Reading Football Club News: June 2016
Royals Get Plymouth In League Cup Draw
22 June 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading have been drawn at home to League Two Plymouth Argyle in the first round of the 2016/2017 season's League Cup. The game is likely to take place at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday 9 August with a 8pm kick-off. Plymouth finished in the play-off positions at the end of the season but were beaten to promotion by AFC Wimbledon in the play-off final.
Recent Meetings With PLYMOUTH
| DATE | COMPETITION | OPPOSITION | SCORE | REPORT |
| 09 February 2010 | Championship | Plymouth (HOME) | W: 2-1 | Read report... |
| 28 December 2009 | Championship | Plymouth (Away) | L: 1-4 | Read report... |
| 07 March 2009 | Championship | Plymouth (Away) | D: 2-2 | Read report... |
| 16 August 2008 | Championship | Plymouth (HOME) | W: 2-0 | Read report... |
| 26 November 2005 | Championship | Plymouth (Away) | W: 2-0 | Read report... |
| 06 August 2005 | Championship | Plymouth (HOME) | L: 1-2 | Read report... |
| 05 February 2005 | Championship | Plymouth (HOME) | D: 0-0 | Read report... |
| 02 November 2004 | Championship | Plymouth (Away) | D: 2-2 | Read report... |
| 21 December 1999 | FA Cup | Plymouth (Away) | L: 0-1 | Read report... |
| 11 December 1999 | FA Cup | Plymouth (HOME) | D: 1-1 | Read report... |
| Reading and Plymouth - Head to head record (since August 1994) | |
| Games Between Reading and Plymouth | 10 |
| Reading Wins | 3 |
| Plymouth Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 4 |
| Reading Goals | 13 |
| Plymouth Goals | 13 |
| Average Goals Per Game | 2.6 |
New Season Fixtures In Full
22 June 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading will kick-off the 2016/2017 Championship season with a home fixture against Preston North End on Saturday 6 August 2016. The new season fixtures were released this morning and reveal that the Royals will start the season at home but will again finish with an away game - wrapping up the season at newly promoted Burton Albion on Sunday 7 May 2017.
Reading will have a tough start to the campaign as they look to put the poor end to last season behind them with yet another new manager in charge. After the Preston game, Jaap Stam will take his side on the road to Wolves and then relegated side Newcastle United mid-week. Our second home game will see the visit of Brighton as Stam looks to pick up some early points to silence the doubters.
The festive period is always a highlight on the fixture calendar and Reading have done well to get a decent home game when Norwich City visit the Madejski Stadium on boxing day. That's followed up by another home game when we face Fulham on New Years' Eve.
Stam Brings In Dutch Coaching Team
13 June 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?
After signing a two year contract to become the new manager of Reading Football Club, Jaap Stam has brought in new coaches that he worked with at Ajax last season. Andries Ulderink and Said Bakkati, both also Dutch, will make up the new look management and coaching team for the Royals.
In the club's official statement there were more heavy hints that Stam will have to rely on products of the club's youth academy and will not be given a big transfer budget this summer:
"He and his coaching team arrive from Ajax, a club globally renowned for developing young players into first team stars, and from this moment onwards we will sit down together and help to put his plans into action to build a strong squad capable of rising to the challenge of the Championship in 2016/17."
The club's statement also revealed that coaches Steven Reid and Dave Beasant will stay at the club - for now.
Stam Finally Arrives As New Reading Manager
13 June 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading will finally, officially, unveil Jaap Stam as new team manager in this afternoon's press conference. Stam has arrived at the club to complete his contract signing after weeks of waiting following the departure of former boss Brian McDermott. Stam was immediately named as the likely successor, before McDermott had even collected his things, giving a clear signal that he had already been lined up for the job. Reading FC, Stam, and his agent remained silent in the weeks that followed as the deal was worked out and agreed ahead of today's announcement. No other names were seriously linked with the role despite the delay in his official appointment.
Jaap Stam arrives at Reading with no senior managerial experience, but plenty of experience as both a player as as assistant manager. As a player he was capped 67 times for the Netherlands, and played a huge part in Manchester United's most successful times after arriving for ten million pounds. Stam was also successful in his role as a big powerful defender for Lazio, AC Milan and Ajax before moving into coaching after retiring from playing. He was at Ajax last season as assistant manager before leaving at the end of the season to allow himself to take up his first full managers role in England.
Stam will certainly be a big change in direction for Reading Football Club as they try to end years of downward decline following relegation out of the Premier League. It is the kind of high profile appointment the new owners seem to crave - but the success of the new partnership will depend on many things. More than anything success will depend on how much time Stam is given if early results don't go his way, and if he will be allowed to make serious moves in the transfer market. He will inherit a depleted squad that is currently set to rely on young players moving up to the first team. Steve Clarke relied on loan signings last summer - something which failed to produce team spirit. McDermott wasn't given a chance to do anything. Stam appears to be a powerful personality that would look to bond a team together - so surely he will require permanent signings this summer.
It has been a turbulent time for the club over the past few years with such regular changes in management, and lack of league success. The management structure, and playing squad, is almost unrecognisable from only a few seasons ago. It seems unlikely that Stam can steady the boat immediately. He must be given time, and full support from the club and fans, whatever the early season results are. Hopefully he will be one of the first managers in a long time to actually see out his initial contract, regardless of how the league table looks.
See past news articles:
Jaap Stam Still Not Confirmed
07 June 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Rumours continue to rumble on that Jaap Stam is set to be named as Reading's next manager after the shock sacking of Brian McDermott. Stam was immediately reported as the likely new manager as reports of McDermott's dismissal filtered through. He has continued to be listed as favourite despite his agent denying he had already had talks with the club. New reports today suggest he is on the verge of completing the signing of a one year contract to take on his first senior managerial position. Stam is reported to have been at the Madejski Stadium this morning to discuss terms.
The contract is reported to be for an initial year with a possible option of extending to a second year. With Reading's recent record with managers he will be doing very well if he survives that initial one year term. Stam, a former assistant manager with Ajax but currently a free agent, has made it public he would enjoy a managers role in England and Reading may be set to give him that chance.
It would of course be a big gamble for both parties. Stam has very limited managerial experience and he would come to a club with much over inflated expectations. If he is successful he will be unlikely to stay around for long. If Reading don't immediately storm to the top of the Championship then the current board will probably get rid without hesitation once again. However, it remains a case of wait and see, and today's reports remain speculation on top of rumours from two weeks ago. The club are yet to make an official announcement either way.
See Also:
Pre-Season Fixtures
07 June 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?
After cancelling an overseas tour, presumably to save money, or perhaps due to a lack of management after disposing of a number of loyal servants to the club; Reading have confirmed a set of domestic pre-season friendlies. Although Jaap Stam remains the most likely contender, and is rumoured to be on the verge of signing a two year contract, it's still not clear who will be brave enough to be in charge of the Royals for these fixtures with the club lacking direction and spirit during the summer break. After such a big shake up last summer, we are due to have the same again with a number of first team players leaving the club and all the loanees returning to their parent clubs. It will be another new look team, with yet another new manager as Reading prepare for their pre-season matches. Whoever the club pick to lead the first team it would be nice if they were given a chance this time around.
The Royals start pre-season with a trip to National League Boreham Wood on Saturday 9th July and follow it with away games at National League Lincoln City, League One Swindon Town and League One AFC Wimbledon. The pick of those will surely be the trip to the County Ground and old rivals Swindon Town on Tuesday 19th July. Reading wrap up their pre-season games with a home fixture against Premier League Bournemouth, which will be an 8pm evening kick-off at the Madejski Stadium on Friday 29th July.
Pre-Season Schedule
- Saturday 9 July - Boreham Wood (A)
- Saturday 16 July - Lincoln City (A)
- Tuesday 19 July - Swindon Town (A)
- Saturday 23 July - AFC Wimbledon (A)
- Friday 29 July - Bournemouth (H)