What Reading Need For Next Season: Defence

Reading could do with reinforcements at centre-back and left-back this summer.

Football’s a funny old game really, isn’t it? This time last year, we were upset at the relegation to League One, the first time we had been in such a seemingly lowly division for 20-odd years. And now, here we are, relieved to have been able to even stay in it.

However, stay in it we have managed to do, and now we need to start thinking ahead to next year and building on our strong finish. New owners are hopefully on their way soon, but it’s business as usual from a transfer perspective: we need to keep the wallet closed and operate in strict financial conditions with the wages that we can offer.

It’s not all bad though – it didn’t hurt us having a closed wallet last year, and we had the best summer-recruitment drive in recent memory in the same conditions. Not to mention, a year onwards, we have a solid base of a team with a clear tactical plan and new players, both to professional football and the club, with a season under their belts and ready to go again to push on next season.

Let’s explore some of those positions where we are light in numbers, due to loan departures, transfer departures or upgrades being required. Surprisingly, or maybe not, it’s not all over the pitch that we need reinforcements. Being the good sort that I am, I’ve even suggested a few names. However, being the cruelly unreasonable man that I am, I’m still asking for a lot. Up first…

Defence: The synopsis

I’ll include goalkeepers as part of our defence, as our style of play makes the goalkeeper a key part of the build-up from the back line. However, we don’t really need to recruit any goalkeepers or make any changes here. If anything, we have too many options and we need to focus on clearing out one or two names from the team sheet. I’d happily go into next season with Joel “El Gato” Pereira as our number one, with Coniah Boyce-Clarke and David Button giving us back-up options.

We have two viable options at right-back (Andy Yiadom and Kelvin Abrefa), so no major concerns there, but we could take a look at Jordan Williams of Barnsley, as Yiadom’s legs can’t last forever.

However, we need depth at centre-back and we really just need options at left-back, someone who is a natural fit. As such, centre-back and left-back will be the areas of focus.

Left-back

Ahh yes, the left side of the pitch. The troublesome left side. It’s not that Jeriel Dorsett has done anything wrong there, it’s more that he’s not a natural fit in this position. I really think we need to allow him to go centrally. Having him as a back-up option will be great, but not as first-choice starter at left-back.

Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images

Fortunately for us, we have options in abundance. Coming through the academy right now we have both John Clarke and John Ryan who have demonstrated versatility, tactical intelligence and the ability to cover ground. But we will still need other options.

Harrison Burrows

My absolute top recommendation: Harrison Burrows of Peterborough United. It seems Peterborough have an option for a further year on him, but it hasn’t yet been exercised, which seems unusual. Burrows recently won the League One Player of the Season award and is only 22 years old.

This season has seen the Peterborough captain score six goals and provide 14 assists in League One action, with another six goals in the Papa John’s Cup, which is astonishingly good really. He has recorded an 82.9% pass-accuracy rate, with 2 tackles, 1 interception, 1.7 clearances, 1.1 dribbles, 2 crosses and 2.6 key passes per game.

He is an incredible left-back and would nail down the position in this Reading team for years to come - if we could get him, which is a big ask, given he is attracting Championship-level interest.

Joseph Tomlinson

A close second is Joseph Tomlinson of League Two’s MK Dons, but it’s not clear regarding his contract expiration. It seems unlikely that it will expire a year after joining for a transfer fee but this season he has recorded an average per game of 1.8 key passes, 1.1 crosses, 76.7% passing accuracy, 1.3 tackles, 1.6 clearances and 0.6 interceptions per game, alongside seven goals and six assists, and is only 23.

It is absolutely worth exploring his contract situation as the opportunity to step up to League One will be appealing for Tomlinson, assuming MK Dons don’t qualify from the play-offs, given they have finished in the play-off places of League Two. Furthermore, at his age, he would be a great addition and appreciate the training facilities on offer with us, as well as the excellent coaching that could take his game to the next level.

Will Ferry

Will Ferry of Cheltenham TOwn is another player who catches the eye. He is able to play anywhere down the left of the pitch, however, I believe his playing style would be better suited as an offensive full-back as opposed to a defensive winger.

With Cheltenham succumbing to relegation at the end of this season, and at 23 years old, Reading will be an appealing proposition for the young man. League One-ready, he averages per game 2.2 tackles, 1 interception, 1.2 clearances, 1 dribble, 1.4 crosses and 1.3 key passes. The passing average of 63.1% will need work but his overall defensive contribution and offensive support are encouraging.

Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images

Deklan Wynne

This is something of a wild card but I am also quite intrigued by Deklan Wynne, who signed for Port Vale on a short-term deal until the end of the season. Seemingly, he has played most of his career in the MLS and hasn’t played a huge amount since the start of this season, having been released by his former side, Charleston.

He plays for the New Zealand national team and, at 29, has plenty of experience behind him. As well as this, he is a nominally attacking left-back and recorded three goals and seven assists in the 2021/22 season for Detroit City. And goal contributions from our left-backs is something we are sorely lacking.

Proposed options

Internal: John Clarke (Academy) and John Ryan (Academy)

External: Harrison Burrows (Peterborough United – free), Joseph Tomlinson (MK Dons – possibly free), Will Ferry (Cheltenham – free) and Deklan Wynne (Port Vale – free)

Centre-back

Tricky one this, really. The Bindon-Mbengue bromance has really blossomed into a solid pairing for us and any other options coming through will likely be a back-up to these two warriors. We probably need to source two additions, to give us sufficient cover for a season where we will see 46 league games as well as cup matches across the League Cup, FA Cup and Fizzy Pizza Car Cup.

As previously mentioned, I’m advocating for the move of Jeriel Dorsett to go centrally to give us a left-footed centre-back option, and I think his time in the left-back role will have aided both his mobility and passing range to help support progressive movements that we are being accustomed to from our defenders, as well as a solid physical presence.

I can’t be sure if Harlee Dean will be sticking around for next season, as he seems to be cut firmly adrift from the team. Truth be told, he doesn’t seem like a natural fit for us at the back, especially now Bindon’s aerial presence has drastically improved.

From the academy, we have two options that are knocking on the door: Louie Holzman and Michael Stickland. It’s a tough call to say who is more likely to break through, as while Stickland has featured more regularly for Noel Hunt’s side this season, Holzman has also had time out on loan.

Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Perhaps Holzman shades this, given his versatility as a defensive midfielder being a useful complement to our style of play, given he will likely be able to move the ball around well and link up play. Stickland, however, has also had a season to get familiar with the style of play so is also a good option to have around.

Outside of the RG2 family, I’m focussing on left-footed centre-backs here, and there is one who is firmly on my radar.

Cameron Burgess

Cameron Burgess of Ipswich Town is left-footed, 28, and has solid stats for a promotion-chasing side (1.2 interceptions per game, 4.6 clearances per game and 82.2% pass accuracy), and while Ipswich have the option to extend by a year, even if they didn’t, you’d feel that another Championship side would look to snap him up. However, we can dream here and be optimistic with our approaches.

Shawn Adewoye

I also like the look of Shawn Adewoye, who currently plies his trade for RKC Waalwijk in the Netherlands, who are currently fighting against relegation. This may not be the craziest move to make, as we have seen players from mid-ranking Dutch sides go to the Championship and succeed.

Adewoye is soon to be 24 years old, per game has registered 1.3 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 5.7 clearances, 1.3 blocks and a passing accuracy of 86.3%. He is right-footed, though. But I won’t hold that against him as he seems to be good in the air, winning 2.5 aerials per game on average.

Sam Stubbs

Sam Stubbs, son of former Everton stalwart Alan Stubbs, is recording some mega defensive performances in League Two as well. Averaging per game 5.7 aerials won, 1.7 tackles, 2 interceptions, 0.6 blocks, 4.1 clearances and a 74.3% passing accuracy. At 25, he could well be looking for a new challenge. Unfortunately, he’s another right footer.

Proposed options

Internal: Jeriel Dorsett (new role), Louie Holzman (academy) and Michael Stickland (academy).

External: Cameron Burgess (Ipswich – free), Shawn Adewoye (RKC Waalwijk – free), Sam Stubbs (Bradford – free)