Summer Rebuild

[Lacoste]

Spoke to Nigel Howe less than an hour ago and he told me "There are more to come".

Bumped into him in Waitrose did we?

Which department, meat? fruit?

Or are you in fact a liar?

[Ian Royal]

Just to clarify re. 'weakest link' comment, I was referring to the strike force as opposed to the squad as a whole.

Of course that title is probably now reserved for Akpan (since Pearce's departure).

I'd still say Blackman and HRK are both part of our strikeforce and bigger weak links than Cox.

[loyalroyaldaz]

Spoke to Nigel Howe less than an hour ago and he told me "There are more to come".

Bumped into him in Waitrose did we?

Which department, meat? fruit?

Or are you in fact a liar?

Bore off you fcuking Prick.

Down by PC world by the Stadium actually.

But if you dont believe it then you crack on.

[Lacoste]

Perhaps he was at PC World buying you a new imagination?

It's common knowledge there will be more signings.

Some people are so desperate to be ITK they make up lies

[loyalroyaldaz]

Perhaps he was at PC World buying you a new imagination?

It's common knowledge there will be more signings.

Some people are so desperate to be ITK they make up lies

You have a username of a cheap T shirt that's best days were in the 70's and 80's.
I think its safe to say i could not give a toss what you think.

[Lacoste]

Perhaps he was at PC World buying you a new imagination?

It's common knowledge there will be more signings.

Some people are so desperate to be ITK they make up lies

You have a username of a cheap T shirt that's best days were in the 70's and 80's.
I think its safe to say i could give a toss what you think.

That's obvious.

[JC]

There are some reports online that Garath McCleary is being targetted by Newcastle and other PL clubs.
This could be the first real test of how serious the owners are because I assume most people would not want to lose him, whereas most do not seem to have been too bothered about the other departures

[Snowball]

Interesting.

In the last half of last season I was thinking he'd lost it.

I guessed it was his back injury, and `i thought, "Grab a few mill and replace him"

But he seems to be going quite well this summer...

BUT, based on last season alone, 4M and I'd let him go

[Royal Ginger]

He's quick, tricky and he's got a decent shot on him but he's questionable defensively and his crossing hasn't been brilliant. As with most wingers he has on days and off days rarely having anything middling. He's certainly one of the better players in the squad and we're unlikely to find anything better, but I'd not turn my nose up at a decent wedge for him.

[Nameless]

That would blow a serious hole in our rebuilding and can't see it happening.
Reports of clubs 'targeting' a player don't mean much. There will be loads of conversations between clubs, most of which are casual enquiries and go no further.

[paultheroyal]

Anyone wanting or happy to see Mccleary leave for a decent wedge, millions or whatever are totally nuts.

One of our star performers, reaching his peak, a game changer, difficult to replace.

Injuries hampered his 14/15 season. Let's reap the rewards of a fit Mccleary. Must not be sold.

[floyd__streete]

Always bemuses me to see the amount of h8 HRK gets. Not consistently well for a season or two now but he's still one of our best 11 players (which admittedly isn't a ringing endorsement). He's also one of our most potent goal threats (again.....).

Compare the fashionable running-down of this player on these pages to the exaltation which is shone upon Aaron Kuhl for example; a player who had every chance to take a first team place by the scruff of his neck at the start of last season during an injury crisis and who frankly absolutely bombed. Some of you have some funny ideas really.

[paultheroyal]

Agree with your second paragraph Floyd, Fosu has shown how it should be done, struggling to think of others... As for HRK, he is been consistently poor for Reading and continually disappoints.

[Extended-Phenotype]

If HRK lacked the promise he has, people wouldn't be so disappointed and run him down all the time.

[Hoop Blah]

I'd be disappointed to see McCleary but for all his pace and trickery he isn't irreplaceable and he doesn't have the greatest end product.

I'd rather keep him because he's exciting to watch and causes teams problems, but if we got a good fee for him it really wouldn't be the end of the world.

[maffff]

If HRK lacked the promise he has, people wouldn't be so disappointed and run him down all the time.

If he lacked the promise he has he'd be another Nick Blackman or Hope Akpan. So I'm not sure I agree.

[Ian Royal]

If we bring in more strikers we're linked with and we got a good wedge i could see us playing without wingers.

He's no more essential than anyone else and he needs to improve on last season the same as most.

[Extended-Phenotype]

If HRK lacked the promise he has, people wouldn't be so disappointed and run him down all the time.

If he lacked the promise he has he'd be another Nick Blackman or Hope Akpan. So I'm not sure I agree.

back at ya
I'm not disappointed by Akpan or Blackman. As far as I'm concerned they play as well as they are capable of, I.e. a bit better than shit.

[SCIAG]

the exaltation which is shone upon Aaron Kuhl for example; a player who had every chance to take a first team place by the scruff of his neck at the start of last season during an injury crisis and who frankly absolutely bombed.

You were proudly declaring that you weren't going to matches any more at the time so I don't know what qualifies you to make that ridiculous statement. Man of the Match in his first two appearances, then we paid a lot of money for Norwood and couldn't use them both.

I agree that HRK is over-hated. He's an ordinary Championship winger and performs like one. There's no shame in that. It would be nice to have a McAnuff or Convey but he's a darn sight better than Tony Rougier or Paul Brooker or even Salako under Coppell.

[Nameless]

Bear in mind Floyd makes his comments to get a reaction rather than because he has anything to say.....
Kuhn did enough when he played to show he's going to be very good. But he did struggle to dominate and control a game the way he does in the u21. Shock horror, 19 year old central midfielder thrown into injury ravaged side doesn't instantly make himself the hub of the team.....
If he goes on loan he will get rave reviews. If he stays with us he needs to play games and if he does so with a decent side round him then Floyd can read the reports in the papers and come back with a different opinion....