Reading Coach Chris Davies

[Wycombe Royal]

It makes you wonder why a club would employ someone who has a strong link to an out of work manager. As soon as they get another job they will be off to join them. Hardly a plan for the long term......

But on the other hand we haven't exactly improved since he joined us, and I certainly didn't see any improvement in our tactics in matches to counteract the opposition which is supposedly what he is so good at.

I don't think we'll miss him.

[paultheroyal]

He made a sifnificant impact whilst here with improved performances and excellent win percentage.......

I actually agree with previous shout that a wally downes, gunnarrsson, murty, sidwell combo (not all of them) would be welcomed

[Sutekh]

He made a sifnificant impact whilst here with improved performances and excellent win percentage.......

I actually agree with previous shout that a wally downes, gunnarrsson, murty, sidwell combo (not all of them) would be welcomed

"Promote" Dolan.

[Forbury Lion]

He made a sifnificant impact whilst here with improved performances and excellent win percentage.......

I actually agree with previous shout that a wally downes, gunnarrsson, murty, sidwell combo (not all of them) would be welcomed

"Promote" Dolan.

Is Dolan back to work? - Would he want it or could his priorities in life have changed?

[Hoop Blah]

It makes you wonder why a club would employ someone who has a strong link to an out of work manager. As soon as they get another job they will be off to join them. Hardly a plan for the long term......

Interesting point, but I wonder how many good coaches are out there and available who don't have a stong link to an out of work manager.

I guess we might've been a little desperate when Burton walked out and McDermott needed someone to come in and help him. It seemed an odd change to go from an experienced head in Burton to an up and coming youngster like Davies.

At least he had a connection with the club, not that seems to have helped in any way.

But on the other hand we haven't exactly improved since he joined us, and I certainly didn't see any improvement in our tactics in matches to counteract the opposition which is supposedly what he is so good at.

I don't think we'll miss him.

We'll never really know will we? He could've been really quite good behind the scenes but I don't think I've even heard him speak so he certainly hasn't had the public profile of a Downes, Dillon or Allen.

[MoorgateRoyal]

It's never good to lose a promising young coach, but I'm glad he's gone now and not during pre-season or early in the season. It gives us a chance to get someone else in and be with the squad from day one.

I echo the points about him not having a great impact when he was here, although I presume he was appointed with next season in mind so it's difficult to judge him too harshly on what we saw last season.

As was pointed out earlier, he was likely to follow Rodgers as soon as he got another job, so we just need to suck it up and get on with it. Steven Reid still seems to be here and doing OK, so maybe this is his chance to step up and make himself the main man alongside Brian.

I'd be very happy getting Gunnarsson back in some capacity as he was here when things were really special, and he's just an all-round good guy with a lot to offer. He could teach the current squad a lot about this league and what it takes to be successful, as well as having a good relationship (I assume) with Brian.

[Y21]

Steven Reid still seems to be here and doing OK, so maybe this is his chance to step up and make himself the main man alongside Brian.

Not saying you're wrong, but on what basis would you say that Steven Reid is doing okay? Isn't he also part of the coaching team that had the team playing so badly last season?

[Pepe the Horseman]

Steven Reid doesn't particularly want to be here from what I've been told. Wouldn't be surprised to see him move on in the summer.

[maffff]

It makes you wonder why a club would employ someone who has a strong link to an out of work manager. As soon as they get another job they will be off to join them. Hardly a plan for the long term......

Probably made a few quid for minimal outlay?

[maffff]

Now to watch Hayden Mullins get a promotion

[MoorgateRoyal]

Steven Reid still seems to be here and doing OK, so maybe this is his chance to step up and make himself the main man alongside Brian.

Not saying you're wrong, but on what basis would you say that Steven Reid is doing okay? Isn't he also part of the coaching team that had the team playing so badly last season?

I guess because he lasted all season and a managerial change and doesn't seem to be causing any trouble. Both Clarke and McDermott were complimentary about him in interviews as well.

Although, come to think of it, you make a good point. He needs to take his fair share of the responsibility for us being gash this season. He also doesn't seem to be invested as much in the club as other coaches were, doing interviews and so on, although that's not to say he isn't privately.

Ultimately he seemed to be doing a good enough job as he was getting on with it quietly in the background, although the fact that he's so quiet could be because he's not really that bothered and just going through the motions.

If it's been mooted that he doesn't want to be here, that could explain it.

[Hoop Blah]

Now to watch Hayden Mullins get a promotion

I'd not realised he was even back at the club, it totally passed me by that one.

Gunnarsson coming back would be fantastic though.

[Hoop Blah]

He also doesn't seem to be invested as much in the club as other coaches were, doing interviews and so on, although that's not to say he isn't privately.

None of the staff have had much to say in the local media since Clarke took over, even Hammond went very quiet.

Since McDermott came in I can't recall anyone but him doing the local media. Whether that's a club policy, a personal preference from McDermott or his staff or just me not paying any attention to it is hard to say really.

Likewise it's impossible to really know how good a job the coaching staff are doing. Yes results have been poor and we don't look particularly well organised but is that down to tactics, selections or the day to day sessions Reid or Davies put on? We have no way of knowing do we?

[MoorgateRoyal]

I think it is very difficult to gauge the impact of a coach working below a manager.

In the past we've had very successful duos like Pardew and Allen, Coppell and Dillon and McDermott and Gibbs, and by and large they were all coaches who seemed to be very popular with the players and had a real affinity with the club.

Now the coaches seem to be quieter and have less of a connection to the club, and we're not doing so well, so they get questioned more.

Reid seemed to be getting on with it and doing OK in his first coaching position, but it is very hard to tell.

[RoyalBlue]

To be honest, until I read about him possibly joining Celtic, I hadn't even realised that he was with us.

Not at all worried about him going and wouldn't care if the rest of the 'coaches' that were with us last season cleared off. Couldn't do any worse without them than we did in the second part of last season.

And why is this still in Rumours and Gossip?

[Millsy]

From the moment the man came our players looked so much better.

They defended as a unit, attacked better, passed better and were more composed which lead to our promotion form.

Absolutely gutted to see him go.

Not sure what we'll do now.

[Sutekh]

Now to watch Hayden Mullins get a promotion

I'd not realised he was even back at the club, it totally passed me by that one.

Gunnarsson coming back would be fantastic though.

Yes, for those that don't know, Hayden is basically looking after the development of the younger players that go out on loan.