To hell with a Plan B, Reading FC must get it right from the start

Reading have conceded 15 goals in their past six matches. Credit: Eddie Greville

By Russell Kempson

It is fair to say the appointment of Paul Clement as the new Reading FC manager has been met with mixed reactions.

On a positive note, most Royals observers agreed that Jaap Stam had to go.

One win in 18 league matches, no win in nine, no home victory since late November, 20th place in the Championship, three points off relegation - the stats were seriously ugly.

Stam had lost the plot as well as the players, the fans and the boardroom. His position was nigh on untenable and there was almost a palpable sense of relief when the Dutchman finally left the premises last week.

I suspect he was mightily relieved too. In recent months, he appeared increasingly haunted by his inability to turn around Royals’ fortunes.

And yet, on a less positive note, there are already many critics willing to pick holes in Clement.

He's too pragmatic, they say. He does it by numbers, not by instinct. He prefers organisation to flair. He has no Plan B.

And despite a glittering CV as an assistant manager, working alongside Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Clement is possibly a better No.2 than a No.1.

Clement has worked under Carlo Ancelotti in the past. Credit: Getty Images

He lasted only eight months as head coach of Derby County before being sacked in February 2016, and he was dismissed by Swansea City in December last year with the Swans bottom of the Premier League.

However, those facts barely tell the full stories.

Derby were fifth in the second tier when Clement was axed - a victim more of internal club politics than poor management.

And he inspired Swansea to an unlikely yet impressive late escape from Premier League relegation last season, though he was unable to maintain that improvement this time around.

Frankly, with only eight matches left this term, Reading could do with a healthy dose of pragmatism and organisation. And, for the moment, to hell with a Plan B.

It’s Plan A or nothing and it has to be spot on from the off – starting with the game against Queens Park Rangers at Madejski Stadium on Friday (5.30pm).

Paramount for Clement is sorting out Royals’ woeful defence. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 league matches and have conceded 15 goals in the past six.

In four of those six, they have let in three goals – hardly conducive to securing a victory.

Reading drew 2-2 with Leeds United in their last home game at Madejski Stadium. Credit: Eddie Greville

I’ve lost count of the times I have watched the TV highlights – more like the lowlights – of the Reading games and been appalled by their defending, individually and collectively.

Mistake follows error follows cock-up. It’s like a sick version of Groundhog Day. Anyway, the deed has been done. Exit Stam, enter Clement.

It’s nearing the last chance saloon for Royals and the new man at the top can’t possibly do any worse than what occurred immediately before him, however you view his arrival. Or can he?

The Good Friday contest with QPR might just give us a few early clues.

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