Transfer Window Closes

01 September 2021
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading failed to sign a striker as the summer transfer deadline passed. Free agent Andy Carroll remained a solid rumour throughout transfer deadline day but he failed to sign after being released by Newcastle United in the summer. Reading are left with a stronger midfield and defence after a busy final week of the window but fans will be left frustrated by the lack of a goalscorer with long term injuries to our better striking options.

Paunovic would have started the season feeling reasonably confident about the back line, despite the lack of a left back, with Moore and Morrison in the middle. However, our goalscoring issues have been overshadowed at the back where Reading have suffered so far this season. We have already conceeded a whopping 16 goals in just 6 games. With that in mind the signing of centre-back Scott Dann is a big boost. The 34 year old was released by Crystal Palace and will bring loads of experience to Reading after signing a one-year contract. He made over 180 appearances for Palace and will hopefully look comfortable after dropping down a division.

More experience arrived after former Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater joined Reading on a season loan from Chelsea. Drinkwater has struggled recently with injuries and issues off the pitch after his high profile move to Chelsea after Leicester won the Premier League. His impressive performances atr Leicester not only led to trophies but an England call up where he made three appearances for the Three Lions. He comes to Reading looking to get his career back on track after some tough times where he has struggled to get matches. If he can rediscover even some of his form at Reading then he could be a massive signing this season as Reading look to turn a poor start around.

Reading's Summer Signings

Abdul-Rahman Baba - Chelsea left back - signed on loan

Danny Drinkwater - Chelsea midfielder - on loan

Tom Dele-Bashiru - Watford Midfielder - on loan

Alen Halilovic - Midfielder - free transfer

Junior Hoilett - Winger - free transfer

Scott Dann - Defender - free transfer

Reading failed to sign a striker as the summer transfer deadline passed. Free agent Andy Carroll remained a solid rumour throughout transfer deadline day but he failed to sign after being released by Newcastle United in the summer. Reading are left with a stronger midfield and defence after a busy final week of the window but fans will be left frustrated by the lack of a goalscorer with long term injuries to our better striking options.
 
Paunovic would have started the season feeling reasonably confident about the back line, despite the lack of a left back, with Moore and Morrison in the middle. However, our goalscoring issues have been overshadowed at the back where Reading have suffered so far this season. We have already conceeded a whopping 16 goals in just 6 games. With that in mind the signing of centre-back Scott Dann is a big boost. The 34 year old was released by Crystal Palace and will bring loads of experience to Reading after signing a one-year contract. He made over 180 appearances for Palace and will hopefully look comfortable after dropping down a division.
 
More experience arrived after former Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater joined Reading on a season loan from Chelsea. Drinkwater has struggled recently with injuries and issues off the pitch after his high profile move to Chelsea after Leicester won the Premier League. His impressive performances atr Leicester not only led to trophies but an England call up where he made three appearances for the Three Lions. He comes to Reading looking to get his career back on track after some tough times where he has struggled to get matches. If he can rediscover even some of his form at Reading then he could be a massive signing this season as Reading look to turn a poor start around.
 
<h3>Reading's Summer Signings</h3>
<li>Abdul-Rahman Baba - Chelsea left back - signed on loan</li>
<li>Danny Drinkwater - Chelsea midfielder - on loan</li>
<li>Tom Dele-Bashiru - Watford Midfielder - on loan</li>
<li>Alen Halilovic - Midfielder - free transfer</li>
<li>Junior Hoilett - Winger - free transfer</li>
<li>Scott Dann - Defender - free transfer</li>

Discussion On This Story:

LUX

» 01 Sep 2021 13:54

can someone post up who we've signed please. It's very inconclusive over on rumours/gossip

Sutekh

» 01 Sep 2021 13:56

Tom Dele Bashiru

Scott Dann

Alen Halilovic

Junior Hoilett

Baba Rahman

Danny Drinkwater

Zip

» 01 Sep 2021 14:15

According to Casumo we have also bought Andy Carroll :lol:

SouthDownsRoyal

» 01 Sep 2021 17:07

Lol @ casumo

SouthDownsRoyal

» 01 Sep 2021 17:08

Tom Dele Bashiru

Scott Dann

Alen Halilovic

Junior Hoilett

Baba Rahman

Danny Drinkwater

Not bad

Lower West

» 01 Sep 2021 22:27

Would have preferred signing Troy Deeney to the midfield overload we now have. The lack of pace in the team remains a major concern. There's little natural width. Unless Pauno has a plan to plan to play with wingbacks and Drinkwater as a holding defensive midfielder.

Zip

» 01 Sep 2021 22:32

Hopefully we have enough to avoid a relegation battle.

Westwood52

» 01 Sep 2021 23:30

Yeah interesting selection for the fake hoops.Not getting a striker in will bite us on the bum;but Man U couldn’t get a CDM in to replace Fred and Liverpool didn’t get anyone in.

We are not the only team that failed to rectify the bleeding obvious.

Hendo

» 02 Sep 2021 08:33

Deeny was never going to come here when Birmingham became an option, was never going to turn down his boyhood club.

Westwood52

» 02 Sep 2021 10:46

I assume Carrol didn’t fancy getting out of his mega sized bed for £8.5 grand a week ?

NathStPaul

» 02 Sep 2021 10:50

As has been pointed out on about 50 ocassions in numerous threads, we had to offload players before we could sign anyone else. If he wanted to come here or not is a moot point. :|

Westwood52

» 02 Sep 2021 13:02

morganb

» 02 Sep 2021 13:09

As has been pointed out on about 50 ocassions in numerous threads, we had to offload players before we could sign anyone else. If he wanted to come here or not is a moot point. :|

So we should have brought him in as our sixth acquisition and forgone a punt on someone else;given since Joao got crocked and after a LB,a striker was an absolute must.Very,very tricky.Dann,DWater and Baba are almost certain to start.Given Swift’s fragility,presumably Halilovic covers.Toilet gives us some wide cover.So it looks like TDB might be superfluous.Yet he was first pick.

I did wonder if instead of selling one of our permanent players whether we could have terminated a loan such as TDB to open up a spacefor a forward.
Also, how come the club didn't already know the situation/know the rules about maximum number of players?

Hound

» 02 Sep 2021 13:17

not sure what to believe about a striker or lack of one coming in to be honest. lets face it, we didn't seem to try that hard. Bit of a half arsed effort to sign Carroll at the end but pretty sure if we'd really wanted one we would have prioritised it. Bit weird on the face of it.
I'm not against plenty of midfield options. I do feel its the one area where subs make the most difference (Pauno needs to use better than he did last year though)
Hard to know how we'll line up. I'm assuming something along the lines of
Halilovic -Drinkwater -Swift - Laurent - Ejaria
leaving Hoilett, TDB, Rino, Tetek on the bench. Decent options there, who can change the dynamic. Hoilett could play alongside Puscas I reckon as well.

Sutekh

» 02 Sep 2021 13:19

So we should have brought him in as our sixth acquisition and forgone a punt on someone else;given since Joao got crocked and after a LB,a striker was an absolute must.Very,very tricky.Dann,DWater and Baba are almost certain to start.Given Swift’s fragility,presumably Halilovic covers.Toilet gives us some wide cover.So it looks like TDB might be superfluous.Yet he was first pick.

I did wonder if instead of selling one of our permanent players whether we could have terminated a loan such as TDB to open up a spacefor a forward.
Also, how come the club didn't already know the situation/know the rules about maximum number of players?

Given Joao didn’t get crocked until after TDB arrived I don’t think the club can be faulted on that, more likely it was daft to bring in Drinkwater or Halilovic. That said having the defence doing regular comedy routines, culminating in their entry for “it’ll be alright on the night” at Huddersfield, really didn’t help matters.

Westwood52

» 02 Sep 2021 13:27

I did wonder if instead of selling one of our permanent players whether we could have terminated a loan such as TDB to open up a spacefor a forward.
Also, how come the club didn't already know the situation/know the rules about maximum number of players?

Given Joao didn’t get crocked until after TDB arrived I don’t think the club can be faulted on that, more likely it was daft to bring in Drinkwater or Halilovic. That said having the defence doing regular comedy routines, culminating in their entry for “it’ll be alright on the night” at Huddersfield, really didn’t help matters.

Yeah I think Velcro did not expect his CB s ;on paper the strongest part of the team ,to go down the drain.But because of that he had to bring in Dann.

Hound

» 02 Sep 2021 14:01

Given Joao didn’t get crocked until after TDB arrived I don’t think the club can be faulted on that, more likely it was daft to bring in Drinkwater or Halilovic. That said having the defence doing regular comedy routines, culminating in their entry for “it’ll be alright on the night” at Huddersfield, really didn’t help matters.

Yeah I think Velcro did not expect his CB s ;on paper the strongest part of the team ,to go down the drain.But because of that he had to bring in Dann.

yep. No one could really have considered we needed CB cover - but we absolutely do. bet he is far from happy about it himself

Snowflake Royal

» 02 Sep 2021 17:37

Zip

» 02 Sep 2021 17:49

Agree with all of this apart from the last part. I’m really not convinced about the Hoilett signing. Is he fit?

Hound

» 02 Sep 2021 20:31

Depressing that it basically forces out the one consistent performer we've had in midfield for years and blocks the opportunities for an Academy graduate at the same time.
Whilst leaving us with a central midfielder at left wing, few actual wide options and shallow options at full back and paper thin options upfront.
Definitely think Drinkwater was a midfielder too far and TDB is unnecessarily similar to Laurent (who has been pretty arse)

Would happily swap in rino for Laurent based on performance. Agree Laurent has been poor so far (though a couple of assists) but Rino been pretty rubbish as well
Think Drinkwater was a case of he became available and they took the gamble. Undecided til I watch him tbh. Could be a master stroke or a total waste of time. He certainly was a fantastic player
Not too fussed about wide options - think Ejaria, AH, Hoilett cover it ok. Along with Azeez when he is back
I’d have happily swapped one of those incoming midfielders for a CF in saying that

TiagoIlori

» 02 Sep 2021 22:13

Things got so bad in the end I genuinely started thinking that I’d take HRK. Mind you, I think we did well considering the circumstances. Drinkwater is the only one I’m really not sure on. Going off what he said to the Telegraph a year ago it sounds like he’s gone through a difficult time, mind I think he’d be very popular here if he simply worked hard no one can doubt his ability and he has a full pre season at Chelsea so unlike at Villa and Burnley he’s actually fit. Big if though.

blythspartan

» 02 Sep 2021 22:26

Can we still loan out a player to a team in the National League? I just wondered if we could do this in order to bring in a striker. I am pretty sure the transfer window doesn’t affect non-league teams but I believe they have a registration date for the players who will play during the course of the season.

Stranded

» 03 Sep 2021 10:47

Loans don't count - McNulty is classed as one of our players when it comes to the squad count.

morganb

» 03 Sep 2021 11:42

There are a couple of interviews up on https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news which may indicate why we've brought in the players we have.
Drinkwater: I love helping people
Dann: I’m always trying to help others
Sounds like they were brought in as much for there experience and potential coaching ability as for playing in matches. (Fairly obvious I guess)

John Smith

» 03 Sep 2021 11:52

We needed Drinky, he is a fantastic signing. As is Dann - I just hope the manager has the minerals to drop Liam Moore otherwise I will start to join the Pauno out brigade.

morganb

» 03 Sep 2021 11:59

Has anyone come up with songs for our new recruits?
You'd expect Dann and Drinkwater and possibly Hoilett to come with ready-made chants but what about the other three?

CountryRoyal

» 03 Sep 2021 12:06

You can’t read anything into interviews at new clubs. Pretty sure David Meyler said something along the lines of won’t stop running, will leave everything on the pitch etc etc and clearly that was a load of bollocks.
It’s all meaningless ear candy. Pretty sure on my CV I have big people person, despite the fact I think most people are utter pcunts.

Snowflake Royal

» 03 Sep 2021 12:07

What do you think of Drinkwater?!

Piss!

What do you think of Junior Hoilett?

Toilet!

Pauno's signings will flush us down the league, flush us down the league. Flush us down the league, flush us down the league.
:wink:

Hound

» 03 Sep 2021 12:49

Both him and Rahman played well in preseason from reports. So hopefully both fit and firing physically and mentally

Sutekh

» 03 Sep 2021 14:01

Dann, Dann the defender man

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