New Signings ?

[Aussie Stu]

So, to this point in time we have had no additions to the squad since the season finished, is that correct?

[Rawlie19]

So, to this point in time we have had no additions to the squad since the season finished, is that correct?

100%

[leww_rfc]

So, to this point in time we have had no additions to the squad since the season finished, is that correct?

yep correct. we've just lost our top goal scorer from the last few seasons and the goalkeeper who had the most cleansheets in the league last year.

[Ian Royal]

So, to this point in time we have had no additions to the squad since the season finished, is that correct?

yep correct. we've just lost our top goal scorer from the last few seasons and the goalkeeper who had the most cleansheets in the league last year.

And our club captain and one of our regular centrebacks.

Although on the plus side we've also got rid of Lita, who was dead weight, so it's not all bad news.

[Hoop Blah]

So, to this point in time we have had no additions to the squad since the season finished, is that correct?

yep correct. we've just lost our top goal scorer from the last few seasons and the goalkeeper who had the most cleansheets in the league last year.

The keeper certainly doesn't do it on his own though.

There isn't anything to worry about in terms of not getting anyone in yet. The sooner the better of course because then they have more of a pre-season with their new team, but it's still early days.

[Aussie Stu]

Thanks for the replies, just on Hanneman's departure.... did he want to leave, from the brief news snippets I've come across it appears he wasn't offered a new contract. Also what's happening with the Hunt brothers, are they likely to stay?
With Hanneman leaving I assume Fed will be in line for the #1 GK role, good news for him if he does well as their could be a world cup spot as reserve goalkeeper for Australia in South Africa.... Schwarzer has the role as number 1 sewn up for as long as he wants it.

[Thaumagurist*]

just on Hanneman's departure.... did he want to leave, from the brief news snippets I've come across it appears he wasn't offered a new contract.

Hahnemann did want to stay and yes, he wasn't offered a new contract.

Also what's happening with the Hunt brothers, are they likely to stay?

Stephen Hunt wants to leave and Noel Hunt is definitely staying. No idea why you would think Noel would want to go.

With Hanneman leaving I assume Fed will be in line for the #1 GK role,

Appears to be that way, but I've no idea if we're in the market for a new keeper - think the keepers already at the club are being given a chance before Rodgers decides whether to go for a new keeper.

[Aussie Stu]

Don't have any reason for thinking Noel wants to leave just asking the question as I have heard Stephen is possibly leaving & hadn't heard anything with Noel. The boat with the newspapers takes along time to get to Oz!!
Do you guys think S.Hunt would get back to the EPL? He is getting on, would possibly be a fringer player at alot of top flight clubs.
I'm a little concerned that we seem to be losing players & not replacing them.

[Thaumagurist*]

The boat with the newspapers takes along time to get to Oz!!

Well, you should use the net more often!

Do you guys think S.Hunt would get back to the EPL? He is getting on, would possibly be a fringer player at alot of top flight clubs.

So far, there have been no bids from any premiership clubs despite lots of newpaper talk. It is just possible that Hunt may well still be at the club when the new season starts. Although, a lot of fans here are unhappy with his attitude....

I'm a little concerned that we seem to be losing players & not replacing them.

Christ, not you as well! If Reading appear not to be doing anything, it doesn't mean that they aren't doing anything. They are rumoured to trying to bring in Tommy Smith from Watford. And we've only lost one major player, Doyle, so far.

[Hoop Blah]

Think you better define 'major player' there Spacey...

From last years side we've lost at least 3 who played a very significant number of games.

[Thaumagurist*]

By "major player", I mean a player who is important to the team that Reading didn't really want to sell.

[Aussie Stu]

The boat with the newspapers takes along time to get to Oz!!

Well, you should use the net more often!

Do you guys think S.Hunt would get back to the EPL? He is getting on, would possibly be a fringer player at alot of top flight clubs.

So far, there have been no bids from any premiership clubs despite lots of newpaper talk. It is just possible that Hunt may well still be at the club when the new season starts. Although, a lot of fans here are unhappy with his attitude....

I'm a little concerned that we seem to be losing players & not replacing them.

Christ, not you as well! If Reading appear not to be doing anything, it doesn't mean that they aren't doing anything. They are rumoured to trying to bring in Tommy Smith from Watford. And we've only lost one major player, Doyle, so far.

You're right, we don't know what's happening behind closed doors.
Usually though if a club is in the market for a player(s) there is usually some murmurings. I haven't come across this in my readings (no pun intended) so far.
It'd appear we are trying to drop our player wages bill, with the rumoured & confirmed outs up against our ins!

[Thaumagurist*]

You're right, we don't know what's happening behind closed doors.
Usually though if a club is in the market for a player(s) there is usually some murmurings. I haven't come across this in my readings (no pun intended) so far.
It'd appear we are trying to drop our player wages bill, with the rumoured & confirmed outs up against our ins!

All the murmurrings are on Unfounded Rumours and Gossip. Try looking on there!

And yes, we are trying to drop the player wages because our parachute money finishes next season.

[Royal Rother]

The 4 that have gone make way for younger players, who have been gaining League experience elsewhere, to come through into the 1st team.

It's evolution and we should be proud that the club has put itself in a position where it can happen.

If we are to push hard for auto-promotion then we will probably need new blood as well, but I am perfectly confident that our existing squad, with no more movements in or out, would be capable of a top half finish at the absolute minimum.

There is plenty of bright young talent for Rodgers to work with already.

If I owned a football club I would be very tempted to put a formula in place where my manager's earnings were linked to money spent and final position. e.g. spend £10m and finish top gives earnings of £750k. Spend £0 and finish 3rd-6th earns £1.2m... That would create an interesting dilemma for the manager!

[Thaumagurist*]

What about spending £0 and finishing 1st? How much would the manager earn?

[Royal Rother]

£2,386,901

[Thaumagurist*]

So, for the manager to earn as much as he can, he'd need to spend less and finish as high as possible. But what if the spending is not actually his sole responsibility - he doesn't do the negotiating of the transfer fee, I think Nicky Hammond does.

[Royal Rother]

He would have to set a ceiling for Hammond to work within. WCBAP in this scenario, so the formula would have to include provision for salaries as well as transfer spending.

Duckworth Lewis would rise to the challenge I'm sure...

[readingbedding]

http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3679/38/

[Royalee]

You're forgetting Norwich had next to no decent players to begin with and relied entirely on loans. Not really the same situation, is it?