SQUADWATCH - Summer 2026

[Brogue]

Glad they put that win stat in, 13 from 33 is a shade under 40%, his PPG corresponded to just missing out on 70 pt season, the baseline is a play off challenge.

And as he implies, no excuses next year.

a very lucky run of results over the christmas period with a few smash and grab games over inflated his ppg.

12 points from his last 12 games since the beginning of March is relegation form.

and if we went back 15 games (half the number he's managed), we have 19 points, 1.27 ppg a 58-point season. Just above relegation.

So don't give me that shit about a 70 point season you're deluded. take out christmas and we would have been heads just above water

If you discount all of the wins, then we would have had a winless season. Outrageous!

now you're just being obtuse

[Extended-Phenotype]

Glad they put that win stat in, 13 from 33 is a shade under 40%, his PPG corresponded to just missing out on 70 pt season, the baseline is a play off challenge.

And as he implies, no excuses next year.

It may just be how it appears written down but "Ultimately, you're judged by the level of player that you've got" looks like a very handy excuse to fall back on. Not his fault, its the players not being good enough. Doesn't a manager get judged on whether he manages to raise the level of the players and the team becomes more than the sum of its individual parts?

I read that with an almost opposite meaning, as in it wouldn't be an excuse. The next clause in the sentence talks about the relationship with the owner and how they need to work together to push things forwards.

Agreed. Isolating that sentence would be somewhat uncharitable. I read it as a pretext to him pressuring the owners for support. You’re only as good as the players you have, so the owners need to give me the players we need to move forwards.

Which is a reasonable assessment that most fans seem to agree with - our squad was lacking, departed players were not adequately replaced and if we want attacking football we are going to need pace, creativity and depth in the final third.

Surely even Brogue can admit LR didn’t have a lot of options. I don’t think he did very well with what he had in the end, but when better players were available both performances and results were better. It can’t fall entirely on the players, though. LR will need to step up as much as anyone.

[Brogue]

It may just be how it appears written down but "Ultimately, you're judged by the level of player that you've got" looks like a very handy excuse to fall back on. Not his fault, its the players not being good enough. Doesn't a manager get judged on whether he manages to raise the level of the players and the team becomes more than the sum of its individual parts?

I read that with an almost opposite meaning, as in it wouldn't be an excuse. The next clause in the sentence talks about the relationship with the owner and how they need to work together to push things forwards.

Agreed. Isolating that sentence would be somewhat uncharitable. I read it as a pretext to him pressuring the owners for support. You’re only as good as the players you have, so the owners need to give me the players we need to move forwards.

Which is a reasonable assessment that most fans seem to agree with - our squad was lacking, departed players were not adequately replaced and if we want attacking football we are going to need pace, creativity and depth in the final third.

Surely even Brogue can admit LR didn’t have a lot of options. I don’t think he did very well with what he had in the end, but when better players were available both performances and results were better. It can’t fall entirely on the players, though. LR will need to step up as much as anyone.

I think we were better than 12 points from the last 12 games..:

[The Cap]

I know it was covered way back, however what are current thoughts on the Yak returning.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

I know it was covered way back, however what are current thoughts on the Yak returning.

Difficult one. I’m not really a fan of re signing ex players just because they used to play for us and time has moved on he won’t be near the player he was.

But, we are now a bang average L1 side so he probably wouldn’t be too bad an addition if not too expensive

[Brogue]

I know it was covered way back, however what are current thoughts on the Yak returning.

i don't really care about the ex-player thing. There should be strict criteria we should be adhering to. not just for yak but for all players we are looking at this summer

Is he affordable
would he have a resale value
do they actually want to be here
is he fit enough to play 40 games + a season
will he come straight into the first team
does he play in a position we need
does he fit into our system and style of play (lol whatever that is)
Is he quick (we are desperate for pace)
is he going to add something to the team we don't already have
is he blocking the pathway of an up-and-coming youngster ready for first team football
is he a good egg

How many of the above does the yak tick

[tidus_mi2]

Not really sure about Yak, seemed to do well at a shit Cardiff in the Championship, assuming he was played as a wide forward like we played him but after a season in the Saudi farmers league, will he be at the required level still?

[The Cap]

I know it was covered way back, however what are current thoughts on the Yak returning.

i don't really care about the ex-player thing. There should be strict criteria we should be adhering to. not just for yak but for all players we are looking at this summer

Is he affordable
would he have a resale value
do they actually want to be here
is he fit enough to play 40 games + a season
will he come straight into the first team
does he play in a position we need
does he fit into our system and style of play (lol whatever that is)
Is he quick (we are desperate for pace)
is he going to add something to the team we don't already have
is he blocking the pathway of an up-and-coming youngster ready for first team football
is he a good egg

How many of the above does the yak tick

You cover some fair points there Brogue and when you put it like that mate...food for thought. I always remember back in the day, when he was going up one of the escalators at the station and I started singing the 'we've got Meite song'. He turned round with the biggest smile on his chops. Got to love the Yak

[linkenholtroyal]

Would likely get for 1-2 million.

Can't see us paying anywhere near that for one player as we would have to sell one for that to have the funds available. Lets not kid ourselves, after the mess the club was in there's no way the owners will be chucking money around.

I know there is one or 2 senior people within our senior structure who look on here. It was worth egging them on to get something……

[linkenholtroyal]

Interesting anecdote I have received recently. Last Summer they went into the transfer market with a list of top free agents that were willing to come to the club. They were all lined up and as per usual they wanted to negotiate terms. (Bowler etc).
Couhig was unwilling and Paudie was the only one willing to come on the terms originally offered.
They then went to there plan b list but most of them had either agreed terms at other clubs by then or we were slow again on negotiating. Went back to plan a list with better offers but same scenario. Moved on by that point or pissed off with lack of initial response.

We then ended up paying over the odds for wages for loan players (Burns and others) to fill gaps which were wages that could have been better used on free transfers originally.

Went then had to be inventive with the small amount of money Knibbs brought in with Marriott and Lane. And ended up having to pull in what we could from what was left free out there quite late in the window which meant the players had no time to gel.

What I hope from this window is we get our business done early so the players get a preseason together. Those also that want to leave get them gone early so money can be reinvested. And for god sake pursue free transfers properly and get the players you want even if it does mean paying a bit more in wages there is no fee. It has been proven it does not work in the long run and usually costs more. Sustainability is important but also building a team is just as important that is competitive and getting the players in you and the manager want to be competitive.

De Ja vu?

[Stranded]

Interesting anecdote I have received recently. Last Summer they went into the transfer market with a list of top free agents that were willing to come to the club. They were all lined up and as per usual they wanted to negotiate terms. (Bowler etc).
Couhig was unwilling and Paudie was the only one willing to come on the terms originally offered.
They then went to there plan b list but most of them had either agreed terms at other clubs by then or we were slow again on negotiating. Went back to plan a list with better offers but same scenario. Moved on by that point or pissed off with lack of initial response.

We then ended up paying over the odds for wages for loan players (Burns and others) to fill gaps which were wages that could have been better used on free transfers originally.

Went then had to be inventive with the small amount of money Knibbs brought in with Marriott and Lane. And ended up having to pull in what we could from what was left free out there quite late in the window which meant the players had no time to gel.

What I hope from this window is we get our business done early so the players get a preseason together. Those also that want to leave get them gone early so money can be reinvested. And for god sake pursue free transfers properly and get the players you want even if it does mean paying a bit more in wages there is no fee. It has been proven it does not work in the long run and usually costs more. Sustainability is important but also building a team is just as important that is competitive and getting the players in you and the manager want to be competitive.

De Ja vu?

I mean the WC does tend to make things a little slower but it does feel like absolutely nothing is happening - can only be what 2 weeks or so until players are back from their summer break, given we start on 8th August. You would like to think we would have a body or two in by then.

Wouldn't surprise me though if we get some player news today to aid a potential late wave of renewals before Monday's deadline (or an extension)

[traff]

Heard that Aaron Drinan from Swindon has been linked with us,Blackpool and Wycombe.
I believe the rule of three means this is likely BS but sharing anyway

[Royals and Racers]

Rino signed for another year.

[Sutekh]

Rino signed for another year.

an actual signing?

[Royals and Racers]

Rino signed for another year.

an actual signing?

Yep

[Hound]

Good news

[WestYorksRoyal]

Let's hope he can play a big part this season. Personal issues behind him, full pre season...could be a very big player for us.

[JedMaxwell]

Very happy to see Rinomhota has signed. Hopefully will encourage some others to do the same.

[Extended-Phenotype]

I read that with an almost opposite meaning, as in it wouldn't be an excuse. The next clause in the sentence talks about the relationship with the owner and how they need to work together to push things forwards.

Agreed. Isolating that sentence would be somewhat uncharitable. I read it as a pretext to him pressuring the owners for support. You’re only as good as the players you have, so the owners need to give me the players we need to move forwards.

Which is a reasonable assessment that most fans seem to agree with - our squad was lacking, departed players were not adequately replaced and if we want attacking football we are going to need pace, creativity and depth in the final third.

Surely even Brogue can admit LR didn’t have a lot of options. I don’t think he did very well with what he had in the end, but when better players were available both performances and results were better. It can’t fall entirely on the players, though. LR will need to step up as much as anyone.

I think we were better than 12 points from the last 12 games..:

We didn’t have a proper striker, real wingers, any depth or any pace. It’s hard to say whether we’d be any better with a different manager, and like I said I feel LR could have done better, but he’s still right - if Reading are going to step up, he needs support from the owners.