team for it work.

[Victor Meldrew]

Just picking up on Cypry saying that English is Anton's second language and therefore stuff may have got lost in translation.
It doesn't say much for his time at Bradfield and Reading Uni if he can't communicate well in English-he may speak with a Russian accent but his English is probably better than many a poster on here so I don't buy any misunderstanding or do you think that JM being Polish bred also failed to communicate in English when he said that he would only sell to somebody with deep pockets?

Some of your other points have credibility if a little bit too RTG for my liking but on this matter you are just wrong.

[creative_username_1]

"If we want to establish ourselves in the Premier League" is one that regularly pops up on here and is really getting annoying now. WE ARE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP it's stating the bleeding obvious but it seems some need to be told that fact. It's fine having one eye on the Premier League but if you're concentrating on establishing yourselves in the Premier League the you are destined to fail because the Championship is not a League that allows for that.

Agree. One step at a time

There is no guarantee that what Atkins is doing is gonna work out. The assumption is that it will. Will just have to wait and see. If he finishes outside of the play-offs how will fans react?

[Snowball]

Not "sure" NFA, but being 2-3-1 (and the defeat being a silly one to the club currently top)
I'm not particularly worried.

I think much can be traced back to 3 players likely/wanting to leave (Kebe-Pog-Marriappa)
and, in particular, the club being desperate to get Pog off the wage bill to make space for
1-2-3 players coming in.

Pog was so clearly not part of our plans going forward, and that has to be a drag in training etc,
then Adkins has to about-face and start building up the guy, who apart from an unlucky sending
off and a suspension must know he's an expensive white elephant.

I'd really like to see Pog come good but I wouldn't want to bet on it, but I think Adkins is a VG manager
and will eventually find a way to sort things

[melonhead]

I really don't get all the negativity

We are going through change, yet are right now averaging the points required for 8th/9th and WILL improve,
so, IMO, we are good for at least the POs.

I fully agree.

The reason why people are confused is that the club are outwardly stating that we are committed to bouncing back this year, yet a lot of their actions point towards a longer term approach.

I genuinely think the latter approach is best, but the club seem reluctant to come out and say it.

i think we can, and are operating with a commitment to go straight back up, while recognising we also need to look at the long term if that doesnt work
and all within the financial constraints the club is under

[melonhead]

I'd really like to see Pog come good but I wouldn't want to bet on it, but I think Adkins is a VG manager
and will eventually find a way to sort things

i think before the sending off there were some really good signs from old poggle.
he must know now that the only way to get what he wants- prem footy with us, or anyone else, hes going to have to do everything within his power to work hard, and score goals

[Platypuss]

do you think that JM being Polish bred also failed to communicate in English when he said that he would only sell to somebody with deep pockets?

Since when was SJM Polish bred?

[melonhead]

maybe he meant polish bread


like making a risen flour based food stuff all shiny


we may never know

[Magic Hat]

Just picking up on Cypry saying that English is Anton's second language and therefore stuff may have got lost in translation.
It doesn't say much for his time at Bradfield and Reading Uni if he can't communicate well in English-he may speak with a Russian accent but his English is probably better than many a poster on here so I don't buy any misunderstanding or do you think that JM being Polish bred also failed to communicate in English when he said that he would only sell to somebody with deep pockets?

Some of your other points have credibility if a little bit too RTG for my liking but on this matter you are just wrong.

I think it was Bearwood not Bradfield. Also I went to Uni with a load of international students who's English was pretty poor, but still got good grades. Saying that I think Anton's English is very good and he just expected Hammond to be able secure our targets more easily.

[Schards#2]

Adkins was my first choice as Brian's replacement and, whilst the improvements have taken longer than I would have anticipated, I still wouldn't prefer anyone else who would be viable in charge.

I think one of Adkins difficulties is that he's our first appointment in 10 years that doesn't have any previous affinity to the club. Mcdermott was clearly Reading through and through and even Rodgers had a history at the club. Adkins has no loyalty to the club at all prior to his appointment and, for all the platitutes and declarations of love of the club/fans etc, at this stage it sounds a bit hollow.

Coppell was the last one and, in time, he showed that this can change and an outsider can be fully embraced. What can change it? Shallowly, I think the only thing that can is success. The more we win, the more he becomes one of us, the more we lose, the more he's a hired hand.

I remain convinced he's an outstanding manager with the rare attribute of success at more than one club. I don't think we've completely turned the corner yet and hope he gets as long as it takes and, in the meantime, isn't scared off by off field ownership shenanigans.

[Ian Royal]

I really don't get all the negativity

We are going through change, yet are right now averaging the points required for 8th/9th and WILL improve,
so, IMO, we are good for at least the POs.

I fully agree.

The reason why people are confused is that the club are outwardly stating that we are committed to bouncing back this year, yet a lot of their actions point towards a longer term approach.

For me it's pretty simple. We have a goal of bouncing straight back, as we did last time. But we always plan for the longer picture too and almost never are we willing to put short-term risk above long term stability and building. That's haunted us in the PL where the gulf in class and financial sense is so huge. But in the last 10 -12 years we've got to be one of the most reliably successful championship teams. Maybe WBA, Brum and Sunderland challengd tgat but I can't think of others. 3 play off campaigns, 2 titles. It's no fluke we're in the position to achieve those. It's because we're very well run

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Just seen NA's interview on the RFC website.

He came across very sprightly & happy. He & the team are getting their mojo back. Good to see.

Really excited about how we might be playing like in a month or so.

[scumbag]

Adkins was my first choice as Brian's replacement and, whilst the improvements have taken longer than I would have anticipated, I still wouldn't prefer anyone else who would be viable in charge.

I think one of Adkins difficulties is that he's our first appointment in 10 years that doesn't have any previous affinity to the club. Mcdermott was clearly Reading through and through and even Rodgers had a history at the club. Adkins has no loyalty to the club at all prior to his appointment and, for all the platitutes and declarations of love of the club/fans etc, at this stage it sounds a bit hollow.

Coppell was the last one and, in time, he showed that this can change and an outsider can be fully embraced. What can change it? Shallowly, I think the only thing that can is success. The more we win, the more he becomes one of us, the more we lose, the more he's a hired hand.

I remain convinced he's an outstanding manager with the rare attribute of success at more than one club. I don't think we've completely turned the corner yet and hope he gets as long as it takes and, in the meantime, isn't scared off by off field ownership shenanigans.

Great post.

[LoyalRoyal22]

Doing a fine job. The football is much improved. His switch in formation yesterday at half time worked a treat.

[finchroyal]

Doing a fine job. The football is much improved. His switch in formation yesterday at half time worked a treat.

yes spot on, not afraid to make changes good on him

[windermere_royal]

very nice to have a plan B, first time in about 3 years

[Royalwaster]

What was the change in formation - watching it on a live stream I missed it .... !

[LoyalRoyal22]

What was the change in formation - watching it on a live stream I missed it .... !

First half was 4231, second half 433.

[URZZZZZ]

Reading boss Nigel Adkins hopes to see the treatment room emptying over the international break.
The Royals were already without the likes of Royston Drenthe, Danny Williams, Mikele Leigertwood, Jason Roberts and long-term absentee Jem Karacan when they travelled to Burnley on Saturday.
Winger Garath McCleary then withdrew on the morning of the game with a knee problem and Billy Sharp missed out due to a groin injury as Reading went down 2-1 to the leaders.
"We've got a break now where we'll lose eight or nine players around the world to international duty," said Adkins.
"We've got eight or nine more probably in the treatment room, and we've got a two-week opportunity now to see if we can improve that and get them closer to the group that we need."