Positional coverage next season

[Barry the bird boggler]

Reading are under no pressure to sell anyone.

However I am 100% certain Nicky Shorey will leave; after that I reckon the likes of Lita, Doyle, Hunt and Matejovsky would be at most risk of departing.

Therefore where do we need to strengthen.

Goalkeepers

Hahnemann/Federici

Seems to be reasonably good coverage provided there, no reason to changer anything.

Right Backs

Murty/Rosenior

Again seems adequate cover, no changes required

Central Defenders

Sonko/Ingimarsson/Duberry/Pearce

Would say that the above names would provide sufficient cover for the season esp. as the utility options of Bikey and Cisse are also available

Left Backs

Priority acquisition, need a damn good left back from somewhere - or does SC rate Scott Golbourne?


Midfielders

Harper/Matejovsky/Gunnarsson/Bikey/Cisse

If the above names are still plying their trade with us come August then I would say we could be more or less there, however I still feel we need a Sidwell type player who can dominate games and break other teams attacks up, something so sadly missing last season.

Right Wing

Little/Henry

I imagine SC will persevere with Little but we certainly need cover in case of injury for what is a key position for the way we play.

Left Wing

Kebe/Convey/Hunt

Would imagine the three names above would be adequate cover for the above role and level, problem arises if Convey's injury persists and obviously if Hunt has gone.

Strikers

Lita/Kitson/Doyle/Long/Robson-Kanu

Can't see SC changing anything here unless its forced on him by departues. However, still think a fresh face could help us out and enable Long/Robson-Kanu to get out on loan somewhere; McSheffrey anyone??

Overall not a lot of change would seem to be required, which is just as well as I don't actually think SC will choose to change things too much and certainly not just for the sake of it. A left back and possibly a Sidwell type of player for the centre of the park are a must in my opinion.

[Drew_3]

new goalkeeper, left back, maybe a siddy type centre mid, and a striker.

[Old Biscuitman]

Have to disagree. The squad needs strengthening with at least 5 players at or close to Premiership standard. Otherwise we will languish around mid table next season.

[brendywendy]

i reckon, left back
two wingers-cannot rely on convey and little, and hunt should go
and watson from palace for the midfield

and that should do us

[RG30]

Will Hamer cover for Federici whilst he's at the Olympics or will we dip into the market for another goalkeeper?

[andrew1957]

Have to disagree. The squad needs strengthening with at least 5 players at or close to Premiership standard. Otherwise we will languish around mid table next season.

The problem is we could not attract PL quality players when we were in the PL so how you think we will attract PL quality players now that we are not in the PL intrigues me.

I would tend to agree with the original poster that if we are to have any chance of making an immediate return then sticking with as many of the players that we now have as possible is the only chance.

If we go for the selling of many of our stars and rebuilding option then it may take many years to build a squad that is strong enough - after all it took Alan Pardew and Coppell 4 years last time round.

BUT I do not think it will be helpful to force players to stay - if they have their heart in playing in the PL rather than playing FOR Reading we will not do well next season. We have to let those who are not up for the fight to leave if they are offered PL transfers. I just hope it is not too many of the current squad.

[Tilehurst Mike]

Difficult to assess until we know who is staying or who is going.

Assuming Shorey goes, I think we need a new left back--not even convinced that Golbourne is up to Championship level

Bikey best position is as a defender so he should continue to be 'groomed' in that position with help from Duberry and Ingimarson. (Though useful to have both Cisse and Bikey to 'fill in' in the event of a central defensive injury crisis)

I think we need two good quality left and right sided 'wingers' Both Little and Convey would fancy there chances of being No 1 in these positions but both are injury prone. I think Hunt may well go to Sunderland. Still not sure whether Henry will be giving a chance to establish himself. Kebe I think will remain a squad player.

As regards strikers, any of our three could move on, with the exception of Long. I think this dept definitely needs freshening up, so I would be looking for another good quality striker. Zamora or Nugent if we could get them would be good, assuming Lita goes and possibly Doyle to Villa.

[Richi Royal]

If we dont invest significantly this summer and shake up the squad then we are making a huge mistake IMO. We cant be short sighted, the CCC is a tough league to get out of and you need a combination of strength and skill. Some of our players seem to have lost their desire to play for reading and while changing the entire team would be a mistake we need some changes in key areas.

It is well documented we need a new left back.
I don't think the defence is as strong as some suggest, it is still probably one of our strongest areas but the players arent as good as have been suggested before.. Cisse is not a CB (a Cb needs to head, especially in the CCC and he can't), Ivar at times this season has had the turning circle of a HGV, useful player to have in squad but not starting IMO. Sonko is a different player since his injury and that is not good. He is having problems with the most basic of skills and has lost his pace, one of the great things about sonko was if he was beaten he usually had the pace to recover himself (and Ivar). those of you who think he is going to be superman again are in for a shock (i will happily be proven wrong though). Bikey is quality no doubting that. Pearce is largely untested and could go either way.
I would like us to bring in a fresh face maybe the likes of stearman? but i would not be to upset if it stays as it is

Our midfield was overrun in a large majority of games last season and IMO it will be no different next year, the CCC is know for being a tough league (and i mean that literally, just look at the lights of Stoke), unless we bring in a midfielder who can tackle. I am looking forward to seeing Marek splitting defenses with ease, but he needs that cover behind him.
Gunarsson was not good enough for our midfield 3 years ago, so why will he be now having just come back from 6 months out with an injury? And i have seen nothing to suggest Cisse will do well in the CCC.Our midfield needs to be built around Marek and that means Harper needs to be dropped. We need a quality defensive midfielder.
Our wings need strengthening badly, assuming hunt goes (which i hope he does for the record), we have the constantly injured Little and Convey, the untested Henry and the useless Kebe. I presume convey and Little we be able to play a part next season but we can't have the same situation where we are consistently playing players out of position. I am a huge fan of Little's (and Convey's) and would love to see them tearing apart defences like last time but we cannot take that risk and we need a QUALITY right and left midfielder.

Upfront also needs a fresh face. It is time for Long to step up to the plate if he is going to fulfill the talent we all think he has got. Long, kitson and doyle i would be happy with, bring in a new younger player, Maynard was a good shout and ched Evans is a player i would like us to try and sign, to replace the departing lita (i think he will be off to a promoted club or bolton)and if we are going to be ambitious one of Dave Nugent, Frazer Campbell or Sylvan Ebanks-Blake

So we need
1x LB, CB, LM, RM, CF, CM

[SpaceCruiser]

I thought Kebe was a right winger, not a left winger?

[Platypuss]

I thought Kebe was a right winger, not a left winger?

As has been stated on here many times - Kebe played on the left for Boulogne.

[papereyes]

We had three key areas in which we were lacking last season.

Central midfield
Right wing
Centre forward

I don't think Marek is quite enough, so an old, wily defensively minded midfielder would be an astute addition.

With Oster gone, then a good right winger is needed. If Hunt goes, then both a left and a right midfielder are required. Either pace, skill or delivery needed for this season, combinations of the two for next. Peter Whittingham for left midfield would not disappoint me.

Centre forward depends on Lita's attitude and whether Doyle or Kitson or Lita go. Replace those that go.

If any other position departs, then we act quickly to replace them.

[papereyes]

I thought Kebe was a right winger, not a left winger?

As has been stated on here many times - Kebe played on the left for Boulogne.

Jimmy Kebe offends the footballing gods wherever he is played.

[Kitsondinho]

Am I alone in thinking we shoudl not spend big and try out the younger boys....surely we need somebody to come through the damn academy who can make it at least CCC level..........if Henderson can etc

[brendywendy]

Am I alone in thinking we shoudl not spend big and try out the younger boys....surely we need somebody to come through the damn academy who can make it at least CCC level..........if Henderson can etc

would love to see that

would be viewed by many as a lack of ambition though

[Huntley & Palmer]

We had three key areas in which we were lacking last season.

Central midfield
Right wing
Centre forward

I don't think Marek is quite enough, so an old, wily defensively minded midfielder would be an astute addition.

With Oster gone, then a good right winger is needed. If Hunt goes, then both a left and a right midfielder are required. Either pace, skill or delivery needed for this season, combinations of the two for next. Peter Whittingham for left midfield would not disappoint me.

Centre forward depends on Lita's attitude and whether Doyle or Kitson or Lita go. Replace those that go.

If any other position departs, then we act quickly to replace them.

Carsley is being released by Everton with Birmingham likely to be in for him. This is the sort of man we lacked last season, let alone in the Championship.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

We should do everything we can to get Carsley.

You have to think he might want to go Brum, cause he wouldn't have to move though.

Is Coppell going to learn to be pro active though??

[Irvinchangeyaname]

We should do everything we can to get Carsley.

You have to think he might want to go Brum, cause he wouldn't have to move though.

Is Coppell going to learn to be pro active though??

If we go for Stelios as well it would be like our very own Mitchell Brothers in midfield.

[Ian Royal]

I see priority as:

Left Back with Shorey certainly going.
Right Winger + Left winger depending on departures/Convey's fitness. (ignore Kebe, he's pants)
Central Midfielder - Gunnarsson will be ok in the chump, but we need someone who can grow this season and be ready next for prem. We also desperately need quality cover in the middle. If Bikey goes as well then I'd say we need two.

Should we lose any of Doyle, Lita & Kitson we'll definitley need a new striker. I'd rather we stuck with what we have now as they are good enough to get us up, and go crazy on a top quality striker once we (fingers crossed) go up.

Keeper is fine, but we could probably do with one for the season after.

Centrebacks are fine for the championship. I'd be of a mind to concentrate on converting Cisse to a CB - so improving his heading, and work on Bikey's distribution and midfield positioning and movement. Bikey is quite capable of being a rock in the champ, but he may be more useful as a midfield general. I also wonder whether he may be a good captain in waiting, and whether the responsbility may calm him slightly. But thats an issue for the future.

[rhroyal]

Rule out Carsley, I doubt we'd have gone for his wages in the Premiership let alone down here. Do you think we should move for Ben Watson again? Will be interested in us, are we a better proposition than Palace? I like the call of Ched Evans up front, my friend is a Norwich City fan and only ever had great things to say about him. However, if he's good Man City will want to keep hold of him. Nugent would be more likely in my view, and he's proven down here.

As for centre backs, Ivar is more than capable down here, as is Duberry. It will be interesting to see if Superman returns or if that cruciate ligament really had ruined him. For me Bikey should remain at centre back, whilst Pearce is a good man to have in reserve. We have enough centre backs. Likewise RB is no problem. Left back is another issue. I have to say I can't think of any decent left backs around at the moment, in our range anyhow. (Obviously there are loads of world class left backs around, Evra, Clichy, Cole etc. but I was referring to LBs who could move to Reading) And the wings. We have Little on the right, Convey on the left, Kebe on both by the sound of things. We need another winger assuming Hunt goes. Likewise I'm not sure on this.

So in my view we need a left back, a central midfielder who can be physical and tackle, a winger who can play well when Little and Convey are injured and another striker as I can't see all 3 staying.

[Royalee]

Left back - far too weak now that Shorey's off
Left wing - weak with Convey's knee problems
Central midfield - weak as we have nobody with any pace who can tackle
Right wing - non-existent

And that's without any others leaving.