News and Views
Transfer Window Closes
01 September 2021
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading failed to sign a striker as the summer transfer deadline passed. Free agent Andy Carroll remained a solid rumour throughout transfer deadline day but he failed to sign after being released by Newcastle United in the summer. Reading are left with a stronger midfield and defence after a busy final week of the window but fans will be left frustrated by the lack of a goalscorer with long term injuries to our better striking options.
Paunovic would have started the season feeling reasonably confident about the back line, despite the lack of a left back, with Moore and Morrison in the middle. However, our goalscoring issues have been overshadowed at the back where Reading have suffered so far this season. We have already conceeded a whopping 16 goals in just 6 games. With that in mind the signing of centre-back Scott Dann is a big boost. The 34 year old was released by Crystal Palace and will bring loads of experience to Reading after signing a one-year contract. He made over 180 appearances for Palace and will hopefully look comfortable after dropping down a division.
More experience arrived after former Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater joined Reading on a season loan from Chelsea. Drinkwater has struggled recently with injuries and issues off the pitch after his high profile move to Chelsea after Leicester won the Premier League. His impressive performances atr Leicester not only led to trophies but an England call up where he made three appearances for the Three Lions. He comes to Reading looking to get his career back on track after some tough times where he has struggled to get matches. If he can rediscover even some of his form at Reading then he could be a massive signing this season as Reading look to turn a poor start around.
Reading's Summer Signings
Discussion On This Story:
Westwood52
As has been pointed out on about 50 ocassions in numerous threads, we had to offload players before we could sign anyone else. If he wanted to come here or not is a moot point.
So we should have brought him in as our sixth acquisition and forgone a punt on someone else;given since Joao got crocked and after a LB,a striker was an absolute must.Very,very tricky.Dann,DWater and Baba are almost certain to start.Given Swift’s fragility,presumably Halilovic covers.Toilet gives us some wide cover.So it looks like TDB might be superfluous.Yet he was first pick.
morganb
As has been pointed out on about 50 ocassions in numerous threads, we had to offload players before we could sign anyone else. If he wanted to come here or not is a moot point.
So we should have brought him in as our sixth acquisition and forgone a punt on someone else;given since Joao got crocked and after a LB,a striker was an absolute must.Very,very tricky.Dann,DWater and Baba are almost certain to start.Given Swift’s fragility,presumably Halilovic covers.Toilet gives us some wide cover.So it looks like TDB might be superfluous.Yet he was first pick.
I did wonder if instead of selling one of our permanent players whether we could have terminated a loan such as TDB to open up a spacefor a forward.
Also, how come the club didn't already know the situation/know the rules about maximum number of players?
Hound
not sure what to believe about a striker or lack of one coming in to be honest. lets face it, we didn't seem to try that hard. Bit of a half arsed effort to sign Carroll at the end but pretty sure if we'd really wanted one we would have prioritised it. Bit weird on the face of it.
I'm not against plenty of midfield options. I do feel its the one area where subs make the most difference (Pauno needs to use better than he did last year though)
Hard to know how we'll line up. I'm assuming something along the lines of
Halilovic -Drinkwater -Swift - Laurent - Ejaria
leaving Hoilett, TDB, Rino, Tetek on the bench. Decent options there, who can change the dynamic. Hoilett could play alongside Puscas I reckon as well.
I'm not against plenty of midfield options. I do feel its the one area where subs make the most difference (Pauno needs to use better than he did last year though)
Hard to know how we'll line up. I'm assuming something along the lines of
Halilovic -Drinkwater -Swift - Laurent - Ejaria
leaving Hoilett, TDB, Rino, Tetek on the bench. Decent options there, who can change the dynamic. Hoilett could play alongside Puscas I reckon as well.
Sutekh
So we should have brought him in as our sixth acquisition and forgone a punt on someone else;given since Joao got crocked and after a LB,a striker was an absolute must.Very,very tricky.Dann,DWater and Baba are almost certain to start.Given Swift’s fragility,presumably Halilovic covers.Toilet gives us some wide cover.So it looks like TDB might be superfluous.Yet he was first pick.
I did wonder if instead of selling one of our permanent players whether we could have terminated a loan such as TDB to open up a spacefor a forward.
Also, how come the club didn't already know the situation/know the rules about maximum number of players?
Given Joao didn’t get crocked until after TDB arrived I don’t think the club can be faulted on that, more likely it was daft to bring in Drinkwater or Halilovic. That said having the defence doing regular comedy routines, culminating in their entry for “it’ll be alright on the night” at Huddersfield, really didn’t help matters.
Westwood52
I did wonder if instead of selling one of our permanent players whether we could have terminated a loan such as TDB to open up a spacefor a forward.
Also, how come the club didn't already know the situation/know the rules about maximum number of players?
Given Joao didn’t get crocked until after TDB arrived I don’t think the club can be faulted on that, more likely it was daft to bring in Drinkwater or Halilovic. That said having the defence doing regular comedy routines, culminating in their entry for “it’ll be alright on the night” at Huddersfield, really didn’t help matters.
Yeah I think Velcro did not expect his CB s ;on paper the strongest part of the team ,to go down the drain.But because of that he had to bring in Dann.
Hound
Given Joao didn’t get crocked until after TDB arrived I don’t think the club can be faulted on that, more likely it was daft to bring in Drinkwater or Halilovic. That said having the defence doing regular comedy routines, culminating in their entry for “it’ll be alright on the night” at Huddersfield, really didn’t help matters.
Yeah I think Velcro did not expect his CB s ;on paper the strongest part of the team ,to go down the drain.But because of that he had to bring in Dann.
yep. No one could really have considered we needed CB cover - but we absolutely do. bet he is far from happy about it himself
Snowflake Royal
Depressing that it basically forces out the one consistent performer we've had in midfield for years and blocks the opportunities for an Academy graduate at the same time.
Whilst leaving us with a central midfielder at left wing, few actual wide options and shallow options at full back and paper thin options upfront.
Definitely think Drinkwater was a midfielder too far and TDB is unnecessarily similar to Laurent (who has been pretty arse)
Hound
Depressing that it basically forces out the one consistent performer we've had in midfield for years and blocks the opportunities for an Academy graduate at the same time.
Whilst leaving us with a central midfielder at left wing, few actual wide options and shallow options at full back and paper thin options upfront.
Definitely think Drinkwater was a midfielder too far and TDB is unnecessarily similar to Laurent (who has been pretty arse)
Would happily swap in rino for Laurent based on performance. Agree Laurent has been poor so far (though a couple of assists) but Rino been pretty rubbish as well
Think Drinkwater was a case of he became available and they took the gamble. Undecided til I watch him tbh. Could be a master stroke or a total waste of time. He certainly was a fantastic player
Not too fussed about wide options - think Ejaria, AH, Hoilett cover it ok. Along with Azeez when he is back
I’d have happily swapped one of those incoming midfielders for a CF in saying that
TiagoIlori
Things got so bad in the end I genuinely started thinking that I’d take HRK. Mind you, I think we did well considering the circumstances. Drinkwater is the only one I’m really not sure on. Going off what he said to the Telegraph a year ago it sounds like he’s gone through a difficult time, mind I think he’d be very popular here if he simply worked hard no one can doubt his ability and he has a full pre season at Chelsea so unlike at Villa and Burnley he’s actually fit. Big if though.
blythspartan
Can we still loan out a player to a team in the National League? I just wondered if we could do this in order to bring in a striker. I am pretty sure the transfer window doesn’t affect non-league teams but I believe they have a registration date for the players who will play during the course of the season.
morganb
There are a couple of interviews up on which may indicate why we've brought in the players we have.
Drinkwater: I love helping people
Dann: I’m always trying to help others
Sounds like they were brought in as much for there experience and potential coaching ability as for playing in matches. (Fairly obvious I guess)
Drinkwater: I love helping people
Dann: I’m always trying to help others
Sounds like they were brought in as much for there experience and potential coaching ability as for playing in matches. (Fairly obvious I guess)
CountryRoyal
You can’t read anything into interviews at new clubs. Pretty sure David Meyler said something along the lines of won’t stop running, will leave everything on the pitch etc etc and clearly that was a load of bollocks.
It’s all meaningless ear candy. Pretty sure on my CV I have big people person, despite the fact I think most people are utter pcunts.
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