If, and a big if, we stay up what are next season's hopes

[Ian Royal]

Reading will have to invest in the team if they have any chance of staying up next season. All they really need is a new goalkeeper (maybe try and buy Luke Steele from Barnsley, Roy Carrol from Derby, maybe Keller from Fulham or Al Habsi and Walker from Bolton) 3 new defenders not sure on them, 2 new midfielders ( Davies from Bolton, Jimy Bullard from Fulham, maybe Robbie Savage from Derby, 3 new strikers Earnshaw from Derby,Marcus Bent from Wigan, Derbyshire from Blackurn. )

[Stuka]

My hopes for Reading next year are that we’re bought up by an exiled oligarch facing human rights abuses charges in his own country and who buys us a new striker, and strengthens the back four. Meanwhile I’d like him to turn Reading FC into a global brand by playing mid-season friendlies in places like China and the middle east, and launching a new RFC cable TV channel in Australia.

Coming soon: “The Reading Opus”

[papereyes]

Reading will have to invest in the team if they have any chance of staying up next season. All they really need is a new goalkeeper (maybe try and buy Luke Steele from Barnsley, Roy Carrol from Derby, maybe Keller from Fulham or Al Habsi and Walker from Bolton) 3 new defenders not sure on them, 2 new midfielders ( Davies from Bolton, Jimy Bullard from Fulham, maybe Robbie Savage from Derby, 3 new strikers Earnshaw from Derby,Marcus Bent from Wigan, Derbyshire from Blackurn. )

I really cannot see many of those you suggest as taking us forward.

We already have a young goal keeper in waiting - Federici - he has done well whenever called on - we should give him first chance to replace USA when needed. USA is probably player of the season and we need to give him a one year extension. That gives us 12 months to find a replacement.

Your suggestions in midfield are mainly past their best and as for Earnshaw - are you having a laugh - nowhere near as good as we have already. Bent - not sure about him either. Derbyshire is good but why on earth would Blackburn sell him?

Both Bullard and Savage would have improved our midfield this season. I am assuming a fit Bullard.

[Royal Jelly]

Much as I agree we need to strengthen, am I the only person who thinks that whoevere comes up this year is going to be odds on to go down, even more than normal?

Or have I just become one of those pampered premiership fans who forgets that there's life outside the chosen land?

[andrew1957]

Reading will have to invest in the team if they have any chance of staying up next season. All they really need is a new goalkeeper (maybe try and buy Luke Steele from Barnsley, Roy Carrol from Derby, maybe Keller from Fulham or Al Habsi and Walker from Bolton) 3 new defenders not sure on them, 2 new midfielders ( Davies from Bolton, Jimy Bullard from Fulham, maybe Robbie Savage from Derby, 3 new strikers Earnshaw from Derby,Marcus Bent from Wigan, Derbyshire from Blackurn. )

I really cannot see many of those you suggest as taking us forward.

We already have a young goal keeper in waiting - Federici - he has done well whenever called on - we should give him first chance to replace USA when needed. USA is probably player of the season and we need to give him a one year extension. That gives us 12 months to find a replacement.

Your suggestions in midfield are mainly past their best and as for Earnshaw - are you having a laugh - nowhere near as good as we have already. Bent - not sure about him either. Derbyshire is good but why on earth would Blackburn sell him?

Both Bullard and Savage would have improved our midfield this season. I am assuming a fit Bullard.

Maybe true "this year" but they are both over 30 - surely we should be looking for younger players who can give us a few years.

[seahawk10]

Much as I agree we need to strengthen, am I the only person who thinks that whoevere comes up this year is going to be odds on to go down, even more than normal?

Or have I just become one of those pampered premiership fans who forgets that there's life outside the chosen land?

You never can tell how teams will make themselves over upon arrival in the Prem. But I tend to agree with you. That doesn't mean we should sit on our laurels though. But we haven't really seen Sir Steve and the team purchase players straight from other Prem teams (or Championship teams for that matter). I guess you could count Rosenior as a straight purchase even though it was hinged on selling Seol. We might pluck someone from one of the relegated squads. But more likely is another brace of Kebe/Matejovsky/Fae type long-haul purchases.

It has worked so far. If we turn another tidy profit this year while staying up I will say 'job well done'. But I think we all realise (the club and supporters) that by operating this way we take a big risk of relegation. But until it fails I don't see the approach the team takes changing.

[papereyes]

Both Bullard and Savage would have improved our midfield this season. I am assuming a fit Bullard.

Maybe true "this year" but they are both over 30 - surely we should be looking for younger players who can give us a few years.

Bullard isn't. They'd still give us a few years.

And they'd still improve upon Bryn, let's be brutally and frankly honest.

[andrew1957]

Both Bullard and Savage would have improved our midfield this season. I am assuming a fit Bullard.

Maybe true "this year" but they are both over 30 - surely we should be looking for younger players who can give us a few years.

Bullard isn't. They'd still give us a few years.

And they'd still improve upon Bryn, let's be brutally and frankly honest.

Well Bullard is 29.5 to be accurate - would still prefer a younger player and not sure that Savage would be an improvement on Bryn.

[soggy biscuit]

Agree with the early comments about Coppell departing. From the interviews he gave around the turn ofthe year I can see away at Derby being his last game in charge of us whether we go down or not.

[cmonurz]

I will probably be shot down in flames but I think Reading are only one or two players short of being a top 10 PL side again next year.

Considering only the first XI, I wouldn't necessarily disagree. We have enough talent in our best team to finish mid-table. But we won't have our best team available all season, and that is why we need to sign 4 or 5 top quality players, some of whom should improve the first XI further.

[andrew1957]

I will probably be shot down in flames but I think Reading are only one or two players short of being a top 10 PL side again next year.

Considering only the first XI, I wouldn't necessarily disagree. We have enough talent in our best team to finish mid-table. But we won't have our best team available all season, and that is why we need to sign 4 or 5 top quality players, some of whom should improve the first XI further.

Not sure it is as bad as you make out. Here are our best team and players I think are good enough to cover position next season.

USA - Federici (poss Fed will take over as number one)
Rosenior - Murty
Ingi - Duberry/Pearce
Bikey - Duberry/Pearce
Shorey - DLC and/or Golbourne - ? possibly ANO if DLC/Golbourne go
Hunt - Convey - possibly Robson-Kanu or ANO if Hunt/Convey go
Harper - Cisse /Fae? jury out/ Gunnar - good sub. May need ANO
Matejovsky - as above
Little - Oster + Kebe + poss Henry
Doyle - Long
Kitson - Long

That gives us two "reasonable" options in every position and assumes Lita and Sonko move on. As I said earlier we "may" need strengthening at left back - especially if Shorey goes and/or DLC and Golbourne also go/deemed not good enough, centre back if Pearce not ready, and central mid if Fae not deemed up to it (in which case I have little doubt he will leave).

We could do with a fourth striker if we can fund one - or possibly look to the upcoming lads such as Robson-Kanu.

[papereyes]

I will probably be shot down in flames but I think Reading are only one or two players short of being a top 10 PL side again next year.

Considering only the first XI, I wouldn't necessarily disagree. We have enough talent in our best team to finish mid-table. But we won't have our best team available all season, and that is why we need to sign 4 or 5 top quality players, some of whom should improve the first XI further.

Exactly.

It's a squad game. Established teams like Villa and City don't seem to have big enough squads and are seeing results slip away. Two injuries to Everton completely ruins their midfield and two injuries to Fulham (in McBride and Bullard) have seen them mired in the relegation scrap.

[cmonurz]

I will probably be shot down in flames but I think Reading are only one or two players short of being a top 10 PL side again next year.

Considering only the first XI, I wouldn't necessarily disagree. We have enough talent in our best team to finish mid-table. But we won't have our best team available all season, and that is why we need to sign 4 or 5 top quality players, some of whom should improve the first XI further.

Not sure it is as bad as you make out. Here are our best team and players I think are good enough to cover position next season.

USA - Federici (poss Fed will take over as number one)
Rosenior - Murty
Ingi - Duberry/Pearce
Bikey - Duberry/Pearce
Shorey - DLC and/or Golbourne - ? possibly ANO if DLC/Golbourne go
Hunt - Convey - possibly Robson-Kanu or ANO if Hunt/Convey go
Harper - Cisse /Fae? jury out/ Gunnar - good sub. May need ANO
Matejovsky - as above
Little - Oster + Kebe + poss Henry
Doyle - Long
Kitson - Long

That gives us two "reasonable" options in every position and assumes Lita and Sonko move on. As I said earlier we "may" need strengthening at left back - especially if Shorey goes and/or DLC and Golbourne also go/deemed not good enough, centre back if Pearce not ready, and central mid if Fae not deemed up to it (in which case I have little doubt he will leave).

We could do with a fourth striker if we can fund one - or possibly look to the upcoming lads such as Robson-Kanu.

Well I can't dismiss your views as they are clearly shared by Coppell, judging by our transfer record. But for me, if we are serious about 'becoming' a comfortable Premiership side, capable of pushing upwards to Europe, then Federici, Duberry, Cisse, Fae, Gunnarsson, Oster, Long and an unproven Pearce as first or even second reserves simply isn't good enough. In fact, where you take comfort in what you posted, it actually highlights to me our tiny, quality-bare squad.

What we actually need to do is buy a few players that could fit into the first team - and then overnight we could consider ourselves to have quality players like (purely for example) Ingimarsson, Hunt and Doyle as 'other options' when we have injuries or suspensions. That is a Premiership squad.

[SteveRoyal]

My opinion on the matter is three signings.
1. Cheap, Quality Striker who is willing to prove himself in the best league in the world.
2. A pacy and experienced right winger who can get crosses in accurately.
3. Centre-back to accompany Bikey, perhaps like Ingi but a slightly more imposing and threatening for the opposing strikers.

That, a high work rate and a billionaire willing to buy us out, and we're settled for at least another year.

[winchester_royal]

We need four big signings IMO

A new GK
A new RM
A new LM
A new ST

Defence is fine now, BK and Ingi have a good partnership, and with Sonko/Cisse offering cover and Pearce coming through......CB is solid
We need new players on both wings, Oster and Hunt are not Prem Quality, Little will not get back to his best, and next season is too soon for the likes of Kebe and Henry.......whilst Convey has been a complete failure at this level
The most money should be spent on a quality striker, whos runs can make the advantage of MM's vision.....Lita to be sold

[RTFC Drummer]

Reading will have to invest in the team if they have any chance of staying up next season. All they really need is a new goalkeeper (maybe try and buy Luke Steele from Barnsley, Roy Carrol from Derby, maybe Keller from Fulham or Al Habsi and Walker from Bolton) 3 new defenders not sure on them, 2 new midfielders ( Davies from Bolton, Jimy Bullard from Fulham, maybe Robbie Savage from Derby, 3 new strikers Earnshaw from Derby,Marcus Bent from Wigan, Derbyshire from Blackurn. )

K so maybe my players that Reading should sign are not that good but if Reading bought Robbie Savage from Derby, Jimmy Bullard from Fulham and Nolan from Bolton and maybe Murphy from Fulham. Strikers Marcus Bent from Wigan, Davies from Bolton and maybe Miller from Derby. What do you think now?

[Gordons Cumming]

Reading will have to invest in the team if they have any chance of staying up next season. All they really need is a new goalkeeper (maybe try and buy Luke Steele from Barnsley, Roy Carrol from Derby, maybe Keller from Fulham or Al Habsi and Walker from Bolton) 3 new defenders not sure on them, 2 new midfielders ( Davies from Bolton, Jimy Bullard from Fulham, maybe Robbie Savage from Derby, 3 new strikers Earnshaw from Derby,Marcus Bent from Wigan, Derbyshire from Blackurn. )

K so maybe my players that Reading should sign are not that good but if Reading bought Robbie Savage from Derby, Jimmy Bullard from Fulham and Nolan from Bolton and maybe Murphy from Fulham. Strikers Marcus Bent from Wigan, Davies from Bolton and maybe Miller from Derby. What do you think now?

[Schards#2]

My brother's a West Brom fan and says Luke Steel is the worst professional goalkeeper he's ever seen in 30+ years.

(He never saw Simon Shepherd btw)

[Royal Rother]

Well I can't dismiss your views as they are clearly shared by Coppell, judging by our transfer record. But for me, if we are serious about 'becoming' a comfortable Premiership side, capable of pushing upwards to Europe, then Federici, Duberry, Cisse, Fae, Gunnarsson, Oster, Long and an unproven Pearce as first or even second reserves simply isn't good enough. In fact, where you take comfort in what you posted, it actually highlights to me our tiny, quality-bare squad.

What we actually need to do is buy a few players that could fit into the first team - and then overnight we could consider ourselves to have quality players like (purely for example) Ingimarsson, Hunt and Doyle as 'other options' when we have injuries or suspensions. That is a Premiership squad.

It seriously is not going to happen like that at this club, so, as I know that is going to cause you untold stress and irritation, can I suggest you find another club who already meet your criteria of being a comfortable Premiership side - you know, one where 3 players like Hunt, Doyle and Ingimarsson who (with varying dips in form) have actually established themselves in the last 2 years as extremely able players in the top flight, would only be considered "other options" when injuries or suspension gives them a chance.

You are of course entitled to your opinion but you really don't get what supporting Reading is about at the moment.

[brendywendy]

long term we need a keeper, but i cant see coppell thinking this will be a priority this summer-unless someone very good is available to us

one striker needed if lita goes
one CM if fae goes
one winger-preferably two footed!
one LB if shorey goes

i also think people are writing sonko off a bit too early

had a huge injury and has striuggled to find that imposing form again, but IMO has the ability to be a very good defender after a good preseason