Squad for 2025-2026

[traff]

Encouraging to see that we are imprinting the same playing profile through all age groups at the club.
Makes it so much easier for the youngster to transition to the first team
https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2025/a ... -city-u21/

[Sutekh]

Encouraging to see that we are imprinting the same playing profile through all age groups at the club.
Makes it so much easier for the youngster to transition to the first team
https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2025/a ... -city-u21/

Are the number of attempts on goal as bad with the youngsters as they are with the first XI?

[Snowflake Royal]

We don't need 3 forwards, we need at max 2, assuming at least 1 is a striker.

Where would you say we need another signing then position wise?

Er... striker. And then it depends on deciding where all the not really quite got a position forwards are actually playing.

Is KelvinE gonna be a striker or a LWer? We need to choose.

Are Kyerewaa and Doyle wingers or AMs? We need to choose.

What the hell is Garcia supposed to be?

Are Camara, Kyerewaa, Lane and Garcia left or right wingers? Choose.

Then we fill in the gap that's left. If Kelvin's gonna be a striker, we need a winger, unless Doyle and Kyerewaa are wingers, in which case we need a CAM. If KelvinE is gonna be a winger we need 2 strikers.

And should a quick good CB become available - yes. Otheriwse no.

We might end up looking for another LB in January if Jacob doesn't do it, and nor does Dorsett or he gets injured again, and Ryan/Clarke aren't quite there yet. But we've barely tested any of those options so far.

Midfield we've got Wing, Fraser, Savage, Elliott, Doyle, Rushesha, Borgnis, Spencer, Sackey... it's more than enough... just pick the right combination and put them in the right place.

[West F]

We don't need 3 forwards, we need at max 2, assuming at least 1 is a striker.

Where would you say we need another signing then position wise?

Pace in central defensive areas. Losing the recovery pace of Mbengue, has destabilised Ruben’s tactical set up. It means that the back four cannot play high. Due to this, the midfield cannot support any press that the front three initiate. It leaves a lot of space for the opposition to play in when in transitional phases, or in controlled possession.
The team’s lack of pace at the back was exposed against Lincoln, when the high line we were trying to play was very exposed. After this, the solution has been to play a lot deeper, in an attempt to prevent space in behind.
If the defence sits deeper, so does the midfield. This leaves the front three disconnected from their midfield, leading to longer higher risk passes from deep midfielders.
When we are chasing a goal, the back four have no choice in whether to push on or not. This means we are more able to pin the opposition in, and therefore create more chances. There is of course much more risk of being caught on the break, but the rewards far outweigh the risk if you are already losing.
The lack of pace in the centre of defence is having a massive effect on the ability to score goals.

[Hound]

Don’t disagree but there have been lots of very good CB pairs that aren’t especially quick. It’s as much about reading the game (not Mbengues strong point)

Maybe Williams can bring that.

[linkenholtroyal]

Armando Dobra being linked now. (Aswell as half of the Championship and League 1)

[Sutekh]

Armando Dobra being linked now. (Aswell as half of the Championship and League 1)

Tw@tter again? Chesterfield are obviously going to sell their star winger for 25p and a bag of nuts, so won’t be coming here

[Brogue]

Don’t disagree but there have been lots of very good CB pairs that aren’t especially quick. It’s as much about reading the game (not Mbengues strong point)

Maybe Williams can bring that.

Gorkss and Pearce… a championship winning CB partnership and Pearce had the turning circle of the titanic.

[Esteban]

Don’t disagree but there have been lots of very good CB pairs that aren’t especially quick. It’s as much about reading the game (not Mbengues strong point)

Maybe Williams can bring that.

Gorkss and Pearce… a championship winning CB partnership and Pearce had the turning circle of the titanic.

Was going to say the same thing. Pace anywhere on the pitch is always desirable, but if you don't have have it or can't get it, then you have to adapt.

[Snowflake Royal]

Don’t disagree but there have been lots of very good CB pairs that aren’t especially quick. It’s as much about reading the game (not Mbengues strong point)

Maybe Williams can bring that.

Gorkss and Pearce… a championship winning CB partnership and Pearce had the turning circle of the titanic.

Was going to say the same thing. Pace anywhere on the pitch is always desirable, but if you don't have have it or can't get it, then you have to adapt.

Both read the game very well and had a very solid defensive midfield screening them.

If you can read what's coming you need less pace.

[West F]

Don’t disagree but there have been lots of very good CB pairs that aren’t especially quick. It’s as much about reading the game (not Mbengues strong point)

Maybe Williams can bring that.

Gorkss and Pearce… a championship winning CB partnership and Pearce had the turning circle of the titanic.

They were not playing in a pressing 4 3 3

The recent introduction of Fraser has also killed any press. He sits in out of possession, which may be his natural game. Against Bolton it left Savage chasing pigeons on his own. You cannot have a cohesive unit if there are so many disconnects from your original out of possession strategy. You either change, adapt and evolve, or die out.
You cannot press, if your back line are deep. Without real pace at the back, such a strategy will be ineffective.