The January transfer market is in full swing, with fans eagerly refreshing social media and watching the headlines to see if their team can sign an exciting striker or feisty midfielder.
Even Reading fans, who typically miss out on the excitement of transfer windows because to a long-standing embargo, saw a player walk through (back through) the door in Chem Campbell last week.
In recent years, Royals supporters have typically expressed frustration and disappointment in January, but this was not always the case.
While we wait for the window to close and the club to reopen, let us reflect on five of the best winter acquisitions of the modern period.
Jason Roberts, January 2012.
Roberts, a highly experienced striker who was routinely among the division’s top scorers lists in the 2000s, had previously played for Bristol Rovers, Wigan Athletic, and Blackburn Rovers.
After struggling to find game time in the first half of 2011/12, the 34-year-old was loaned out of the Premier League to promotion-chasing Reading, and it was a memorable debut.
After scoring on his debut against Bristol City, the striker went on to win his first eight matches in a row, contributing nine goals.
After finishing 2011/12 with six goals in 17 games and a Championship winners medal, the Grenada international was sidelined by injury following the club’s promotion to the Premier League, scoring a goal in a 7-5 defeat to Arsenal and making 12 appearances before retiring in 2013.
Seven goals in 29 appearances may not appear to be very influential on paper, but anyone who remembers the glory days under Brian McDermott will always hold Roberts in high respect.
After struggling to find game time in the first half of 2011/12, the 34-year-old was loaned out of the Premier League to promotion-chasing Reading, and it was a memorable debut.
After scoring on his debut against Bristol City, the striker went on to win his first eight matches in a row, contributing nine goals.
After finishing 2011/12 with six goals in 17 games and a Championship winners medal, the Grenada international was sidelined by injury following the club’s promotion to the Premier League, scoring a goal in a 7-5 defeat to Arsenal and making 12 appearances before retiring in 2013.
Seven goals in 29 appearances may not appear to be very influential on paper, but anyone who remembers the glory days under Brian McDermott will always hold Roberts in high respect.
Yann Kermorgant – January 2016.
Kermorgant, a Championship regular with Leicester City, Charlton Athletic, and Bournemouth, joined in 2016 as another striker in his twilight, much like Roberts four years before.
Taking more time to settle, the Frenchman only scored three goals in 17 appearances at the conclusion of the 2015/16 season, but it was in 2016/17 that the 35-year-old Kermorgant reached his best form and nearly propelled Reading to the Premier League.
His previous best individual season was 17 goals in 2014/15 as the Cherries won the Championship, but two years later, the conventional number nine went two better, scoring 19 times as Jaap Stam’s side finished third in the second division.
Set to retire, the forward signed a new short-term contract that included the following season, during which he scored just two goals, before hanging up his professional boots and returning to boyhood club Vannes in 2018.
The Class of 2019 The remaining three additions all occurred in a single month, as Jose Gomes reshaped the Royals to assure Championship survival in April. It was a remarkable comeback, with a World Cup winner and regular international on board.
Emiliano Martinez A young Arsenal player who made his debut at Reading in 2012, when the Royals notoriously threw away a 4-1 lead to lose 7-5, the custodian had five loan spells until moving to Berkshire in 2019.
After making 18 games and proving to be too excellent for the division, he returned to the Emirates and appeared 24 times before officially joining Aston Villa in 2020.Five years later, the Argentine owns a World Cup winner’s medal, was awarded FIFA Keeper of the Year, and has made nearly 200 appearances for the Villains, who are now Champions League hopefuls. All doable after being given the opportunity to impress with the Royals.
Nelson Oliviera
A prolific scorer in the Championship for Nottingham Forest and Norwich City, a falling out at Carrow Road provided the Portugal international the opportunity to join Reading. Hungry from the start and with a personality that fans liked, the forward only scored three goals in ten games during an injury-plagued stint, but all were crucial, including a late winner against Blackburn Rovers and the opener against Norwich’s rivals, Ipswich Town.
Matthew Miazga Miazga, one of numerous Chelsea youth Reading has loaned in over the years, gained top-flight experience in America, Holland, and France before driving down the M4. 18 appearances in the backend of 2018/19 were enough for the Royals to extend his contract for the entire 2019/20 season, as they did with Ovie Ejaira, allowing the American to make 24 more appearances and score twice.
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