While the likes of Charlton, Sheffield United and Watford have shown signs of a relegation hangover in recent seasons, Reading have managed to keep their momentum going in the Championship - largely, because they have had less upheaval.
There had threatened to be some disruption when Nicky Shorey and Ibrahim Sonko exited the Madejski but fortunately, the Royals managed to keep Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle and James Harper.
Even more important for them though - and it was thanks to fan pressure - was holding on to manager Steve Coppell, thus ensuring vital continuity.
Coppell: cool, clam and collected
Pragmatic, thoughtful and studious - an economics degree isn't to be sniffed at! Steve's a master of the game and the game plan.
The biggest accolade you can get as a manager is the League Managers' Association Manager of the Year, and he got the nod two years in a row, which speaks volumes.
I've not met anyone in the game who hasn't had a good word to say about him; he never gets outraged, he never has a knee-jerk reaction and there always seems to be a thought process with him.
Pragmatic, thoughtful and studious - an economics degree isn't to be sniffed at! Steve's a master of the game and the game plan.
Peter Beagrie
Quotes of the week
Reading v QPR
5.15pm, Sat, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
To send Peter a question, send an email to skysportsclub@bskyb.com
Not surprisingly, his name has cropped up a few times when the media has speculated about homegrown men who take the most scrutinised hotseat of all: the England team.
Fabio Capello is doing a great job but, knowing the sort of guy Steve is, if he were to ever get that sort of opportunity, it certainly wouldn't faze him.
Revelation
His signings have been spot on for Reading. Noel Hunt has been a revelation; him and Stephen are both on six goals so now the brothers Hunt are having their own competition within a competition! Add that to Kevin Doyle's tally and you've got a recipe for success.
Steve has a young, vibrant team with plenty of power and pace to exploit any defensive deficiences, as we saw in their 6-0 thumping of Sheffield Wednesday.
With their front men firing on all cylinders, from my point of view, the gaffer won't be too concerned about permanently moving on Leroy Lita, even though he struck a great hat-trick for Norwich on Tuesday.
If they can get a decent fee for him before his contract expires at the end of the season, I think it would be a move to benefit both the club and the individual because I think he'd gone a bit stale.
Leroy didn't really have any major bearing on proceedings when he came back from a loan spell at Charlton and with Shane Long and the youngster Simon Church champing at the bit, he's had his nose pushed out of joint.
He's at an age and a stage in his career where he needs first-team football - he can't be guaranteed that at Reading - so now's a big chance for him to put himself in the shop window.
Momentum
Make no bones about it, it's a big season for the boys from Berkshire.
John Madejski has talked about selling, but only to a buyer with enough financial muscle to make sure their momentum continues, and there are proposed plans to expand the stadium to accommodate 38,000.
But both those developments are reliant on Reading getting promotion, when, considering the financial climate, they will be a far more viable proposition for a buyer.
First and foremost though, they've got to get past QPR and they will be desperate to maintain that impressive 100 per cent home record.
It doesn't augur well for the Rs when you consider they have only won once and scored just twice on their travels - only Barnsley have netted less.
Reading have won the last seven meetings between the two sides so everything is stacked against QPR but they can use that to their advantage.
Fitz Hall has been playing really well at the back and as long as they can stay in the game, in Dexter Blackstock they have a man who can create something out of nothing.
But I don't envy Iain Dowie, who has been under pressure since the season kicked off. He's a bright bubbly character but will media murmerings of Roberto Mancini prove more than just that?
Iain will be hoping that the phrase 'there's no smoke without fire' doesn't ring true on this occasion.
Peter answers your questions...
OFFSIDE TRAPPED
My question concerns Wolves' 2-1 win over Coventry. For Wolves' second goal the scorer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's momentum carried him out of play, yet in second phase of the move he comes back on to pitch behind Coventry's last defender thus gaining an advantage by being in that position just in time to knock the ball into the net. In my opinion he is offside. Referee Steve Bennett allowed the goal on advice from his assistant and Wolves went on to win the game. What was your opinion? Regards, James Wootton (Birmingham City Fan)
PETER REPLIES: For me, it was offside, James. He's been off the pitch, come from an offside position and knocked it in the back of the net. But, you've got to look at the laws of the game. The referee has stated that, as far as he was concerned, it was Ebanks-Blake's momentum that took him off the pitch and at that time he wasn't seeking an advantage. The laws of the game state that a player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his teammates, he, in the opinion of the referee, is involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with an opponent, or by gaining an advantage being in that position. The shot invariably goes in and at that stage Ebanks-Blake's momentum has indeed taken him off the pitch and he's not looking to gain an advantage - he's reacting off the goalkeeper's save. But I think this is where common sense should prevail. If a player's off the pitch and then he comes back onto the pitch to get involved in a goalscoring situation (and gets the final touch!) it should be ruled out; how can you say he's not interfering with play?! We seem to have all these rues but there's still a grey area. It was really harsh on Coventry and there will be players, managers and fans up and down the country scratching their heads as to why it's been allowed. Hindsight's a wonderful thing but it would be nice to see some referees come out in front of the cameras when they've made a genuine mistake and say, 'Look, this is what I saw, this is why I gave it'. Players make mistakes, fans in their everyday jobs make mistake; yes, referees are held partly accountable in the sense that they'll be demoted or given a break but we have got the opportunity to use all our camera technology and encourage refs to come out and explain any mistake they make. I think it would lessen that demonisation of referees because there's certainly no malice or forethought that goes into any of their decision; major decisions, I should say because I've had a few free-kicks go against me because I've been mouthing off to the referee; they've give you a look that says, 'If you don't shut up, this is going to continue for the rest of the game' and you learn your lesson!
RICK OF THE ROVERS
How do you see Rickie Lambert's future? Will he stay at Bristol Rovers if they don't clinch promotion? Diana Brown (Bristol Rovers fan)
PETER REPLIES: I hate to say it, Diana, but I think you're right to be worried! If he continues his goalscoring form - he's already got 11 this term and he got about 18 for Rochdale from midfield - and Bristol Rovers continue to let them in at the other end, he'll be off. His future will definitely be determined by how well Rovers do; promotion might just be the only way to keep him. It's a hotbed of football in that area, the club has great support and there's potential to get thousands more through the turnsiles so let's hope for your sake, Diana, that your boys get their defence sorted out and you can hold on to him!
To send Peter a question, send an email to skysportsclub@bskyb.com or use the feedback form below...
Comments (2)
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Erik Orrgarde (Reading fan) says...
Common URZ. Tuesday was the worst home display of the season for us. Doncaster were organiszed but we definitely didn't fire on all cylinders. Tomorrow is another chance to perhaps go above Wolves (if results go our way) or cut Birminghams point loss at the top of the league.
Posted 08:56 24th October 2008
Dean Cain (Southport fan) says...
hi Peter, i have been really intrested in the QPR situation this year. I have never been a person who watches games in the Championship, would rather watch football from abroad, thats not too criticise the league, because i have always known it to be one of the hardest leagues in the world, certainly there is more teams competing for promotion than any were else. This is why i didnt think QPR could achieve promotion so quickly. The reason i am wrighting is to get your view on my theory that players who are brought into QPR dont seem to try or to want it as much as new signings at other teams, my thinking is that in there heads they no, if they get promoted then an influx of top (italian/spanish or were ever) players will come in and take there places.
Posted 08:18 24th October 2008
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