Second season syndrome?

[Whistle]

Stats suggest 2nd season syndrome doesn't really exist - only big this season because of Wigan and WHU struggle.

STATS of 41 clubs promoted to Prem

- 19 relegated in 1st season
- 3 relegated in 2nd season (Bradford C, WBA, Ipswich)
- 2 relegated in 3rd season
- 2 relegated in 4th season

So - if you survive the first season you've got a 2:1 chance of lasting of lasting 5 seasons (15/22 that stay up first season).

Best staying power since promotion (+ indicates run still going)
- Newcatle 13+, West Ham 9 (til 2003), Boro 8+, Charlton 6+, Blackburn 6, Fulham 5+, Bolton 5+, Blackburn 5+

Watch out for the 5 year season ticket, now!

[papereyes]

Stats suggest 2nd season syndrome doesn't really exist - only big this season because of Wigan and WHU struggle.

STATS of 41 clubs promoted to Prem

- 19 relegated in 1st season
- 3 relegated in 2nd season (Bradford C, WBA, Ipswich)
- 2 relegated in 3rd season
- 2 relegated in 4th season

So - if you survive the first season you've got a 2:1 chance of lasting of lasting 5 seasons (15/22 that stay up first season).

Best staying power since promotion (+ indicates run still going)
- Newcatle 13+, West Ham 9 (til 2003), Boro 8+, Charlton 6+, Blackburn 6, Fulham 5+, Bolton 5+, Blackburn 5+

Watch out for the 5 year season ticket, now!

But of the teams that have gone up, all but three have done worse the second season ...

That strikes me like a second season syndrome.

[Dirk Gently]

SC said at the fans' forum on Monday that what they have done this season has absolutely no bearing on what they are able to do next season - the only problem is that some fans may have raised levels of expectation because of this season.

He also said that they are determined to prove there is no such thing as SSS.

[Turns8]

As long as we stay up it doesn't matter...2nd season if we finish between 10th and 16th...It wouldn't disappoint me...The premiership with all it's money etc is where it's at and the longer you stay the more the club will grow...

As a club Reading has been built up brick by brick and I don't think this will change...survival is the priority and if we can have a few entertaining games along the way against the 'big 4' then fantastic...all those who think we should be splashing the cash on big names and trying to even compete with the 'bigger' 'established' teams in the premier are being very disillusional in my mind.

[Whistle]

Stats suggest 2nd season syndrome doesn't really exist - only big this season because of Wigan and WHU struggle.

STATS of 41 clubs promoted to Prem

- 19 relegated in 1st season
- 3 relegated in 2nd season (Bradford C, WBA, Ipswich)
- 2 relegated in 3rd season
- 2 relegated in 4th season

So - if you survive the first season you've got a 2:1 chance of lasting of lasting 5 seasons (15/22 that stay up first season).

Best staying power since promotion (+ indicates run still going)
- Newcatle 13+, West Ham 9 (til 2003), Boro 8+, Charlton 6+, Blackburn 6, Fulham 5+, Bolton 5+, Blackburn 5+

Watch out for the 5 year season ticket, now!

But of the teams that have gone up, all but three have done worse the second season ...

That strikes me like a second season syndrome.

I make it 4 improve, 1 stays the same. Only 4 fall by 5 or more places and only one of these is fatal - Ipswich 5th to relegation. If it is a syndrome it's not quite the killer people make out.

[papereyes]

Stats suggest 2nd season syndrome doesn't really exist - only big this season because of Wigan and WHU struggle.

STATS of 41 clubs promoted to Prem

- 19 relegated in 1st season
- 3 relegated in 2nd season (Bradford C, WBA, Ipswich)
- 2 relegated in 3rd season
- 2 relegated in 4th season

So - if you survive the first season you've got a 2:1 chance of lasting of lasting 5 seasons (15/22 that stay up first season).

Best staying power since promotion (+ indicates run still going)
- Newcatle 13+, West Ham 9 (til 2003), Boro 8+, Charlton 6+, Blackburn 6, Fulham 5+, Bolton 5+, Blackburn 5+

Watch out for the 5 year season ticket, now!

But of the teams that have gone up, all but three have done worse the second season ...

That strikes me like a second season syndrome.

I make it 4 improve, 1 stays the same. Only 4 fall by 5 or more places and only one of these is fatal - Ipswich 5th to relegation. If it is a syndrome it's not quite the killer people make out.

No, but teams do tend to do that little bit worse.

Get up, stay up and you start to control how well you do a lot better.

[Coppelled Streets]

As long as we stay up it doesn't matter...2nd season if we finish between 10th and 16th...It wouldn't disappoint me...The premiership with all it's money etc is where it's at and the longer you stay the more the club will grow...

As a club Reading has been built up brick by brick and I don't think this will change...survival is the priority and if we can have a few entertaining games along the way against the 'big 4' then fantastic...all those who think we should be splashing the cash on big names and trying to even compete with the 'bigger' 'established' teams in the premier are being very disillusional in my mind.

You took the words right outta my mouth,
Ohhh it must have been while you were kissing in me.....

[brendywendy]

Stats suggest 2nd season syndrome doesn't really exist - only big this season because of Wigan and WHU struggle.

STATS of 41 clubs promoted to Prem

- 19 relegated in 1st season
- 3 relegated in 2nd season (Bradford C, WBA, Ipswich)
- 2 relegated in 3rd season
- 2 relegated in 4th season

So - if you survive the first season you've got a 2:1 chance of lasting of lasting 5 seasons (15/22 that stay up first season).

Best staying power since promotion (+ indicates run still going)
- Newcatle 13+, West Ham 9 (til 2003), Boro 8+, Charlton 6+, Blackburn 6, Fulham 5+, Bolton 5+, Blackburn 5+

Watch out for the 5 year season ticket, now!

But of the teams that have gone up, all but three have done worse the second season ...

That strikes me like a second season syndrome.

less of a syndrome, more of a slight hiccup

[Ian Royal]

either way we should expect in all likelihood that a finish somewhere around 12th - 14th would be an excellent result.

We can't expect to be pushing for Europe again next season. If it happens so much the better, but expectation should be staying up reasonably comfortably and no more.

[holsgrove breaks a leg]

I dont believe 2nd season syndrome entirely and im not a believer that if you finish the season weakly that the next one is a struggle from the start. What will define Readings season is our preparation pre season and keeping key players fit for the majority of games, as well as keeping our best players at the club!!. Like someone else said earlier, if we finish 12th,13th,14th next season it would not bother me- we are now faced with having to show to the Premiership we belong for the next few seasons and grow from there. This for some might be a dull prospect in view of our recent successes over the past few years but is neccesary to keep developing the club. A team abroad that reminds me of our simliar plight is Villareal- they were a small club languishing in the lower leagues in an industrial backwater (ok not similar there!) that grew in success through an ambitious board and through moving into a new stadia there followed promotion and stability until they forced their way into Europe.

[Victor Meldrew]

If we can get somewhere near mid-table by Christmas then maybe we can have a real go at the cup competitions-plenty of excitement to be had there.

[rg6royal]

next year i can see the club having another successful season to be honest, think we will finish around the same area as we do this season because we will just get stronger.