Ex Players

[rabidbee]

Let’s be honest you don’t come through an academy like inter Milan's and play regularly for their b team unless there is some sort of raw talent there. Of course raw talent is only one of a number of metrics that a player needs to be a successful footballer. We all know that. But for whatever reason he didn’t make it here. And yes, he doesn’t appear to be pulling up any trees at Genoa. It doesn’t mean he’s shit though, he still regularly gets in the Romania team who are 48th in the world rankings - and has a fairly decent (ish) record for them. Hell, his first season here he scored he scored 14 in 42 games which is pretty decent in your first season in a new league and different country, most strikers aim for around a 1 in 3 average, one in 2 strikers are like gold dust. But like all players, they just need to find a system that suits them, and a manager who knows how to use them. This goes for any player around the world. I’m sure Sergio Aguero would have been shit for us too if we had used him as a lone striker hitting long balls into his throat all the time.

Indeed

Too many strikers are prolific elsewhere and flatter to deceive here. Can’t be a coincidence

Vydra was terrible here amd then couldn't stop scoring when he left

He scored nine in 36 games for us, then moved to Derby and scored five in 36 in the first season. In the following season he hit a purple patch and scored 22 in 44, but then in the following four seasons for Burnley (albeit in a higher league) he never scored more than six in one season, finishing with 12 from 97 games. In that one good season for Derby, he scored more than a fifth of his career total of goals. His season with us was far more representative of his average.

[Hendo]

I can remember being so freaking excited when we signed Vydra.

[Stranded]

I can remember being so freaking excited when we signed Vydra.

I remember my initial thought being - we've paid how much for a loan player? - he better have a fcuking incredible season

[paultheroyal]

We are very good with letting some obvious talent either go, let contracts be run down, or turn excellent quality players into absolute rubbish.

[Hendo]

I can remember being so freaking excited when we signed Vydra.

I remember my initial thought being - we've paid how much for a loan player? - he better have a fcuking incredible season

Didn't care at the time, yes it was a lot of money but at the time of signing, everything pointed towards it being an absolute no-brainer. Before he came to us, he was one of the best Championship strikers going.

[WestYorksRoyal]

We are very good with letting some obvious talent either go, let contracts be run down, or turn excellent quality players into absolute rubbish.

Our Academy could be the driving force that allows our club to compete above its weight. Instead we're seeing potential realised elsewhere with minimal financial gain for the club.

Abbey and Vickers will be next without a new owner.

[Stranded]

We are very good with letting some obvious talent either go, let contracts be run down, or turn excellent quality players into absolute rubbish.

Our Academy could be the driving force that allows our club to compete above its weight. Instead we're seeing potential realised elsewhere with minimal financial gain for the club.

Abbey and Vickers will be next without a new owner.

Its almost like we've got an awful owner who has instigated an environment of chaos/mediocrity and short termism that has lead to us having an inability in a lot of cases to offer deals to certain players, whilst having a total churn of managers who want to bring in their own players to fight constant relegation battles.

[Hound]

I can remember being so freaking excited when we signed Vydra.

Yeah same, thought that was promotion guaranteed. I actually quite liked him as an all round player but obvs vfm wasn’t great

Osho scoring against Arsenal last night… nuts that. Thought he could make a capable champ player but he’s proving himself in the Prem instead

[Sutekh]

We are very good with letting some obvious talent either go, let contracts be run down, or turn excellent quality players into absolute rubbish.

Our Academy could be the driving force that allows our club to compete above its weight. Instead we're seeing potential realised elsewhere with minimal financial gain for the club.

Abbey and Vickers will be next without a new owner.

Its almost like we've got an awful owner who has instigated an environment of chaos/mediocrity and short termism that has lead to us having an inability in a lot of cases to offer deals to certain players, whilst having a total churn of managers who want to bring in their own players to fight constant relegation battles.

Agreed, thanks to that awful owner, the club are now embargoed on offering new contracts to their youngsters. One side effect of the FL's "rules" which I find particularly unnecessary and deranged

[JedMaxwell]

Always thought Osho was decent. Glad to see him doing well in the Prem.

[Snowflake Royal]

Our Academy could be the driving force that allows our club to compete above its weight. Instead we're seeing potential realised elsewhere with minimal financial gain for the club.

Abbey and Vickers will be next without a new owner.

Its almost like we've got an awful owner who has instigated an environment of chaos/mediocrity and short termism that has lead to us having an inability in a lot of cases to offer deals to certain players, whilst having a total churn of managers who want to bring in their own players to fight constant relegation battles.

Agreed, thanks to that awful owner, the club are now embargoed on offering new contracts to their youngsters. One side effect of the FL's "rules" which I find particularly unnecessary and deranged

Are we? We can't pay fees for ages and we drift in and out of full embargos, but how does that actually prevent us agreeing contract extensions for existing, and young, players? Exactly?

[bcubed]

Its almost like we've got an awful owner who has instigated an environment of chaos/mediocrity and short termism that has lead to us having an inability in a lot of cases to offer deals to certain players, whilst having a total churn of managers who want to bring in their own players to fight constant relegation battles.

Agreed, thanks to that awful owner, the club are now embargoed on offering new contracts to their youngsters. One side effect of the FL's "rules" which I find particularly unnecessary and deranged

Are we? We can't pay fees for ages and we drift in and out of full embargos, but how does that actually prevent us agreeing contract extensions for existing, and young, players? Exactly?

Glad you asked that
Was wondering the same

[AthleticoSpizz]

There is/are threads for this.

Back on track,

Thought Jake Taylor played well on Sunday for Eastleigh,a pretty solid ex-pro putting it about.

[Snowflake Royal]

The old Jake Taylor - Michael Hector cup double for us over the last few games.

Good lads, who were good value commentating on youth games and who seem to have done alright for themselves after graduating our academy

[Stranded]

With Watson, Hector and Thomas in the Charlton back four in the 2nd half last night, can't be many games where we've played against more ex-players at the same time?

[Royals and Racers]

With Watson, Hector and Thomas in the Charlton back four in the 2nd half last night, can't be many games where we've played against more ex-players at the same time?

Walker on the bench made it 4

[Sutekh]

With Watson, Hector and Thomas in the Charlton back four in the 2nd half last night, can't be many games where we've played against more ex-players at the same time?

Walker on the bench made it 4

Interesting questions, any one know the answers to:

Which side have Reading played against that contained the most ex-players at any one time and
Which side have Reading played against that contained the most future players at any one time.

[From Despair To Where?]

Brentford - Reading 2002. That game.

Brentford had ingimarsson, Dobson, Owusu, Sidwell and Hunt in their starting lineup.

And Coppell was manager.

[Brogue]

seem to remember a chant against wolves back at elm pak days of 'are you Reading i disguise' not sure but think gilks and ady playing for wolves with McGhee and colin lee anyone one else?

[From Despair To Where?]

Possibly Simon Osborn as well. Maybe even Scott Taylor.