Squad Watch 2022/23

[tidus_mi2]

I feel people are giving Southwood too much credit for Cheltenham's clean sheets, he has one of the worst save % in the division.

[Hound]

Have Bouzanis on a long contract so if we go down it may we be him +Jokull or CBC

[Snowflake Royal]

Have Bouzanis on a long contract so if we go down it may we be him +Jokull or CBC

Should be decent, although reservations about Bouzanis and CBC is still very young. Just think if you've got a keeper who is performing at the level you might find yourself in, it's probably worth delaying your decision until you know which division you'll be in.

[Sutekh]

Just a reminder, as the end of the season will be here in 1 month, of the known contract positions of Reading’s players. Think it’s primarily those in the Academy that need to be re-signed esp. CBC.

Name (age at expiry of current permanent contract)

Contracted until 30 June 2023

1. Scott Dann (36)
2. Nesta Guinness-Walker (23)
3. Junior Hoilett (33)
4. Lucas Joao (29)
5. Shane Long (36)
6. Amadou Mbengue (21) - contract has option to extend for further year(s)
7. Yakou Méïté (27)
8. Liam Moore (30)
9. Luke Southwood (25) - (currently on loan at Cheltenham Town)
10. Dejan Tetek (20)

Loan players

2. Joe Lumley (28) - (currently contracted to Middlesbrough until 30 June 2023)
3. Cesare Casadei (25) - (currently contracted to Chelsea until 30 June 2028)
4. Tyrese Fornah (24) - (currently contracted to Forest until 30 June 2024)
5. Jeff Hendrick (32) - (currently contracted to Newcastle until 30 June 2024)
6. Mamadou Loum (27) - (currently contracted to Porto until 30 June 2024)
7. Baba Rahman (29) - (currently contracted to Chelsea until 30 June 2024)

Contracted until 30 June 2024

1. Kelvin Abrefa (20)
2. Femi Azeez (23)
3. Andy Carroll (35)
4. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan (21)
5. Ovie Ejaria (26)
6. Sam Hutchinson (34)
7. Tom McIntyre (25)
8. George Puscas (28) (currently on loan at Genoa until June 2023, and will hopefully be sold to them if they go up)

Contracted until 30 June 2025

1. Dean Bouzanis (34)
2. Mamadi Camará (21)
3. Tom Holmes (25)
4. Tom Ince (33)
5. Andy Yiadom (33)

Contracted until 30 June 2026

1. Mouhamadou-Naby Sarr (32)

Other leading youngsters are thought to be contracted as follows:

Name - position - (age at expiry) - expiry date

1. Nelson Abbey - Central Defender - (21) - 30 June 2024
2. Jokull Andresson - Goalkeeper - (22) - 30 June 2024
3. Coniah Boyce-Clarke - Goalkeeper - (20) - 30 June 2023
4. John Clarke - Left Back - (19) - 30 June 2023
5. Jamari Clarke - Striker - (20) - 30 June 2023
6. Michael Craig - Defensive Midfielder - (20) - 30 June 2023
7. Jerial Dorsett - Central Defender - (20) - 30 June 2023 (currently on loan at Kilmarnock)
8. Louie Holzman - Central Defender - (20) - 30 June 2023
9. Kian Leavy - Central Midfielder - (21) - 30 June 2023
10. Nahum Melvin-Lambert - Striker - (20) - 30 June 2023
11. Claudio Osorio - Attacking Midfielder - (20) - 30 June 2023
12. Michael Stickland - Central Defender - (19) - 30 June 2023

That makes at least 20 players out of contract in June 2023. I’d offer new deals to NGW, Joao, Meite, Mbengue, Tetek, CBC, both Clarkes, Craig, Leavy, Holzman and Dorsett. Whether they’d accept them of course is another matter! I’d also start thinking about renewing deals for Azeez, Abrefa and Ehibhatiomhan before things get too late.

[From Despair To Where?]

Dorsett's not had a great season in Scotland.

[Clyde1998]

That makes at least 20 players out of contract in June 2023. I’d offer new deals to NGW, Joao, Mbengue, Tetek, CBC, both Clarkes, Craig, Leavy, Holzman and Dorsett. Whether they’d accept them of course is another matter! I’d also start thinking about renewing deals for Azeez, Abrefa and Ehibhatiomhan before things get too late.

Some of who we'll offer contracts to will depend on what division we're in next season: we probably couldn't afford to keep Joao on if we're in League One for example, whilst some of the younger players may be worth giving another year to if we think they may get ten/fifteen appearances in League One.

Hoilett and Long would probably be worth keeping hold of in League One, assuming there's no serious injury concerns with them.

[Elm Park Kid]

If we get relegated then I guess that we'd just try to keep NGW, Mbengue and Lumley on the books of those out of contract. We'll promote youth players to make up the numbers.

[Hound]

If we get relegated then I guess that we'd just try to keep NGW, Mbengue and Lumley on the books of those out of contract. We'll promote youth players to make up the numbers.

Yep, but maybe not Lumley. Fornah possibly (on loan of course)

[Snowflake Royal]

If we get relegated then I guess that we'd just try to keep NGW, Mbengue and Lumley on the books of those out of contract. We'll promote youth players to make up the numbers.

Yep, but maybe not Lumley. Fornah possibly (on loan of course)

Yeah, I feel we could do better than Lumley in the Championship and his wage expectation may be a bit much for L1, and he'd probably rather wait and see if he gets Championship interest.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I'd definitely offer a contract from Mbengue, the rest I'd either get rid of or I'm not too sure on, depends on the division we play in. Youngsters I'd aim to retain everyone although I'd imagine that maybe Osorio, Melvin-Lambert and Leavy might move on.

I'd try and aim to get Lumley again and Fornah if the price is right. The rest of the loanees I'm not so bothered by, wouldn't be massively disappointed if we lost all the loanees and none returned.

[Hound]

Obvs not all his own fault but Fornah has been v disappointing

Talent there clearly but not really performed

[Snowflake Royal]

Obvs not all his own fault but Fornah has been v disappointing

Talent there clearly but not really performed

He's got too many mistakes in him at the moment. I think he's looked our highest quality midfielder until Casadei came in though. Not necessarily in performance but in potential impact and skill level.

I thik he's been hampered by Ince's management. Clearly little faith in him, in and out of the team constantly. He gives the vibe of not enjoying his time here. And of coure more recently has probably got a crick in his neck watching the ball sail over his head.

[Sutekh]

If you accept Femi as a senior player now then there are currently 11 such players contracted for next season. One of those players though is George Puscas so it will become 10 senior players if/when Genoa are promoted.

As has been said previously the issue for the club is the lack of creative and striking options (and some would say the defence needs replacing too).

[Loafer]

Mods, please merge this thread with my updated 23/24 one