Best Ever Managers

[Wimb]

We've had numerous 'best ever players' threads in the last year or so but I couldn't really remember any threads debating the merits of our great managers of the past. In doing so it's not just about what they achieved results wise, but the circumstances they found themselves in , who they signed and the style of football they played.

Obviously Sir Steve is going to be a big favourite given what happened between 2005-2007 but with hindsight, should the end of 2003/04, 2004/05, relegation in 2007/08 and failure to win promotion in 2008/09 be held against him?

Similarly while people have bitter memories of the exits of McGhee and Pardew, should we now look at their overall records with more respect? In the case of McGhee he took a midtable third tier side and helped build one of, if not the greatest footballing side in our history, signing players such as Shaka, Dariuz, Osborn, Quinn etc.

Likewise, Pardew took a team shambolic under Burns and flirting with relegation to the fourth tier, and within 3 years made them into a side that was leading a playoff semi-final against Wolves in tier 2 and looked promotion candidates until Forster got injured. He brought Harper, Shorey, Hahnemann, Little, Butler, Cureton to the club and was looking set for another play-off campaign until leaving for West Ham.

They were well before my time but how do managers like Branfoot, Mansell and Maurice Evans stack up?

You'd even have to give some credit to Jim and Mick, who steered the club to Wembley before keeping the team in the second tier with games to spare in both 95/96 & 96/97 and pulled off some memorable cup runs.

It's tough for me to decide between the main three I've mentioned because I genuinely believe that if it wasn't for Pardew then Coppell wouldn't have been able to reach 106 and beyond, but ultimately he's the one that got us there for the very first time so I'm giving it to Sir Steve, followed by Pards then McGhee.

[Royal Rother]

Doesn't mean it's a vote for Best Ever Manager particularly as that has to go to Coppell, but I enjoyed myself watching games under McGhee more than at any other time. I was gobsmacked at the style of football we played as it was such a contrast from much of what had come in the preceding years. Couldn't believe I was standing on the South Bank with goose pimples just applauding passing movements I had never expected to see down there. Great stuff and of course that was continued under Jim and Mick for a while.

[under the tin]

Totally agree, RR.
We played the best football I've ever seen from Reading when MM was manager.
The bloke obviously had some good contacts in the game.
Dariusz for free. Jimmy Quinn for 40 grand. ffs!

[dantheloyalroyal]

Obviously Sir Steve is going to be a big favourite given what happened between 2005-2007 but with hindsight, should the end of 2003/04, 2004/05, relegation in 2007/08 and failure to win promotion in 2008/09 be held against him?

No

[roadrunner]

Steve Coppell
Maurice Evans

Doesn't mean it's a vote for Best Ever Manager particularly as that has to go to Coppell, but I enjoyed myself watching games under McGhee more than at any other time. I was gobsmacked at the style of football we played as it was such a contrast from much of what had come in the preceding years. Couldn't believe I was standing on the South Bank with goose pimples just applauding passing movements I had never expected to see down there. Great stuff and of course that was continued under Jim and Mick for a while.

Agreed. Simon Osborn in particular in 94/95. Shame we missed him for a few months with that broken leg. He was possibly the best passer of the ball I've seen in Reading shirt to this day.

[Riseley]

The beautiful football of Mark McGhee and watching the almost suicidal attacking version practised by Jack Mansell were certainly joyfull times to be at the cathedral. MM shades it for me.

[Ian Royal]

Coppell, blatantly obvious. But honourable mentions to Pardew, McGhee and I'm sure a few others before my time. Dishonourable mentions to Burns, Bullivant and Rodgers who all did poor jobs and a big fat meh to Jim and Mick who were fairly mediocre. McDermott looking like falling short of being in Pardew / McGhee's class but well above Jim & Mick's quality.

[Wimb]

I do agree that Coppell is the winner, but looking back on his reign and with some distance between it, you begin to feel that perhaps his failures are starting to swallow up his success.

It's certainly possible to argue that had Pardew stayed we'd have made the Premier League and in large part it was Coppell's over faith in his players that cost us our top flight status and missing out on promotion the following season. Throw in a mediocre end to 03/04 and the capitulation in 04/05 and it's not looking as clear cut....

[Handsome Man]

I loved the teams put out by Pardew, especially the season that Caskey scored loads of goals. Even though we never got there, there was finally hope that the big time was just around the corner and the football we played was great.

[Ian Royal]

I do agree that Coppell is the winner, but looking back on his reign and with some distance between it, you begin to feel that perhaps his failures are starting to swallow up his success.

It's certainly possible to argue that had Pardew stayed we'd have made the Premier League and in large part it was Coppell's over faith in his players that cost us our top flight status and missing out on promotion the following season. Throw in a mediocre end to 03/04 and the capitulation in 04/05 and it's not looking as clear cut....

Coppell wasn't perfect and he made some quite substantial mistakes. But he still achieved more than anyone else has managed for us. Possibly if he'd taken us into back to back relegations he would have lost the crown... possibly.

[Wimb]

Do agree Ian, was more playing devils advocate then a serious argument against the guy.

That being said I don't hold him in quite as high a regard as I thought I might simply because he's started the slide back down to where we were before he arrived. On the other hand McGhee and Pardew left with the club still on the up.

[Jackson Corner]

Given the budget he had and the state of the club you can make a case for Ian Branfoot. Yes it was hoof ball but effective all the same. Two promotions one league title and our only Wembley triumph. Is as good as anyone?

[PEARCEY]

I agree with RR. I remember seeing us beat Derby 3-1 in the League Cup first Leg in or around Sept 1994. I couldn't belive how stylish the football was. It was of such a different standard to the fare I had watched at Elm Park in the past.

[loyalroyal4life]

SSC

[AthleticoSpizz]

Given the budget he had and the state of the club you can make a case for Ian Branfoot. Yes it was hoof ball but effective all the same. Two promotions one league title and our only Wembley triumph. Is as good as anyone?

Agreed, despite the slaggin' he got....and his daughter rightly so for our team badge.......I have only good memories of "Brian Infoots Blue and White Army" tenure

[leon]

Coppell, blatantly obvious. But honourable mentions to Pardew, McGhee and I'm sure a few others before my time. Dishonourable mentions to Burns, Bullivant and Rodgers who all did poor jobs and a big fat meh to Jim and Mick who were fairly mediocre. McDermott looking like falling short of being in Pardew / McGhee's class but well above Jim & Mick's quality.

A lot of this is wrong - McGhee was the manager that dragged RFC into the big time by making us play properly and actually making the fans start to believe we could be successful. Everything Pardew and Coppell achieved was started by McGhee - he made us believe we could be successful and also not settle for sh*t. I think he was the best Reading manager ever.

In hindsight Jim and Mick did a bloody good job - having the spine of the team sold from under them and little investment afterwards. Also they had no experience in management...to keep the team in the division was a major effort and any sneering about what they did is frankly out of order. And look what happened when they left...McDermott is in a similar position - or he will be next season, we'll see how he does.

[Ark Royal]

First fell in love with Jack Mansell's great 69/70 team, but for me Mark McGhee was the nexus for our eventual rise to the Prem with Coppell.

After years of complete dire shite, McGhee's teams played some of the best football I have ever seesn from a Reading team. There were glimpses early in 92/93 after a very shaky start - people were calling for McGhee's head after five games without a win - and personally I think I realised that the club was on the cusp of something great on a very, very wet night at Watford for a League Cup tie in September 92. A brilliant performance, the club persevered with McGhee and he delivered the title the following season.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Best football was under McGhee, folk were not calling for his head, however they did suggest that as he was a bit tubby and slow that he stopped playing himself.

SC achieved the top 3 finishes ever by RFC, however despite the results there were times when it was not as exciting as it should have been, personally the 33 unbeaten run go soooo boring towards the end, luckily Luton added the spark back.

[southbank1871]

It's a tough call between McGhee and Coppell IMO. Coppell has obviously been our most successful manager to date, but I agree with Leon regarding McGhee. I started supporting Reading in about 87 and always just accepted that we were complete dogshit and that most of the town had no interest in the football club. McGhee changed all of this and must shirley be responsible for a lot people in the l8 20s or early 30s supporting Reading and not a London club.

[Terminal Boardom]

For the quality of the football, having endured the tedium of Branfoot and Porterfield, the simple choice is Mark McGhee. For the most successful, then it is a no-brainer - SSC!

The worst? Terry Bullivant. he really had no clue. BR came at a bad time for him and the club whereas Tommy Burns was shouldered with unrealistic expectations having just moved into the Mad Stad.