With the decade drawing to a close, we have taken a look back over the last ten years at the players who disappointed the most after arriving at the Madejski.

For this team, we have excluded any current players and factored in the expectation and excitement that surrounded the players after their arrivals.

We've also considered the potential of the players and the careers they have had since departing.

Goalkeeper – Anssi Jaakkola

A harsh inclusion, Jaakkola’s career never really took off at the Madejski.

Arriving at the Madejski Stadium in 2016, the Finnish goalkeeper only made a total of 20 appearances for Reading before being released last summer.

As mentioned above, this was a harsh inclusion. The goalkeeper spot has been one that’s been consistently filled with quality this decade, with the likes of Adam Federici, Alex McCarthy, Ali Al-Habsi and Emiliano Martinez all showing their class between the sticks.

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CB – Daniel Carrico

The first case of ‘what could have been’ on this list.

Carrico joined Reading in January 2013 and on paper looked like a solid acquisition, joining from Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon as Reading looked to add to their defensive armoury in order to maintain their Premier League status.

However, Carrico only totalled 87 minutes on the pitch for the Royals and Reading returned to the Championship after just one year in the topflight.

Since then, he has returned to Sevilla and helped the Spanish club win three consecutive Europa League titles.

CB – Tiago Ilori

Another Portuguese centre-back, the arrival of Ilori excited a lot of Reading fans when he arrived in January 2017 for a reported £3.75m.

When he arrived, Jaap Stam’s side were pushing for promotion and Ilori looked like a very exciting young signing.

However, he left to return to Sporting Lisbon – where he had initially started his career before joining Liverpool - with Reading two points from safety.

A big name who didn’t make the impact most people expected at Reading.

RB – Adrian Mariappa

Although Mariappa didn’t have the most illustrious of spells at the Madejski, playing just 29 times, I think he is a man who could’ve offered the Royals a lot more.

If you take into the consideration that he has appeared in the Premiership 54 times in the last two seasons, having left Reading in 2013, Mariappa's quality speaks for itself. 

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LB – Marcus Williams

Williams joined Reading from Scunthorpe United in 2010, after making 166 appearances for the Lancashire club.

However, after signing a three-year deal, he was loaned out within three months of the new season starting - before re-joining his former side Scunthorpe before the end of his first season in Berkshire.

Safe to say, things didn’t quite work out for Williams at Reading.

CM – David Meyler

Meyler proved a very divisive figure at Reading during his time at the club.

He arrived on the back of an impressive spell at Hull City, which included an FA Cup final and a promotion in 2012-13.

During his time at the club, Meyler became embroiled in social media spats with some section of the Reading support.  

After falling out of favour with Jose Gomes, he was sent out on loan to Coventry City before having his contract terminated last summer.

CM – Jake Taylor 

Again, this may sound like a harsh inclusion – given some of the names that Taylor has made the list instead of - but hear me out.

Taylor was an exciting prospect when he first came through the academy and appeared to have done everything right, going out on numerous loan spells after making his initial first-team breakthrough.

On his return, he featured 22 times in the 2014-15 season and appeared to be another academy graduate that had made the step-up to the first team.

However, the following season he was released and joined Exeter City on a free transfer. It was a shame that he could not push on and hold down a first team place.

LM – Royston Drenthe

When Reading sign a player who was a former Real Madrid regular, you have surely got to be thinking ‘this is too good to be true, isn’t it?’

Well, in short, yes. Drenthe showed flashes of brilliance after joining Reading in June 2013, including a stunning free kick at Elland Road.

However, off the field issues led to a loan move to Sheffield Wednesday before spells with Kayseri Erciyesspor, Baniyas and Kozakken Boys.

He’s also tried his hands at rapping since leaving the Madejski.

A sad tale of wasted potential.

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RM – Lucas Piazon

The Chelsea starlet came to the Madejski on the back of loan spells with Vitesse Arnhem and Eintracht Frankfurt and looked to be a real coup.

He quickly fell out of favour with Reading fans after a disappointing return of just three goals in 23 games.

Given his potential at the time of his arrival, not many fans would’ve envisaged giving him the return that he was given upon his return to the Madejski with Fulham.

ST – Matej Vydra

For me, the most frustrating spell of any player on this list.

Much like a lot of these players, on paper Matej Vydra was just what Reading was needed – a proven goal scorer that warranted the £2.5m that Reading paid to secure just one year of his services.

A dismal return of just three league goals in 31 appearances was incredibly frustrating from a player that Reading fans knew had a lot to offer.

ST – Chris Martin

Unfortunately for Chris Martin, illness meant that things were never going to work out after his loan move to Berkshire.

Having been suffering with ulcerative colitis during the last month of his spell, Martin only managed one goal in ten appearances for Reading.

A fully fit and healthy Martin may have had a much bigger impact but unfortunately, we will never know.