After 3 away defeats on the bounce, we travel to Reading on Saturday looking reverse that trend and try to build on our good home form, I spoke with Newcastle-Online lurker Reading fan about his opinions on our upcoming game, as well as other goings on at the Madejski this season…

1. How would you rate your performances so far this season?

Much down on last season. We are shipping goals left, right and centre. We are fast becoming a soft touch. The players are still playing with the same unrelenting effort and passion, but losing Steve Sidwell has had a major effect on our team. He was a driving box to box midfielder and his absence means there is less cutting edge going forward, and there is less protection for the defence. We should still have enough to stay in the division!

2. Any worries about suffering the dreaded second season syndrome?

Yes. We are definitely suffering it. A whole range of factors come into play to make a small promoted club from the Championship suffer the ills of second season syndrome. If we hadn’t lost Sidwell, I don’t think we would be suffering it too much. But after having had a magnificent first season in the Premiership where we showcased our talents we have struggled second time around. First of all, the big guns came swarming after Sidwell. And now there is non stop speculation concerning Shorey’s future. It has clearly unsettled the lad and his performances are down on last seasons efforts. Maybe some of the other lads have become a bit complacent as well. That’s how second season syndrome has affected us. I think it affects different promoted teams in different ways.

3. We’ve sold our ticket allocation without even going to general sale, what sort of atmosphere are you expecting?

It will be a cracking atmosphere on Saturday. The home ends are also sold out as Newcastle is a big draw for the Reading faithful. Its an important game for the Royals because our away form has been poor this season. Our survival this year will be based on making the Madejski a fortress. Therefore its an important game and the home crowd will be well up for this one. Whenever the Toon army are involved, its always going to be a good atmosphere.

4. What do you think of Steve Sidwell now he’s moved on? Do you think he made the right decision in joining Chelsea?

I like Steve Sidwell, I think he was a great player for us and played his part in getting us to the top division and then keeping us here in the most difficult first season. Sidwell will always be well received by the majority of Reading fans, but there is always a minority who can never understand why a player wouldn’t bleed blue and white. He made the right decision to join Chelsea from a financial point of view. From a footballing point of view, I think he would have been better off joining Newcastle or Villa. My preference would have been for Sidwell to join Newcastle as they fit the criteria of being a big club and he would have got games. By the end of this season Sidwells ex midfield partner James Harper will have 2 solid seasons in the Premiership and Sidwell will only have 1 and a quarter solid seasons in the Premier League. He would have got more games if he had stayed with us or if he joined a team which didn’t have Lampard, Essien, Makelele, Ballack & now Sidwell vying for 2 central midfield berths.

5. What’s going on with Nicky Shorey’s contract situation?

Shorey has decided not to sign a new contract at the moment. He is doing exactly what Sidwell had done before. He wants to bide his time and see what offers come his way. Obviously teams like West Ham have been telling him how much money they would pay him if he went there and how they see him fitting in to their team. Obviously Reading can’t match the salaries of the bigger clubs. So probably in January or July we will accept a £6million pound offer and let him move on. If anyone wanted him last window they would have had to come up with £8Million. Shorey is a quality left back. His set pieces rival anybody in the England team. His crossing is top drawer and he is very comfortable on the ball.

6. What do you think of the job Allardyce is doing so far at Newcastle?

I think Big Sam is one of the top managers in the Premier League. He is doing a good job and with the resources he will have at his disposal he is the right man to lead the Toon to greatness. Big Sam was looking after the biggest name players even at Bolton. There is no doubt that he can manage the biggest names and the highest profiles. That is something you need when you are looking to challenge the big 4.

7. What do you consider to be the strengths and weaknesses of the current Reading team?

Attack is the strength, defence is the weakness. We were a better all round outfit last year because we could attack freely and our defence would still remain solid due to the athletic box to box ability of Sidwell. He had the ability to drive into the opposition box and create chances and then get back to cover the defence when the opposition go on to the counter attack.

This year we still attack with the same ferocity but are now heavily exposed at the back. It makes our attacking play look almost cavalier because it seems to be that there is no consideration to keep things tight at the back.

We will go heavily on to the attack against Newcastle but if you can get the ball forward quickly to your fast players then you can cause us a lot of problems. Against the lesser sides like Derby and Fulham who don’t have that counter attack ability we should win. But against teams who have fast players who will play on the break we will come unstuck. Bellamy tore us apart early in the season at home.

8. Which of your players should we be wary of?

Shorey & Doyle. Shorey is a major supply line to the attack at the moment especially with Little being injured. If you can cut off the Shorey Supply then our attack will be severely blunted.

Doyle is a tenacious, persistent lad who will run his heart out. He will fight for every scrap. Give him an inch and he will make things happen. Other than that we are a little bit blunted at the moment due to our injury situation.

9. And which Newcastle players do you think will pose a danger to you?

Martins, Owen and Emre. Viduka could prove to be a handful if he plays. Saturdays game is one for the fast counter attack players. If Big Sam comes to counter attack us then you will win. His tactics were pretty poor when he brought Bolton to the Mad Stad last season. With Anelka & Diouf up front, Bolton posed no threat at all.

10. If you could sign just one of our players, who would it be?

I think we really need Emre right now. We need someone who can replace Sidwell. Otherwise I like the look of Martins and of course Shay Given would be a great player to have.

But Emre is the one we need.

11. Who are your tips for the title, and for relegation?

I know its early at the moment but I have a good feeling that Arsenal can take the title. If not Arsenal then definitely Man Utd.

In terms of relegation, I would tip Derby, Fulham & Sunderland. There are alot of teams in the frame this year for the drop. Derby are the only certs for the drop. Its out of 8 teams though.

12. Finally, give us your prediction for the game.

Reading 1 Newcastle 3

It pains me to make that prediction, but Newcastle have the firepower and we are not solid enough.

Thank you Reading fan and I hope you’re right with your prediction.