Josh at Vital Reading has answered some fan questions
Reading visit the Reebok on Saturday for the first home game of the new Championship season. Josh at Vital Reading has answered some questions about the fans hopes and expectations for the newly-relegated team.
1. What are your expectations for the upcoming season?
For the first time in a number of years, there seems to be some pressure on us to excel in the division. I am confident ahead of the upcoming season and I am rarely this confident, so I would expect us to finish top six at least. Adkins has a great CV in getting teams promoted and we have kept the majority of our squad together, plus adding notable quality in Wayne Bridge and Royston Drenthe.
2. Who are the key players to look out for?
It has to be Drenthe really, its rare you have a former Real Madrid player coming to the second tier of English football. He showed glimpses of what he is capable of against Ipswich. Adkins has said he still isn`t 100% fit, so I`m sure he is going improve game-by-game. Le Fondre predatory instinct is also a massive bonus for us too.
3. Are you confident Nigel Adkins can get Reading promotion?
As I mentioned, Adkins has a great record in the Football League, backed up by his consecutive promotions with Southampton. He wanted to change our philosophy completely, playing a short-passing game, rather than a direct style, which the squad have been used to over the past four years. I don’t think he has implemented it fully yet, but last week proved we are getting there.
4. What are you still expecting from Reading in the transfer market?
We have been linked with Gary Hooper, Billy Sharp and Jacob Mulenga, which probably reflects what we are looking for – a striker. We may have Adam Le Fondre and Pavel Pogrebnyak on the books, but they are our only fit strikers at moment, with Jason Roberts out injured. I would expect us to bring in at least one striker before the deadline, possibly two.
5. If you could take any Bolton player, who would it be?
Certainly not Matt Mills! If he didn`t have his injury problems , it would be Stuart Holden, but it will have to be Mark Davies. Whenever I have seen him play, he is a smart, creative spark in centre midfield, something which we have been lacking at Reading for a while.
6. What starting XI do you expect to see this Saturday?
I would imagine near enough the same as the Ipswich win, possibly with Jobi McAnuff coming back in:
McCarthy, Gunter, Pearce, Morrison, Bridge, Karacan, Guthrie, McCleary, Drenthe, McAnuff, Le Fondre
7. What is your prediction for the game?
I`d happily take a draw, the Reebok will be a tough place to go for every team this season. Our style of play suits us playing away, but I feel it will be a hard fought 0-0 draw.