A defeat and a couple of injuries: welcome back, competitive fixtures, how we've missed you

Monday evening saw us start as we hopefully don't mean to go on, the U21s slipping to a 4-2 defeat to Reading as two players were added to the injury list.

In the company of a whole host of scouts (as well as Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth, Royals first-teamers Sean Morrison and Nick Blackman, manager Nigel Adkins and former owner John Madejski), I'd been looking forward to assessing Olivier Kemen on his competitive debut. But the French teenager, until Loic Remy's arrival our only summer signing, lasted only 38 minutes before pulling up with what looked like a hamstring injury. Prior to that, he'd proven himself practically indistinguishable from Master T, with whom he was beginning to form a tough-tackling (sometimes overzealously so) and athletic central midfield.

The game got off to an explosive start, with two goals apiece in the opening quarter. Master T's spot-kick and 16-year-old debutant Adam Armstrong's slotted finish were sandwiched by a pair of sumptuous strikes from Gozie Ugwu. Armstrong was involved in some neat interplay with Adam Campbell, who will have caught the attention of a few onlooking scouts (from Carlisle, perhaps) in the first half in particular with some darting runs and neat lay-offs, before fading from view in the second period. The diminutive strikeforce did leave us vulnerable at Reading corners, though.

We came out after the interval with some purpose, but by the time Kemen's replacement Brandon Miele was himself forced to limp off, the Royals had seized control. Jak Alnwick showed some good handling in catching a couple of powerful drives cleanly, and our defenders' willingness to prostrate themselves in the line of fire suggested time spent in training with Saylor. But we were struggling to cope with our hosts' trio of rangy, pacy forwards Ogwu, Dominic Samuel and Jordan Obita, and though chances still continued to come our way, it was little surprise when Reading retook the lead through Lawson D'Ath. Samuel then added a fourth as we were caught out pressing for an equaliser in stoppage time.

For Master T, what a difference a year makes. Last season he featured in a number of first-team games, sometimes as a starter, and yet last night he failed to stamp his authority on an admittedly fluid frontline in the U21 league. In the second half, without Kemen for company, he too often missed tackles or was nowhere to be seen as Royals forwards advanced into the space between our midfield and defence. It was telling that, after emerging for the second period, he had to send manager Peter Beardsley back to the dressing room to fetch his captain's armband...

Oh Danny boys

Danny Simpson may have managed only two goals in 138 appearances for Newcastle, but it's taken him just two games to get off the mark for his new side QPR. Tulisa's ex grabbed the second goal as the Hoops comfortably defeated League Two Exeter in the League Cup.

On the subject of old boys finding the back of the net, it escaped my attention (and therefore mention in my round-up of the weekend's action) that Reading's winner on their return to the Championship was struck by Danny Guthrie. Having been a peripheral figure under Brian McDermott, the savagely shorn midfielder appears to be featuring in Nigel Adkins' plans.

Royal blues

Newcastle Utd 1 - 2 Reading

The signs were so good: a Reading side without a win away from home all season, the return of Dreamboat to our midfield, and a home debut for our new right-back.

For 45 minutes it was all going so right. A three-man midfield of Sylvain Marveaux, Vurnon Anita and Dreamboat was easily controlling the game and creating plenty of chances for Papiss Cisse, only for our Senagalese striker to come up against a Reading keeper in fine form.

Thankfully, though, class told and when Marveaux was fouled on a charge towards the goal, the scene was set for Dreamboat to bring a little je ne sais quoi to proceedings and curl an exquisite free kick over the wall giving us a thoroughly deserved lead.

At half-time, Brain McDermott clearly had words with his Reading side because they emerged a reinvigorated team and began to force their way back into the match. Quite what the Silver Fox said to his charges in anyone's guess, but it clearly didn't have the desired effect.

With 65 minutes gone the Silver Fox made his first substitution and withdrew Marveaux in place of Perchinho, presumably with a mind on protecting our slender one-goal lead rather than continuing to push for a second.

By contrast, Reading withdrew former Magpie Danny Guthrie and threw on striker Adam le Fondre - a move which paid off instantly as he evaded Mike Williamson and bundled in a cross to draw Reading back on level terms.

With the home side reeling, the Silver Fox was then forced into a second change with Dreamboat perhaps unsurprisingly starting to struggle, and subsequent reports suggesting he may have picked up a slight injury. He removed our midfield maestro and brought on Master T amidst a chorus of boos from a now disgruntled St James' Park unhappy at the combination of two defensive midfielders on for our creative core despite the side steadily being overcome by a now invigorated Reading side.

Sure enough it was Reading, and Le Fondre, who added a second - latching on to a mis-hit shot to fire the second in from a seemingly impossible angle.

At that stage, we threw on Obertan Kenobi, who fired over when well placed and there was still time for Papiss Cisse to miss his fourth golden chance of the afternoon as he blazed over having sprung the offside trap.

We are now the only side in the top flight without an away win this season, and well and truly in the shit. With ten days before we face fellow strugglers Aston Villa, we need to regroup, reinforce and resolve the ongoing questions which exist over Sideshow Bob's future. If we could also get Saylor back to full fitness (on the bench for this game, but apparently not actually fit to play) and also nurse Dreamboat back from whatever knock he collected, the future might look a little brighter.  If we don't, then frankly it could get a whole lot darker before the dawn.

Reading fans' perspectives: Hob Nob Anyone?,  The Tilehurst End

Other reports: BBC, Guardian

Royal rumble

Ahead of today's crunch relegation encounter with Reading, we caught up with Royals fan Lanterne Rouge of The Two Unfortunates for his thoughts.

How do you assess Reading’s season so far? What were your pre-season ambitions? 

It’s been a reality check to end all reality checks. I think that after performing well when the club was last promoted in 2006, people thought the club would hold their own but early on in the first game against Stoke the gap was apparent and an early hiding by Spurs really set me thinking. True, I think to finish seventeenth was always the aim and that is still achievable but the team has been giving 110% every match and yet that has still only been good enough to notch three wins. There has been an abject lack of quality in the side and the majority of opposing teams have fully capitalised.

Best and worst results of the season to date?

The 2-1 win over Everton came as a relief after the long winless start and it should be noted that Royals have done best against the sides that play less pleasing football – the Toffees and West Ham among them. As for the worst, the quality of the opposition was excellent but that 3-1 home defeat against Tottenham could well have seen the club concede three times that number of goals.

How has Brian McDermott adapted to life in the top flight? 

Overall, I think he’s done as well as he could have done even if there have been moments where the team has appeared naïve. Put simply, players of true Premier League quality don’t really want to come to the club for the wages on offer so he has had to make do with what he has. Tactically, he has struggled a little though – persisting with 4-4-2 for too long after it had become clear that it’s an outmoded system. In recent weeks, a reversion to 4-5-1 and a more defensive approach has seen improvement.

Of your summer signings, who’s shone? And who’s struggled? 

The main problem is that the summer signings have not been an improvement on the players already at the club. Nicky Shorey has perhaps performed best while Garath McCleary has done the business in cameos. Despite three goals of late Pavel Pogrebnyak has been disappointing although the service he has received has been very poor. As for ex-Magpie Danny Guthrie, some competent recent performances don’t hide a season plagued by attitude problems and a tendency to try and do too much on the pitch – his attempted Hollywood passes mark him out as a poor man’s Stevie Gerrard.

What do you make of the January recruits so far, and what do you still need? 

They have been very low key and Daniel Carriço suffered the ignominy of being hauled off at half-time on his debut after an Ali Dia-style performance. Hope Akpan might be expected to get some tackles in which is needed (even if Premier League referees don’t allow them) and Stephen Kelly should solidify a back four that has been abysmal. Latterly, Stoppila Sunzu, rumoured to be joining from TP Mazembe, looks a slightly more exciting signing.

How important was Madejski to the club? Do the new Russian owners fill you with optimism or dread? 

He was important because he saved the club back in the 90s when it looked like it would go out of business. No matter the poor displays this campaign, the team’s current position is miraculous. I’m cynical about the owners as one has to be considering the shadiness of their backgrounds – at least Zingarevich has spoken to the press but the whole history of big business in Russia since the fall of the Berlin Wall has been a dark one and it isn’t something I am comfortable being associated with.

How would you assess Newcastle so far this season? 

Cabaye has obviously been a big loss but I think there is a sense that the club punched well above its weight and early form in 2012-13 was more indicative of the true level of ability at the club. That, unfortunately, has led to poor attitudes here and there and the strike force of Ba and Cisse have provided well-documented problems for the management. 21 points is obviously unacceptable and is a total Reading had a full month before this date when they were last relegated.

Which players do you admire/fear the most in the Newcastle side?

I understand that Cabaye might return while Cisse remains a major threat.

What areas do you think are weak and ripe for exploitation? 

I think the plan will be to defend in depth and hope the Toon Army gets on the home team’s backs – a stolen 1-0 win will be the aim.

What’s your prediction for the game? 

I think a nervy 1-0 win for the Toon is the most likely outcome.

Quote of the day

"I am bitterly disappointed not to play. I am trying to fit into the direct style of play the manager wants. I pass too much at the moment, which is my biggest asset. I understand what the manager wants but stopping habits like going and getting the ball from the back four is difficult."

One you may have missed (we did): Danny Guthrie's Twitter outburst after being somewhat surprisingly omitted from Reading's starting XI against us. We would have been happy to keep the midfielder, but he decided to pursue more regular first-team football elsewhere - perhaps it's dawning on him that the grass isn't greener.

In fairness to Brian McDermott, he's not alone in his assessment of Guthrie. Responding to my recent piece for The Two Unfortunates reflecting on Reading (amongst others), Royals supporter and TTU proprietor Lanterne Rouge opined: "Guthrie might be a poor man’s Gerrard in his over reliance on the Hollywood pass".

Ups and downs

Not Toon-related, but Saturday's trip to the Madejski to witness Reading at first hand occasioned this post assessing the starts made to the 2012-13 season by the Royals and the five other teams either promoted from or relegated to the Championship. It was a bit upsetting having to be complimentary about Fat Sam, but there was at least the consolation of getting to mention Kevin Nolan being the Mackems' bogeyman.

A helping hand

Reading 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd

A 2-2 draw away from home, the point salvaged late and in controversial and decidedly fortuitous circumstances by a Demba Ba brace - sound familiar? For Goodison Park a fortnight ago, read the Madejski yesterday, though on this occasion we were grateful to the officials for failing to spot a crucial handball rather than to award a clear goal to our opponents. We were also less deserving of avoiding defeat.

The Silver Fox's plans were hit by the absence of both Sideshow Bob and Dreamboat, the former having experienced a recurrence of his hamstring strain and the latter suffering from a mouth infection following the removal of his wisdom teeth. Given his past history, perhaps the Frenchman would be advised to steer well clear of dentists in future... That meant that Saylor and Mike Williamson continued their recent partnership in central defence, while Doppelgangers Mr T and Gael Bigirimana formed a decidedly defensive-looking central midfield duo.

As a result we lined up with a 4-4-2 formation, Spidermag and HBA operating on the flanks - a formation which has regularly failed to get the best out of our forwards and which in the first half once again didn't work. Though both Mr T and Bigirimana enjoyed decent enough games in their customary roles, Dreamboat's creativity was sorely missed. HBA was peripheral to the action, trying to take on too many players when he did get the ball, and though we looked to carry some threat on the break we couldn't fashion any chances of note. Spidermag and Papiss Cisse both shot high and wide from distance, while Saylor and Cisse couldn't quite make contact when a free-kick caused consternation in the Royals' six-yard area.

Meanwhile the home side - who had, to our relief, left Danny Guthrie on the bench - had the lion's share of possession and territory without ringing many alarm bells. That said, Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak started to impose himself more on the game - and centre-backs Saylor and Williamson - as the half wore on, forcing Steve Harper into one superb tip-over from a powerful header. Overall, though, the first 45 minutes were instantly forgettable, and I was left feeling envious of the two young lads in front of me playing with their Spiderman toys throughout - at least they were entertained.

Slightly surprisingly, the Silver Fox sent out the same side for the second period, and when the first change came, on 56 minutes, it was enforced. Saylor departed with a knock, James Tavernier's arrival pushing Perchinho into the centre - and two minutes later Mali winger Jimmy Kebe, utterly anonymous in the first half, jabbed in a low shot that wrong-footed both Perchinho and Harper.

To say we were stung into a response would be an understatement. Less than sixty seconds had elapsed when Mr T floated a beautiful through-ball for Ba to lash home spectacularly on the volley in front of the away end. Relief - but not for long. Three minutes later, Royals skipper Jobi McAnuff swung in a left-wing cross and Noel Hunt, whose impressive workrate and closing-down had aggravated us all afternoon, stole in front of Perchinho to glance a header past Harper.

Up went the goal celebration music again (along with the mascot delivering pizza to spectators at half-time, a signal that Reading retain a Football League club mentality) and at last there was some noise and atmosphere. Credit to the home supporters for an impressive ignorance of the concept of irony, asking us why we didn't just go back to our "shithole" while seemingly under the impression that a wasteland of roundabouts and business parks offers vistas to rival Rome and Paris...

Reading looked to have got a grip of the game, their work ethic triumphing over our supposedly superior players' sluggishness. Our hosts remained fragile at the back, though, and as on Wednesday the introduction of Shane Ferguson proved key. Bigirimana's departure meant Spidermag moved into a more central role, with the young Northern Irishman afforded an opportunity to torment Royals right-back Shaun Cummings which he seized with both hands. And a hand was indeed critical in the equaliser, Ferguson's cross knocked home by a flying Ba. Our free-scoring striker led with his head and the ball flashed into the net, so, though an understandably irritated Brian McDermott labelled it "a blatant error", the officials could be forgiven for not spotting that the crucial contact was with his hand. Like his manager, Ba had the good grace to confess - though only in the post-match interview rather than at the time.

That should have been our cue to go on and win the game, having both the momentum and quality to do so, but it was the home side who came closest to securing the three points that their performance (and ours) merited. Veteran substitute Jason Roberts drew a superb save from Harper and also had a shot deflected behind for a corner, while McAnuff spanked a curling shot off the far post, but we clung on for a point.

McDermott declared himself "gutted", and we were certainly unfortunate that Reading, fired up by Wednesday's League Cup win at QPR, served up easily their best Premier League display of the season. It made for an uncomfortable return to an old stamping ground for the Silver Fox, who conceded "Reading gave us a good going over today". The first-half formation was his responsibility, but injuries were partly to blame and he couldn't account for the below-par performances of too many of our players, HBA and particularly Cisse horribly out of sorts. A vast improvement will be needed for Sunday, when we face a Man Utd side wounded by home defeat to Spurs - before which we have a tricky Europa League fixture against Bordeaux to negotiate.

A Reading fan's perspective: The Tilehurst End

Other reports: BBC, Observer

Question time

Thanks to Reading blog The Tilehurst End for inviting us to participate in a preview feature ahead of tomorrow's match against the Royals. You can read the piece here. I'd stand by my view that we don't have much to fear from our opponents, but should have added that our biggest enemy (as usual) could be ourselves...

Know Your Enemies 2012/3: Part 2

Time for the second instalment of our look at the teams we'll be facing this coming season...

QPR

"There is no way we will be in this situation again in my time here". So said Mark Hughes in the wake of QPR's final-day escape from relegation, and their feverish transfer activity over the summer certainly bears out that determination. No doubt nettled by the fact that they had been promoted as champions and yet saw their Championship inferiors Norwich and Swansea both survive in comfort and no little style, the West Londoners have gone into recruitment overdrive. Astute acquisitions are everywhere. Mark Hughes returned to his old stomping ground Old Trafford to pick up the crumbs from Taggart's table (the ever-reliable and hard-working Ji-Sung Park and loanee Fabio) and was a key factor in persuading Blackburn's much sought-after out-of-contract Junior Hoilett to sign. Samba Diakite is a significant upgrade on Shaun Derry, while in Djibril Cisse, Bobby Zamora and Andrew Johnson they've assembled a trio of strikers who, though all the wrong side of thirty, certainly know how to find the net in the top flight.

This coming season Hughes has every right to expect much more from two of his flair players, Adel Taarabt and Shaun Wright-Phillips, but also has the managerial migraine that is ASBO to contend with, our old boy beginning the campaign banned, fined and stripped of the captaincy for his misdemeanours in that sensational game at the Etihad. If there's a worry for the club as a whole, it's hubris - they may be in danger of overreaching and overstretching themselves in pursuit of success. Just ask Portsmouth how that can pan out.

Reading

I'd imagine it feels pretty good to be a Reading fan right now. Having hit form at exactly the right time and surfed the wave to secure the Championship title, the Royals are now returning to the Premier League under new ownership, with the promise of significant investment that that entails, albeit in a stadium still bearing the former owner's name. The team's achievements have been accomplished under the calm, methodical stewardship of Brian McDermott, an excellent example of the value of old Liverpool strategy of promoting from within.

McDermott's greatest transfer coup has been to persuade Pavel Pogrebnyak that, despite a fruitful loan spell with Fulham, his future lies in Berkshire. His was the marquee signing that served as a statement of intent, but Reading have also been canny in recruiting less flashy reinforcements across the back line in the form of Chris Gunter, Adrian Mariappa and former Royal Nicky Shorey, while Danny Guthrie will add experience (if not class and dining etiquette) to the midfield. However, it's doubtful that some of their most impressive Championship performers will be as effective at the higher level. Jimmy Kebe, for instance, will find life much tougher faced with Premier League full-backs. Adam Le Fondre, meanwhile, is a throwback to the days of predatory fox-in-the-box poachers, when the modern Premier League striker needs to be a much more complete footballer.

Southampton

How things change. In autumn 2008 Portsmouth were taking on and nearly beating AC Milan in Europe, while south coast rivals Southampton ended the season in administration and relegated to League One. Fast forward three years and, while Pompey are in League One without a single senior player on their books and the threat of liquidation hanging over them, the Saints are back in the big time. If they can get beyond the Schadenfreude and start looking for inspiration, then Norwich are proof positive that survival after two consecutive promotions is possible. Star striker Rickie Lambert will no doubt have noted Grant Holt's success at bullying and breaching Premier League defences while the more celebrated likes of Rocky floundered.

Lambert's strike partner is likely to be former Burnley man Jay Rodriguez, for whom Southampton perhaps unwisely smashed their record transfer fee. Throw Billy Sharp, another Championship stalwart, into the mix and it's clear that the Saints are taking a considerable gamble on goalscorers unproven in the Premier League. They've done well to snap up highly-rated Palace youngster Nathaniel Clyne, and already boast the talented Adam Lallana and Team GB representative Jack Cork in midfield, but question marks hang over their strength in depth. It'll be interesting to see whether manager Nigel Adkins can keep up his Mr Nice Guy persona in the face of the stresses, strains and psychological mind games he'll endure in the top flight. It might not be long before he's missing his Football League Show banter with Mark "Clem" Clemmit - and there's a chance they might get to resume their pally encounters in a year's time.

Stoke

If you're looking for subtlety, finesse and grace and find yourself at the Britannia Stadium, then either you need to invest in a new satnav or you've arrived on false pretences - Jonathan Woodgate was let go earlier this summer. Even when Stoke scored a contender for goal of the season (as Peter Crouch's effort against Man City was, until Papiss Cisse took aim against Chelsea), it's notable that the ball never touched the ground from the 'keeper's kick to hitting the back of the net. Yes, the Potters have a system and they're sticking to it - unsurprisingly, given that it's proven brutally effective for four successive seasons now and enabled them to survive and flourish despite minimal financial outlay. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" seems to be the club's motto - though things do often break when they're around, namely noses...

Last summer Crouch replaced Kenwyne Jones as the large of Stoke's little-and-large strike partnership, and Tony Pulis is now looking to upgrade on the little, eager to land Little Saint Mick as an improvement on Jonathan Walters. The baseball-capped Welshman is nothing if not pragmatic, having responded to the hefty price tag Wolves hung around Matt Jarvis' neck by promptly signing fellow winger Michael Kightly instead. The good news for Stoke's opponents is that bogeyman Rory Delap is nearing the end of his career; the bad news is that his protege Ryan Shotton is developing his own version of the Irishman's fabled throw-in, capable of causing as much panic in defences as the sight of salad in a kebab does in Sunderland.

Sunderland

Speak of the devils. The Mackems seem to have been having great trouble attracting players to the Dark Place. Funny, that. Most pressing was a new striker - Niklas Bendtner has returned to Arsenal and Asamoah Gyan has sealed his escape, while of those left Stephane Sessegnon couldn't make it into double figures last season, Connor Wickham has failed to live up to even the most modest expectations and Fraizer Campbell is far more familiar with the physio than he is with his teammates. Little wonder, then, that they were so desperate to sweet-talk free agent Louis Saha into joining and remain keen on snaring Wolves' Steven Fletcher. To date, their only other new signing has been Carlos Cuellar, another past-his-best defender to keep Wes Brown and John O'Shea company.

Nevertheless, there remains some hope even for these most hopeless of wretches. Sunderland are strongest on the flanks, where Sebastian Larsson provides Beckham-esque delivery and recently unearthed talent James McClean offers energy and penetration, and in Martin O'Neill they're undeservedly blessed with a potential saviour. How long before he acknowledges that having Lee Cattermole - a player who makes ASBO look like a tranquillised Buddhist - as captain is a car crash just waiting to happen?

Swansea

Through the tenures of Roberto Martinez, Paulo Sousa and Brendan Rodgers, Swansea have developed a footballing philosophy that is the complete antithesis of Stoke's, and the new man charged with its exposition is Michael Laudrup. The Dane has called upon his connections in pursuing a transfer policy that has seemed largely focused on players with single names who either sound like Pokemon characters (Michu) or conjure up deeply unpleasant repressed memories of X Factor contestants (Chico). One exception is Dutch midfielder Jonathan De Guzman, borrowed from Villareal and set to make a big impression at the Liberty Stadium.

As a former winger himself, Laudrup will presumably be keen to ensure the Swans continue to use pacy wide men Scott Sinclair, Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge to their best advantage. He's no doubt less than enamoured of his predecessor's attempts to lure his best players to Liverpool - Joe Allen has already left, and Rodgers is rumoured to be lining up a bid to take Ashley Williams to Anfield too. Together with Angel Rangel, Neil Taylor and Spurs loanee Steven Caulker, Williams was critical in creating the circumstances in which Swansea's rightly lauded total football could thrive last season - if Laudrup and chairman Huw Jenkins allow that supporting wall to be removed, the whole edifice might collapse.

Spurs

How very typical that Spurs should trounce us 5-0 immediately before embarking on a catastrophic run of form that ultimately deprived them of Champions League qualification and cost 'Appy 'Arry his job. That resulted in Andre Villas-Boas being granted a second crack of the Premier League whip, and he was soon at loggerheads with Luka Modric, the Croatian the subject of intense transfer speculation for the second successive summer and someone who Chelsea, under the Portuguese, were eager to recruit. Thus far Spurs have just about won the battle, as they have with Gareth Bale, but Modric now looks increasingly likely to be lining up for Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid.

In between trying to fight off unwanted attention for the pair, Daniel Levy has spent much of the summer wrangling with Emmanuel Adebayor and his representatives, still unable to agree personal terms on a deal for the man who spearheaded the attack last term. Jermain Defoe might be itching for more regular first-team football, but without Adebayor (or a suitable alternative) Spurs look woefully short-staffed up front. On a more positive note, Belgian centre-back Jan Vertonghen is an excellent addition, especially in light of Ledley King's retirement, and may perhaps be partnered by Steven Caulker, who's on the cusp of a major breakthrough. Gylfi Sigurdsson, fresh from making a huge impact on loan at Swansea, has chosen Spurs over Liverpool and bolsters an already impressive midfield in which Sandro continues to look more assured. Factor in Kyle Walker, arguably the best right-back in the division at present, and Rafael van der Vaart, desperate to put the Netherlands' dismal performance at Euro 2012 behind him, and Spurs have the potential to mount a reasonable title challenge - assuming they aren't fed any dodgy lasagne, that is.

West Brom

Though 'Arry had looked odds-on to land the England job, it eventually went to Roy Hodgson, leaving West Brom seeking a replacement. They found one in the form of Steve Clarke, once of this parish and until recently Kenny Dalglish's number two, who followed Hodgson's footsteps from Anfield to the Hawthorns via a brief period of unemployment. Whether he is able to make himself comfortable or barely has time to singe his buttocks on the managerial hotseat depends partly on the success of his signings.

A primary objective appears to have been to beef up the front line, with disgruntled Chelsea youth Romelu Lukaku and experienced Swedish marksman Markus Rosenberg set to give the likes of Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long serious competition. Midfield recruits Claudio Yacob and Yassine El Ghanassy are a more unknown quantity, while Ben Foster has now swapped Birmingham for the Black Country on a permanent basis. However, it's largely players like Chris Brunt and Jonas Olsson, unheralded by many other than Baggies supporters, who have been instrumental in the club's survival - and may well be again.

West Ham

When West Ham clinched an immediate return to the top tier through the play-offs, the overriding emotion was probably one of relief. Had the Hammers not squeaked through against Blackpool, their retention of players on Premier League wages and riskily substantial January expenditure might well have resulted in financial meltdown. The crucial goal that day was scored by Ricardo Vaz Te, a mid-season recruit finally coming good on the early promise he showed at Bolton. Fat Sam doesn't seem to have much faith in his other strikers Carlton Cole, Nicky Maynard and Sam Baldock, having taken the gamble we weren't prepared to take on Modibo Maiga and expressing unrequited love for Rocky.

QPR's acquisition of Robert Green led to the purchase of not one but two new 'keepers, veteran Jussi Jaaskelainen and Stephen Henderson both happy to be offered escape routes from relegated Bolton and Portsmouth respectively. Fat Sam's sides are rarely a soft touch - usually quite the opposite - and the addition of Mohamed Diame and Alou Diarra to the midfield should ensure that the Hammers are combative where it matters most. Mark Noble and James Tomkins are both a year older and wiser, and, with our former skipper Kevin Nolan adept at the art of popping up unexpectedly in the six-yard area like a mole with an unerring sense of timing, Upton Park probably won't be playing host to Championship football for at least another year.

Wigan

Just what is it that's keeping Roberto Martinez at Wigan? Surely it can't be the prospect of yet another season of struggle, working alchemical magic to turn base metals like Franco di Santo into something with at least the occasional lustre of gold? Maybe Dave Whelan shackles the Spaniard in his cellar every May. With attractive vacancies aplenty in the Premier League this summer (Liverpool, Spurs, Villa), it's remarkable that one of the division's shrewdest and most likeable managers will once again begin the season in the DW dugout.

Survival last season was secured without the assistance of Hugo Rodallega, the contract rebel frozen out of the first team (potentially a classic case of cutting off your nose to spite your face) and now at Fulham. His replacement is Arouna Kone, fresh from a productive loan spell at Levante. The Ivorian striker might not be the most loyal of players, though - he'd only inked a permanent deal with the Spaniish outfit in May... Martinez has also looked to La Liga to stiffen up his defence, stealing Real Mallorca's Ivan Ramis from under Fat Sam's snout, while (thus far successfully) fending off Chelsea's menacing approach for midfield gem Victor Moses. Given the Latics' extraordinary ability to scrape to safety against all the odds, only a fool would predict relegation - so allow me to do the honours.

Double Dutch?

Sky were among those reporting on Friday that we've stepped up our bid to sign FC Twente striker Luuk de Jong. A former club colleague and current international teammate of Tim Krul, de Jong was prolific in the Eredivisie last season and would, I think, be an excellent addition to the squad, particularly as he's just 21 and therefore has plenty of potential resale value.

It doesn't promise to be plain sailing, though. Not only has manager Steve McLaren declared he's under no pressure to sell de Jong and that only an "absurd bid" could meet with any success, but according to the Star we also face competition from German outfit Borussia Moenchengladbach. Prising Douglas away from Twente looks no more straightforward, with McClaren claiming the Brazilian is "the best defender in Holland".

Meanwhile, over in France we've had the encouraging news that Mathieu Debuchy has declared his desire to leave Lille. Whether he follows Dreamboat to Tyneside hinges on a few factors - not least coach Rudi Garcia finding a suitable replacement, Lille not holding out for a hefty fee and us holding off rival suitors (Inter Milan have been mentioned).

And what of outgoing players? Danny Guthrie's wasted no time in signing for Premier League new boys Reading, where he'll be joined by Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak. The two acquisitions constitute something of a statement of intent from the Royals, one which I'm sure Lanterne Rouge will be pleased to note. Let's hope lobster thermidore isn't on the menu at Guthrie's welcoming dinner...

New kids on the block

Euro 2012 has given Lloyd and Lanterne Rouge of Football League blog The Two Unfortunates the opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved breather - but, with things pretty quiet on this front too, we seized the opportunity to ask Reading fan Lanterne Rouge what we can expect from the Royals and the two other clubs who last month waved the Championship goodbye to return to the top flight, West Ham and Southampton.

Alan Pardew must have taken a sharp intake of breath on three separate occasions in recent months, for the trio of clubs that are joining the EPL bun fight for the final year before the TV money goes stratospheric were all once stewarded by the Londoner.

Perhaps more than any other club, the public image West Ham United enjoy is at odds with the way they are portrayed in the press. To the Fourth Estate, they are those jovial bunch of cheeky Cockney caperers, the anvil on which World Cup victory was forged and a national treasure; to the rest of us, this is profoundly mystifying.

With the so-called Academy of Football’s grant long since rescinded by the Inner London Education Authority, the blunt-edged nature of the Hammers’ tactics was even more palpable in 2011-12 – unsurprisingly given the arrival at the helm of Mr Sam Allardyce. Indeed at one point the big man himself called into question the myth of the club’s reputation as a foundation school for the finer arts.

But West Ham did show remarkable nerve in seeing out a nervy run-in after Reading had come to Upton Park and sailed to a 4-2 victory at the end of March. In particular, a tough Blackpool side were defeated in the play-off final at Wembley and there is no question that the ex-Toon boss has fostered a resilience that was absent under previous managers Avram Grant, Gianfranco Zola and … er … Alan Pardew.

The visit of the Irons on 10th November will, therefore, be pregnant with the revenge impulse as both Pardew and Allardyce look to put one over former employers. Big Sam has never been one to avoid the transfer market, however, and it’s likely that his squad will sport a very different sheen from that which ended the season victorious.

Kevin Nolan will be most familiar of course – he again enjoyed a successful campaign slumming it in the Championship, but he’s two years older and seemingly two years angrier than the man who swept all before him as a Magpie in 2009-10. Ahead of Nolan, the Hammers possess a clutch of strikers seemingly recruited to secure promotion before worrying about anything else and given the limited impact Sam Baldock and Nicky Maynard had in Football League waters, it’s unlikely that they, nor those twin Freddies, Piquionne and Sears, will feature much from August.

But Carlton Cole, despite a mediocre season by his standards, should be relishing a return to a league where a dozen goals constitutes a good return while mid-season recruit Ricardo Vaz Tê has a chance to confirm the immense promise he showed at Bolton as a teenager – he could well be the East Londoners’ trump card while they try to do extra business.

The midfield is peppered with experienced but far from long-in-the-tooth players and the ever bubbly Mark Noble will continue to be vital, while Matty Taylor, Jack Collison and Gary O’Neil are joined by an astute acquisition in Mohamed Diamé – his robustness will help offset the reputation the claret and blue have for flimsiness and will allow Allardyce not to repeat the questionable experiment of deploying James Tomkins in the water-carrier role.

Tomkins will start in central defence but Abdoulaye Faye has moved on, necessitating the purchase of a new central defender. Jonas Olsson is the latest rumoured target although such is the Swede’s dependability that a bigger club than the Hammers may come calling. Nor do the club look particularly well served in the full back positions – a group of excellent youngsters including Daniel Potts (son of stalwart Steve) are unlikely to be blooded this early – while Robert Green has also moved on.

So it’s a ragbag squad perhaps a little too full of the personnel who were found wanting under the Grant regime. Expect wheeler-dealing aplenty down the Boleyn Ground this summer.

From this vantage point, Southampton look expertly placed to "do a Norwich" and therein may lie their chief problem – Premier League clubs (including Newcastle) will be much readier for the promoted trio this year, especially when their star player and top scorer, Rickie Lambert, so closely resembles last year’s journeyman success story Grant Holt.

Nigel Adkins has been shrewd, however. The whistle-through-the-teeth £7 million – yes, £7 million – disbursed for elegant Burnley hit man Jay Rodriguez signals a determination not to stand still and both Lambert and Billy Sharp will feel the breath of the younger man at the napes of their necks.

The Saints also possess a midfield creator who it’s highly likely WILL be more than good enough for the top echelon; most observers feel that Adam Lallana has what it takes to make his second divisional step up in the space of a year with ease. Ditto Jack Cork, a wonderfully poised screening midfielder from the Chelsea production line and a man who has waited patiently for his chance at the top table.

After that though, things get muddier -  Morgan Schneiderlin has the tenacity to do a job in the way Norwich’s less heralded worker bees did last season but the lumbering Brazilian Guly Do Prado and perpetual bench warmers Steve de Ridder and Richard Chaplow are unlikely to feature heavily. Rangers’ forgotten man Steven Davis may plug a gap as the vultures circle over the Gers’ carcass.

The Hampshire men’s most talented defender is left-back Danny Fox, but then again he often lacks concentration and is much more effective going forward. Jos Hooiveld and José Fonte have served the club well and although this is the club where Francis Benali and Claus Lundekvam appeared in the Premier League year after year, reinforcements will be sought, as they may be for Danny Butterfield and Kelvin Davis, a classic line goalkeeper.

So at first glance it’s perhaps a surprise that Saints have spent so much of the available cash on Rodriguez – much work still needs to be done.

Champions Reading clinched an unlikely title after critical victories over their key rivals in the run-in, but the whimper with which they went down in a final-day reverse at Birmingham perhaps underlines the surgery that needs to be done.

So dominant were the Royals on being promoted previously in 2006 that Steve Coppell stayed loyal to those who had achieved so spectacularly, keeping the wage bill to sensible limits and being rewarded handsomely with an eighth-place finish.

This time, however, the summer has been dominated by the protracted takeover of Russian-backed Thames Sport Investment, which, having recently been rubber stamped, has seen its first, sensational results in the mooted signing of Pavel Pogrebnyak, a free agent after leaving Stuttgart and the author of six goals in eight games on loan to Fulham last spring.

In many ways, the varied reports of the wages being afforded to the Muscovite could make or break Reading’s prospects - £35,000 a week would be more than the Berkshire club has ever paid a player but would be in tune with the going rate; £65,000, currently being denied, would be a grotesque over-estimation of the club’s natural size and potentially lead to all manner of problems in terms of dressing-room jealousies and even a Portsmouth-style situation a few years down the line.

In January, Jason Roberts kickstarted the Royals’ promotion push but misses the first two matches through suspension and isn’t getting any younger. Elsewhere, the squad is woefully sort of top-flight experience and although 'keepers Adam Federici and Alex McCarthy and midfield dynamo Jem Karacan will surprise a few, there are severe question marks over the rest of the XI’s ability to compete.

Reading have relied on an expansive formation making liberal use of wing play in recent years, a style that may perhaps come back into vogue following Euro 2012 and it may actually be young Welsh international Hal Robson-Kanu who makes a greater impact than club captain Jobi McAnuff and the speedy Jimmy Kébé as the nights draw in, but Pogrebnyak, if his signature is secured, will be far from the only newcomer to the Madejski.

At the moment, hungry up-and-coming players from the Championship would appear to be the chief items on the shopping list – Garath McCleary has already joined from Nottingham Forest while the Biscuitmen are being heavily linked with underrated Watford centre back Adrian Mariappa as well as a man Newcastle fans will know well, Sébastien Bassong.

Thanks to Lanterne Rouge for his thoughts.