Reading FC

Reading FC stand-in boss Brian McDermott
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Reading FC's McDermott aims for a Royal Christmas

By Matthew Sadler
December 25, 2009

Brian McDermott admits he cannot wait for his first home game in charge of Royals when Swansea City visit Madejski Stadium on Boxing Day (3pm kick-off).

Reading’s caretaker boss took over the reins from Brendan Rodgers for last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Bristol City.

But the 38-year-old insists managing the side in front of their own fans during the festive period will be extra special.

He said: “I am really looking forward to it, even more so because it is a Boxing Day game.

“Christmas matches are always special and there should be a good crowd.

“People want to get out of the house and watch football after Christmas Day and I am sure Swansea will bring a good few down.

“We will not be thinking about what has gone in the past. We are focussed on what we have got have coming up – that’s all we can deal with and affect.”

The bad weather has affected Royals’ training preparations for the Swansea game with yesterday’s planned training session cancelled.

But the players are due back in today.

McDermott added: “We could have gone in the Dome yesterday, but it was the travelling side of things and it took me six hours to get home on Monday night, so we didn’t think we should risk it. It’s not ideal and we have to get on with it the best we can. We will hopefully get the players in for the rest of the week ahead of the Swansea game as not having a grass pitch to train is a bit of an issue.

Visitors Swansea go into the game on the back of a 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday and currently lie in fifth place.

But, despite lying in 21st place McDermott insists Royals will take the game to their opponents.

“I know them well enough and have seen them a lot of times,” he said.

“We want to go out and get the win as we are playing in front of our own fans.

“It’s our stadium and our fans and when we are out on the pitch the onus is on us to take the game to them.

“They play a certain way. We know who their players are, but they have to think about ours as well.

“We are concentrating on what we have to do to get the win – we have to take the game to them.”

McDermott insists he has yet to speak to Sir John Madejski about the future and about plans for the January transfer window.

He said: “We haven’t spoke about what will happen. He (Sir John) has asked me to look after things and that is what I will do.”

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Most recent user comments 7 of 7

Give him the job to the end of the season with a rolling 12 months if we stay up. He's cheap (so fits the bill) and won't do any worse than the previous 'attempt'. Let's be realistic, if we can't even afford to give Gooding a coaching role then we arn't going to attract a manager with reputation or ambition (from outside the club that is) with zero cash to spend are we?

Fatbellywobblebottom, Shinfield
26/12/2009 at 11:32

Same old stuff just another day at Reading FC, lets see how this game will go????????????????????????????????????????????

Expom, Christchurch New Zealand
26/12/2009 at 11:18

How can anyone head up an organisation he says he has wanted to sell for 20 years and expect to get 'team' results? Junior staff are the only ones left who will work for people like this.

Am I right to think that our new caretaker manager is the scout who let us have poor little Tabb mark Moses from QPR, a man a foot taller, faster and more skilled than anyone else on the park. Tabb didn't stand a chance, Mc Dermott doesn't stand a chance and we, the fans?

Times will only get better when a certain Chairman leaves - he knows he'll be happier and I'm not renewing my season ticket for another year of background goings on like this year and last. Enough is enough.

The poor playing and coaching staff and fans don't stand a chance while things remain as they are.

J82, J82
26/12/2009 at 07:56

How long have we all been saying about the funds to buy new players.

Expom, Christchurch New Zealand
26/12/2009 at 01:47

Please do not appoint him as manager.

Dan The Man
25/12/2009 at 16:20

"McDermott insists he has yet to speak to Sir John Madejski about the future and about plans for the January transfer window.

He said: “We haven’t spoke about what will happen. He (Sir John) has asked me to look after things and that is what I will do.”"

Oh brilliant! Don't they realise how close January 1st is?!

Still, I'm sure not talking about the transfer window and then finding out it's too late or we've been beaten to the players that we want will suit Madejski just fine! I suspect he may be wondering just how he breaks the news to his latest manager that there is not enough money available for him to get the players the team clearly needs!