by Royal_jimmy »
01 Jun 2022 16:14
YorkshireRoyal99 Stranded YorkshireRoyal99 What is to say Joao will leave on a free at the end of next season just because his contract is up? He might not do, but nothing to say he will leave, the same applies with Meite.
The top team is without anybody signing on at all, which I find unlikely, which means we'd have 4 first team positions to fill minimum along with squad players as well. We know that we will likely be making around 10 signings this summer anyway, but the players in the top team is still a good enough base to have a competitive squad for this season.
If you think Joao will sign a new deal then you must think we are going up - no way he stays - he'll be 30 in September '23 so probably has one pay day left, which he won't get here.
Currently, I'll be mildly surprised if we see him a Reading shirt again.
It may all be trivial anyway as apparently Norwich, Watford, Burnley and Middlesbrough are all interested in taking Joao off us this summer, which would be a massive blow. I'd take a good couple of million for him though with him being in the last year of his contract.
It's extremely hard to find any optimism at all. As I mentioned earlier, I think this season will be more painful than the one just gone.
1. Ince - unproven manager at this level and failed at Blackpool. Did ok in lower leagues but that's easier than this level.
2. Swift - gone (source of our goals and creativity)
3. Joao - likely to be sold (only championship quality forward at the club) with a great record for us
4. Meite - could well be sold too
5. Southwood - not up to it currently but likely to be sold/loaned. May eventually come good
6. Players out of contract - only really care about Yiadom and Laurent staying. Rinomhota, Morrison and Holmes if they left I wouldn't be upset about
7. No scouts at the club - probably rely more on fraud Kia
8. The championship looks stronger this year at the bottom of the table
We need about 10 signings (1-2 keepers, a left back, a right back, a centre back if Moore goes, 2 CMs, a replacement for Swift and 2 strikers. I don't trust us to recruit those positions well enough, our recruitment has been dire for years and Bowen coming back won't improve that overnight. It'll be hard to recruit offering low wages too, we'll likely see a big dip in quality.