Fans’ Verdict is back! Not just for the first time this season, but for the first time since November last year. I’m sure you all noticed that, right?
In all seriousness it’s great to be back writing these and delving into the post-match thoughts of you all because it means football has now returned in earnest. It’s been a sore miss for us all during the summer months.
However, it wasn’t the result we all wanted to start the campaign with, and we got a disjointed performance that never really looked
like being enough. There was plenty for the Loyal Royals to dig their teeth into though...
Football is back!
One of the main talking points was being spoken about even before a ball was kicked. We all - finally - woke up on a Saturday morning with a proper pre-match buzz.
Pre-season friendlies are all well and good, but nothing gets the juices flowing and the butterflies swirling like the opening day of the season - particularly the first one of the post-Dai Yongge era.
Despite the result not panning out the way we wanted it to, the fans were still delighted that the season has started...
#readingfc Rememeber this today... we almost didn't have a team to support for this opening fixture so let's just enjoy the football and back the team and see where it takes us
— Drawn2water (@drawn2water73) August 2, 2025
New season. New era. New false hope.
— Ed Ryding (@EdRyding) August 2, 2025
We again. UP THE DING #readingfc pic.twitter.com/JgtvuZAFrW
First opening day of the season without Dai Yongge
— Caroline Parker (@CazParker1871) August 2, 2025
3 months ago, I genuinely thought he'd still be here. We got so lucky.
Drink it in & come on URZ!#ReadingFC
The 2025/26 EFL Season. AND it’s LIVE.#readingfc pic.twitter.com/buKtG6SvEk
— Tom Hall (@TomWHall) August 2, 2025
New season starts today, let's go #readingfc
— Paul Simon carey (@PaulSimoncarey1) August 2, 2025
Not awfully confident for today, but confident for the season overall.
Season 24 for me, here we go again. Regardless of your thoughts on Couhig, just be relieved we have our club, we’re rid of Yongee and we can enjoy being a tinpot club once again #readingfc
— Cam Baker (@cambaker96) August 2, 2025
There were times last season where it truly felt it could’ve been any point we were saying this for the final time.
— Joe (@iJC106) August 2, 2025
But finally… #ReadingFC pic.twitter.com/HJzq41dux1
A disjointed performance
I mentioned in my match report that the performance, for me, was as frustrating as it was expected. This is a new team, with new profiles of players, that is nowhere near the final product.
The performance we got against Lincoln was indicative of that. Lapses of concentration at the back, a lack of fluidity or knowhow going forward, and all that culminated in a 2-0 loss.
It wasn’t what the fans wanted, but looking at some of the reaction it was the one some of the fans anticipated...
Today went sort of as expected, with the team top-light but good in the midfield. The midfield dominated for most of the game, but the attackers weren't really good enough to get on the end of it. And a slightly disjointed defence made a couple of errors.#LINREA #readingfc https://t.co/0knNzn1nEX
— ben... (@behyitersen) August 2, 2025
That was a tough watch, aimless and disjointed are words that spring to mind, can’t imagine next week will be much better #readingfc
— Paddy (@_Paddy_Smyth_) August 2, 2025
Cracking day out in Lincoln.
— Tom (@Tommymarc91) August 2, 2025
Lovely city and great pubs.
The football as expected was awful. We're still miles off where we need to be.
Need four or five players in ASAP#readingfc
not a great start but at the end of the day expected, teams needs time to gel as a result of late signings. think we have a much better chance at huddersfield on saturday with it being at home and then being in the same boat as us signings wise #readingfc
— OJ ©️ (@rfc_ollie) August 2, 2025
Well unfortunately that was largely what most Reading fans expected from today. Never really looked like we had anything going forward at all. Defensively looked like exactly what it is, a brand new back 4 that didn't know each other. More signings needed asap #readingfc
— Tom Maynard (@ttmaynard) August 2, 2025
Poor start to the season but was expected. Need 3/4 in before next weekend. Paddy looked good and sharp when he came, fully expect him to be starting next weekend #readingfc
— James Grant (@jamesgrant1992) August 2, 2025
The upcoming season
While opening-day results and performances are largely insignificant in the grand scheme of where we’ll end up come May, the nature of the beast that is following your football club means it’s easy to think the opposite.
Frustrations and tensions are raised in the fanbase at the moment, and have been for a little while due to inactivity in the transfer market and poor pre-season results. These worries have been compounded a bit it seems by Saturday’s result.
Some fans were calling for perspective while some aired their concerns...
We didn't play all that well that day either. I remember coming away from the ground thinking it would be a long old slog of a season & thought we'd overspent on Leroy Lita @ £1 million, rest is history as they say. Give it a few games before we write off our season. #readingfc https://t.co/LuDUPT69EG
— JRS (@JRSRoyal1871) August 2, 2025
That was such a predictable performance + result, which feels super frustrating.
— ReadingBetweenTheLines (@ReadingBTL) August 2, 2025
A lot of 6/10 performances, a couple of howlers, but the systemic issues remain the same as last season.
Let's not pass final judgement for a month or two. Bad start. #ReadingFC
First game was always gonna be tough with new personnel! We’ve learnt the finishing 11 were better than the first 11! We defo need another striker! Elliot looks promising. Lincoln are our bogey team. We lost the opener to Plymouth once & know how that season ended! #readingfc
— Sam Smit (@SamanthaSmit29) August 2, 2025
I don’t think that was a complete disaster, and I do expect August to be a difficult month. Once we get well into the season I want to see Hunty adopt a style of play/system that works. We’ll get better as the season progresses #readingfc
— Mark (@MarkHopgoo46439) August 2, 2025
Load of #readingfc fans livid about first game of the season. Watch oasis live, chill out and watch what the season has to bring
— Luke Thurlow (@luke_1871) August 2, 2025
Shocking and disappointing performance.
— Jack (@thesimpsonRFC) August 2, 2025
Really not surprising when the evidence has been there in pre season. Team look toothless in attack and get done so easily when a ball is played in behind
Players haven't learnt how not to switch off either #readingfc
Idk about others but there was nothing in that game which gave me hope for the rest of the season, absolutely no energy, looked woeful going forward and defence caught napping twice for the goals and they should’ve scored a 3rd from another long ball over the top #ReadingFC
— Ben (@benjxyy) August 2, 2025
Terrible performance, showing lack of depth up top, need to get the cheque book out this week otherwise this season will be a long season ahead of us, should of been 3-0, need a massive wake up call as Huddersfield will be just as tough #readingfc
— Miles (@Milesyyy12) August 2, 2025
Conclusion
A frustrating opening day of course, and losing always stings. But there are 45 league games to go and, hopefully, a fair few new faces to come through the door and add some high-quality reinforcement.
I think we need to be prepared - or as prepared as we possibly can be - for things to get more difficult before they get better though. Next up are Huddersfield Town, who have made some good signings and got a win against Leyton Orient at the weekend.
Beyond that too, it’s going to take time for everything to fall into place. We’re behind where we need and want to be, we all know it.
URZ.
