Reading Football Formation

Lineup (4-4-2)

Reading are back in the Premier League after winning the 2011-12 Championship title. This formation is based on the players who have been in the most starting line-ups all season.

They were last promoted to the top-flight in 2006 and stayed there for two seasons, being relegated in 2008. They've lost in the play-offs twice in the last three seasons, losing 4-2 to Swansea City in the 2011 play-off final.

They sold Shane Long to West Brom at the start of the season, and they lost four of their first six games. In November, they were 17th in the table, six points off the bottom! They then won 8 out of 12 games, and Reading fans were hoping for the play-offs, but Brian McDermott's men did even better! They won 15 from their next 17, and sealed promotion against Nottingham Forest on 17 April.

Reading have a rock-solid defence but they still play it fast-paced and great attacking football. They get the ball out wide to the wingers of Jimmy Kebe and Jobi McAnuff, and they are stunning when Reading hit the counter-attack, but if they lose the ball, they don't stop until they get it back. There are no massive players in the Royals' first team, but their goalkeeper Adam Federici, defenders Alex Pearce and Kaspars Gorkss, and midfielders Mikele Leigertwood, Jobi McAnuff and Jem Karacan have hardly missed a game all season.

Brian McDermott has had an amazing rise to the top. He wasn't a great player and dropped into non-league, being the boss of a team called Slough before becoming Reading's chief scout back in 2000. He worked his way up the ranks at the Madjeski Stadium before becoming the manager in 2009, succeeding his predecessor Steve Coppell.

Good luck in the Premier League next season, Reading!