Jumping the gun?

[Sydneyroyal]

Reading the interesting topic "Weakest Team Ever to Get Promoted" got me wondering...
IF Reading does get promoted - (what is the Magic number now? 7?)
who from our squad could set the prem on fire?

I agree with the comments that we have a good squad with lots of credit to Mc Buddha and his skills and management, but I have a feeling players like Kebe might just come into their own in the prem given the style of play other teams have in that division. Give Kebe a new stage, with less physical rough and tumble and I think he can shine and cut through defences like a certain Tierry Hernry (too much?). I also think Roberts will do a good solid job. Feds - I hope. As for the others?

What does the wisdom of the Hob Nobbers think?

[Wizard]

Can see Gorkss and Pearce coping fine, they're so solid at this level I can't see the step up being too much for them. Just the way Swansea's defence hasn't changed since last season and they're coping alright. Hopefully Cummings could step up too.

[Maguire]

We'll need quite a few new players IMHO

I know the Prem isn't as good as people think it is but nonetheless, we're lacking a bit of a creative spark to say the least

[Friday's Legacy]

IF Reading does get promoted - (what is the Magic number now? 7?) who from our squad could set the prem on fire?

On the flip side I'll highlight the players I don't feel can make the step up and where we need to invest (just my personal opinion of course):

1 Adam Federici Goalkeeper
2 Andy Griffin Defender
3 Matthew Connolly Defender
4 Jem Karacan Midfielder
5 Alex Pearce Defender
6 Brynjar Gunnarsson Midfielder
7 Jay Tabb Midfielder
8 Mikele Leigertwood Midfielder
9 Adam Le Fondre Striker
10 Noel Hunt Striker
11 Jobi McAnuff Midfielder
12 Alex McCarthy Goalkeeper
13 Reading Fans Defender *** Just remove this please ***
14 Jimmy Kebe Midfielder
15 Sean Morrison Defender
16 Joseph Mills Defender
17 Kaspars Gorkss Defender
18 Simon Church Striker
19 Hal Robson-Kanu Midfielder
20 Brian Howard Midfielder
21 Karl Sheppard Striker
22 Mathieu Manset Striker
23 Ian Harte Defender
24 Shaun Cummings Defender
25 Jake Taylor Midfielder
26 Hayden Mullins Midfielder
27 Cedric Baseya Striker
28 Michail Antonio Midfielder
29 Nicholas Bignall Striker
30 Simon Locke Goalkeeper
31 Mikkel Andersen Goalkeeper
32 Jacob Walcott Midfielder
33 Jason Roberts Striker
34 Ethan Gage Midfielder
35 Michael Hector Defender
36 Jack Mills Defender
37 Jordan Obita Midfielder
38 Frankie Raymond Midfielder
39 Brett Williams Striker
40 Lawson D'Ath Midfielder
41 Tomasz Cywka Midfielder
42 Carl McHugh Defender
43 Nick Arnold
44 John Goddard Defender
45 Ryan Edwards Midfielder
46 Angus MacDonald Defender
47 Charlie Losasso Midfielder
48 David Murphy Midfielder
49 Gozie Ugwu
50 Cameron Edwards Midfielder
51 Benik Afobe Striker

We need:

1x RB
1x LB
1x CB (experienced back-up for Pearce/Gorkss)
1x CM (experienced - unconvinced by Mullins)
1x WG (someone experienced at Premiership level. Kebe = hot & cold, McAnuff untried, HRK untried)
1x ST (to push Hunt, Roberts & Le Fondre)

[JimmytheJim]

IF Reading does get promoted - (what is the Magic number now? 7?) who from our squad could set the prem on fire?

On the flip side I'll highlight the players I don't feel can make the step up and where we need to invest (just my personal opinion of course):

1 Adam Federici Goalkeeper
2 Andy Griffin Defender
3 Matthew Connolly Defender
4 Jem Karacan Midfielder
5 Alex Pearce Defender
6 Brynjar Gunnarsson Midfielder
7 Jay Tabb Midfielder
8 Mikele Leigertwood Midfielder
9 Adam Le Fondre Striker
10 Noel Hunt Striker
11 Jobi McAnuff Midfielder
12 Alex McCarthy Goalkeeper
13 Reading Fans Defender *** Just remove this please ***
14 Jimmy Kebe Midfielder
15 Sean Morrison Defender
16 Joseph Mills Defender
17 Kaspars Gorkss Defender
18 Simon Church Striker
19 Hal Robson-Kanu Midfielder
20 Brian Howard Midfielder
21 Karl Sheppard Striker
22 Mathieu Manset Striker
23 Ian Harte Defender
24 Shaun Cummings Defender
25 Jake Taylor Midfielder
26 Hayden Mullins Midfielder
27 Cedric Baseya Striker
28 Michail Antonio Midfielder
29 Nicholas Bignall Striker
30 Simon Locke Goalkeeper
31 Mikkel Andersen Goalkeeper
32 Jacob Walcott Midfielder
33 Jason Roberts Striker
34 Ethan Gage Midfielder
35 Michael Hector Defender
36 Jack Mills Defender
37 Jordan Obita Midfielder
38 Frankie Raymond Midfielder
39 Brett Williams Striker
40 Lawson D'Ath Midfielder
41 Tomasz Cywka Midfielder
42 Carl McHugh Defender
43 Nick Arnold
44 John Goddard Defender
45 Ryan Edwards Midfielder
46 Angus MacDonald Defender
47 Charlie Losasso Midfielder
48 David Murphy Midfielder
49 Gozie Ugwu
50 Cameron Edwards Midfielder
51 Benik Afobe Striker

We need:

1x RB
1x LB
1x CB (experienced back-up for Pearce/Gorkss)
1x CM (experienced - unconvinced by Mullins)
1x WG (someone experienced at Premiership level. Kebe = hot & cold, McAnuff untried, HRK untried)
1x ST (to push Hunt, Roberts & Le Fondre)

Agree with all of the above, except I'd be happy if we brought in Connolly permanently at CB, and I think we need two new strikers rather than just the one.

[Avon Royal]

at this thread.

#countingchickens

[Elm Park Old Boy]

Not sure how Walcott and Antonio can be dismissed so early in their careers.

And.....please let's stop tempting providence. We need another win or two yet.

[Cypry]

Not taking anything for granted, but that list does highlight one thing, and that is that one of the first things we'll need to do is offload a shedload of players with the 25 man squad rule in the PL...we must have one of the largest squads in the FL looking at that...
Granted quite a few of the higher numbers are under 21 and therefore don't count, but if we do go up I expect to see quite a fire-sale of fringe players early in the Summer

[Royal With Cheese]

Personally, I don't give a monkeys who will need or won't need.

I'm quite happy for us to dive next year and have a 10 year stretch like West Brom have done, using the parachute payments wisely and investing in team for the future.

[RFCSPACE]

IF Reading does get promoted - (what is the Magic number now? 7?) who from our squad could set the prem on fire?

6 Brynjar Gunnarsson Midfielder

WHAT

[Terminal Boardom]

IF Reading does get promoted - (what is the Magic number now? 7?) who from our squad could set the prem on fire?

6 Brynjar Gunnarsson Midfielder

WHAT

Heretic!

http://youtu.be/-G9jN8vXZ8M 2 minutes in

[Extended-Phenotype]

Tricky, really. Our prefered starting 11 isn't bad at all but our depth is rather weak.

I'd bring in a striker, a creative midfielder, a holding midfielder, a CB and a RB.

I think we have way to many players on our books who I'm not comfortable seeing in this league, let alone the one above.

[Mike Hunt]

I really really really hope that Gunnarsson stays on as a coach when he does retire.

An absolute professional, and a living legend.

Id also be open to them retiring the 6.

[pea]

I really really really hope that Gunnarsson stays on as a chairman when he does retire.

[Extended-Phenotype]

I really really really hope that Gunnarsson becomes the presenter of a new version of 'Fun House' when he does retire.

[pea]

Not sure how Walcott and Antonio can be dismissed so early in their careers.

And.....please let's stop tempting providence. We need another win or two yet.

Antonio won't get chances and clearly wants to be playing games as he requested a loan this january, he'll only have a year on his contract and we could make decent money on him.

Walcott is something like our 14th choice winger now and never done anything to suggest he'll climb up the pecking order. Out of contract at the end of the year too (I think)