MATCHWATCH : Burton Albion (h)

[Hound]

Glad people are coming round to my beau DannyK

He’s got something about him. Been a LOT better under LR imo. Just needs to be more consistent. But happy enough with him now, maybe not always as starter though

[Clyde1998]

Glad people are coming round to my beau DannyK

He's improved as he's adapted to the division. He still looks a bit raw; if he had a more consistent end product, he could well go on to be a player who could get a move to the Championship or similar standard leagues.

[Hound]

His pressing, tracking back and work rate were all excellent today. Definitely not something that’s always been the case

[Ark Royal]

Comfortable win. Incredibly tight division and only six points off the play-offs. None of the top eight won today.

[Brogue]

Yep if DK can work on his end product we potentially have a real player on our hands. 2 goals and 5 assists in 21 games for someone still adapting to the league is a good return.

[Sanguine]

30 points from 18 games since our awful start to the season, which is playoff form. Encouraging stuff.

That said - whilst I know Brogue is doing a 'thing' - we've beaten no-one higher than 7th place Stevenage this season, so playoffs looks a real push for us. Chance to better that record against Stockport (4th) on Sunday.

[windermereROYAL]

Yep if DK can work on his end product we potentially have a real player on our hands. 2 goals and 5 assists in 21 games for someone still adapting to the league is a good return.

3 goals*

[South Coast Royal]

A comfortable win in the end, especially after their shot hit the woodwork.

When I saw their line-up with supposedly 11 players unavailable and our ex-midfielder George Evans playing out of position at centre-back I , for once, was optimistic (never usually am about Reading's chances and usually pessimistic).

Obviously Danny K was again our liveliest player and good to see him get another goal.

Watched the game on Sky where the commentator ,without the need of a so-called expert pundit alongside, was fine and knew enough about both teams.

I am not sure what the final stats were but we gave away quite a lot of fouls and perhaps we have hardened up (or just become dirtier) under Richardson-Fraser does seem inclined to kick the opposition quite a lot as he also did in the previous game and maybe this is the new Reading way having always over the years been one of the cleanest of teams around and possibly just a bit too nice.

So we are now around the mid point of the season-what now?
Optimists will be talking of top 6 and possibly promotion and pessimists will be looking for a few more wins to keep clear of relegation worries.

Even if we get a few in during the transfer window (is this to be the extraordinary one that Couhig promised?) I don't see us finishing much better than mid-table.
That would be fine IMHO with next season or the following one being when we might hope for something better.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

30 points from 18 games since our awful start to the season, which is playoff form. Encouraging stuff.

That said - whilst I know Brogue is doing a 'thing' - we've beaten no-one higher than 7th place Stevenage this season, so playoffs looks a real push for us. Chance to better that record against Stockport (4th) on Sunday.

Fair comment but of the top 6 we've only played Huddersfield at home.

Although on paper an easier recent run table position wise, we've just played Luton, Peterborough & Plymouth all just about top of the current form table at the time.

[Hound]

Tbf we also beat Stevenage when a win would have put them top

And they’re 1 point behind 5th with two games in hand now

So not strictly Top 6 but may as well be

[Mr Optimist]

I talk to a Bolton fan locally and they are now in their fifth season in League One and he, and most of Bolton supporters, have reached desperation stages to get out of this league and back to the Championship. They’ve been through similar to us and do look a year or two ahead of our own recovery journey and finally look capable of escape.

As I think South Coast Royal alluded to, it might take us another couple of seasons of building to be realistic contenders for autos or at least a play-off lottery ticket. Im comfortable enough with that so long as you can see progress and the football is enjoyable enough to watch, that will be key generally to keeping people turning up and for others to start returning.

[Snowflake Royal]

I talk to a Bolton fan locally and they are now in their fifth season in League One and he, and most of Bolton supporters, have reached desperation stages to get out of this league and back to the Championship. They’ve been through similar to us and do look a year or two ahead of our own recovery journey and finally look capable of escape.

As I think South Coast Royal alluded to, it might take us another couple of seasons of building to be realistic contenders for autos or at least a play-off lottery ticket. Im comfortable enough with that so long as you can see progress and the football is enjoyable enough to watch, that will be key generally to keeping people turning up and for others to start returning.

You look at all the similar clubs who've been here, it generally takes 1 to 7 years.

We'll get there.

[MR. CYNICAL]

I talk to a Bolton fan locally and they are now in their fifth season in League One and he, and most of Bolton supporters, have reached desperation stages to get out of this league and back to the Championship. They’ve been through similar to us and do look a year or two ahead of our own recovery journey and finally look capable of escape.

As I think South Coast Royal alluded to, it might take us another couple of seasons of building to be realistic contenders for autos or at least a play-off lottery ticket. Im comfortable enough with that so long as you can see progress and the football is enjoyable enough to watch, that will be key generally to keeping people turning up and for others to start returning.

You look at all the similar clubs who've been here, it generally takes 1 to 7 years.

We'll get there.

Seems to be the longer it takes, the harder it gets unless someone comes in and throws some money at it, also depends on ambition, obviously your budget and standard of recruitment.
Easiest way back is an instant return, but you need to retain most of your squad and maybe add to it as Birmingham did last season.
Think the last 2 times we came down to this league, it took 3-4 years to get back up.

[Sutekh]

I talk to a Bolton fan locally and they are now in their fifth season in League One and he, and most of Bolton supporters, have reached desperation stages to get out of this league and back to the Championship. They’ve been through similar to us and do look a year or two ahead of our own recovery journey and finally look capable of escape.

As I think South Coast Royal alluded to, it might take us another couple of seasons of building to be realistic contenders for autos or at least a play-off lottery ticket. Im comfortable enough with that so long as you can see progress and the football is enjoyable enough to watch, that will be key generally to keeping people turning up and for others to start returning.

You look at all the similar clubs who've been here, it generally takes 1 to 7 years.

We'll get there.

Seems to be the longer it takes, the harder it gets unless someone comes in and throws some money at it, also depends on ambition, obviously your budget and standard of recruitment.
Easiest way back is an instant return, but you need to retain most of your squad and maybe add to it as Birmingham did last season.
Think the last 2 times we came down to this league, it took 3-4 years to get back up.

After the first return to this level it only took 55 years to get back to the 2nd tier

The second return to this level took 6 years to sort out

While the third return took 4 years.

[Snowflake Royal]

You look at all the similar clubs who've been here, it generally takes 1 to 7 years.

We'll get there.

Seems to be the longer it takes, the harder it gets unless someone comes in and throws some money at it, also depends on ambition, obviously your budget and standard of recruitment.
Easiest way back is an instant return, but you need to retain most of your squad and maybe add to it as Birmingham did last season.
Think the last 2 times we came down to this league, it took 3-4 years to get back up.

After the first return to this level it only took 55 years to get back to the 2nd tier

The second return to this level took 6 years to sort out

While the third return took 4 years.

Woo if the pattern holds we're going up last season!

[Hound]

Bolton seem to have threatened for a few years now without making the jump to automatic levels

It is tough - but then I suppose Charlton and Oxford were absolutely nothing special last few years at all and managed to get up. And then you look at our form after the horrific start and its play off form without ever really looking remotely good

[WestYorksRoyal]

Last time at this level, we had a really "meh" first season, followed by a dreadful start to the second which resulted in Pardew replacing Burns and an improvement. Then we were strong 3rd season and just missed out, but didn't sell anyone and strengthened again so we were formidable in the final season (except that bizarre run of draws at the end).

We're in our third season now and it doesn't bare much resemblance to last time being honest. There has been too much chaos. This feels most like the rebuild season akin to Pardew's first, but we're not as deep in the mire as we were then. I can see a route to us sneaking into the play-offs this year, but I can also see us being a very good team at this level next season if we stay in this league which would be enjoyable too.

Key thing is being perceived by potential players and current players that they can realise their ambitions with you. Clearly Knibbs and Mbengue didn't think that; what will Savage think in the summer? Once players view you as a middling L1 team, it's hard to recruit and retain the talent. And obviously that risk increases the longer you stay in this league.

[Ascotexgunner]

Last time at this level, we had a really "meh" first season, followed by a dreadful start to the second which resulted in Pardew replacing Burns and an improvement. Then we were strong 3rd season and just missed out, but didn't sell anyone and strengthened again so we were formidable in the final season (except that bizarre run of draws at the end).

We're in our third season now and it doesn't bare much resemblance to last time being honest. There has been too much chaos. This feels most like the rebuild season akin to Pardew's first, but we're not as deep in the mire as we were then. I can see a route to us sneaking into the play-offs this year, but I can also see us being a very good team at this level next season if we stay in this league which would be enjoyable too.

Key thing is being perceived by potential players and current players that they can realise their ambitions with you. Clearly Knibbs and Mbengue didn't think that; what will Savage think in the summer? Once players view you as a middling L1 team, it's hard to recruit and retain the talent. And obviously that risk increases the longer you stay in this league.

Absolutely right. You can talk about building all you like but in that rebuild you will have talent come through and you'll lose it to the Championship and then you start again. Mbengue, Bindon, Smith and Knibbs got us to 7th with poor management. If we added to that squad and kept those players we would be way up there now.....as it is we have to start again but if Marriott keeps this up, and people already talking about Savage leaving, and if rumours are true, Pereira is being looked at in this transfer window, we lose the talent....it brings in income, but big deal you have to start again looking for replacements equal to them. You can see how teams get stuck in this league for years.

[Snowflake Royal]

Last time at this level, we had a really "meh" first season, followed by a dreadful start to the second which resulted in Pardew replacing Burns and an improvement. Then we were strong 3rd season and just missed out, but didn't sell anyone and strengthened again so we were formidable in the final season (except that bizarre run of draws at the end).

We're in our third season now and it doesn't bare much resemblance to last time being honest. There has been too much chaos. This feels most like the rebuild season akin to Pardew's first, but we're not as deep in the mire as we were then. I can see a route to us sneaking into the play-offs this year, but I can also see us being a very good team at this level next season if we stay in this league which would be enjoyable too.

Key thing is being perceived by potential players and current players that they can realise their ambitions with you. Clearly Knibbs and Mbengue didn't think that; what will Savage think in the summer? Once players view you as a middling L1 team, it's hard to recruit and retain the talent. And obviously that risk increases the longer you stay in this league.

While I love Savage, and he's a big player we want to go up with, we can survive selling him in the summer with Rino and Fraser on the books. Comfortably.

[Crowbar6753]

Last time at this level, we had a really "meh" first season, followed by a dreadful start to the second which resulted in Pardew replacing Burns and an improvement. Then we were strong 3rd season and just missed out, but didn't sell anyone and strengthened again so we were formidable in the final season (except that bizarre run of draws at the end).

We're in our third season now and it doesn't bare much resemblance to last time being honest. There has been too much chaos. This feels most like the rebuild season akin to Pardew's first, but we're not as deep in the mire as we were then. I can see a route to us sneaking into the play-offs this year, but I can also see us being a very good team at this level next season if we stay in this league which would be enjoyable too.

Key thing is being perceived by potential players and current players that they can realise their ambitions with you. Clearly Knibbs and Mbengue didn't think that; what will Savage think in the summer? Once players view you as a middling L1 team, it's hard to recruit and retain the talent. And obviously that risk increases the longer you stay in this league.

While I love Savage, and he's a big player we want to go up with, we can survive selling him in the summer with Rino and Fraser on the books. Comfortably.

I conquer, Wing had his best game of the season against Burton and i wonder if that's down to having Fraser by his side who is a natural DCM? I like Savage but i think the balance is better with either Fraser or Rhino alongside Wing. Maybe Savage could do the CAM position as lets face it Doyle is only here on loan whereas Savage is ours. Savage is a machine and has a wicked shot so there is potential for him to cause havoc in an elevated position.
The Downside with letting Savage go is a huge sell-on for Man.U which is 50% i believe? Maybe one of the ITK's can clarify this?