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Reading 1-3 Sheffield Wednesday: The Alternative View

New season, same old Reading.

Sheffield Wednesday v Aston Villa - Sky Bet Championship - Hillsborough Photo by Zac Goodwin/EMPICS/PA Images via Getty Images

As Sky would say, “And we’re back!” Reading returned to league action on Saturday with our customary opening day defeat - this really should have been on the cards as, over the last 10 years, we now have a record of just two wins.

Gomes set a team up which had a balance of youth and well more youth, to face a Sheffield Wednesday side that during pre-season had been in turmoil, with the manager walking out and Fernando Forestieri originally getting banned for - as the Owls fans would say - pretty much anything.

In truth Wednesday were the better side. However, augmented with some decidedly strange refereeing decisions (it would have been interesting if VAR had been in play) they pretty much had a fairly easy afternoon. New signing Charlie Adam injected a bit of purpose when he came on, but largely our midfield failed to create much and defensively our rock back four looked decidedly shaky.

However, the Owls’ faithful understandably were ecstatic, given the nature of their preparation, and it’s safe to say that there’s not a lot of love for Steve Bruce flying around.

Social view

This wouldn’t have stood with VAR

Talk about a jinx!

Not bitter are you?

Harsh? The foot connecting with the thigh might give you a clue…

Wow, someone not getting totally excited!

Fair comment – most fans would agree

Not saying it’s a little early – BUT IT’S THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON!

Not hyping him up or anything…..

Again might be a tad early to be popping champagne

Again, one game and Obita didn’t play

Realism!

Oh trust me, you’re totally getting carried away

Summary

Let’s be positive - in 2005 we got beat at home by Plymouth Argyle and walked the league. I’m not for one minute suggesting that this will happen again but we do need to put Saturday in perspective.

In the off season, Reading have got rid of a large number of experienced players; Jose has a plan and hopefully it will come off. Looking at our team at the moment, a lot is being expected of the young players - Alan Hansen famously quipped that “you can’t win anything with kids” and, even though you can’t compare our crop with Manchester United’s back then, we do have some decent prospects coming through. Personally, I would have started Michael Olise on Saturday as he is a genuine talent, and I do think that Jose is protecting them.

What happens in the next few days will largely define our season. Will it be mid-table obscurity or another relegation battle? It’s one or the other - anything else is wishful thinking.

Personally, I would be more than happy with a mid-table boring season. That gives us a chance to build and get our kids some game time - then target a push next season. We have the start of a team, a promising academy, a decent manager and an ambitious chairman - these are all positive signs but the team needs nurturing and patience!

But then again, this is football.