Updates from the 8pm BST kick-off at Madejski StadiumEmail michael.butler@theguardian.com | Tweet @michaelbutler18Jacob Steinberg: Why Lampard can be managerial successChampionship: fans preview the season ahead 7.53pm BST We spoke to fans in the Championship about their predictions for the season, and here’s what they had to say. Related: Championship: fans from all 24 clubs preview the 2018-19 season 7.51pm BST The managers speak! Frank Lampard: Obviously my first competitive game, but it feels like I’ve been here a while. But I love it, feels good to be back. Those players that played and beat Wolves made it easier to select the XI tonight. But we need a big squad for this league. We want to create opportunities using different styles, whether it’s building from the back or going direct. I like Frank a lot, we worked a lot at Chelsea. I think it’s great he’s embarking on a managerial career. We will have a catch up after. 7.48pm BST In case you missed it, Liam Rosenior hung up his boots last month after being released from Brighton, he played at Reading as well during his career. He’s taking up a coaching role at Brighton but also is moonlighting as a pundit for Sky Sports. He’s pitchside at the Madejski Stadium and looks very assured. Anybody that read Rosenior’s columns last season for the Guardian knows how articulate he is. There’s no cliches, and he’s able to reel off names and facts with Championship clubs that others don’t. The lad really does his research. 7.42pm BST Our first email of the season. “Hi, Michael,” writes Adam Griffiths. “A football season starting on a Friday night is an abomination, one that the football gods shall smite us for. Smite us mightily. Thoroughly looking forward to a season of tiptop MBMery and emailinginery, mind. Big thanks in advance to your crack team of MBMers and all the loyal listeners out there.” 7.31pm BST Enjoyed this from Jacob Steinberg on Lampard’s thick skin, his smarts, and the importance of his assistant, Jody Morris. Related: The making of Frank Lampard: why Derby manager can be a success 7.24pm BST Let’s unpack these teams then. New summer recruits for Reading – Andy Yiadom and David Meyler – start with other new arrivals – John O’Shea, Sam Walker, Marc McNulty and this week’s signing Sam Baldock.Interestingly, there is no sign of Jack Marriott in the Derby squad. Loanees Mount and Harry Wilson, in from Liverpool, get the nod. It goes to show Derby’s strength in depth that they can have Bradley Johnson and Alex Pearce languishing on the bench. What Reading would do to have Pearce back, the Irishman made over 200 appearances for the Royals before his move to Derby in 2015. Matej Vydra – who failed to agree personal terms on a proposed £11m move to Leeds United – is yet to return to full fitness, as are Tom Huddlestone and George Thorne. 7.21pm BST Reading: Mannone, Yiadom, Richards, McShane (c), Ilori, Meyler, Kelly, Swift, Aluko, Barrow, Bodvarsson.Subs: Walker, O’Shea, Bacuna, Baldock, Meite, Clement, McNulty.Derby County: Carson, Wisdom, Davies (c), Keogh, Lowe, Wilson, Lawrence, Ledley, Bryson, Lawrence, Mount, Nugent.Subs: Roos, Josefzoon, Johnson, Pearce, Bennett, Thomas, Bogle. 7.09pm BST So what have you been doing for the past 19 days? The void of summer, hot days spent trying to find a desk fan to precariously perch on your bedside table, hot nights spent rolling around in a puddle of your sweat after search for fan came to nothing. It’s been awful hasn’t it, with nothing to distract you but transfer gossip and Europa League qualifiers.But now, we have football, worth caring about. If Marcelo Bielsa believes the second tier of English football is too good for him, then it’s certainly good enough for you. Derby County, now led by Frank Lampard, are very much hoping that they will be in the top tier of English football by next May, and absolutely nobody – including Frank – has any idea whether they – or Frank – are good enough. It should be an intriguing story either way. Continue readingreadfullarticle
