Beginning the season with defeat is by no means the end of the world, but serious questions will be asked of Jaap Stam’s Reading side following their opening day defeat to Queens Park Rangers.

The Royals travelled down the M4 with high expectations, but were handed a defeat by a QPR side who continued their struggles on the pitch last season through the transfer window, with just two new faces through the door of the club this summer.

Reading will improve as the season goes on, but the weekend’s defeat may come as a wake up call to Stam.

Where other clubs who finished in the top half last year have massively strengthened, it has taken Reading time to get going, and this defeat will perhaps convince Stam to hurry along his summer business.

Modou Barrow arrived late last week, and Royals fans can certaonly expect to see some more new faces faces at the Madejski before the transfer window slams shut next month.

With Yann Kermorgant entering his final year as a professional player, more striking options are required, and the club’s inability to find the net at Loftus Road further highlights their need for attacking reinforcements.

Reading won’t be in trouble this season by any means, but at this early stage, it is hard to see them challenging for a place in the top six.

Others have improved whereas Reading have remained stagnant, but fortunately for Stam there is still time to turn things around.

Perhaps I am getting a little carried away, I mean, we are only one game into the new season!

However, it is clear that Stam has an extreme amount work to do in the coming weeks if he is to take Reading further than he did last year.

What areas of your squad still need addressing, Reading fans?