McDermot on the BBC website, couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke could it? Sparky will be next I reckon (if he's still there tonight). Seems NA has managed to avoid this so far and perhaps indicates how close he is with NC on the way forward.
Helps Nigel that he has the backing of the fans as well as time bought by his success for us. The double whammy for Hughes is lack of the fans support and their willingness to accept the always available Redknapp. Interesting if the Chelsea manager is the first to go though!
This is almost definitely a stupid question, but why is a "Vote of confidence" a bad thing? Surely a board saying they have confidence in you is far preferable to the alternative of them saying they don't?
I agree mate. I think it's a bit of a myth that the boards backing is usually followed by the managers sacking.
I could be completely wrong, but my impression (or maybe rather, assumption) is that the Reading fans, and quite possibly the Reading board too, have gone into this season with zero expectations. Yes we were in L1 two years ago, but we were also top of the Championship one year ago. Reading were mid-table in the Championship less than a year ago. I would say that Premiership football has come to them more out of the blue than it has to us. That's not to say I think any of them would be happy to get relegated. Now that they're here, they surely want to stay here. But I do think it is easier for them to accept the fact that they're struggling, and that instead they should just enjoy the ride come what may, than it is for us - I'm sure they never dreamt of being here 12 months ago. (And consequently, there is little or no reason for McDermott to be under any pressure). But maybe that is just me being arrogant, I don't know.
How could you say it came out of the blue? They got to the playoff final the season before last. They've been knocking on the door for a few years.
I think promotion came out of the blue for us...though it didn't take too many games last season for it to dawn that it might be possible.
I was talking solely about last season. They were sitting mid-table, going nowehere. They had sold Shane Long. Ourselves and West Ham, together with Cardiff and Boro to a lesser extent, were in control of the top end of the table. They then went on the run of all runs.
Not a market I'd ever want to get involved in, as it means profiting from someone else's misfortune. You got a cracking bet there though.
Unfortunately pal it looks like Hughes could be gone. That's the word on the (internet) street right now, but could easily be bullshit.
