You're Reading manager for the Jan transfer window

[Snowball]

Great player

[Elmer Park]

With our current fiscal policy the key is to try to be ahead of the game. A couple of examples of this have been Leigertwood and Austin.

Although the transfer window was closed when we got Leigertwood in on loan a lot of Clubs would have agreed the permanent deal then with just the paperwork to be completed in January. It doesn't appear we did this and by prevaricating we may have left the door open to other Clubs although the Ipswich bid hopefully may die off now. His success may have bumped up the asking price too.

In the case of Austin for instance I am convinced he would have been available for around half the current asking price in the summer. I know Clubs were understandably waiting to see if he could repeat last season's goalscoring achievements but this is the sort of player we need to identify and get in before our rivals start splashing the cash that we won't.

I fully understand there are good reasons for taking the cautious approach. Leigertwood might not have fitted into our team and Austin may have been a one season wonder and still may not score goals at Championship level but in our current position we desperately need our scouting team and Management to identify the suitability of a player at an early stage so we can steal a march on our rivals and hopefully get a bargain.

Above all we need our previously successful scouting network to deliver the goods again. They did a fantastic job to identify the likes of Doyle, Kitson, Stephen Hunt, Little and several others who we managed to get for fees that we could still afford now. What has happened to that side of the Club or was it all down to McDermott's scouting ?

[LoyalRoyal22]

We quite clearly need another goalscorer to realistically challenge for play-offs/promotion, its so ovbious to see. I cant believe the club would pass up the oppurtinity of signing someone like Austin for 1-1.5 Million to make that next step, after selling fans favourite Gylfi in the summer. I feel let down.

[brendywendy]

its not that though is it- there are other clubs in for him.
the starting price is 1-1.5 million, which will only increase as it goes on, and the other clubs can offer more in wages, and there may be premiere clubs in for him.
so we could spent the whole of jan chasing him, and hed go elsewhere anyway.

[winchester_royal]

Bendtner? You must be oxf*rd joking.

[Kitson12]

Bendtner? You must be oxf*rd joking.

In response to Snowball's post. Plus, I think he's useless.

[winchester_royal]

Umm...he really isn't.

[Kitson12]

Umm...he really isn't.

How many has he scored this season? He's a donkey.

[Snowball]

Umm...he really isn't.

How many has he scored this season? He's a donkey.

5 starts 7 brief sub appearances, 4 goals this season, in the Prem.. Hmmm, ee-aw?

I've watched him play, was lucky enough to watch him train.

He's a fantastic player, brilliant leap on him, great header of the ball, very good close control.

[Kitson12]

Umm...he really isn't.

How many has he scored this season? He's a donkey.

5 starts 7 brief sub appearances, 4 goals this season, in the Prem.. Hmmm, ee-aw?

I've watched him play, was lucky enough to watch him train.

He's a fantastic player, brilliant leap on him, great header of the ball, very good close control.

Thoroughly meh. But that's my opinion.

[Royal Rother]

I rate Bendtner highly but I suspect he needs to move on to fulfil his potential. He's very good at the intricate passing stuff that Arsenal play so well but I thhink he'd be better served as a big strong striker in a team that is prepared to play a little more direct.

[Royal_Delight]

lol at us thinking that we could get Bendner

[Royal Rother]

Just in case it needed clarification - nobody actually thinks we could get Bendtner.

[brendywendy]

i did

[joe999]

Bendtner is woeful.

[brendywendy]

its only 3 letters away from wonderful though, and thats good enough for us.

[joe999]

But bendtner is 2 away from bender.

[brendywendy]

But bendtner is 2 away from bender.

also true.

good point

bender out

[super darren caskey]

But bendtner is 2 away from bender.

also true.

good point

bender out

[Pseud O'Nym]

bender out

Kiss my shiny metal butt!