Where the playing budget went under Dai

[Sutekh]

Did the PL get to approving Dai as Reading owner though? If we'd had have gone up would he have been told to sell - or the club refused promotion?

Media says it was Dai's business partner for Everton buy out who got vetoed, not Dai, which is why Dai sans said partner got approved for RFC.

It was Hull, not Everton and as per usual with the parasite, he was lying.

An attempt by Dai Yongge and Hawken Xiu Li, his sister, to buy Hull involved the use of a third party, who insisted that he controlled the relevant funds necessary to undertake the deal.

It subsequently transpired that the finances were actually under the control of Mr Dai, with the Financial Times reporting last month that a Premier League investigation into him had raised several "red flags" over his commercial background.

He tried to pass the blame on to a "consortium member" when it was actually him.

At least we know now that those “red flags” are all “nothing to see here” within the FL.

[SCIAG]

Perhaps the most damning thing is that we're on page three and nobody has even mentioned Brandon Barker,

So I've split this out into 5 categories; Terrible, Rubbish, Ok, Good & Excellent

Rubbish

Tomas Esteves - loan
Lewis Gibson - loan
Terrell Thomas
Zane Monlouis - loan

Ok


Josh Sims - loan
Orjan Nyland
Dom Ballard - loan
Harley Dean
Paul Mukairu - loan
Tivonge Rushesha


N/A

Jayden Onen
Matthew Carson

I've cut this list for length as I can see where most of it is coming from, on at least one of performances, availability, and cost.

Putting the likes of Sims and Ballard and Rushesha ahead of Esteves and Gibson doesn't make sense to me. Esteves and Gibson were perfectly fine players around the squad.

Onen made first team appearances and was bobbins. Thomas and Monlouis might not have cost us anything but Thomas was not up to it and Monlouis didn't play at all.

I do think in general you've shown a slight bias towards recent recruits. Is Harlee Dean really a better signing than Scott Dann?

[Hendo]

Perhaps the most damning thing is that we're on page three and nobody has even mentioned Brandon Barker,

So I've split this out into 5 categories; Terrible, Rubbish, Ok, Good & Excellent

Rubbish

Tomas Esteves - loan
Lewis Gibson - loan
Terrell Thomas
Zane Monlouis - loan

Ok


Josh Sims - loan
Orjan Nyland
Dom Ballard - loan
Harley Dean
Paul Mukairu - loan
Tivonge Rushesha


N/A

Jayden Onen
Matthew Carson

I've cut this list for length as I can see where most of it is coming from, on at least one of performances, availability, and cost.

Putting the likes of Sims and Ballard and Rushesha ahead of Esteves and Gibson doesn't make sense to me. Esteves and Gibson were perfectly fine players around the squad.

Onen made first team appearances and was bobbins. Thomas and Monlouis might not have cost us anything but Thomas was not up to it and Monlouis didn't play at all.

I do think in general you've shown a slight bias towards recent recruits. Is Harlee Dean really a better signing than Scott Dann?

Thought Sims was perfectly ok, Ballard was fine and improving until he got that serious injury, think he would've kicked on. Rusheda has looked ok since coming into the team.

Esteves came with a lot of pedigree and didn't live up to the hype, was disappointed by Gibson when he was here.

Onen, I don't remember playing, hence the n/a. Yes, Thomas was rubbish, hence the rating and Monlouis did play, came on as a sub for 5 mins, away to Fleetwood and cost us a goal which ended up costing us 2 points -> rubbish.

[SCIAG]

Sims wasn't a disaster but he also didn't contribute anything, wasn't nearly as good as Esteves or Gibson who were useful Championship players.

Thomas and Monlouis and Onen should really be in the terrible category, in my view. Along with Barker.

[Snowflake Royal]

Esteves was rubbish.

Dean has been objectively better than Dann. He's probably already played more. And put in some ok performances. And hasn't caused us to release Morrison.

[Hendo]

Esteves was rubbish.

Dean has been objectively better than Dann. He's probably already played more. And put in some ok performances. And hasn't caused us to release Morrison.

+1

[Snowflake Royal]

Esteves was rubbish.

Dean has been objectively better than Dann. He's probably already played more. And put in some ok performances. And hasn't caused us to release Morrison.

+1

I know we've been defensively shocking in recent games, and Dean is a bit like the QE2 when it comes to acceleration, speed and turning circle, but I think ignoring that aspect he's actually 'played' well in what I've seen. He can't really do a lot about strikers being 10 years younger and way quicker.

[Whore Jackie]

Dean does seem to have quite a lot of respect from within the squad. Considering how poor he was last season and seemingly wanting out in the summer, he's done alright this season. Looked ok when brought on late in games and done a reasonable job in covering for the irreplaceable Mbengue. Dann really was a complete waste of space.

[El Diablo]

Lucas Boye - went on to play in La Liga - don't recall him ever starting for us, used sparingly as a sub, but on the brief glimpses thought he had talent.

Reece Oxford - Played in Bundesliga - think I read he had some really bad form of long covid, then did an acl - and never came back from the combination of the two ..

[stealthpapes]

Boyé wasn't remotely as effective as he could have been - he was clearly skillful, he's clearly a bit of a player, it didn't translate. Saw him a few times, notably in the Carabao Cup vs Wolves where he did score. But he'd try stuff that had no way of working in a crowded midfield.

Sims wasn't a disaster but he also didn't contribute anything, wasn't nearly as good as Esteves or Gibson who were useful Championship players.

Sims is kinda what I mean by the vortex. Brought in by Clement. My one memory is coming on vs Villa, gave their defence a run around, iirc won the penalty that got us a solid point. Managers changed at both clubs involved, so off he goes. Half a season with us.

[Hound]

Esteves was rubbish.

Dean has been objectively better than Dann. He's probably already played more. And put in some ok performances. And hasn't caused us to release Morrison.

+1

Not constantly injured either

[Hound]

Sims wasn't a disaster but he also didn't contribute anything, wasn't nearly as good as Esteves or Gibson who were useful Championship players.

Thomas and Monlouis and Onen should really be in the terrible category, in my view. Along with Barker.

I think Gibson was surprisingly poor for us. He looked good signing and has recently been bought for reasonable money, but it just didn’t work out for him

One of those where it wasn’t really a rubbish signing - all looked good on paper - but he just didn’t play well for us

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Just for anyone interested the list of those which Dai splashed out on since he took over. Reminisce on some of these names!

Jaap Stam 2017 - 2018

Sone Aluko
Leandro Bacuna
Modou Barrow
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson
Pelle Clement
David Edwards
Tommy Elphick - loan
Vito Mannone
Chris Martin - loan

Paul Clement 2018

Sam Baldock
Said Ezatolahi - loan
Marc McNulty
David Meyler
John O’Shea
Josh Sims - loan
Sam Walker
Andy Yiadom

Jose Gomes 2019

Charlie Adam
Femi Azeez
Lewis Baker - loan
Ovie Ejaria - loan
Lucas Joao
Matt Miazga - loan
Emi Martinez - loan
Michael Morrison
Nelson Oliveira - loan
George Puscas
Rafael

Mark Bowen 2020

Felipe Araruna
Lucas Boye - loan
Ovie Ejaria
Josh Laurent
Matt Miazga - loan
Judilson Tuncara Gomes (Pele) - loan
Joao Virginia - loan

Velko Paunovic 2020 - 2021

Mamadi Camara - last fee Reading paid for a player (undisclosed from Feirense in Oct 2020)
Andy Carroll
Scott Dann
Tom Dele-Bashiru - loan
Danny Drinkwater - loan
Tomas Esteves - loan
Lewis Gibson - loan
Alen Halilovic
Karl Hein - loan
Junior Hoilett
Tom Ince - loan
Jayden Onen
Baba Rahman - loan
Alfa Semedo - loan

Paul Ince 2021 - 2022

Andy Carroll
Matthew Carson
Caesare Casadei - loan
Michael Craig
Dean Bouzanis
Tyrese Fornah - loan
Nesta Guinness-Walker
Jeff Hendrick - loan
Sam Hutchinson
Tom Ince
Shane Long
Mamadou Loum - loan
Joe Lumley - loan
Amadou Mbengue
Orjan Nyland
Baba Rahman - loan
Naby Sarr
Terrell Thomas

Ruben Selles/Noel Hunt 2023 - present

Dom Ballard - loan
Tyler Bindon
David Button
Chem Campbell - loan
Harley Dean
Ben Elliott
Tom Holmes - loan
Harvey Knibbs
Clinton Mola
Zane Monlouis - loan
Paul Mukairu - loan
Joel Pereira
Tivonge Rushesha
Charlie Savage
Sam Smith
Lewis Wing

What a dreadful 7/8 years it’s been

[Clyde1998]

So I've split this out into 5 categories; Terrible, Rubbish, Ok, Good & Excellent

Total 83

Terrible
Sone Aluko
Marc McNulty
Joao Virginia - loan

Rubbish
Leandro Bacuna
Pelle Clement
David Edwards
Tommy Elphick - loan
Chris Martin - loan
Sam Baldock
Said Ezatolahi - loan
David Meyler
Sam Walker
George Puscas
Felipe Araruna
Lucas Boye - loan
Ovie Ejaria
Matt Miazga - 2nd loan
Scott Dann
Danny Drinkwater - loan
Tomas Esteves - loan
Lewis Gibson - loan
Alen Halilovic
Karl Hein - loan
Andy Carroll (2nd stint)
Dean Bouzanis
Jeff Hendrick - loan
Sam Hutchinson
Shane Long
Mamadou Loum - loan
Baba Rahman - 2nd loan
Naby Sarr
Terrell Thomas
Zane Monlouis - loan

Ok

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson
Vito Mannone
John O’Shea
Josh Sims - loan
Charlie Adam
Judilson Tuncara Gomes (Pele) - loan
Mamadi Camara
Andy Carroll (1st stint)
Tom Dele-Bashiru - loan
Alfa Semedo - loan
Caesare Casadei - loan
Tyrese Fornah - loan
Nesta Guinness-Walker
Tom Ince (perm signing)
Orjan Nyland
Dom Ballard - loan
David Button
Harlee Dean
Tom Holmes - loan
Clinton Mola
Paul Mukairu - loan
Tivonge Rushesha

Good

Modou Barrow
Andy Yiadom
Rafael
Junior Hoilett
Tom Ince - loan
Baba Rahman -1st loan
Michael Craig
Joe Lumley - loan
Chem Campbell - loan
Charlie Savage

Excellent

Femi Azeez
Lewis Baker - loan
Ovie Ejaria - loan
Lucas Joao
Matt Miazga - 1st loan
Emi Martinez - loan
Michael Morrison
Nelson Oliveira - loan
Josh Laurent
Amadou Mbengue
Tyler Bindon
Ben Elliott
Harvey Knibbs
Joel Pereira
Sam Smith
Lewis Wing

N/A

Jayden Onen
Matthew Carson

Terrible - 3
Rubbish - 26
Ok - 24
Good - 14
Excellent - 14
n/a - 2

So yeah, heavily weighted towards rubbish, but there have been some gems, especially in the last couple of years.

Some slight changes for me:

Thought Bacuna, Loum and Sarr did okay for us (although Bacuna may have been more about the price/wages for him, but he performed as I expected). I'm not happy about how Sarr left though.

Casadei increased to good, as he was on loan (so cheap) and looked one of our better players we'd signed during the Championship period under Dai. Nyland was a good short-term signing and Ballard was doing well as a cheap loan until his unfortunate injury.

Didn't think Lumley was anything beyond okay. Dropped Michael Morrison down to good as he fell off a cliff in his final season. Dropped Joao to good, as he was too inconsistent to reflect what we paid for him (both fee and wages).

Monolouis was a loan we didn't pay anything for, so willing to put that as N/A. Carson did okay given the circumstances (I think we knew he wasn't ready) and didn't really cost anything.

[Fox Talbot]

Where's that winger from Kenya we had on loan - Masike Tumbala or something? From the Chinese club.

Played on the left, maybe during the Covid season, never got a pass, or maybe I'm imagining him.

[stealthpapes]

Ayub Masika

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayub_Masika

He's mates with that Swedish player that grew up in Nairobi iirc John Guidetti

yeah, here

[Snowflake Royal]

Where's that winger from Kenya we had on loan - Masike Tumbala or something? From the Chinese club.

Played on the left, maybe during the Covid season, never got a pass, or maybe I'm imagining him.

Oh yes, didn’t we get a brief influx of Kenyans tellung us he was brilliant... but he was basically rubbish.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Where's that winger from Kenya we had on loan - Masike Tumbala or something? From the Chinese club.

Played on the left, maybe during the Covid season, never got a pass, or maybe I'm imagining him.

Oh yes, didn’t we get a brief influx of Kenyans tellung us he was brilliant... but he was basically rubbish.

Some of his fans put a curse on us for not playing him. Didn't think anything of it at the time but maybe there is something sinister at play.

[Hound]

Where's that winger from Kenya we had on loan - Masike Tumbala or something? From the Chinese club.

Played on the left, maybe during the Covid season, never got a pass, or maybe I'm imagining him.

Oh yes, didn’t we get a brief influx of Kenyans tellung us he was brilliant... but he was basically rubbish.

Some of his fans put a curse on us for not playing him. Didn't think anything of it at the time but maybe there is something sinister at play.

Would explain a few things certainly

[Sutekh]

Oh yes, didn’t we get a brief influx of Kenyans tellung us he was brilliant... but he was basically rubbish.

Some of his fans put a curse on us for not playing him. Didn't think anything of it at the time but maybe there is something sinister at play.

Would explain a few things certainly

We need Barry Fry to do his corner magic and break the curse.