Reading Football Club News: January 2019
Bacuna, McNulty And Meyler Depart
31 January 2019
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Leandro Bacuna has signed for Premier League strugglers Cardiff City for a rumoured three million pounds as Royals boss Jose Gomes had a player clear out on transfer deadline day. Bacuna leaves Reading after one and a half season's at the club, arriving from Aston Villa in the summer of 2017. Bacuna made 66 appearances in a Reading shirt and scored five times.
Striker Marc McNulty was also out of the door, signing on loan for Scottish side Hibernian after failing to make an impact at Reading. After Paul Clement signed him in the summer from Coventry he has managed just six starts and only scored a single goal. Meanwhile out of favour David Meyler moves to Coventry City on loan until the end of the season.
The three players leave after Gomes saw Tiago Ilori move back to Sporting Lisbon on a permanent move earlier this week. Fellow defender Gabriel Osho also heads out on loan to Bristol City as Gomes slims down his squad.
Tuesday night's 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers saw Gomes hand debuts to new signings striker Nelson Oliveira, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, and central defender Matt Miazga. All three players come into the club on loan - Oliveira from Norwich City, Martinez from Arsenal and Miazga from Chelsea.
It has been a busy week at Reading, and the departures follow the three new players coming in to make a very different looking starting eleven on Tuesday night. It appeared to be a positive move as Reading looked set to pick-up a rare three points until a stoppage time Bolton equaliser. Oliveira scored his first goal in nearly a year from the penalty spot and it had looked to be enough.
With Oliveira and Miazga coming in, it is no surprise that McNulty and Ilori were allowed to leave. Osho leaves to pick up experience and you feel he may have a future at Reading. However, it is disappointing to lose Leandro Bacuna who has looked a decent player in recent months.
Positive Performance As Gomes Gets His First Win
12 January 2019
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Any doubts about the positive impact of Jose Gomes on Reading Football Club were dispelled by this result, and more significantly, by this performance. Bolstered by the signing of two promising young midfield players (Ovie Ejaria and Lewis Baker) on loan, Reading took control of the game from the kick off and outplayed a strong Forest side in every department. They played with an energy and enthusiasm which has been noticeably absent for a very long time. As a team they were unrecognisable from the group of players which has so frequently failed to deliver this season. Jose Gomez clearly has many attributes which indicate he will be successful, but from what I can see, there is one fundamental difference from his recent predecessors. He simply expects more from his players. He is confident, positive, personable and knowledgeable, but I suspect also, behind the scenes. Single- minded and utterly ruthless when it comes to the way he manages his squad. Already several players have gone and it would appear there are more on their way soon.
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Downward Spiral Gathers Pace Under Gomes
01 January 2019
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Matters came to head this afternoon when Reading, in front of their own fans were humiliated by a useful, but nevertheless, mid table Championship side. You do not have to be genius to work out there are significant problems at Reading Football Club on and off the pitch, and not just this season. The underlying issue is that certain individuals within the hierarchy of the club with insufficient knowledge and understanding of the game are making decisions which are clearly in the long term not going to take the club in the right direction. The debate in the media typifies the absurdity of the situation the club now finds itself in. Clearly in November they felt the problem was the manager. Newly appointed Chief Executive Nigel Howe made his mark immediately. Paul Clement was blamed and then sacked for not producing the desirable results, ironically after his team had just begun to show signs of improvement.
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