Long to WBA

[muddyfeet]

burning my shirt as we speak

[Terminal Boardom]

According to the Daily Mail online an hour ago, he is off to the Baggies

ahhh, the bastion of reason from the print media.

[roadrunner]

He was on the pitch for a good 2 minutes after everyone else had left. I was only there cos my Mrs wanted a piccy of him on her iphone (she's Irish).

He meandered over to the North stand, shirt in hand, then meandered back to the tunnel (in to the waiting arms of Hammond). Me and everyone else around, well, those that were left plus my Mrs waving her iphone at him all felt that was his last time. His body language said it all. End of.

We all said the same as he trudged off. He didn't look himself, nor did he appear all too happy actually. I know he often gives his shirt away but the body language was all wrong for him. We all said that was his last home game.

He deserves a shot. Good luck to him!

[TBM]

The EP also confirms
Last season’s 25-goal hero at Reading could now be in line for a return to the Premier League against Manchester City at the Hawthorns on Sunday.

[Arnie_Pie]

Have your other 23 posts in the last 6 years been this groundbreaking?

[roadrunner]

The EP also confirms
Last season’s 25-goal hero at Reading could now be in line for a return to the Premier League against Manchester City at the Hawthorns on Sunday.

Indeed. Home to United then Away to Chelsea. Oof.

[rhroyal]

If WBA want this sorted before he joins up with Ireland, is this likely to be confirmed today?

[roadrunner]

If WBA want this sorted before he joins up with Ireland, is this likely to be confirmed today?

He's meant to be in the midlands today so probably, or announced tomorrow.

[Z175]

Have your other 23 posts in the last 6 years been this groundbreaking?

Coppell sounds like hes going to resign

Apparently West Ham want Pardew

Steven Hunt jsut said he wants to leave! OMG!

[Terminal Boardom]

You would like to think, but you wait until next summer!

Plus the fact that we'll be an avarage, mid-table flagging club and we'll have the likes of Obita out growing us. We're a selling club because of this so called black hole, and because we produce quality that unless we invest to improve the squad we have to sell as they will continue to out grow us.

Shades of Southampton. By the sounds of things, the club spends more than it receives - hence the need to "balance the books". Whether that is to pay off loans or the like is an irrelevance. I see a few more years ahead before the deficit is removed. Only then will there be what could be consiudered tangible investment in the playing squad. Until then, expect more stop-gap signings like Griffin and Harte and more unknowns like Manset, Morrison and Williams. The days where we will spend similar amounts to other clubs in the Championship are a long way off.

As you say, you can see a few more years of this black hole. I can see it being forever more if we want to compete at this level. We don't have a huge fan base and the outgoings will continue to be more than the income. Madejski seems reluctant to carry on putting his money in and so it's up to the club to support itself as much as it possibly can do. I can't see things changing until a new ambitious owner comes along.

I could be wrong but iirc, the last time SJM put his hand in his pocket, it was to pay £1m to Bristol City for Lita. SJM has made no secret that his plan is for the club to be self financing and relying on him as a benefactor is just not going to happen. I think that it is only a matter of time where the majority of football clubs in this country will adopt this sort of approach. And not just within the professional ranks either. What do we have in the Mad Stad? A hotel, conference centre and executive boxes / suites that can be hired out. It is up to the marketing men in the "empire" to ensure that as much revenue is generated from these streams.

What is the alternative?

[Z175]

Sorry TB4E. not funny. I'm just slightly Angry right now. Not that it wasn't an unexpected passing. It just always hits you when it sinks in. I'm not angry with God or even his Director of Football. Just at the fact that nothing is forever in life or football. Especially with the big spending Satans...

[LWJ]

Have your other 23 posts in the last 6 years been this groundbreaking?

Coppell sounds like hes going to resign

Apparently West Ham want Pardew

Steven Hunt jsut said he wants to leave! OMG!

Sky sports news just stated, that Portsmouth have entered the race for Tommy Smith even though an offer from Reading has been accepted!!

[Bandini]

burning my shirt as we speak

You sound hot. What are you wearing?

[Ian Royal]

burning my shirt as we speak

You sound hot. What are you wearing?

Flames are in this year I hear.

[Ian Royal]

One thing playing Devil's advocat there though is does it matter what he goes for if precisely zero of it is reinvested? Could be 6mill, 10mill, 15mill. If the Current manager sees zero then basically he's just lost a player and the money's vanished.

Contrary to popular (stupid) belief, money into a football club doesn't just evaporate if it isn't spent on an incoming player's transfer fee. Any money received is good for the club's future, whether it's spent on a transfer fee immediately or not.

[sandman]

Four of the Top 5 Stories on the club website are about how great Manset was on Saturday. Including "Supporters pile praise on Manset". Bye Shane.

[bracknell loyal royal!]

Four of the Top 5 Stories on the website are about how great Manset was on Saturday. Including "Supporters pile praise on Manset". Bye Shane.

It's cringeworthy stuff.

[Alan Partridge]

One thing playing Devil's advocat there though is does it matter what he goes for if precisely zero of it is reinvested? Could be 6mill, 10mill, 15mill. If the Current manager sees zero then basically he's just lost a player and the money's vanished.

Contrary to popular (stupid) belief, money into a football club doesn't just evaporate if it isn't spent on an incoming player's transfer fee. Any money received is good for the club's future, whether it's spent on a transfer fee immediately or not.

I was meaning from the manager's view point. £6million 'great deal' if you get a nice big transfer fee back into the club and the manager gets a bit of that to buy 1/2 players to replace the guy that's just gone. If he gets nothing then it makes not a jot of difference what he goes for.

I didn't really explain it very well i don't think.

[Arch]

One thing playing Devil's advocat there though is does it matter what he goes for if precisely zero of it is reinvested? Could be 6mill, 10mill, 15mill. If the Current manager sees zero then basically he's just lost a player and the money's vanished.

Contrary to popular (stupid) belief, money into a football club doesn't just evaporate if it isn't spent on an incoming player's transfer fee. Any money received is good for the club's future, whether it's spent on a transfer fee immediately or not.

I was meaning from the manager's view point. £6million 'great deal' if you get a nice big transfer fee back into the club and the manager gets a bit of that to buy 1/2 players to replace the guy that's just gone. If he gets nothing then it makes not a jot of difference what he goes for.

I didn't really explain it very well i don't think.

Perhaps because it's not a very good point. The manager knows how the club works. Incoming transfer fees do not automatically create a fixed "budget" to spend on new players. Each possible signing is considered on its own merits and dependent on what the club can afford. Brian will know that a fee of 6 million will increase the comfort zone when it comes to pursuing possible targets, but those pursuits are not directly tied to the 6 million.

[Handsome Man]

burning my shirt as we speak

I wanted to buy one yesterday, but the official site was sold out.