Leam Richardson had a good pre-season and, on the whole, managed to restore some faith from the fans. However, he needed to start with victories and good performances, but we’re yet to see Reading win a competitive game in 90 minutes since March.
There are nuances to that, of course, and this essentially was what split the fans in their reaction to Saturday’s 0-0 draw. Is this a continuation of the dross we saw last season? Or is that conclusion unfair?
For some fans, their answer to that question is emphatic. To others, it’s a bit more complex. Here’s how they reacted to the game…
For some, patience is neededI think how you’re feeling about Richardson and our direction now correlates pretty evidently with whether you were willing to give Richardson a clean slate going into the new season.
For some fans, it is a case of us being just two games into the season and, although it is clear that we need to improve, there have been enough signs from pre-season and the opening four games that we’re moving in the right direction.
For this camp, Saturday’s game was one we should’ve won, and would’ve been worthy winners if we’d found that goal…
2 games and people want the whole squad replaced, some of these lot are pathetic give it a couple months before wanting everyone at the club sacked #readingfchttps://t.co/aybc1Mvi0Q
— T 🇵🇸 (@4orty4twenty2) August 22, 2026Point on the road, better defensively, thought we had everything first half bar a goal. Wing was poor, hopefully he improves. Earthy looked neat and tidy when he came on. It's not panic stations by any means. Let's wait and see #ReadingFC
— JackOliverG (@JackOliverG) August 22, 2026I'm very clearly in a minority of thinking we played well today, got in behind several times on another day we finish those chances. Can't see any way he gets sacked unless we end up miles off but this team feels like it will gel soon we just need patience #readingfc
— hugh rfc vandel'isle (@HughIsle) August 22, 2026Poor result, even though we looked better then last season and could (kind of) see what we were trying to do.
A couple more signings in certain positions and the squad is there. Just makes you wonder, when is it going to click? #readingfcpic.twitter.com/fgcc7DKseX
Sounds like we were the better side but shot count suggests we didn't create enough, thoughts from those at the game? #readingfc
— Stephen Noakes (@Stephen_Noakes) August 22, 2026I think we looked much better today just didn't find the net. Should've been an easy 3 points but a clean sheet away is better than a loss. Onwards we go!#readingfc
— Christopher Hamblin (@ChrisH1871) August 22, 2026disappointing result. RFC edged it overall, but couldn’t score. Godwin-malife the only real positive. #readingfc
— Stevie p (@stevie_p1871) August 22, 2026Disappointing result, had some chances, but toothless up front, maybe Jack should have saved a goal from last weekend for this one, at least it’s a clean sheet and point on the road, and our first point of the season! Shame we don’t have a game next weekend! #readingfchttps://t.co/sbmmd2XTit
— James (@B3rt1e) August 22, 2026I think we looked much better today just didn't find the net. Should've been an easy 3 points but a clean sheet away is better than a loss. Onwards we go!#readingfc
— Christopher Hamblin (@ChrisH1871) August 22, 2026For others, it’s same old ReadingI think it’s fair to say that, although reaction was split, there were a good number more fans in this camp than the former.
It’s very tricky, and I’ll try to give my two cents in the conclusion, but Richardson’s performance last season was always going to have the fans on a short fuse this season.
The stats are objectively better reading than we saw previously, and if we’d scored I’m pretty confident we all come away with a vastly different opinion. But that’s a big if, too big for some…
Worst thing is he’s come out to the media and said Wimbledon away is tough etc. they finished 21st last season, makes you wonder what he’s saying to them in changing room. Clearly something that makes these performances seem acceptable ? #readingfc
— mitch (@mitchrfc1) August 22, 2026If Mr Couhig thinks this team is good enough to get promotion under this manager.
He is seriously deluded, we have more chance of going down to League 2 then going up to the Championship.
Should have sacked him at the end of last season, such an obvious thing to do #readingfc
Clean sheet away from home. Not sure why everyone’s so negative #readingfc
— Fraser White (@WhiteFraser) August 22, 2026Within the first 30 seconds –
“Wimbledon at home are a good team, not many come here and get a positive result”
Wimbledon finished 21st in the home form league table last season.
Why return back to these odd lies and cliches? 🤦🏼♂️ #ReadingFChttps://t.co/1QhE4X5Lm4
Ultimately, Richardson is never going to win over the fans. Its like staying a dead relationship.
The sooner we just admit it hasn't worked the better imo. #readingfc
We’re miles off promotion let alone the top 6. Can’t fault the player’s performances, the tactics just weren’t good enough. Yes we need strengthening, but we need a manager who is willing to take risks to win games. It doesn’t feel like Richardson wants to do that. #readingfc
— Richard Langley (@simply_langers) August 22, 20261 point from 6, two wins in the last 13 league games, no win since March. Nothing has changed. No progress. #readingfc
— Paolo (@Skeptichead) August 22, 2026When promotion is the ‘target’ do they mean for next season in league 2? #readingfc
— Ryan 🏴 (@106RyanRfc) August 22, 2026Lewis WingThere was another subplot to this game too, and that was the performance of Lewis Wing. As captain of the club, and someone who is as naturally gifted as he is, he’s always going to come under heavier scrutiny.
We all know he’s a player who can win a game in an instant, who can provide a moment of magic from nowhere. But would sacrificing those moments for perhaps a more coherent tactical fit be worth it? It seems some Loyal Royals are starting to think so, while others were quick to back the skipper…
Some of this short-termist, reactionary nonsense about Wing on the basis on two games is insane.#readingfc
— Tó's Right Foot (@UncommonNeutral) August 23, 2026I think if Wing stopped looking for the Hollywood ball 40-50% less we would look a lot better in possession.
Lets not forget he played a few balls yesterday which could have ended up in a goal, so I don't think you take that away fully.
Poor start but I have hope #ReadingFC
DROP LEWIS WING #readingfc
— Deck (@dsaund6) August 22, 2026#Readingfc Not really sure where the Wing hate is coming from. He does lose the ball a lot but hes basically the only way we create chances. Our game plan seems to be give it to wing and hope something happens. He has no support in terms of creating chances and making things happ
— Harry (@hf36___) August 22, 2026how many times have people called for wing to be dropped and then the next game instantly regretted it … he’s one of if not the best player in the league and there’s not dropping him … as a captain however that’s more of a talking point #readingfc
— OJ ©️ (@rfc_ollie) August 22, 2026Lewis Wing should be dropped. A million miles off what this team actually needs right now.#ReadingFC
— Alex Everson (@Readingfanman) August 22, 2026Don’t know what happened over pre season but wing isn’t the same player from last season. He just isn’t on it and
Has been a passenger in both games so far. Passes going everywhere, a shot today that nearly went for a throw in. Just poor. Needs a rest I reckon #readingfc
I wish football were simpler sometimes, but I do feel this is a very complex situation we find ourselves in.
For me, Richardson had (nearly) a clean slate going into this season. But there was always going to be a hangover from the absolute dross we had to endure for the second half of last season. I mentioned it in the TTE roundtable (subtle plug), but a return to toxicity and impatience was only ever going to be a few bad results away.
There is a murky grey area where all of our various opinions lie, but then there is the black-and-white matter that Rob Couhig has very publicly stated promotion is the only criteria for success this season. But then, it can also be argued that he hasn’t given the manager the right platform to hit that criteria with the lack of activity in the transfer window.
All in all, it’s a bit of a mess. And I’m not really sure where I stand on it all as of now.
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