2024/25 Expectations

[Mr Angry]

Yeah, no expectations until the ownership is sorted and we see what the squad will look like.

+1

Pointless in even having "expectations" at this stage; "hopes", yes. "Expectations"......until Dai goes impossible to have any.

[Mr Angry]

New owner(s) - If this one doesn't happen then my list below will change

New CEO, one who knows about running a football club and doesn't like questionable posts on twitter.

Same manager and much the same squad with backing form the club

Start the season in the same form we finished last season

Avoid relegation at all costs

No further points deductions

Tax bills and wages paid on time

No more protesting at the club, but happy to protest to help other clubs/raise awareness/keep football's ownership problem on the radar of the EFL, FA and Sports minister as long as it isn't detrimental to our club (would have to accept any attempt by rival fans to get a match abandoned if their club was in the same situation as us)

Regular communication from the club

A plan for the Womens Team from the new owners

Review/Overhaul of club management/key personnel from the CEO down to the academy to ensure we have no rotten apples and we are following the correct processes (I'd exclude Ruben Selles and his coaching staff from this, but would welcome his input as he may require additional resources or support).

Mr Dai to be charged, found guilty and sentenced for whatever shenanigans he's been up to.

These are hopes and aspirations Forbes, ones EVERY Reading fan will share, but they can't be expectations (notwithstanding the caveat in your first sentence).

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Stability and entertainment.

Play-offs as a bonus.

[Silver Fox]

107 points

[Sutekh]

A minimum of 40 wins.

[bcubed]

New owner(s) - If this one doesn't happen then my list below will change

New CEO, one who knows about running a football club and doesn't like questionable posts on twitter.

Same manager and much the same squad with backing form the club

Start the season in the same form we finished last season

Avoid relegation at all costs

No further points deductions

Tax bills and wages paid on time

No more protesting at the club, but happy to protest to help other clubs/raise awareness/keep football's ownership problem on the radar of the EFL, FA and Sports minister as long as it isn't detrimental to our club (would have to accept any attempt by rival fans to get a match abandoned if their club was in the same situation as us)

Regular communication from the club

A plan for the Womens Team from the new owners

Review/Overhaul of club management/key personnel from the CEO down to the academy to ensure we have no rotten apples and we are following the correct processes (I'd exclude Ruben Selles and his coaching staff from this, but would welcome his input as he may require additional resources or support).

Mr Dai to be charged, found guilty and sentenced for whatever shenanigans he's been up to.

These are hopes and aspirations Forbes, ones EVERY Reading fan will share, but they can't be expectations (notwithstanding the caveat in your first sentence).

Its a fair point

Actually I think we should perhaps get some t shirts made with

More in hope than expectation...

Feels like a good motto for Reading fans right now

[Sutekh]

New owner(s) - If this one doesn't happen then my list below will change

New CEO, one who knows about running a football club and doesn't like questionable posts on twitter.

Same manager and much the same squad with backing form the club

Start the season in the same form we finished last season

Avoid relegation at all costs

No further points deductions

Tax bills and wages paid on time

No more protesting at the club, but happy to protest to help other clubs/raise awareness/keep football's ownership problem on the radar of the EFL, FA and Sports minister as long as it isn't detrimental to our club (would have to accept any attempt by rival fans to get a match abandoned if their club was in the same situation as us)

Regular communication from the club

A plan for the Womens Team from the new owners

Review/Overhaul of club management/key personnel from the CEO down to the academy to ensure we have no rotten apples and we are following the correct processes (I'd exclude Ruben Selles and his coaching staff from this, but would welcome his input as he may require additional resources or support).

Mr Dai to be charged, found guilty and sentenced for whatever shenanigans he's been up to.

These are hopes and aspirations Forbes, ones EVERY Reading fan will share, but they can't be expectations (notwithstanding the caveat in your first sentence).

Its a fair point

Actually I think we should perhaps get some t shirts made with

More in hope than expectation...

Feels like a good motto for Reading fans right now

Plus in spe quam in exspectatio.

[Franchise FC]

A minimum of 40 wins.

And 6 draws, obviously

[bcubed]

These are hopes and aspirations Forbes, ones EVERY Reading fan will share, but they can't be expectations (notwithstanding the caveat in your first sentence).

Its a fair point

Actually I think we should perhaps get some t shirts made with

More in hope than expectation...

Feels like a good motto for Reading fans right now

Plus in spe quam in exspectatio.

Cue John Cleese to correct you and get you to write it out correctly

Could be spot on for all I know!
Although I did Caesar's Gallic Wars and Virgil for O level, it is long forgotten now...

[Snowflake Royal]

If forced, I think the only expectations I'd commit to are:
Anger
Disappointment
Frustration

[windermereROYAL]

Have the EFL play-off final dates been published yet? I may have plans at the end of May.

[Green]

Have the EFL play-off final dates been published yet? I may have plans at the end of May.

Yes

Are you off anywhere nice?

[Clyde1998]

The Opta prediction for the season:

1. Bolton
2. Birmingham
3. Huddersfield
4. Peterborough
5. Lincoln
6. Blackpool
7. Rotherham
8. Wigan
9. Wycombe
10. Barnsley
11. Reading
12. Stevenage
13. Leyton Orient
14. Exeter
15. Charlton
16. Northampton
17. Stockport
18. Bristol Rovers
19. Cambridge
20. Wrexham
21. Crawley
22. Mansfield
23. Shrewsbury
24. Burton

They've given us a 5.4% chance of being automatically promoted; a 22% chance of being in the top six and a 1.3% chance of relegation. Seems reasonable.

[Royal_jimmy]

Yeah, no expectations until the ownership is sorted and we see what the squad will look like.

+1

Pointless in even having "expectations" at this stage; "hopes", yes. "Expectations"......until Dai goes impossible to have any.

Regardless of the situation of the ownership this squad still had playoff form after Christmas.

I think we'll see a bit of a continuation from that form but with our small squad maybe costing us.

The season after we should be aiming for promotion though.

[Sebastian the Red]

Comfortable, boring midtable, with a new owner and no financial implosion, would be fine

[Snowflake Royal]

Yeah, no expectations until the ownership is sorted and we see what the squad will look like.

+1

Pointless in even having "expectations" at this stage; "hopes", yes. "Expectations"......until Dai goes impossible to have any.

Regardless of the situation of the ownership this squad still had playoff form after Christmas.

I think we'll see a bit of a continuation from that form but with our small squad maybe costing us.

The season after we should be aiming for promotion though.

Don't think our squad is that small.

GK: Pereira, Button, CBC (did Bouzanis go back on loan?)
RB: Yiadom, Abrefa, Rushesha
LB: Dorsett
CB: Mbengue,Dean
CB: Bindon
CM: Wing, Craig
CM: Elliott, Savage
AM: Knibbs
LW: Ehibhatiomhan, Camara
RW: Azeez
ST: Smith, Wareham

That's 20/21 all with first team games.

Then with preseason, squad or cameo experience there's also Senga, Kanu, Stickland, Osho, Garcia, Tuma, Sackey, Ryan...

It's young and inexperienced, and there's a couple I wouldn’t be comfortable seeing start, but that's actually quite a big squad, knocking in at almost 30 players with a credible chance of making some matchday squads and appearances, mostly on merit.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Anybody noticed that the Guardian and Telegraph have us down for relegation? Seems like lazy, poorly researched journalism.

[Stranded]

Anybody noticed that the Guardian and Telegraph have us down for relegation? Seems like lazy, poorly researched journalism.

We're in the 3rd tier - the amount of research of us will have amounted to -

Do they have a new owner yet?
Err no

Signings?
None yet

Right, probably get another points deduction then and they only finished 17th - stick them down for relegation. Next.