Reading FC

Pavel Pogrebnyak in action against Crystal Palace
advertisement

'We're ready to go' says McDermott after Reading FC end pre-season on a high

By Jonny Fordham
August 13, 2012

Pavel Pogrebnyak warmed-up for Reading's Premier League showdown with Stoke City by opening his account in a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace.

The Russia striker netted in the second-half at Madejski Stadium after coming close several times in the first 45 minutes.

Adam Le Fondre chipped in with his third of the pre-season campaign to double the score two minutes later, much to the delight of manager Brian McDermott.

"It's important to get your first goal," said McDermott.

"He was unlucky first half, made a great run and Danny Guthrie played him in but he was unfortunate just to knock it over. We'll save them for the league though. Both strikers worked really hard, and we got Noel and Churchy some game time as well, it's important to get people on the pitch."

Stoke manager Tony Pulis was in attendance to witness Royals turn in their best pre-season performance to date.

"I'm a lot happier now, in the Brighton game in midweek we had a good shape and n the second half we played some decent football as well," added McDermott.

"We've got to where we needed to be as far as performance is concerned, especially after the break when we raised it, got good service to the wide players and they delivered, so too the strikers and midfielders. We kept a clean sheet too, so we're ready to go.

"The first half was a little bit low tempo for us, we have to be on the move, high tempo and passing it. We did that second half, got in behind them, scored a couple of goals so we're happy with that to finish off pre-season.

"I've been delighted with all the new signings since we've brought them to the club. They're all good guys who work hard and want to get better. They've got undoubted quality, and add that to their desire you've got a good recipe.

"We're just trying to gel the group, we've got two players for each position which is what I wanted of course.

"We'll prepare right, it's an international break of course as well. We'll look at Stoke, I know Tony Pulis quite well, he's done a phenomenal job and we know it'll be a good game. We're at home, it'll be a full house, back in the Barclays Premier League, it's a fantastic place to be."

| Submit Comments | View Comments (10)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 10 of 10

I'm taking this season as it comes. To even think we'd be playing Stoke this Saturday followed by Chelsea didn't seem realistic at all just before Xmas!

I think regardless of how we do, January will be very revealing. I anticipate seeing a fair few old faces being put out to pasture (on loan) if they haven't featured up until that point with McD looking to make what will hopefully be "Fortress Madejski" just that bit more formidable and suring us up in places. I hope our younger and less featured players are excited as I am about the Cup draw tomorrow night? If they can put together a run, it'll give McD a real headache and ultimately will serve us very well and show who really (if anyone) needs to be moved on before it really counts.

If this season goes well and we can at least finish 17th, then it's next summer where RFC really need to up their game. Learn from 2007 and not be so loyal to the players and tactics that although may have served us well, in reality will have been found out by the competition. Drop the "given time he'll be good" philosophy and start the "can he actually cut it now?" philosophy, with regards to transfers so we can fight our way past any possible "Second season syndrome" performances.

Strap yourself in folks the roller-coaster is about to leave the station... it's not for the faint hearted so either hold on tight to your seats and pray it's not as bad as you think or throw your arms up, scream for the boys and enjoy it for however long it goes on for! URZ!

Hopeful Hoops, Reading
14/08/2012 at 11:02

It's the same as last time we went up. Nobody is giving us a chance. That's the way I like it. All the more sweet when we prove the doubters wrong.

TilehurstSouthbank, Tilehurst, Reading
14/08/2012 at 08:47

@Poru - Some rumours are without foundation but to be fair Reading along with several sides have been linked with Rhodes all summer in national & local press alike. A little like Shane Long & Reading it seems inevitable that Rhodes will leave Huddersfield. JUst a matter of where?

@Royals - Easy call isn't it - I saw one review that stated Reading don't keep many clean sheets - 20 not enough? The midfield is weak - If Pog doesn't score they will go down - Not enough players with Premier League experience, & my personal favourite that Reading have not added to the squad! Basically we are lil' Reading so we have no chance -- For my money it won't be easy but I reckon we have enough.

Robsy , Reading
13/08/2012 at 23:29

Jamie Redknapp has tipped us to finish rock bottom in the Prem. If there was one pundit I would like us to prove wrong, it is him. My own prediction is that we will stay up, just! I hope I am proved wrong and that we end up as high as we did on our very first time in the Prem. Come on URRZZZZ!!

Royals1871
13/08/2012 at 23:11

Think we shall have to wait and see what happens in the first three games. We need 3 or 4 points from those. If we struggle then I think we will get someone else in before the end of this window. Leaving it until January would be a mistake. Not going to be easy to attract class, if we are in big trouble come January. Well we put Palace to the sword on Saturday.. Will be interesting to see how we get on on Saturday. We have cover in all areas and time will tell if it is quality enough to see us through. Hope for a good start. Get the confidence flowing!

Where is this so called story linking us with Rhodes? Is it just pub talk? Not in any national paper. Seems without foundation.

poru, Bournemouth
13/08/2012 at 20:34

I have read a few articles that suggest that we may well loan out Church and indeed this has been hinted at my McD. If this happens I suspect it will be in readiness for another striker coming in as I honestly cannot see Reading running with just Roberts, Pog, Le Fondre & Hunt. I suspect that is why we are being linked with Rhodes - The cascade effect of the bigger clubs will cause movement below so it is not out of the question that Reading may step in for a player even if Church stays at the Madejski - more likely they will if he is loaned out.

@ Hoops - Yes I've read a lot of previews and there is some doubt over the Reading midfield though I suspect that it is said more from ignorance than any knowledge. Reading rely on wingers for creativity rather than a play maker and we have four of these in Kebe, McAnuff, McCleary & HRK whether they are good enough, remains to be seen. I think that Guthrie is a good signing however.

It is how we play against the bottom half of the Premier League rather that the top half that will decide our fate. Teams like Stoke, Fulham, WBA, Sunderland, Southampton, WHU, Norwich, Swansea, QPR & Wigan are where it will matter - Home wins & Away draws against these sides will do it.

Come On URZZZ!

Robsy , Reading
13/08/2012 at 18:09

The first was "low tempo" at best - not impressed, my farther-in-law fell asleep!!

Second half was much better, 2 good goals. I was impressed with Guthrie and Pog but I need to watch McCleary a few more times, based on that performance, he won't get in ahead of Kebe (when he's back!)

As for signings.... I'd leave it as it is. We've got 2 players for each position and if we need a new striker, we can pick one up in Jan.

By that time, we'll see if Rhodes is any good at Championship level or if League 1 was his level?!?!

RSwanny, Bristol
13/08/2012 at 13:38

I don't see anything else happening now until we've played a couple of games. With Roberts banned it also gives us the perfect oppurtunity to see if all our current strikeforce are up to it. If we do anything I think it'll be a "last days of the window" type thing.

Now that Man City could have kicked off a possible chain raection in moves with buying Rodwell off Everton, someone somewhere may suddenly look less likely to get agame and alert McD... assuming he even thinks our midfield needs anymore additions, although Bryn is yet to re-sign it seems. I do think it's interesting and true that some newspaper columns have picked out our midfield as "lacking." Only time will tell I guess...

The RVP issue is dragging on a bit too. If that happens I expect a big move in strikers going here there and everywhere. Again someone may suddenly slip down the pecking order elsewhere or even take Church or Hunt off us as a result. Then I think we'd ceratinly see another striker come through the door.