A Royal Affair: Game Sixteen

sA Royal Affair collates my attempts to take relegation-favourites Reading from the lower regions of the Premiership to higher heights. So far results have been encouraging, and the players are working well together as we strive to make our target of forty points by the end of the season.  

A Royal Affair: Game Fifteen

A Royal Affair collates my attempts to take relegation-favourites Reading from the lower regions of the Premiership to higher heights. So far results have been encouraging, and the players are working well together as we strive to make our target of forty points by the end of the season.  

A Royal Affair: Newsround 2

In continuing with our revamp Royal Affair story, we are now posting a regular ‘newsround’ column that should add some more background and interest to the Reading story.

Welcome to the official Reading F.C website

Newsround: 16th November 2006

Star keeper ‘out for rest of the year’

Reading’s hopes for a high Premiership place have been dealt a huge blow following the revelation that star goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann is unlikely to feature again this year for the Royals after straining his knee ligaments. The American shotstopper, who has kept seven clean sheets this season and has won praise for his outstanding appearances, is likely to be out of action for two months. The keepers injury came as a shock to the club just two days before the Royals return to action with a tough clash against Chelsea, and it is believed that young Graham Stack will fill in for Hahnemann until his return.

Reading’s manager admitted the club were devasted to lose the goalkeeper. “Marcus is a great player. He’s probably one of the best shot stoppers in the league, and we’re going to really miss him.”

As to how the club perform while he is away, the boss says he isn’t too worried. “We have a good team here, and I am sure Graham can fill Marcus’ gloves. But we will certainly miss him.”

The club hope Marcus will return to training in mid January, although it is unlikely that he will play again until February, which means the goalkeeper is likely to miss at least 15 games, including fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester United. The club have not confirmed or denied reports that they could bring in another goalkeeper in the January market, but it looks as though Graham Stack will be given the chance to impress in the remaining fixtures.

Hleb set to move

Reading have confirmed that Vyacheslav Hleb will join the club in January for £275,000. As we reported in the last update, Hleb had been linked to the club, and it has now emerged that the player has signed a contract which will see the attacking midfielder move to the club in the transfer market. Hleb, 23, has scored nine goals this season for his club, and his arrival will give the club more options in midfield.

Former Tottenham midfielder linked with club

Former Spurs midfielder Hossam Ghali has been linked with a move to Reading. Ghali, who last week left Tottenham ‘by mutual consent’, has been contacted by the club this week. The reasons for Ghali’s departure have not been revealed, but the defensive midfielder, 24, has admitted that he would love to get back into action as soon as possible. With the player available for free, it seems as though the Egyptian could be making a move to the Madejski Stadium quite soon.

Chelsea up next

Reading take on Premiership giants Chelsea in two days time, and the players say they can’t wait to test themselves against the big names of the Blues. Jose Mourinho is expected to field a full strength squad as Chelsea look to extend their winning run in the Premiership.

A Royal Affair: Game Fourteen

A Royal Affair collates my attempts to take relegation-favourites Reading from the lower regions of the Premiership to higher heights. So far results have been encouraging, and the players are working well together as we strive to make our target of forty points by the end of the season.  

A Royal Affair: Game Thirteen

A Royal Affair collates my attempts to take relegation-favourites Reading from the lower regions of the Premiership to higher heights. So far results have been encouraging, and the players are working well together as we strive to make our target of forty points by the end of the season.  

A Royal Affair: Game Twelve

A Royal Affair collates my attempts to take relegation-favourites Reading from the lower regions of the Premiership to higher heights. So far results have been encouraging, and the players are working well together as we strive to make our target of forty points by the end of the season.  

A Royal Affair: Newsround #1

In continuing with our revamp Royal Affair story, we are now posting a regular ‘newsround’ column that should add some more background and interest to the Reading story. The first update is online today, so read on to see what is happening in the world of Reading FC.

A Royal Affair: Game Eleven

A new year, and so with it comes a revamp of the Reading story, ‘A Royal Affair’. Technically, I am a little late here as the first Royal Affair game of the year was published on the third. But I’m sure you can forgive me for that. So read on to see the new angle that the reviews are taking, which should make them a little more enjoyable for you. Aren’t I nice?

A Royal Affair: Game Ten

A draw with Aston Villa sees Reading go into today’s match with Arsenal holding a solid record: six games without defeat, and only two goals conceded in those games. But with the Gunners arriving at the Madejski Stadium, can we make it seven without a loss?

A Royal Affair: Game Nine

A Royal Affair collates my attempts to take relegation-favourites Reading from the lower regions of the Premiership to higher heights. So far results have been encouraging, and the players are working well together as we strive to make our target of forty points by the end of the season. Out last match, a 3-0 victory over Charlton, took the total to 16, but with October now approaching, how will the Royals perform in what is sure to be a tough month?

A Royal Affair: Performance

We’re well into the season now, with October set to offer us four games, despite a two week break for International fixtures. After six victories – five of those coming in the Premiership – we are into the third round of the League Cup and surprising everyone with our second place position in the league. But how are the players doing? Today we take an extended look back at the first two months of our Premiership campaign and review the performances of the players.

A Royal Affair: Game Eight

Who’d have thought it: Reading, the team everyone tipped to be propping up the table throughout the season, are about to take on Charlton with the sort of previous form that a top criminal would be proud to call his own: three victories in succession, and all matched with clean sheets. With four wins out of six in the Premiership, will the Addicks become our fifth victims of the season, or will the run come to an end?

A Royal Affair: Game Seven

We’re back in the Premiership this week following our League Cup victory over Burnley as we travel north to Middlesbrough, looking for their third victory of the season. After our impressive start to the campaign, can we keep the momentum flowing a pick up our fifth win?

A Royal Affair: Game Six

We’re taking a break from the Premiership as we entertain Championship side Burnley in the Carling Cup Second Round. Our visitors knocked out Lincoln in the last round, although their form this season has been rather patchy. After a solid two-nil victory over Watford in the Premiership at the weekend, can the Royals continue their surprising start to the season by progressing to the third round?

A Royal Affair: Game Five

After four games, Reading are enjoying a bright start to their first Premiership season. Two victories, one draw and one defeat is a decent enough start to the campaign, but with a home tie against Watford on the horizon, we will need to get back to winning ways to prove that we deserve to stay in the Premiership for another season.

A Royal Affair: Game Four

Reading have enjoyed a good start to the season, picking up six points out of a possible nine, but following the 3-1 defeat to Manchester United, can the Royals get back to winning ways when they visit Fulham?

A Royal Affair: Game Three

Reading are on a high after winning back to back games in the early stages of the season, but now face a visit from Manchester United, who come on the back of a 2-0 victory over West Ham United. Can the form remain, or will we succumb to defeat?

A Royal Affair: Game Two

Following Reading’s 1-0 victory over Wigan, the Premiership newcomers take on Everton at Goodison Park in the hope of scraping a point to aid the relegation battle.

A Royal Affair: Part One

Some people are of the opinion that managing in the Premiership is simple: you have millions of pounds to spend on top quality players and some of the finest talented squads in the world. That may be the case, especially for the bigwigs that sit on the heads of Chelsea and Manchester United. But for a small team – a team that is used to playing in the Championship - money is short, players are of an average standard, and the top players don’t want to join. From what I can see, managing Reading F.C is not going to be simple. Staying in the Premiership is going to be tough. So I say: bring it on.