Summer 2023 Transfer Speculation

[Royal Ginger]

Being linked with 20yo Chelsea midfielder Ben Elliot. Seems to be very highly rated, but had a bad injury. No first team appearances for Super Chels, but has played one game for Cameroon.

Ben has interest from pretty much every club itw so it’s important he gets the right move and potentially starting for Cameroon in January (assuming they qualify) will be a huge factor. Will speak more about him leaving when it happens but Reading are leading the race atm.

I mean why wouldn't we be leading the race against every other club in the world.

I’ve heard it alleged that we’re by far the greatest team the world has ever seen.

[Snowflake Royal]

Seen that Blackburn have an interest in Tom McIntyre but no deal is close yet.

It’d do him good tbf

I honestly think the best thing for both Toms career wise would be to move on asap

Agree. I think it would be best for both parties, recoup a bit of cash for both and change it up defensively for ourselves as well.

Sadly plus 1. More so Holmes than McIntyre.

[WestYorksRoyal]

It’d do him good tbf

I honestly think the best thing for both Toms career wise would be to move on asap

Agree. I think it would be best for both parties, recoup a bit of cash for both and change it up defensively for ourselves as well.

Sadly plus 1. More so Holmes than McIntyre.

Both would have grown up watching the team in better times and dreamt of one day having the same success on the pitch. But it's been a nightmare really. Holmes in particular looks completely shot, and needs a move or a long spell out of the team to recover.

[Stranded]

Agree. I think it would be best for both parties, recoup a bit of cash for both and change it up defensively for ourselves as well.

Sadly plus 1. More so Holmes than McIntyre.

Both would have grown up watching the team in better times and dreamt of one day having the same success on the pitch. But it's been a nightmare really. Holmes in particular looks completely shot, and needs a move or a long spell out of the team to recover.

This - I think the ideal situation would be to sell one and have the other out of the firing line for a little while and earn their place back in - if we get this Cooper in from Swansea than that may allow that happen more as CB would then have Dean, Dorsett, Cooper, Bindon, Holmes, McIntyre, Abbey & Hutchinson competing - ideal for me would be Dean and one of the younger CBs for now at least.

Based on the start of the league season at least, issues are more at the top end but that second half was a shitstorm defensively and confidence is clearly shot.

[Hound]

Up top, losing Smith was a massive blow. Ehibhatiomhan has started pretty well I’d say, some encouraging performances. Knibbs has been solid. Azeez poor so far. Vickers good but very inexperienced

Feels to me there is less there to ‘fix’ than the defence. Confident Carroll and Ehib will score given service and if the tactics improve a bit

[WestYorksRoyal]

Sadly plus 1. More so Holmes than McIntyre.

Both would have grown up watching the team in better times and dreamt of one day having the same success on the pitch. But it's been a nightmare really. Holmes in particular looks completely shot, and needs a move or a long spell out of the team to recover.

This - I think the ideal situation would be to sell one and have the other out of the firing line for a little while and earn their place back in - if we get this Cooper in from Swansea than that may allow that happen more as CB would then have Dean, Dorsett, Cooper, Bindon, Holmes, McIntyre, Abbey & Hutchinson competing - ideal for me would be Dean and one of the younger CBs for now at least.

Based on the start of the league season at least, issues are more at the top end but that second half was a shitstorm defensively and confidence is clearly shot.

We already have Mbengue, Dean, Abbey, Binden and Dorsett. They can be taken out of the firing line tonight, and should be in my view.

But I do think they're ultimately good enough. 2 years ago we thought both had a lot of potential. The Club has destroyed many players in recent years; ultimately it all comes back to Dai.

[Snowflake Royal]

Up top, losing Smith was a massive blow. Ehibhatiomhan has started pretty well I’d say, some encouraging performances. Knibbs has been solid. Azeez poor so far. Vickers good but very inexperienced

Feels to me there is less there to ‘fix’ than the defence. Confident Carroll and Ehib will score given service and if the tactics improve a bit

Ehibhatiomhan has started well, but his head dropped during Peterborough and he went missing and he disappeared again against Vale after a bright start.

We haven't given Carroll the service he needs at any point since his arrival, and he doesn't fit the high energy high press of Selles. And he hasn't scored 10 league goals in a season since 2011. He's just not a goalscorer. 9 last season is the best he's managed since 2016.

Attack is definitely our biggest problem. Its noticeable the defence fell apart once attack showed no threat and midfield got overrun.

[Hound]

Up top, losing Smith was a massive blow. Ehibhatiomhan has started pretty well I’d say, some encouraging performances. Knibbs has been solid. Azeez poor so far. Vickers good but very inexperienced

Feels to me there is less there to ‘fix’ than the defence. Confident Carroll and Ehib will score given service and if the tactics improve a bit

Ehibhatiomhan has started well, but his head dropped during Peterborough and he went missing and he disappeared again against Vale after a bright start.

We haven't given Carroll the service he needs at any point since his arrival, and he doesn't fit the high energy high press of Selles. And he hasn't scored 10 league goals in a season since 2011. He's just not a goalscorer. 9 last season is the best he's managed since 2016.

Attack is definitely our biggest problem. Its noticeable the defence fell apart once attack showed no threat and midfield got overrun.

I’d argue it was the other way round. We couldn’t attack when the defence starting falling to pieces as they lost confidence and stopped taking risks (just my take on it anyway)

Kelvin looks like scoring. 9-10 again from Carroll would be ok. For me it’s add one striker whilst Smith gets fit and we should be ok

We don’t look like keeping a clean sheet imo on the other hand. May change with different personnel mind you

[Snowflake Royal]

Up top, losing Smith was a massive blow. Ehibhatiomhan has started pretty well I’d say, some encouraging performances. Knibbs has been solid. Azeez poor so far. Vickers good but very inexperienced

Feels to me there is less there to ‘fix’ than the defence. Confident Carroll and Ehib will score given service and if the tactics improve a bit

Ehibhatiomhan has started well, but his head dropped during Peterborough and he went missing and he disappeared again against Vale after a bright start.

We haven't given Carroll the service he needs at any point since his arrival, and he doesn't fit the high energy high press of Selles. And he hasn't scored 10 league goals in a season since 2011. He's just not a goalscorer. 9 last season is the best he's managed since 2016.

Attack is definitely our biggest problem. Its noticeable the defence fell apart once attack showed no threat and midfield got overrun.

I’d argue it was the other way round. We couldn’t attack when the defence starting falling to pieces as they lost confidence and stopped taking risks (just my take on it anyway)

Kelvin looks like scoring. 9-10 again from Carroll would be ok. For me it’s add one striker whilst Smith gets fit and we should be ok

We don’t look like keeping a clean sheet imo on the other hand. May change with different personnel mind you

Given we've conceded 2 in 2 and one was a freak I think we're closer to a clean sheet than scoring 2 goals.

[Hound]

Ehibhatiomhan has started well, but his head dropped during Peterborough and he went missing and he disappeared again against Vale after a bright start.

We haven't given Carroll the service he needs at any point since his arrival, and he doesn't fit the high energy high press of Selles. And he hasn't scored 10 league goals in a season since 2011. He's just not a goalscorer. 9 last season is the best he's managed since 2016.

Attack is definitely our biggest problem. Its noticeable the defence fell apart once attack showed no threat and midfield got overrun.

I’d argue it was the other way round. We couldn’t attack when the defence starting falling to pieces as they lost confidence and stopped taking risks (just my take on it anyway)

Kelvin looks like scoring. 9-10 again from Carroll would be ok. For me it’s add one striker whilst Smith gets fit and we should be ok

We don’t look like keeping a clean sheet imo on the other hand. May change with different personnel mind you

Given we've conceded 2 in 2 and one was a freak I think we're closer to a clean sheet than scoring 2 goals.

Tbf we missed a pen and hit the bar against PV

They also hit the bar, had one cleared off the line and could have scored another 3-4 quite easily

[Whore Jackie]

Up top, losing Smith was a massive blow. Ehibhatiomhan has started pretty well I’d say, some encouraging performances. Knibbs has been solid. Azeez poor so far. Vickers good but very inexperienced

Feels to me there is less there to ‘fix’ than the defence. Confident Carroll and Ehib will score given service and if the tactics improve a bit

Yep, there's definitely something about Ehibhatiomhan, his hold-up play seems to have improved since last season. Not sure playing with Carroll is helping him, would really like to see him alongside Smith or AN Other on-the-shoulder nippy striker, that we've been crying out for ages.

Agreed on Azeez and Vickers. Early days, of course, but not sure yet on Knibbs. Strikes me as very good without the ball, less so with it. Again it's a real shame that Smith hasn't been available to play off him.

[South Coast Royal]

Up top, losing Smith was a massive blow. Ehibhatiomhan has started pretty well I’d say, some encouraging performances. Knibbs has been solid. Azeez poor so far. Vickers good but very inexperienced

Feels to me there is less there to ‘fix’ than the defence. Confident Carroll and Ehib will score given service and if the tactics improve a bit

Ehibhatiomhan has started well, but his head dropped during Peterborough and he went missing and he disappeared again against Vale after a bright start.

We haven't given Carroll the service he needs at any point since his arrival, and he doesn't fit the high energy high press of Selles. And he hasn't scored 10 league goals in a season since 2011. He's just not a goalscorer. 9 last season is the best he's managed since 2016.

Attack is definitely our biggest problem. Its noticeable the defence fell apart once attack showed no threat and midfield got overrun.

People seem to be expecting Smith to be an important player for us.
When he was here before I was unimpressed and likewise for his time at Oxford.
You will know better than most how much he may have improved at Cambridge, do you feel that he has come on enough to be the regular starter that posters are expecting?

[Hound]

Up top, losing Smith was a massive blow. Ehibhatiomhan has started pretty well I’d say, some encouraging performances. Knibbs has been solid. Azeez poor so far. Vickers good but very inexperienced

Feels to me there is less there to ‘fix’ than the defence. Confident Carroll and Ehib will score given service and if the tactics improve a bit

Ehibhatiomhan has started well, but his head dropped during Peterborough and he went missing and he disappeared again against Vale after a bright start.

We haven't given Carroll the service he needs at any point since his arrival, and he doesn't fit the high energy high press of Selles. And he hasn't scored 10 league goals in a season since 2011. He's just not a goalscorer. 9 last season is the best he's managed since 2016.

Attack is definitely our biggest problem. Its noticeable the defence fell apart once attack showed no threat and midfield got overrun.

People seem to be expecting Smith to be an important player for us.
When he was here before I was unimpressed and likewise for his time at Oxford.
You will know better than most how much he may have improved at Cambridge, do you feel that he has come on enough to be the regular starter that posters are expecting?

He’s scored 30 goals over the last two seasons at this level and impressed (me at least) in preseason

The goals at Cambridge (who are one of the weaker L1 sides) should tell you enough really

[Snowflake Royal]

Ehibhatiomhan has started well, but his head dropped during Peterborough and he went missing and he disappeared again against Vale after a bright start.

We haven't given Carroll the service he needs at any point since his arrival, and he doesn't fit the high energy high press of Selles. And he hasn't scored 10 league goals in a season since 2011. He's just not a goalscorer. 9 last season is the best he's managed since 2016.

Attack is definitely our biggest problem. Its noticeable the defence fell apart once attack showed no threat and midfield got overrun.

People seem to be expecting Smith to be an important player for us.
When he was here before I was unimpressed and likewise for his time at Oxford.
You will know better than most how much he may have improved at Cambridge, do you feel that he has come on enough to be the regular starter that posters are expecting?

He’s scored 30 goals over the last two seasons at this level and impressed (me at least) in preseason

The goals at Cambridge (who are one of the weaker L1 sides) should tell you enough really

Only saw him the once for Cambridge, but from what I understand from friends who saw him regularly, he'd go on hot and cold spells.

I remember his workrate and movement being good when he started in Reading, and that seems to have stayed. Decent pace and a tidy finish.

If he was fit for the season I'd expect ~16 from him.

[South Coast Royal]

Ehibhatiomhan has started well, but his head dropped during Peterborough and he went missing and he disappeared again against Vale after a bright start.

We haven't given Carroll the service he needs at any point since his arrival, and he doesn't fit the high energy high press of Selles. And he hasn't scored 10 league goals in a season since 2011. He's just not a goalscorer. 9 last season is the best he's managed since 2016.

Attack is definitely our biggest problem. Its noticeable the defence fell apart once attack showed no threat and midfield got overrun.

People seem to be expecting Smith to be an important player for us.
When he was here before I was unimpressed and likewise for his time at Oxford.
You will know better than most how much he may have improved at Cambridge, do you feel that he has come on enough to be the regular starter that posters are expecting?

He’s scored 30 goals over the last two seasons at this level and impressed (me at least) in preseason

The goals at Cambridge (who are one of the weaker L1 sides) should tell you enough really

,

Sure, can't knock the record but whenever I have seen him he looks a bit cumbersome.
With that scoring record you might have expected a Champ side to have been in for him but there may be reasons why he would like to come to us whether that be family or feeling that he has a point to prove.

When fit let's hope that he does the business.

[Crowbar6753]

I'm really hoping he gets fit quickly. The report was 6 weeks out, so 5 weeks remaining is probably 5-7 games and i really cannot see Carroll and WiFi scoring enough to catapult us up the table.

Hopefully another forward is inbound soonish otherwise we may be playing catch up even to get to mid table.

[Snowflake Royal]

Up top, losing Smith was a massive blow. Ehibhatiomhan has started pretty well I’d say, some encouraging performances. Knibbs has been solid. Azeez poor so far. Vickers good but very inexperienced

Feels to me there is less there to ‘fix’ than the defence. Confident Carroll and Ehib will score given service and if the tactics improve a bit

Ehibhatiomhan has started well, but his head dropped during Peterborough and he went missing and he disappeared again against Vale after a bright start.

We haven't given Carroll the service he needs at any point since his arrival, and he doesn't fit the high energy high press of Selles. And he hasn't scored 10 league goals in a season since 2011. He's just not a goalscorer. 9 last season is the best he's managed since 2016.

Attack is definitely our biggest problem. Its noticeable the defence fell apart once attack showed no threat and midfield got overrun.

I’d argue it was the other way round. We couldn’t attack when the defence starting falling to pieces as they lost confidence and stopped taking risks (just my take on it anyway)

Kelvin looks like scoring. 9-10 again from Carroll would be ok. For me it’s add one striker whilst Smith gets fit and we should be ok

We don’t look like keeping a clean sheet imo on the other hand. May change with different personnel mind you

Bloody change of team.

[Brogue]

selles on incomings in last nights post-match interview

"At least one player before Saturday. We also have the usual challenges within the club, so we need to make the things happen. We are working hard to make it happen

So that says to me expect another embargo as we arent paying the tax bill again. If we don't sign anyone before Friday that's our window closed me thinks

[blythspartan]

selles on incomings in last nights post-match interview

"At least one player before Saturday. We also have the usual challenges within the club, so we need to make the things happen. We are working hard to make it happen

So that says to me expect another embargo as we arent paying the tax bill again. If we don't sign anyone before Friday that's our window closed me thinks

It wouldn’t surprise me tbh, but maybe he’s talking more about convincing clubs to allow players to join us etc. because of the financial issues we have been facing. It might not necessarily mean that the the tax bill won’t be paid.

[South Coast Royal]

Some rumours floating around including 3 fairly unexpected departures plus a winger/striker and yet another keeper to come in.