The Summer clearout / Coming in thread. Updated 27/8

[Archie's penalty]

Bryn signs a new deal http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id= ... 0419417047

Means that at least one of the '106ers' will be here next year

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

Alan Smith released by Newcastle, give us some bite in midfield

over-rated cant even command a first team place where he is.....would rather Delia Smith....lets be avin' ya!

[SCIAG]

Australian brothers?

[Victor Meldrew]

How is it that a topic thats supposed to be about the Summer clear out/ who is coming in has been utterly and totally banjaxed into some anal discussion about whether scientists make good footbal fans and the role of "statistics" in determining whether player x or player y is better suited to playing with player z??

Oh thats right - Snowball comes steaming in with reams and reams of utterly vvank "stats" that prove f**k all cubed!!

And its all irrelevant cos there isn't any way that Betrand will come to Reading (or any other Championship side on loan) as he is on the verge of challenging Chelsea's aging existing left back for the first team spot. IF he does go out on loan anywhere, it will be to another Premiership side, as at this stage of his career, he has to get Premiership experience under his belt to push him to the next level.

I have been away for a week and came back looking forward to news about comings and goings.
It has taken an age to trawl through this topic to find out almost nothing about what has been happening but once again see ludicrous stuff by Zac and his scientific view on football and Snowball for the umpteenth time bombarding the board with meaningless tactics.
Surely it is time for Snowball to have his own stats sticky where he can post away to his heart's (or Harte's) content.
As far as outgoings and incomings are concerned I suppose we have to wait until Long goes to one of the lesser Premier clubs and we know whether Jimmy will stay as both of those have had a big impact this season.
FWIW I don't think Robson-Kanu,Church and Hunt are good enough (a non-stat view) so if Long and Kebe left I would hope that we would be active in the transfer market.
Obviously a proper left-back is a priority.

Let's not forget we need to improve the squad for next season to have a real chance of promotion and the 3 light-weights mentioned above IMHO are not the answer.
Brian will earn his money getting a squad together good enough to challenge once more and he will have to take some hard decisions about even more of the fringe players such as Tabb,Howard.Pearce et al.

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

The problem in my opinion, is that beyond the first XI, the squad has a soft underbelly ...looking at the bench for the play off final, i dont think there was a player there that, on form, could have changed the game..

.so more strength in depth is needed in addition to plugging the holes in any first XI players leaving...

Dont think HRK or Church will get to the level that they can become first team regulars...but dependant on the transfer budget, they may become that by default .......

[SCIAG]

The problem in my opinion, is that beyond the first XI, the squad has a soft underbelly ...looking at the bench for the play off final, i dont think there was a player there that, on form, could have changed the game..

.so more strength in depth is needed in addition to plugging the holes in any first XI players leaving...

Dont think HRK or Church will get to the level that they can become first team regulars...but dependant on the transfer budget, they may become that by default .......

Did Swansea have any players on the bench in better form than HRK? Not really, maybe Pratley at a stretch. We also had Cummings, Pearce, McCarthy and Tabb on the bench who aren't there to change the game, plus Howard and Church who theoretically are "change the game" players. Church has been in and out (most out) of form, Howard, like Tabb, has largely been kept out by the excellent form of Karacan and Leigertwood.

[Vision]

The problem in my opinion, is that beyond the first XI, the squad has a soft underbelly ...looking at the bench for the play off final, i dont think there was a player there that, on form, could have changed the game..

.so more strength in depth is needed in addition to plugging the holes in any first XI players leaving...

Dont think HRK or Church will get to the level that they can become first team regulars...but dependant on the transfer budget, they may become that by default .......

I'm not sure I buy this "soft underbelly" stuff with regards to the bench and the overall squad, certainly not the 2nd half of this season.

Changes from the bench werent needed that often such was the run we were on but despite this HRK,Church and Mansett all made contributions off the bench when required.Thats before you factor in Cummings' contributions when called upon.

If you're saying its debateable whether they can perform consistently to the standard as regular starters then I'd agree but to say the P/O final bench couldn't "change a game" (whatever that means) is a bit over the top.

[brendywendy]

The problem in my opinion, is that beyond the first XI, the squad has a soft underbelly ...looking at the bench for the play off final, i dont think there was a player there that, on form, could have changed the game..

.so more strength in depth is needed in addition to plugging the holes in any first XI players leaving...

Dont think HRK or Church will get to the level that they can become first team regulars...but dependant on the transfer budget, they may become that by default .......

HRK is pretty much there now. and has changed games from off the bench on more than one occasion at the end of this season

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

The problem in my opinion, is that beyond the first XI, the squad has a soft underbelly ...looking at the bench for the play off final, i dont think there was a player there that, on form, could have changed the game..

.so more strength in depth is needed in addition to plugging the holes in any first XI players leaving...

Dont think HRK or Church will get to the level that they can become first team regulars...but dependant on the transfer budget, they may become that by default .......

I'm not sure I buy this "soft underbelly" stuff with regards to the bench and the overall squad, certainly not the 2nd half of this season.

Changes from the bench werent needed that often such was the run we were on but despite this HRK,Church and Mansett all made contributions off the bench when required.Thats before you factor in Cummings' contributions when called upon.

If you're saying its debateable whether they can perform consistently to the standard as regular starters then I'd agree but to say the P/O final bench couldn't "change a game" (whatever that means) is a bit over the top.

Vision what im trying to say - is that we were chasing the game against Swansea - BM kicked them up the ahole at half time and that obv did the trick to get some momentum, but we didnt have anyone on the bench that i PERSONALLY felt could have come on and turn the game Readings way...closing out game yes we had players, but chasing the game we didnt...not even HRK

[No Hoops]

The problem in my opinion, is that beyond the first XI, the squad has a soft underbelly ...looking at the bench for the play off final, i dont think there was a player there that, on form, could have changed the game..

.so more strength in depth is needed in addition to plugging the holes in any first XI players leaving...

Dont think HRK or Church will get to the level that they can become first team regulars...but dependant on the transfer budget, they may become that by default .......

HRK is pretty much there now. and has changed games from off the bench on more than one occasion at the end of this season

DO NOT MENTION THAT ON THE BUS PLEASE

[No Hoops]

How is it that a topic thats supposed to be about the Summer clear out/ who is coming in has been utterly and totally banjaxed into some anal discussion about whether scientists make good footbal fans and the role of "statistics" in determining whether player x or player y is better suited to playing with player z??

Oh thats right - Snowball comes steaming in with reams and reams of utterly vvank "stats" that prove f**k all cubed!!

And its all irrelevant cos there isn't any way that Betrand will come to Reading (or any other Championship side on loan) as he is on the verge of challenging Chelsea's aging existing left back for the first team spot. IF he does go out on loan anywhere, it will be to another Premiership side, as at this stage of his career, he has to get Premiership experience under his belt to push him to the next level.

I have been away for a week and came back looking forward to news about comings and goings.
It has taken an age to trawl through this topic to find out almost nothing about what has been happening but once again see ludicrous stuff by Zac and his scientific view on football and Snowball for the umpteenth time bombarding the board with meaningless tactics.
Surely it is time for Snowball to have his own stats sticky where he can post away to his heart's (or Harte's) content.
As far as outgoings and incomings are concerned I suppose we have to wait until Long goes to one of the lesser Premier clubs and we know whether Jimmy will stay as both of those have had a big impact this season.
FWIW I don't think Robson-Kanu,Church and Hunt are good enough (a non-stat view) so if Long and Kebe left I would hope that we would be active in the transfer market.
Obviously a proper left-back is a priority.

Let's not forget we need to improve the squad for next season to have a real chance of promotion and the 3 light-weights mentioned above IMHO are not the answer.
Brian will earn his money getting a squad together good enough to challenge once more and he will have to take some hard decisions about even more of the fringe players such as Tabb,Howard.Pearce et al.

I do update page 1 when anything happens

[Royal Rother]

Whoever leaves this summer we'll (almost certainly) still have

Karacan
Pearce
McCarthy
Robson Kanu
Sean Cummings
Mathieu Manset

They were all born in 1989 and have shown significant improvement in the last 12 months. We can be pretty confident that improvement will continue into 2011/12.

Simon Church is only 22 as well and, having struggled last season, must surely improve as we know he's better than that.

With Walcott, D'Ath, Taylor, Morrison (and maybe more) pushing for places (hopefully) there's a fine nucleus of young, mostly home developed youngsters both established and coming through. Of course there's a balance to strike but, as I said last year, if we keep buying players from outside it will discourage the best kids in the area to come to the Reading Academy, and that would undermine the vision that has been built upon for the last decade.

Sure we probably will need a couple of new players but even if Long, Federici, Kebe and Mills all leave I see no reason to be anything other than optimistic.

[Vision]

Whoever leaves this summer we'll (almost certainly) still have

Karacan
Pearce
McCarthy
Robson Kanu
Sean Cummings
Mathieu Manset

They were all born in 1989 and have shown significant improvement in the last 12 months. We can be pretty confident that improvement will continue into 2011/12.

Simon Church is only 22 as well and, having struggled last season, must surely improve as we know he's better than that.

With Walcott, D'Ath, Taylor, Morrison (and maybe more) pushing for places (hopefully) there's a fine nucleus of young, mostly home developed youngsters both established and coming through. Of course there's a balance to strike but, as I said last year, if we keep buying players from outside it will discourage the best kids in the area to come to the Reading Academy, and that would undermine the vision that has been built upon for the last decade.

Sure we probably will need a couple of new players but even if Long, Federici, Kebe and Mills all leave I see no reason to be anything other than optimistic.

Indeed. If you add proven performers at this level McAnuff,Liegertwood and Hunt then we'll have a decent set up for next season. Stating the obvious I know but the key to whether next season is better than "decent" will be replacing Long's and to slightly lesser extent Kebe's goals.

Its just a hunch but I think if Taylor can emerge as a 1st team regular it may prove a boost to Church. I still think he may be a (loaned out) season away though.

[brendywendy]

taylor is the attacking midfielder we need. i think hes ready already

[Mr Angry]

Did anyone else pick up on this from Brian's interview to BBC Radio Berkshire yesterday when asked about the possibility of keeping Shane Long (my italics):


McDermott told BBC Berkshire: "If a Premier League club comes in and we decide the deal is right and Shane wants to go there's nothing we can do.



That seems to imply that there isn't a buy out clause in the contract, because if there was, it wouldn't be up to Reading to decide if the deal was right or not - the terms of the clause would either be met, or not....

[holsgrove breaks a leg]

Up steps Brett Williams ...

On another note i happened to speak to Clive Platt of Cov today, he says King hasnt yet signed and doesnt look like he might now, surely not an option ...........

[Maguire]

taylor is the attacking midfielder we need. i think hes ready already

Have you seen him play? He's 6 stone wet through.

[Stranded]

Up steps Brett Williams ...

On another note i happened to speak to Clive Platt of Cov today, he says King hasnt yet signed and doesnt look like he might now, surely not an option ...........

Tapped up by Brum.

[loyalroyal4life]

Up steps Brett Williams ...

On another note i happened to speak to Clive Platt of Cov today, he says King hasnt yet signed and doesnt look like he might now, surely not an option ...........

Tapped up by Brum.

Interesting if true, a jerome and king combo would be pretty decent in the champ!

[loyalroyaldaz]

Friend of mine from Wolverhampton has heard that Mills is on his way there for £4m