I have moved on, but there is nothing wrong with pointing out that the team under Nigel got more points than it did under Pochettino. Both managers deserve our thanks, but special thanks to Nigel for getting us here in the first place.
Nigel also managed more games than did Pochettino. 22 in 22 from Nigel, 19 in 16 from Poch. And thanks to them both.
Thanks to both. I think Reading will do well next year. Not just because everyone else down there is crap.
Nigel was the manager for the majority of our schedule, hence why we achieved more points with him at the helm; on a points per game basis we were somewhat better under Poch.
Saints first 6 games of the season: W 1 D 0 L 5 Scored 10 Conceded 18 Saints last 6 games of the season: W 0 D 4 L 2 Scored 3 Conceded 7 Thank god for the middle 26 games eh? Although I did find our end to the season to be a bit concerning, especially as so many games were winnable, and we struggled to score and create clear cut chances.
Our purple patch in March was the crux, we caught some really good teams out with a new style of play, Premier teams are no mugs and soon learned how to counteract it, the last matches were more down to grit and determination to see them out, one thing in the Premier is that if you can't win, don't lose.
It is and isn't. Obviously, we need to do more when we have possession. But at the same time we had more and better chances and much more of the ball in five of those six games...that's not a bad jumping-off point.
Under both managers, we were better against the better sides. Against less technically adept but more physically robust opponents, like today's, we often got bullied out of games.
Yeah, we've been amazingly lucky to never really have more than one player out at a time. But not being able to rest Rickie when he has been struggling, or change the game plan with some pacy winger is something that needs fixing. If we move on all the old backup players and grow the squad (not just 1st 11) a bit then we will definitely be in a better place. Anyway, all Summer to worry about that, and I've got an exam tomorrow.
He did a sterling job and certainly didn't deserve to be sacked, i hope he is treated the way he deserves to be at Reading.
