Squad for 2020/21

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Truth is, this is the quietest transfer window in a lifetime for most fans. Just feels that we need more players because of the amount that have left.

We all knew we would need to shift players this summer; and we have saved lots of wages, but as yet we’ve not received a penny in transfer fees iirc.

We’ll be savvy and get some cheaper signings / frees this year to meet FFP, then hopefully let the Dai’s ramp up the spending (minus Kia) with quality and bulk up the squad again next season.

They clearly want to emulate teams like Wolves. The staff they put faith in last time just royally oxf*rd it up.

How are we emulating Wolves?

And ramping up the spending is a risky strategy, sure we will have to spend at some point but I don’t want to go round in a circle and end up spending money for the sake of it and have silly long expensive contracts again

[Nameless]

Truth is, this is the quietest transfer window in a lifetime for most fans. Just feels that we need more players because of the amount that have left.

We all knew we would need to shift players this summer; and we have saved lots of wages, but as yet we’ve not received a penny in transfer fees iirc.

We’ll be savvy and get some cheaper signings / frees this year to meet FFP, then hopefully let the Dai’s ramp up the spending (minus Kia) with quality and bulk up the squad again next season.

They clearly want to emulate teams like Wolves. The staff they put faith in last time just royally oxf*rd it up.

How are we emulating Wolves?

And ramping up the spending is a risky strategy, sure we will have to spend at some point but I don’t want to go round in a circle and end up spending money for the sake of it and have silly long expensive contracts again

The obviously parallel with Wolves is the involvement of an agent. It looked like we were essentially outsourcing our recruitment in a similar way to Wolves.

[Snowflake Royal]

Thought Puscas looked quite sharp tbh. Couple of tough chances.

Rounded the keeper but narrow angle with defender covering, should have been a corner.

Got in behind again for another narrow angle but blasted wide.


My only complaint with him is that he plays on his heels too much and watches games pass him by, not closing down effectively. But he's definitely improving in that regard.

[Fezza]

Thought Puscas looked quite sharp tbh. Couple of tough chances.

Rounded the keeper but narrow angle with defender covering, should have been a corner.

Got in behind again for another narrow angle but blasted wide.


My only complaint with him is that he plays on his heels too much and watches games pass him by, not closing down effectively. But he's definitely improving in that regard.

Thought he looked a bit heavy (fairly understandable), thought Olise looked as though he was protecting himself in a number of challenges (understandable in pre season), was very impressed with Araruna and Holsgrove - good range of passing.

[Zip]

Truth is, this is the quietest transfer window in a lifetime for most fans. Just feels that we need more players because of the amount that have left.

We all knew we would need to shift players this summer; and we have saved lots of wages, but as yet we’ve not received a penny in transfer fees iirc.

We’ll be savvy and get some cheaper signings / frees this year to meet FFP, then hopefully let the Dai’s ramp up the spending (minus Kia) with quality and bulk up the squad again next season.

They clearly want to emulate teams like Wolves. The staff they put faith in last time just royally oxf*rd it up.

We did receive a decent fee for Barrow apparently.

[3points]

Thought Puscas looked quite sharp tbh. Couple of tough chances.

Rounded the keeper but narrow angle with defender covering, should have been a corner.

Got in behind again for another narrow angle but blasted wide.


My only complaint with him is that he plays on his heels too much and watches games pass him by, not closing down effectively. But he's definitely improving in that regard.

Thought he looked a bit heavy (fairly understandable), thought Olise looked as though he was protecting himself in a number of challenges (understandable in pre season), was very impressed with Araruna and Holsgrove - good range of passing.

i thought Holsgrove looked comfortable in what was a training exercise by the time he came on, playing training ground football. On yesterday’s showing I think he’d struggle to cope with being closed down quickly in a fast pace Championship game

[NewCorkSeth]

Can someone correct me if I am wrong here but did Araruna look very tidy to anyone else?

[Snowflake Royal]

Big fat meh from me.

But I was really frustrated by a particularly brain dead telegraphed pass / cross he did early on that was not so much blocked as just straight at the defender, so my view of the rest of his performance could be coloured by that.

Also live streaming via Facebook on your phone with no commentary or squad numbers is not the best way to watch football

[Notts Royal]

Listening to Bowen yesterday it feels like a couple of strikers may depart before the end of the window. My money in on McNulty and Puscas. Puscas had two good chances yesterday but never looked like scoring. Baldock is a Bowen type player imo who works hard and has decent experience. Pity he’s probably on one of the biggest wages.

We should pay Aluko to go out on loan! Just get him away from the squad now. Would rather see Sam Smith in and around the squad.

It’s an interesting point. My money has been on Puscas leaving this summer & I think we should sell if the price is right. I agree that Baldock seems like a Bowen type player, but he doesn’t get much game time. I liked the look of Olise just behind Joao, but certainly think Baldock would work well with him. The guy seems to get unnecessary stick from the fans when actually we’ve just not utilised him to his strengths

[Snowflake Royal]

Most of the complaints about Baldock seem pretty fair to me.

Older player
High wage
Injury prone
Not suited to lead the line
Hasn't had a big enough impact on matches.


His work rate is pretty great and he's scored a few, but he's not really done it here. Of course, a large part of that is not being played to his strengths. But like many of our players, are we supposed to change the whole way we play to get the best out of him?

He's not really good enough to justify that. He's a fairly obvious player we could afford to lose pitch side and would benefit significantly getting off the wage bill on the financial side.

[Sutekh]

Agree Reading would benefit from losing a couple of strikers and bringing one in. Money on Smith and Baldock being the most likely to leave and Mendes being the “replacement”.

[Stranded]

Agree Reading would benefit from losing a couple of strikers and bringing one in. Money on Smith and Baldock being the most likely to leave and Mendes being the “replacement”.

Smith isn't even on the radar, even with him leaving we realistically need to shift a couple more. Outside of Joao, not really fussed who.

[Simon's Church]

Agree Reading would benefit from losing a couple of strikers and bringing one in. Money on Smith and Baldock being the most likely to leave and Mendes being the “replacement”.

Smith isn't even on the radar, even with him leaving we realistically need to shift a couple more. Outside of Joao, not really fussed who.

Yeah wouldnt be bothered about all of the others leaving tbh. Even Joao actually, a good player but not much use if he cant stay fit, hopefully that changes this year.

[Zip]

Agree Reading would benefit from losing a couple of strikers and bringing one in. Money on Smith and Baldock being the most likely to leave and Mendes being the “replacement”.

Smith isn't even on the radar, even with him leaving we realistically need to shift a couple more. Outside of Joao, not really fussed who.

I’m surprised you’re not fussed. I certainly wouldn’t want to see Meite or Puscas go. My preference would be to move on Smith, McNulty and Baldock and bring one in.

[Notts Royal]

Most of the complaints about Baldock seem pretty fair to me.

Older player
High wage
Injury prone
Not suited to lead the line
Hasn't had a big enough impact on matches.


His work rate is pretty great and he's scored a few, but he's not really done it here. Of course, a large part of that is not being played to his strengths. But like many of our players, are we supposed to change the whole way we play to get the best out of him?

He's not really good enough to justify that. He's a fairly obvious player we could afford to lose pitch side and would benefit significantly getting off the wage bill on the financial side.

Great if we can get him off the wage bill but he’s not leaving, and no one is coming in for him. So might as well use him. He’s looked good enough in a front 2, not his fault we’ve not played to his strengths. And we need experience in this league with lots of younger players

[linkenholtroyal]

We have a lot to do in 4 weeks, sign 4 or 5 cheap players to squad fill, sell a couple of assets and get contracts to our young players in there last year. Clock is ticking.

[Stranded]

Agree Reading would benefit from losing a couple of strikers and bringing one in. Money on Smith and Baldock being the most likely to leave and Mendes being the “replacement”.

Smith isn't even on the radar, even with him leaving we realistically need to shift a couple more. Outside of Joao, not really fussed who.

I’m surprised you’re not fussed. I certainly wouldn’t want to see Meite or Puscas go. My preference would be to move on Smith, McNulty and Baldock and bring one in.

Meite has barely played as a striker in the past 2 years but where we are as a club, no-one is irreplaceable. So if we get a decent offer, happy to take it.

[Nameless]

We have a lot to do in 4 weeks, sign 4 or 5 cheap players to squad fill, sell a couple of assets and get contracts to our young players in there last year. Clock is ticking.

Window is open until mid October isn’t it ?
New contracts aren’t a priority at this point so cross that off !
The crucial factor is getting clarification on our FFP position. Suspect that will mean the Ovie deal goes through and we’ll probably have a couple of others lined up and waiting.

[Notts Royal]

We have a lot to do in 4 weeks, sign 4 or 5 cheap players to squad fill, sell a couple of assets and get contracts to our young players in there last year. Clock is ticking.

Transfer window shuts early October so a lot of activity will be then. Frustrating as I preferred it when it shut before the season started, meant You didn’t start the season with a different team to a month later

[Nameless]

We have a lot to do in 4 weeks, sign 4 or 5 cheap players to squad fill, sell a couple of assets and get contracts to our young players in there last year. Clock is ticking.

Transfer window shuts early October so a lot of activity will be then. Frustrating as I preferred it when it shut before the season started, meant You didn’t start the season with a different team to a month later

16th October in England....