Nine games in and Reading are in fourth place, did fans expect this strong a start?
The start to the season has been totally unexpected. Nobody really knew what to expect this season as Jaap Stam has never managed at this level before and there were a lot of comings and goings in the summer. Everyone hoped that it would go well but there was fear that it could go badly wrong. To be fourth in the table and unbeaten in eight games in all competitions is beyond what most fans were expecting, especially as we have finished 17th and 19th the last two seasons.
How does a Jaap Stam team like to play football?
It's a team that wants possession and wants to be in possession. They have the best possession stats in the Sky Bet Championship. If the team are in possession and there isn’t a simple ball on then the last thing that the manager wants is for them to knock if forward. They will go back and keep the ball until there is another opening. In recent years Reading have been a bit direct so in the first few games it didn’t always come off and they got themselves into a bit of trouble overplaying. They have started to look very dangerous on the break too, they look to break with real numbers and pace.
Which players have stood out so far?
John Swift has been the star of the show so far. He has scored four goals and had a hand in many more. He is the player who links the attack and has really hit the ground running as the central figure. He is a fans favourite and scored in the wins over Barnsley and Brighton and Hove Albion last week. Liam Moore has also been fantastic at the heart of the defence as the team has only conceded a couple of goals from open play so far. Roy Beerens is skilful and very quick. He likes to beat defenders but he can also score goals as well.
Tonight is somewhat of a local derby, one the Reading fans look forward to?
Brentford away is always one of the games that the fans really look forward to. It isn’t too far away and there is the terracing as well. With the 3-1 win last year it was one of the fans’ favourite away days of last year's campaign. There will be a large following tonight, helped by the confidence there is around the club.
How do you think Jaap Stam will set his team up tonight?
The team will come to Griffin Park tonight looking for a win. They arrive on the back of a couple of good away wins. They played really well at Barnsley so will come looking to win the game. However, Griffin Park is a very difficult place to come so a draw would be a good result but they will want the three points.