Leam in or out

[72 bus]

What's Rubén Sellés up to these days.

[West F]

What's Rubén Sellés up to these days.

Regretting his decision to leave and join Hull probably. As we all do.

[Forbury Lion]

When Leam joined, he said it would take 3 or 4 transfer windows to rebuild the team, My expectations were to finish mid table and not be worried about relegation. Yes as the season progressed I felt we had a real chance of reaching the playoffs but the team has conceded some late goals which have cost us any realistic chance of that.... but this is something that can be worked on and put right, I get the argument that it should have already been worked on and put right.

The focus should be on the transfer window and how we strengthen, we have no embargo, we have no money issues , although I expect the owners to be measured with their spending and do things the old Reading way, which is what we've mostly been crying out for since Sir John sold up and moved on. This is more important than changing manager.

[katweslowski]

When Leam joined, he said it would take 3 or 4 transfer windows to rebuild the team, My expectations were to finish mid table and not be worried about relegation. Yes as the season progressed I felt we had a real chance of reaching the playoffs but the team has conceded some late goals which have cost us any realistic chance of that.... but this is something that can be worked on and put right, I get the argument that it should have already been worked on and put right.

The focus should be on the transfer window and how we strengthen, we have no embargo, we have no money issues , although I expect the owners to be measured with their spending and do things the old Reading way, which is what we've mostly been crying out for since Sir John sold up and moved on. This is more important than changing manager.

Good post and good points about expectations. I don't agree with the whole "I'm just happy to have my club back" but there is some real substance to that point.

By that I mean, the owners have barely arrived. They took over officially last summer in the off season. Since then they've had an utter pile of shit thanks to DY to sort out. Debts probably, mis-management, a training facility which had been neglected, staff issues etc.

They seem to have most of this sorted now, and now have plans for stadium improvements and other things.

So they no doubt want to really build over the summer and actually get promoted automatically next year, not just scrape through to the play offs or finish mid-table.

[stealthpapes]

It seems bonkers to me that after two years where the club was not working effectively as a entity - no electricity in the offices, microwave meals, staff made redundant at key points, neglect of pitch and of training facilities, an inability to bring in anyone for any sort of fee - a change of owners is somehow seen as an instant change. We were still dealing with winding up orders only a few months ago.

By that I mean, the owners have barely arrived. They took over officially last summer in the off season. Since then they've had an utter pile of shit thanks to DY to sort out. Debts probably, mis-management, a training facility which had been neglected, staff issues etc.

I thought there was more to unravel behind the scenes but there are other signs of moving forward.

TLDR: yeah, 100% agreed katweslowski

[El Diablo]

Leam out. Came through the doors almost making excuses for himself from the outset, which was a bit weird, has been given pretty much what he wanted players and staff wise since then but delivers a turgid performance week in week out. And thats his style . It won't change. 3 holding midfielders at home. Players that are now playing well within themselves, seemingly told to stay in their rigid positions, playing without freedom, or expression. He'll be here next season no doubt, but fully expect come October, and we're not where the owners expect us to be, gone out the door.

[Extended-Phenotype]

I don’t necessarily see LR highlighting the obvious problems with the club and outlining the work that needed to be done as making excuses. I think it’s a decent timeline - this season: avoid relegation, get some foundational players in place. In between seasons: strengthen the team more, fill in the gaps, get everyone properly up to speed, next season: look for improvement, develop our football and push for promotion.

What grates is that we were out of trouble a while back and with a bit of guts we could have started to develop a more attacking style and pushed for a play-off spot this season. But we’ve just been stuck in this sort of Safe Mode.

I think the players were/are capable of more. I just hope LR is. Because I just about buy into his “excuses” this season. But he will have nothing to hide behind next season.

[morganb]

So, how do we improve things?

Get rid of Leam and get a manager/coach in who can work with what we've got and implement a style of play that is good on the eye

Keep Leam but get rid of players he doesn't like and replace with players who suit his preferred style of play (which is hopefully more entertaining that this season)

Regardless of the manager it would be good to try to integrate Academy players more, especially those returning from loans

What will Couhig do? What does he want - I imagine to spend the minimum amount of money on the squad (though is happy to invest in the stadium) but also to get us to the Championship asap so he can sell us on

[katweslowski]

Let's get McDermott back again - he deserves a 9th chance as manager before we sack him again.

But seriously, would anyone take Selles?

[Brogue]

Let's get McDermott back again - he deserves a 9th chance as manager before we sack him again.

But seriously, would anyone take Selles?

probably not, hes failed everywhere he's gone since leaving us (although he did meet the breif at hull) but the main reason is he likes to play high press football. He had the players to be able to do that when he was here. Smith Bindon Mbengue Knibbs Craig. We don't have the players to do that now. But thats just my opinion, others might disagree

[WestYorksRoyal]

Looking at other clubs in similarly bad situations does allow more objectivity. Chelsea lost their 5th in a row last night under Rosenior who is under pressure, but I would say every manager there in the past 5 years or so has struggled, so is the manager really the problem?

Leicester have had a consecutive relegation, but Gary Rowett is a good manager, so was it really his fault or a culmination or mismanagement?

What would an outsider say about us? That there are definitely still bigger issues than the manager to solve.

Looking back at the SJM era, we sacked the likes of Terry Bullivent, Tommy Burns and Brendan Rodgers. So you can be a well run club and sack managers sometimes. But I do think you need to create an environment where there is no excuse for failure, and we're not at that point yet.

So logic states Richardson needs a proper chance. The crowd relationship concerns me though. If I was an owner, I wouldn't let X and social media influence my thinking. But toxic away fans, half empty home attendances and a lack of apparent connection from the stands would.