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After 17 games the Royals find themselves in 14th place with 21 points. It has been a frustrating start to the season. But how does Reading's beginning to the 2014/2015 season compare with previous campaigns?
| MANAGER | W | D | L | F | A | PTS | GD | FINAL POSITION | |
| 2005/2006 | Coppell | 11 | 5 | 1 | 28 | 9 | 38 | 19 | 1 |
| 2008/2009 | Coppell | 10 | 3 | 4 | 38 | 16 | 33 | 22 | 4 |
| 2004/2005 | Coppell | 9 | 4 | 4 | 25 | 15 | 31 | 10 | 7 |
| 2002/2003 | Pardew | 9 | 2 | 6 | 21 | 14 | 29 | 7 | 4 |
| 2013/2014 | Adkins | 7 | 7 | 3 | 26 | 20 | 28 | 6 | 7 |
| 2003/2004 | Pardew / Coppell | 8 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 19 | 27 | 5 | 9 |
| 2010/2011 | McDermott | 6 | 6 | 5 | 27 | 21 | 24 | 6 | 5 |
| 2011/2012 | McDermott | 5 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014/2015 | Adkins | 6 | 3 | 8 | 22 | 27 | 21 | -5 | |
| 2009/2010 | Rodgers | 4 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 26 | 17 | -9 | 9 |
What immediately grabs your attention is the fact that this is Reading's second worst start at Championship level in the Madejski Stadium era. But what else is noticeable?
- Reading have never conceded so many goals after 17 games.
- Only once before have the Royals had a negative goal difference at this stage of the season.
- There's hope! Our current position and points total are the same as Brian McDermott's 2011/2012 champions.
- Brian McDermott's teams were slow starters. We were patient back then. Do Nigel Adkins and the current team deserve the same patience?
- Steve Coppell was in charge for our three best starts.
- The 2008/2009 teams had scored ten more goals after 17 games than the great 2005/2006 team. How we managed to finish fourth in a three horse race that season remains a mystery.
All in all it doesn't make great reading for Nigel Adkins. A lot was said about this being a season of transition but, as the table above shows, Reading fans are not used to watching their team treading water. The reaction to the season so far reflects that.