Squad for 2025-2026

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Snowflake Royal
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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Snowflake Royal » 31 Jul 2025 14:16

traff Or the guy from the Guardian knows the square root of fa.

Got it bang right. We're hopeful of POs, but there are at least 6 stronger contenders, and we shouldn't be too worried about relegation

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by WestYorksRoyal » 31 Jul 2025 14:41

We've got some top quality L1 players but not a balanced, deep squad. I think the Guardian have it right.

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Brogue
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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Brogue » 31 Jul 2025 15:42

We will be in a relegation battle this season as things stand

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Stranded » 31 Jul 2025 15:47

Brogue We will be in a relegation battle this season as things stand


Along with 23 other clubs until we actually see how teams perform in competitive games.

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Stranded » 31 Jul 2025 15:50

RG30 Knibbs to Charlton off. Wing new captain & Pereira vice. Possibility of new signing before Saturday.


In local radio interview Hunt confirms that Charlton pulled the deal - can only assume there was something in the medical which meant they saw it as too much of a risk at the price they were paying.

Again confirmed he hopes to have 1 in tomorrow to be able to play at Lincoln (or be on the bench at least) with 2 more arriving next week.


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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Sutekh » 31 Jul 2025 16:25

Have to remember as well that unlike the last few windows Reading are once again competing for players that generally other clubs actually want so things aren’t going to return the quick & smooth outcome of seeing a name linked and them joining a week later.

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Crusader Royal » 31 Jul 2025 16:33

Sutekh Have to remember as well that unlike the last few windows Reading are once again competing for players that generally other clubs actually want so things aren’t going to return the quick & smooth outcome of seeing a name linked and them joining a week later.


Would be nice to be back under embargo really, so much easier to do deals.

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Armadillo Roadkill
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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Armadillo Roadkill » 31 Jul 2025 16:37

Crusader Royal
Sutekh Have to remember as well that unlike the last few windows Reading are once again competing for players that generally other clubs actually want so things aren’t going to return the quick & smooth outcome of seeing a name linked and them joining a week later.


Would be nice to be back under embargo really, so much easier to do deals.


Agreed.

Knibbs, Wing, Savage, Bindon, Smith. We used to make pretty good singings. No evidence so far we've got anywhere near that quality in this window.

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Snowflake Royal » 31 Jul 2025 16:40

So basically, our squad is instantly much stronger, because we aren't losing a player we thought we were losing. And goals are much less of a worry because the player that apparently isn't leaving was our topscorer last year.

Boo hoo. Doom.


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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by linkenholtroyal » 31 Jul 2025 17:08

Sutekh
linkenholtroyal Pure speculation but wonder whether we are in for Jude Soonsup-Bell. Apparently Swindon wanted to reunite with him as ex youth player of there’s but he had offers from further up the pyramid. Prolific youth striker but not clicked yet at senior level. Recently was in Spain but mutually cancelled his contract


I’d say he’s certainly worth a look but would Reading want to partner such an inexperienced player with the inexperience we already have on loan.

He obviously had something about him at youth level. Still think we need a main signing striker but would give another option. Like Jayden Wareham but potentially an upgrade.

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by linkenholtroyal » 31 Jul 2025 17:08

Sutekh
linkenholtroyal Pure speculation but wonder whether we are in for Jude Soonsup-Bell. Apparently Swindon wanted to reunite with him as ex youth player of there’s but he had offers from further up the pyramid. Prolific youth striker but not clicked yet at senior level. Recently was in Spain but mutually cancelled his contract


I’d say he’s certainly worth a look but would Reading want to partner such an inexperienced player with the inexperience we already have on loan.

He obviously had something about him at youth level. Still think we need a main signing striker but would give another option. Like Jayden Wareham but potentially an upgrade.

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Orion1871 » 31 Jul 2025 17:10

Snowflake Royal So basically, our squad is instantly much stronger, because we aren't losing a player we thought we were losing. And goals are much less of a worry because the player that apparently isn't leaving was our topscorer last year.

Boo hoo. Doom.


Alternatively there is a long way to go in the transfer window yet for Knibbs to leave, with plenty of interest in him, and every day that goes past gives us fewer and fewer opportunities to adequately replace him.

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by mikey_1871 » 31 Jul 2025 17:15

Orion1871
Snowflake Royal So basically, our squad is instantly much stronger, because we aren't losing a player we thought we were losing. And goals are much less of a worry because the player that apparently isn't leaving was our topscorer last year.

Boo hoo. Doom.


Alternatively there is a long way to go in the transfer window yet for Knibbs to leave, with plenty of interest in him, and every day that goes past gives us fewer and fewer opportunities to adequately replace him.


Ok, so there's loads of time for Knibbs to leave, but not loads of time to replace him?


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Snowflake Royal
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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Snowflake Royal » 31 Jul 2025 17:16

Orion1871
Snowflake Royal So basically, our squad is instantly much stronger, because we aren't losing a player we thought we were losing. And goals are much less of a worry because the player that apparently isn't leaving was our topscorer last year.

Boo hoo. Doom.


Alternatively there is a long way to go in the transfer window yet for Knibbs to leave, with plenty of interest in him, and every day that goes past gives us fewer and fewer opportunities to adequately replace him.

What a miserable world view.

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Sutekh » 31 Jul 2025 17:24

mikey_1871
Orion1871
Snowflake Royal So basically, our squad is instantly much stronger, because we aren't losing a player we thought we were losing. And goals are much less of a worry because the player that apparently isn't leaving was our topscorer last year.

Boo hoo. Doom.


Alternatively there is a long way to go in the transfer window yet for Knibbs to leave, with plenty of interest in him, and every day that goes past gives us fewer and fewer opportunities to adequately replace him.


Ok, so there's loads of time for Knibbs to leave, but not loads of time to replace him?


A club won’t necessarily know a player is leaving until someone comes in with the right offer, while they might know they have a player who is of interest it’s not necessarily someone they can afford to replace until they have the money from the buyer, therefore, in today’s nonsensical transfer window world, the selling club generally has less time to replace a player sold.

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Royal Monkey » 31 Jul 2025 17:34

Hope Knibbs is in the right head space to come straight back in and do a job for us even if he still ends up leaving later in the window.
Would be surprised to see him start Saturday maybe he’ll be on the bench.
Would love to know why Charlton pulled out of the deal.

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Hound » 31 Jul 2025 17:34

Tbh if we could have got 2m for Knibbs it’d hd been brilliant for us value wise and possibly that going through was what was holding up other signings

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Royal Monkey » 31 Jul 2025 17:50

Hound Tbh if we could have got 2m for Knibbs it’d hd been brilliant for us value wise and possibly that going through was what was holding up other signings


Yeah I’ve been wondering the same.
Did we need Knibbs deal to be able to get Bowler in? If we did good chance we’ll lose out on signing that player as he might go elsewhere now.
Supposedly a player signing tomorrow still but I won’t get too excited as it’s all been pretty underwhelming so far.

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Whore Jackie » 31 Jul 2025 18:00

Love Knibbs. He's been a brilliant free signing, works so well in our team, 25 goals, excellent with the fans etc. But you can't turn down £2m+ for a player in the last year of his contract. That's exactly the sort of transfer strategy Reading should be following.

No doubt that money was going to be used to fund the 4-5 players that Noel keeps talking about. No way we're paying a transfer fee now without the Knibbs money. If Harvey doesn't go, wonder if they'll look into reviving any interest in Garcia, in order to strengthen the squad.

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Re: Squad for 2025-2026

by Orion1871 » 31 Jul 2025 18:02

mikey_1871
Orion1871
Snowflake Royal So basically, our squad is instantly much stronger, because we aren't losing a player we thought we were losing. And goals are much less of a worry because the player that apparently isn't leaving was our topscorer last year.

Boo hoo. Doom.


Alternatively there is a long way to go in the transfer window yet for Knibbs to leave, with plenty of interest in him, and every day that goes past gives us fewer and fewer opportunities to adequately replace him.


Ok, so there's loads of time for Knibbs to leave, but not loads of time to replace him?


The later you lose him in the transfer window the shorter the time you have to replace him. Targets such as Bowler may have moved on to somewhere else, you have less time to negotiate with a club if you want to sign a replacement for a transfer fee, etc.

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