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Key Takeaways
- 82.3% of voters gave Leam Richardson an approval rating of 3/5 or 4/5, indicating a positive start to his tenure as Reading manager
- Richardson’s average approval rating is 3.67/5, higher than Noel Hunt’s 3.02/5 but lower than Ruben Selles’ ratings
- The majority of fans are pleased with Richardson’s start, but some reservations exist regarding aspects of his management
- Richardson’s popularity is comparable to Paul Ince’s 3.61/5 in December 2022 and Veljko Paunovic’s 3.59/5 in May 2021
Introduction to the Approval Rating
The results of the first approval rating for Leam Richardson, the new Reading manager, are in, and the verdict is clear: fans are pleased with the start he has made. With 82.3% of voters giving him a 3/5 or 4/5 rating, it is evident that fans are broadly happy with what they have seen from him so far. As one observer noted, "It’s hard to get a feeling of how much we are benefitting from [Richardson’s] leadership, or whether it is just a case of us having an actual manager who knows what they are doing." This sentiment highlights the reservations that some fans have regarding Richardson’s management, despite the overall positive approval rating.
Breaking Down the Approval Rating
The breakdown of the approval rating shows that 30% of voters gave Richardson a 3/5 rating, while 52.3% gave him a 4/5 rating. Only 6.9% of voters opted for a 2/5 rating, and 10.8% gave him a perfect 5/5 score. Notably, no one gave Richardson a 0/5 rating, indicating that fans are generally pleased with his performance. As the article notes, "A whopping 82.3% of you gave him either a 3/5 or 4/5… which to me says Reading fans are broadly happy with what they’ve seen from him so far, although there are some reservations with some aspects of his management."
Comparison to Previous Managers
Richardson’s average approval rating of 3.67/5 is higher than Noel Hunt’s 3.02/5, but lower than Ruben Selles’ numerous ratings above 4/5. For context, the article provides a historical equivalent, noting that Richardson’s popularity is similar to Paul Ince’s 3.61/5 in December 2022 and Veljko Paunovic’s 3.59/5 in May 2021. However, as the article notes, "the circumstances are very different for Richardson now, given he’s not been here as long as those two predecessors." This suggests that Richardson’s score has the potential to improve in the coming months as he continues to settle at the club and build a team in his image.
Future Prospects
The article concludes that there is good scope for Richardson’s approval rating to improve in the coming months. With the team currently in good form and in the top half of the table, fans will be hoping that Richardson can continue to build on this success and push Reading towards a convincing playoff push this season. As the article notes, "only time will tell" whether Richardson has made the team more than the sum of its parts, but for now, fans are pleased with the start he has made. As one observer noted, "Has Richardson made this Reading team… the sum of its parts, or anything more than that?" Only time will tell, but for now, the approval rating suggests that fans are cautiously optimistic about the future under Richardson’s leadership.
https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/reading-approval-ratings/52642/approval-rating-reading-fans-pleased-with-leam-richardsons-start