Vote For Your July Player Of The Month

So that’s it. Reading’s 2019/20 campaign is over, and it won’t be long before we can crown our Player of the Season. Just before that though, it’s time for you to vote for the best performer from July.

What proved to be Reading’s biggest win of the entire season came at the start of the month - a 5-0 thrashing of Luton Town - followed by a dull 0-0 draw with Huddersfield and a 1-0 win away at Charlton before the campaign was ended on a fairly sour note with three straight defeats to Middlesbrough (2-1), Blackburn Rovers (4-3) and Swansea City (4-1).

Given that the Royals achieved three successive clean sheets in the first half of July, it is not that surprising to see a quartet of defenders up for this award based on our player ratings (minimum four appearances). In alphabetical order, here’s the shortlist...

Tyler Blackett

Average rating: 6.20 / Man of the match awards: None

Not a bad set of performances to go out on if we’ve seen the last of Blackett in a Reading shirt. Confident and solid defensively, it was going forward where the 26-year-old really impressed as he was involved in the build-up to two of the goals at Luton, and also assisted Liam Moore’s goal against Middlesbrough with a clever flick on at the front post.

Tom McIntyre

Average rating: 6.20 / Man of the match awards: 2nd (Luton A)

Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Popular with supporters before this run of games, McIntyre’s stock has only risen further in the last month as he achieved his most sustained period in the team yet. Struggled slightly up against more physical attackers, but was still consistently on hand to make blocks, interceptions and clearances wherever needed. Looks really comfortable in possession too.

Michael Morrison

Average rating: 6.33 / Man of the match awards: 1st (Charlton A), 3rd (Huddersfield H), 3rd (Middlesbrough H)

With two young defenders either side of him, Morrison has proven an experienced and commanding figure in the backline in July. A no-nonsense centre-back, the former Birmingham man has not been afraid to put his body on the line to make some vital blocks, while he is particularly dominant in the air.

Gabriel Osho

Average rating: 6.50 / Man of the match awards: 2nd (Huddersfield H), 2nd (Middlesbrough H), 3rd (Charlton A)

Photo by Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images

Like McIntyre, Osho has been a shining light for the academy in this last month. Naturally a centre-back, he has been asked to play at right-back and looked relatively comfortable, showing his instinctive defensive abilities whilst also displaying glimpses of attacking quality too. Renewing the 21-year-old’s expiring contract should be one of the club’s top priorities in the next few days.

VOTE

So those are the four candidates, but which of them impressed you the most over the course of July? You can vote for your choice in the poll below, or if it doesn’t show up on your device, go through this link here.