Reading FC could follow Oxford United blueprint for 2024/25 success: View | OneFootball

The Royals could enjoy real success in a formation that Des Buckingham utilised during the latter stages of the 2023/24 campaign.

League One side Reading will be hoping to enjoy a successful 2024/25 season.

They have shown plenty of promise during pre-season, but they face a very difficult start to the season, with the Royals travelling to Birmingham City on the opening day of the season.

With Blues managing to build a strong squad, getting anything from that game will be a very difficult assignment, but they need to get points on the board quickly if they want to avoid the possibility of being involved in a relegation scrap.

Their ownership situation hasn't helped, with Rob Couhig's potential purchase of the club taking a lot longer than many had anticipated, with this uncertainty meaning that the Royals have been unable to make any signings this summer.

There are plenty of areas that need to be looked at, with their left-back situation causing them issues for a few years now.

The wing and striker areas also need to be looked at before the window closes - and unless they manage to bring in some players to provide squad depth - they may not enjoy the best 2024/25 season.

However, they have some talented players at their disposal and with some of their promising youngsters shining in pre-season, including Abraham Kanu, they will be hoping that they can do well, even if they can only make a few signings before the summer transfer window closes.

Oxford United won promotion from League One at the end of last term and the 4-1-4-1 system played a big part in that.

The Royals also used the same formation at times last season, but they could consider building on that now.

They certainly have the players to be a real success in that system - and there are definitely some similarities between the Berkshire side and the U's.

Both have a key player in central midfield.

Cameron Brannagan was a real asset as the deepest player in the 4-1-4-1 formation, with Tyler Goodrham and Ruben Rodrigues ahead of him.

Lewis Wing is similar to Brannagan, as a player who can pass the ball well, be a real difference in the final third and change games from set-pieces.

The U's other key player was in the wing area, with Josh Murphy proving to be a real asset during the latter stages of last season.

Murphy, like Femi Azeez, struggled at times during the 2023/24 campaign but finally managed to prove himself and Azeez could play a key role like that again during the upcoming season, having registered nine goals and nine assists for the Royals in all competitions last term.

Both teams certainly have gifted strikers too, with both Mark Harris and Sam Smith shining last season.

Some of the ingredients are there for the Royals to do well, but it's clear that more depth is needed.

In terms of their potential starting lineup though, Joel Pereira is a good asset to have between the sticks and they have a fairly good defence, with Jeriel Dorsett able to step up at left-back.

Wing can start as the deepest midfielder, with attacking duo Ben Elliott and Harvey Knibbs in front of him, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan on the left wing, Azeez on the right and Smith up top.

Ideally, the Berkshire side need a more orthodox option on the left wing, and they could potentially address this position later in the window if a sale goes through.

Key differences between Reading FC and Oxford United

There were a few key differences between the Royals and Oxford last term.

Firstly, their centre-back partnerships were very different, with Tyler Bindon and Amadou Mbengue still fairly inexperienced.

Bindon hadn't played in England before his move to the Royals last summer and Mbengue didn't even have a full season of English football under his belt at the start of last season.

Ciaron Brown and Elliott Moore have more experience - and both were mightily impressive for the U's at times last season.

Oxford also made a positive start to the season, unlike the Royals, who struggled majorly during the first half of the campaign.

If the latter want to be successful during the 2024/25 season, they need to be fairly consistent, but that may only happen on two conditions.