CONFIMRED - Paul Ince sacked

[Lower West]

Nice deflection by Dai. Why now? Thrown under a bus. The puppet master is rapidly running out of strings to pull. Wonder if Ince spoke his mind to the invisible owner. Caused a bust up. Feel sorry for Paul Ince. Under intolerable levels of pressure. Honest decent guy. Wish him well.

Five games under a novice manager. Not the way to fight relegation.

PS, Where's the CEO? Is Bowen the only one left able to speak.

Whilst I do have sympathy for Ince, 2023 has been pretty horrific to date and whilst it is a club fcuk up to be where we are, the form gave no confidence that we already had enough points or any view of how we could move forward effectively.

It was increasingly clear that Ince was not going to be here next year regardless of success in keeping us up, so replacing him now does improve the chances we do - it certainly changes the narrative around the club - and gives Bowen & co the chance to find the right person to take the side forward in whichever division as we rebuild outside restrictions.

Restrictions will remain. As the revenue continues to decline. Lower league football is so obviously in crisis. The clubs that pull through and rise to the top. Will be those that are built on financially sustainable models. Core to the community. Hold values. Not just billionaires playthings. Promotion and relegation is a reflection of the cycle of life. Teams will always rise and ultimately fall. As groups of players come and go. There's no automatic right to be the best.

[Sanguine]

Apart from Stam, it's a decade since we found a boss who could sustain a 40% win rate. Ince, Paunovic, Bowen (probably the best of the bunch), Gomes, Clement. At some point the tough questions need to be asked of those who make these appointments, not the poor saps charged with trying to win games at a shambolically run club.

Nothing against Ince at all. Operated in awful conditions. But likewise Paunovic. In fact they end with similar overall records. At least we were fun to watch, generally, under Pauno.

Separately Jose Gomes must talk a good game - he's been employed three times by Al Taawoun in Saudi Arabia, despite some awful results, and is now in his second spell at Maritimo, which is going as badly as his first one. He did do okay at Almeria, but managed to get sacked when third in Segunda Division.

[Royal_jimmy]

I would have more sympathy for Ince if he wasn't so arrogant and not take blame for results as much as the players

[Sutekh]

Apart from Stam, it's a decade since we found a boss who could sustain a 40% win rate. Ince, Paunovic, Bowen (probably the best of the bunch), Gomes, Clement. At some point the tough questions need to be asked of those who make these appointments, not the poor saps charged with trying to win games at a shambolically run club.

Nothing against Ince at all. Operated in awful conditions. But likewise Paunovic. In fact they end with similar overall records. At least we were fun to watch, generally, under Pauno.

Separately Jose Gomes must talk a good game - he's been employed three times by Al Taawoun in Saudi Arabia, despite some awful results, and is now in his second spell at Maritimo, which is going as badly as his first one. He did do okay at Almeria, but managed to get sacked when third in Segunda Division.

Under Pauno the defence, what there was of it, was just suicidal esp. at corners where everyone seemed to come back to the six yard box and not only just invite the oppo. to line up shots but also get in the way of the goalkeeper and give zero outlet to be able to clear the ball.

[Sutekh]

The board will work diligently to identify the manager who is the best fit for this football club going forward - a candidate capable of driving it towards a healthier, brighter future.

“However, for the next five games, our only focus is on doing everything we can to survive this season. Put simply, that means everyone – from myself, to the staff, to the supporters - lending all their support to Noel, Eddie, James and the first team players as we go into five crucially important games at the end of our 2022-23 campaign.

[Sanguine]

Apart from Stam, it's a decade since we found a boss who could sustain a 40% win rate. Ince, Paunovic, Bowen (probably the best of the bunch), Gomes, Clement. At some point the tough questions need to be asked of those who make these appointments, not the poor saps charged with trying to win games at a shambolically run club.

Nothing against Ince at all. Operated in awful conditions. But likewise Paunovic. In fact they end with similar overall records. At least we were fun to watch, generally, under Pauno.

Separately Jose Gomes must talk a good game - he's been employed three times by Al Taawoun in Saudi Arabia, despite some awful results, and is now in his second spell at Maritimo, which is going as badly as his first one. He did do okay at Almeria, but managed to get sacked when third in Segunda Division.

Under Pauno the defence, what there was of it, was just suicidal esp. at corners where everyone seemed to come back to the six yard box and not only just invite the oppo. to line up shots but also get in the way of the goalkeeper and give zero outlet to be able to clear the ball.

Yep. What was odd was how the defence completely fell away in Pauno's second season. We managed 16 clean sheets in his first 35 league games in charge, which as things go is pretty outstanding in the Championship. Then we managed 1 in the next 20 games, and only 3 in the 41 league games before which he was sacked. Bizarre. You could argue that that is the fault of his style, but that style wouldn't normally take two-thirds of a season to impact on performances.

[Ascotexgunner]

Huzzah.

Big thanks to Paul for turning around the slump under Paunovic and getting us off to a good start. Plus his work on the behind the scenes changes.

But he really was doing a dreadful job with the team by the end.

He's not a manager, but I think he could do a good job as a crisis consultant to struggling teams.

Yeah by telling the players they are crap and not good enough, and then joking and laughing when they have hit rock bottom.
Thrilled he has gone but it's too late...unless Ince has been holding back this side really badly.
The red flags were there last season. Tommy Mac bailed him out twice. 4 wins in the last 15. He shouldn't have been in charge after last summer.

[tmesis]

Apart from Stam, it's a decade since we found a boss who could sustain a 40% win rate. Ince, Paunovic, Bowen (probably the best of the bunch), Gomes, Clement. At some point the tough questions need to be asked of those who make these appointments, not the poor saps charged with trying to win games at a shambolically run club.

Nothing against Ince at all. Operated in awful conditions. But likewise Paunovic. In fact they end with similar overall records. At least we were fun to watch, generally, under Pauno.

Separately Jose Gomes must talk a good game - he's been employed three times by Al Taawoun in Saudi Arabia, despite some awful results, and is now in his second spell at Maritimo, which is going as badly as his first one. He did do okay at Almeria, but managed to get sacked when third in Segunda Division.

Under Pauno the defence, what there was of it, was just suicidal esp. at corners where everyone seemed to come back to the six yard box and not only just invite the oppo. to line up shots but also get in the way of the goalkeeper and give zero outlet to be able to clear the ball.

Yep. What was odd was how the defence completely fell away in Pauno's second season. We managed 16 clean sheets in his first 35 league games in charge, which as things go is pretty outstanding in the Championship. Then we managed 1 in the next 20 games, and only 3 in the 41 league games before which he was sacked. Bizarre. You could argue that that is the fault of his style, but that style wouldn't normally take two-thirds of a season to impact on performances.

Other than Stam, results seem to have fallen away after about 6 months for every manager we've had in charge in the last decade.

[SCIAG]

Apart from Stam, it's a decade since we found a boss who could sustain a 40% win rate. Ince, Paunovic, Bowen (probably the best of the bunch), Gomes, Clement. At some point the tough questions need to be asked of those who make these appointments, not the poor saps charged with trying to win games at a shambolically run club.

Nothing against Ince at all. Operated in awful conditions. But likewise Paunovic. In fact they end with similar overall records. At least we were fun to watch, generally, under Pauno.

Separately Jose Gomes must talk a good game - he's been employed three times by Al Taawoun in Saudi Arabia, despite some awful results, and is now in his second spell at Maritimo, which is going as badly as his first one. He did do okay at Almeria, but managed to get sacked when third in Segunda Division.

Under Pauno the defence, what there was of it, was just suicidal esp. at corners where everyone seemed to come back to the six yard box and not only just invite the oppo. to line up shots but also get in the way of the goalkeeper and give zero outlet to be able to clear the ball.

Yep. What was odd was how the defence completely fell away in Pauno's second season. We managed 16 clean sheets in his first 35 league games in charge, which as things go is pretty outstanding in the Championship. Then we managed 1 in the next 20 games, and only 3 in the 41 league games before which he was sacked. Bizarre. You could argue that that is the fault of his style, but that style wouldn't normally take two-thirds of a season to impact on performances.

Not all that odd when you remember the injury crisis.

We lost Richards and replaced him with Rahman - major downgrade. We had to go through loads of different centre back pairings, including Laurent and Yiadom with Tetek at right back. And the disruption affected the midfield as well. Instead of Laurent and Rinomhota being virtually ever-present, we had to cycle between a variety of different players in midfield.

Paunovic’s first season was largely based on solid chemistry and a good understanding between the players. Once we had to start improvising it all fell apart.

[The Prisoner]

We have now sacked our manager immediately after playing Preston away twice in two seasons. Assuming a once per season sacking for ineptitude the odds of that are 2116/1.

Right decision. Feel for him as he was dealt impossible cards this season, but at least make a fist of it.

[Millsy]

As has been mentioned by several others already, our managerial appointments in the last few years have all been dreadful.

Yes I know Brian and Parj were nobodies who worked out ok but Madejski is a different beast, with an eye for talent and he worked with both of these before. The last bunch of eyebrow raising nobody appointments have been generally as ridiculously bad as we feared they would be.

At the same time we've pumped more money into players than any other time in our history, to the point of actually breaking the rules.

To invest and risk so much in players yet not bother to attract a proven talent as a manager that can actually do something with them is absolutely bloody ridiculous and is the one thing that makes me angry.

A good manager can work wonders out of promising players and make Doyles, Longs and Kitsons out of unheard of players . A nobody manager will cock up with even the best.

Please please please Dai invest money where it's actually useful. You had the chance to bring in Warnock and didn't even talk to him. Instead we got a players dad who used to manage several years ago. Please for the love of God actually appoint a manager that at least sizeable proportion of Reading fans agree with, rather than baffling everyone every single time with a nobody.

[Snowflake Royal]

As has been mentioned by several others already, our managerial appointments in the last few years have all been dreadful.

Yes I know Brian and Parj were nobodies who worked out ok but Madejski is a different beast, with an eye for talent and he worked with both of these before. The last bunch of eyebrow raising nobody appointments have been generally as ridiculously bad as we feared they would be.

At the same time we've pumped more money into players than any other time in our history, to the point of actually breaking the rules.

To invest and risk so much in players yet not bother to attract a proven talent as a manager that can actually do something with them is absolutely bloody ridiculous and is the one thing that makes me angry.

A good manager can work wonders out of promising players and make Doyles, Longs and Kitsons out of unheard of players . A nobody manager will cock up with even the best.

Please please please Dai invest money where it's actually useful. You had the chance to bring in Warnock and didn't even talk to him. Instead we got a players dad who used to manage several years ago. Please for the love of God actually appoint a manager that at least sizeable proportion of Reading fans agree with, rather than baffling everyone every single time with a nobody.

To challenge that, Madejski spent most of his time out of the country around the times Pardew was at the club before being appointed.

[karbota]

As has been mentioned by several others already, our managerial appointments in the last few years have all been dreadful.

Yes I know Brian and Parj were nobodies who worked out ok but Madejski is a different beast, with an eye for talent and he worked with both of these before. The last bunch of eyebrow raising nobody appointments have been generally as ridiculously bad as we feared they would be.

At the same time we've pumped more money into players than any other time in our history, to the point of actually breaking the rules.

To invest and risk so much in players yet not bother to attract a proven talent as a manager that can actually do something with them is absolutely bloody ridiculous and is the one thing that makes me angry.

A good manager can work wonders out of promising players and make Doyles, Longs and Kitsons out of unheard of players . A nobody manager will cock up with even the best.

Please please please Dai invest money where it's actually useful. You had the chance to bring in Warnock and didn't even talk to him. Instead we got a players dad who used to manage several years ago. Please for the love of God actually appoint a manager that at least sizeable proportion of Reading fans agree with, rather than baffling everyone every single time with a nobody.

Good start to appoint a homegrown as interim, but the successor also has to be British and preferably English, Phil Parkinsons would be the real fan's choice.

[PATRIQT]

As has been mentioned by several others already, our managerial appointments in the last few years have all been dreadful.

Yes I know Brian and Parj were nobodies who worked out ok but Madejski is a different beast, with an eye for talent and he worked with both of these before. The last bunch of eyebrow raising nobody appointments have been generally as ridiculously bad as we feared they would be.

At the same time we've pumped more money into players than any other time in our history, to the point of actually breaking the rules.

To invest and risk so much in players yet not bother to attract a proven talent as a manager that can actually do something with them is absolutely bloody ridiculous and is the one thing that makes me angry.

A good manager can work wonders out of promising players and make Doyles, Longs and Kitsons out of unheard of players . A nobody manager will cock up with even the best.

Please please please Dai invest money where it's actually useful. You had the chance to bring in Warnock and didn't even talk to him. Instead we got a players dad who used to manage several years ago. Please for the love of God actually appoint a manager that at least sizeable proportion of Reading fans agree with, rather than baffling everyone every single time with a nobody.

Good start to appoint a homegrown as interim, but the successor also has to be British and preferably English, Phil Parkinsons would be the real fan's choice.

Would he fcuk

[Royal_jimmy]

As has been mentioned by several others already, our managerial appointments in the last few years have all been dreadful.

Yes I know Brian and Parj were nobodies who worked out ok but Madejski is a different beast, with an eye for talent and he worked with both of these before. The last bunch of eyebrow raising nobody appointments have been generally as ridiculously bad as we feared they would be.

At the same time we've pumped more money into players than any other time in our history, to the point of actually breaking the rules.

To invest and risk so much in players yet not bother to attract a proven talent as a manager that can actually do something with them is absolutely bloody ridiculous and is the one thing that makes me angry.

A good manager can work wonders out of promising players and make Doyles, Longs and Kitsons out of unheard of players . A nobody manager will cock up with even the best.

Please please please Dai invest money where it's actually useful. You had the chance to bring in Warnock and didn't even talk to him. Instead we got a players dad who used to manage several years ago. Please for the love of God actually appoint a manager that at least sizeable proportion of Reading fans agree with, rather than baffling everyone every single time with a nobody.

Good start to appoint a homegrown as interim, but the successor also has to be British and preferably English, Phil Parkinsons would be the real fan's choice.

No thanks

[NathStPaul]

Please ignore him. He ruins what is a good debate.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Apart from Stam, it's a decade since we found a boss who could sustain a 40% win rate. Ince, Paunovic, Bowen (probably the best of the bunch), Gomes, Clement. At some point the tough questions need to be asked of those who make these appointments, not the poor saps charged with trying to win games at a shambolically run club.

Nothing against Ince at all. Operated in awful conditions. But likewise Paunovic. In fact they end with similar overall records. At least we were fun to watch, generally, under Pauno.

Separately Jose Gomes must talk a good game - he's been employed three times by Al Taawoun in Saudi Arabia, despite some awful results, and is now in his second spell at Maritimo, which is going as badly as his first one. He did do okay at Almeria, but managed to get sacked when third in Segunda Division.

Most were introduced by Kia including I believe Ince

[Millsy]

Would he fcuk

Quote the Nazi troll again displaying his shit to me and you'll be joining him on the blocklist. Add him as foe yourself and you'll be free of it yourself. Really triggers him too.

[Sutekh]

As has been mentioned by several others already, our managerial appointments in the last few years have all been dreadful.

Yes I know Brian and Parj were nobodies who worked out ok but Madejski is a different beast, with an eye for talent and he worked with both of these before. The last bunch of eyebrow raising nobody appointments have been generally as ridiculously bad as we feared they would be.

At the same time we've pumped more money into players than any other time in our history, to the point of actually breaking the rules.

To invest and risk so much in players yet not bother to attract a proven talent as a manager that can actually do something with them is absolutely bloody ridiculous and is the one thing that makes me angry.

A good manager can work wonders out of promising players and make Doyles, Longs and Kitsons out of unheard of players . A nobody manager will cock up with even the best.

Please please please Dai invest money where it's actually useful. You had the chance to bring in Warnock and didn't even talk to him. Instead we got a players dad who used to manage several years ago. Please for the love of God actually appoint a manager that at least sizeable proportion of Reading fans agree with, rather than baffling everyone every single time with a nobody.

Good start to appoint a homegrown as interim, but the successor also has to be British and preferably English, Phil Parkinsons would be the real fan's choice.

[Schards#2]

I have every sympathy with Ince, for both his seasons the remit was to stay up. He achieved it last season and would have achieved this season without the points deduction. To that extent, he did his job.

I don't doubt we all want to see flowing attacking football but the reality is we do not have the squad capable of that and so played a style that would scrabble together the necessary points to survive. I wish Noel Hunt every luck and hope that we get that new manager bounce but I would be very surprised. The only consolation is my £20 Judas bet at 66/1 to be relegated, at least that pays for next season's ticket