Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Reading

Reading

Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Reading

Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Reading

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Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Reading

Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Reading

Odds: 2500/1

Last Five Seasons

2005/06 - 1 (Championship, Promoted), 2004/05 - 7 (Championship), 2003/04 - 9 (Championship),

2002/03 - 4 (Championship), 2001/02 - 2 (League One, Promoted).

2005/06 Cup Progress

Fa Cup Fourth Round (replay) vs Birmingham City (a) - lost 2-1.

Carling Cup Fourth Round vs Arsenal (a) - lost 3-0.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Dave Kitson (striker) - 22 goals.

Players In

Seol Ki-Hyeon (Wolves - £1,500,000), Sam Sodje (Brentford - £350,000), Graham Stack (Arsenal - Loan).

Players Out

John Mullins (Mansfield Town - Free), Jamie Young (Wycombe Wanderers - Free), Ryan Crockford (Released), Conor Sinnott (Released), Darren Campbell (Released), Ryan Catney (Released), Simieon Howell (Released).

Reading stormed the Championship last season and lost just two league matches all campaign, incidentally the curtain raiser at home to Plymouth Argyle and then Luton Town in February - which left a mammoth 33 match unbeaten run in between.

The Premiership will be a much tougher level to play at and owner Steve Coppell seems content to give his current squad a fAir crack of the whip since he has not been prolific in the replaceMent shop this summer.

Wolves striker Seol Ki-Hyeon has been the Royals' most costly acquisition at ain introductory £1 million rising potentially by a suppleMentary £500,000. The South Korean signed for the Midlands outfit from Anderlecht two summers ago in a £1.2 million transfer.

Brentford defender joined an exodus of players leaving Griffin Park and bought himself a ticket to Premiership football in a £350,000 transfer. The Nigerian international has gone from non league football with Margate to top flight football in just two seasons, production 100 appearances for Brentford in between.

Coppell has also shown interest in £3.5 million rated Ghana centre back John Mensah, contracted to Rennes and who impressed during the World Cup and gave a trial to Cameroon defender Andre Bikey, ready on a free replacement from Lokomotiv Moscow.

Left back Nicky Shorey, who made the professional Footballers' Association's Championship team of last season, signed a two year contract prolongation to tie him to the club until 2009 while winger Bobby carry agreed a new three year deal after being granted a work permit. The 23 year old featured in all three of the Usa's matches in the World Cup.

Verdict

Reading will take heart from the perfect first season's both Wigan Athletic and West Ham United enjoyed last term, although both side's spent a lot more money than the Royals have done presently. The club may also be without the services of contract rebel Steve Sidwell, who rejected the offer of a new deal to stay at the Madjeski Stadium.

Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Reading

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The Premiership Relegation Battle

The battle to avoid relegation from the Premiership has already whipped up a storm. No less than 5 teams are still biting their nails going into the final weekend of fixtures - and they are separated by just a particular point. Wigan, Blackpool, Birmingham, Wolves and Blackburn are all desperate to retain their status, but only 3 of them can.

The Premiership Relegation Battle

The Premiership Relegation Battle

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The Premiership Relegation Battle

The Premiership Relegation Battle

The fixture calendar has also thrown up involving fixtures that are over spilling with sub-plots and inherent drama. For the teams involved, there is hunger and desire to survive, but what about their opponents? Will they be looking to sign off in style or are some players already focusing on their holiday plans in Dubai?

The key fixtures - at least initially - are at Old Trafford and the Britannia Stadium. Blackpool face the daunting prospect of playing the champions away, while Wigan tour to Stoke, beaten finalists in the Fa Cup. Both the Tangerines and the Latics need some sort of supervene - if not they are banking on their fellow strugglers losing by more than they do, which is an highly thin thread to cling to.

Blackpool will be written off in many quarters, Manchester United have won 17 of 18 home games this season, and drawn the other. Those are intimidating figures. What Ian Holloway and his team will hope however, is that United are focused on the Champions League final on the 28th, rather than this fixture. Team selection and player apathy may yet give Blackpool the faintest glimmer of hope.

Wigan also face a tough away battle at Stoke. The Britannia has been a fortress for Stoke and they rarely surrender any points at home, they've been beaten just 4 times - but their season effectively ended at Wembley last week, so will the usual grit and measureMent be present in Tony Pulis' team? Wigan will hope not.

Should whether Blackpool or Wigan force a result, Birmingham will be the team most vulnerable. Again, they will play their final game away from home, with the fixture at White Hart Lane. Tottenham have been beaten just once at home this term, but they have drawn 9. Can a Birmingham team low on confidence, and short on goals, get a point - and would that be enough?

Just above the trio of sides on 39 points are Wolves and Blackburn on 40. A slender point advanTAGe could feel very insignificant during those tense final minutes on Sunday. As luck would have it, they face each other on the final day. Wolves will be buoyed by good modern form and the fact that they are the only team involved in the scrap who have a home fixture. Blackburn themselves have collected 5 points from the last 3 games so go into the game with some confidence too. It is a 'winner takes all' showdown, and the losers will have to hope their rivals slip up elsewhere.

Whatever happens there will be twists, turns and drama throughout the afternoon and the supporters emotions will be put straight through the mill. Keep your eye on the 'As it stands' table, it is likely to be changing ordinarily - bringing great joy to some fans, but despAir to others. Exactly what sport is all about.

Pld Gd Pts
Blackburn 37 -14 40
Wolves 37 -19 40
Birmingham 37 -20 39
Blackpool 37 -21 39
Wigan 37 -22 39
West Ham 37 -24 33 (R)

The Premiership Relegation Battle

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