Top Boss

As far as many good judges are concerned, the case for Steve Coppell to be named manager of the season grows more compelling by the day. Like Arsene Wenger, Coppell is an intelligent and honourable man who has gained an enviable reputation for shrewdly acquiring players for little or no money and turning them into established Premiership performers. The result is a Reading team which already has amassed enough points to ward off the spectre of relegation and stands on the brink of a place in European competition – though typically the manager refuses to contemplate the latter possibility at this stage. Not bad for a club in its first ever season in the top league. Not bad for a club that plays its football on a surface which is shared by rugby and seems reminiscent of winter pitches from a bygone age.

Steve knows all too well that his club’s success is not without its disadvantages. Newly promoted teams are always something of an unknown quantity and next season things will be different. Harder. And to make matters worse, Reading may find it difficult to hang on to some of their best assets. Steve Sidwell has long been in demand and is yet to commit his future to the club- something which his manager entirely understands. He is rapidly developing into an all-round midfield player who lacks only real pace, and his two goals against Aston Villa – the first a well rehearsed near post header from a corner and the second a beautiful finish after a one-two with Kitson that was pure Arsenal – underlined his value to the team and his potential. What Leroy Lita lacks in control and touch he more than makes up for in pace and power and his goalscoring ability has ensured that he counts Manchester City and England Under 21 boss Stuart Pearce among his admirers. Shorey has matured into a left back considered by Reading fans to be England material and Little showed enough guile on the right flank against Aston Villa to give Gareth Barry a torrid time.

No doubt Steve Coppell hopes that these and other outstanding Reading players will remain at the club, but his achievements to date suggest that even if some of them move on, they will be effectively replaced. And that’s something else Reading’s boss has in common with Arsene Wenger.