Alex McCarthy

[sandman]

The main thing is going there to play games. I’ve been sitting on the bench behind Feds (Adam Federici) and so this will be a very good thing for me.

He's quite clearly saying that he wants to play and that sitting on the bench behind Feds is not what he wants to do. You can bet he's been nagging Brian for the opportunity to go out on loan every week since the start of the season and seeing the form that Feds is in he knows he wouldn't get the chance to play here atm.

Like I said if he hasn't been trying to engineer a loan move there's something wrong with him.

[Woodcote Royal]

If Federici was anywhere near to being "The best 'keeper in the division" we would have been fending off Premiership vultures for the past 12 months and there's been no evidence to suggest that this has been the case despite his "Come and Get Me" plea

Here in lies our over riding problem; It doesn't matter how often Adie Wiliams, Mick Gooding etc go out of their way to fool our own fan base, they won't con those who are ALWAYS on the look out for Prem quality stoppers.

I think I would take the opinions of Williams, Gooding etc over yours any day. At least they know what they are talking about.

Federici is a class act. We have let in just 22 goals this season and have amongst the tightest defences in the league - despite having a makeshift back 4 at the start of the season. The anti Federici sentiment expressed by you and a few others on here is verging on the ridiculous.

If he's "that good" where are the offers for him?

Gooding and Williams are mere media guys these days. What counts is those who are willing to part with cold hard cash for "The Best 'keeper in the Championship"

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Feds is possibly about the 25th best keeper playing in England at the moment, therefore RFc is about the right club for his level.

[Hoop Blah]

The main thing is going there to play games. I’ve been sitting on the bench behind Feds (Adam Federici) and so this will be a very good thing for me

.

He's quite clearly saying that he wants to play and that sitting on the bench behind Feds is not what he wants to do. You can bet he's been nagging Brian for the opportunity to go out on loan every week since the start of the season and seeing the form that Feds is in he knows he wouldn't get the chance to play here atm.

Like I said if he hasn't been trying to engineer a loan move there's something wrong with him.

That's different to complaining about being on the bench.

I agree every player should want to play and, as a young player needing experience, McCarthy would've been keen on a loan move if he wasn't getting in our team. As I say though, reminding the manager he's here and ready, able and wanting to play is a lot different to complaining and that quote isn't him complaining its just him stating the obvious that going on loan will be good.

[West Stand Man]

You can keep doing what you've been doing all season with your anti Feds rhetoric and he'll keep doing what he's been doing proving you all wrong and making you look like mugs.

And you can keep sticking your head up his arse but it counts for zip in the real world until somone comes in with an offer that matches your valuation.

How could "The best 'keeper in the Championship" possibly be worth less than £2m

Feel free to enlighten us of ANY offers for him in the last 12 months.

Why would we have heard of any offers? Nick Hammond doesn't exactly come out and announce any interest at any time does he?

While we are at it, how many times do any Championship goalkeepers get mentioned as being highly sought after? When you have a meaningful and valid argument to support your mindlessly boring trite about Federici then come back. Until then a long hibernation is called for.

Byeee.

[sandman]

Did Woodcote "The Rabid Knob" Royal cry?

Awww boo aww. Are you annoyed? Are you angry with me? Do you feel empty inside? Well good! That's exactly how I feel when I come on here and I see you and others bitching and moaning about Federici. Do I dislike McCarthy? No, I think he's a very good keeper, will do very well for this club and go on to have a very good career.

As West Stand Man says unless you've pulled a NotW and tapped Hammond's phone you don't know how many clubs have enquired about Feds.

[Royal Rother]

At various times in the last 2 years there have been huge numbers (several dozen by God) of posters venting their spleens over Kebe, Long, Mills, Pearce, Cummins, Karacan, Harte, McAnuff, Federici, Church (a pissy pile of pooh some twat described him as last week) and probably every other player to represent the club as well as Madejski, Howe, Rodgers and Hammond.

It seems some people need a hate figure at the club at all times so when one comes good (or moves on) they just find another one to fill the gap.

Very strange.

[Woodcote Royal]

Did Woodcote "The Rabid Knob" Royal cry?

Awww boo aww. Are you annoyed? Are you angry with me? Do you feel empty inside?

None of the above........................just pity for the person who felt the need to post it.

[Woodcote Royal]

Why would we have heard of any offers? Nick Hammond doesn't exactly come out and announce any interest at any time does he?

Yes he does.

He doesn't usually go into detail but it was made very clear that Shane Long was the subject of much interest from top flight clubs and that we had a fight on our hands to keep him.

This was because Long had become one of the best strikers in the 2nd tier and, therefore, an obvious target for many in the top flight.

According to you and others, this is where Federici sits in the goal keeping stakes. If we were struggling to hang onto Federici we would know about it.

While we are at it, how many times do any Championship goalkeepers get mentioned as being highly sought after?

Are you serious Before, during and after every transfer window there is endless speculation surrounding which players are being pursued by every club in the Prem. The window is about to open again. Feel free to spill the goss on Fed.

When you have a meaningful and valid argument to support your mindlessly boring trite about Federici then come back. Until then a long hibernation is called for

I have a valid argument you just don't like it and.......................if you find it boring, why read it



]

[Royal Rother]

He's not prescient?

[Hoop Blah]

While we are at it, how many times do any Championship goalkeepers get mentioned as being highly sought after?

Just to pick up on this bit....

I don't think, as a rule, Championship keepers go for a lot of money. I think most of them end up moving around on a free from what I can recall. There has however been a bit of speculation over a few recently.

Joe Lewis is currently on trial at QPR ahead of a proposed January move.
Lee Camp was/is rumoured to be a target for Swansea and Villa
Rob Green (has Premier League reputation of course) has been linked with moves since they were relegated
Scott Loach's name was linked with a number of Premier League teams last season and over the summer
Kasper Schmeichel obviously moved over the summer and I bet Leicester paid a decent sum for him
Matt Gilks (like Green coming down from the Premier League) was also linked with decent moves (Arsenal, Villa etc) in the summer and may well be another target for clubs come January

A lot of those are probably paper talk to fill up a few column inches (and most were Arsenal/Villa/Fulham/Swansea stories), in the same way as the Federici or Church to Liverpool rumours were, but they're surely the kind of sought after stories you're saying don't really exist.

[Terminal Boardom]

Funny how Federici is accused of having a huge ego and kicking up a fuss that won't allow him to be on the bench yet Saint Alex complains about being on the bench and demands to go out on loan to get first team football and his little disciples hardly bat an eyelid.

Quote on McCarthy complaining about being sat on the bench or I don't believe it.

Surely its not that hard to see why many people prefer a young homegrown player with the potential to be an England international in future to a good Aussie who's already issued come get me pleas. There really isn't a lot between them in quality and McCarthy is far more likely to significantly improve than Federici.

Probably the best statement ever made on HNA?

[andrew1957]

While we are at it, how many times do any Championship goalkeepers get mentioned as being highly sought after?

Just to pick up on this bit....

I don't think, as a rule, Championship keepers go for a lot of money. I think most of them end up moving around on a free from what I can recall. There has however been a bit of speculation over a few recently.

This spot on. Leeds reputedly got 1M for Smeichal. I cannot recall the last time a Championship keeper went for more than million or so to a PL club. PL clubs will risk millions on a striker (like Long) but rarely risk a large amount on a keeper who is not proven at the top level.

Those who think that we would have been offered millions for Federici if he was any good are just using this patently ridiculous argument to try to justify their unjustifiable anti Federici opinions

[Terminal Boardom]

I have never been convinced by Federici. He is not as bad as some make out, neither is he as good. I just feel that McCarthy is not only a better prospect but is more consistent. Federici could, and should, be better judging by his physical attributes but he isn't. I wonder how much of that is down to Sal Bibbo's coaching abilities? Neither Marcus nor Feds have been the most vocal of keepers and the common link is Bibbo. I can still hear Shaka shouting "AWAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY" on more than one ocasion. Who coached him in part? Oh yes, Peter Bonetti. One of the best.

I will be very surprised if both Feds and McCarthy are still at the club come the start of next season. One of them will leave.

[Ian Royal]

Funny how Federici is accused of having a huge ego and kicking up a fuss that won't allow him to be on the bench yet Saint Alex complains about being on the bench and demands to go out on loan to get first team football and his little disciples hardly bat an eyelid.

Quote on McCarthy complaining about being sat on the bench or I don't believe it.

Surely its not that hard to see why many people prefer a young homegrown player with the potential to be an England international in future to a good Aussie who's already issued come get me pleas. There really isn't a lot between them in quality and McCarthy is far more likely to significantly improve than Federici.

The main thing is going there to play games. I’ve been sitting on the bench behind Feds (Adam Federici) and so this will be a very good thing for me.

Quite frankly if he wasn't complaining about being on the bench I'd be worried for him.

That's not a complaining about being on the bench, that's saying it's a positive step to go on loan and play. The bit about being on the bench is simply a factual statement. There is a clear indication of what he prefers, but no indication that he dislikes sitting on the bench.

[Woodcote Royal]

Those who think that we would have been offered millions for Federici if he was any good are just using this patently ridiculous argument to try to justify their unjustifiable anti Federici opinions

So, basically, for you the sun shines out of Federici's backside and that makes any other opinion regarding his ability on the pitch null and void

If those from all corners of hobnob merely wish to lay into what they see as an over rated 'keeper, we had the perfect opportunity 6 months ago at Wembley when he was at the centre of a defence that shipped the goals which denied us a place in the top flight.......................................yet I don't remember one anti-Fed remark post match.

For what it's worth, I gave Brian the benefit of the doubt when he dropped McCarthy, on the basis that had he screwed up on our dash for promotion it may have set him back for months or years to come.

However, I left north London that afternoon thinking McCarthy would be installed at the start of the season even if Fed was still here and it seems to me that most of the dissenting voices have struck up since the new campaign got under way.

I have no wish to lay into Federici but after keeping my powder dry for most of the time since he took over from Marcus (showing time and again that he wasn't fit to lace the American's boots) when it reaches the point whereby we are loaning out someone who appears to be a future England player, I refuse to keep quiet.

It's time to wake up and smell the coffee. Top flight interest in Federici appears minimal, making a mockery of those who insist he's the best 'keeper in the Championship........................he isn't, never has been and the chances of him ever being so are looking more remote by the week.

Meanwhile, one of the best products of our academy is playing for a major promotion rival.

[Cypry]

we had the perfect opportunity 6 months ago at Wembley when he was at the centre of a defence that shipped the goals which denied us a place in the top flight.......................................yet I don't remember one anti-Fed remark post match.

Mainly because he could only possibly be blamed for spilling the ball for Swanseas second (bit tenuous that even as he was let down by the defence and at full stretch trying to stop the cross)....

I have to say I'm a little perplexed as to why some people can't seem to wait to see the back of Feds what exactly has he done to be the target of so much vitriol? McCarthy's only played a handful of games, but the last of those saw him make mistakes which lost us three points - the way some people carry on about him you'd think he was the prodigal son....

The problem always will be, as a keeper, a much higher percentage of mistakes will have consequences than any other player on the pitch. Yes, Feds had some really dodgy moments in the early part of last season, remember the howler at home to Forest? However, perhaps aside from Peterboroughs second a couple of weeks back I can't remember any massive cock ups from Feds so far this season, certainly none that has actually cost us a game (yes, he failed to come for a few crosses early on, but most of those goals could equally have been down to poor defending and marking than to goalkeeping errors, and you show me a goalkeeper anywhere in the entire football league who hasn't made the odd mistake so far this season). What I do remember very clearly are a number of very important saves which have kept us in games in which we went on to score points....

Now it may well be that McCarthy has the POTENTIAL to become a better keeper than Feds, but is he better than Feds TODAY? Does McCarthy have the maturity to cope with making the inevitable mistakes, and the pressure that could pile on him?
Do we drop Feds and play McCarthy in the hope that he fulfils his potential and doesn't hamper our challenge for a playoff place (although I'm sure Brian would say we're pushing for automatic no matter how unlikely it might seem), or do we stick with Feds who at the moment has done nothing other than enhance our prospects?

Certainly I'd say that Sal Bibbo and McD are in a far better position to make these kinds of calls than any Nobbers, and at the moment that choice is Feds over McCarthy for whatever reason, all we can do is trust the judgement of those who know....do you really think that they would play Feds if they thought that McCarthy genuinely offered us a better option at the moment.....?

It's not a case of "the sun shining out of Feds backside", but the fact is, we are (lucky to be) spoilt for choice in the goalkeeping department and we just have to trust whatever decision the playing management make (if it is decided to sell McCarthy I suspect it'll be a decision made by the playing management, rather than to fill any "black hole" - after all, we're unlikley to get much for a largely untested keeper, regardless of how much potential he might have).

After all, who's to say that Andersen isn't an even better prospect than McCarthy....?

[Royal Rother]

I have no wish to lay into Federici but after keeping my powder dry for most of the time since he took over from Marcus (showing time and again that he wasn't fit to lace the American's boots)....

Hmm, nothing much to choose between them from what I've seen... both have made howlers but Marcus generally had a better / more settled defence in front of him.

I like them both.

[cmonurz]

Cypry - I'd say almost solely because he is a local lad, a product of the academy, and fans would rather see him play for Reading, even if only for a season or two, before securing what is surely an inevitable transfer to a larger club (just hope he doesn't 'do an Ashdown' and spend his career on the bench).

McCarthy is a terrific prospect but equally he is good enough to play for the team now. And given a choice between McCarthy and Feds, and given they are of similar abilities, I'd choose McCarthy every time. Nothing against Feds, and it's not I 'can't wait to see the back of him', but McCarthy is obviously good enough and as an academy product I'd therefore like to see him in the team (much the same as I've been championing Alex Pearce since he first broke through). It's just a desire to see Reading lads playing for Reading.

[Royal Rother]

Federici could, and should, be better judging by his physical attributes but he isn't. I wonder how much of that is down to Sal Bibbo's coaching abilities? Neither Marcus nor Feds have been the most vocal of keepers and the common link is Bibbo..

Interesting. With the number of fine young 'keepers we've had / got in recent times I thought Bibbo must be a bloody genius!