READING will have an old friend of mine in charge at Old Trafford today - and if he wins, they should give him the job permanently.
I grew up with Eamonn Dolan at Arsenal. We used to play in the youth team together and he was always staying round my parents' house at weekends.
He's a good lad who knows his football and when he talks, you listen. The players will work for him, and he will be with them.
Joke He knows those players are disappointed that Brian McDermott got the sack - and I agree with them. It's an absolute disgrace, a total joke.
Whoever takes over now can't buy anyone to keep Reading up, can they? That boat has sailed.
Plus, they have United and Arsenal in their next two games - both away. Why do it now? It's miles too late.
The players there loved Brian. They were working their socks off for him. But sometimes you're just not good enough. That's not the manager's fault.
Give him £100m to spend in January and they would not be where they are. But Reading didn't do that, did they? I feel sorry for managers who get their sides promoted. You're just making money for owners. Then you get the sack. It's unbelievable.
You can understand it if the players are not happy and there are rumblings in the dressing room. But I just don't see that at Reading.
They have a Championship team - a very, very good Championship team, but a Championship team. If they go down, they'll come straight back up. So why sack the manager? I mean, Brian McDermott was manager of the month not so long ago. They had a good little run at the turn of the year and looked like they had turned the corner.
But they didn't give him the money to invest in new players. It baffles me. McDermott is a good manager. He took them up against all the odds last season.
They are looking at people like Roberto Di Matteo and Paolo Di Canio now. But I hope Eamonn gets a chance.
He's been asked to steady the ship after being promoted from academy manager and, let's face it, if he gets a draw out of their next two games, I don't see an alternative.
I always knew he'd make a coach back when we were at Arsenal growing up together. He was a centre-half and it didn't really work out for him there.
They cut him when he was still a youth team/reserve team player. But he always knew about football. He was always interested in the other side of it.
I wish him the best of luck. He's been put in a horrible position. United are flying, and are going to win the league, and Arsenal need to win with their season on the line.
You really couldn't ask for two tougher away games than those. It's a real baptism of fire, but don't write them off.
It's so tight down there that whoever goes on a run now is going to get out of it. It just takes a little bit of momentum, a little bit of luck at the right time.
If they don't go for Eamonn, there are plenty of other candidates.
If you're looking at someone with a long-term plan, you've got to go for Nigel Adkins.
He would turn that club around and put his stamp on it from top to bottom. But if you want a quick fix, it's Di Matteo.
Risky He would give the club a lift and the fans would respond. But I can't imagine he would want to work in the Championship after winning the Champions League with Chelsea last season.
Di Canio for me is risky. Is he ready for the Premier League? He gives a great press conference, but all of the other stuff he does, I'm not sure.
It's OK calling your players out, having a go at them in public in League One. But Premier League players are not going to stand for that sort of management.
He did a great job at Swindon, but I think he still has a lot to prove - and Reading would be taking a gamble giving him the job.
I just hope they put up a fight against United. They should be angry and hurt that Brian McDermott has gone. Go out there and show it.
Originally Posted by Grimandi's Perm
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