CONFIRMED - Chris Baird

[Uke]

A 3 month deal? Odd...

Remember Daniel Filipe Martins Carriço?

[Vision]

It might be that one of the reasons he was stalling on QPR was because he thought he'd get Premiership interest. This way he puts himself in the shop window for 3 months and would still be available for free in 3 months time. Just a theory mind.

[winchester_royal]

I'm sure there's an option in there to extend it until the end of the season depending on Jem's injury, CB's performances, our activity in January etc.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

It might be that one of the reasons he was stalling on QPR was because he thought he'd get Premiership interest. This way he puts himself in the shop window for 3 months and would still be available for free in 3 months time. Just a theory mind.

Probably could be that. Then he can get another nice sign on fee. In all seriousness, I bet we've paid a decent whack for him.

LOL @ him training with QPR to get fit again & then fcuking off to us on a 4 mth deal though.

[NewCorkSeth]

Good solid signing. Plenty of experience and can play in so many different roles will be great cover for loads of positions. I think his contract runs out at the end of this season? (sorry totally read the news wrong it is only till January.. My bad)

[KC Royal]

Great signing. Shocked that he was still unattached, thought someone would have snapped him up by now tbh. Before training at QPR and offered a contract by them Bolton seemed on the verge of signing him about a month or so ago.

One thing I am surprised about is that he's only been signed up until Jan. Surely QPR would have offered him a contract until the end of the season? Our wages would have to have bettered them by a fair distance if that were true... Also, a deal until Jan would suggest Karacan's injury isn't as bad as I suspected. I didn't see the injury but Adkins comments suggested to me that he could be out until well into next year.

[Royalwaster]

Good solid signing. Plenty of experience and can play in so many different roles will be great cover for loads of positions. I think his contract runs out at the end of this season? (sorry totally read the news wrong it is only till January.. My bad)

Doesn't say January 2014 though does it - could be January 2018!

[NewCorkSeth]

Maybe we offered him quite high wages for this short term deal and he just couldnt say no, as if it was working out then he could leave to one of many other clubs I'm sure would be happy to have him

[YateleyRoyal]

Why has this not gone to the team yet? Terrible modding here.

[One8Seven1]

I quite like the idea of the short-term deal. It means Baird is going to be fired up to earn a new deal come January. Better that than give an old head one last big payday and then he takes his foot off the pedal. If he does well, and I expect he will judging by the comments from Fulham fans, then we will probably offer him 18 months in Jan.

[MouldyRoyal]

Why has this not gone to the team yet? Terrible modding here.

Maybe Pepe got to him first...

[Pepe the Horseman]

Platypuss and his family will be released when my TOTP is reinstated.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Would be a great singing.

Other players looking for a club include Gallas, C.Cole, David Bentley and Benayoun.

Surely Bentley must have something to offer at this level.... And Benayoun would also improve the squad

[Extended-Phenotype]

Platypuss and his family will be released when my TOTP is reinstated.

What are you going to do to them if it isn't? Punch yourself in the stomach? Post your own balls to your place of work?

[Elm Park Pasty]

Taking some of the mentioned factors into consideration, still makes you wonder how shit QPR's offer must have been to be happy to come to here until January (although like others I bet the option is there to extend).

[seahawk10]

Very happy with this addition. And with squad number 6 means he is sure to have an impact! Brynaldo to Bairdinho!

[Barry the bird boggler]

A 3 month deal? Odd...

Perhaps it's just the way things work given the loan system is currently operating. Perhaps it has to be set up as a loan and then it'll turn permanent in January - unless things have gone pear shaped for some reason

[kwik-silva]

There's no reason why it couldn't be made permanent now..

[Victor Meldrew]

Not sure that QPR are that fussed and coming from Fulham he may have just trained with QPR as it is a few miles away-it happens at a lot of clubs,remember Glen Hoddle keeping fit at our place.
Don't mind Baird-a good defensive midfielder and yet more cover at right-back!!
He is not a centre-back but being a decent player can fill in for a game just like Bryn but I really don't see him as regular cover for Pearce and Morrison.
He was thrust into the big time by Strachan in the cup-final at Cardiff, much to the surprise of Saints fans at the time.

The short term contract matter is interesting-Bridge also signed for relatively short term of just the one year.
May be it is an age thing or that the club will pay good wages in the short term to get the player in and just see how it goes.
I wouldn't have thought that Baird would have been on good money at Fulham nor would Bridge if he had signed permanently for Brighton.

Our signings from Fulham recently have been a bit hit and miss with Rosenior, Pog and Kelly, none of whom have nailed down a first team place so let us hope this is more successful.

BTW with this being another free I was wondering about players being on trial-over the years the club have often announced with great excitement that so-and--so from a top club is having a trial with us (Lee Hendrie was one that I recall) but do we ever sign any of them?
Frederici perhaps?

[One8Seven1]

Not sure that QPR are that fussed and coming from Fulham he may have just trained with QPR as it is a few miles away-it happens at a lot of clubs

Redknapp said they offered him a deal they thought he'd accept, and Reading must be offering big wages if he chose us over them.