JORDAN OBITA says Jaap Stam has completely changed the way Reading look at football.
Stam was named Championship manager of the month earlier today for the first time since he joined in the summer after four wins from six during January.
And Obita, 23, who has had four different managers since breaking into the Reading first team, says the Dutchman has had a huge impact since his arrival.
“He’s very good,” said the left-back.
“He plays the style of football I like to play. I like to play possession football and attack at the same time.
“He’s changed the way we’ve seen football at Reading over the years.
“We do a lot of possession work. Whether it’s forwards, sideways or backwards, it’s always to try and attack.
“We go backwards sometimes because we’re always being patient to try and bring them up the pitch or create the spaces out wide.
“Sometimes it might look negative but it’s not because we’re always looking two or three passes down the line to try and go forwards.”
He added: “All four of the managers I’ve had are different.
“Nigel Adkins played possession football but at the time maybe we didn’t have the right players.
“Steve Clarke was a bit more defensive and Brian McDermott was attacking but wanted the ball played a bit more direct.
“And this gaffer wants us to keep the ball, which saves us a lot of energy as well to go forward and also get back as well.
“I like the way this gaffer has just changed the whole club, everything about the club, the players and everything has all changed and it’s improved massively.”
Academy product Obita netted his first goal since November 2013 during last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Ipswich Town.
And while he admits the side had been targeting maximum points, he remains hopeful of gatecrashing the Championship’s automatic promotion spots.
“It’s been a long time since I scored so to score a goal like that, I’m really happy,” he said.
“And to get a point for the team, that’s the main thing.
“We were a bit disappointed that we didn’t get the win, but we want to try and get as many wins as we can to try and keep up with the top two.
“But we’re in a good place and hopefully on Saturday (against Barnsley) at home we can get the three points.
“Our main objective is the play-offs, but if we can catch up with the top two that would be a massive achievement for us.
“It’s possible and we just look one game at a time and try and get results and be up there towards the end of the season.”
With a free midweek without a fixture, Obita and some of his team-mates took some time out to go go-karting on Tuesday.
And the defender says there was only ever going to be one winner.
“I’ve been a few times before,” said Obita.
“Especially in the summer, I like to go and do activities and I suppose I had a bit of an advantage but I won.
“The boys talk about it but I don’t, I already knew I was going to win!”
He continued: “We do do team activity stuff. Last international break we went paintballing together so that was fun but I think this time we’ll change to the go-karting – something for the whole squad and even the staff to go down to.
“The spirit inside the team has been very good, probably the best I’ve seen.
“That’s a good thing and that’s what we need in the team to move forward.”
