Realistic January CF targets

[WestYorksRoyal]

If you had a poll of which position needs strengthening, I think CF would be the runaway winner, perhaps with LB second.

What realistic options could we go for in January? I'm going to rule out a Sam Smith return. He comes off the bench for Wrexham most games, and even started a league game a few weeks ago. Ryan Hardie, however, barely features at all....

January is always hard to call, players are generally more expensive. But you will get a few who went into the season with expectations which have simply not been met by January, and they are the opportunity. An out of favour loan or Kermogant style signing is better than looking at L2 where teams will fight tooth and nail to keep their best players mid season.

[Hound]

Good question

Hardie is probably available and a good player but despite being 6ft2 apparently doesn’t sound much like a target man. More about pace - no bad thing and I’d be happy enough if he came but not quite the sort of player I’d expect

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Don't worry, the AI scouting system Reading is piloting will unearth an unpolished gem from the Uzbekistan second tier.

[stealthpapes]

LB we are OK, right?

Anyway, assuming MOM teturns, we’re going to need more than one there. Not going to think about names yet but try to pin down attributes and style.

Someone older, wiser, likely more of an aerial threat and/or good at hold up play. Look at players not getting L1 or Championship time.

That’s the priority, as KE and Marriott should both be able to play off, plus could lead line with two wider players.

If possible, then someone with pace to burn. We may already actually have this player in the extended squad, so would not be upset if the right youth player gets opportunities.

[stealthpapes]

That went well.

[stealthpapes]

[Hound]

Guess the first place to look would be someone who LR has managed before and done a good job. Though I suspect he has a pretty long list of potential targets

Kelvin has actually done pretty well there imo but can’t see him being robust enough to last the season doing it on his own

Agree the profile would for me would be someone older and experienced. No one comes to mind particularly though, but I guess someone similar to Smith (but wont be him)

[Brogue]

Think we need two CF tbh. Kelvin isnt the answer, and MOM should go back in jan A big man for sure, and another. I'd take a punt on Ollie Pearce at York.

[Snowflake Royal]

GK: Pereira, Stevens, Rowley/Norcott - fine
RB: Abrefa, Yiadom, Ahmed, Rino, Ritchie - great
LB: Dorsett, Jacob, Ryan, Garcia, R Williams - fine
CB: O'Connor, Burns, Stickland - iffy cover
CB: D Williams, Dorsett, Kanu, Borgnis - iffy cover
MC: Wing, Fraser, Spencer - fine
MC: Savage, Rino, Sackey, Borgnis - fine
AM: Elliott, Doyle - weak
RW: Ritchie, Kyerewaa, Garcia, Osho - fine
LW: Lane, Ehibhatiomhan, R Williams, Camara - fine
ST: Marriott, Ehibhatiomhan, O'Mahoney, Patton - weak

For me it's:
Send back O'Mahoney, Burns and Doyle.

We could send back Jacob without recruiting.

Which means bring in at least one striker, an AM and maybe a CB.

Possible loans out for Stickers and Ryan. Maybe Camara.

[Clyde1998]

When Hunt was sacked, I thought we had three major weaknesses in the squad: striker (possibly two being needed); a ball-winning central midfielder and left-back.

I'd say we're now fine at left-back, especially after the signing of Randall Williams and the improvements of Jeriel Dorsett there; Garcia being back from injury also helps. Agree Jacob could possibly be returned to Hull, should we so wish, without us having to get in a replacement. Although a temporary replacement would probably be worthwhile, it's a position that should be properly re-evaluated in the summer. Yiadom also came on at left-back at Blackpool, so wouldn't be surprised to see him (or Abrefa) play there should it be required.

We've signed Rinomhota, who should address the ball-winning midfielder issue. When Fraser returns from injury, he may well be another potential solution.

I've been saying for a while we need a Sam Smith/Jayden Wareham-style striker: someone who'll run about, be a nuisance to defenders and can score goals when presented with opportunities. I also think we'd benefit from a Lyndon Dykes-style target man. I don't know who's specifically available, but that's the profile of striker I think we need.

I can't see either Smith nor Dykes (directly) being viable options in January, despite their relative lack of game time. Both are now almost certainly on wages too high for us to be able to afford them, even on loan - unless either Wrexham or Birmingham are willing to pay a sizable amount of their wages in that instance. Both are also squad players at their respective clubs, so neither would likely be available anyway unless they make a signing in that area.

[Hound]

GK: Pereira, Stevens, Rowley/Norcott - fine
RB: Abrefa, Yiadom, Ahmed, Rino, Ritchie - great
LB: Dorsett, Jacob, Ryan, Garcia, R Williams - fine
CB: O'Connor, Burns, Stickland - iffy cover
CB: D Williams, Dorsett, Kanu, Borgnis - iffy cover
MC: Wing, Fraser, Spencer - fine
MC: Savage, Rino, Sackey, Borgnis - fine
AM: Elliott, Doyle - weak
RW: Ritchie, Kyerewaa, Garcia, Osho - fine
LW: Lane, Ehibhatiomhan, R Williams, Camara - fine
ST: Marriott, Ehibhatiomhan, O'Mahoney, Patton - weak

For me it's:
Send back O'Mahoney, Burns and Doyle.

We could send back Jacob without recruiting.

Which means bring in at least one striker, an AM and maybe a CB.

Possible loans out for Stickers and Ryan. Maybe Camara.

Would agree broadly with all of this. I think Doyle is maybe improving a little bit but not enough….yet at least

[linkenholtroyal]

So…. Paul Mullin has been sent back by Bolton.. Wrexham want to send him back out on loan. Would he do as Marriott back up temporarily until we can get a permanent signing in the summer?

[Hound]

So…. Paul Mullin has been sent back by Bolton.. Wrexham want to send him back out on loan. Would he do as Marriott back up temporarily until we can get a permanent signing in the summer?

Nope. Wrexham didn’t think he was good enough and Wigan sending back so why would we want him?

Would be a bit more interested in Ryan Hardie if he was available though

[Pepe the Horseman]

So…. Paul Mullin has been sent back by Bolton.. Wrexham want to send him back out on loan. Would he do as Marriott back up temporarily until we can get a permanent signing in the summer?

Nope. Wrexham didn’t think he was good enough and Wigan sending back so why would we want him?

Would be a bit more interested in Ryan Hardie if he was available though

Yeh, was awful for Wigan by all accounts.

[Sutekh]

So…. Paul Mullin has been sent back by Bolton.. Wrexham want to send him back out on loan. Would he do as Marriott back up temporarily until we can get a permanent signing in the summer?

Nope. Wrexham didn’t think he was good enough and Wigan sending back so why would we want him?

Would be a bit more interested in Ryan Hardie if he was available though

Yeh, was awful for Wigan by all accounts.

Scored 4 in 7(13) appearances so has the right sort of strike rate for a Reading signing.

What happened to RossCountyMan?

[Hound]

Not a bad scoring record there tbf but suspect he didn’t offer anything much else. Not what we need anyway imo

[donh99]

Hopefully we can offer Randell Williams a proper contract or extension as the current deal expires this month.

[LightwaterRoyal]

If we can bring in a player like Jason Roberts we could aim for playoffs, maybe higher. Remember the way he used to turn players, don't think we've ever had a player come in that has had such an immediate impact before or since.

I'd like to see us sign this kind of player, bring them in for Ritchie and move Doyle to the wing. I ocasionally see Kelvin filling this role but he's just isn't physical enough, maybe it'll come as this seems to be the only part of his game holding him back from being world class.

On to my shortlist

Ross Stewart - Southampton. 28 years old, 6 foot 2, 36 goals in 70 games for Sunderland. Out of contract in the summer. Coming back from a hamstring injury soon.

Michael Fry - QPR. 31 years old. 6 foot 2. 31 goals in 53 games for Antwerp. Been made available by QPR.

Ryan Hardie - Wrexham. 28 years old. 6 foot 2.

Sam Gallagher - Stoke. 30 years old. 6 foot 4.

Lyndon Dykes - QPR. Heavily linked with Charlton so probably unlikely.

Punts:

Damion Downs - Southampton. 21 years old. 6 foot 4. Could be available on loan.

Daryl Dike - WBA. 25 years old, 6 foot 2. Suffered with injuries, out of contract in the summer.

[Sutekh]

Like the sound of Ross Stewart esp. as he’s fallen off the radar since joining the saints, talking of falling off the radar, what became of Sam Surridge?

[Hound]

Gallagher/Frey/Stewart would all be very good but not sure how realistic they are. Dykes as well probably

Hardie will prob come down to L1 again. Dike seems forever injured