Football Season Review

Reading in the end will be bitterly disappointed with their campaign. Under Steve Clarke they looked like they would be challengers for a Premier League return. But then the form dipped, Clarke was harshly axed and replaced by former boss Brian McDermott. He really struggled with the players he had and especially the exit of Nick Blackman, who had been a key player in the early part of the season. Reading at least had an FA Cup quarter-final run, the second consecutive season where they have made that round of the competition. League form was appalling though and their overall position gives little cause for optimism. You sense it will be a summer of rebuilding for McDermott, if indeed he stays at the Madejski Stadium. Losing Michael Hector to Chelsea is a big blow while the signing of Matej Vydra for an expensive loan fee from Watford proved to be an all-round disaster after the Czech managed just three league goals all season.

Player of the Season: Ali Al-Habsi