CONFIMRED - Deniss Rakels

[Vision]

:lol: @ the idea our owners just sign players without consulting or discussing with the DoF or manager. If Brian didn't want the player pretty sure we wouldn't be signing him.

You can @ that idea all you want but I think that's the reality. Certainly, the first Brian knew of Pogbregnyak was when he was introduced to him as our new forward by the then owners.

I'm surprised managers actually wear this, but I guess if they don't, there's plenty out of work that would

Really? Not what he said at the time.

[Schards#2]

My prediction of Rakel's Reading career:

Weeks 1-8 - one random start where he's subbed after 45 mins and lots of "he's not up to speed fitness wise so we're working hard on him in training"

Weeks 8 - 15 - A few appearances on the bench coming on for 10 minutes twice

Weeks 16 onwards - not in squad

Close season - gone on a free to Skonto FC

[dogzbollox]

My Posh supporting m8's girlfriend lives in Krakow, so he tends to be out there every other weekend to watch Cracovia. Reckons Rakels is much better than Washington.

My aunties next door neighbours plumber that lives in Wigan has been to Washington ...(Tyne & Wear)

[Schards#2]

:lol: @ the idea our owners just sign players without consulting or discussing with the DoF or manager. If Brian didn't want the player pretty sure we wouldn't be signing him.

You can @ that idea all you want but I think that's the reality. Certainly, the first Brian knew of Pogbregnyak was when he was introduced to him as our new forward by the then owners.

I'm surprised managers actually wear this, but I guess if they don't, there's plenty out of work that would

Really? Not what he said at the time.

That's what he said at a supporters Q & A thing he did a year or so back

[Winston Smith]

I've got a good feeling about Latvian Deniss.

Reckon he might do ok

[Top Flight]

He has a decent record and he looks alright.

It is worth giving him a chance. At the end of the day, If it doesn't work out and he is not good enough then he'll get moved on and someone else will come in.

Dennis, welcome to the Royals. I am looking forward to some controversy.

[Vision]

You can @ that idea all you want but I think that's the reality. Certainly, the first Brian knew of Pogbregnyak was when he was introduced to him as our new forward by the then owners.

I'm surprised managers actually wear this, but I guess if they don't, there's plenty out of work that would

Really? Not what he said at the time.

That's what he said at a supporters Q & A thing he did a year or so back

I'd take what he's saying in front of fans who've paid a tenner a pop to hear him with a pinch of salt tbh. Especially when it contradicts everything he said at the time.

The Pog signing actually went on for a while as other clubs were involved. Mcd at the time claimed he'd had a number of conversations with him before he signed. No doubt he was Anton's man but this notion that he was introduced to him at the training ground one day as his new signing with no prior knowledge is completely at odds with everything that was said at the time.

Brian's take at the time was that Anton mentioned Pog and said to him "how would you feel if I said I could get him for you?"

Whether he'd have wanted him if he knew how much it cost in wages is another matter but he definitely knew all about him.

[wingnut]

My prediction of Rakel's Reading career:

Weeks 1-8 - one random start where he's subbed after 45 mins and lots of "he's not up to speed fitness wise so we're working hard on him in training"

Weeks 8 - 15 - A few appearances on the bench coming on for 10 minutes twice

Weeks 16 onwards - not in squad

Close season - gone on a free to Skonto FC

Yep except I don't think he'll start. Just a few appearances from the bench.

[Hoop Blah]

I'd take what he's saying in front of fans who've paid a tenner a pop to hear him with a pinch of salt tbh. Especially when it contradicts everything he said at the time.

The Pog signing actually went on for a while as other clubs were involved. Mcd at the time claimed he'd had a number of conversations with him before he signed. No doubt he was Anton's man but this notion that he was introduced to him at the training ground one day as his new signing with no prior knowledge is completely at odds with everything that was said at the time.

Brian's take at the time was that Anton mentioned Pog and said to him "how would you feel if I said I could get him for you?"

Whether he'd have wanted him if he knew how much it cost in wages is another matter but he definitely knew all about him.

Agreed, I'd take anything anyone in football says, but especially managers.

At the time he was trying to save face and not rock the boat for the good of the club, and himself and his reputation.

At the time of the Q&A he was trying to save face and rebuild his dented reputation and probably put a slightly different spin on it. Our memory for these kind of things can change over time as well.

It's pretty certain that he wasn't a player that McDermott went out and wanted to sign though. That's the world these managers live in now and they're paid handsomely to put up with their paymasters giving them players they may or may not really want from time to time.

[stealthpapes]

The interview about him is a wee bit sad.

"yeah, I had to ask an ex-player if he was much cop"

[Nameless]

Would be odd if Brian hadn't spoken to a bloke he knows who is the captain of the potential signing's national side.
Kaspars always seemed a decent bloke so if he gave Rakells a good reference it's a positive sign.
A comment that Brian had popped over to Kraków twice to see him play might have been good though !

[Royal Ginger]

The interview about him is a wee bit sad.

"yeah, I had to ask an ex-player if he was much cop"

*slaps face*
Don't you ever refer to the mighty bearded wonder as just an 'ex player'.

[Royal Ginger]

Would be odd if Brian hadn't spoken to a bloke he knows who is the captain of the potential signing's national side.
Kaspars always seemed a decent bloke so if he gave Rakells a good reference it's a positive sign.
A comment that Brian had popped over to Kraków twice to see him play might have been good though !

He gave him a 'good insight'. It doesn't mention wether he said 'good lad' or 'don't say BBQ, it's his psychotic trigger word'

[Maneki Neko]

in the interview he says that it was the owners own scout who picked up on him, but doesn't come all out and say he's had no say in it.

if the owner has said 'my scout has brought me this player, I think we should buy him', then brian's gone away and checked up on him, come back and said 'yes, it sounds like a good deal.' then theres nowt wrong with that. if the owner has said 'im blowing some of our tiny budget on someone you've never heard of and don't want' then that's much worse.
we still don't really know which one of those it was.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Oh aye for sure he could be ace

But it's a shame our owners are pulling up on deals the manager wants and making ones he doesn't

Nowhere in the interview transcript does Brian say he doesn't want him? In fact, he says:

I know the player now. We have Wyscout here where you can watch the player. He works his socks off, he’s got a good record of scoring in Poland this season.

I spoke to Kaspars Gorkks about him, the Latvian captain, he gave me a good insight into him. So if the deal is done then great - he will come into our squad.

I look at him and I look at what he can bring. He’s an international player and he’s someone that we can work with. It’s great that he’s coming.

I look at things with an open mind. If we sign Deniss for example and he comes in he will be embraced by us. The fans will embrace him and we want him to do really well. Same with Evans, Kermorgant or anyone who comes through the door.

Soz, I don't mean he actually doesn't want him, I mean he wasn't someone he was after.

[Extended-Phenotype]

in the interview he says that it was the owners own scout who picked up on him, but doesn't come all out and say he's had no say in it.

if the owner has said 'my scout has brought me this player, I think we should buy him', then brian's gone away and checked up on him, come back and said 'yes, it sounds like a good deal.' then theres nowt wrong with that. if the owner has said 'im blowing some of our tiny budget on someone you've never heard of and don't want' then that's much worse.
we still don't really know which one of those it was.

You'd have thought if it was the former, Brian would have clarified that and not been so evasive with his answers.

''yeah their scouts found the guy and I thought ace, fantastic find let's go for it!''

Instead its

''I don't know him. I do know Connor Washington though. But fcuk it he's here now, so might as well give him a seat on the bench or something. The pcunt.''

[Longhorn1970]

in the interview he says that it was the owners own scout who picked up on him, but doesn't come all out and say he's had no say in it.

if the owner has said 'my scout has brought me this player, I think we should buy him', then brian's gone away and checked up on him, come back and said 'yes, it sounds like a good deal.' then theres nowt wrong with that. if the owner has said 'im blowing some of our tiny budget on someone you've never heard of and don't want' then that's much worse.
we still don't really know which one of those it was.

Shocking if true ..

[Maneki Neko]

it sounds as though the truth lays somewhere between those two extremes of owners meddling in transfers

[Ian Royal]

I'd take what he's saying in front of fans who've paid a tenner a pop to hear him with a pinch of salt tbh. Especially when it contradicts everything he said at the time.

The Pog signing actually went on for a while as other clubs were involved. Mcd at the time claimed he'd had a number of conversations with him before he signed. No doubt he was Anton's man but this notion that he was introduced to him at the training ground one day as his new signing with no prior knowledge is completely at odds with everything that was said at the time.

Brian's take at the time was that Anton mentioned Pog and said to him "how would you feel if I said I could get him for you?"

Whether he'd have wanted him if he knew how much it cost in wages is another matter but he definitely knew all about him.

Agreed, I'd take anything anyone in football says, but especially managers.

At the time he was trying to save face and not rock the boat for the good of the club, and himself and his reputation.

At the time of the Q&A he was trying to save face and rebuild his dented reputation and probably put a slightly different spin on it. Our memory for these kind of things can change over time as well.

It's pretty certain that he wasn't a player that McDermott went out and wanted to sign though. That's the world these managers live in now and they're paid handsomely to put up with their paymasters giving them players they may or may not really want from time to time.

I like Brian, but I think he's demonstrated with a couple of things he's said that he uses creative licence when it comes to telling the truth, depending on the situation. I find it very difficult to take anything he says about transfers and player situations at face value now.

[stealthpapes]

The interview about him is a wee bit sad.

"yeah, I had to ask an ex-player if he was much cop"

*slaps face*
Don't you ever refer to the mighty bearded wonder as just an 'ex player'.

Point taken.