What Reading Need For Next Season: Attack

Alex looks into how the forward positions are shaping up ahead of this summer’s recruitment.

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.

Having already looked at the defence and midfield, in this article attention turns to the attack.

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Attack: The synopsis

I’ve planned this out where the wingers form part of the attack - a trident, if you will. And there’s not much to say here other than we really need strength in depth across all the attacking positions. We don’t have the numbers, first and foremost, and we also haven’t been able to convert enough of our chances into goals during the course of the 2023/24 season. Some new blood with good strike rates could really help us improve on that.

On the right wing, we need someone to be challenging Femi Azeez - who blows hot and cold for us - and perhaps needs some competition to keep him motivated to perform or give him a break from time to time. It may seem a little harsh, and perhaps it is given that this was his breakout season, but our over-reliance on his availability, whether he’s in-form or not, is not ideal for us. Of course, this is all dependent on whether he stays, with the chance he’s sold this summer.

On the left wing, with Paul Mukairu returning to his parent club, we only really have Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan as an option. He’s doing a job there, but it doesn’t feel like a natural position and, at best, he’s been a good impact substitute in that role. We really need a couple of players to draft into that part of the field to give us more options who can make an impact.

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Lastly, Sam Smith up top is really ploughing a lone furrow. He’s often struggling to get the service or to get involved in games, but does contribute with a healthy number of goals. However, we are one injury away from not having a natural replacement for him, despite the previously mentioned Ehibhatiomhan and also Jayden Wareham available.

And, for all the things that Smith does for us, he’s not a guaranteed ‘20 plus goals a season’ striker. He’s an all-rounder who contributes to the wider play of the game and links up play. Perhaps he’d do well as 10. Who knows. But what we do know is that we need more options up top to compete with him.

Right wing

Another troublesome position, in that we only really seem to have one option with Azeez (for now) and we can’t rely on him not getting injured every year, so he needs back-up or support. We are very vulnerable if we lose him.

From an academy perspective, we have a few options but none that I am aware of as being naturally left-footed. Adrian Akande seems to be the most viable option available in this role, given he typically operates here for Noel Hunt’s side. Akande has scored three in his last three for the under-21s (Berks & Bucks Cup, Premier League 2 playoffs) and has shown his ability to be versatile, playing anywhere across the front three, which is a useful skill to have.

Karamoko Dembélé

One option that we could look to explore, again with the loan market, is Karamoko Dembélé. He’s currently at Blackpool, on loan from Brest. Fans may remember him scoring after four minutes against us on the final day of the season. This season, the left-footed right-winger has registered nine goals and 13 assists in 46 appearances and is also able to operate as a number 10. He has big numbers for goal contributions, he is able to play in a number of different roles and is also young, only 21 years old.

If Brest want to give him another season out on loan to continue his development, then Reading could be a good place for him to do that. His attacking output and link-up play certain would be a great addition to this team. And, frankly, since Brest are currently fourth in Ligue Un, they’ll probably be alright without him for another season.

Jack Nolan

Left-footed right wingers are hard to come by, so there’s not many available options for us to review here. Especially options that are either loan-ready or have a contract situation that we can take advantage of, given our transfer restrictions on playing cash money for players.

And do you know what? We don’t need many options because Jack Nolan looks like the real deal. And do you know what else? He’s a former academy player for us. Currently playing his trade in League Two with a struggling Accrington Stanley, he’s still contributed an astonishing 17 goals and 14 assists from the right wing in all competitions.

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Again, bear in mind this is a struggling team in 18th place and goal contributions being provided by a 22-year-old. He’s got great potential but he’s ready to step up to League One now.

Nolan is outperforming his xG (expected goals), makes two crosses and two key passes per game, and has a pass accuracy of 70.5%, which I think will improve in a better side. From a defensive viewpoint, 0.9 tackles per game is a good place to start with helping to support the defence. I think he could be a pivotal signing for us, if he can be tempted to return.

Proposed options

Internal: Adrian Akande (academy).

External: Karamoko Dembélé (loan – Brest) and Jack Nolan (Accrington Stanley – free).

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Left Wing

Ctrl + C… Ctrl + V… ahh yes, the left side of the pitch. The troublesome left side. This is obviously an area of the pitch that needs a consistent option and I think nailing down a more regular first-choice left-back who is capable of the overlapping runs will play a big part in laying the foundation for this.

Perhaps this is even what Ehibhatiomhan needs in order to continue growing into the role. However, I really feel that he is best utilised on the left wing as an impact substitute, if left wing is where we will continue to deploy him again next season.

Delving into the academy treasure trove, the likes of Akande jump out once again. However, I’ve nominated him for the right flank, so instead, I’ll tentatively highlight the virtues of Mamadi Camara and Jeremiah Okine-Peters as options. I still feel that either a season out on loan or another year as starters in the under-21s side, as opposed to being impact subs, are what they really need to kick on with their development.

But, then again, Caylan Vickers appeared out of nowhere, so sometimes you just have to forget logic or reasoning. A goal in the Berks & Bucks Cup final against Marlow certainly show that there is some talent bubbling away under the surface there with Okine-Peters.

Ephron Mason-Clark

Looking outside of the club, the first of two loan suggestions for the left wing is Ephron Mason-Clark. The Coventry City loanee, currently plying his trade with Peterborough United, has had a really productive season in front of goal, having registered 18 goals and seven assists. He also has a great pass-success rate at 80.4%, and averages two key passes and 2.9 shots per game. So he is League One proven and established.

Mason-Clark’s game is clearly based around his attacking output, but there are some encouraging signs with the 1.2 tackles and 0.6 aerials won per game. However, it is entirely possible that Coventry City will have taken note of his performances this season and seek to integrate him into the first team there. But if you don’t ask then you don’t get.

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Martial Godo

The second loan-signing suggestion, Martial Godo is currently signed to Fulham but is playing for Wigan Athletic this season, so is another player who is League One-ready and established. While not quite as productive in front of goal as Mason-Clark, he still has a respectable four goals and five assists and, at 21, will continue to improve with regular football.

In his per-game stats, 1.9 dribbles, 1.2 tackles and (pretty much) 1 key pass per game are a good starting point and the highlight of a pass-success rate of 86.4% stands out. The defensive game again needs some work, but this can be developed. It seems like his pathway to the Fulham first team remains blocked for now, so a loan to a club like Reading would present a good option for his continued development.

Proposed options

Internal: Jeremiah Okine-Peters (academy), Mamadi Camara (academy) and Adrian Akande (academy).

External: Ephron Mason-Clark (Coventry City – loan) and Martial Godo (Fulham – loan).

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Striker

Can I say Wareham? Would it be cheating a bit? No, I can’t? Curse you, moral compass. Smith has been an absolute ever-present for us this season since shaking off a start-of-season injury, and has been a real focal point for us in the attack.

However, we seem to lack someone who has the ability to both lead the line, link the play with the midfield and have the ability to regularly score goals. Even Smith doesn’t seem to be a ‘20 goal a season’ type of striker at this stage of his career.

Of course, Wareham has been banging in goals for the under-21s this season for fun and is now knocking on the door of the first team, regularly being named on the bench and starting to make more appearances. Perhaps it could also be a good opportunity to revisit Basil Tuma, who has also had a steady goalscoring season in the under-21s side.

However, finding strikers available on a free transfer who are guaranteed to deliver goals is a challenge at any level, let alone in League One. Maybe we could give Kylian Mbappe a call? If he’s not busy, he could be handy for a goal or two. If the step-up to League One is a bit too steep for him, then I’ve still managed to find a few options.

Dom Ballard

Outside of the club, I’d like us to explore the loan re-signing of Dom Ballard. Injury unfortunately cut his spell short with us this season, after 12 appearances brought us five goals and two assists. It really felt like the injury curtailed him just as he was beginning to make a real impression on the starting XI. Returning from serious injury, it feels that he may not be ready to compete at Championship level, or indeed perhaps even Premier League level, with Southampton.

A club close to home, with coaching staff he knows, in an environment he knows, to help him get his mojo back, could be just the ticket for him, as well as us. Not to mention, he has the ability to play off the left too. It’s surely a move that would suit all parties, to attend to unfinished business. He could also be an option on the left wing too, where he occasionally featured for us.

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Devante Cole

Devante Cole is the elder statesmen of these options, having just entered his prime footballing years at the age of 28. He’s League One-proven and has had a productive season in front of goal with 18 goals in total for the 2023/24 season. He’s gone somewhat off the boil in the second half of the season for Barnsley, but I am hoping this is because he is seeking pastures new.

His stats tell us that he scores goals, and can demonstrate consistency in this metric too, given he scored 15 in League One last season. He also wins headers, gets off shots and generally scores the chances that he should be scoring, given he has an xG of -0.9, so he has only missed one goal he should have scored, and this can be attributed to his end-of-season slump in form, as well as Barnsley’s.

Proposed options

Internal: Jayden Wareham (probably) and Basil Tuma (academy).

External: Dom Ballard (Southampton – loan), Devante Cole (Barnsley – free).