Reading finally overcoming second season syndrome?

Tom Oldfield

Ask people who they thought most deserved the 2007 Premier League Manager of the Year award and many would have chosen Reading boss Steve Coppell. Coppell took the newly promoted Royals to an eighth place finish, missing out on the UEFA Cup by a single point. More impressive, though, was the fact that the Reading squad was largely unchanged from the group that earned a spot in the Premiership in 2005/06.

Yet this season, it has been a very different story for Coppell and his players. Again, the Reading boss did not splash the cash during the summer but the Royals have struggled to reach last year’s dizzy heights. It is a classic case of second season syndrome.

So where has it all gone wrong? Well, much of Reading’s success in 2006/07 was based on two brilliant partnerships within the side. Firstly, at the heart of the back four, Ibrahima Sonko and Ivar Ingimarsson provided a perfect shield for goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann. But this term, Sonko has suffered with injury and his involvement in the African Cup of Nations meant more time out of the team. Ingimarsson has not looked the same player without Sonko and as a result the side have leaked a lot of goals.

Meanwhile, in the centre of midfield James Harper and Steve Sidwell were inspirational during the Royals’ surge to eighth place. But Sidwell moved to Chelsea in the summer after on-off contract discussions at Reading and left a huge hole in the starting line-up. While Harper has maintained his own superb form – he is one of the most tireless runners in the Premiership – the team has been less assured since Sidwell’s departure.

These have been the two areas in which the squad has been weakened but there have been other problems too. The lack of goals has been a particular concern. Leroy Lita, now on loan at Charlton, has appeared out of sorts this season and Coppell has run out of patience with the striker. Kevin Doyle and Dave Kitson have played well but Doyle, in particular, has found it tough to emulate last season’s form. Defenders seemed to have become wise to the Irishman’s strengths.  

 

However, nobody can doubt the spirit within the Reading camp. The team may have found themselves in trouble near the foot of the table – faltering to eight consecutive defeats – but the players have shown the resolve to pull away from the relegation zone.

 

A crucial win away to Middlesbrough at the start of March – courtesy of a Harper strike – gave the club a massive boost. Another victory a week later at home to slumping Manchester City gave the table a very different look as the Royals leapt out of danger.

A narrow loss at Anfield was followed by a home victory over Birmingham with Andre Bikey, the centre-back who has done his best to fill in for Sonko, grabbing both goals. Fans began to talk about the club being safe from the drop and minds seemed to fast-forward to next season.

This is always dangerous and suddenly Reading faltered again. A 0-0 draw at home to Blackburn was an acceptable result, considering Marek Matejovsky’s red card in the second half. But a 3-0 defeat against Newcastle at St. James’ Park was poor and saw the players return to their early season form.

Fortunately for Coppell’s men, the sides below them have shown no signs of capitalising. Derby’s fate was confirmed recently while Fulham and Bolton both look doomed. Reading have breathing space above the relegation zone but a couple more wins would totally settle the nerves.

Having come so far in the past few years, this has been a testing campaign for all those at the club. Coppell, to his credit, remained calm even through the tough times. His reputation as one of the league’s finest managers has been strengthened and praise must also go to chairman John Madejski, who refused to panic when the club sat in the bottom three. Others might have acted rashly in the circumstances and sacked the manager. Madejski’s faith in Coppell has helped Reading inch away from trouble.

It promises to be an interesting summer as Coppell will know that the squad needs improvements in several key areas. The strain of this season will have taken its toll on the manager and his squad. Reading seem to have survived the ill-effects of the second season syndrome but they must strengthen if they are to consolidate their top flight status.

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