Money, Money …. Money?

Many people are getting excited about the new Premier League TV deal, announced yesterday, and what it means to clubs like Reading. Local media have been sensationalising this as much as possible, using words like “TV windfall” – so let’s have a brief look at what this actually does mean for a club like Reading.

Getting the old gang back together again….?

Every summer transfer speculation is always rife, and even more so following a promotion. And as clubs publish their lists of released players and former Royals become available, there’s discussion about which former Royals would be worth bringing back for this second spell in the Premier League.

So, just for fun, here are some thoughts on just which of the former Royals from the record-breaking 2005/06 team and the subsequent Premier League seasons we should consider re-signing.  For simplicity, I’ve only considered players who made a significant contribution or played in a reasonable number of matches, and as this my opinion piece I get to decide what a “significant contribution” or a “reasonable number of matches” actually means!

7 Reasons NOT To Look Forward To Reading FC Being Back In The Premier League

Well, in the interests of balance there always needs be someone who’s the party-pooper that points out that things aren’t quite as golden as everyone’s making out – and as it seems that’s the role I’m finding myself in more and more, here we go. After this afternoon’s seven reasons to look forward to Reading FC being back in the Premier League, here are seven reasons NOT to look forward to this.

But first, I must stress (just in case anyone takes this the wrong way!) that I’m as pleased as everyone else about the promotion yesterday – and hopefully also the Championship next week. What supporter doesn’t want to see their team play at the highest level? But as every silver lining has a cloud, maybe a small reality check is called for. Although, to be honest, most of these points only affect match-going supporters. If you support Reading via TV or radio then it’s more or less all win for you.

Police Intelligence? Now there’s an oxymoron!

For many Reading supporters returning from watching the team’s stunning win over Southampton to go top of the Championship , the evening was marred by what was waiting for them at Reading Station.

Because Thames Valley Police were there in massive force, in scenes more reminiscent of policing the miner’s strike in the 80s than policing of football fans returning to their home station after a great night out. Estimates of numbers vary, but everyone who was there agrees that the show of force was totally disproportionate to the level of threat. We’re talking about approximately 40 police officers, in riot gear, deployed with numerous dogs and acting extremely aggressively. This was demonstrably over the top. We are talking here about Reading supporters, after all –Reading supporters who had a grand total of 5 supporters arrested at all away matches in the whole of the 2010/11 season (according to official Home Office statistics ); and the same Reading supporters who are praised for their behaviour by police forces and stadium managers across the country – for instance the Police Commander at Anfield who came onto STAR’s coaches to thanks Reading supporters for their behaviour, saying that they were the best-behaved set of supporters to visit the stadium.

Due Diligence? Diligence Due!

I hate having to write this. I wish I could be like the vast majority of other Reading fans and rejoice in the signature of Jimmy Kebe on his contract extension, and sit back and speculate on all the players Reading are going to buy.

But sadly I can’t. I don’t know if I’m naturally suspicious, or if I’ve spent too much time with supporters of other clubs across the country, listening to the tales of their ownership changes, good and bad, but one thing strikes me.

Best Reading FC Moments of 2011 – Part 4 Play-off Pandemonium

Football League Championship, Play-Off semi-final second leg

The Scene – Cardiff City Stadium, Tuesday May 17th

Result : Cardiff City 0 – Reading 3

Part four of our greatest Reading FC moments of 2011 sees Jon Keen take a look back at a crucial play-off trip to Wales when The Royals delivered a vital performance just when it mattered, and secured a trip to Wembley.

This one’s a keeper – or is he?

A personal view on Reading’s goalkeeping situation.

My favourite Reading player has been getting rave reviews over recent weeks.  He’s played a major part in his team’s push towards the play-off positions, and every supporter speaks really highly of his abilities.  I only wish I could see him play for Reading – because, of course, I’m talking about Alex McCarthy, who’s just started his second loan period at Leeds United. 

Well and Truly EPPPed Off!

Amongst all the normal Premier League hype over the past week, there have been only a few mentions of the Elite Player Performance Plan (or EPPP as it is better known). But this is something that every supporter of a Football League club really ought to know all about, since this is something that could change the whole nature of the English game, and indeed threaten the existence of a good number of Football League clubs.

Mad Stad Legends – Graeme Murty

Part three of our Madejski Stadium era Reading FC legends series sees Jon Keen nominate Graeme Murty.

When Tommy Burns bought a virtually unknown winger from York City for the sum of £700,000 at the end of the 1997/98 season, no-one could have known just how far that player, Graeme Murty, and Reading FC would travel together and how he would truly become a Mad Stad Legend.

The Tilehurst End Round Table – The Current State Of Reading FC

September 7, 2011

With the transfer window over and the squad reasonably settled until at least January, a few of us here at The Tilehurst End had a round table chat looking back at the window, our start to the season and debating what it meant for the rest of the campaign.

Present were Wimbles, urz1871,  jw351, tommyrfc, Mark Lawrence and chartley1983

Join us after the jump for more and feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments section.

Looking Through The Window – How Did Reading FC Fare In The Transfer Window?

September 1, 2011

Ok so the title could use a bit of work, but the fact is that the 2011 summer transfer window has ‘slammed shut’ and we’re left with the players who will be expected to take the team forward at least over the next four months…. or are we?

Unlike our Premier League counterparts, Football League sides have the option to loan players on an ’emergency’ basis as well as sign players on youth loans throughout the next couple of months and as we saw last season with the addidtion of Mikele Leigertwood, one of those loans could be crucial to our season.

Still, below the jump I’ll be looking back at our summer activity and trying to figure out if we should be worried, or encouraged at the wheelings and dealings of our manager and director of football.

August 13 – Leicester City (A)

So who are we playing?: Leicester City at the Walkers… I mean King Power Stadium

Where did Leicester finish in the Championship last year? 10th

How are they shaping up after the summer?  Leicester have spent this summer reshaping their squad with a number of high profile and high cost acquisitions that have made them one of the favourites for the division. Neil Danns, Paul Konchesky, Kasper Schmeichal and of course our former Captain Matt Mills have been signed by Sven and they won their opening league and cup game to start this season.

Last time we played them? Jimmy Kebe was on top form as Reading won 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium last spring

Any former Royals? The man who led the Royals out at Wembley in May shocked many when he moved across the division in a deal worth up to £5.5 million pounds. Matt Mills will certainly get an interesting reception from Royals fans.

The A-word

There’s a word that seems to be cropping up more and more often these days : “Ambition.”   It seems that “lack of ambition” is the ultimate insult in football, and that’s a term that’s being constantly thrown at Reading FC over recent weeks.   So let’s take a closer look at “ambition” and what it means.

Going for a Song?

As the season starts, amongst the many things supporters wonder about or the forthcoming year, there’s the minor issue of what music the team will come out of the tunnel to.   This seems to vary from season to season and sometimes even within a season, and the fact that it seems to change so much is constant source of irritation to me – although I may, of course, be on my own here, so this is very much a personal view!

Reading FC Transfer Rumours – July 27th, 2011

Reading FC Transfer Rumours –  July 27, 2011

After weeks on inactivity the Royals have gone out and finally made a first team signing, securing the services of south African defender Bongani Khumalo on loan from Tottenham until at least January. Khumalo has also been joined on the training ground by former Royal Ibrahima Sonko who’s having a trial with a view to a permanent move.

Still, the window remains open for another month, so who else could be arriving, or leaving the Madejski Stadium? We’ll sum up the rumours below.

As always If you’ve got a story we’ve missed or want to offer your thoughts please drop them in the comments section or tweet us @thetilehurstend

Sonko is a Spareman! – A look at the possible return of a former Reading hero

July 23, 2011

Sonko is ‘Superman!’ ….. well for me, Sonko should be the ‘Spareman!’

The heroic return of one Ibrahima Sonko should be seen as a decision taken by the club out of necessity rather than nostalgia.

For all his bravado and cult-status, Reading fans should remember that the defender is now a shadow of the one we saw breaking all kinds of records during the 106 season.

Reading FC Transfer Rumours – July 19th, 2011

Reading FC Transfer Rumours –  July 19, 2011 

Around 40 days to go until the transfer window slams shut for 2011 and Reading are still to make a signing! still patience is a virtue and here’s some rumours to keep you going.

If you’ve got a story we’ve missed or want to offer your thoughts please drop them in the comments section or tweet us @thetilehurstend

Longing For More – July 6th, 2011

Longing For More – July 6th, 2011

Something sits rather unhealthily when Sky Sports News teased with the prospect that Reading values the half-season-wonder striker Shane Long at £10 million buckaroos. The leading men at Reading will fall over in sheer excitement and probably in a mental breakdown over astonishment caused if the Royals get an astounding eight-figure sum for a striker who was picked up for £30,000. The transfer market is frankly becoming rather ridiculous.

Reading FC Transfer Rumours – July 6th, 2011

Reading FC Transfer Rumours –  July 6, 2011

The transfer window has still yet to heat up for the Royals but that hasn’t stopped some rumours and murmours for circulating online. Below we’ll review the rumours from the past week or so.

If you’ve got a story we’ve missed or want to offer your thoughts please drop them in the comments section or tweet us @thetilehurstend

The Tilehurst End – End Of Season Round Table 2010/11 – Part 2

Thursday June 30th

It’s the last day of June today, with tomorrow the day when contracts end and those attatched to the 2010/11 season can get their release and the 2011/12 season gets underway. On that note, here’s a final few thoughts from our writers on the 2010/11 season focussing on the team as a whole.

You can check out Part 1 here