I was interested to read Simon Grundy’s comments on these pages on what individual manager’s records were after a similar number of games, rather than comparing Terry’s early career with the whole careers’ of the great and the good!. As I mentioned in the previous Strap’s Stats, I wasn’t going to leave you without at least some semblance of hope, and have been preparing a review of all our post-war managers’ records after 46 games in charge. I know Bully’s has only had 37 so far, but by choosing 46 games, you can compare his record during the long lonely summer months whilst we all contemplate 2nd div soccer again!! (Or will the stats suggest a miracle - read on!!)
Just to recap, I’ve copied the overall career records of our post-war managers, and updated Terry’s to include that marvellous result at Sheffield Utd. You’ve got to agree, it’s pretty crap isn’t it !
But just how do the great and good rank based on their first 46 league games? I was pretty surprised, and I think you will be too!! Check out who’s in the bottom 4, and more surprisingly, who’s top!!
Die-hard Royals supporters will immediately be able to explain the relative positions here. Branfoot is top purely on the back of the team Maurice Evans put together, I mean come on, how many Chairmen sack their manager when you’re sitting 3rd in the league?!? Similarly, the Quinn/Gooding combo benefited from Mark McGhee’s work, whilst Mark McGhee was putting to rights the shit produced by Ian Porterfield. Ted Drake’s record is not good, and you can’t put all the blame on poor old Joe Edelston. I think the war must take some blame for this, with the subsequent disruption to life in general let alone soccer, doubtless influencing matters. Charlie Hurley? Well he took over the reigns of Jack Mansell’s fall from grace. Which leads nicely onto Terry the Taxi! I suppose you could argue that he’s had the task of repairing the damage done by JQ/MG, but he’s brought in, what, 7 of his own players already? So he can’t really hide behind the deficiencies of others!
So now onto the straws for all you drowning people out there! Our two most successful managers, MM and TD, both had less than glowing records in their 1st 46 games, and yet, with perseverance, they fashioned what are commonly regarded as the best teams Reading have fielded since the war. Bully’s record so far is atrocious, so logically, if we stick with him for the next 4 or 5 years, he’ll provide us with a team of all-stars, playing scintillating football the like of which we have never seen, and will walk off with the Div 2, Div 1 and Premiership titles in the next 3 years, with a couple of cup wins thrown in for good measure!! (Don’t forget he took us to the fifth round of both major cup competitions this year - the first Reading manager so to do!! Obviously a cup man!). …zzzzzz… Who mentioned alarm clocks!!
I don’t really want to burst the bubble of outright euphoria I just KNOW I have created for you, but we need a reality check here sadly. My "argument" must surely fall down when you look more closely at the records. The goal differences of Mark McGhee and Ted Drake were a not unreasonable -1 and -5 respectively. With a tough looking 9 games to go, Terry’s record stands at a worrying -27! Yep that’s not a misprint - it’s minus twenty seven! Only 11 more from 9 games to beat the record of Jack Mansell! Check out the goals scored column too! We can’t muster a goal a game under TB. MM and TD managed 5 goals every 4 games at least! Oh well, at least I’ve got my stats to keep me company over the long lonely summer. Can’t seem to get enthused by thoughts of Wrexham away, or Macclesfield at the Mad House. Hope Peterborough manage to go up, and Quinny gets another year. Be nice to see a goalscorer at EP, (sorry I mean the MH), again!
Buzz : This is no time to panic
Woody : This is a PERFECT time to panic!
(Only Vinnie can save us!)