20 Questions - Reading

Last updated : 06 May 2005 By Paul Farrington
Hob Nob Anyone?

1) Who are you; where are you from and how long have you supported your club?

Graham, Reading since I was a nipper, about 22 years.

2) What was your first game?

Elm Park, Bristol City, Division 4, 1983/84 Season. Reading won 2-0 with Sanchez getting the first goal, but the game itself slipped into memory after it was nearly called off when the City fans went into riot mode.

3) Describe the most memorable and worst game you've seen and why?

Worst game was against Darlington at Elm Park - we lost 0-2 and we scored both the goals for them! I remember a great own headed goal by Trevor Senior... I can't remember the details but there were probably only 3,000 there.

Jason Roberts
Most memorable has to be that play-off final against Bolton. Great game.
S*** result.

4) If the Royals were a Celebrity, who would they be and why?

Not sure. Some B-list celeb that not everyone's heard off. Vaguely interesting but that's it, unless you're a Reading fan of course.

5) Who do you consider as your current local rivals, and why?

Still Oxford and Swindon, although they're so crap it's not so interesting nowdays. Maybe Aldershot when they get back into the football league.

6) Who are the best and worst players you have seen?

What, ever? Shuan Evers always gets my vote as worst Reading player I've seen. Paid 500,000 quid for him and he was entirely anonymous. Like playing with ten players each time.

7) Which current or former Latics player impressed you most?

Jason Roberts.

8) What do you think of The Latics?

I like them! There seems a lot of comparisons to be made between Reading and Wigan. You've had the extra budget for players we haven't had, but we're both sides on the up and trying to hit the big time. Looks like Wigan will be doing it sooner than us and that's probably because you play some good football.

9) How did you fare last season?

Just outside the play-offs.

10) How did you expect to fair this season?

Just outside the play-offs! And it looks like we'll finish there too...

11) If you manage to get in the playoffs, is that a success for this season?

Yes. We're still a small club on a limited budget (despite what people think). The Premiership is just one big dream, so getting close via the play-offs isn't bad after an up and down season.

Steve Sidwell
12) Sidwell - is he really the best outside the Premiership?

No, at least not this season. In the local press he's been going on about how he didn't deserve to be in the PFA team, and he's not wrong. He had a great season last year and it's all been based on that. Good player and there's plenty more to come from him though.

13) Which Reading players should we watch out for?

Marcus Hahnemann, in goal, has had a great season - if we pick up a point it'll be because of him. Let's face it we'll be seeing a lot of him on Sunday as the balls going to be down our end a lot! Ferdinand is a bit of a super-sub. He's still got it, just for short periods of time. If he comes off the bench towards the end he'll cause you problems.

14) Is your manager barking mad?

Nope, sensible as anything. Sometimes it would be nice if he'd have a shout or scream. Especially when we've just lost at Rotherham for example.

15) Are you happy with your Chairman/Backroom staff?

Yes, overall. They do frustrate though - going on about the Premiership but not prepared to really put the money in. We're run very sensibly, but they've set expectation too high to the fans. Director of Football - Nicky Hammond - no one really knows what he does. Any answers on that appreciated.

Steve Coppell
16) Which team did/do you want to beat the most this season and why?

West Ham because of ex-manager Alan Pardew. And they're too big for their boots, just because they have a bit of history. They're crap and if they do sneak into the play-offs lets hope they get eaten with a last minute own goal at Cardiff. That'll teach them.

17) What sort of line-up can we expect from you?

4-4-2. Too much bypassing the midfield though with hopeful balls forward. Who knows - this is such a big game for us both that perhaps we'll really get stuck in. If we do we might play some good football.

18) Predicted score and scorers?

2-1 to Wigan.

19) Who's going up with Sunderland?

Wigan and Ipswich.

20) Who's going down with Rotherham and Forest?

Crewe.

Thanks, Graham!