SIGNED - Hope Akpan

[soggy biscuit]

Heard a whisper that we are looking to loan him out for the rest of the season Anywho. Apparently Wycombe is a possibility.

[melonhead]

half* the team that got us 106 points and 8th place in the prem were free transfers from brentford you morons



*slight exaggeration

Not by much

Yeah just a bit. Ingimarsson came from Wolves. Sidwell came from Arsenal. So, Sonko and Hunt then.

ivar didnt really play for wolves though, was on loan at brighton and hove. got him for 175 k - still think that counts towards dismissing the idea that cheap players from lower leagues are always shit
sidwell was in arsenal reserves and let go cos hed never play for their fist team after loans at brentford and brighton,
a signing which today would also draw plenty of comments about how shit he must be.

[Loyal-Royal_1997]

Well this is the new creative midfielder we've all been asking for!!!

[melonhead]

cambers is king of the ITKs

[melonhead]

dunno m8

Akpan would be Reading's third January signing after the capture of Sporting Lisbon's captain Daniel Carrico, 20, for around £650,000.

eh?

It's an impressive quote from the chronicle.

that really is pretty impressive

[winchester_royal]

If this was one for the future then I wouldn't care but, from OS article, McDermott says: "He's 21 and is a player we feel can play at this level." Bullshit.

How do you know it's bullshit?

Ok, I don't know it's bullshit BUT I do think it's unlikely a player could jump straight from League 1 to Premier League and to have confidence in it, rather than it just being a possibility, is bullshit.
Basically, I'll be quite miffed if McDermott decides to play him ahead of any of the other senior midfielders at the club.

Pilkington and Bennett did it for Norwich. Lowton and Westwood are doing it for Villa. Don't think it would be ridiculous to think he might be able to make the jump too.

[Lovely hot donuts!]

How do you know it's bullshit?

Ok, I don't know it's bullshit BUT I do think it's unlikely a player could jump straight from League 1 to Premier League and to have confidence in it, rather than it just being a possibility, is bullshit.
Basically, I'll be quite miffed if McDermott decides to play him ahead of any of the other senior midfielders at the club.

.... because those SENIOR midfielders have done so much to stop us being joint bottom, haven't they?

I admit they've been a bit shit but someone who I didn't even notice against that shit midfield at the weekend is not going to sort it out!

[SCIAG]

I'm slightly perplexed by this as we have a number of midfielders who are proven at a higher level.

Hopefully he is more of a Long than a Baseya...

[LoyalRoyalFan]

How would you know? He hasn't even played yet and people are writing him off.

[melonhead]

Not moaning but what about all the premier league exprience we need i know its early days but jesus christ ! hope the next signing if their is one blows us out the water

kind of are moaning

[soggy biscuit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2056497/Hope-Akpan-homophobic-Twitter-slur-probed-FA.html

[NR_Royal]

I have to say, anyone that could potentially keep Leigertwood out of the side is a good thing, surely?

[SPARTA]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2056497/Hope-Akpan-homophobic-Twitter-slur-probed-FA.html

Already discussed to death. Everyone makes mistakes, and he was 19. Let's give the boy a chance..

[Ian Royal]

Well done on getting a big move Akpan. I Hope you'll be great!! D'ya get it? Do ya!!!

Underwhelming in terms of keeping us up, but a good buy for the Championship next season probably. And sounds like the style of player we've been missing, if not the quality we really need.

TBH, I think SKB's shout for a song for him sold me on this being a decent signing more than anything else. Especially given his homophobic tweet (that allegedly wasn't him). I changed the chorus a little to make it more relevant.

Akpan, there's no need to feel down.
I said, Akpan, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, Akpan, 'cause you're in a new town
There's no need to be unhappy.

Akpan, there's a place you can go.
I said, Akpan, when you're short on your dough.
You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.

It's fun to play at the Muh-da-ay-ski.
It's fun to play at the Muh-da-ay-ski.

They have everything, for young men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...

It's fun to play at the Muh-da-ay-ski.
It's fun to play at the Muh-da-ay-ski.

[melonhead]

I have to say, anyone that could potentially keep Leigertwood out of the side is a good thing, surely?

[winchester_royal]

I have to say, anyone that could potentially keep Leigertwood out of the side is a good thing, surely?

No, it's an embarrassing day for a club that was once great.

Hammond out. Anton out. Baldy out.

#doyousee?

[SPARTA]

I'm slightly perplexed by this as we have a number of midfielders who are proven at a higher level.

Hopefully he is more of a Long than a Baseya...

Proven? Tabb and Leigertwood aren't up to it at this level, so that rules them out. Karacan maybe, and Guthrie. We clearly need a lot of work in this area.

[Millsy]

Actually quite pleased with this signing. Strong, hungry, on the up. Doesn't cost the earth.

I would've hoped we could get some big hitters to keep us up but hey, no probs if that's not our game plan, this sort of signing might be good.

homophobia? Hardly. He's only a kid and some stupid things went up on his twitter account. Apologised. Nothing to do with us.

Broken a guys leg? Yeah that's not nice but it happens in football and remember this is a strong tough tackler- exactly what soft reading need. Do we hate Shunt because of his heavy slide breaking a skull? Of course not, these things happen.

My only concern might be a bit of discipline but I'm sure he'll learn that.

Well done RFC, more like this please, but don't feel shy to make some bigger name signings if you can lure them in!

[Royal91]

I have to say, anyone that could potentially keep Leigertwood out of the side is a good thing, surely?

+1

[blueboy1878]

Sorry guys i'm an everton fan but i cant believe you have actually bought akpan.He's the worst player ive ever seen wear an everton shirt.He won't get in your first team so i dont see the point in signing him,you should be signing much better players than this.Your manager and board should be ashamed.