Momentum stalls with new arrivals

UPSETTING apple carts, grass being greener and fixing things that ain’t broke, is all of top concern at Reading this week.

Unusually for a Reading manager over the last three years, Leam Richardson finds himself spoilt for choice. He’s been given four new players in this January transfer window, but now the huge question is whether they are better options than he already had. The last couple of results are inconclusive, but if Reading don’t soon get back to winning ways, doubts will rise.

Immediately before Reading went on this spending spree they had won 13 points in five games and only conceded four goals. Since they started flashing the cash they’ve won two points in three games, conceding seven goals.

Hopefully it’s just a coincidence, demonstrates they’ve had tougher opponents recently and of course it takes time to bed in new players, but fans are impatient worriers. Beat Northampton on Saturday and everyone will relax, earnestly and wisely stating the four additions set things up perfectly. Lose though and everyone will be back to worrying about relegation and questioning the sense in disrupting a winning team.

For the 2-2 draw against Exeter on Tuesday night the back four was almost unrecognisable from the back four that was so mean during the good run over the festive period. Out went Yiadom and Burns and in came Ryan Nyambe and Hayden Roberts. Jeriel Dorsett switched from the left to play in the middle alongside Paudie O’Connor. You suspect Dorsett may now be replaced by Ben Ward, who arrived from Accrington Stanley this week. The important number 10 creator that sits behind Jack Marriott was switched from the impressive Kamari Doyle to newbie Will Keane.

It’s a sweeping change, that most impacts the youngsters who were on the edge of the first team. Michael Stickland, Andre Garcia, Kelvin Abrefa, Mamadi Camara and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan all played important roles getting Reading to seventh in League 1 last season. They are all young and have proved they can cope at this level. Certainly they needed support to get through a 46-game league campaign, but it will be a bit sad if they are jettisoned for older players who have been plying their trade at this level for many seasons.

The most concerning issue is that selecting good League 1 and 2 players ahead of talented youngsters who have come through the Reading academy could well backfire. Most observers would expect Garcia, Dorsett and Ehibhatiomhan to be far better players in 2028 than the older players drafted in recently.

Without being rude, the new signings look strong but lumbering, experienced but tired, grafting but workmanlike. The youngsters look like two-year-old racehorses; more frisky, excited and flamboyant. Yes, they’ll make mistakes the older players wouldn’t, but they’ll also scare the living daylights out of opponents.

If the manager comes up with the perfect blend he’ll enjoy some good times at Reading. He’ll be aware mixing the experienced new recruits with the existing youthful talent is make or break for him.