SQUADWATCH - Summer 2026

[Sutekh]

I assume our overseas contingent is still used up by Fraser and Danny K so unless we get proven Internationals we'll be looking at players from the home nations?

Believe the rules in the FL over club squads last season were…

Code: Select all

Division	Maximum Squad Size	Minimum Homegrown Players
Championship	25 players		8 players
League One	22 players		8 players
League Two	22 players		8 players

Definition of Homegrown Players
A "homegrown player" is defined as a player who has been registered with a club affiliated with the Football Association (FA) or the Football Association of Wales for a minimum of three seasons (or 36 months) before their 21st birthday. This definition applies regardless of the player's nationality or age.

Additional Rules
Each club must include at least one "club-developed" player in their matchday squad, defined as a player registered with the club for at least 12 months prior to the end of their U19 season.

Under-21 players do not count towards the squad limits and can be included in the matchday squad without registration.

Overseas players
No more than three overseas players under the age of 21 can be signed in any single transfer window and a total of no more than six overseas players under the age of 21 per season.

So this would suggest Reading can sign up to 3 more from overseas this window - but as with all overseas players they would need to meet the “points” requirements for a work permit.

[Clyde1998]

I assume our overseas contingent is still used up by Fraser and Danny K so unless we get proven Internationals we'll be looking at players from the home nations?

Believe the rules in the FL over club squads last season were…

Code: Select all

Division	Maximum Squad Size	Minimum Homegrown Players
Championship	25 players		8 players
League One	22 players		8 players
League Two	22 players		8 players

Definition of Homegrown Players
A "homegrown player" is defined as a player who has been registered with a club affiliated with the Football Association (FA) or the Football Association of Wales for a minimum of three seasons (or 36 months) before their 21st birthday. This definition applies regardless of the player's nationality or age.

Additional Rules
Each club must include at least one "club-developed" player in their matchday squad, defined as a player registered with the club for at least 12 months prior to the end of their U19 season.

Under-21 players do not count towards the squad limits and can be included in the matchday squad without registration.

Overseas players
No more than three overseas players under the age of 21 can be signed in any single transfer window and a total of no more than six overseas players under the age of 21 per season.

So this would suggest Reading can sign up to 3 more from overseas this window - but as with all overseas players they would need to meet the “points” requirements for a work permit.

I think what was being referred to was the Elite Significant Contribution, which allows for a limited number of foreign players to get a visa without making the standard requirements.

There will be some minor adjustments to the system since this post, but it's a good explainer as to what the rules to obtain a visa are.

We get two slots as a League One club. Based on what Brian Carey said at the STAR event last season (and IIRC), Daniel Kyerewaa and Liam Fraser take up both of those slots.

Essentially, we'll be limited to players with British or Irish citizenships in the transfer window unless there's someone who meets the visa points requirements who's willing to play in League One.

[morganb]

I assume our overseas contingent is still used up by Fraser and Danny K so unless we get proven Internationals we'll be looking at players from the home nations?

Believe the rules in the FL over club squads last season were…

Code: Select all

Division	Maximum Squad Size	Minimum Homegrown Players
Championship	25 players		8 players
League One	22 players		8 players
League Two	22 players		8 players

Definition of Homegrown Players
A "homegrown player" is defined as a player who has been registered with a club affiliated with the Football Association (FA) or the Football Association of Wales for a minimum of three seasons (or 36 months) before their 21st birthday. This definition applies regardless of the player's nationality or age.

Additional Rules
Each club must include at least one "club-developed" player in their matchday squad, defined as a player registered with the club for at least 12 months prior to the end of their U19 season.

Under-21 players do not count towards the squad limits and can be included in the matchday squad without registration.

Overseas players
No more than three overseas players under the age of 21 can be signed in any single transfer window and a total of no more than six overseas players under the age of 21 per season.

So this would suggest Reading can sign up to 3 more from overseas this window - but as with all overseas players they would need to meet the “points” requirements for a work permit.

I think what was being referred to was the Elite Significant Contribution, which allows for a limited number of foreign players to get a visa without making the standard requirements.

There will be some minor adjustments to the system since this post, but it's a good explainer as to what the rules to obtain a visa are.

We get two slots as a League One club. Based on what Brian Carey said at the STAR event last season (and IIRC), Daniel Kyerewaa and Liam Fraser take up both of those slots.

Essentially, we'll be limited to players with British or Irish citizenships in the transfer window unless there's someone who meets the visa points requirements who's willing to play in League One.

Yes, this is what I was referring to - I couldn't remember the official term for it but knew the two players involved and my phrases "proven internationals" referred to "meets visa requirements"! Thanks. So we are limited still then...

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Believe the rules in the FL over club squads last season were…

Code: Select all

Division	Maximum Squad Size	Minimum Homegrown Players
Championship	25 players		8 players
League One	22 players		8 players
League Two	22 players		8 players

Definition of Homegrown Players
A "homegrown player" is defined as a player who has been registered with a club affiliated with the Football Association (FA) or the Football Association of Wales for a minimum of three seasons (or 36 months) before their 21st birthday. This definition applies regardless of the player's nationality or age.

Additional Rules
Each club must include at least one "club-developed" player in their matchday squad, defined as a player registered with the club for at least 12 months prior to the end of their U19 season.

Under-21 players do not count towards the squad limits and can be included in the matchday squad without registration.

Overseas players
No more than three overseas players under the age of 21 can be signed in any single transfer window and a total of no more than six overseas players under the age of 21 per season.

So this would suggest Reading can sign up to 3 more from overseas this window - but as with all overseas players they would need to meet the “points” requirements for a work permit.

I think what was being referred to was the Elite Significant Contribution, which allows for a limited number of foreign players to get a visa without making the standard requirements.

There will be some minor adjustments to the system since this post, but it's a good explainer as to what the rules to obtain a visa are.

We get two slots as a League One club. Based on what Brian Carey said at the STAR event last season (and IIRC), Daniel Kyerewaa and Liam Fraser take up both of those slots.

Essentially, we'll be limited to players with British or Irish citizenships in the transfer window unless there's someone who meets the visa points requirements who's willing to play in League One.

Yes, this is what I was referring to - I couldn't remember the official term for it but knew the two players involved and my phrases "proven internationals" referred to "meets visa requirements"! Thanks. So we are limited still then...

On this basis, seems like investing in a super duper AI driven global player database is pretty moot...

Another glorious sunlit upland left by Boris and Nigel....

[Marcel]

I think what was being referred to was the Elite Significant Contribution, which allows for a limited number of foreign players to get a visa without making the standard requirements.

There will be some minor adjustments to the system since this post, but it's a good explainer as to what the rules to obtain a visa are.

We get two slots as a League One club. Based on what Brian Carey said at the STAR event last season (and IIRC), Daniel Kyerewaa and Liam Fraser take up both of those slots.

Essentially, we'll be limited to players with British or Irish citizenships in the transfer window unless there's someone who meets the visa points requirements who's willing to play in League One.

Yes, this is what I was referring to - I couldn't remember the official term for it but knew the two players involved and my phrases "proven internationals" referred to "meets visa requirements"! Thanks. So we are limited still then...

On this basis, seems like investing in a super duper AI driven global player database is pretty moot...

Another glorious sunlit upland left by Boris and Nigel....

Instead of wasting money on AI garbage, perhaps investing in a decent scouting network might prove to be a better option. After all it’s worked quite well in the past.

[linkenholtroyal]

Yes, this is what I was referring to - I couldn't remember the official term for it but knew the two players involved and my phrases "proven internationals" referred to "meets visa requirements"! Thanks. So we are limited still then...

On this basis, seems like investing in a super duper AI driven global player database is pretty moot...

Another glorious sunlit upland left by Boris and Nigel....

Instead of wasting money on AI garbage, perhaps investing in a decent scouting network might prove to be a better option. After all it’s worked quite well in the past.

This is only the start.
1st ai transfer technology.
2nd earpieces in each players ear with AI telling them how to pass and play for optimum football playing.
3rd a team of life like androids you will not be able to tell the difference….

The future is coming we must embrace it……

[Sutekh]

On this basis, seems like investing in a super duper AI driven global player database is pretty moot...

Another glorious sunlit upland left by Boris and Nigel....

Instead of wasting money on AI garbage, perhaps investing in a decent scouting network might prove to be a better option. After all it’s worked quite well in the past.

This is only the start.
1st ai transfer technology.
2nd earpieces in each players ear with AI telling them how to pass and play for optimum football playing.
3rd a team of life like androids you will not be able to tell the difference….

The future is coming we must embrace it……

Stuff AI, it’s just a tool that needs to be utilised carefully & properly not become an attempt at a panacea for everything.

Reading need to have a proper scouting network with AI being a ‘value add’ not a replacement.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Instead of wasting money on AI garbage, perhaps investing in a decent scouting network might prove to be a better option. After all it’s worked quite well in the past.

This is only the start.
1st ai transfer technology.
2nd earpieces in each players ear with AI telling them how to pass and play for optimum football playing.
3rd a team of life like androids you will not be able to tell the difference….

The future is coming we must embrace it……

Stuff AI, it’s just a tool that needs to be utilised carefully & properly not become an attempt at a panacea for everything.

Reading need to have a proper scouting network with AI being a ‘value add’ not a replacement.

Genuine Question: given that the 'market' Reading FC are going to be working in comprises a limited universe (UK/ROI) and that commercially available databases now capture key metrics for players all the way down the pyramid and beyond....

Why would a league 1 club need to invest in a 'proper scouting network'?

[Marcel]

This is only the start.
1st ai transfer technology.
2nd earpieces in each players ear with AI telling them how to pass and play for optimum football playing.
3rd a team of life like androids you will not be able to tell the difference….

The future is coming we must embrace it……

Stuff AI, it’s just a tool that needs to be utilised carefully & properly not become an attempt at a panacea for everything.

Reading need to have a proper scouting network with AI being a ‘value add’ not a replacement.

Genuine Question: given that the 'market' Reading FC are going to be working in comprises a limited universe (UK/ROI) and that commercially available databases now capture key metrics for players all the way down the pyramid and beyond....

Why would a league 1 club need to invest in a 'proper scouting network'?

AI won’t find the next Kevin Doyle or Shane Long it requires good old fashioned leg work.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Stuff AI, it’s just a tool that needs to be utilised carefully & properly not become an attempt at a panacea for everything.

Reading need to have a proper scouting network with AI being a ‘value add’ not a replacement.

Genuine Question: given that the 'market' Reading FC are going to be working in comprises a limited universe (UK/ROI) and that commercially available databases now capture key metrics for players all the way down the pyramid and beyond....

Why would a league 1 club need to invest in a 'proper scouting network'?

AI won’t find the next Kevin Doyle or Shane Long it requires good old fashioned leg work.

or for Eamon Dolan's brother Pat Dolan to tip him off about some quality youngsters he signed up while managing at Cork City...

I'm not advocating either AI or Scouting - I'm saying the world has changed and is changing pretty quickly...

[Sutekh]

You need scouting, it provides for not only seeing a player (esp. ones who aren’t on any radar yet) but also getting to know them and their family and therefore building a more complete picture of what the player would bring, whether they’d fit in or not. It also helps building a relationship and “selling” the club, sort of like a “human touch” rather than just steaming in at the last moment and pretending you know it all ‘cos you saw some stats and watched a video (isn’t that precisely what we criticised TB2 over? Seemingly signing players because he’d only seen a video?).

[morganb]

Wouldn't it be a mixture of the two?

Huge list of players - get AI to filter the list based on your requirements

Shortlist - send a human to do old fashioned scouting on the players

[The Royal Forester]

Wouldn't it be a mixture of the two?

Huge list of players - get AI to filter the list based on your requirements

Shortlist - send a human to do old fashioned scouting on the players

AI won’t find the next Kevin Doyle or Shane Long it requires good old fashioned leg work. (Marcel)

or for Eamon Dolan's brother Pat Dolan to tip him off about some quality youngsters he signed up while managing at Cork City... (LJT)

AI wouldn't pick up this sort of player in the first place, let alone put them on a short list, so no human would be tasked to watch them.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Wouldn't it be a mixture of the two?

Huge list of players - get AI to filter the list based on your requirements

Shortlist - send a human to do old fashioned scouting on the players

AI won’t find the next Kevin Doyle or Shane Long it requires good old fashioned leg work. (Marcel)

or for Eamon Dolan's brother Pat Dolan to tip him off about some quality youngsters he signed up while managing at Cork City... (LJT)

AI wouldn't pick up this sort of player in the first place, let alone put them on a short list, so no human would be tasked to watch them.

The Dolan connection obviously worked at Cork City, but humans have a finite number of relationships. By contrast, data on players in academy leagues and overseas leagues is almost endless, and the likes of Brentford and Brighton have shown how effective using analytics can be in unearthing talent. But data and AI can't show personality, attitude, dressing room fit etc.,

The obvious answer is that you need both in today's world.

[North of the River]

I assume our overseas contingent is still used up by Fraser and Danny K so unless we get proven Internationals we'll be looking at players from the home nations?

Believe the rules in the FL over club squads last season were…

Code: Select all

Division	Maximum Squad Size	Minimum Homegrown Players
Championship	25 players		8 players
League One	22 players		8 players
League Two	22 players		8 players

Definition of Homegrown Players
A "homegrown player" is defined as a player who has been registered with a club affiliated with the Football Association (FA) or the Football Association of Wales for a minimum of three seasons (or 36 months) before their 21st birthday. This definition applies regardless of the player's nationality or age.

Additional Rules
Each club must include at least one "club-developed" player in their matchday squad, defined as a player registered with the club for at least 12 months prior to the end of their U19 season.

Under-21 players do not count towards the squad limits and can be included in the matchday squad without registration.

Overseas players
No more than three overseas players under the age of 21 can be signed in any single transfer window and a total of no more than six overseas players under the age of 21 per season.

So this would suggest Reading can sign up to 3 more from overseas this window - but as with all overseas players they would need to meet the “points” requirements for a work permit.

I think what was being referred to was the Elite Significant Contribution, which allows for a limited number of foreign players to get a visa without making the standard requirements.

There will be some minor adjustments to the system since this post, but it's a good explainer as to what the rules to obtain a visa are.

We get two slots as a League One club. Based on what Brian Carey said at the STAR event last season (and IIRC), Daniel Kyerewaa and Liam Fraser take up both of those slots.

Essentially, we'll be limited to players with British or Irish citizenships in the transfer window unless there's someone who meets the visa points requirements who's willing to play in League One.

I seem to remember that an ‘ESC’ player can gain a visa if the play a certain % of eligible minutes in a season. Not sure if Danny K or Fraser hit this threshold last season. Could that one or both of the slots open up

[Lower West]

Wouldn't it be a mixture of the two?

Huge list of players - get AI to filter the list based on your requirements

Shortlist - send a human to do old fashioned scouting on the players

Tony Bloom the owner of Brighton and significant minority shareholder in Hearts. Has developed a proprietary player database through his secretive sports analytics and betting consultancy, Starlizard, and his advisory firm, Jamestown Analytics. Instead of relying on publicly available data, Bloom's models track statistical outliers and hidden metrics across global leagues to identify undervalued talent.

Appears to be working exceptionally well.

[Sutekh]

Believe the rules in the FL over club squads last season were…

Code: Select all

Division	Maximum Squad Size	Minimum Homegrown Players
Championship	25 players		8 players
League One	22 players		8 players
League Two	22 players		8 players

Definition of Homegrown Players
A "homegrown player" is defined as a player who has been registered with a club affiliated with the Football Association (FA) or the Football Association of Wales for a minimum of three seasons (or 36 months) before their 21st birthday. This definition applies regardless of the player's nationality or age.

Additional Rules
Each club must include at least one "club-developed" player in their matchday squad, defined as a player registered with the club for at least 12 months prior to the end of their U19 season.

Under-21 players do not count towards the squad limits and can be included in the matchday squad without registration.

Overseas players
No more than three overseas players under the age of 21 can be signed in any single transfer window and a total of no more than six overseas players under the age of 21 per season.

So this would suggest Reading can sign up to 3 more from overseas this window - but as with all overseas players they would need to meet the “points” requirements for a work permit.

I think what was being referred to was the Elite Significant Contribution, which allows for a limited number of foreign players to get a visa without making the standard requirements.

There will be some minor adjustments to the system since this post, but it's a good explainer as to what the rules to obtain a visa are.

We get two slots as a League One club. Based on what Brian Carey said at the STAR event last season (and IIRC), Daniel Kyerewaa and Liam Fraser take up both of those slots.

Essentially, we'll be limited to players with British or Irish citizenships in the transfer window unless there's someone who meets the visa points requirements who's willing to play in League One.

I seem to remember that an ‘ESC’ player can gain a visa if the play a certain % of eligible minutes in a season. Not sure if Danny K or Fraser hit this threshold last season. Could that one or both of the slots open up

This is correct but there doesn’t appear to be anything clear online that defines what the criteria (eg. no of minutes/% of club games played) is for a L1 or L2 club. It would, though, be up to the club to apply to have the player transitioned out of the program if they did meet that criteria - so transitioning doesn’t just happen automatically.

Would suggest that their lengthy injury periods would preclude both from being able to be transitioned this summer.

[Brogue]

It's the start of June. Let's wait and see how the next 6 weeks go before losing our heads

I do get what you say but thought it was best to let you all know why it was a screw up last year and fingers crossed they will learn from there mistakes. As a side note not all signings last year were terrible.
O Conner
R Williams
Ward
Marriott
Lane (who I think will still come good)
Kyerewaa
Rinhomota

We’re all good signings and on the money, I am sure I have missed someone. But it could have been so much better if they had pursued the original targets properly and communicated better.
As said yes it is June so fingers crossed they get it right and we are not rooting around in the clearance section in September.

I just think last summer was difficult for many reasons. Only a handful of players contracted so we needed to recruit a lot. In that context, do you really want to set a precedent for paying higher wages for your first 2 or 3 signings?

Then they barely knew their budget. They released a video about SMCP in August and basically admitted there that they had been figuring out as they went along. And also, the EFL were still micro managing our recruitment activity and we had to work to get them off our back.

Do you really expect them to come in and give out 4 or 5 top L1 contracts in that context?

It's different now. We know our squad, we know our budget. If we're prioritising 5 or 6 signings to improve the starting XI, hopefully we're in a position to offer what it takes.

So back to my initial point. I'll judge them in a couple of months.

The biggest mistake last season was expectations management. Top 6 was always going to be really difficult, but it was our public target from day 1. They probably could have presented last summer as a solid effort with the right messaging.

You’re right. So why did they come out with ‘spectacular transfer window’ and will be ‘really strong team from game one’ sound bites?

Our team on the opening fixture

Joel Pereira,
Kelvin Abrefa
Michael Stickland
Finley Burns
Jeriel Dorsett
Charlie Savage
Lewis Wing
Ben Elliott
Mamadi Camará
Mark O'Mahony
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan

If he had come out with something a little more reserved some of us might have a little more respect for them

[Clyde1998]

It's the start of June. Let's wait and see how the next 6 weeks go before losing our heads

I do get what you say but thought it was best to let you all know why it was a screw up last year and fingers crossed they will learn from there mistakes. As a side note not all signings last year were terrible.
O Conner
R Williams
Ward
Marriott
Lane (who I think will still come good)
Kyerewaa
Rinhomota

We’re all good signings and on the money, I am sure I have missed someone. But it could have been so much better if they had pursued the original targets properly and communicated better.
As said yes it is June so fingers crossed they get it right and we are not rooting around in the clearance section in September.

I just think last summer was difficult for many reasons. Only a handful of players contracted so we needed to recruit a lot. In that context, do you really want to set a precedent for paying higher wages for your first 2 or 3 signings?

Then they barely knew their budget. They released a video about SMCP in August and basically admitted there that they had been figuring out as they went along. And also, the EFL were still micro managing our recruitment activity and we had to work to get them off our back.

Do you really expect them to come in and give out 4 or 5 top L1 contracts in that context?

It's different now. We know our squad, we know our budget. If we're prioritising 5 or 6 signings to improve the starting XI, hopefully we're in a position to offer what it takes.

So back to my initial point. I'll judge them in a couple of months.

The biggest mistake last season was expectations management. Top 6 was always going to be really difficult, but it was our public target from day 1. They probably could have presented last summer as a solid effort with the right messaging.

This. Most people I've seen (reasonable) opinions from thought we'd be mid-table or challenge for a play-offs at a push. That's exactly what we did. The problem was enough people were convinced we had a team that should've been getting into the top six.

The new owners really should've come out and said we'd have a season of consolidation. Allow them time to identify all the issues at the club; allow them time to start resolving them; take pressure and expectation off of the season; etc.

Even if they though we'd get into the top six, you never want to be in a situation where you have the potential to overpromise and underdeliver. Always try to be in a situation where you are underpromising and overdelivering.

[Clyde1998]

I do get what you say but thought it was best to let you all know why it was a screw up last year and fingers crossed they will learn from there mistakes. As a side note not all signings last year were terrible.
O Conner
R Williams
Ward
Marriott
Lane (who I think will still come good)
Kyerewaa
Rinhomota

We’re all good signings and on the money, I am sure I have missed someone. But it could have been so much better if they had pursued the original targets properly and communicated better.
As said yes it is June so fingers crossed they get it right and we are not rooting around in the clearance section in September.

I just think last summer was difficult for many reasons. Only a handful of players contracted so we needed to recruit a lot. In that context, do you really want to set a precedent for paying higher wages for your first 2 or 3 signings?

Then they barely knew their budget. They released a video about SMCP in August and basically admitted there that they had been figuring out as they went along. And also, the EFL were still micro managing our recruitment activity and we had to work to get them off our back.

Do you really expect them to come in and give out 4 or 5 top L1 contracts in that context?

It's different now. We know our squad, we know our budget. If we're prioritising 5 or 6 signings to improve the starting XI, hopefully we're in a position to offer what it takes.

So back to my initial point. I'll judge them in a couple of months.

The biggest mistake last season was expectations management. Top 6 was always going to be really difficult, but it was our public target from day 1. They probably could have presented last summer as a solid effort with the right messaging.

You’re right. So why did they come out with ‘spectacular transfer window’ and will be ‘really strong team from game one’ sound bites?

Our team on the opening fixture

Joel Pereira,
Kelvin Abrefa
Michael Stickland
Finley Burns
Jeriel Dorsett
Charlie Savage
Lewis Wing
Ben Elliott
Mamadi Camará
Mark O'Mahony
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan

If he had come out with something a little more reserved some of us might have a little more respect for them

Certainly that's not a team that should be challenging for the top six. Even the bench wasn't great: Jack Stevens; Andre Garcia; Matty Jacob; John Ryan; Liam Fraser; Daniel Kyerewaa; Paddy Lane.