News and Views
Reading Hold On To Climb To Seventh
22 October 2024
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Despite constant late pressure from the home team, Reading held out to secure three more points at Exeter City and climb to seventh place in the League One - just outside of the play-off positions on goal difference. The Royals opted for several changes after the weekend's 4-1 home victory over Crawley Town, which included swapping the front three and handing Jayden Wareham his first league start for Reading after 13 appearances from the bench. From kick-off, and after 45 seconds of Exeter playing the ball around in their defensive third, Wareham made the perfect start when Knibbs stole the ball from the defender and passed to Wareham who fired across the goalkeeper, putting the ball inside the post to put Reading ahead inside the first minute.
Reading had been the better side in the first half and extended their lead with nine minutes left to play of the first half, again scoring inside the box with Exeter failing to deal with Reading pressure close to goal. Michael Craig took full advantage after a shot came back out to him to make it 2-0 at half time.
After the break, Exeter improved and Reading were forced to go on the defensive. After failing to take advantage moments before when they should have scored, Exter finally pulled one back on 58 minutes to set up a very nervous last 30 minutes for the travelling Reading fans. The final 10 minutes of the game Exeter dominated and it felt like it was just a matter of time before the equaliser came, but somehow Reading held out thanks to some determined defending, the post, and Exeter's inability to take advantage of a string of decent chances.
Exeter City 1 Reading 2
Discussion On This Story:
Royal_jimmy
We're building a great core of a squad again. We need to keep Selles at the club, again made some good selections and subs.
Good turn out from us but very quiet.
Royal_jimmy
tidus_mi2
The youngsters will seemingly make or break our season.
Hound
It's almost like getting relegated and rebuilding is more enjoyable than constantly fighting relegation in the Championship.
100% it would be if it didn’t have the black cloud of Dai hanging over it all. If all these young lads were on good 3 year contracts etc and you knew they’d either be with us or sold for decent money it’d make it a whole lot more enjoyable
Sadly I’m just expecting another fire sale in January, and/or some of our decent players moving when their contract finishes end of the year
South Coast Royal
Knew his stuff and had researched both teams .
Also showed that there is no need for a co-commentator/pundit.
As for the game-our team changes didn't harm the team, theirs did.
Having said that, I thought Kelvin, Campbell and Wareham were generally anonymous but everybody else was very good.
How long will we be able to keep Bindon?-he didn't put a foot wrong last night and is so calm for such a young player.
South Coast Royal
I would imagine the vultures are circling already, January is a genuine concern for me, unless the group granted exclusivity are paying the bills we could be forced to offload our crown jewels.
I'm not sure that we have many crown jewels apart from Bindon.
Some decent players for this level of football and Garcia could turn out to be an Olise but he could be an Ejaria so we shall see.
I agree it is still a worry as we wouldn't want to lose the likes of Wing, Craig and Knibbs.
Snowflake Royal
It's almost like getting relegated and rebuilding is more enjoyable than constantly fighting relegation in the Championship.
100% it would be if it didn’t have the black cloud of Dai hanging over it all. If all these young lads were on good 3 year contracts etc and you knew they’d either be with us or sold for decent money it’d make it a whole lot more enjoyable
Sadly I’m just expecting another fire sale in January, and/or some of our decent players moving when their contract finishes end of the year
Bait to be fair, but yes, if Dai had sold by July it would be proper party time.
RoyalBlue
I would imagine the vultures are circling already, January is a genuine concern for me, unless the group granted exclusivity are paying the bills we could be forced to offload our crown jewels.
I'm not sure that we have many crown jewels apart from Bindon.
Some decent players for this level of football and Garcia could turn out to be an Olise but he could be an Ejaria so we shall see.
I agree it is still a worry as we wouldn't want to lose the likes of Wing, Craig and Knibbs.
Recently, from comments made, it seems that pundits and other neutrals regard some of our players a bit more highly than you do. Quite a few players rated as being worthy of playing at a higher level than League 1 (MBengue and WIng being just two examples). That immediately makes them crown jewels in the eyes of an owner desperate to cash in and reduce exposure to running costs as much as he can,
Then, from the supporters' point of view, the fact that we are unable to add anyone to our squad, even as replacements, pretty much makes everyone in our squad invaluable to us!
Snowflake Royal
I'm not sure that we have many crown jewels apart from Bindon.
Some decent players for this level of football and Garcia could turn out to be an Olise but he could be an Ejaria so we shall see.
I agree it is still a worry as we wouldn't want to lose the likes of Wing, Craig and Knibbs.
Recently, from comments made, it seems that pundits and other neutrals regard some of our players a bit more highly than you do. Quite a few players rated as being worthy of playing at a higher level than League 1 (MBengue and WIng being just two examples). That immediately makes them crown jewels in the eyes of an owner desperate to cash in and reduce exposure to running costs as much as he can,
Then, from the supporters' point of view, the fact that we are unable to add anyone to our squad, even as replacements, pretty much makes everyone in our squad invaluable to us!
I think we have a lot of crown jewels, but most of them aren't the sort to attract major interest right now.
Elliott, Savage and Craig could be a Championship quality midfield in a couple of years, but none are bossing it quite enough to attact Championship attention just yet, maybe by the end of the season.
Generally, I think you see players with more established quality and experience or players just bursting on to the scene and impressing at a very young age attract the interest. Which is why I think the only two real worries are Bindon and Garcia.
The older heads, like Wing, Smith and Knibbs are all more good L1 players than eye catching Championship potentials.
Mbengue is also quality, but a bit rogue which might put others off.
Then you have the likes of Dorsett (injured), Camara (barely played), Akande (very raw), Rushesha (barely played), Pereira (previously unfancied and not played that much) etc.
Ehibhatiomhan is the only other real contender and he does drift through games and flatter a bit at times.
WestYorksRoyal
Beyond that, you're looking at potential that is not ready yet or good L1 players you struggle to see stepping up. The route to the Championship for Knibbs and Smith is probably promotion or nothing. If we were desperate for cash, I'm sure big club academies would be all over Garcia, Elliott, Ehibhatiomhan, Savage and Craig, but there's not a chance they could move up the pyramid and immediately get regular game time.
tidus_mi2
If say, QPR were in for him it's something you'd think he might consider, wouldn't have to move in theory. Obviously ironic considering he turned down QPR when he joined us.
Of course moving clubs presents the risk of it going badly and then having to be on the look out for whoever will take you.
From Despair To Where?
I think he can play largely without pressure here. It's a tight knit squad, the relationship with the fans is good, expectations are realistic and he's a key player.
Sort out the ownership and you've got the core of a very good club to be at.
South Coast Royal
I'm not sure that we have many crown jewels apart from Bindon.
Some decent players for this level of football and Garcia could turn out to be an Olise but he could be an Ejaria so we shall see.
I agree it is still a worry as we wouldn't want to lose the likes of Wing, Craig and Knibbs.
Recently, from comments made, it seems that pundits and other neutrals regard some of our players a bit more highly than you do. Quite a few players rated as being worthy of playing at a higher level than League 1 (MBengue and WIng being just two examples). That immediately makes them crown jewels in the eyes of an owner desperate to cash in and reduce exposure to running costs as much as he can,
Then, from the supporters' point of view, the fact that we are unable to add anyone to our squad, even as replacements, pretty much makes everyone in our squad invaluable to us!
Agreed on the last bit but Mbengue capable of playing at a higher level?
Far too erratic IMHO to do that but his keenness is a great asset to our team.
Wing higher level ?
Yes, but who else? (have already mentioned Garcia)
Hound
Recently, from comments made, it seems that pundits and other neutrals regard some of our players a bit more highly than you do. Quite a few players rated as being worthy of playing at a higher level than League 1 (MBengue and WIng being just two examples). That immediately makes them crown jewels in the eyes of an owner desperate to cash in and reduce exposure to running costs as much as he can,
Then, from the supporters' point of view, the fact that we are unable to add anyone to our squad, even as replacements, pretty much makes everyone in our squad invaluable to us!
Agreed on the last bit but Mbengue capable of playing at a higher level?
Far too erratic IMHO to do that but his keenness is a great asset to our team.
Wing higher level ?
Yes, but who else? (have already mentioned Garcia)
Mbengue already did alright in the champ for us so sure teams would be interested. Higher ceiling than McIntyre and Holmes I’d think
Savage would prob interest a few and has already I think
Mid Sussex Royal
We cannot, I assume, extend the likes of Bindon's contract so we can expect low ball offers again from anyone from lower championship to L1 top end for those players OOC next summer.
It would, though, be good to understand to what extent the proposed new owners have agreed to fund the club when the money runs out in November....I've not heard of anything yet around any charges being registered over club shares/assets etc.
Snowflake Royal
Agreed on the last bit but Mbengue capable of playing at a higher level?
Far too erratic IMHO to do that but his keenness is a great asset to our team.
Wing higher level ?
Yes, but who else? (have already mentioned Garcia)
Mbengue already did alright in the champ for us so sure teams would be interested. Higher ceiling than McIntyre and Holmes I’d think
Savage would prob interest a few and has already I think
Savage and Mbengue (right now) I think are players a lot of Champ teams will be monitoring, but probably more for when their contract is running down for a cheap low risk signing.
What we're looking for is people who will command £500k+ preferably 7 figures.
Maybe I'm underestimating them. But I don't think so.
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