Positions to Strengthen in January

[Royal_jimmy]

The new manager needs backing for the following:

I think we need 3 signings including 1 loan max.

GK: Al-Habsi isn't up to it and Bond has been shakey. I think we should look at McCarthy back on loan. He hasn't been playing at Palace and he needs first team action. Hopefully Bond will learn off a better keeper too.

DF: sign Taylor permanently. I think we are solid in defence for now.

Midfield: we need a left midfielder who can track back. We haven't had that since McAnuff left. I can't think of who might be ideal for this. I don't think Fosu is quite ready to be playing week in week out yet.

Striker: Zardes in as a long term solution to Vydra. I want Samuel back in the squad to compete with Sa. I'm still critical of signing him for that money when we could get a promising league 1 striker for £2m who will more likely be suited to us.

Unless we send some of our loanees back which is very possible now, I can't see us losing anyone.

What do you all think we need?

[3points]

Goalkeeper - obviously
Right back - Gunter has been shit for ages
midfield - another box to box player; sell Williams who's got the touch of a JCB
Centre forward - someone with pace and strength (Clayton Donaldson anyone?)

[From Despair To Where?]

GK

Absolute necessity

DEF

Sign Taylor permanently. If Chelsea want Hector back , pocket the compo and bring in a CB. With Ferdinand's injury record, we can't rely on just McShane, Ferdinand and Cooper. Could do with RB cover too

MID

Send Piazon back, sign someone on loan as cover for Quinn and Tshibola, although it looks like we may be signing Dillon Powers. Don't know if he could fulfil this role. I'd like us to sign Fernandez permanently but not sure where he'd fit in.

ATT

We need something different and Vydra won't be here next year. The 24 year old Zardes looks a better bet than the 31 year old Donaldson and can be got for similar money.

[Ian Royal]

Goalkeeper, right back - depending on Keown maybe, striker - maybe.

We should get Quinn and Tish back in the new year and there's still Kuhl, maybe his star will rise again with Clarke gone. So I don't think we really need another midfielder. If we can sort out the front 2/3/4 and play them consistently, I think we've got plenty there with Tanner and Cox possible recalls (I think). We've got plenty of wingers in McCleary, Hurtado and John, again with Stacey and Fosu possibly recallable. Hector's obviously not been great, but I don't think McShane's out long term and Ferdinand does seem to be fit, plus there's Cooper.

Making Taylor permanent and keeping hold of Fernandez is a must. Signing a defender if Hector goes to help Chelsea obviously. Piazon has a use, but I wouldn't be upset to see him leave. Hopefully the new manager will start getting a bit more out of Vydra. John needs to do much more to get signed permanently IMO.

[Lower West]

Midfield general to replace Williams and allow Norwood to push further up the pitch.

[sandman]

Will need a central defender as Chelsea are likely to want Hector back. That limits what we can do in other positions as we wouldn't have needed to bring someone else in to that position before Friday morning. Doubt there would be any compensation for Hector as they've already given us a transfer fee for him which should negate any reimbursement we might have received from a normal loan. Obviously Piazon will also go back, which on the pitch won't be a massive loss, so we might get some recompense for that. I'd be surprised if it's enough to be able to bring in anyone above League 2 level though so I would rather rely on the likes of Sweeney with Cooper stepping up to be 3rd choice (which imo he should be anyway) and hoping we don't get any injuries.

Not sure we'll be able to get a goalkeeper any better than what we've already got as that will cost money we now just don't have due to having to pay compensation to Clarke. If the Thais manage to scrape together some money out of the limited personal funds they have then signing a striker will have to go on hold as a keeper must be the priority. Samuel, Liburd and Cox can fill in up front until next summer and we will just have to hope Zardes and Powers will wait that long.

One thing we are lucky with and that will save us some money is that due to the morality of Reading fans we won't have to pay compensation to another club for a new manager as presumably there will be a backlash against any attempt to sign someone who would be disloyal to another club and join us. Although that rules Pearson out as we'd have to pay Leicester for their backroom staff.

[JIM]

Forwards without a doubt . If we are 2 or 3 goals up , a mishap by the GK wont be so tragic, If our goalscorers had been up to it on Thursday, we would be owning 3 more points

[Elm Park Old Boy]

Plenty of good players already at the club. We need some good coaching and a style of play. Some of Brian McD's team spirit wouldn't go amiss...

[Angry Shed Sex]

We need a goalkeeper and a goalkeeper.

That, a manager who can motivate and no injuries to key players and we'll be OK.

[CountryRoyal]

Ideally a first choice keeper, a right back, a striker.

Essentially a keeper.

[sandman]

Plenty of good players already at the club. We need some good coaching and a style of play. Some of Brian McD's team spirit wouldn't go amiss...

McDermott no please !! we need a big name coach

Has Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink done his coaching badges yet?

[Lower West]

Will need a central defender as Chelsea are likely to want Hector back.

No way up to premier league football standard yet.

[Lower West]

Forwards without a doubt . If we are 2 or 3 goals up , a mishap by the GK wont be so tragic, If our goalscorers had been up to it on Thursday, we would be owning 3 more points

Did we miss any real chances on Thursday.

[CountryRoyal]

Forwards without a doubt . If we are 2 or 3 goals up , a mishap by the GK wont be so tragic, If our goalscorers had been up to it on Thursday, we would be owning 3 more points

Did we miss any real chances on Thursday.

Yes.

Blackman in the the first half, HRK in the second and Hector's header from the corner.

All missed the target completely (obviously)

[sandman]

Will need a central defender as Chelsea are likely to want Hector back.

No way up to premier league football standard yet.

Doubt they'll take him back and put him in their team. They'll probably try and get him a loan in the PL.

[RG7Fan]

Will need a central defender as Chelsea are likely to want Hector back.

No way up to premier league football standard yet.

Should fit in well at Chelsea then given their current form.

He can go back as far as I am concerned, hes been distinctly shit all season, god knows why he was captain on Thursday. Hopefully he will be sharing a Taxi with Piazon.

Gunter has looked woeful too so a new right back would be good.

Trouble is with Ferdinand likely to be on the sick bed regularly an experienced CB is needed until McShane is back.

Not sure much needs to change up front - they're good players, etc. etc. HRK is now back as well - after 3 years of under performing he actually seems to be having a good season. The main thing any new manager needs to do is instil confidence, find a formation that works and then bloody well stick with it instead of changing things every match (unlike Clarke and Adkins).

[SCIAG]

god knows why he was captain on Thursday.

In that case HNA? must be populated by a hundred gods - he captained us because he's the vice captain and McShane was injured.

The only position we need to strengthen is goalkeeper. We're fine in every other position.

We should recall Kuhl and Tanner, that's two extra midfield bodies whilst Quinn and Tshibola are out. Tanner is probably the most natural Quinn-replacement in the squad. Given Ferdinand and McShane's injury records and Hector's dodgy form, I wouldn't say no to an extra centre back, but the right player would need to be available.

Other than that, we've got at least two players for every position - twelve for the left wing - so we should be fine.

[LoyalRoyal22]

A new first choice Goalkeeper , left back & centre forward

Send Hector, Taylor & Piazon back to there clubs. Try & offload Al-Habsi.

Recall Fosu & Samuel.

[CountryRoyal]

A new first choice Goalkeeper , left back & centre forward

Send Hector, Taylor & Piazon back to there clubs. Try & offload Al-Habsi.

Recall Fosu & Samuel.

[RG7Fan]

god knows why he was captain on Thursday.

In that case HNA? must be populated by a hundred gods - he captained us because he's the vice captain and McShane was injured.

The only position we need to strengthen is goalkeeper. We're fine in every other position.

We should recall Kuhl and Tanner, that's two extra midfield bodies whilst Quinn and Tshibola are out. Tanner is probably the most natural Quinn-replacement in the squad. Given Ferdinand and McShane's injury records and Hector's dodgy form, I wouldn't say no to an extra centre back, but the right player would need to be available.

Other than that, we've got at least two players for every position - twelve for the left wing - so we should be fine.

In that case god knows why he is vice captain ...

Given his performances before that match he should have been cleaning the toilets.