Building for next season

[double d]

Yeah, some good thoughts.

A lot is dependent on the manager, right? Assuming we have upgraded massively in this regard, then this will presumably reflect in the standings/promotion(?).

A common narrative, as I recall, was that we have (or had) a lot of talent throughout the side. That's not to say that some of the player's weren't questioned at all. But just that they needed a good manager (which presumably they now have).

So, at risk of stating the obvious, two big factors are likely to be how much talent there is in reality, and how good the manager is.

This will take on greater significance since (we hear) there isn't much money to spend, and - despite all the (alleged) talent - maybe we don't have the players that would generate a lot of money through sales. I'm hearing Moore is the obvious candidate to be sold, but then we'd have to replace him anyway(?).

I think we have massively upgraded manager. I honestly believe it St*m was still the manager here, we would have lost to SunderLOLand, and also Preston.

[North Royal Lad]

Yeah, some good thoughts.

A lot is dependent on the manager, right? Assuming we have upgraded massively in this regard, then this will presumably reflect in the standings/promotion(?).

A common narrative, as I recall, was that we have (or had) a lot of talent throughout the side. That's not to say that some of the player's weren't questioned at all. But just that they needed a good manager (which presumably they now have).

So, at risk of stating the obvious, two big factors are likely to be how much talent there is in reality, and how good the manager is.

This will take on greater significance since (we hear) there isn't much money to spend, and - despite all the (alleged) talent - maybe we don't have the players that would generate a lot of money through sales. I'm hearing Moore is the obvious candidate to be sold, but then we'd have to replace him anyway(?).

I think we have massively upgraded manager. I honestly believe it St*m was still the manager here, we would have lost to SunderLOLand, and also Preston.

Jaap was good manager and would of stay up
we would of won . our 2 out of 3 home game , match at home . but did not work for Stam .

[Y21]

Yeah, some good thoughts.

A lot is dependent on the manager, right? Assuming we have upgraded massively in this regard, then this will presumably reflect in the standings/promotion(?).

A common narrative, as I recall, was that we have (or had) a lot of talent throughout the side. That's not to say that some of the player's weren't questioned at all. But just that they needed a good manager (which presumably they now have).

So, at risk of stating the obvious, two big factors are likely to be how much talent there is in reality, and how good the manager is.

This will take on greater significance since (we hear) there isn't much money to spend, and - despite all the (alleged) talent - maybe we don't have the players that would generate a lot of money through sales. I'm hearing Moore is the obvious candidate to be sold, but then we'd have to replace him anyway(?).

I think we have massively upgraded manager. I honestly believe it St*m was still the manager here, we would have lost to SunderLOLand, and also Preston.

Jaap was good manager and would of stay up
we would of won . our 2 out of 3 home game , match at home . but did not work for Stam .

Seriously? What the actual oxf*rd are you on about? Nothing you spam the boards with makes sense.

[NewCorkSeth]

Yeah, some good thoughts.

A lot is dependent on the manager, right? Assuming we have upgraded massively in this regard, then this will presumably reflect in the standings/promotion(?).

A common narrative, as I recall, was that we have (or had) a lot of talent throughout the side. That's not to say that some of the player's weren't questioned at all. But just that they needed a good manager (which presumably they now have).

So, at risk of stating the obvious, two big factors are likely to be how much talent there is in reality, and how good the manager is.

This will take on greater significance since (we hear) there isn't much money to spend, and - despite all the (alleged) talent - maybe we don't have the players that would generate a lot of money through sales. I'm hearing Moore is the obvious candidate to be sold, but then we'd have to replace him anyway(?).

I think we have massively upgraded manager. I honestly believe it St*m was still the manager here, we would have lost to SunderLOLand, and also Preston.

I think injuries at the start of the season were the main reason Stam failed. There was no prepared plan b so we stayed in a limbo of uncertainty and inconsistent formations and starting line up which led to a huge morale problem that Stam was incapable of salvaging.
His crime was inexperience and he paid for it.

[SCIAG]

Assuming we stay up, here's what I'd do for all our pros and second-year scholars:

Mannone - keep, first choice
Jaakola - go
Bond - go
Legg - go
Ward - loan (Football League)
Southwood - keep, reserve/U23s
Driscoll - keep, u23s/u23s bench. Possible loan to non-league in January.
Others - don't care

Gunter - keep
Bacuna - keep
Watson - one more year
Sheppard - release
Howe - keep for U23s
Balogun - release

Obita - keep
Richards - keep
Medford-Smith - keep for U23s

Moore - keep unless great offer received
Ilori - keep
Elphick - sign
McShane - keep if we don't sign Elphick, otherwise prepared to let him go
Blackett - sell
Osho - keep as combo fourth choice/U23s
McIntyre - keep, fingers crossed that he doesn't get injured
Axel - go
Holmes - keep for U23s
Odimayo - meh
Burley, Philby - go

Swift - keep
Kelly - keep
Evans - keep
Joey - sell
Edwards - sell
Clement - sell
Rinomhota - sell
Holsgrove - keep with anticipation of a first-team role.
East - soft keep for U23s
Shokunbi - release
Coleman, Buchanan - meh

Barrow - keep
McCleary - sell if we get an offer, but don't seek them out
Aluko - meh. Probably can't sell, probably has a good chance of improvement.
Popa, Meite, Harriott - assess over pre-season. Keep one, plus any more who are better than Aluko.
Barrett - one more year.
Davis - go, forgot he was at the club
Rollinson, Frost - meh. Probably go.
Nolan, Green - meh. Keep for U23s.

Martin - don't sign.
JDB - keep
Kermorgant - keep, but don't count on him playing a significant role.
Mendes - go
Novakovich - promote to first team
Smith - go
Loader - hopefully U23s
House - meh, probably keep for U23s
Moore - release

Omulabi - keep (no idea where he plays or how well but we only just signed him)

Then sign at least one striker (ideally with genuine pace), a midfielder in the Williams mould, and a versatile defender.

Imagine that in reality we'll keep more of the young players and offer them fewer opportunities.

[Hound]

We actually looked quite a confident side right up to Christmas - even when we weren’t winning or creating a great deal. Even games like Hull and Boro at home where we got a disappointing result we had a bit of confidence in our play

I think it was the Burton game where it really crumbled. We’ve looked poor ever since.

[Hound]

Good break down SCIAG, but we won’t sell Rinomhota or Smith I very much doubt

I quite like them both - i’d keep them for next year

[Snowflake Royal]

A different question, I suppose, is what would be people's expectations for next season in Champ?

I asked this earlier this season, and was assured that given the stature of the club now, we should be comfortably Top 10 and challenging for promotion every season.

Everyone still feel that way?

Transition period, so minimum 16th, preferably 9th to 14th and never near a relegation fight. Same as Stam's first season target was / should have been.

From there, top half pushing for play offs every year as a minimum.

[North Royal Lad]

I think we have massively upgraded manager. I honestly believe it St*m was still the manager here, we would have lost to SunderLOLand, and also Preston.

Jaap was good manager and would of stay up
we would of won . our 2 out of 3 home game , match at home . but did not work for Stam .

Seriously? What the actual oxf*rd are you on about? Nothing you spam the boards with makes sense.

stop swearing at me all i will report you to graham i have Austim . okay i not Spam the Board ok .i can have my Opioion

[Snowflake Royal]

Ok, so ignoring my desire to keep turnover to a minimum, this is what I think.

Goalkeeper
Mannone - stay
Jaakkola - open to moving on, but give a second chance (I think part of his shitness may have been coming into a terrible side and being asked to piss about with it when that's the last thing he wanted to do)
Bond - go, although open to staying as I think he's done well on loan? Just doesn't seem realistic

Keep eye out for back up / first choice keeper on the cheap and assess youth goalies

Fullback
Gunter - look for buyers, could raise some decent money from him
Watson - assess fitness and recovery, one more year
Look for a good replacement right back

Obita - assess fitness and recovery carefully
Richards - keep
depending on Obita, look for a promising left back

Defence
Moore - try to keep, resigned to losing - maximise fee
Ilori - keep
Blackett - open to offers
McShane - keep
Keep two of Andresen, Holmes, McIntyre, Osho around the edges of the first team as cover
Replace Moore if necessary + 1 if decide to play three centre backs

Central Midfield
Kelly - keep
Evans - open to offers, but retain one of him and Berg
Berg - open to offers, but retain one of him and Evans
Bacuna - open to offers
Edwards - open to offers
Sign defensive style midfielder, and replace Bacuna if he goes

Attacking Midfield
Swift - open to offers
Clement - keep as back up
Barrett - keep as back up for another year, blood
Decide if want to play with three in midfield, if so, replace Swift if sold

Wings
McCleary - actively seek buyer
Aluko - actively seek buyer
Barrow - open to offers
Harriott - release
Popa - reassess, but open to offers
Meite - give another chance
Decide if want to play with proper wingers, wide forwards, or none
Buy at least one, preferably two or more wingers depending on who we can shift

Forwards
Bodvarsson - keep
Kermorgant - keep, but expect little
Mendes - release
Novokavich - keep
Smith - loan out
Loader - keep on the fringes
Look for at least one new striker of decent quality, decide if playing two up or one up.

Basically, I only really care about keeping Moore, Ilori, Kelly, Bodvarsson and Novokavich

[double d]

What would a good/realistic offer for Moore be? 7 mill? 10? 12? 15?

Could get a decent cb replacement for that.... I would happily have ...... feck names escaped me. Who we sold to Chelsea and plays for hull and cba to google.

[RoyalJones]

What would a good/realistic offer for Moore be? 7 mill? 10? 12? 15?

Could get a decent cb replacement for that.... I would happily have ...... feck names escaped me. Who we sold to Chelsea and plays for hull and cba to google.

Michael Hector, yeah can be good at times, hasn't really featured for Chelsea, was a very weird signing for them

[double d]

What would a good/realistic offer for Moore be? 7 mill? 10? 12? 15?

Could get a decent cb replacement for that.... I would happily have ...... feck names escaped me. Who we sold to Chelsea and plays for hull and cba to google.

Michael Hector, yeah can be good at times, hasn't really featured for Chelsea, was a very weird signing for them

.would happily take him back tbh

[RoyalJones]

Goalkeepers:
• Vito Mannone (Keep)
• Anssi Jaakkola (Release)
• Jonathan Bond (Offer New Contract)
• George Legg (Keep in first team/Loan)
• Luke Southwood (Loan)
• Lewis Ward
• Liam Driscoll (Under 18s/23s)

Left Backs:
• Jordan Obita (Keep)
• Omar Richards (Keep)
• Tyler Blackett (Not bothered but would like to see him succeed)
• Ramarni Medford-Smith (Under 23s)

Right Backs:
• Chris Gunter (Keep)
• Tennai Watson (Keep)
• Leandro Bacuna (Keep)
• Jake Sheppard (Loan at a higher level/Sell or release)
• Teddy Howe (Under 23s)

Centre Backs:
• Paul McShane (Sell if we can sign Elphick, have been so disappointing with McShane this season)
• Liam Moore (Keep)
• Tiago Ilori (Keep)
• Tyler Blackett (Not bothered but would like to see him succeed)
• Axel Andresson (Loan at a higher level)
• Gabriel Osho (Loan at a higher level)
• Tom Holmes (Under 23s)
• Tom McIntyre (Under 23s)
• Danzell Gravenberch (Sell)

CDMs:
• Joey Van Den Berg (Sell)
• George Evans (Keep)
• Leandro Bacuna (Keep)
• Andy Rinomhota (Keep)

CMs:
• John Swift (Keep)
• Liam Kelly (Keep)
• Josh Barrett (First Team/Loan)
• Pelle Clement (Loan)
• Dave Edwards (Sell)
• Ryan East (Under 23s)
• Stephen Quinn (Release if not fit by the end of the season)

LWs:
• Modou Barrow (Keep)
• Callum Harriott (Keep if he can start playing more)

RWs:
• Sone Aluko (Keep)
• Adrian Popa (Keep)
• Yakou Meite (Keep)
• Tyler Frost (Under 23s)

ST:
• Yann Kermorgant (Not bothered)
• Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (Keep)
• Joseph Mendes (Release)
• Andrija Novakovich (Keep)
• Sam Smith (Keep/Loan)
• Danny Loader (Keep/Loan)

[RoyalJones]

First Team Squad:
GK - Vito Mannone
GK - Jonathan Bond
GK - George Legg (Loan)
GK - Luke Southwood (3rd Choice)
GK - Lewis Ward (Loan)
LB - Jordan Obita
LB - Omar Richards
LB/CB - Tyler Blackett
RB - Chris Gunter
RB - Tennai Watson
RB/CDM - Leandro Bacuna
CB - Liam Moore
CB - Tiago Ilori
CB - Axel Andresson (Loan; dependent on signings)
CB - Gabriel Osho (Loan)
CDM - George Evans
CDM - Andy Rinomhota
CM - John Swift
CM - Liam Kelly
CM - Josh Barrett
CM - Pelle Clement (Loan)
LW - Modou Barrow
LW - Callum Harriott
LW - Yakou Meite (contradictory to my last post he might be a left winger instead of a right winger)
RW - Sone Aluko (Keep)
RW - Adrian Popa (Would still give him a go)
ST - Yann Kermorgant (Maybe he should be sold/released from his contract to make way for a high quality striker and Novakovich)
ST - Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (Keep)
ST - Andrija Novakovich (Keep)
ST - Sam Smith (Loan; dependent on signings)
ST - Danny Loader (Loan)

What's needed if we're left with this squad?
- Probably a fullback; however not sure how we're going to do that without hindering the first team progress of Watson and Richards
- Multiple centre backs if both McShane and Moore go, would like to see more of Elphick
- A defensive midfielder to replace Joey
- A young creative centre mid if Swift and Kelly suffer dips in form or they pick up injuries)
- A right winger
- A high quality striker (this is a position we have needed to fill for years)

These are just my initial thoughts, maybe controversial in other peoples' opinion

[Old Man Andrews]

What would a good/realistic offer for Moore be? 7 mill? 10? 12? 15?

Could get a decent cb replacement for that.... I would happily have ...... feck names escaped me. Who we sold to Chelsea and plays for hull and cba to google.

If he went for anything less than £8 million I would be very unhappy.

[North Royal Lad]

Assuming we stay up, here's what I'd do for all our pros and second-year scholars:

Mannone - keep, first choice
Jaakola - go
Bond - go
Legg - go
Ward - loan (Football League)
Southwood - keep, reserve/U23s
Driscoll - keep, u23s/u23s bench. Possible loan to non-league in January.
Others - don't care

Gunter - keep
Bacuna - keep
Watson - one more year
Sheppard - release
Howe - keep for U23s
Balogun - release

Obita - keep
Richards - keep
Medford-Smith - keep for U23s

Moore - keep unless great offer received
Ilori - keep
Elphick - sign
McShane - keep if we don't sign Elphick, otherwise prepared to let him go
Blackett - sell
Osho - keep as combo fourth choice/U23s
McIntyre - keep, fingers crossed that he doesn't get injured
Axel - go
Holmes - keep for U23s
Odimayo - meh
Burley, Philby - go

Swift - keep
Kelly - keep
Evans - keep
Joey - sell
Edwards - sell
Clement - sell
Rinomhota - sell
Holsgrove - keep with anticipation of a first-team role.
East - soft keep for U23s
Shokunbi - release
Coleman, Buchanan - meh

Barrow - keep
McCleary - sell if we get an offer, but don't seek them out
Aluko - meh. Probably can't sell, probably has a good chance of improvement.
Popa, Meite, Harriott - assess over pre-season. Keep one, plus any more who are better than Aluko.
Barrett - one more year.
Davis - go, forgot he was at the club
Rollinson, Frost - meh. Probably go.
Nolan, Green - meh. Keep for U23s.

Martin - don't sign.
JDB - keep
Kermorgant - keep, but don't count on him playing a significant role.
Mendes - go
Novakovich - promote to first team
Smith - go
Loader - hopefully U23s
House - meh, probably keep for U23s
Moore - release

Omulabi - keep (no idea where he plays or how well but we only just signed him)

Then sign at least one striker (ideally with genuine pace), a midfielder in the Williams mould, and a versatile defender.

Imagine that in reality we'll keep more of the young players and offer them fewer opportunities.

are you a prat all what ? you don’t no who going out and ins of reading football club u not the manager

[North Royal Lad]

Ok, so ignoring my desire to keep turnover to a minimum, this is what I think.

Goalkeeper
Mannone - stay
Jaakkola - open to moving on, but give a second chance (I think part of his shitness may have been coming into a terrible side and being asked to piss about with it when that's the last thing he wanted to do)
Bond - go, although open to staying as I think he's done well on loan? Just doesn't seem realistic

Keep eye out for back up / first choice keeper on the cheap and assess youth goalies

Fullback
Gunter - look for buyers, could raise some decent money from him
Watson - assess fitness and recovery, one more year
Look for a good replacement right back

Obita - assess fitness and recovery carefully
Richards - keep
depending on Obita, look for a promising left back

Defence
Moore - try to keep, resigned to losing - maximise fee
Ilori - keep
Blackett - open to offers
McShane - keep
Keep two of Andresen, Holmes, McIntyre, Osho around the edges of the first team as cover
Replace Moore if necessary + 1 if decide to play three centre backs

Central Midfield
Kelly - keep
Evans - open to offers, but retain one of him and Berg
Berg - open to offers, but retain one of him and Evans
Bacuna - open to offers
Edwards - open to offers
Sign defensive style midfielder, and replace Bacuna if he goes

Attacking Midfield
Swift - open to offers
Clement - keep as back up
Barrett - keep as back up for another year, blood
Decide if want to play with three in midfield, if so, replace Swift if sold

Wings
McCleary - actively seek buyer
Aluko - actively seek buyer
Barrow - open to offers
Harriott - release
Popa - reassess, but open to offers
Meite - give another chance
Decide if want to play with proper wingers, wide forwards, or none
Buy at least one, preferably two or more wingers depending on who we can shift

Forwards
Bodvarsson - keep
Kermorgant - keep, but expect little
Mendes - release
Novokavich - keep
Smith - loan out
Loader - keep on the fringes
Look for at least one new striker of decent quality, decide if playing two up or one up.

Basically, I only really care about keeping Moore, Ilori, Kelly, Bodvarsson and Novokavich

Snowflake royal you don’t no nothing about football you idiot
how do you no that u prat

[NewCorkSeth]

What would a good/realistic offer for Moore be? 7 mill? 10? 12? 15?

Could get a decent cb replacement for that.... I would happily have ...... feck names escaped me. Who we sold to Chelsea and plays for hull and cba to google.

Can see West Brom or Southampton if they come down happily putting a 7 - 10 million bid for him.
His quality will not have escaped the notice of the lower prem teams.

[NewCorkSeth]

Oh btw in the football manager 2018 January update they changed Loader from a striker to a AML.
Anyone know what's up with his position.