HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at Portman road by delving into their forums.

“The stats don’t lie. We are a top three side”, “What a time to be a Reading fan. Regardless of how we play, I still leave games enjoying being part of this side”, “We are starting to grind out a few wins now. Maybe we can sneak into false second by the end of the season”, “False third place is great.”

The Royals visit Portman Road sitting third in the league table and looking for a fourth consecutive league victory after winning by a solitary goal at Birmingham on Tuesday night. Fans joke about their ‘false’ league position as many have not equated their league position to their performances.

“I actually love this side”, “This team does not get the respect and support it deserves from our own fans. They are performing miracles. Most of us would have taken a top-half finish and I would have taken avoiding relegation. What they are achieving in footballing style is nothing short of fantastic.”

“We don’t look like third-place team”, “We don’t create lots of chances up front to put games out of sight and guarantee the points. We look vulnerable at the back. We just get the odd chance here and there and we score. We don’t totally overpower teams like Steve Coppell’s team always used to do.”

Most Royals would be happy to see a top-six finish. “I am enjoying the ride. Long may it continue”, “Barring any collapse. The play-offs look likely which would be a massive achievement”, “There is a totally different dynamic this season, a great example of a rebuild on a tight transfer budget.”

“We have only beaten one team in the top six and that was only because they had a man sent off after 20 minutes. Until we play and beat these teams again, I refuse to believe”, “Never build up your dreams. You might end up crying and get caught on TV in a play-off final when you get beaten.”

Jaap Stam

“What Jaap Stam has achieved here is quite remarkable”, “I really like what we are trying to do with our play and I like the style of the signings he is bringing in”, “The most pleasing aspect seems to be that there is a cohesive strategy behind how he is running the team. He has revitalised this club.”

The 44-year-old Duchman took on his first managerial appointment at the Madejski Stadium last June having previously been on the Ajax coaching team. He has been praised for developing a clear footballing philosophy since arriving along with recruiting and developing players to suit his playing style.

“Let’s face it, no one could reasonably have predicted this turnaround with a foreign rookie ‘name’ manager”, “I love his inventiveness with line-ups. He talked about a meeting a month ago, which was about ‘how we want to go forward’. This might have been about the recent switch to a 5-3-2 shape.”

“Stam has achieved great things so far”, “Out of last season’s shambles we have an exciting young team playing decent football. It’s a fantastic achievement”, “This is a big project for him as far as he’s concerned. He is not using us for short-term purposes. He genuinely wants to take the club places.”

Free-Flowing Football

“When we pass the ball out successfully some of our attacking play is superb. We look like scoring every time we go forward”, “With slick one and two touch play, we glide into the final third and create openings”, “We are playing fast attractive football with plenty of thought and creativity.”

“This is the football we are crying out for, isn’t it?” Stam has developed a patient possession-based passing game which relies on building tempo when controlling games and denying opponents the ball in more difficult contests. His side are often content to move the ball across the backline.

Reading’s starting XI at Birmingham (above) was missing regular starters Yann Kermorgant up front and centre-half Paul McShane but Royals agreed that it was otherwise as strong a side as could have been created. Stam in recent weeks has switched from a 4-3-3 shape to playing with wing-backs.

McShane and Liam Moore are the bedrock of what is seen as a solid defence, although fans feel they have sacrificed some of their solidity in switching recently to a back three. A shortage of fit centre-halves recently has led to full-backs Chris Gunter and Tyler Blackett switching into the back three.

“This new shape certainly gets us playing more attractive exciting football. It accommodates both Kelly and Swift. We have missed the more defensive focus but we are here to be entertained and the new shape is more exciting when we are attacking, even if we look more likely to concede as well.”

“John Swift and Liam Kelly have good vision and passing. We often look slow and plodding but they can turn it on in an instant”, “They will make a formidable partnership in time.” The two 21-year-old playmakers are behind much of the side’s creativity, linking with each other and wider colleagues.

Striker Yann Kermorgant has been praised for his industry, his ability to lead the line and hold up play and his aerial prowess in both boxes as much as for his goalscoring, while wingers Roy Beerens and top scorer Garath McCleary are just as dangerous when they are linking play in the final third.

Some of their possession figures in recent games are worth noting and include 72 per cent at home to QPR, 65 per cent at Derby, 77 per cent at Leeds and 55 per cent at Old Trafford in their FA Cup defeat. Fulham have been the only side to see more of the ball in recent games. This style has not exactly set many pulses racing.

“This team hasn’t yet captured the imagination looking at crowd numbers or the atmosphere”, “The switch to a passing game is positive but is frustrating when it doesn’t come off. It’s easy to see how we concede but I wonder how many goals we have not conceded just by having so much of the ball.”

A Productive Transfer Window

Royals have been very happy with their four January arrivals. “After the best transfer window I can recall for ages, the play-offs must be the minimum requirement. Three Premier League loan signings and a full international should give our squad a sufficient boost for the second half of the season.”

Stam has brought in cover for all outfield bases. Romania international right winger Adrian Popa has joined from Steaua Bucharest while three loan additions have arrived in striker Lewis Grabban from Bournemouth, midfielder Jordan Mutch from Palace and centre-back Reece Oxford from West Ham.

Being Tough and Winning Ugly

“The whole team seems so generally confident. This would never have happened two years ago”, “There is a serious solidarity and sense of purpose about this group now”, “With Stam on the touchline, it’s safe to say that there aren’t many of our players who would shrink from a confrontation.”

Royals have been quick to note that there is a resilience and steel to their side, something which has helped them achieve many of the narrow victories which have characterised their campaign. “The spirit is so much better. We have developed both the philosophy and also the guts to stick with it.”

Birmingham 0 — 1 Reading

“A nice away win, no serious issues, would recommend”, “On most occasions it would have petered to a 0-0 draw, especially with Kermorgant and McShane missing”, “The loudest the Birmingham fans were all evening was when they applauded us as we were singing, ‘There’s only one Gary Rowett’.”

“Birmingham are on a bad run but that’s a good result with our injury problems.” John Swift made the breakthrough on 77 minutes when side-footing home Jordan Obita’s cross in a game which was typical of many of their recent successful displays. “A performance that we have come to expect.”

“And that is how it is done. Well done Swifty”, “That was a great team goal.” The winner (from 1:32 in the highlights) is worth watching as it illustrates their preferred style of attacking play, with quick incisive interplay using width to unlock City’s defence and ending with an alert and clever finish.

Reading 2 — 1 Cardiff

“Well, that was hard work and a well-earned three points”, “Cardiff are no mugs under Warnock. That was a tough, tough game”, “Delighted with that, we very much ground out a win against a team of big lumps looking for long throws and freekicks”, “Cardiff were a well-organised Warnock team.”

John Swift put the hosts ahead on 42 minutes, sweeping home after a move involving a McCleary back-heel. Joe Ralls equalised for City from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after a Liam Moore foul, but Yann Kermorgant fired home the winner on the hour mark from a freekick.

“An ugly win, but a win”, “There’s a real fighting spirit in that team. Sometimes with footballing sides they crumble against physical teams like Cardiff but we more than held our own”, “That was another game we edged, but in truth it could have gone either way, like many of our games this season.”

Stam had to shuffle his pack (above) for this game. Left-backs Blackett and Obita were both on the bench carrying knocks so Gunter did an adequate job on his less-favoured side. It was a victory built more on industry than flair. “Just imagine what it could be like when we do click and look good.”

Reading 1 — 0 Fulham

“Well that was fun, two awful penalties”, “It could turn out to be a big win”, “A watershed moment in the season”, “I enjoyed Fulham’s passing game at the back. I guess that’s what teams enjoy when they play us”, “With more clinical finishing, we could have repaid our earlier thrashing with interest.”

Reading gained revenge for a 5-0 defeat at Craven Cottage in a game of two missed penalty kicks. John Swift’s effort on 49 minutes was saved by Cottagers’ keeper David Button but Roy Beerens was on hand to finish the rebound. Fulham’s Chris Martin had his spot-kick by Al-Habsi late in the game.

“Is this the Spanish-inspired 4-6-0?” Stam sprung a surprise on the visitors with his starting line-up (above) by playing with no striker for the first time and using Yann Kermogant as a late substitute. Most Royals felt the winning margin should have been far wider. “That was a well-deserved win.”

Goalkeepers and Defenders

“Ali Al-Habsi has not only won over the fickle fans but seems to be getting better and better.” The 35-year-old ex-Wigan keeper “Nearly dropped us in it twice at Birmingham with his short passing out of the box”, “It has got to the point where I panic every time we pass it back to him. It’s ridiculous.”

Ali Al-Habsi

“Two brilliant saves by Al-Habsi and the usual howler of a short pass”, “His penalty save won us the Fulham game but there were a couple of dodgy bits of distribution”, “His strengths and weaknesses were all on display against Cardiff”, “A fantastic keeper, I hope we keep him for as long as we can.”

“Tyler Blackett was atrocious against Fulham, skinned time and time again by Ryan Fredericks.” The 22-year-old ex-Manchester United youth player “is a bit of a mixed bag”, “He struggles to bring the ball out from the back ay Birmingham due to his back of confidence on the ball causing uncertainty.”

“Blackett was pretty bad with his clearances when he came on against Cardiff. Three went straight to the opposition. He made one wonderful run but clearly didn’t know what to do with the ball at the end of it”, “He gives the ball away quite frequently and he seems to be out of his depth at times.”

“I prefer Jordan Obita to Blackett going forward on our left. He is pretty much key to our wing-back system.” The 23-year-old youth product “has done a good enough job”, “A good attacking threat but he is not the best defensively”, “Obita is a more attacking player and puts decent balls into the box.”

Jordan Obita

“Obita looked lively all through the Birmingham game and gave us some good width on the left. it was a quality cross in the move for our goal”, “He looks good as a wing-back. When playing there, he is very high up the pitch. We need a holding midfielder to keep things organised and cover for him.”

“Chris Gunter reads the game well. He has good pace, is rarely out of position and covers his centre-back well. Against that he is passive in defence, backs off his winger instead of dominating him, which means he rarely stops crosses coming in. Gunter lacks physicality when it comes to defending.”

“What is the point of being a runner and an athlete when he does not stop crosses in and does not put them in at the other end.” The 27-year-old ex-Forest man “is not the best right-back but he is a decent, reliable player”, “He put in a typically solid performance on the wrong wing against Cardiff.”

With Joey van den Berg out with a hamstring tear, many Royals were pleased to see Reece Oxford arrive this week on loan from West Ham to provide cover in the heart of defence. The 18-year-old “can slot in straight away with Moore and McShane and will give some cover at the back until May”.

“Paul McShane is our most improved player this season. He wasn’t bad last year but was never the sort of player to take time with the ball at his feet or to pick a pass.” The 31-year-old former Hull and West Brom centre-back “wins plenty in the air, makes exceptional blocks and cross interceptions”.

Leeds' Alex Mowatt v Paul McShane

“I really find McShane reassuring”, “He’s a stalwart throughout the game with his blood-and-thunder tackles”, “When balls are launched into the box he really comes into his own”, “He was agricultural in possession at the start of the season but has come on in leaps and bounds to improve his game.”

Liam Moore

“There is a notable difference to the team when Liam Moore isn’t there”, “The most talented player in our team.” The 24-year-old August addition from Leicester “is perfect for passing the ball out of defence. He has been our most consistent player this season and rescued us on many occasions.”

“Moore has made a massive difference to our defence and is currently shaping up to be our Franz Beckenbauer with his forward surging runs”, “He’s a monster at the back and holds our defence together”, “He has slotted in and hardly put a foot wrong since arriving and he can also play a bit.”

Central Midfielders

“Jordan Mutch is very good but I don’t really see a space for him in our squad.” The 25-year-old has just joined on loan from Selhurst Park. “He’s an attacking midfielder who will fit into our style of play nicely. He can rotate with Swift and Kelly”, “Palace fans really couldn’t wait to get shot of him.”

“George Evans firms up the middle and gives us an outlet.” The 22-year-old former Manchester City youth player “was arguably our best player at Old Trafford [a 4-0 FA Cup defeat last month], helping to keep Wayne Rooney in check”, “His movement and running to pull opponents around is great.”

“Evans is definitely an unsung hero”, “A vital part of the team who has really come into his own in recent weeks. We lose our usual shape and organisation with him in the holding role. You need him alongside more creative midfielders”, “He had a great game at Birmingham by basically being there.”

“John Swift is off the pace but that will change.” The 21-year-old summer signing from Chelsea was on loan at Brentford last season. He picked up an ankle injury on England U21 duty in November. “He brings real creativity and is a calm and clever finisher but that England injury has affected him.”

John Swift playing for Manchester United

“Swift is such a mixed bag at the moment. He plays some really good passes but he gives the ball away so often and wastes opportunities but then pops up with the winner”, “He seems to lose his concentration and have a terrible touch at times, but then will come up with moments of brilliance.”

“As it stands, Liam Kelly is our best player at the moment. He looks so composed, is graceful on the ball, has tremendous vision and fantastic pace. I love watching him. The tenacity he shows in getting back, defending and dropping into space to pick up loose balls is also great to see. He’s a real find.”

“Just how brilliant is Kelly going to be with another couple of years’ experience?” The 21-year-old youth product “is technically brilliant but couples that with being a workhorse. Even when he makes the odd mistake he’s straight back making up for it”, “The maturity he shows is really great to see.”

Danny Williams

“Williams is excellent in a defensive role. He constantly wins the ball and harries the opposition”, “He makes some decent challenges and typically energetic runs forward. I think he’s a limiting factor in midfield for us, but that doesn’t mean he plays well”, “His industry is crucial to how we play.”

Danny Williams playing against Cardiff's Tom Adeyemi

“If only Williams had more speed of thought and feet in the opposition box.” The 27-year-old former Hoffenheim man “makes lots of driving runs but that is half of the problem. He wants to run out with the ball but takes too long to pass, if he ever does. It’s risky and unnecessary”, “He still can’t shoot.”

Wide Midfielders

“The introduction of Yacou Meite before our goal at Birmingham shows the importance of having depth in our squad.” The 20-year-old summer arrival from Paris St Germain has featured lately as a bench option. “He’s a winger by trade but changed the game by adding pace and power up front.”

“My Steaua Bucharest-supporting friend has described Adrian Popa as the Romanian Hal Robson-Kanu.” The 28-year-old arrived this week. “He reminds me of Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri, small, chunky and skilful”, “He has great acceleration, quick feet and he is always keen to try and beat people.”

“Roy Beerens saw that Obita was being eaten alive by QPR last month and offered no support.” The 29-year-old ex-Hertha Berlin man “looks better up front with less defensive duties to worry about”, “Tactically he is a problem. He just doesn’t track back which completely exposes his left-back.”

“Beerens looks alright when he plays like a genuine left winger, hugging the touchline and taking his man on. He doesn’t defend much but he starts to look worthless when he drifts around the pitch looking lost”, “A mercurial player who whips in decent crosses but needs Kermorgant in the middle.”

Garath McCleary

“McCleary really is a great player right now, isn’t he?” The 29-year-old ex-Forest winger “is the type of player you need when breaking a team down. He accelerates out of a tight space and creates an opening out of nothing”, “He gets supporters off their seats and that’s what the game is all about.”

McCleary scoring a penalty against Town in September

“McCleary’s pace up top is a far better outlet than Kermorgant”, “He dithers with his passing and gets caught offside constantly when leading the line. He gets his runs wrong and takes the wrong angles”, “We look more threatening when we get the ball to him. The first name on the team-sheet for me.”

Strikers

“Lewis Grabban is exactly what we need, a mobile striker who is proven at this level.” The 29-year-old former Canary arrived on loan from Bournemouth this week. “An excellent window capped off by this signing”, “He’s the sort of player, dare I say it, likely to pop up with a goal in a play-off final.”

Lewis Grabban heads for former club Norwich City

“Grabban will look forward to linking up with Kermorgant again as they did at Bournemouth”, “I would expect him to play on his own in a front three with two wide players”, “He needs the ball in quickly to his feet where his pace and physicality cause problems”, “The last piece in Stam’s jigsaw.”

Yann Kermogant

“You can always rely on Yann to work hard and he’s scoring a few now.” The 35-year-old ex-Charlton and Bournemouth man “drops back and defends a lot but he can sit too deep when we are crushing the opposition and there’s nobody in the box”, “As important to us as a defender as an attacker.”

“Yann does his job very well in their air but he lacks pace on the break”, “He holds the ball up well but doesn’t always take good positions in the box, but he does have a good strike rate and is quite lethal in front of goal”, “Where did he pull that freekick out of against Cardiff? It was beautiful.”

Royals’ Thoughts on Dominic Samuel

“Going on loan to Ipswich is a good move for Samuel, a good club, good manager and they are crying out for a goalscorer so he should get games”, “I don’t think he’s particularly fitted to Stam’s playing style”, “He holds the ball better than Beerens, makes better runs and his finishing is more clinical.”

Dominic Samuel

The consensus among Royals is that the 22-year-old youth product is a promising work-in-progress and that the arrival of Lewis Grabban this week allowed them to release him on loan. “His game is ball to feet so he can use a bit of pace”, “He has the mobility to run in behind and hurt defences.”

“Samuel offers something but he can’t play Kermorgant’s role leading the line”, “He scored a clever finish against Blackburn. He shaped to fire across the keeper but actually curled his shot inside the near post which fooled him”, “When he has struggled, it has been more to do with Stam’s system.”

Royals’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“Ipswich are awful at the moment so I would expect a comfortable Reading win but we've been here many times before, where teams who can't buy a win come up against us and play us off the park. I hope we can buck that trend against Ipswich and come out on top at Portman Road on Saturday.”

Royals don’t run prediction leagues on any volume on their forums but they will arrive in Suffolk fully expecting to pick up three points and maintain their promotion challenge. They had nothing to say about our televised Lincoln FA Cup game but they had some thoughts about our current campaign.

“I know quite a few Ipswich Town fans, and they're seething with the club. It sounds a bit like the usual story of fans having far greater ambition than the club hierarchy”, “They said that last year, and apart from one half decent season when McCarthy first arrived, it been a regular mantra.”

“I can completely understand their frustration. I have felt the same with Reading the past couple of seasons. Both of our clubs are used to competing at the top end of the Championship and, like us last year, Ipswich probably just want this campaign to be over so they can start afresh next year.”

Websites

The busiest Royals’ message-board is the friendly and knowledgeable Hob Nob Anyone?. Additional discussion can be found at Royals Rendezvous.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

Global_Blue added 11:31 - Feb 3 Thanks Harry, good job as always. I wanted to cut and paste bits of the 'Jaap Stam' and 'Free Flowing Football' sections to say "this is what we're crying out for" but in the end I realised it was all relevant and we're desperate for this kind of approach at PR. I'm not confident at all about this game. But in the spirit of ITFC there's always hope. COYB.
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Slambo added 11:37 - Feb 3 I'd like a bit of revenge as I thought we were very harshly treated at their place back at the beginning of the season. Can't see it happening though... One thing is a MUST: get behind the lads and sing for the full 90. UPPA TOWEN..!
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ArnieM added 11:52 - Feb 3 We are more than capable of beating them. It just depends on how MM lines the team up and what his tactics are going to be. It's as simple as that. COYBS " get inter them
3

LankHenners added 11:59 - Feb 3 Thanks Harry, I fear a Fulham-type game with their tendency to have lots of possession with neat intricate play. We used to be so good at countering teams who played like this but in our current state I can only see a draw at best to be brutally honest. I have hope for Lawrence if he's fit - sounds like he might be able to cause some problems if he is afforded much time on the ball. Promising sounds about Dominic Samuel but nullified by the fact it's a loan deal - they essentially seem to be admitting that they're using us to build up their player.

4

iaintaylorx added 12:11 - Feb 3 Reading were the most boring team I have ever seen play when we lost at their place due to complete stupidity from Knudsen!! They speak highly of Samuel, so fingers crossed we judged the signing wrong. But now Reading seem to have been playing more attacking and this will be an incredibly tough game. Can't see us winning, but you never know! #mickout
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Bluebell added 12:31 - Feb 3 Thanks for that Harry. Interesting read as always. I am fearing this game more than I did the Derby one. Reading have always been our bogey team and with those players I can't see it being any different. But who knows? Our 'newbies' may make a great difference. I have a feeling Taylor will be beside Berra with Chambers at right back again. That could shore up the defence which is what we have been crying out for. I would be more than happy with a draw obviously hope we can stop them from scoring and get a sneaky goal ourselves.

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MooseJuice added 12:59 - Feb 3 I agree Iaintaylorx... Reading away is at the top of my list of worst games of football I've ever seen involving Ipswich... and I've sat through nil-nils against Bury, Tranmere and the like. But their comments about us are fair and not as incredibly arrogant and deluded as that Derby lot. Will make losing to these guys less painful.
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cowboynickblue added 13:01 - Feb 3 Great read as always Harry. Nice to hear from a set of fans who are not up themselves hope they do well, but not on Saturday. We can win but only if Mick picks the correct formation. Comn Town.
4

Radlett_blue added 13:14 - Feb 3 The difference in quality of loanees brought in is breathtaking. Expect Mick to try to match their 3-5-2 & snuff them out. 1-0 to Reading.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 13:29 - Feb 3 Anyone who says, "they are there for the taking," deserves to be put in their place. COYB!
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whosroundisitanyway added 14:04 - Feb 3 Great stuff as always Harry. Get in their faces & press high up the pitch You can't play pretty possession football against that unless you're very very good & they are not.
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Taricco_Fan added 18:59 - Feb 3 We are very much there for the taking. Any side coming to Portman Road looking to play a bit of proper football will be rubbing their hands together. So for a change, why not play an attacking line-up and try and take the game to Reading?The tactic of trying not to lose games first-and-foremost isn't working out too well.
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itfctrent added 19:51 - Feb 3 Sadly, I can't see anything other than a Reading win. If we play 4 at the back, Chambers will have to go to RB, in order to fit Taylor in to the line up - which is fine - but sadly, I reckon he'll be slaughtered by the likes of McLeary, Popa and Meite. On a seperate note, I can't help but notice about Samuel "His game is ball to feet so he can use a bit of pace", that won't be happening here.

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warkway added 21:30 - Feb 3 yes great stuff Harry, but let's face it, we're toast
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lightingblue added 11:32 - Feb 4 I read this article for all up-coming games and very good these are. They are very consistent. A regular theme from this season now is that teams now look forward to coming to Portman Road whereas over previous years/seasons teams have not enjoyed their journey here. .
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