Coppell wants British players (for now)... From the EP

[Great Knolly]

Agreed we need to improve our squad. But we haven't got a bottomless well of cash, and I just reckon we look ok up front, but very thin at the back if any of the 1st choice back 4 are out.
Also the chemistry and morale of the squad at the moment is superb, and the club have to be very careful about tinkering with it. I would be wary of bringing in a player who would expect to start, unless it was bleeding obvious that he should start, and Zamora isn't that player. I don't think we can afford a player who would automatically replace anyone in our best XI.

[readingbedding]

Agreed we need to improve our squad. But we haven't got a bottomless well of cash, and I just reckon we look ok up front, but very thin at the back if any of the 1st choice back 4 are out.
Also the chemistry and morale of the squad at the moment is superb, and the club have to be very careful about tinkering with it. I would be wary of bringing in a player who would expect to start, unless it was bleeding obvious that he should start, and Zamora isn't that player. I don't think we can afford a player who would automatically replace anyone in our best XI.

I guess, but maybe Coppell is not convinced of Kitson's long-term fitness.
I'd agree with you if Kitson was banging them in, fully fit.
But he hasn't since the 1st game, and if I was Coppell I would be slightly worried about Kitson's ability to recover from injury and also to stay injury free.

[higher]

I have to agree with Great Knollys line in many respects. For me the likes of Zamora would act as a bit of cover/competition but I dont see him as a great improovement on what we already have upfront.
Unless some really amazing deal turns up on the striker front im quite happy with the hooped frontman options particularly if Kits can make a sustained return to selection.
Theres a delicate balance to be had in maintaining a happy settled squad and keeping things fresh.For me an extra utilty player in the mould of Gunnar would be a great addition.This could be also be achieved by bringing in a class act quality center half along the lines of Upson(prob unlikely wages etc)which potentially frees up Ingi who has great versatility along with his Fellow Iceman.
Bottom line is we have an amazing manager who has to make these decisions who has his shrewd finger right on the pulse and will make the right move to lay the next brick as and when circumstances allow.

[Frustrated_Royal]

Zamora. Nice

Halford. Could be nice.

[Maguire]

Zamora would be a good addition to a squad pretty short on striking options. Kitson's been out all year, Lita's not looked the business and Seol is no centre-forward.

A decent acquisition for a club like Reading.

[ScottishRoyal]

Zamora would shore up our striking options but I think we need to be spending our money elsewhere. If any of our defenders get crocked then we could be screwed. We have no adequate cover for our full backs (remember how important they are in our forward play too) and we only have two proven centre backs. With Kitson and Convey back our attack and midfiled will be bolstered enabling Coppell to splash some serious cash on a couple of quality defenders.

[Woodcote Royal]

Some fans still need to come to terms with our Premiership status which means, amongst many other things, having very good players who aren't guaranteed a place in the team.

Having spent all year worrying about the shortage of strike options, I can't believe that some feel Zamora would be surplus to requirement

It's the very fact that he can perform a similar role to Dave Kitson that makes him such an attractive option.

Kitson, Zamora, Doyle and Lita (Long in reserve) would do me very nicely...........any mention of the price on Zamora's head?

[Alan Partridge]

Some fans still need to come to terms with our Premiership status which means, amongst many other things, having very good players who aren't guaranteed a place in the team.

Having spent all year worrying about the shortage of strike options, I can't believe that some feel Zamora would be surplus to requirement

It's the very fact that he can perform a similar role to Dave Kitson that makes him such an attractive option.

Kitson, Zamora, Doyle and Lita (Long in reserve) would do me very nicely...........any mention of the price on Zamora's head?

Around 1million being mooted. Good bit of business for us.

[Royal Rother]

Some fans still need to come to terms with our Premiership status which means, amongst many other things, having very good players who aren't guaranteed a place in the team.

Having spent all year worrying about the shortage of strike options, I can't believe that some feel Zamora would be surplus to requirement

It's the very fact that he can perform a similar role to Dave Kitson that makes him such an attractive option.

Kitson, Zamora, Doyle and Lita (Long in reserve) would do me very nicely...........any mention of the price on Zamora's head?

I agree wholeheartedly with almost all of that.

For me the likes of Zamora would act as a bit of cover/competition but I dont see him as a great improovement on what we already have upfront.

Indeed he wouldn't be a great improvement but right at the moment more of what we've already got is going to be good enough for me. Great improvement is only going to come from spending mega-bucks or unearthing gems and the latter take half a season to learn the Coppell way. We need cover that could produce goods now as insurance against further injuries in the 2nd half, and hoping Kitson remains fit would be a risky strategy.

Another reason we need another experienced pro ready to play at this level is that we should probably not view Long as cover for the rest of this season - he desperately needs to go on loan to get regular 1st team football.

£1m for Zamora would be marvellous business for us.

[The_Cat]

I wouldn't mind an extra centre midfielder as well.

[Spirit of Elm Park]

£1m pounds for Zamora would be almost unbelievable business

[Captain Sinbad]

Given the number of starts Leroy has had, the goal against Boro got us 3 pts and the goal against Cheldeepseadivers got us 1 pt.

His attitude and application recently shows he has probably turned his problems around. Zamora could only expect to come here and have to prove himself all over again. If he isnt prepared for that then he shouldn't even think about it. There is no way he could come here and expect to start every game from day 1.

[Great Knolly]

Zamora would be a good buy, as long as he was happy to spend some time on the bench. He might be thinking that by moving from West Ham to lil' old Reading he's going to get more playing time.

I still reckon back four cover is the priority.

[anR]

There are plenty of foreigners in the English game with good experience and some British players with no English league experience.

I wonder if Coppell was misquoted?

What he means is players already playing in the Premiership/Championship I guess.

That's what I assumed, but the article suggests otherwise.

Maybe Coppell let something slip, maybe his transfer targets are all British?

Wouldn't be suprised by that.

Is it possible that this could be mind games of some sort against all the Arsenals and Liverpools of the Prem being full of foreigners?

[Gordons Cumming]

We need a defender, as good as, or better than Sonko.

End of.

[Hoop Blah]

I wouldn't mind an extra centre midfielder as well.

I agree.

Possibly out of our price range but Barry Ferguson might be available on loan for the rest of the season.

Suitable? Probably depends on his state of mind.

[Once were Biscuitmen]

As long as Zamora has not become a fully fledged member of the West Ham, lazy Bling-bling club he would be a good buy.

[readingbedding]

We need a defender, as good as, or better than Sonko.

End of.

Ideally we'd have 2 defenders better than Sonko.
Hard to find though.

[Archie's penalty]

As long as Zamora has not become a fully fledged member of the West Ham, lazy Bling-bling club he would be a good buy.

I think that's the crucial point - Zamora is I think a bit of a flashy Oxf*rd. Would he accept being on the bench at Reading? - we don't want a troublemaker in the serene waters of Coppell FC. Saying that the reason he's flashy may be the crowd he hangs around with at the Sham. Maybe our boring (but nice) lot'll make him chill out.

[Stranded]

As I've said before, Zamora has made it clear in the past how much he respects Coppell and how much he would like to play under him again. I would suggest if Coppell is in for him that the respect is a two way street and that there would be no attitude problems.

Also I think a few are assuming that he is one of the West Ham players with an attitude problem without any real proof to back that up.