Season 2018/2019

[Tilehurstsouthbank]

I think Wigan will be a lot better side than the last time they came up. Paul Cook is a decent manager who plays expansive attacking football. Don't be shocked if they're one of the divisions surprise Playoff entrants.

Bet you £1000 they’re not.

I'll take that at reasonable odds if you're that confident. You stake £1000, I'll stake £50
You win if they finish below 14th, I win if they finish above 10th. Null if they finish 10-14th.

I knew I wasn't the only one with an open view of how the crazy league that is the Championship might finish.

[RoyalJones]

I can't understand why anyone here/twatter/on Earth is expecting anything other than a bottom half finish for Reading. I'm not being negative, I just think I'm being realistic.

I think we'll finish around 16th-18th.

Edit: oh and I do think we'll perform marginally better than last year but will still be looking over our shoulder until the last 5-6 games.

I agree, I don't think we have improved defensively even though some of our signings have been defensively based, O'Shea for me is past it but I hate writing him off like that, Yiadom from what I can remember is more attack minded and would probably suit being more of a wing back, could however argue that Meyler could give us more defensive protection in midfield. Siedeol is just a young player who probably won't improve us defensively in the short term.

Offensively, we've added a League Two goalscorer, could work out, but every chance that it may not. Think the transfer window for us has been poor thus far.

[Silver Fox]

I think Wigan will be a lot better side than the last time they came up. Paul Cook is a decent manager who plays expansive attacking football. Don't be shocked if they're one of the divisions surprise Playoff entrants.

Bet you £1000 they’re not.

I'll take that at reasonable odds if you're that confident. You stake £1000, I'll stake £50
You win if they finish below 14th, I win if they finish above 10th. Null if they finish 10-14th.

Aren't you betting that they'll be a surprise playoff team? Why would you get all the way to 10th?

[Snowflake Royal]

Bet you £1000 they’re not.

I'll take that at reasonable odds if you're that confident. You stake £1000, I'll stake £50
You win if they finish below 14th, I win if they finish above 10th. Null if they finish 10-14th.

Aren't you betting that they'll be a surprise playoff team? Why would you get all the way to 10th?

No, I'm offerring a bet based on CR's confidence Wigan will be shit given the amount he offered he should be confident. I'm open to negotiating.

I didn't make the original claim. I'd say they've got a pretty good chance of being the promoted team who's a promotion contender.

Besides, what's it got to do with you?

[Lower West]

O'Shea for me is past it but I hate writing him off like that,

Here for a variety of reasons. If 10% of his character rubs off on the younger squad members. Then we'll be in for a better season than last before kicking a ball.

[CountryRoyal]

I think Wigan will be a lot better side than the last time they came up. Paul Cook is a decent manager who plays expansive attacking football. Don't be shocked if they're one of the divisions surprise Playoff entrants.

Bet you £1000 they’re not.

I'll take that at reasonable odds if you're that confident. You stake £1000, I'll stake £50
You win if they finish below 14th, I win if they finish above 10th. Null if they finish 10-14th.

I said £1000 they won’t be in the top 6

So what’s that 1/20 that they’ll finish 15-24th? Nah I liked the original one better haha.

Also just seen Wigan are 10/1 for promotion, we’re 16/1.

[Snowflake Royal]

Bet you £1000 they’re not.

I'll take that at reasonable odds if you're that confident. You stake £1000, I'll stake £50
You win if they finish below 14th, I win if they finish above 10th. Null if they finish 10-14th.

I said £1000 they won’t be in the top 6

So what’s that 1/20 that they’ll finish 15-24th? Nah I liked the original one better haha.

Also just seen Wigan are 10/1 for promotion, we’re 16/1.

£1000 top six and £50 bottom seven, otherwise null?

I think we should be worse than 16/1 personally, but definitely also a worse bet than Wigan.

I'd fancy at least three of Rotherham, Bolton, Birmingham and Ipswich to be in the bottom six/seven. Really don't have a feel for the top this year, there's not really anyone who stands out to me. Forest are spending a lot but haven't really been anywhere for a while and spending big like that often backfires. Derby and Leeds are perennial chokers, the relegated teams don't seem that strong to me. Villa are potentially screwed financially. I'd fancy Middlesbrough to be in the top six, but I really can't call the rest.

[Zip]

I think Stoke will comfortably win the title

[Stranded]

I can't understand why anyone here/twatter/on Earth is expecting anything other than a bottom half finish for Reading. I'm not being negative, I just think I'm being realistic.

I think we'll finish around 16th-18th.

Edit: oh and I do think we'll perform marginally better than last year but will still be looking over our shoulder until the last 5-6 games.

I agree, I don't think we have improved defensively even though some of our signings have been defensively based, O'Shea for me is past it but I hate writing him off like that, Yiadom from what I can remember is more attack minded and would probably suit being more of a wing back, could however argue that Meyler could give us more defensive protection in midfield. Siedeol is just a young player who probably won't improve us defensively in the short term.

Offensively, we've added a League Two goalscorer, could work out, but every chance that it may not. Think the transfer window for us has been poor thus far.

The change for me defensively isn't clearly going to be personnel wise to any great extent but the defensive organisation should be a lot better this year, less mucking around at the back and more solidity. From what I've seen of the later friendlies we look a lot better at the back, so am hopeful we will let in less. Hopefully strong enough for a relatively dull mid-table finish this year.

[Rea Ding]

I feel we need to get rid of some dead wood such as edwards, blackett, evans etc. as having unhappy players in the squad isnt good for anyone and keeps the negative mood around the club imo

[muirinho]

I feel we need to get rid of some dead wood such as edwards, blackett, evans etc. as having unhappy players in the squad isnt good for anyone and keeps the negative mood around the club imo

Joey's gone, if Evans goes as well, would be inclined to hang on to Edwards, so Rinomhota can go out on loan - he'd learn more playing regularly than being back up.

Blackett, yeah. He's not terrible but he's very inconsistent. Fresh start may suit him, wouldn't take much for the fans here to get on his back again, he might get more leeway somewhere else.

[Hound]

I think Blackett will stay until Obita is fit. I'd prefer him to start over Gunter and Richards in the LB spot tbh.

Although he is suspended for the first couple of games I think

[Sutekh]

I think Blackett will stay until Obita is fit. I'd prefer him to start over Gunter and Richards in the LB spot tbh.

Although he is suspended for the first couple of games I think

Blackett is only suspended for the Derby game

[Coppells Lost Coat]

I can't understand why anyone here/twatter/on Earth is expecting anything other than a bottom half finish for Reading. I'm not being negative, I just think I'm being realistic.

I think we'll finish around 16th-18th.

Edit: oh and I do think we'll perform marginally better than last year but will still be looking over our shoulder until the last 5-6 games.

I agree, I don't think we have improved defensively even though some of our signings have been defensively based, O'Shea for me is past it but I hate writing him off like that, Yiadom from what I can remember is more attack minded and would probably suit being more of a wing back, could however argue that Meyler could give us more defensive protection in midfield. Siedeol is just a young player who probably won't improve us defensively in the short term.

Offensively, we've added a League Two goalscorer, could work out, but every chance that it may not. Think the transfer window for us has been poor thus far.

The change for me defensively isn't clearly going to be personnel wise to any great extent but the defensive organisation should be a lot better this year, less mucking around at the back and more solidity. From what I've seen of the later friendlies we look a lot better at the back, so am hopeful we will let in less. Hopefully strong enough for a relatively dull mid-table finish this year.

The personnel we have at the back are of a decent quality. The lack of protection they had last season was shocking. Hopefully Meyler will sort this out. Think O'Shea and Blackett will do a job, hoping that they earmarked for playing cup games to give others a rest.

Up top, we could get the best striker in the league and still could struggle (and be shafted financially). Cant remember the last time we got a big name CF in and it be a success - Roberts comes to mind but thats bout it. When bang average players are now priced at £8m i'd take a league 2 punt any day.

[John Smith]

The personnel we have at the back are of a decent quality. The lack of protection they had last season was shocking. Hopefully Meyler will sort this out. Think O'Shea and Blackett will do a job, hoping that they earmarked for playing cup games to give others a rest.

Up top, we could get the best striker in the league and still could struggle (and be shafted financially). Cant remember the last time we got a big name CF in and it be a success - Roberts comes to mind but thats bout it. When bang average players are now priced at £8m i'd take a league 2 punt any day.

Your comments on the team are so out of touch you clearly know very little about the division. The personnel we have at the back are all dross minus Moore. I like McShane but he's past it, Gunter is average, Blackett and Ilori are wastes of money and O'Shea has been shit for years and is 37.

Just looking at the other teams in the division tells you the way we need to be going and the firepower they have. Our defence is likely to be ripped apart on a regular basis again next season unless standout recruitment is made.

[Coppells Lost Coat]

The personnel we have at the back are of a decent quality. The lack of protection they had last season was shocking. Hopefully Meyler will sort this out. Think O'Shea and Blackett will do a job, hoping that they earmarked for playing cup games to give others a rest.

Up top, we could get the best striker in the league and still could struggle (and be shafted financially). Cant remember the last time we got a big name CF in and it be a success - Roberts comes to mind but thats bout it. When bang average players are now priced at £8m i'd take a league 2 punt any day.

Your comments on the team are so out of touch you clearly know very little about the division. The personnel we have at the back are all dross minus Moore. I like McShane but he's past it, Gunter is average, Blackett and Ilori are wastes of money and O'Shea has been shit for years and is 37.

Just looking at the other teams in the division tells you the way we need to be going and the firepower they have. Our defence is likely to be ripped apart on a regular basis again next season unless standout recruitment is made.

Was mainly talking about CB's Gunter i think will step up his game as he has not been challenged for years and seemed too comfortable in his position - probably should have been moved on even though i rate him his time is done here.
At the back on paper we have a stronger CB selection than probs about half of the division. By your views, we need a whole new team as everyone bar a few are dross. I have written off last seasons shit show. And we still have the majority of the squad that manged 3rd so cant be all as bad you're making it out, right??
Realistically, without spending obscene money we are, on paper not going to look spectacular.

[RoyalJones]

I agree, I don't think we have improved defensively even though some of our signings have been defensively based, O'Shea for me is past it but I hate writing him off like that, Yiadom from what I can remember is more attack minded and would probably suit being more of a wing back, could however argue that Meyler could give us more defensive protection in midfield. Siedeol is just a young player who probably won't improve us defensively in the short term.

Offensively, we've added a League Two goalscorer, could work out, but every chance that it may not. Think the transfer window for us has been poor thus far.

The change for me defensively isn't clearly going to be personnel wise to any great extent but the defensive organisation should be a lot better this year, less mucking around at the back and more solidity. From what I've seen of the later friendlies we look a lot better at the back, so am hopeful we will let in less. Hopefully strong enough for a relatively dull mid-table finish this year.

The personnel we have at the back are of a decent quality. The lack of protection they had last season was shocking. Hopefully Meyler will sort this out. Think O'Shea and Blackett will do a job, hoping that they earmarked for playing cup games to give others a rest.

Up top, we could get the best striker in the league and still could struggle (and be shafted financially). Cant remember the last time we got a big name CF in and it be a success - Roberts comes to mind but thats bout it. When bang average players are now priced at £8m i'd take a league 2 punt any day.

Moore and Ilori could be one of the best centre-half partnerships if Ilori manages to recapture his 2016/17 form. Yiadom could look good in a good team, Gunter is okay-ish, but we're missing Obita quite a lot. So I agree to an extent that we do have sufficient quality in that area, but it's all about form. Blackett's form is a prime example. Would have taken Elphick over O'Shea however.

[Hound]

Yiadom, Moore and Ilori are all potentially excellent, and that is 3/4 of the back 4

The LB spot worries me, currently the options there are not good enough. We are reliant on Obita coming back strongly. I’d consider a loan there tbh for 6 months

[Sutekh]

Yiadom, Moore and Ilori are all potentially excellent, and that is 3/4 of the back 4

The LB spot worries me, currently the options there are not good enough. We are reliant on Obita coming back strongly. I’d consider a loan there tbh for 6 months

Gunter is good there. Obita is good there. Blackett is suspect. Richards looks to be an exciting prospect but still inexperienced so not sure it's too much of a problem position overall. Doesn't mean you should stop looking to see if there's better available of course.

[Sutekh]

And Berg has now gone to NEC Nijmegen for a season on loan.