'Jaap Stam had a dream' goes the new chant ringing around the Madejski Stadium at the moment, and that dream is certainly going well at the moment.

The Royals have had a better start to the season than anyone could have imagined, currently sitting in 5th in the Championship table, with winnable games against Wigan Athletic and Burton Albion coming up.

Stam deserves considerable credit for the wonderful job he's doing in Berkshire, and for the new signings which have turned Reading from a lacklustre mid-table side into Play-Off hopefuls.

If you look at the players who played last season, and their performances this season then you'd be forgiven for thinking you were watching a different set of players.

Ali Al-Habsi has been incredible in between the sticks and Paul McShane epitomises the team's spirit.

Here are TWO players Reading fans would be devastated to see leave in January.....

 

Danny Williams

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 The American international has undoubted quality, but hasn't always shown this ability on a consistent basis throughout his time at Reading.

However, in Jaap Stam's 4-3-3 system Williams has excelled on the right or left of the midfield trio playing in the box-to-box midfielder role, and has become one of the first names on the teamsheet for the Royals.

However, with his contract up at the end of the year and murmurs from his agent about a move away from the 'Mad Stad',

Reading fans are becoming increasingly worried about their chances of keeping him for another year.

Garath McCleary

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McCleary is one of the top players at the club when he's on form, but the Jamaican winger has failed to really hit top form for a couple of seasons.

However, it looks like the Jamaican is finally getting back to his best, and a goal against Nottingham Forest in the last game shows he's nowhere near finished yet.

If he can keep up this form then Reading could be set for a great season, but interest for the former Forest winger will be high if he keeps putting in the performances he's be putting in lately.