Reading Must Give A Thought About Signing Lewis Grabban Permanently
Reading, under the expert tutelage of former Manchester United and Holland defender Jaap Stam, have had a great season and look well-placed to book a play-off place come May. Their main feature has been the attractive, open style of play, which has left them vulnerable at the back at times, but does ensure they create plenty of chances going forward.
To bolster thir attacking threat in January, Stam brought in Bournemouth striker Lewis Grabban who had joined the Cherries after having helped Norwich gain promotion via the play-offs a couple of seasons ago. Since then, he has found himself down the pecking order at Dean Court and as such was open to a new challenge in the upper echelons of the Championship, albeit on loan for now.
Grabban’s record of 12 goals and 4 assists for Norwich at Championship level in 2014/15 shows that he has the quality to complement the excellent Yann Kermorgant at the Madejski Stadium and at 29, he is a player who should now be at his peak in this position, meaning he will be battle-hardened and can handle the rough and tumbles of the play-off promotion push.
Grabban and Kermorgant have in fact formed a fine partnership before at this level when they both played at Bournemouth. A fine record of 36 goals scored between them that season is surely a standout stat. Grabban, in fact, got 22 of them, meaning he may well be in a position to lead the way in their partnership between now and the end of the season.
This piece of history, allied with his successful promotion charge at Norwich, means Grabban has become a top-end Championship specialist and despite dalliances with the Premier League, both the player and his new club should look to capitalise on that valuable experience.
Should Reading remain in the play-off positions and if Grabban and Kermorgant once again hit it off, the club would surely do well by attempting to keep the man from Croydon permanently. There is a lot to be said for having a great understanding in football and Reading are hardly the sort of club that can afford to throw away such a potent attacking threat.
Bournemouth have at their disposal, the likes of Callum Wilson, Josh King, Benik Afobe, Jordan Ibe and Ryan Fraser who all look capable of getting goals at Premier League level. With this in mind, should Bournemouth manage to resist a mass clear-out in this department, which they probably would, then Grabban could once again be surplus to requirements. He would be available at an affordable price. Reading would do well to capitalise on such an outcome.