Reading roll dice with five signings

AS February arrives we can all breath an almighty sigh of relief. For some, that’s because they can hit the bottle again. Others like seeing snowdrops and crocuses appear. We all enjoy a bit more daylight as we inch towards spring. For folk in football it is because the January transfer window is closed, and with it go the rumours, the phone calls, agents trying to broker ludicrous deals and instability for every player and club.

This January was Reading’s most active month in many years when it comes to transfer dealings. Five new players arrived and only one departed. Nowadays every deal is for an “undisclosed fee”, making it impossible to evaluate whether business was good or bad for outsiders, but I think we should assume five new arrivals represents good work from the owner. A few of us have been pleasantly surprised by his injection of enthusiasm and cash.

Hopefully Reading made good money from Andre Garcia’s departure to Club Brugges, in Belgium. At 18, and with more than 50 appearances for Reading under his belt already, he could be a real star of the future. The quality of his performances as a 16-year-old left back were outrageous. Since then two managerial changes, some position shifting and bit part involvement have stalled his development, but hopefully he can fulfil his potential in Belgium, and hopefully Reading have included a sell-on clause, so they reap some reward for when he moves on to bigger and better things.

Kadan Young, a 20-year-old Aston Villa winger arrived at the 11th hour, just before the transfer window was bolted shut till the summer. He’s on loan until the end of the season. At a more leisurely pace Haydon Roberts, Ryan Nyambe, Will Keane and Benn Ward all arrived. A winger, a striker and three defenders, all arriving to add some impetus to Reading’s play off charge. Reading fans just aren’t used to this.

Now manager Leam Richardson has a realistic chance of success. He needs to get that experience firing fast as there are only 18 games remaining. They need to reduce the eight point gap between themselves and the top six and then hope Reading’s play off fortunes turn. As everyone who follows Reading closely is aware, the club has never been promoted through the play offs. Forget automatic promotion. There’s no way Reading can make up the 18 points to second place now.

Right now Reading are 10th, and about as mid table as is possible, nine points above the relegation zone, and eight points below the play offs. In all probability Reading will end up mid table, but there’s just a chance the new players click and hit form, starting with a win at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday. That marks the start of five games in 15 days that will make or break the club’s season. At the end of that we’ll know whether we’re dealing in promotion hopes, mid table tedium or a relegation fight. The five new players will largely be accountable for whatever happens.