SO FAR, so good for Reading in the transfer market.
The Royals may not have splashed the cash – an unlikely prospect in reality – but their business to-date has nonetheless been sensible from a footballing point of view and astute financially.
Creative midfielders Ovie Ejaria and Lewis Baker arrived early on in the window from Liverpool and Chelsea respectively.
They may have been greeted with a little scepticism from fans – both had seen temporary stays elsewhere cut short by their parent clubs due to a lack of match action – but I’m cautiously optimistic about what they can offer us.
Gomes challenges squad to end unwanted record
Jose Gomes’ system needs technical, positive, proactive players who can take hold of a game, carve out goalscoring opportunities and put points on the board. Naturally such talent doesn’t come cheap, so loan deals for a duo that had failed to make the grade elsewhere are our best bet.
Each looked promising in the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest; Ejaria starting on the left side of an attacking midfield three, Baker substituted into a deep-lying role in the second half. Although it’ll take a while for us to see the best out of them, they both showed a level of technique and composure on the ball that’s been lacking in this squad.
PODCAST: Can the Royals continue their good recent history at Derby?
On the flipside, Reading have done well to trim much of the fat from their squad – and barely halfway through the transfer window. Adrian Popa, Pelle Clement, Sam Smith and Dave Edwards are among those to depart – but they must be followed by other exits.
Gomes says he wants another five or six more to leave this month, and for me he should be looking at Vito Mannone, Paul McShane, David Meyler and Marc McNulty.
All of them are decent players in their own right, but don’t fit the club’s needs, and we can’t afford the squad to be any bigger than is necessary.
Simeon can be found on Twitter @SimFromBucks and his Reading fansite account is @TheTilehurstEnd.
