Can Reading Bounce Back From a Rocky Start to the Season?

11 September 2025
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Despite renewed ambition, the on-pitch start to the  2025/26 season has been disappointing to say the least. The Royals lost 2-0 in their season opener at Lincoln City, and then followed that up with successive home defeats at the hands of Huddersfield Town (0-2) and AFC Wimbledon (1-2). They were leaking goals and not scoring enough.

There was some respite via the Carabao Cup, with Reading defeating Championship outfit Portsmouth 2-1. A hard-fought 1-1 draw at Bolton in League One followed, which was Reading’s first point of the season, and it offered some encouragement. Another draw followed against Wycombe (2-2) before Noel Hunt’s side finally secured a victory, edging Port Vale out 1-0.

Expectations and Pressures

Pre-season chatter envisioned a resurgence. With the club operating under new ownership and ambitious signings through the door, including the likes of Derrick Williams and Jack Marriott, and promising talent like Mark O’Mahony, optimism was sparked. Even football betting markets indicated Reading would do well, with the internal belief being reflected externally.

But early adversity has tested faith. Despite outright frustration, there are signs that something is shaping, occasional flashes of cohesion, decent defensive pressing, and individual endeavour. Manager Noel Hunt’s experience in navigating mid-season turnarounds could yet prove pivotal. However, fans will become frustrated the longer a change in fortunes fails to be realised, with trust eroding.

Is a Recovery Possible?

Yes, but conditions must align. For a turnaround, several factors must come together:

Integration of new recruits: Familiarity and chemistry need to be built swiftly. The likes of Paddy Lane, Jack Marriott, and Mark O’Mahony must translate what people think they’re capable of into consistent performances.

Attacking improvement: The defence has, at times, shown plenty of grit. So now the task is to get things working at the other end of the pitch. They need rt create more chances, and they must be converted more regularly.

Managerial clarity: Noel Hunt must instil a tactical identity that plays to the squad’s evolving strengths while instilling resilience and belief.

Momentum and morale: That first league win must become a catalyst—constructive results and confident displays to lift morale and standings.

If these boxes are ticked, climbing up the table and aspiring to get to where they want to be, remains in reach. Recovery is not only about points, it’s about building a foundation that lasts. Equally important will be Reading’s home record. If they can turn the Select Car Leasing stadium into a fortress, it’s a foundation they can build on. They need to avoid losing streaks, too. Those three defeats in a row must be the end of bad runs for the season.

Conclusion

There’s no denying that Reading’s start to the 2025/26 campaign has been poor. Yet with new ownership, a refreshed squad, and signs of collective resilience, moving in the right direction from here on in is plausible. It won’t be easy, but as Hunt and the club work to recalibrate, hope persists. The Royals’ journey back to consistent good form isn’t guaranteed, but it’s certainly not beyond possibility, and their fate may hinge on how quickly confidence can be built following the Port Vale win.

Reading Squad Has Free Agent Gaps, Could Record Signing Be Set For A Return?

08 September 2025
By Hob Nob Anyone?

It has been a busy week for football fans up and down the country as fresh from the closure of the transfer window as we hit deadline day at the start of the month, we were then very quickly into the first international break of the 2025/26 campaign, and although Reading saw the clash with Northampton postponed, we fully expect to be back in action next Saturday as we make the trip to Barnsley.

With the end of the window, it inevitably means paperwork as squads are confirmed and shirt numbers for the year ahead are finalised, and the Royals were no different a couple of days back as manager Noel Hunt made the selections that would take us through to the New Year and the January window. With the EFL requiring us to name a squad of 22 professionals for our League One campaign that do not include goalkeepers, or youth prospects aged under 21 at the start of the year, there were no surprises in terms of the players that got the nod for the official list.

Of course, in the past two seasons given the off pitch issues that we had long been dealing with, we have never named a squad of more than 13 players, and when we last did this paperwork back in February we laughingly mustered only 11 players. Thankfully those days are in the rear view and it feels like we have won the jackpot at one of the Betpandacasino.io UK venues out there and we are again looking forward and this time around we named 19 players, leaving three slots available for a bit more transfer wheeling and dealing in the free agent market.

1. Kelvin Abrefa*
2. Finley Burns
3. Mamadi Camara*
4. Jeriel Dorsett*
5. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan*
6. Ben Elliott
7. Liam Fraser
8. Matty Jacob
9. Daniel Kyerewaa
10. Patrick Lane
11. Jack Marriott
12. Paudie O'Connor
13. Matt Ritchie
14. Tivonge Rushesha
15. Charlie Savage
16. Michael Stickland*
17. Derrick Williams
18. Lewis Wing
19. Andy Yiadom

* denotes home grown talent from the Academy, and of course Academy players do not have to be registered until selected for the first team and back in February our youngsters named 28.

Whilst there is nothing earth shattering in the release of this information the other day, the curious point is the three free slots as free agents can be signed and registered at any point outside of the two transfer windows in a season, so it is an educated guess to think that our gaffer is juggling a couple of balls in the background as he looks to improve the group slightly further.

It just so happens that a certain George Puscas is now on the free agency list. The 29 year old striker has been released by Turkish outfit Bodrum after scoring eight times in 34 games for the side, and he is of course well known at Reading. He joined us as a youngster back in 2019 for the princely sum of 7.5 million Euros, with 2 million Euros in bonus clauses from Italian Serie A side Inter Milan, and in doing so he became our record signing.

It is fair to say that the Romanian struggled to adapt to the English game, and the pressure that the fee placed on his head as a young lad, but having scored 12 times in the Championship in his debut season from 38 games, he ultimately left with 91 appearances to his name, with a return of 20 goals.

There will be some who believe you never go back, there will be others who feel with greater experience, if available at the right price now, he could be an asset.

We will simply have to see what the future holds.

Goal From Lane Earns First League Win

30 August 2025
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Paddy Lane swept home the only goal of a scrappy game to secure Reading's first league victory of the season against a Vale side also seeking their first win of the season. Lane had a steady game playing wide on the right, but mid-way through the second half produced a moment of true quality. Drifting inside, he found the top corner with his left foot from the edge of the box leaving Vale 'keeper Gauci rooted to the spot. It was a superb strike by the Royals new signing, which demonstrated he possesses a valuable asset, particularly for a wide player, the ability to strike the ball well with either foot.

The opening phase of the game was particularly scrappy, littered with misplaced passes by two sides still struggling to embrace the challenge of adjusting to an influx of new signings. Ahmed was getting forward to good effect. His persistence and direct running were causing the Vale defence problems. He delivered a couple of good crosses which might have produced an early goal. The first fizzed across the six-yard box eluding outstretched legs, and the second was wasted when O'Mahony tried to hit across the line of flight of the ball and missed the ball completely. A better option would have been, given the distance from goal and the pace of the cross, to attempt to deflect the ball past Gauci. Read More...
MATCH REPORT: Reading 1 Port Vale 0

The Greatest (and Worst) January Signings in Reading History

28 August 2025
By Hob Nob Anyone?

The January transfer window is always a gamble. For Reading FC, it’s brought in everything from game-changing additions to signings we’d all rather forget. With budgets tight and pressure high, January deals can be a turning point—or a total misfire.

Over the years, some winter arrivals have slotted in and instantly lifted the team. Others showed promise but faded fast. And a few… well, you’d be forgiven for thinking they never arrived at all. Just as fans place the odd football bet on a last-minute signing turning into a saviour, so too do clubs hedge their season’s hopes on a bit of mid-season magic.

So who makes the cut on both ends of the spectrum? Let’s take a look.

Hits that Made a Difference

Dave Kitson (2003)

One of the best bits of business Reading ever pulled off in January. Signed from Cambridge United for around £150,000, Kitson quickly became a fan favourite with his intelligent play and knack for goals. His contributions were key in Reading’s 2005–06 Championship-winning season, and he went on to score over 50 goals for the club.

Kitson was the classic lower-league gamble that paid off in full. Smart scouting, low risk, high reward—and proof that January doesn’t always mean panic buys.

Kevin Doyle (2005)

Technically a summer agreement but officially finalised in January, Doyle arrived for a reported £78,000 from Cork City. What followed was one of the most cost-effective signings in the club’s history. Doyle’s energy, goals, and tireless pressing helped define the Steve Coppell era, particularly during the club’s record-breaking promotion season.

He brought a Premier League work rate with Championship humility. Every fan knew he gave 100%, every week.

Michael Hector (Loan – 2014)

Though his best spell came slightly later, Hector’s arrival in January 2014 helped to shore up a shaky defence and gave Reading some much-needed stability. After returning from a loan spell, he slotted into the first team and became one of the more consistent performers in an otherwise forgettable campaign.

His form would eventually earn him a big-money move to Chelsea, showing that January can also serve as a launchpad for players with something to prove.

Misses We’d Rather Forget

Emerse Faé (2008)

There was hope around Faé’s arrival from Nantes. A versatile midfielder with international pedigree, he looked the part on paper. But his time at Reading was cut short by illness, form issues, and off-field concerns. He played only a handful of matches and left fans wondering what might have been.

He wasn’t a disaster—but certainly a letdown.

Royston Drenthe (2014)

By the time Drenthe landed at Reading, his best days were behind him. Signed to inject creativity and flair, he delivered little more than frustration and flicks in non-threatening areas. While his ability was never in doubt, the attitude and consistency simply weren’t there.

On paper, he brought a touch of glamour. In practice, it felt like we were always waiting for him to show up.

Jure Travner (2015)

Yes, he did exist. The Slovenian left-back signed in January 2015 but made zero league appearances. His time at the club remains a mystery to many fans—a name you might see on a squad list and wonder, “Was that a Football Manager regen?”

It’s hard to rate someone who never played, but that in itself tells you enough.

Final Thoughts

January will always be a tricky window. There’s rarely time to bed players in, and the market often feels like a race against the clock. But sometimes, a well-judged move can spark a run of form, steady the ship, or even win promotion.

Reading’s January record is a mixed bag, but it’s produced enough highs to keep us hopeful each time it rolls around. Whether it’s a bargain from the lower leagues or a Premier League castoff looking for redemption, the next hidden gem—or costly misfire—might just be one deadline day away.

Let’s just hope it’s more Kitson than Travner.