Reading Football Club News: May 2020
On This Day
07 May 2020
By Hob Nob Anyone?
We are now at the point of the year when the season usually wraps up, but instead, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Reading are left with nine games left to play. With football set to resume in Germany in 9 days time and talk of the Premier League making plans to start up again, it remains unclear if the Championship will run to completion. Next season's fixtures are also likely to follow a different pattern as football adjusts to the pandemic. it is also unknown when fans will be able to return to the Madejski Stadium to watch their team. In some ways the Royals are lucky in that they were heading towards a certain midtable finish, so whatever the decisions made we will remain a Championship side - unless dramatic changes are made.
With no sport to watch, sports channels are filled with re-runs of historic fixtures and previous cup finals and league deciders. It seems like a good opportunity to have a quick look at games on this day when Reading ended their league seasons on time:
7 May 2017: Burton 2 Reading 4
Reading wrapped up the regular 2016/2017 season with a hugely enjoyable trip to Burton Albion and an equally excellent third place finish. The Royals were already guaranteed a play-off position in the Championship with plenty of games spare but found themselves well behind Newcastle and Brighton who took the automatic promotion places. The season had been a massive surprise and unexpected success under the management of Jaap Stam. Some found it difficult to believe that Reading had picked up 85 points without actually looking that good. Mendes, Obita, Kermorgant and Grabban scored the goals as Reading were clear 4-2 winners. It set us up well for the play-offs and a two leg victory over Fulham... before the epic failure at Wembley and the eventual 4-3 defeat on penalties to Huddersfield.
7 May 2016: Blackburn Rovers 3 Reading 1
The season before also ended on 7 May and was the opposite of the win at Burton. Reading slumped to a 17th place finish, despite starting the season as genuine promotion contenders. It was a dramatic turn around as the season just got worse as it went on. On the final day a 3-1 defeat at Blackburn summed it up. Kermorgant scored Reading's only goal after 31 minutes - but we were already two down at that stage and we went on to lose with little resistance. A season to be forgotten.
7 May 2011: Reading 2 Derby County 1
Rewind another five years and, like 2017, we again finished the season in a Championship play-off position. A 2-1 home victory over Derby County saw us finish in 5th place, after we had already confirmed a play-off finish the week before. And also like 2017 it would end in play-off final failure - this time at the hands of Swansea City who took their place in the top tier of English football. The win over Derby at the Madejski Stadium was a strange one as Brian McDermott put out a weakened team and rested players ahead of the play-off fixtures. Harte scored from the penalty spot and Robson-Kanu wrapped up the win in the second half. Shane Long received the fans' player of the season award but found himself sitting on the bench for the whole game as Reading eased to a win.
Top Performers for Reading FC - 2019-20
07 May 2020
By Hob Nob Anyone?
The 2019/20 season, currently on pause, has had its ups and downs for the Royals, but with a slow upward trend some players have started living up to their potential. With Reading recording huge losses of £40.6 million pounds in their most recent financial statement thanks to a over-sized wage bill, and with such uncertainty over-shadowing the game, we can only hope the current squad can continue the improvement next season.
First team manager, Mark Bowen has moulded a young bunch of players into a team with potential to challenge at the right end of the table next season, and has helped lay down a foundation for the seasons to come. He has taken the odd gamble with aged players like Charlie Adam to help integrate experience and a tactical know how amongst the youngsters.
Reading sit 14th, just 5 points off the top ten, and just 8 points off the play off positions in the in the EFL Championship table. The unpredictable nature of the Championship has always attracted betting markets for punters. New to football betting, and wish to try your hand at online casino gambling to build an appetite for real money gambling? Well, here are some online casino sites UK people can try their hand at.
Getting back to Reading FC, following are some of our most impressive performers so far this season:
John Swift
Having joined from Chelsea in the summer of 2016, Swift is a midfield player, with an eye for goal. He has been one of the brightest stars of the Championship this year and arguably Reading's player of the season. He has had a major say in how the team operates, and most of the attacks flow through him. John has been impressive all season, earning six HNA? man of the match awards. He also narrowly missed out after his performance against Fulham when he scored the opener that set us on the way to an away win. He has been a positive influence on all the squad players with his professionalism and work rate on the pitch. A team player by nature, he gets the opposition sweating with his passing and vision. Having already amassed over 100 appearances for the Royals, he's a massive asset for the club.
Matt Miazga
The US International has become a pivotal part of the team ever since his loan move from Chelsea in the 2018/19 season. A regular starter wherever he's played, Matt is known for his strength and reading of the game. Having been on loan for the last few seasons, Bowen would be looking to capitalise on Miazga's situation with Chelsea and offer him a permanent deal. He can supply ammunition up front as well, as at 6'4" he is a threat in the air, especially during corners. He has decent pace to match up to that imposing physique and is surely one of the manager's favourites in the squad.
Rafael Cabral Barbosa
The 29-year old goalkeeper has been an influential figure in Reading's backline, and has saved Reading on numerous occasions. His debut came in a memorable win against Wycombe in the EFL Cup when he produced some magical penalty saves to ensure progression in the next round. Standing at 6'1", he is an imposing figure during corners and free kicks and helps relieve pressure by punching out crosses. At 29 years of age he is still in his prime and will be vital for Reading's future.