Do you care if Clarke goes?

[RichTea94]

I was just thinking- how would Clarke's departure affect Blackman's form? Has Clarke's methods bought the best out of him, or has he simply had an epiphany over the summer?

[Coppelled_Streets]

Simple one.

I personally think he's holding this squad back, he's proved himself to be tactically naive and his selections are strange. Not a fan of making changes every game. Injuries or not our squad is quite clearly still underachieving and that mostly is down to Steve Clarke.

Thank you for the summer transfers and for Wembley. That's about it.

K Bye.

Not fussed if he goes. Pearson in? Happy days.

What concerns me is that Clarke has been given the full backing of the board to bring in his own people, players, change things here, but he's ready to walk away so soon? Something doesn't add up.

[Pandoras Box]

I was just thinking- how would Clarke's departure affect Blackman's form? Has Clarke's methods bought the best out of him, or has he simply had an epiphany over the summer?

Don't you think Blackman will be number one target for Clarke if he goes to FFC?

[Avon Royal]

What concerns me is that Clarke has been given the full backing of the board to bring in his own people, players, change things here, but he's ready to walk away so soon? Something doesn't add up.

Scottish + Cunt = Clarke

Yeah, it adds up alright.

[Dai Brainbocs]

Has he decided it's now all about Royal Elm Park, the football club has served its purpose in unlocking the door and investment in the team won't be forthcoming?

[Pepe the Horseman]

I'm not mad. Just disappointed. Still can't get my head around it. What a pointless move just a few months after building a new team from scratch(ish).

[Coppelled_Streets]

What concerns me is that Clarke has been given the full backing of the board to bring in his own people, players, change things here, but he's ready to walk away so soon? Something doesn't add up.

Scottish + Cunt = Clarke

Yeah, it adds up alright.

Fulham can clearly provide a better grade of heroin and shortbread.

[Coppelled_Streets]

Has he decided it's now all about Royal Elm Park, the football club has served its purpose in unlocking the door and investment in the team won't be forthcoming?

Something isn't right. We're not going to know, so no point speculating, but it does seem odd to be given so much backing and have a decent start to the season, only to walk away a few months later.

[RoyalBlue]

Good riddance. I just care that he sacked some good people who were much more loyal than him and probably blew any funding that was available for this season,

I look forward to witnessing his demise at Fulham.

Simple one.

I personally think he's holding this squad back, he's proved himself to be tactically naive and his selections are strange. Not a fan of making changes every game. Injuries or not our squad is quite clearly still underachieving and that mostly is down to Steve Clarke.

Thank you for the summer transfers and for Wembley. That's about it.

K Bye.

Not fussed if he goes. Pearson in? Happy days.

What concerns me is that Clarke has been given the full backing of the board to bring in his own people, players, change things here, but he's ready to walk away so soon? Something doesn't add up.

Could it be that he started talking about requirements for January and found out that there was no further money?

[Libertine]

I'm not buying the "there was going to be no money for the January window" reason for leaving. He should have some key injured players back and at full strength this team was showing promotion form. I don't know the reason why he is leaving but the move is puzzling one. Has to be something there, unless he is completely mercenary and is just moving for more money for himself...

[Nameless]

Don't think the 'money in January' issue is relevant. Partly because there would be funds, and partly because being a manager should be about more than just getting your twice yearly fix in the transfer window. We've got 2 players on trial so clearly he's being allowed to add to the squad.

Also don't get the bit about sacking minor back room staff as a reason for disliking him. If he thought things needed changing then that's pretty standard. He should be judged by whether his replacements performed. Bibbo wasn't 'loyal' he just did a job for 10 years and got paid for it. It was only a part time side line for him.

But overall I'm not that fussed whether Clark goes or not (except I suspect his role is now untenable). He left his mark in a huge way with the cup run but otherwise has been unable to produce a consistent league side. I wonder if secretly the club are delighted, Clark has shaken stuff up but may now be struggling and they can bring in someone else to settle the team, be better at producing consistent performances and take the foundations and make something of them.
Perhaps they aren't fighting too hard to keep him....

[royal_rumble]

Not really bothered at all, never warmed to him. Some of his tactical decisions did leave a bit to be desired and seems to be struggling to sort out the defensive issues at the moment. Always thought he was better than the club i suspect, even when ruling out the Sunderland job - only because his missus wouldn't like the move.

I'm puzzled as to why Fulham want him, he hasn't shown anything stand out since he has been here. Now has us performing slightly better than last season after substantial investment, but that's the least that would be expected surely!

[Extended-Phenotype]

The guy is dull as fcuk and has a face like a raped Vulcan. Seemed to have stumbled accidentally on a series of wins and then proceeded to do his best to dismantle a good formula. Rarely made a positive impact with in-game decisions and has the passion of a corpse.

What is frustrating is that it has taken a long time to disassemble the team and build it back up again in his vision, not to mention we are at a delicate point mid-way through a campaign - the last thing we need is this disruption.

It has made me think though, was this perhaps the cause of Readings sudden collapse? Has his heart simply not been in it? Or worse, has he known about this move for a while? Have we? And the game against Fulham? Fishy we should fcuk that up so badly and on the back of bad management decisions...

Dunno. But its all a bit coincidental - we've been wondering what sort of thing caused the team to lose morale, confidence and form - is it Steve's possible exit that unsettled the team or at least, unsettled Steve himself?

The man is a prick.

[JimmytheJim]

I agree with OP - he made a lot of very good signings, but his tactical naivety has cost us points. Not least in the game we played at his new employers' ground.

If poor results had continued for a couple of weeks after this international break, his job would have been on the line anyway.

The problem will be replacing him with somebody who is tactically astute and isn't the racist, insufferable Pearson. But surely the Thais, of all people, wouldn't want to go anywhere near somebody like him.

I'd rather we plumped for Dolan, Kuhl, or even Parky - somebody who is properly Reading and who the fans would back to the hilt.

[wingnut]

LOL @ all the usual conspiracy theorists.

I preferred Clarke to Adkins (which, granted, isn't saying much) but didn't like the way he got rid of some long standing club servants for no good reason. It is a shame he's going though but just because of the disruption to the squad and season - certainly the performances for most of his time here have been pretty underwhelming.

[Coppelled_Streets]

CW confirms press conference cancelled for this weekends game.

Tom Wisniewski ‏@hitfour6 1m1 minute ago
Press conference this morning cancelled. Steve Clarke has as good as left. He's resigned. #readingfc

[RoyalBlue]

I'm not buying the "there was going to be no money for the January window" reason for leaving. He should have some key injured players back and at full strength this team was showing promotion form. I don't know the reason why he is leaving but the move is puzzling one. Has to be something there, unless he is completely mercenary and is just moving for more money for himself...

I don't think he could be excused for leaving because of it (for the reasons you say) but that doesn't mean it wouldn't have happened and that it isn't his reason for leaving. He strikes me as a guy who likes to have plenty of money available to add to/alter his squad whenever things aren't going well on the pitch.

Don't think the 'money in January' issue is relevant. Partly because there would be funds, and partly because being a manager should be about more than just getting your twice yearly fix in the transfer window. We've got 2 players on trial so clearly he's being allowed to add to the squad.

Also don't get the bit about sacking minor back room staff as a reason for disliking him. If he thought things needed changing then that's pretty standard. He should be judged by whether his replacements performed. Bibbo wasn't 'loyal' he just did a job for 10 years and got paid for it. It was only a part time side line for him.

But overall I'm not that fussed whether Clark goes or not (except I suspect his role is now untenable). He left his mark in a huge way with the cup run but otherwise has been unable to produce a consistent league side. I wonder if secretly the club are delighted, Clark has shaken stuff up but may now be struggling and they can bring in someone else to settle the team, be better at producing consistent performances and take the foundations and make something of them.
Perhaps they aren't fighting too hard to keep him....

Couple of responses to that.

How can you be sure that there would have been money available to Clarke in January? The fact that his successor will now get something does not prove the former as they will have little choice but to offer a successor something.

Are you sure that being the lead goalkeeping coach is a part-time side line? I would suggest that it cannot be. Yes, Bibbo started off more on a part-time basis and had other activities, some of which he may have kept on, but I suspect that his role at RFC was full-time (at least in the professional football world).

[Coppelled_Streets]

Susanne Courtney ‏@MrsSoose 5m5 minutes ago

.@TimDellor just off the phone from @ReadingFC - 99.9% sure Steve Clarke has left Reading. Today's press conference cancelled.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Despite some a smattering of good performances, I've never liked him. The manner of his departure (if it happens) would go a long way to justify the suspicion I have of him.

It all looks like such an effort for him. He seems to think he is the most amazing football authority in the League, bemused why his genius isn't translated into an unbeatable showcase of 1-0 victories. I can accept him using the club as a stepping stone (once he has seen out a sort of minimum commitment), but to jump for Fulham... If someone comes along and offers him a few grand more after he fails to deliver any real success for them will he be off.

Yes, we are stronger now than we were this time last year. That's more down to the Director of Football, the funds provided by the board and the scouting network than it ever is about that pitched-faced little sh1t.

Next time, let's have someone who cares, who wants to build a club not just improve his profile.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

If nothing else, I'm looking forward to the warm reception he'll get on the 5th of March (if they haven't sacked him by then for blaming everyone but himself for his mediocrity).