Football Season Guide

Last season ended in bitter recriminations as Reading missed out on a place in the League One play-offs. The primary target of the supporter’s ire was manager Leam Richardson, whose style of football was seen as regressive and lacking in any sort of excitement. The secondary targets were the new owners, predominately American investor Rob Couhig. Criticisms included not having invested sufficiently in the first-team squad, whilst having too-close an association with former club and neighbours Wycombe Wanderers. Such angst is surprising, given the ownership rescued a club considered close to administration from the clutches of the despised Dai Yongge. The irony is that a talented group of players had graduated from the club’s much-vaunted academy and propped up the team in the last couple of years of Yongge’s reign. Without them a second relegation to League Two would have been far more likely. Michael Olise is without doubt the standout graduate of that academy, followed by the likes of Amadou Mbengue, Tyler Bindon and Femi Azeez. All of whom had left the club when Richardson replaced Noel Hunt in December. Whilst there was clearly talent in the middle of the park in the likes of Charlie Savage and Lewis Wing by the spring there was a growing sense that they had become a “one-man team” due to the form and goals of striker Jack Marriott. His season was ended by a hamstring injury and everything unravelled. Two victories in the final eleven league matches saw the side finish in 12th place, twelve points off the play-offs. If patience is a virtue then it is severely lacking in Reading as fans screamed for Richardson’s head. Couhig has shown loyalty this summer and will be given the chance to prove his doubters wrong. He’ll need to make a good start to the new season; however he’s already been dealt a blow with Marriott breaking down again in pre-season. A statement signing was needed and it came with the capture of highly-rated winger Kyreece Lisbie, with a significant fee paid to Colchester United for his services. Centre-back Udoka Godwin-Malifé, midfield playmaker Josh Stokes and striker Jacob Brown have also been signed and look good additions, with plenty of experience. There have been no notable departures either, midfielder Kamari Doyle performed well but was always going to return his parent club and Stokes is his replacement.