So, here we are at the dawn of another adventure. We get so used to the voice of the incumbent manager that we feel we can predict what they are going to say and how they are going to say it. When a new guy comes along, everything is fresh and unpredictable.
I’ll be honest, when Leam Richardson’s name was first mentioned I wasn’t filled with absolute joy. He wasn’t the name on everyone’s lips, which was pretty much Matt Bloomfield, mostly down to that being a fait accompli due to the Wycombe Wanderers
connection, but Richardson’s name wouldn’t have been high on the list.
In truth, not many of us fans would have chosen him at all. We had come to the conclusion that it would be Bloomfield, Gareth Ainsworth or maybe even Luke Williams. But Richardson? Not so much.
He’s been labelled a long-ball merchant, but on the other hand, he likes a possession-based game with flexible formations. Some have found him “quite boring” while others deem him personable and honest. Everyone has their own opinions of everyone and everything, naturally, but he does seem to polarise those views markedly.
First of all, and all credit to him, he did his best to do some homework before his first interview. He knew about the 106 points total, the talented striker pool of the time and great managers. He even name-checked the infamous ultras of Club 1871! There were a few minor nervous slip-ups along the way, but we can forgive him for that.
Most of all he was appreciative of what recent history has befallen our club. It would have been very reminiscent of his time at Wigan Athletic, who suffered a very similar tale to our own.
Maybe that was an aspect in employing him at the outset? He’s been in that situation where siege mentality was a basic requirement. He’s worked at a club which has been rock-bottom, and has had to instil elements into his squad that he never thought he would have to require.
That’s not to say we need a managerial firefighter – we don’t – but he knows what it’s like to be in and out of a situation like the one we suffered. It will actually be of benefit to him in a way to have had that experience – to at least appreciate where Reading FC have been.
There will be the dying embers of the Dai Yongge era still kicking around the club and he now has the task of convincing these players that those days are now gone.
A clean slate
As much as clean slates go it appears to be a studious wipe. Currently, we don’t know the status of Mikele Leigertwood as a coach. Hopefully he will be retained, even if it is as a link between the first team and the academy. He may drop back to the under-21s, but that is unclear.
Richardson alluded to James Beattie in joining his coaching team, but poor Danny Schofield seemed to have missed the edit! Probably just a nervous oversight, perhaps. It was also unclear if the “two more coaches” he mentioned included Schofield or the extra bodies were two and not one.
Not only that, but of the two coaches, they both have managerial experience to call upon. Suddenly, the interview had truly piqued my attention.
Previously, the view of Noel Hunt, Scott Marshall and Leigertwood could be described as penny-pinching and meagre. Maybe the board had fallen on their sword and realised that this number of coaches and their combined lack of experience was not going to cut it after all.
If that realisation had happened then they could not have been surprised when Richardson would want his own men – and more than two to boot.
Moreover, for this new board, they were probably in no position to quibble when they had already failed with their estimation of what they could effectively get away with previously.
When speaking to Richardson, he would have been well aware of what he was replacing and that he would need support from more people with more experience.
The failures of the new ownership were laid bare during those negotiations, I’m sure.
Those demands from Richardson would have been abundantly clear: if you want me to succeed then back me. If you don’t, I’ll walk away. Rob Couhig et al were probably not in the best position to argue. Hindsight always, always wins.
Philosophy
Otherwise, what did we learn from the new gaffer? His philosophy seems to be one of just pure “winning”, which on the surface seems a bit trite, but it does make sense. A sense of culture can only really be obtained when your craft has been honed. It stands to reason, really.
The famed Reading Way was coined only after something had been achieved, so Richardson’s view is largely the same. It can only be something after you’ve done something. I think that’s fair enough.
The repeated use of the word “galvanise” was quite apparent. Equally, “work ethic” and “honesty”. Of course, there are many words that could strike a chord with the fans and we’d either buy into it or call it out as bull droppings. Each to their own.
Overall, I have to say I was impressed. Richardson appears to be very confident, driven and knows what it takes to succeed. It wasn’t too hard to envisage him being a great ear for the players, if needed, but his other face could be stern or highly demanding.
When compared to Noel Hunt, who could come across as jovial and apologetic, Richardson seems like the bigger brother, who’s done a few tours and has the battle scars to show for it.
At the outset, Richardson might not be the manager we all wanted, but he could be the one we need.
