Hunts gone

[Snowflake Royal]

Not been mentioned here yet, but Marshall gone too. Was he even here 3 months? Whatever your views on the owners, a totally pointless appointment that added no value.

Would guess driven by Hunt as someone he has a previous working relationship with.

[morganb]

https://www.leaguemanagers.com/latest-n ... -statement

A statement from Noel

“I am disappointed to have left the club so early into the League One season, especially with so much still to play for.

“When I took over as manager of Reading almost a year ago, the club was facing an incredibly difficult and uncertain period. The ownership situation was unstable, we were operating under a transfer embargo, and we had lost several key members of the squad. At that time, the very survival of the club was in jeopardy.

“Despite those challenges, I am immensely proud of the progress we made together – stabilising the club, rebuilding belief, and creating a strong and united team that came within touching distance of the play-offs on the final day of the season.

“Over the summer, we had hoped to build on those foundations. Unfortunately, circumstances meant we once again faced the huge task of rebuilding, with 15 players and key members of my backroom staff leaving before pre-season began.

“Even so, I was confident in the group we were developing. The squad was growing stronger each week, and with 32 league games still to play, I truly believed we were on the path to a successful season.

“While I am naturally disappointed by the club’s decision, I would like to thank everyone connected with Reading Football Club – the staff, my coaching team, and especially the players – for their loyalty, hard work, and professionalism throughout my time there.

“To all the wonderful academy staff I want to thank you – you have been the backbone of my growth over the last four years and it’s been an incredible journey with you all.

“To the Royals fans: your passion and support have meant everything. Reading will always have a special place in my heart – it’s a club I’ve been proud to represent as a player, coach, and manager, and one I will always hold dear. I genuinely wish the club every success for the future.

“I am proud of what we achieved together over the last four years and remain highly ambitious. I'll now take some time with my family to reflect and recharge before transitioning to the next stage of my management career."

Noel

[Snowflake Royal]

https://www.leaguemanagers.com/latest-news/noel-hunt-statement

A statement from Noel

“I am disappointed to have left the club so early into the League One season, especially with so much still to play for.

“When I took over as manager of Reading almost a year ago, the club was facing an incredibly difficult and uncertain period. The ownership situation was unstable, we were operating under a transfer embargo, and we had lost several key members of the squad. At that time, the very survival of the club was in jeopardy.

“Despite those challenges, I am immensely proud of the progress we made together – stabilising the club, rebuilding belief, and creating a strong and united team that came within touching distance of the play-offs on the final day of the season.

“Over the summer, we had hoped to build on those foundations. Unfortunately, circumstances meant we once again faced the huge task of rebuilding, with 15 players and key members of my backroom staff leaving before pre-season began.

“Even so, I was confident in the group we were developing. The squad was growing stronger each week, and with 32 league games still to play, I truly believed we were on the path to a successful season.

“While I am naturally disappointed by the club’s decision, I would like to thank everyone connected with Reading Football Club – the staff, my coaching team, and especially the players – for their loyalty, hard work, and professionalism throughout my time there.

“To all the wonderful academy staff I want to thank you – you have been the backbone of my growth over the last four years and it’s been an incredible journey with you all.

“To the Royals fans: your passion and support have meant everything. Reading will always have a special place in my heart – it’s a club I’ve been proud to represent as a player, coach, and manager, and one I will always hold dear. I genuinely wish the club every success for the future.

“I am proud of what we achieved together over the last four years and remain highly ambitious. I'll now take some time with my family to reflect and recharge before transitioning to the next stage of my management career."

Noel

Nice statement.

[Hound]

I know it never quite works out like this but it’s a shame he couldn’t have continued with the u21 side - a role I think he was very well suited to

[RG30]

Noel Hunt interview with Tim Dellor - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0mcyrzj

[Forbury Lion]

I know it never quite works out like this but it’s a shame he couldn’t have continued with the u21 side - a role I think he was very well suited to

That would mean a pay cut and demotion, if his aim was to break into management he's better off moving into a new managerial role.... maybe sit tight/enjoy Christmas with his familly and then see which vacancies appear. He's likely still being paid and/or received a payout as is the case with most managers who are sacked for results rather than gross misconduct.

[Snowflake Royal]

I know it never quite works out like this but it’s a shame he couldn’t have continued with the u21 side - a role I think he was very well suited to

That would mean a pay cut and demotion, if his aim was to break into management he's better off moving into a new managerial role.... maybe sit tight/enjoy Christmas with his familly and then see which vacancies appear. He's likely still being paid and/or received a payout as is the case with most managers who are sacked for results rather than gross misconduct.

And you'd have to sack or demote the incumbent.

It's a crying shame when anyone who has dedicated themselves to a club through player, coach, Academy and manager has to go because of a dozen uninspiring results. But it's football.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

15 players left in the summer? Must be including U11's....and he obviously had no say on who was let go

[Hound]

I know it never quite works out like this but it’s a shame he couldn’t have continued with the u21 side - a role I think he was very well suited to

That would mean a pay cut and demotion, if his aim was to break into management he's better off moving into a new managerial role.... maybe sit tight/enjoy Christmas with his familly and then see which vacancies appear. He's likely still being paid and/or received a payout as is the case with most managers who are sacked for results rather than gross misconduct.

And you'd have to sack or demote the incumbent.

It's a crying shame when anyone who has dedicated themselves to a club through player, coach, Academy and manager has to go because of a dozen uninspiring results. But it's football.

Yep hence why I said it doesn’t work like this. Selles with Hunt doing the u21 seemed a good mix, shame we’ve lost Hunt altogether but it’s inevitable

[Snowflake Royal]

That would mean a pay cut and demotion, if his aim was to break into management he's better off moving into a new managerial role.... maybe sit tight/enjoy Christmas with his familly and then see which vacancies appear. He's likely still being paid and/or received a payout as is the case with most managers who are sacked for results rather than gross misconduct.

And you'd have to sack or demote the incumbent.

It's a crying shame when anyone who has dedicated themselves to a club through player, coach, Academy and manager has to go because of a dozen uninspiring results. But it's football.

Yep hence why I said it doesn’t work like this. Selles with Hunt doing the u21 seemed a good mix, shame we’ve lost Hunt altogether but it’s inevitable

Aye

[andrew1957]

15 players left in the summer? Must be including U11's....and he obviously had no say on who was let go

15 at the end of the season might be a slight exaggeration but 16 players who played in the first team left during or at the end of the 2024/25 season and these represented 49 league and cup goals between them (appearances in. 24/25 below and goals in brackets). The remaining players left at the start of this season had only scored 29 league and cup goals between them.

Knibbs 47 (16)
Bindon 47 (3)
Wareham 44 (7)
Campbell 42 (7)
Mbengue 37 (1)
Craig 35 (2)
Smith 26 (11)
Dean 24
Akande 21
Bodin 16 (2)
Holzman 15
Button 11
Carroll 9
Boyce-Clarke 3
Wellens 2
Azeez 1

In summary Hunt’s views mirror mine. He wasn’t backed enough in the summer (particularly in the striker goalscoring department) and has been made the scapegoat for the owners bad decisions.

[leon]

15 players left in the summer? Must be including U11's....and he obviously had no say on who was let go

15 at the end of the season might be a slight exaggeration but 16 players who played in the first team left during or at the end of the 2024/25 season and these represented 49 league and cup goals between them (appearances in. 24/25 below and goals in brackets). The remaining players left at the start of this season had only scored 29 league and cup goals between them.

Knibbs 47 (16)
Bindon 47 (3)
Wareham 44 (7)
Campbell 42 (7)
Mbengue 37 (1)
Craig 35 (2)
Smith 26 (11)
Dean 24
Akande 21
Bodin 16 (2)
Holzman 15
Button 11
Carroll 9
Boyce-Clarke 3
Wellens 2
Azeez 1

In summary Hunt’s views mirror mine. He wasn’t backed enough in the summer (particularly in the striker goalscoring department) and has been made the scapegoat for the owners bad decisions.

plus also playing a tedious and highly inappropriate (given the make up of the team) possession based football combined with hopeless long ball.

[West F]

15 players left in the summer? Must be including U11's....and he obviously had no say on who was let go

15 at the end of the season might be a slight exaggeration but 16 players who played in the first team left during or at the end of the 2024/25 season and these represented 49 league and cup goals between them (appearances in. 24/25 below and goals in brackets). The remaining players left at the start of this season had only scored 29 league and cup goals between them.

Knibbs 47 (16)
Bindon 47 (3)
Wareham 44 (7)
Campbell 42 (7)
Mbengue 37 (1)
Craig 35 (2)
Smith 26 (11)
Dean 24
Akande 21
Bodin 16 (2)
Holzman 15
Button 11
Carroll 9
Boyce-Clarke 3
Wellens 2
Azeez 1

In summary Hunt’s views mirror mine. He wasn’t backed enough in the summer (particularly in the striker goalscoring department) and has been made the scapegoat for the owners bad decisions.

They couldn’t sack him when they finally took over the club. He had taken the team to the cusp of the play-offs. It would have created a backlash from the supporters at the time. Couhig is an attorney, meaning he is most definitely not an idiot. Better to glaze Noel, but not back him and let him die a natural death as soon as the Yoof section sing a verse of ‘Sacked in the morning’.
Never wanted Noel to get the job permanently with a three year deal. Was frustrated by his inverted winger tactic that was a recycled version of PepBall*. But, he changed this and the performances improved. The man was sacked after one defeat in seven when the level of performance was much better. If this was allowed to continue, they would be stuck with him.
They sacked Noel and the new manager and his acolytes were in post in twenty minutes. If Jacobson and Couhig back this lot in January, then you will know whether not backing Noel was choice, rather than a result of circumstances. Hunt was not Jacobson’s choice as manager, Richardson definitely is.
Now it is all on them, they will be judged and criticised based on results, without the ability to dangle the skeleton of Dai Yongge at the supporters and say ‘Look, it could be worse”. The armour of Hunt is now gone. If the Accrington Stanley crew don’t get it right, the sacking of Noel will become a stick to beat them with. You can disagree with it, but this is what will happen. It sounds almost Machiavellian. But don’t forget that our owner does this for a living.

*PepBall. If Pep does it, it can’t be wrong.

[stealthpapes]

15 players left in the summer? Must be including U11's....and he obviously had no say on who was let go

15 at the end of the season might be a slight exaggeration but 16 players who played in the first team left during or at the end of the 2024/25 season and these represented 49 league and cup goals between them (appearances in. 24/25 below and goals in brackets). The remaining players left at the start of this season had only scored 29 league and cup goals between them.

Knibbs 47 (16)
Bindon 47 (3)
Wareham 44 (7)
Campbell 42 (7)
Mbengue 37 (1)
Craig 35 (2)
Smith 26 (11)
Dean 24
Akande 21
Bodin 16 (2)
Holzman 15
Button 11
Carroll 9
Boyce-Clarke 3
Wellens 2
Azeez 1

In summary Hunt’s views mirror mine. He wasn’t backed enough in the summer (particularly in the striker goalscoring department) and has been made the scapegoat for the owners bad decisions.

Basically that list, minus Smith, minus Azeez, you might count Bouzanis (played some senior games), maybe Senga at a push (cup games) 15 seems a reasonable estimate to me.

I think the amount of turnover this season has been underestimated - last summer, while we couldn't bring anyone in, we didn't lose players in big numbers. There was clearly a strong team identity.

[Snowflake Royal]

We had about 6 players contracted, so there was huge change.

And that will have influenced some of our decision making in renewing contracts we maybe shouldn’t have just to have bodies in the door.

And similar with new signings... we need to get bodies in, so sometimes it may have been who was easiest to nail down, not necessarily our top pick.

Then obviously, with any set of signings, some will start slow and some will be a failure.

[Orion1871]

15 players left in the summer? Must be including U11's....and he obviously had no say on who was let go

15 at the end of the season might be a slight exaggeration but 16 players who played in the first team left during or at the end of the 2024/25 season and these represented 49 league and cup goals between them (appearances in. 24/25 below and goals in brackets). The remaining players left at the start of this season had only scored 29 league and cup goals between them.

Knibbs 47 (16)
Bindon 47 (3)
Wareham 44 (7)
Campbell 42 (7)
Mbengue 37 (1)
Craig 35 (2)
Smith 26 (11)
Dean 24
Akande 21
Bodin 16 (2)
Holzman 15
Button 11
Carroll 9
Boyce-Clarke 3
Wellens 2
Azeez 1

In summary Hunt’s views mirror mine. He wasn’t backed enough in the summer (particularly in the striker goalscoring department) and has been made the scapegoat for the owners bad decisions.

They couldn’t sack him when they finally took over the club. He had taken the team to the cusp of the play-offs. It would have created a backlash from the supporters at the time. Couhig is an attorney, meaning he is most definitely not an idiot. Better to glaze Noel, but not back him and let him die a natural death as soon as the Yoof section sing a verse of ‘Sacked in the morning’.
Never wanted Noel to get the job permanently with a three year deal. Was frustrated by his inverted winger tactic that was a recycled version of PepBall*. But, he changed this and the performances improved. The man was sacked after one defeat in seven when the level of performance was much better. If this was allowed to continue, they would be stuck with him.
They sacked Noel and the new manager and his acolytes were in post in twenty minutes. If Jacobson and Couhig back this lot in January, then you will know whether not backing Noel was choice, rather than a result of circumstances. Hunt was not Jacobson’s choice as manager, Richardson definitely is.
Now it is all on them, they will be judged and criticised based on results, without the ability to dangle the skeleton of Dai Yongge at the supporters and say ‘Look, it could be worse”. The armour of Hunt is now gone. If the Accrington Stanley crew don’t get it right, the sacking of Noel will become a stick to beat them with. You can disagree with it, but this is what will happen. It sounds almost Machiavellian. But don’t forget that our owner does this for a living.

*PepBall. If Pep does it, it can’t be wrong.

Can it really be "Pep ball" if your tactics are to smash the ball 50 yards to a vertically challenged striker?

[Brogue]

Well we’ll soon find out won’t we. Anyone else you think might make a sudden recovery - Garcia?

Camara…

Had forgotten he even existed.