I've been following Reading for a long time, both home and away. I was there when we got relegated to the old Division 2 (League 1), finishing bottom of the league. I was there again, for the many play-off defeats and the eventual return to Division 1, 4 years later with a draw at Brentford. I was there in 2005/06 when we smashed the points record, getting 106 in a single season for our first ever promotion to the Premier League. And then again the following season when we finished 8th, missing out on European football by 1 point. I knew then, that this was the best football I'd ever see at the Madejski stadium.
Doing the double over Manchester City, beating Liverpool 3-1 at home, thrashing West Ham 6-0. Incredible moments. Incredible times. Incredible memories.
Fast forward 15 years and an ugly away day defeat to non-league Kidderminster Harriers. Nasty scenes at the game, with frustration at how shit we are, and how badly managed we are starting to boil over...
It was clear to me more than ever, that the manager had to get sacked. If he didn't, we'd get relegated.
Following that defeat, we lost another 7 games in a row including a humiliating 7-0 thumping at the hands of Fulham. Repeatedly throwing away leads and eventually picking up 1 point away to Peterborough on Wednesday night. Peterborough being the team sitting 2 points behind us in the race to avoid the drop.
No surprises then that after every match now, we see protests.
The manager won't resign knowing that when he gets sacked, he'll get a lovely big payday. But we're already in trouble with Financial Fair Play (which is why we have a transfer embargo and 6 point deduction) so we can't afford to sack him.
So we're stuck with a manager we don't want. He's stuck in a job that he won't leave.
There are 15 games left this season. I can't see us winning any of them. Our last game of the season is away at Luton, a ground I've never been to before. The last match is always "inflatables day" in the away end. A day of fun. Something tells me this one won't be much fun.