Published: Thursday, 7th August, 2008 17:00
`Fairytale season was one-off.'
By Anthony Smith
Comments (0)
Print Article
Record breaker: Ivar Ingimarsson helped Reading accumulate 106 points in the Championship three years ago, a total he believes will never be bettered.
IVAR Ingimarsson insists Reading’s 106 point record will never be broken – not even by the current team.
Royals made history by romping to the Championship title with that massive haul in 2005/06.
They lost just twice in the league all season and they also rattled in a whopping 99 goals along the way.
And while Ingimarsson insists he and his team-mates will be striving to repeat their incredible achievement, the chances of them accomplishing it are extremely slim.
“I think it will be very difficult for any team to achieve what we did that season, and that includes us,” admitted Ingimarsson. “It was a pretty unique season.
“Obviously we will try and match that but to go 46 games and lose only twice would be a fairytale. It would be plain stupid to even say we can do that again.
“If it happens, great. But I’m not counting on that. I think we will have to be able to rise up again after more defeats this time and that is going to be the big test.
“How you respond to setbacks is always the key. If you are going to sulk, lie down and feel sorry for yourself you will go nowhere.
“If you look at it as a one-off and push on again you will be fine.”
Royals are among the early favourites expected to challenge for promotion along with fellow relegated clubs Birmingham City and Derby County.
Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bristol City and Reading’s opening opponents, Nottingham Forest, are also fancied.
“You will always have favourites and you will also have teams who sneak up on you,” suggested Ingimarsson.
“In my opinion there are between 10 and 12 teams who all have the money, the players, the stadia and the fan base to do it. That’s why it’s one of the hardest leagues around. It’s really, really tough.
“The manager can make the difference but it’s also to do with how the whole squad gels together because when the season is so long you need everybody fit.”
And Ingimarsson argues that past experience of the lower division will also be a benefit to Reading over the course of the campaign.
“Maybe we’re a little bit different from the other relegated clubs because many of us here have already played in this division,” said the Icelandic defender. “I’ve played in the second and third divisions and a load of the other lads have as well.
“It’s not as though there are any alien places we have to visit. We’ve done it before and we will have to be up for all of those games, every single one of them.”
Ingimarsson, who will be 31 later this month, looks to have cemented his place in the heart of Reading’s defence for the season opener at Forest leaving Michael Duberry and Ibrahima Sonko to battle it out for the other available spot.
Andre Bikey will add further competition in that position when he returns from the Olympics with Cameroon.
“There’s plenty of competition at centre-half with Bikey coming back and Sonko as well,” said Ingimarsson. “They will all be ready to go.
“We have a lot of options in that position and it’s the same with central midfield. You’ve just got to be on your toes, play well every week and hope you stay in the team.
“Pre-season has gone quickly for me. It’s steadily increased in difficulty until the Aston Villa game and I thought we did okay.
“You’re not really worried about results in pre-season. It’s to improve your fitness and understanding with your team-mates. From that point of view ours has been good and has been steadily getting better.
“Now we’re going to jump into the season, play well and hopefully enjoy the journey. The aim is to get ourselves promoted again. That’s not going to be easy but that has to be our goal and we don’t have to hide that.”
Sunday’s opening clash against newly-promoted Forest will give fans an early insight into Reading’s prospects for the season.
Ingimarsson declared: “Forest will be on a high after being promoted and with us coming down from the Premier League it could be one of the biggest games of the season.
“It’s all about how well you are mentally prepared. If you are ready for it and up for it like I think we will be, then I believe we will be a very strong team in this division.”
Further Details
