Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Reading

Reading

Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Reading

Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Reading

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Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Reading

Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Reading

Odds: 2500/1

Last Five Seasons

2005/06 - 1 (Championship, Promoted), 2004/05 - 7 (Championship), 2003/04 - 9 (Championship),

2002/03 - 4 (Championship), 2001/02 - 2 (League One, Promoted).

2005/06 Cup Progress

Fa Cup Fourth Round (replay) vs Birmingham City (a) - lost 2-1.

Carling Cup Fourth Round vs Arsenal (a) - lost 3-0.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Dave Kitson (striker) - 22 goals.

Players In

Seol Ki-Hyeon (Wolves - £1,500,000), Sam Sodje (Brentford - £350,000), Graham Stack (Arsenal - Loan).

Players Out

John Mullins (Mansfield Town - Free), Jamie Young (Wycombe Wanderers - Free), Ryan Crockford (Released), Conor Sinnott (Released), Darren Campbell (Released), Ryan Catney (Released), Simieon Howell (Released).

Reading stormed the Championship last season and lost just two league matches all campaign, incidentally the curtain raiser at home to Plymouth Argyle and then Luton Town in February - which left a mammoth 33 match unbeaten run in between.

The Premiership will be a much tougher level to play at and owner Steve Coppell seems content to give his current squad a fAir crack of the whip since he has not been prolific in the replaceMent shop this summer.

Wolves striker Seol Ki-Hyeon has been the Royals' most costly acquisition at ain introductory £1 million rising potentially by a suppleMentary £500,000. The South Korean signed for the Midlands outfit from Anderlecht two summers ago in a £1.2 million transfer.

Brentford defender joined an exodus of players leaving Griffin Park and bought himself a ticket to Premiership football in a £350,000 transfer. The Nigerian international has gone from non league football with Margate to top flight football in just two seasons, production 100 appearances for Brentford in between.

Coppell has also shown interest in £3.5 million rated Ghana centre back John Mensah, contracted to Rennes and who impressed during the World Cup and gave a trial to Cameroon defender Andre Bikey, ready on a free replacement from Lokomotiv Moscow.

Left back Nicky Shorey, who made the professional Footballers' Association's Championship team of last season, signed a two year contract prolongation to tie him to the club until 2009 while winger Bobby carry agreed a new three year deal after being granted a work permit. The 23 year old featured in all three of the Usa's matches in the World Cup.

Verdict

Reading will take heart from the perfect first season's both Wigan Athletic and West Ham United enjoyed last term, although both side's spent a lot more money than the Royals have done presently. The club may also be without the services of contract rebel Steve Sidwell, who rejected the offer of a new deal to stay at the Madjeski Stadium.

Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Reading

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