Summer 2025 Transfer Ratings

[Snowflake Royal]

It's almost like people who weren't keen on Couhig taking over are deliberately taking one word out of context and ignoring almost everything else said to use it as a stick to beat the new owners with.

Why is this one word more important than everything else said? Why are they not slavishly repeating self-funding? Or frees and loans?

Because it's not really about what expectations the club has set, it's about having something to complain about and not getting the moon on a stick.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

It's almost like people who weren't keen on Couhig taking over are deliberately taking one word out of context and ignoring almost everything else said to use it as a stick to beat the new owners with.

Why is this one word more important than everything else said? Why are they not slavishly repeating self-funding? Or frees and loans?

Because it's not really about what expectations the club has set, it's about having something to complain about and not getting the moon on a stick.

That may be true for some, but don't tar everyone with the same brush....

As I've stated, I'm principally happy to still have a club given the existential threat that hung over Reading FC.....

But, having been acquired, the economics of League 1 means owners need to be prepared to invest in order to be competitive on the pitch....

So from that perspective, being 'self funding' and having a 'spectacular' transfer window or even 'doing better than 7th' don't feel compatible to me...

I get that there has to be hype to sell stuff, etc... and ultimately, these owners are looking to build for a bit and then make some money...

But, if communication is to mean anything you have to be taken at your word - this may have been a good transfer window, time will tell if we are top 6 by the end of the season....

Anything else and I'd say it wasn't, never mind 'spectacular'

[Snowflake Royal]

It's almost like people who weren't keen on Couhig taking over are deliberately taking one word out of context and ignoring almost everything else said to use it as a stick to beat the new owners with.

Why is this one word more important than everything else said? Why are they not slavishly repeating self-funding? Or frees and loans?

Because it's not really about what expectations the club has set, it's about having something to complain about and not getting the moon on a stick.

That may be true for some, but don't tar everyone with the same brush....

As I've stated, I'm principally happy to still have a club given the existential threat that hung over Reading FC.....

But, having been acquired, the economics of League 1 means owners need to be prepared to invest in order to be competitive on the pitch....

So from that perspective, being 'self funding' and having a 'spectacular' transfer window or even 'doing better than 7th' don't feel compatible to me...

I get that there has to be hype to sell stuff, etc... and ultimately, these owners are looking to build for a bit and then make some money...

But, if communication is to mean anything you have to be taken at your word - this may have been a good transfer window, time will tell if we are top 6 by the end of the season....

Anything else and I'd say it wasn't, never mind 'spectacular'

So why are you only focusing on spectacular, and not taking them at their word on the more mundane and realistic things they've said?

Because you've chosen to ignore those and focus on the hype.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

It's almost like people who weren't keen on Couhig taking over are deliberately taking one word out of context and ignoring almost everything else said to use it as a stick to beat the new owners with.

Why is this one word more important than everything else said? Why are they not slavishly repeating self-funding? Or frees and loans?

Because it's not really about what expectations the club has set, it's about having something to complain about and not getting the moon on a stick.

That may be true for some, but don't tar everyone with the same brush....

As I've stated, I'm principally happy to still have a club given the existential threat that hung over Reading FC.....

But, having been acquired, the economics of League 1 means owners need to be prepared to invest in order to be competitive on the pitch....

So from that perspective, being 'self funding' and having a 'spectacular' transfer window or even 'doing better than 7th' don't feel compatible to me...

I get that there has to be hype to sell stuff, etc... and ultimately, these owners are looking to build for a bit and then make some money...

But, if communication is to mean anything you have to be taken at your word - this may have been a good transfer window, time will tell if we are top 6 by the end of the season....

Anything else and I'd say it wasn't, never mind 'spectacular'

So why are you only focusing on spectacular, and not taking them at their word on the more mundane and realistic things they've said?

Because you've chosen to ignore those and focus on the hype.

Because this thread is entitled " Summer 2025 Transfer Ratings?"....

If anyone at the club said our transfer business was going to be 'mundane and realistic' then my bad....

[linkenholtroyal]

People are worried about goals so I thought I would look at our first team and how many goals they scored in league 1 or the nearest league they played more than 25 games in a season and see how many goals are in that team.
Pereira -0
Jacob -1
Abrefa - 0
Williams - 1
O Conner - 3
Wing - 9
Savage - 5
Doyle - 7
Lane - 11 (going with last league 1 season)
Ritchie - 5
Marriott - 6 Last season he played close to 25 was between Fleetwood and Wrexham

So 48 goals would that be enough?

For interest second team would be
Steven’s - 0
Garcia - 1
Yiadom - 0
Dorsett - 1
Burns - 0
Fraser - 0 (already done better this year)
Elliott - 2
Rushesha - 0
Camara - 4
Kyerewaa - 3
Ehibatiomhan - 4

So 15

MOM didn’t actually make it into either team as had better goal stats in other players.

[Hound]

I don’t mean to be rude as such but tbh I don’t take much notice of what Couhig or that Todd bloke say

JJ is really there to be the sensible voice and I don’t think he’s ever really done the hyperbole thing. He’s the only one I take a lot of notice of. Hunt sometimes but obvs it’s a bit conflict of interest as he’s defending his own performance

[MartinRdg]

So, have Reading had a spectacular transfer window or not? Or do we need to wait for the season to be over before deciding?

I think a balanced view https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2025-26-analysis-opinion-reading-fc-royals/49954/unpacking-readings-summer-2025-transfer-window

[Mr Angry]

It is nigh on impossible to state if a Summer signing has been "good" or anything else until you specify what your determinate criteria for the assessment is; for example, on one level - the level that we needed new players into a heavily depleted squad at the end of last season - they are all "good".

Additionally the question "are they better than what they replaced" is highly misleading; there is virtually no way a mid-table L1 team could hope to replace a young generational talent such as Bindon with something better.

We will need to see how quickly and how effectively the players in the squad gel (signs are good that there is progress in this area) and then how they perform as a team and as a squad. A lot of that will be down to Noel and the back room team.

If I was to pick the player who has impressed me the most so far from the new recruits, it would be Williams; he is beginning to show real leadership qualities at the back and we are looking as if it is becoming harder to score against us now.

Up front, Kyerewaa looks a potential star in the making; there is a buzz growing whenever he gets the ball at his feet and is facing the opposition - he is exciting - whilst Lane will come on for his goal against Port Vale and will be a key member of the team as the season progresses.

I would give the Summer recruiting a solid 8/10.

[Snowflake Royal]

I don’t mean to be rude as such but tbh I don’t take much notice of what Couhig or that Todd bloke say

JJ is really there to be the sensible voice and I don’t think he’s ever really done the hyperbole thing. He’s the only one I take a lot of notice of. Hunt sometimes but obvs it’s a bit conflict of interest as he’s defending his own performance

It should be obvious, shouldn't it.

[RG30]

We haven't got enough goals in the squad currently which will be our biggest downfall this season. Defensively we look set up to succeed and the business in those areas has been good but I have major reservations about our forward line.

[Brogue]

awful window. 4/10

[stealthpapes]

So, have Reading had a spectacular transfer window or not? Or do we need to wait for the season to be over before deciding?

I think a balanced view https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2025-26-analysis-opinion-reading-fc-royals/49954/unpacking-readings-summer-2025-transfer-window

I think the article over-estimates some of the 'upgrades'.
The figure of experience needs to compare like for like with this time last season.
It's frustratingly clear we need something extra up front - whether that's height, strength or speed.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

awful window. 4/10

Ian would like a word.

[Orion1871]

5 or a 6 on current evidence.

Defence is weaker and slower although we'll see if it will improve when O'Connor returns.

Midfield looks healthier even if Noel hasn't used them very well in the games so far.

Up front has lost so many goals and they don't appear to have been replaced. Still missing a hold up striker. Lane looks the stand out signing and will improve once he gets properly up to speed. Kyerewaa has no end product despite his assist the other day.

[Hound]

So, have Reading had a spectacular transfer window or not? Or do we need to wait for the season to be over before deciding?

I think a balanced view https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2025-26-analysis-opinion-reading-fc-royals/49954/unpacking-readings-summer-2025-transfer-window

I think the article over-estimates some of the 'upgrades'.
The figure of experience needs to compare like for like with this time last season.
It's frustratingly clear we need something extra up front - whether that's height, strength or speed.

Arguably Kelvin has those attributes

Tbh between MoM, Marriott and Kelvin we really should have enough. Just chucking another body as a CF in there won’t nec help. Noel just needs to use them better if that are the options he has.

Something like Lane-Marriott-Ritchie really should be plenty good enough

For Marriott sceptics like myself swap him for MoM or Kelv and same is true

and that’s with loads of wing options back up

[stealthpapes]

I don't agree, Hound, sorry.

Kelvin needs to contribute more regularly, more consistently, but the level of improvement required, in terms of goals, assists, etc, is really high.

O'Mahony is currently struggling with the system but, admittedly, getting better.

I don't know enough about Marriott yet, so happy to concede I could be pleasantly surprised.

I think trying to make do is going haunt the first half of our season.

[Hound]

I don't agree, Hound, sorry.

Kelvin needs to contribute more regularly, more consistently, but the level of improvement required, in terms of goals, assists, etc, is really high.

O'Mahony is currently struggling with the system but, admittedly, getting better.

I don't know enough about Marriott yet, so happy to concede I could be pleasantly surprised.

I think trying to make do is going haunt the first half of our season.

Fair enough, obvs all opinions and I’m sure many people share yours

I do feel Kelvin has it in him but fully agree he has to get more consistent. Also he doesn’t look like he’ll ever be great in the air - but then I wish we’d stop whacking long high balls up to him (or MoM)

[andrew1957]

We brought in a similar number of new players in summer 2023 and early in the season (which started badly) most thought the jury was out as to whether it had been a good window. The same seems to be the case this time. No way of knowing for a few months, but my gut is that there has been a bit of panic buying this summer and so for me it is probably 6/7 out of 10 (say 65% will turn out to be good signings) - but only time will tell.

[South Coast Royal]

A bit too early to give a serious rating.
I agree with Mr A that Williams , as a seasoned Championship performer, has settled in well and Danny K at least takes defenders on even if he doesn't know what to do after that.

Otherwise, so far, underwhelmed by the others where the all seem a bit ordinary rather than the Couhig promised extraordinary.

[Esteban]

I'm not sure there'd have been the same reaction if we'd reinvested the Sam Smith money on Marriott, Lane and Ritchie at the time. I reckon most fans would be saying what good business it was.

This squad has every chance of reaching the top 6. It would require a few to take their chance and step up, including Hunt, but it could happen.