The State Of The Team In February 2011 & Going Forward

[Wimb]

Long post warning... (no not on our striker)

So a transfer window slams shuts without any cloth cutting and with no less then 4 professional's signing plus another couple of flyers on some promising youngsters. By my reckoning that leaves us with the squad below. (A few pro's are left out such as Walcott, Hector etc as they haven't looked anywhere near the first team)

Goalkeepers
Federici (26), Andersen (22), Hamer (23), McCarthy (21)

Fullbacks
Griffin (31), Cummings (21), Kelly (21)
Harte (33), Williams (24)

Centre Backs
Mills (24), Ingimarsson (33), Pearce (22), Morrison (20), Khizanishvilli (29)

Wide Midfielders
Kebe (27), McAnuff (29), Robson-Kanu (21), Antonio (20), Obita (17), Bell-Baggie (18)

Central Midfielders
Karacan (21), Gunnarsson (35), Tabb (26), Howard (28), Leigertwood (28), Davies (22), Taylor (19)

Forwards
Long (24), Hunt (28), Church (22), Manset (21), Williams (23), Bignall (20), Mooney (26)

TOTAL: 35

OUT OF CONTRACT SUMMER 2011: Khizanishvilli (End of Loan), Ingimarsson, Gunnarsson, Kelly, Davies, Tabb, Leigertwood (End of Loan), Mooney


OUT OF CONTRACT SUMMER 2012 Hamer, Griffin, Harte, Cummings, Mills, Howard, Antonio, Kebe, McAnuff, Robson-Kanu, Long, Bignall,


I don't think we'll get promoted this season, so what I'm writing below is based on that premise.

Out of those who can walk away in June I'd like to see the club sign Tabb, Leigertwood and Hunt to 2, maybe 3 year deals as they can help play a big part in the first team squad. All three have shown they are capable at this level and have the right temperament to be able to come in and out of the team when required. Not sure how much Leigertwood will cost but if QPR go up as it looks like they will I can't see them holding out for much.

I'd love to see Zurab at the club but given we've got Pearce, Mills and now Morrisson here (plus maybe J Mills as a good prospect) it's hard to justify giving out international player wages to a squad player. If Ivar stays fit for the next six months then hand him another year, great influence and can help the other lads develop. Same with Gunnar, maybe add one of them/both to the coaching setup as I seem to remember we're quite light after Rodgers was sacked and Coppell left.

Armstrong is another tricky one as he's not really had a run at left back for 18 months now and he's not quite good enough as a central midfielder. Again if he's happy to sign a 1 year deal at a reasonable rate then we offer it to him but I'd not gamble bug wages or multiple years on a player with his injury history. Left back could well be another transfer priority for the summer as Harte has shown signs of his age and Williams isn't yet proven in a Reading shirt.

Davies, Mooney, Kelly are all goners.

Goalkeeper wise we're in great shape, with the 3 younger keepers all having good reputations and gaining experience on loan spells and Federici already established. If a big club were to come in with a big bid for Fedders then it's certainly an option to cash in given the options we have available. If not then 1 or even 2 of the other 3 will need to be sold.

What does worry me is the depth we have in the wing department right now, and that fact combined with 3 of our main wingers being out of contract in 2012 is something we really do need to look at before the end of next summer. I really can't see Kebe being here beyond 2012 if we are still in the Championship. From what I've read/speculation he's not massively taken to living in England and he's shown he's got the talent to play at a higher level. If he does refuse to sign a new deal then we're left with a sell/stick mentality that will inevitably end up in a sale given the financial circumstance. So a new winger is my number 1 hope for the summer.

We're also in need of a 'creative' midfielder to compliment the hard workers we currently have. With Gylfi gone, Howard off the boil and Matejovsky also departed, we're really lacking anyone who could play in a 5 man midfield/behind the striker and it's limiting our formation options right now. With that in mind, sell Howard for whatever we can get and replace him.

Striking wise Manset looks a great addition to the squad and I have high hopes for the future. Long is starting to show a bit of consistency and his all round game is really coming a long well. I do worry though that he only signed a 1 year extension to his deal, doesn't bode particularly well for a long term future here if we don't get promoted (but then you could say the game about any good younger player) Church had a good first season and despite his struggles this time around it's not even close to pushing the eject button with him. Williams is just unknown, could be a Kightly/Wright/Doyle, could be a Bennett/Mooney.

In general it's good to see that at nearly every position now we've got either a solid top half Championship quality player or a younger player that's pushing hard and with the potential to play at a high level. This summer I think a winger and a new central midfielder are almost certain to be our priorities while a left back like Bertrand would also be a welcome addition as all 3 of our current left backs have concerns (injuries/age-pace/inexperience)

Post over go back to your homes

[The Rouge]

Great post and the kind of stuff I want to know but don't have time to look up.

FWIW, I would like to see:

- Leigertwood, Tabb and Hunt here beyond their contracts
- Ivar maybe offered one more year if his fitness outlook looks good
- Assuming there is appetite there and Brian thinks he will be an assset (Bryn offered a coaching role)
- Hamer let go (I rate Andersen and McCarthy more from what I have seen)
- Howard sold or let go maybe
- Khizanashvili (undecided on this one - because at his best he has looked a cut above, but determine on the strength of wages/fitness/progress of other centre backs)

Generally speaking, I love the RFC approach of trying to get young, hungry, very talented players. If 90% of these signings turn out bad we will be woeful in the coming years. If 50% of them come off we will be sitting very pretty.

[shaka's shorts]

Pretty much spot on, agree with all of that..... we are in decent shape longer term.

I think Gunnar is already coaching, so a simple switch into maybe reserve team manager makes sense to me. Can't see the point in Zurab staying now we have Morrison and Inga back fit.

[Wimb]

Cheers Rouge,

I also found it quite interesting just how young some of the players were, I guess after watching them through 'long' seasons it feels like they've been here years and so should be older . How Tabb is just 26 and Howard/Leigertwood 28 is astounding not to mention Church at 22, Long 24, Karacan at 21, Mills 24, such a good base of players for potentially another 5 years or beyond.

[Snowball]

I spent a couple of hours collating the following post which I was going to stick on the young-squad thread but I guess it applies here.

What strikes me is how much experience we have in YOUNG players (as well as the obvious older heads)

Hope this adds to the debate. I have "reasonably experienced players" in age order

Over the years I've not taken so much interest in Academy signings
or young players coming in as punts, but the way we are rapidly
accumulating youngsters makes me wonder if we are building longer term.

Are the old heads here to bring on the kids, or as necessary maturity on the pitch?

Age-RFC Apps - Total Apps - - - - Goals

20 002 (17) RFC - 028 (35) Appearances - 08 Goals Michail Antonio
20 000 (00) RFC - 059 (04) Appearances - 07 Goals Sean Morrison
21 000 (00) RFC - 054 (01) Appearances - 00 Goals Alex McArthy
21 016 (00) RFC - 051 (04) Appearances - 00 Goals Shaun Cummings
21 013 (03) RFC - 022 (03) Appearances - 01 Goals Julian Kelly
21 000 (00) RFC - 039 (18) Appearances - 17 Goals Mathieu Manset
21 069 (09) RFC - 090 (11) Appearances - 06 Goals Jem Karacan
21 012 (23) RFC - 050 (27) Appearances - 11 Goals Hal Robson Kanu
22 046 (10) RFC - 086 (16) Appearances - 10 Goals Alex Pearce
22 040 (31) RFC - 073 (40) Appearances - 22 Goals Simon Church
22 000 (00) RFC - 070 (00) Appearances - 00 Goals Mikkel Anderson
23 002 (01) RFC - 136 (01) Appearances - 00 Goals Ben Hamer
24 087 (83) RFC - 087 (83) Appearances - 42 Goals Shane Long
24 055 (01) RFC - 170 (10) Appearances - 12 Goals Matt Mills
24 005 (00) RFC - 172 (16) Appearances - 00 Goals Marcus Williams

26 106 (03) RFC - 116 (03) Appearances - 01 Goals Adam Federici
26 046 (11) RFC - 235 (65) Appearances - 38 Goals Jay Tabb
27 096 (25) RFC - 108 (31) Appearances - 21 Goals Jimmy Kebe
27 047 (28) RFC - 175 (83) Appearances - 67 Goals Noel Hunt
28 047 (01) RFC - 243 (23) Appearances - 09 Goals Chris Armstrong
28 047 (09) RFC - 265 (44) Appearances - 44 Goals Brian Howard
29 069 (00) RFC - 351 (56) Appearances - 44 Goals Jobi McAnuff
29 022 (03) RFC - 204 (25) Appearances - 02 Goals Zurab Khizanishvili

31 047 (00) RFC - 319 (33) Appearances - 08 Goals Andy Griffin
33 264 (04) RFC - 451 (11) Appearances - 30 Goals Ivar Ingimarrson
33 024 (00) RFC - 423 (24) Appearances - 75 Goals Ian Harte
35 100 (50) RFC - 296 (62) Appearances - 32 Goals Brynjar Gunnarson



23 Brett Williams... very little solid info

20 Nicholas Bignall 27 (17) (6 Goals)
19 Ethan Gage
19 Jake Taylor 00 (01)
18 Abdulai Bell-Baggie 02 (15)
18 Lawson D'ath
18 Jordan Obita 00 (01)
18 Jacob Walcott
18 Danny Joyce
18 Eric Opsahl

Simon Locke
James Rowe
Michael Hector
Jack Mills

[Elmer Park]

The first thing to strike me about Wimb's excellent post was the sheer size of the squad. I think we will see really major changes again in the summer for a number of reasons.

I think two or three of the higher wage earners will be moved on both to reduce the wage bill and to bring in revenue for this year's shortfall. Like a lot of people I think Federici will be one of these and will be replaced from within the current playing staff.

Most of the players Wimb listed as out of contract could be on their way too in my view. Clearly we will try to sign Leigertwood and we have already offered a new deal to Hunt but anyone who has got to the end of January in the final season of their contract without being offered an extension has to be feeling potentially unwanted. The Club may make an offer to one or two once they are fairly sure which division we will be in next season. At the moment I cannot see Zurab being here unless he becomes first choice between now and the end of the season. Even then WCBAP.

Howard and Marcus Williams will also surely go if they remain so out of favour and I have a feeling Cummings understandably might want to move on if he is still not looking like getting regular starts.

Overall I think we may see a lot of familiar faces moving on and a few new ones coming in.

[BR2]

Looking at the full squad and wimb's post my immediate reaction is that it is not a bad squad for The Championship.
I know that Hoop Blah in particular has posted that our incoming transfer policy is designed to keep us in The Championship,ie.neither promotion nor relegation.

From being a club that was thought not to give it's own players a fair crack we are now a club (rightly or wrongly) committed to younger players.
Presumably our Academy is not now producing a good enough set beyond the Jem,Gylfi,Pearce,HRK group and that is why the club has gone out and bought 5 young players to make up for the shortfall.

I think most people like the combination of home grown plus cheap purchases as not too much is lost if they turn out to be duds other than the Academy funding which will normally be less than what it costs to buy decent and reasonably proven players at our level who (like Austin) cost about 1.5 million each.

As for those that we will retain beyond this season I would not be surprised to see the following go:-
Kish
Ivar
Bryn
Church
Hunt
Robson-Kanu
Armstrong
Tabb
Howard
Bignall
Mooney
Williams
Davies
Kelly
One keeper
I do believe there are question marks about all of those on the grounds of
fitness (e.g Hunt)
age (e.g Bryn)
ability (e.g Church,HRK)
manager's preference (e.g Tabb,Armstrong)

As mentioned earlier I see us as a club that will try to consolidate over the next 2 seasons at this level by which time it will be known how many of these young ones and first team regulars have improved or regressed and then the big decission by an owner as to whether we then do a Leicester or QPR and splash out a bit to make a real promotion push.

[Ian Royal]

I'd expect Davies, Kelly & Mooney to leave with Gunnar & Ivar possibly hanging around on coaching and pay as you play deals. Armstrong is quite likely to go as well.

Williams looks like a failure so could be one to move on. If Armstrong and Williams go that would leave us room to bring in a new left back (Bertrand please!) and have Harte as back up.

I'd want to keep Legs and Khiz if possible - maybe cash in on Mills if we can keep Khiz. I think Tabb would probably have to leave to keep Legs. Howard could go, although I'd like him to stay, if he went we'd need to replace him with someone else who can actually make a creative attacking pass.

Bignall and Williams out on loan. Leaving us with Manset, Church, Hunt & Long (assuming he doesn't go toss again, I'd try and get him to commit to one more year with us for promotion and say after that we'll help him further his career elsewhere if he wants).

Keep wingers as is with Bell-Baggie, Obita, Taylor etc to go out on Loan.

Probably let one of Hamer or McCarthy go, try Andersen on loan again for match practice.

[rhroyal]

My worry is that should we stay down, Kebe, Long and McAcnuff will all only have 1 year remaining. If we don't get them to sign extensions then it won't take much for us to decide to cash in. For all the young talent and promise elsewhere, we would find it hard to replace those 3. I think Ivar is worthy of another year if he's willing to take it. Bryn depends upon whether we sign Legs permanently or not. If we offer Ivar another year, expect to see Khiz leave as we'd have 4 centre backs at the club.

I'd like to see some of the youngsters nearing the end given more time too; namely Cummings, HRK and Antonio. They could make an impact in the long term.

I'd say overall we're in decent shape for the next season IF we can persuade Kebe, Long and McAnuff to stay. If we can get them signing new contracts then at least we'd get a good fee for them if somebody did decide to make a move. What would really frustrate me is if we accepted £1.5m-£2m or so for Long because he only had 1 year remaining.

[Super Royals]

Goalkeepers
Federici (26), Andersen (22), Hamer (23), McCarthy (21)

Fullbacks
Griffin (31), Cummings (21), Kelly (21)
Armstrong (28), Harte (33), Williams (24)

Centre Backs
Mills (24), Ingimarsson (33), Pearce (22), Morrison (20), Khizanishvilli (29)

Wide Midfielders
Kebe (27), McAnuff (29), Robson-Kanu (21), Antonio (20), Obita (17), Bell-Baggie (18)

Central Midfielders
Karacan (21), Gunnarsson (35), Tabb (26), Howard (28), Leigertwood (28), Davies (22), Taylor (19)

Forwards
Long (24), Hunt (28), Church (22), Manset (21), Williams (23), Bignall (20), Mooney (26)

TOTAL: 35

OUT OF CONTRACT SUMMER 2011: Khizanishvilli (End of Loan), Ingimarsson, Armstrong, Gunnarsson, Kelly, Davies, Tabb, Leigertwood (End of Loan), Hunt, Mooney

OUT OF CONTRACT SUMMER 2012
Hamer, Griffin, Harte, Cummings, Mills, Howard, Antonio, Kebe, McAnuff, Robson-Kanu, Long, Bignall,

If I was McD I would...

Let Kish go back to his parent club at the end of the season
Renew contracts of; Ingimarsson, Armstrong, Davies, Tabb and Hunt
Extend Mills', Kebe's, McAnuff's and Long's contract at the end of this season
Sign Leigertwood permanently
Sell Williams, Hamer and Bell-Baggie
Let Davies, Taylor, Bignall, McCarthy and Obita go out on loan again next season

That would give us 1 player cover for each position with the exception of strikers, where we'd have 3 players to cover 2 positions, should both our strikers get injured.

If we get promoted this season though we'd need to buy a quality striker to partner Long, another central midfielder, a winger and a whole new defence!

[RoyalJames101]

I spent a couple of hours collating stats as I have no life

[PEARCEY]

Good stuff Wimb. Your post really highlights what a young squad we have. Agree about the lack of a creative midfielder. We could have done a lot worse than sign Aaron Ramsey on loan.

[Lukewarm Lager]

Great thread Wimb!

And when you get a chance, play some Clash!

[prostak]

I spent a couple of hours collating stats as I have no life

lol@effort tbqpfh

[Wimb]

I think Federici will be one of these and will be replaced from within the current playing staff.

Federici only signed a one year extension. So he could leave on a free in 2012.
He stated in the interview regarding his contract extension that: "it would be unfair if Reading did not get any money for me when I left"
So clearly he intends to move on.
The only scenario in which we would be able to keep him would be if we were promoted, and that motivated him to sign a new longer contract.

Ah apologies I thought Fedders new deal took him up to 2013, will amend.

EDIT: apparently it is until 2013...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 361389.stm

[Royal Rother]

I suspect we are a Championship WINNING team in the making - promotion this season would come too early so I'll be perfectly happy with 7th place.

[Cripple Creek]

That's a hugely illuminating post for someone who follows Reading from the other side of the globe. Thanks very much.
Just one question, and I stress I only follow Reading via this site, BBC, Reading Evening Post, e-mails from friends etc, what is the deal with Federici staying or going? I don't want to sound mean and am willing to stand corrected but, really, although he has been linked with Premier teams in the past do you really think there are many EPL teams who are watching him these days? I mean seriously watching him as possible first team goalie?
I rarely read match reports or football gossip in which Federici is any longer praised to the hills or linked to EPL teams as he was in the past. The impression I get from the general media and comments on the grape vine is that he is a decent goalie and more than decent shot stopper. I'm not sure that's enough to excite too much interest.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Well that changes everything, that gives us another year we can keep him before we have to sell.

Not quite - if we get an offer over the figure agreed in his contract with him, then we have to sell - or at least to put the offer to him for consideration (*).

Contract extensions are as much to increase the "agreed sale value" as to change the salary and contract length etc

(*) As Liverpool had to when an offer of £50M came in for Torres - this isn't a Reading-specific practice.

[Alan Partridge]

Long post warning... (no not on our striker)

So a transfer window slams shuts without any cloth cutting and with no less then 4 professional's signing plus another couple of flyers on some promising youngsters. By my reckoning that leaves us with the squad below. (A few pro's are left out such as Walcott, Hector etc as they haven't looked anywhere near the first team)

Goalkeepers
Federici (26), Andersen (22), Hamer (23), McCarthy (21)

Fullbacks
Griffin (31), Cummings (21), Kelly (21)
Armstrong (28), Harte (33), Williams (24)

Centre Backs
Mills (24), Ingimarsson (33), Pearce (22), Morrison (20), Khizanishvilli (29)

Wide Midfielders
Kebe (27), McAnuff (29), Robson-Kanu (21), Antonio (20), Obita (17), Bell-Baggie (18)

Central Midfielders
Karacan (21), Gunnarsson (35), Tabb (26), Howard (28), Leigertwood (28), Davies (22), Taylor (19)

Forwards
Long (24), Hunt (28), Church (22), Manset (21), Williams (23), Bignall (20), Mooney (26)

TOTAL: 35

OUT OF CONTRACT SUMMER 2011: Khizanishvilli (End of Loan), Ingimarsson, Armstrong, Gunnarsson, Kelly, Davies, Tabb, Leigertwood (End of Loan), Hunt, Mooney


OUT OF CONTRACT SUMMER 2012 Hamer, Griffin, Harte, Cummings, Mills, Howard, Antonio, Kebe, McAnuff, Robson-Kanu, Long, Bignall,

Out of those

I would try and move Hamer on, as there are too many goalies here, Khiz won't come back to play 2nd fiddle and now they've signed Morrison I doubt they'll take him. Ideally I'd like to see him return with Ivar going. Armstrong can go, Gunnarsson can go, Davies go, Mooney go, Kelly probably go. I'd give Hunt another year and Tabb another year. I'm not convinced on Tabb and if there is better out there available I wouldn't be totally against him going either. Example if it meant they could sign Leigertwood permanently but Tabb had to go, he goes for me. Howard jury's out again if they got decent offers for him I'd let him leave.

Try and get shot of Marcus Williams, Bignall, Bell Baggie, Taylor out on loan, maybe even Antonio out on loan so he can play some more, McCarthy or Andersen out on loan.

Reading don't need a lot. I think they've made some decent signings. I'd like to see a more athletic left back come in, but other than that, for Championship level I think they look alright. I've said a couple of midfielders can go so that could then be an area they might need 1 more decent championship/lower end premiership player to come in would improve the squad.

That's not taking into account offers for the 'big guns' which would then change things again.

[Barry the bird boggler]

When does Leigertwood's contract at QPR expire?