POOR Paul Clement seems like a dead man walking at the moment.
Reading’s latest defeat – 2-0 at Swansea City – left his side with just one win in their last five matches, and him with realistic worries over his job security.
Those worries will have only have grown deeper the following day when a report in The Sun revealed Reading are eyeing up Steve Bruce to replace Clement. Whether or not the rumour is true – it certainly seems plausible – the possibility of the vastly experienced former Aston Villa boss moving to Berkshire went down very well on Twitter when the story broke.
That’s not just down to the qualities of Bruce – whose record in the first and second tiers of English football suggests he would make a sensible appointment – but also a growing sense that Clement’s time in the hot-seat is up.
Although few would put the majority of blame him for the club’s problems – on and off the pitch – on his shoulders, it’s clear that Clement isn’t able to solve them.
Years of growing apathy in the fanbase, ineffective recruitment and general instability have weakened Reading to the point where turning our fortunes around would be a tall order for any individual, let alone one who’s thus far had barely seven months in the job.
Was he even the the right man for the job in the first place though? The prospect of an intelligent coach with experience of winning the battle against relegation was appealing when Jaap Stam was sacked – as it is again now – but there are other qualities this club needs more in its managers.
Reading are crying out for a manager who can motivate the players and energise the fans – it’s what we needed in March and what we need now. Unfortunately, Paul, it doesn’t look like that man is you.
Simeon can be found on Twitter @SimFromBucks and his website’s account is @TheTilehurstEnd
