Reading Football Club News: August 2022
Rahman Returns On Season Long Loan
31 August 2022
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Baba Rahman has returned to the club after his loan spell with Reading last season. The Chelsea left-back re-joins on a loan that will run until the end of the current season. Rahman played 29 times for the Royals last season and will now play for Reading more than any other club in the 28-year-old's career. Rahman, a Ghana international, signed for Chelsea from Augsbury in 2015 for a massive 21.7 million pounds but has only made 23 appearances for Chelsea and spent most of this time out on loan while on Chelsea's books.
Brief Stay At Top Of The Table Over
30 August 2022
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading's brief stay at the top of the Championship was ended emphatically by Sheffield United who jumped over the Royals to the top of the table. It was a second 0-4 away defeat for the Royals after just seven league games as Reading were second best througout to a side with a lot of quality that would still be at home in the Premier League. Reading were undone at the start of each half. McBurnie put the home side ahead after just 11 minutes and even at that stage there appeared no way back for the Royals. Within a minute of the second half restart the lead was doubled and then it was a case of what the score would be rather than who would take the three points. Reading finished the match without registering a shot on target.
Reading Go Top Of The Championship
27 August 2022
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading are surprise Championship leaders in the early season after victory at Millwall made it four wins from six league games. The Royals were firm favourites for relegation at the start of the season
but find themselves top of the pile after Naby Sarr, making his first appearance after signing a four year contract, scored on his debut. Sarr's header after just 14 minutes was enough to win the game for Reading, although we should
have wrapped up the victory after both Hendrick and Long missed chances to double Reading's lead late on. Long looked to have sealed the victory but somehow put his shot wide, while the Millwall keeper was able to save Hendrick's
effort.
Sarr's goal was an impressive header after a free-kick from Tom Ince on the left side. Ince continues to impress, as does a very different group of players to last season who seem to have discovered some good form despite many
only just arriving at the club this summer. Reading were the better side thoughout with Millwall finding very few opportunities. A tough fixture away at Sheffield United follows, but after a solid start even a defeat will still
leave Reading in the right end of the table after seven games.
Who Are the New Royals?
26 August 2022
By Hob Nob Anyone?
So far, Reading FC has been busy in the transfer market this summer, bringing in eight new players. Major changes at the club were needed after last season saw the Royals narrowly escaping relegation, finishing 21st. Paul Ince was brought in as interim after Paunovic left by mutual consent due to a poor run of form. In May, Ince was confirmed as the permanent manager, and Mark Bowen also re-joined the club as Head of Football Operations. Together, they’ve been preparing the team for a new season in the Championship.
Already, Reading has gotten off to a good start this season, winning two of their three opening games. However, a 4-0 defeat to Rotherham left a bit of a sour taste. You can find all details of the new season online, including betting odds for the latest Championship games. Browsing from New Zealand? Kiwis should visit BonusFinder New Zealand to find the hottest offers.
Fans will be hoping that these new signings will bring a new lease of life to the club. Most deals are either loans or free transfers, as Reading need to fix the financial irregularities that cost them a six-point deduction last season. So, who are the new Royals?
Tom Ince
As the son of manager Paul Ince, fans might not be surprised to see Tom Ince joining on a free transfer from Stoke. Ince has played in the Championship for several seasons now and brings experience and depth to the right side of the attack. Considering the manager knows him well and he was a free transfer, Ince was a good option and will always work hard for the club.
Shane Long
Another free transfer, Shane Long played for Southampton in the Premier League last season and has bags of experience. He played for Reading FC back in 2011, spending three seasons with the Royals before joining West Brom. At 35 years old and with an extensive injury record, he might not get many games. However, he’s already scored once in two starts for Reading and played well for Bournemouth on loan in the Championship during the 2020-21 season.
Sam Hutchinson
Sam Hutchinson is a former Chelsea Academy graduate who now joins the Royals on a free transfer. Last season he played in League One for Sheffield Wednesday, making 28 appearances and helping them reach the playoffs. While he’s 33 years old, he can still be a strong presence in midfield for Reading.
Dean Bouzanis
Dean Bouzanis, an Australian goalkeeper, has signed a three-year deal with Reading. The 31-year-old played with Sutton United for the previous two seasons, assisting them in 2021 in gaining their first promotion to the EFL. He played in 53 games last year, which helped them finish seventh in League Two. Bouzanis is a much-needed goalkeeping option for Reading, who only had one senior shot-stopper remaining for the start of this season.
Nesta Guinness-Walker
22-year-old left-back Guinness-Walker joins Reading from Wimbledon on a free transfer. He made 35 appearances in League One last season and impressed manager Paul Ince during a spell training with the club over the summer. He’s now signed a one-year contract to keep him at Reading for the season and has a lot of potential.
Loan Deals
Aside from the permanent contracts that Reading FC has given to new players, several players have been brought in on loan this summer. These include Mamadou Loum, a 25-year-old defensive midfielder from Porto. There’s also Joe Lumley, a 27-year-old goalkeeper playing for Middlesborough and Tyrese Fornah. Fornah is a central midfielder who was playing for Nottingham Forest’s U21 team but could make senior appearances for Reading this season.
Sublime Fornah Strike Earns Three Points
20 August 2022
By Hob Nob Anyone?
A sublime strike from Tyrese Fornah in the twenty-eighth minute was enough to ensure Reading continued their impressive home form so far this season. For much of the game Reading were content to sit back and allow Middlesbrough pass the ball around in midfield and deny them space where it really mattered, in the final third of the pitch. As on Wednesday against Blackburn Rovers, Reading looked more direct and menacing when they attacked than the visitors. Having to rely on basically the same starting eleven for the second time in four days Reading looked understandably weary in the final ten minutes, but showed sufficient resolve to hold on to their slender lead for another clean sheet, and another three points. League tables mean very little after only four matches, but a top three spot is good for morale at any stage of the season.
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Reading Bounce Back From Rotherham Defeat
17 August 2022
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Blackburn Rovers arrived at The Select Car Leasing Stadium this evening sitting comfortably on top of the league with maximum points from their opening four games. They left, still in top spot, but without their 100% record in tact following a chastening defeat at the hands of a rampant Royals side with a point to prove after such a dismal performance against potential relegation candidates away at Rotherham United last week. For Reading, fielding an unchanged starting eleven from the previous fixture, it was quite a remarkable transformation.
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