How Reading Manager Ruben Selles Won The Argument

From written off to widely adored, Reading manager Ruben Selles has had quite the turnaround.

There was a moment as Reading fans celebrated what was all but the confirmation of their survival in League One, with victory away to Bristol Rovers, when the chains broke loose. The deliberately reserved, ruthlessly focused, onto-the-next-one demeanour of manager Ruben Selles evaporated in a fit of ecstasy.

Managing Reading FC in 2023/24 has not allowed for many moments of celebration. Points were won on the pitch and then lost in the boardroom days later, promising players were sold on the cheap, coaching staff shuffled out the door to save pennies and the very real notion of selling the training ground was terrifyingly dangled before us.

During all that, Selles has been the measure of calm, exuding a fine balance between the innate responses of an emotional rollercoaster and the ‘this is fine’ territory of the famous meme depicting a dog whose house is on fire.

You might think that words like ‘calm’ and ‘balance’ have had no place at the SCL in the last 12 months, given the desire for a bolshier pushback against Dai Yongge’s ownership, and alternatively the reasonable likelihood that a manager would deliver a ‘nothing to do with me, guv’ response to wash their hands of what goes on above their heads, particularly amid the pitch invasion episode. You might have thought that Selles was not up to this job.

The reason that it’s so remarkable the 40-year-old Valencian has pulled off this feat is that, for quite a while, it looked like he couldn’t.

Fans, myself included, were drawn towards an experienced head such as Chris Wilder last summer (who might have started better but would have, in hindsight, jumped ship back to Sheffield United barely months into his time with the club). Selles was a relatively well-known name but it’s easy to forget that he was a signing like much of the Reading squad: raw, unproven, talented but ultimately a work in progress.

And that was apparent on the pitch from the start. His 4-2-2-2 formation didn’t work, the much-vaunted high press failed to appear and baffling substitutions saw full-backs changed on the hour mark no matter what. I remember being particularly angered by Clinton Mola being thrown on for his debut 10 minutes away from a point at Cambridge United before the late winner came down his side.

Calls to sack Selles never reached more than your bog-standard social media murmur but serious questions were being asked when injuries had cleared up and Reading were still dropping two late goals to lose to lowly Shrewsbury Town in November.

However, much like we describe players as gently rising to their potential over the course of a season, Selles the manager simply got better.

Reading switched to a 4-1-4-1 to stop the midfield being overrun, protect the defence out wide and simultaneously bolster the attack. Harvey Knibbs remained a threat through the middle and finished among the league leaders for outfield players’ defensive contribution. Sam Smith excelled as a lone frontman. Lewis Wing suddenly had cover behind him to drift forward.

It was, from a tactical standpoint, the defining moment of the season.

Selles’ game management and ability to adapt to opponents’ strengths/weaknesses still need work but his game plan has overall improved. The loss of Nelson Abbey saw him partner Amadou Mbengue and Tyler Bindon at the back to great effect, while shifting Jeriel Dorsett and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan to the left flank filled vital holes and reaped the best form we’ve seen from two young players.

The debate among fans has effectively ended as a result. No longer do a sizeable chunk question whether he deserves to manage the club next season. The reality is that him being removed now will lead to an instant mutiny.

Of course, the wind can and probably will change course again. ‘Dia Del Jefe’ was great but ‘Portugal Day’ for Jose Gomes didn’t prevent him being rightly sacked three months into the following season. The reality is that no Reading manager has made it to their second anniversary since Brian McDermott in March 2015.

But Selles is a manager worth sticking with, even if Reading do start badly next season. His pedigree was well-versed when he arrived in Berkshire and he is now the focal point for a squad which has rallied together from the darkest depths.

You could see it at Purple Turtle on Saturday night. Some managers would shy away, shunning the fans and playing down a job only half done. But Selles knew the time was right to let his hair down, have a bit of fun, and that he’d found a genuine home in RG2.