Reading FC have the look of champions - McDermott

Anthony Smith • Published 2 Feb 2012 16:30 6 Comments

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BRIAN McDermott wants Reading to copy Manchester United and Queens Park Rangers in a bid to win promotion.

Royals' boss says his team could do a lot worse than follow the examples laid down by the reigning Premier League and Championship champions.

Both United and Rangers won their respective league titles last season despite criticism from some pundits about their style of play.

McDermott is the first to admit that his side have not been firing on all cylinders either, and that they are a long way off the 'silky football' he - and probably new owner Anton Zingarevich - craves. But they remain a mere six points adrift of the automatic promotion places, and Royals' boss says results outweigh performances at this stage of the campaign.

"I think we've got so much more to come," he declared. "We're not playing as well as we would like to play if I'm honest.

"But the only thing that matters in that situation is to win. We're getting results - we've won eight of our last 11 games.

"However, are we playing the kind of silky football we want to play? Not yet, but that will come over time. We are trying to build something here."

And he stressed: "We feel we need to pass the ball better but, if you aren't doing that, then win. It's very simple.

"That's what the good teams do. Apparently, Manchester United didn't play very well last season, that's what I was told. But who won the Premier League?

"It was also said that QPR weren't that great a team last season either. But who won the [Championship] title?"

Last weekend's scrappy 1-0 win over 10-man Bristol City leaves Royals just a point outside the play-off positions.

McDermott's men climbed up to fourth courtesy of Saturday's hard-fought victory.

But they were without a midweek fixture and dropped four places after Birmingham City and Blackpool both won and Hull City drew.

Reading now head to struggling Doncaster Rovers this Saturday at the end of a busy week in the transfer market that saw McDermott bolster his squad with the Zingarevich-funded signings of Jason Roberts, Tomasz Cywka and Matt Connolly, to add to the earlier capture of Karl Sheppard.

And with Jimmy Kebe's contract dispute now resolved, McDermott can focus on the remaining 18 league games and fighting for a top-two spot.

"You've got to do the right things when you are not playing particularly well," he argued. "That's what 46 games are all about, especially in the Championship.

"We've got to learn to kill games better than we did against Bristol City last Saturday when we were up against 10 men. We've also got to pass it better - we know all of those things. But the most important thing is to win."

While Reading made three signings this week, they missed out on Doncaster's Billy Sharp, who has signed for Southampton.

It means the talented striker will not face Royals this Saturday. "Southampton have taken him," said McDermott. "He obviously won't play against us which is a blow for Doncaster."

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

hoopsa
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Feb 2, 18:30
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Alright fake hoops. Or should I say ex hoops what with half your team our old players. Legitewood was always alright for us not nothing spectacular. Gorks and Connolly on the other hand were the base of our championship winning season. We had the meanest defence in the league that year and those two played at CB together for the majority. I always liked Gorks and was a little dissapointed we sold him. More of your no nonense defender whereas you'll see Connolly likes to play a bit also being an ex gooner. Good solid foundation there for you chaps at that level & I wish you well. Much rather be travelling hopefully next year to you than bloody Cardiff or something! But regarding your gaffers comment about us, if we weren't great, what deos that say about the rest, hell, we beat you twice with 10 men!

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JohnThe Slot
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Feb 2, 18:54
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Well said that man above.Im a Rangers fan with a soft spot for the second best hoops(I come from Slough,halfway)Brian McDermott went to my school in Slough so yeh,get up there so we can beat you again

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Superhoop
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Feb 2, 20:23
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You presume we,ll stay up then?!!! Yes lets hope Reading come up this time, at least they,re only half-hooped now so only half fake !!!

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Notfakehoops
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Feb 3, 03:04
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You refer to reading as the 'fake' hoops, wasn't reading fc established in 1871? With qpr established more than a decade later? Granted qpr are likely the better side currently but surely, chronologically speaking, qpr are the fake hoops. Not that I have anything against qpr, or reading for that matter.

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LoftusRoadRunner
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Feb 3, 07:05
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Not that we had them first arguement again, you didn't wear hoops for donkey's years whereas QPR almost always have. Singing QPR songs didn't endear either. Royals not Rs don't you know. Keep your own identity rather than acquiring someone else's. Nice new ground but not an exciting place nor is it in a vibrant place full of pubs and restaurants. Anyway, good luck for the rest of the season, winning the title is pretty damn good isn't it!!!! Three ex Rs should see you alright.

As for McDermott's comments, he's right, you don't win titles only playing pretty football, you win titles with grit and determination with no little amount of skill. The desire not lose was self evident in Warnock's Rangers and no mean feat with the Faurling backdrop from March, takes some special characters to do that. You have some of them.

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LoyalRoyal1871
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Feb 3, 08:47
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Qpr first had hoops in 1892, but these were green and white hoops, you didnt change to blue hoops until 1925! we first had blue hoops in 1872. Maybe all you plastic qpr fans that have commented should read your history, its even on your official website.

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