Playing for 90
Fansided

30 Greatest Teams in Premier League History

By Benjamin Taylor

Who will lift this trophy in May and join these 30 teams among the greatest ever to compete in the English Premier League? (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Who will lift this trophy in May and join these 30 teams among the greatest ever to compete in the English Premier League? (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 31
Next

26. Reading, 2006-07

READING, UNITED KINGDOM – DECEMBER 22: Ivar Ingimarsson of Reading celebrates his and Reading’s 1st goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Reading and Sunderland at the Madejski Stadium on December 22, 2007 in Reading, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
READING, UNITED KINGDOM – DECEMBER 22: Ivar Ingimarsson of Reading celebrates his and Reading’s 1st goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Reading and Sunderland at the Madejski Stadium on December 22, 2007 in Reading, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) /

Starting XI: M. Hahnemann (GK); G. Murty, I. Ingimarsson, I. Sonko, N. Shorey; J. Harper, S. Sidwell, B. Gunnarsson, S Hunt; L. Lita, K. Doyle.

Steve Coppell’s Reading had made a mockery of the Championship the previous season, amassing 106 points and 99 goals on their way to promotion to the Premier League. However, with only a few minor additions to the squad over the summer, most expected their inexperienced team to struggle mightily in the club’s first season in England’s top flight.

Despite losing six of their first eleven games, they managed to regroup and charged up the table on the back of the goalscoring form of Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle. Despite their relatively inexperienced and unfashionable squad, the club went on to finish in a remarkable 8th place, just a single point away from European qualification. The fairytale was, regrettably, short-lived. After losing midfield lynchpin Steve Sidwell to Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer, Reading again failed to replenish their squad with the talent necessary to maintain Premier League status.

After a nervy relegation battle the following season, they eventually went down on goal difference, a heartbreaking end to a Premier League odyssey that had begun with such promise.

Next: No. 25

Home/Premier League