News and Views
Long Return Finally Confirmed
13 July 2022
By Hob Nob Anyone?
The rumour that has been running for years has finally been confirmed, as free agent Shane Long has returned to Reading FC to sign a one year contract. The rumour gathered pace over the last month after it was confirmed that
Southampton would not be renewing his contract, with rumours virtually every day that the deal was done. However, finally the rumour is definitely true with the club revealing Long back in Reading colours with pictures at
the Oracle and the training ground. It's fair to say that the career of Reading's former player of the season, who spent some epic years at Reading, has been tailing off in recent seasons but there's plenty of reason to
expect he will have plenty to offer in the Championship.
Shane Long signed for Reading originally back in 2005, a massive 17 years ago now, as an unknown player from Cork City. His first goal for the club came on New Years Eve in only his second appearance, coming off the bench with twenty minutes to play to grab the equaliser with just two minutes left on the clock. The first Reading goal of that game was scored by Kevin Doyle.
Long went on to score 4 goals that season in limited opportunities mostly from the bench, including two goals off the bench in our 5-0 demolition of Derby. The next season with Reading in the Premier League, Long found himself frequently off the bench to replace either Leroy Lita or Kevin Doyle until he started to earn a place in the starting eleven later in the season. With 4 goals that season and 3 in the following 2007/2008 season in the Premier League, Long was recognised as a hugely creative force up front as a supplier rather than scorer.
That pattern continued until the 2010/2011 season when Long made a huge breakthrough, smashing in a massive 28 goals over the season as Reading finished the season with play-off final defeat. His incredible form earned him player of the season and a 6.5 million pound move to West Bromwich Albion to return to Premier League Football. Regular goals for club and country kept coming, which led to a 7 million pound move to Hull City in January 2014, and then just seven months later a 10 million pound transfer to Southampton. Long continued to make a big contribution for the Saints until, after seven years at the club, gradually dropping out of favour and getting less match time. Most of his appearances for Southampton were off the bench, especially in the last few seasons. Even with limited opportunities Long left Southampton with 37 further career goals.
Welcome back Shane!
Discussion On This Story:
linkenholtroyal
10 million pound for a 30 year old is just insane, we would be lucky to get 2 good years out of him.
If this is true it shows how the price of footballers is just insane.
If it was 2/3 million yes. I would rather spend 10 million on an up and coming youngster and take a chance.
He would be worth it short term, but no long term gain to the club.
CountryRoyal
Thing is in this day and age ALL transfer's are primarily short term, the only long-term considerations are financial, i.e how much can they get for a player when they sell. Generally speaking, at this level, most teams looks to get the necessary players within their means to achieve promotion on any given season. Teams aren't afforded the luxury of planning for the future with a 5 year plan.
If it was a choice of 10 million for Long (which it isn't) or 10 million for Wells or Oliviera, I know which one I'd take.
Stranded
Obviously complete bollocks you would think, but even if there is 1% chance of this being true it would be interesting.
CountryRoyal
Let's just hope he's under the thumb and his missus wants to be here.
TBH if there's any truth in it then you'd have to question his ambition dropping down a division when he wouldn't have to, that being said at his age what else can he hope to achieve in the premier league beyond keeping a team in it?
Nameless
Let's just hope he's under the thumb and his missus wants to be here.
TBH if there's any truth in it then you'd have to question his ambition dropping down a division when he wouldn't have to, that being said at his age what else can he hope to achieve in the premier league beyond keeping a team in it?
Why would anyone chose to question a meaningless cliché like 'ambition' ?
Why would going back to a club where his career started in order to help them get promotion be any less ambitious than joining a club he has no connection to, in a part of the country he has no roots in, who are unlikely to do more than fight relegation most seasons ?
It would be refreshing to find a footballer who doesn't think that maximising the number of zero's on your pay cheque isn't the be all and end all, especially when you're already set up comfortably for life.
Be amazed if true, I don't think we actually have a 'chief scout' these days.
CountryRoyal
Let's just hope he's under the thumb and his missus wants to be here.
TBH if there's any truth in it then you'd have to question his ambition dropping down a division when he wouldn't have to, that being said at his age what else can he hope to achieve in the premier league beyond keeping a team in it?
Why would anyone chose to question a meaningless cliché like 'ambition' ?
Why would going back to a club where his career started in order to help them get promotion be any less ambitious than joining a club he has no connection to, in a part of the country he has no roots in, who are unlikely to do more than fight relegation most seasons ?
It would be refreshing to find a footballer who doesn't think that maximising the number of zero's on your pay cheque isn't the be all and end all, especially when you're already set up comfortably for life.
Be amazed if true, I don't think we actually have a 'chief scout' these days.
Well purely going along how that seems to be the narrative that the premier league is the be all and end all. Whilst I don't agree with that if he, like everyone seemingly else thinks that's the case then one would question his motivation.
Nameless
I assume Tevrenden is effectively in charge of the scouting set up,
Quick google shows we had a guy called Tony Spearing for a bit who was replaced by Dean Corre. Either have made an impact on my consciousness, but then why should they !
Woodcote Royal
We need a striker, have 2 weeks to find one and it's going to cost us an arm and a leg in wages and/or transfer fees.
From the day we were bought by billionaires, neither of the above was ever going to prove an insurmountable obstacle to finding someone fit for purpose and, given what we've spent already, failing to sign a realistic strike option would render the rest of the summer's outlay rather pointless.
So, we can either, take the Oliveira route by signing the best the Champ has to offer or, seek out frustrated Prem strikers looking for a regular start.
I have no idea if Long is on Stam's radar but he definitely fits the latter category. Furthermore, and, if as suggested, he's been offered a meagre 25k a week to decamp to one of the most depressing places oop north, he'd probably accept 20k to stay down here.
In my view, Long could be just what we need. He'd still crucify full backs down the flank, knows where the goal is and would love running onto Yann's flicks. Watch this space.
Stranded
Would be great to be wrong, but I don't see the owners sanctioning that kind of wage just yet. Now, if we are interested and he was willing to take a hefty cut to be "home", then great, he is just what this team needs.
Until that looks likely, there will be lols a plenty.
Woodcote Royal
I agree we won't be paying 50k a week but doubt Burnley would either. Anything upto 30k I would not discount, and lets face it, we've paid that and a lot more for much worse in the recent past.
Time is running out and unless the club pulls a rabbit of the hat or, gets luck, it will need to dig deep to acquire the final piece of the jigsaw for what is a very good squad when fully fit.
Hound
If we offered him a nice tasty 4 year deal as we seem to be in the habit of doing, a decent basic + plenty of add ons for promotion etc, then you never know
realistically I can't see him holding down a starting place in the Prem except at maybe someone like Brighton. Burnley is possible, but as mentioned its a long way for him and his young family to go. And its a hole.
MoorgateRoyal
The money will be an issue unless he feels like he can take a cut to come back, with the potential of getting it back after promotion.
CountryRoyal
Just a bit on this, is anyone else slightly concerned that were seemingly offering very lucrative contracts to what can only be described as less than rated players? Huge vote of confidence in them, but I thought we might be a little more cautious after Pogg8. It was impossible to offload him.
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