Hob Nob Anyone? News and Views

Safety In Sight After Bindon Secures Point

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 21:58:55 +0100

When Tyler Bindon nodded in Lewis Wing's corner seven minutes from time, it ensured justice was served in a match which Reading had outplayed a team heading for the play-offs on an unbeaten run of fifteen games. The late equaliser was nothing less than Reading deserved, not only because they were clearly the better side, but also because they had to overcome a Lincoln side who had throughout, persistently manipulated an extremely weak referee. With teams around them at the bottom of the league losing the point gained leaves Reading six points clear of the bottom four with four games remaining. Barring further intervention by the EFL it means Reading will almost certainly remain in League One next season.
READ MORE: Reading 1 Lincoln City 1 - Match Report

Season Tickets Go On Sale Early

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 12:52:58 +0100

The club have announced prices for season tickets for the 2024/2025 season well ahead of time this year, with the club hopeful of another season in League One under new owners next season. Season ticket prices are roughly unaltered with a slight increase and with some minor changes to criteria.

Cheapest prices remain in the North Stand family area and the South Stand where children in both need to be accompanied by an adult. Renewal prices in both areas are 340 pounds for adults and 365 for new adult season ticket holders. Prices for the non-family area of the North Stand are an extra 20 pounds for adults. The East and West stands are 440 pounds for new adult season ticket holders (415 for renewals), and the Upper West remains the most expensive area of the ground at 490 pounds for a new adult season ticket. The cheapest season ticket will be for children 13 years and under in the family area of the North Stand where new tickets and renewals work out at just one pound per home game.

Another Leap Towards Safety

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:08:38 +0100

Six minutes after coming off the bench early in the second half, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan earned Reading a vital three points with an outstanding moment of individual skill. Dorsett got forward down the left and slipped a short pass inside to the young Reading striker, who skilfully made room for himself in the box, before curling a sublime inch-perfect shot inside the far post for what turned out the be the matchwinner. It was goal worthy of winning any match, and followed his equally stunning finish in Reading's previous home four thumping of Cambridge United. Make no mistake about it, this was a very significant victory for the Royals against a rugged mid- table side which lacked quality but were tough to break down and pressed well.
READ MORE... Reading 1 Northampton Town 0 - Match Report

End In Sight To Ownership Chaos?

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 15:31:00 +0000

Reading Football Club have released a statement to confirm that they are in "exclusive negotiation" with a "potential purchaser". The news appears to signal a possible end to the on-going chaos that has been caused by Dai Yongge's existing ownership of the club. The sale to new owners would include the club itself, the stadium and the Bearwood training ground. However, there is no guarantee that negotiations will successfully complete.

Should the negotiations proceed to a completed sale then it would be best solution for the club, and fans, as it would be the full package instead of just the club itself. This would surely be the best outcome after Wycombe Wanderers were forced to pull out of their purchase of the training ground. At this stage it is little more than light at the end of the tunnel, and a sale could of course break down at any point. Should things progress smoothly then the takeover would be expected to complete in the summer ready for preparations for next season.

It is being reported that the potential new buyers, rumoured to be a North American group, have already put money into the club to assist with payment of wages to avoid further points deductions. However, the club are not naming the party they have entered negotiations with.

Reading Brush Worries Aside With Convincing Win

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:15:19 +0000

After a week of turmoil off the field, the Reading players rewarded their loyal, and increasing vocal fans, with an entertaining thumping four goal victory over fellow strugglers Cambridge United. It was a dominant performance with some excellent passing football and outstanding finishing. Orchestrated by skipper Lewis Wing, the one-touch passing and movement allowed Reading to dominate possession restricting United to only two attempts on targets in the entire match. There was a confidence on the ball throughout the team and a willingness to receive a pass which enabled them to maintain pressure on the visitors for most of the game. Several Reading players have the composure, touch, and awareness to receive the ball in tight situations and pop the ball off to an unmarked team mate to retain possession. The quality of the play lifted the home fans which in turn encouraged the team to attack a team clearly low on confidence and ideas.
READ MORE: Reading 4 Cambridge United 0 - Full Match Report

Huge Blow As Wycombe Set To Buy Bearwood

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:57:58 +0000

Wycombe Get Win At SCL

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 18:37:12 +0000

The consensus on the concourse in the West Upper at half time was that this was the worst Reading performance this season so far, and it was hard to disagree with that assessment. However, it would be unfair to Wycombe to claim their half time lead could be attributed entirely to the poor quality of Reading's play.

Wycombe's game plan worked a treat in the first half. High pressing Wanderers prevented Reading from passing their way out of their own half, forcing them to resort to hitting long balls into their opponent's half. With their towering centre backs Lonwijk and Tafazolli winning everything in the air against the isolated Smith, the visitors kept Reading pinned in their own half for most of the opening forty-five minutes. Not only were Wycombe keeping Reading in their own half they were quick to snaffle up any loose balls in midfield. Reading gave the ball away with alarming regularity, and then conceded free kicks in clumsy attempts to win it back.
READ MORE...: Reading 1 Wycombe Wanderers 2

Reading Back To Sixteenth With Away Win

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 15:14:28 +0000

Reading climbed back up to sixteenth in the table with a hugely important away win at bottom club Carlisle United. With over 1,000 travelling fans making the long journey north, Reading secured three points to end the week positive on points after being deducted two points earlier in the week. After a set-back last weekend with a home defeat to Shrewsbury, this was a big win that puts Reading firmly on course to survive the drop to League Two. The Royals are back to being five points clear of the drop, and in good long term form, and look set to stay up provided matters off the pitch do not further interfere.

Reading got off to a good start, when Smith was set-up by the outstanding Knibbs, but Smith was denied by the Carlisle post. However after just 17 minutes Smith put Reading on their way. Knibbs doubled Reading's lead ten minutes before half time and scored a third just before the hour mark. The home side's goal on 71 minutes was little more than a consolation with Reading having the game well won.

Fan Opinion: Carlisle United 1 Reading 3

Victory Over Port Vale Keeps Reading Clear Of Drop

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 11:49:45 +0000

Relentless second half pressure finally delivered the goals Reading required to bounce back from a heavy away defeat at league leaders Portsmouth on Saturday to overcome a stubborn Vale side desperate for points under new manager Darren Moore. The only change from the weekend starting eleven was the introduction of Smith to replace Mukairu. After a dull opening forty-five minutes Lewis Wing finally broke the deadlock fourteen minutes from the end with another stunning strike from outside the box. A headed clearance from a Savage corner dropped to Wing who took a touch before drilling a ferocious shot past Vale 'keeper Ripley.
READ MORE...

Match Report: Reading 2 Port Vale 0

Amazing Form Continues As Reading Climb Table

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 09:12:35 +0000

Femi Azeez stole the limelight with two stunning second half strikes to continue the Royals steady progress towards the safety of mid table. Apart from a slightly sluggish opening ten minutes, Reading dominated the game and deservedly took all three points. After his first game in charge Charlton manager Nathan Jones will now appreciate the enormity of the task facing him in keeping his team in League One. Apart from a couple of half chances, and one shot well saved by Button, Charlton rarely threatened to score, and in the second half struggled to get out of their own half.
READ MORE...

Match Report: Reading 2 Charlton 0

Reading Hang On To Knibbs And Azeez As Monlouis Joins

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 10:06:00 +0000

Reading saw Caylan Vickers and Taylan Harris depart on transfer deadline day, but there was a feeling of relief as Femi Azeez's expected transfer to Plymouth Argyle didn't go through. The Royals also managed to retain Knibbs, Smith and Wing who were also the subject of rumours about possible transfers away from Reading. Vickers and Harris joined McIntyre and Abbey as young Academy graduates moving on in the transfer window. With Guinness-Walker also moving to Stevenage on loan, the Royals are left with a much depleted squad, and lacking options in defence.

However there was one piece of rare bright news as Reading were able to bring in Arsenal Under 21 defender Zane Monlouis on loan for the rest of the season. Twenty year old Monlouis will come to Reading to play his first senior football after signing professional terms with Arsenal in 2022. He is not a stranger to the Select Car Leasing Stadium after playing for Arsenal U21s in their Football League Trophy match against Reading in November. The Royals were 5-2 winners with Monlouis starting in defence for the Gunners and seeing his side ship four goals before being substituted with just over ten minutes left to play. Monlouis has plenty of youth football experience and has been captain of Arsenal's U21s.

Vickers Completes Brighton Move

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 22:36:18 +0000

Caylan Vickers has completed his move to Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion. Like others that have left for presumably very little value, Vickers is an Academy product who has been in Reading's youth system for ten years. Vickers also moves for an undisclosed fee - likely to be a huge bargain for his new club but also vital money for Reading Football Club to enable them to pay remaining staff.

Vickers made his Reading debut at the start of the season, coming off the bench as Reading's lost 0-1 at home to Peterborough. In all competitions he has gone on to make 22 appearances, scoring three goals, including a late league winner against Bolton Wanderers in September. Vickers has attracted plenty of rumours through the season, but it is Brighton who have managed to agree a contract with a player who surely has a huge career ahead of him. Let's home we at least negotiated a good sell on clause.

Caylan Vickers Full Career History

DATE	OPPOSITION	COMPETITION	SCORE	REPORT	ATT	POS
05 August 2023	Peterborough (HOME)	League One	L: 0-1	Report...		19
08 August 2023	Millwall (Away)	League Cup	W: 4-0	Report...	4738	-
12 August 2023	Port Vale (Away)	League One	L: 0-1	Report...	8789	19
15 August 2023	Cheltenham (HOME)	League One	W: 1-0	Report...		17
19 August 2023	Stevenage (HOME)	League One	W: 2-0	Report...	11674	13
26 August 2023	Exeter (Away)	League One	L: 1-2	Report...	7956	16
29 August 2023	Ipswich (HOME)	League Cup	D: 2-2	Report...	7867	-
04 September 2023	Cambridge (Away)	League One	L: 0-1	Report...	6789	17
16 September 2023	Bolton (HOME)	League One	W: 2-1	Report...	13155	21
19 September 2023	Exeter (Away)	FL Trophy	W: 9-0	Report...	1871	-
23 September 2023	Blackpool (Away)	League One	L: 1-4	Report...	10104	22
03 October 2023	Northampton (Away)	League One	L: 1-3	Report...	6550	22
10 October 2023	Swindon (HOME)	FL Trophy	W: 5-0	Report...	6121	-
21 October 2023	Charlton (Away)	League One	L: 0-4	Report...	15572	23
04 November 2023	MK Dons (HOME)	FA Cup	W: 3-2	Report...		-
14 November 2023	Arsenal U21 (HOME)	FL Trophy	W: 5-2	Report...		-
09 December 2023	Barnsley (HOME)	League One	L: 1-3	Report...	12519	23
12 December 2023	Oxford (HOME)	League One	D: 1-1	Report...	14397	23
01 January 2024	Exeter (HOME)	League One	W: 3-2	Report...	13560	20
09 January 2024	Brighton U21 (Away)	FL Trophy	D: 0-0	Report...	990	-
27 January 2024	Leyton Orient (HOME)	League One	D: 1-1	Report...		21