Squad for 2025-2026

[WestYorksRoyal]

The new recruits need to help us match teams at this level physically. Yesterday was another game where we were outmuscled.

[Sutekh]

Going to lose Billy Bidon too

And presumably Not Andy Carroll.

So lots to think about for the management though expect Carey is on top of it all and will have several lists to follow up with depending on what budget gets approved.

[mumbo-jumbo]

The new recruits need to help us match teams at this level physically. Yesterday was another game where we were outmuscled.

Completely agree that we need some bit beefy players to fight it out next season - we're quite a small squad who often just get barged off the ball

[Sutekh]

The new recruits need to help us match teams at this level physically. Yesterday was another game where we were outmuscled.

Completely agree that we need some bit beefy players to fight it out next season - we're quite a small squad who often just get barged off the ball

11 of these please…



Or

[morganb]

Should Pereira leave then we can not have Boyce-Clarke anywhere near the first team

[WestYorksRoyal]

I know Couhig is planning a role for Jacobson, but surely this window has to be built upon Carey's work and research? Knows the squad and the club, and a proven track record of good recruitment, and has probably been planning for this moment.

There should be space for Jacobson DoF and Carey head of recruitment.

[Snowflake Royal]

If Wrexham strengthen massively, which their Hollywood owners promise to do, could we get Smith back?

Tbh, as useful as he was I'd rather get someone else and get the odd penalty.

[Snowflake Royal]

Should Pereira leave then we can not have Boyce-Clarke anywhere near the first team

I would be a little surprised to see his contract renewed to be honest.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I feel quite relaxed about the possibility of losing important players. We're a big club at this level, we have Carey and a good recruitment team. We'll have a good squad. And if it's a contracted player like Knibbs, Couhig will extract a high price if his negotiations for the club are anything to go by.

Love these players but the club is bigger.

[Sutekh]

Noel aims to get moving on squad building asap

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Assuming all goes through this week, I'd like to hear a clear strategy from the owners on the football side.

How long are they anticipating being in L1?

This will determine how long term the squad needs for this summer are

- is it going to be 'mend and make do' and sell whatever assets we have to fit a tight budget or

- build for a realistic shot at promotion, requiring some investments.

Clarity on this will also determine which out of contract players will want to sign on.

For example, Lewis Wing is now at a point in his career where playing in or at least challenging for the Championship should be his immediate goal...

I imagine they won't be public with a low ambition strategy and big up their ambitions - but they will then need to follow through to be convincing...

[WestYorksRoyal]

On his media offensive last month, Couhig said several times this is a club that should be a competitive Championship club with an outside chance of PL football. That would suggest he'll want promotion. Hopefully we'll see that in our transfer dealings.

[tidus_mi2]

On his media offensive last month, Couhig said several times this is a club that should be a competitive Championship club with an outside chance of PL football. That would suggest he'll want promotion. Hopefully we'll see that in our transfer dealings.

It does match what I expect from him, get us back to a top half Championship club and then find a buyer to flip us for a profit.

[Hound]

The priority is clearly to keep as many of our first 11 as possible and then strengthen up top and replace Bindon

I’m sure we won’t need to spend a lot on fees - the strategy we had in that golden period before the start of last season was good. The training ground, stadium, location etc is all a good sell plus the opportunity to build on this year and be top end of the table

I’d imagine virtually everyone we’ve sold off recently - Abbey, Holmes, McIntyre, Vickers - would all be available to some degree. Meite as well. Abbey would be worth checking out imo, and I’d consider Meite certainly

[Linden Jones' Tash]

As we have evidenced with the STAR statement recently, its not the fees that are the issue, it's the kind of wages Reading have been paying under the former regime.

Is that to continue or will there be a strategy to 'cut our cloth'...

If it's the former, then it will require continued investment (& be a gamble as all investments are).

It's unclear how well funded the putative new regime is so I reckon that this will be a key KPI to look at.

Can we attract decent talent at this level over lower championship clubs...?

[Royalcop]

Talking of former players, Tom Ince is barely getting a look in at Watford at the moment and might be out of contract (he signed a 2 year deal in 2023 with an option to extend for one year which I doubt will be taken up). Even at 33 he’d be a cut above in L1 and would also be a great role model for our younger players.

[WestYorksRoyal]

The priority is clearly to keep as many of our first 11 as possible and then strengthen up top and replace Bindon

I’m sure we won’t need to spend a lot on fees - the strategy we had in that golden period before the start of last season was good. The training ground, stadium, location etc is all a good sell plus the opportunity to build on this year and be top end of the table

I’d imagine virtually everyone we’ve sold off recently - Abbey, Holmes, McIntyre, Vickers - would all be available to some degree. Meite as well. Abbey would be worth checking out imo, and I’d consider Meite certainly

Meite has scored about 10 goals in 4 years since his serious injury. It's not a "no" from me, but I'd expect our recruitment team to be asking skeptical questions and having confidence in him before going down a nostalgia trip.

Abbey was complemented well by Bindon who won't be here; how would be work alongside Mbengue? And it would only be on loan and not a permanent signing with long term planning. Vickers would be the best option mooted imo; a squad option who can play across the front line.

But as 2023 showed (which, in hindsight is the most important window in our history as it saved us from further relegation and oblivion), you can do exceptional business at this level cheap as there is a wide pool of capable players. It's about blending skills and personalities.

2 examples for me would be:

Paudie O'Connor who is a high class L1 CB who is ooc at Lincoln. Lower Championship clubs could be interested, but if that doesn't materialise we're one of the most appealing options at this level.

Liam Bennett at relegated Cambridge who has consistently been one of their better players and offers an attacking threat from RB. Only 23 so will improve.

If I can do this from my armchair as a fan, think what Carey can do. We must have a massive list of options, and maybe the likes of Meite and Abbie are not the answer.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Talking of former players, Tom Ince is barely getting a look in at Watford at the moment and might be out of contract (he signed a 2 year deal in 2023 with an option to extend for one year which I doubt will be taken up). Even at 33 he’d be a cut above in L1 and would also be a great role model for our younger players.

He's not a role model, he's a dickhead. Acted poorly towards younger players on the pitch with his frustration and petulance. Then said at the awards dinner he didn’t want Carroll to score more and overtake him as top scorer. Don't worry about it, not as if relegation is on the line.

No, no, no, no, no.

[under the tin]

The new recruits need to help us match teams at this level physically. Yesterday was another game where we were outmuscled.

Completely agree that we need some bit beefy players to fight it out next season - we're quite a small squad who often just get barged off the ball

11 of these please…



Or

Fully agreed.
This young side needs an enforcer. Someone to drive the team forward when we're under the cosh.
Go ahead punk.
Make my day.

[Stranded]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY CAN WE STOP JUST SUGGESTING WE SIGN EX-PLAYERS.

Sorry, felt like that needed shouting.

All players mentioned were part of squads that did not perform, yes in admittedly trying circumstances, but there is close to zero point in bringing any back especially if they don't fit the way Hunt wants to play.

If the recruitment team feel that a player who knows the club is the right fit, then no problem but it just feels that the only players any Reading fan mentions, has already played for us and normally during the worst years in our history.

Some interesting free transfers in various postions that we may need (League One only):

Paudie O'Connor (Lincoln) CB
Sean Roughan (Lincoln) CB/LB
Josh Dacres-Cogley (Bolton) RB
Thierry Small (Charlton) LB
Dan Agyei (Orient) CF
Stephen Humphrys (Barnsley) CF
Josh Koroma (Huddersfield) LW
Kwame Poku (Peterborough) RW

Whether we want, or get any of the above is open to question but that is just a small sample of the type of player out there for free, just from our own division - who haven't played for us.