SQUADWATCH - Summer 2026

[Tinpot Royal]

Last season we had too many players (luckily as half the squad was injured most games).

Happy with the 2 we have signed, think we need 4 more

Some cover at CB, 2 Attacking Midfielders & a striker to cover Marriott.

Think we're fine in midfield unless Savage leaves, we're fine on the wings with Lane, Danny K, Lisbie and Randell W, plus WiFi although I thought he was much improved upfront last season, his biggest issue was we were still playing like it was Marriott upfront!

[WestYorksRoyal]

Last season we had too many players (luckily as half the squad was injured most games).

Happy with the 2 we have signed, think we need 4 more

Some cover at CB, 2 Attacking Midfielders & a striker to cover Marriott.

Think we're fine in midfield unless Savage leaves, we're fine on the wings with Lane, Danny K, Lisbie and Randell W, plus WiFi although I thought he was much improved upfront last season, his biggest issue was we were still playing like it was Marriott upfront!

There are a couple of positions where we have enough bodies but I'm not convinced they're the right bodies. We never got our central midfield balance right last season; if someone swoops for Savage then we can recruit a replacement specifically to complement Wing better, but what if nobody does?

Lane has L1 pedigree but has looked lost for us and doesn't seem to fit in with a pacy, direct winger style.

The mistake would be just to keep signing players and leave higher paid players like Lane wasting our budget. So I think we have to try and use them. Hopefully a full pre season can help them.

[Tinpot Royal]

Last season we had too many players (luckily as half the squad was injured most games).

Happy with the 2 we have signed, think we need 4 more

Some cover at CB, 2 Attacking Midfielders & a striker to cover Marriott.

Think we're fine in midfield unless Savage leaves, we're fine on the wings with Lane, Danny K, Lisbie and Randell W, plus WiFi although I thought he was much improved upfront last season, his biggest issue was we were still playing like it was Marriott upfront!

There are a couple of positions where we have enough bodies but I'm not convinced they're the right bodies. We never got our central midfield balance right last season; if someone swoops for Savage then we can recruit a replacement specifically to complement Wing better, but what if nobody does?

Lane has L1 pedigree but has looked lost for us and doesn't seem to fit in with a pacy, direct winger style.

The mistake would be just to keep signing players and leave higher paid players like Lane wasting our budget. So I think we have to try and use them. Hopefully a full pre season can help them.

The biggest issue with Savage is I feel he is Wings replacement, they are 2 similar to play together. Fraser I don't like at all. Rino is the most suited to play with Wing, so lets hope he stays fit! I think Savage will leave before the end of August.

Lane I hope will come good, but we may have to wait until Leam is sacked in November to see him play to his strengths!

[linkenholtroyal]

I may be the only one but I am enjoying this window so far. We are making solid sensible signings from the lower leagues. There seems to be a plan in place and the squad is starting to take shape early in the window.
There is a core of players that can start preseason together and build something. The 2 new lads seem to have good attitudes. I am struggling to see where it is going wrong. Other than maybe Leam, even on that he inherited a thrown together squad due to the owners playing games last year.
Maybe they have learnt and maybe we are heading towards a good season….. optimism is creeping in and it scares me a bit.

[linkenholtroyal]

Last season we had too many players (luckily as half the squad was injured most games).

Happy with the 2 we have signed, think we need 4 more

Some cover at CB, 2 Attacking Midfielders & a striker to cover Marriott.

Think we're fine in midfield unless Savage leaves, we're fine on the wings with Lane, Danny K, Lisbie and Randell W, plus WiFi although I thought he was much improved upfront last season, his biggest issue was we were still playing like it was Marriott upfront!

There are a couple of positions where we have enough bodies but I'm not convinced they're the right bodies. We never got our central midfield balance right last season; if someone swoops for Savage then we can recruit a replacement specifically to complement Wing better, but what if nobody does?

Lane has L1 pedigree but has looked lost for us and doesn't seem to fit in with a pacy, direct winger style.

The mistake would be just to keep signing players and leave higher paid players like Lane wasting our budget. So I think we have to try and use them. Hopefully a full pre season can help them.

The biggest issue with Savage is I feel he is Wings replacement, they are 2 similar to play together. Fraser I don't like at all. Rino is the most suited to play with Wing, so lets hope he stays fit! I think Savage will leave before the end of August.

Lane I hope will come good, but we may have to wait until Leam is sacked in November to see him play to his strengths!

On Savage, savage and Wing seemed to play better when they had DM behind them and they could boss the game together. But then it lacked the link player up front shame we cant play with 12 players and it would work perfectly.
Also there is a good player there in Lane, there must be as he was standout at Pompey in league 1. I think a lot is confidence and injuries. Hopefully it will all come good.

[hughsies no.1]

Really impressed with the strategy so far, no mass overhaul needed.

Owners have come in for a lot of criticism this summer (mostly justified) - but getting us operating like a proper football club again the window without the need of mass signings can only be applauded.

2/3 more signings needed - expect Savage to go, have to hold on to Wing at all costs.

Prediction - Ben Ward to be 2026/27 POTS and we make a huge profit on him next summer!

[tidus_mi2]

Really impressed with the strategy so far, no mass overhaul needed.

Owners have come in for a lot of criticism this summer (mostly justified) - but getting us operating like a proper football club again the window without the need of mass signings can only be applauded.

2/3 more signings needed - expect Savage to go, have to hold on to Wing at all costs.

Prediction - Ben Ward to be 2026/27 POTS and we make a huge profit on him next summer!

Can't really see Wing getting a significantly better offer than what he currently gets here unless a Championship really wants to take the chance he'll be able to step up and at 31 I think his skill level is pretty set, he's a top level League One player, could probably cut it in the Championship.

[Crowbar6753]

There are a couple of positions where we have enough bodies but I'm not convinced they're the right bodies. We never got our central midfield balance right last season; if someone swoops for Savage then we can recruit a replacement specifically to complement Wing better, but what if nobody does?

Lane has L1 pedigree but has looked lost for us and doesn't seem to fit in with a pacy, direct winger style.

The mistake would be just to keep signing players and leave higher paid players like Lane wasting our budget. So I think we have to try and use them. Hopefully a full pre season can help them.

The biggest issue with Savage is I feel he is Wings replacement, they are 2 similar to play together. Fraser I don't like at all. Rino is the most suited to play with Wing, so lets hope he stays fit! I think Savage will leave before the end of August.

Lane I hope will come good, but we may have to wait until Leam is sacked in November to see him play to his strengths!

On Savage, savage and Wing seemed to play better when they had DM behind them and they could boss the game together. But then it lacked the link player up front shame we cant play with 12 players and it would work perfectly.
Also there is a good player there in Lane, there must be as he was standout at Pompey in league 1. I think a lot is confidence and injuries. Hopefully it will all come good.

Actually think midfield is our biggest issue to solve this pre-season! Yes, we need another striker, Marriot will benefit from a full pre-season, Kelvin.E was starting to learn the role of striker presumably under the tutelage of Beattie and i believe Patton will become more of an influence if given the chance. Starting with these three isn't the worst case scenario and will be fine with one addition and let's face it, our winger's should really help and get that ball into feet better this season.
Back to the midfield, it's been unbalanced for a few years now with as mentioned Wing and Savage being the main issue. It just doesn't work playing the both of them in the same team! Savage is the better long term option due to age and career progression yet Wing is the more valuable at present as he is in the peak of his career.
Much easier to keep Wing, his career is nearing the downturn and hopefully he's still happy here. Savage rightly so will be looking for a move higher up the pyramid and will be tough to keep.
Let's get rid and bring in that dynamic midfielder (Harper/Sidwell) style which will not be easy to find and maybe in Rinhomota we already have that player on our books who could play alongside Wing! What we do need is that Attacking Midfielder and I'm keeping my fingers crossed we can work some magic with Brighton and get Doyle back in on a permanent deal.

[Sutekh]

The biggest issue with Savage is I feel he is Wings replacement, they are 2 similar to play together. Fraser I don't like at all. Rino is the most suited to play with Wing, so lets hope he stays fit! I think Savage will leave before the end of August.

Lane I hope will come good, but we may have to wait until Leam is sacked in November to see him play to his strengths!

On Savage, savage and Wing seemed to play better when they had DM behind them and they could boss the game together. But then it lacked the link player up front shame we cant play with 12 players and it would work perfectly.
Also there is a good player there in Lane, there must be as he was standout at Pompey in league 1. I think a lot is confidence and injuries. Hopefully it will all come good.

Actually think midfield is our biggest issue to solve this pre-season! Yes, we need another striker, Marriot will benefit from a full pre-season, Kelvin.E was starting to learn the role of striker presumably under the tutelage of Beattie and i believe Patton will become more of an influence if given the chance. Starting with these three isn't the worst case scenario and will be fine with one addition and let's face it, our winger's should really help and get that ball into feet better this season.
Back to the midfield, it's been unbalanced for a few years now with as mentioned Wing and Savage being the main issue. It just doesn't work playing the both of them in the same team! Savage is the better long term option due to age and career progression yet Wing is the more valuable at present as he is in the peak of his career.
Much easier to keep Wing, his career is nearing the downturn and hopefully he's still happy here. Savage rightly so will be looking for a move higher up the pyramid and will be tough to keep.
Let's get rid and bring in that dynamic midfielder (Harper/Sidwell) style which will not be easy to find and maybe in Rinhomota we already have that player on our books who could play alongside Wing! What we do need is that Attacking Midfielder and I'm keeping my fingers crossed we can work some magic with Brighton and get Doyle back in on a permanent deal.

Got that Evans fellow as well as Patton to provide some striking backup but would agree we probably need a Jimmy Quinn/Trevor Morley type of striker, someone that can hold the ball up and be an old fashioned target man.

[Hound]

I may be the only one but I am enjoying this window so far. We are making solid sensible signings from the lower leagues. There seems to be a plan in place and the squad is starting to take shape early in the window.
There is a core of players that can start preseason together and build something. The 2 new lads seem to have good attitudes. I am struggling to see where it is going wrong. Other than maybe Leam, even on that he inherited a thrown together squad due to the owners playing games last year.
Maybe they have learnt and maybe we are heading towards a good season….. optimism is creeping in and it scares me a bit.

Yes and pleased by the faith shown in some of the u21s. Really keen that they get a chance this year - want to see players like Osho, Sackey and Spencer in the match day squads

[Royals and Racers]

I may be the only one but I am enjoying this window so far. We are making solid sensible signings from the lower leagues. There seems to be a plan in place and the squad is starting to take shape early in the window.
There is a core of players that can start preseason together and build something. The 2 new lads seem to have good attitudes. I am struggling to see where it is going wrong. Other than maybe Leam, even on that he inherited a thrown together squad due to the owners playing games last year.
Maybe they have learnt and maybe we are heading towards a good season….. optimism is creeping in and it scares me a bit.

Yes and pleased by the faith shown in some of the u21s. Really keen that they get a chance this year - want to see players like Osho, Sackey and Spencer in the match day squads

And Duah . The lad is quality and sooner he gets a chance the better !

[morganb]

They've done a ding - incoming!

[morganb]

Striker Jacob Brown joins the club on a two-year deal.
 
The 28-year-old arrives following his departure from Luton Town, where he spent the last three years.

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/spor ... n-striker/

[Crowbar6753]

Looks to be a pretty decent and clever signing for this level and should get us a few goals. Pretty much the forward line done and dusted. Slowly coming together.