CONFIRMED - Alex Pearce re-signs

[St. Brynjar]

He is not EPL quality

I suppose you could try to argue that. But there's very little between the top of the Championship and the bottom of the Premier League, and Pearce played well in the Premier League, so the case is weak.

and is extremely unlikely to be so in the future.

That's complete nonsense. A player who plays to Pearce's standard in the Championship is more likely than not to make the step up, and that's disregarding Pearce already showing he's capable in the top flight.

I get that people don't like that a player has decided to leave, but the about-face from some people... actually it shouldn't surprise me.

Gorkss and Leigertwood have shown there is indeed a massive gulf between the top of the Championship and the bottom of the Premier League. Pearce wasn't anywhere near as bad as them but he didn't cover himself in glory.

[melonhead]

and Pearce played well in the Premier League, so the case is weak

about as weak as the case for pearce playing "well"

[RockheadRumple]

Sounds like Melonhead's in massive denial about the fact Pearce was ever even decent (he was) now that he's actually gone.

[Ian Royal]

Sounds like Melonhead's in massive denial about the fact Pearce was ever even decent (he was) now that he's actually gone.

He started the season as our best defender, then Mariappa started to overtake him in that regard when they played together mid-season. Morrison then started catching him up.

In the PL he was, at best, ok. Even being our best defender in the PL does not make one a good PL defender given our appaling defensive record. In the Championship he's been dominant.

[melonhead]

Sounds like Melonhead's in massive denial about the fact Pearce was ever even decent (he was) now that he's actually gone.

nope. not at all.
i love pearcey, and will be gutted if he leaves, and am well aware that the tendency on this board, and everywhere is to suddenly start saying a player is shit as soon as he asks to leave- see sidwell.
he is a very decent championship defender, who will improve with experience, and possibly be a decent prem defeder with that experience, and better players alongside him
im simply very wary of anyone assessing any of our defenders from last season as being anything other than bang average at best.
thats all im saying.

no need to get all defensive on his behalf

[yappy]

Latest on Pearcey:

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11673/8780421/Transfer-news-Reading-s-Alex-Pearce-would-relish-return-to-the-Premier-League

Basically says he's still in talks with the club, but would relish the chance to play in the Premier League again.

[MouldyRoyal]

i.e. he has had no offers from clubs yet so is trying to get back in the clubs good books.

Jog on to be honest Pearce.

[Turns8]

Epic fail on the part of his agent...

[yappy]

i.e. he has had no offers from clubs yet so is trying to get back in the clubs good books.

Jog on to be honest Pearce.

'greed. Feel like he's burnt his bridges, and he wouldn't be too popular if he chose to stay now.

[LoyalRoyal22]

I would like to keep him even though he is a prick

[rob the royal]

i.e. he has had no offers from clubs yet so is trying to get back in the clubs good books.

Jog on to be honest Pearce.

Yeah, at the end of the day if he so upset with the money we're offering why doesn't he just forget about Reading and go somewhere else, and don't give me "cos he loves the club."

Clearly he's realised that his options aren't as fantastic as he thought.

I hope Reading stick to their guns and don't offer him a penny more than their last offer to him.

[Elm Park Pasty]

Should he end up signing back up, I just can't see how he could win most of the fan base back, a few goals or excellent defensive performances would sway a few but the fans would always know he was there cos no one else he wanted (not saying nobody) came in for him. Have to have a slight at the thought that he is probably choosing to head out the out door just as potentially one of the best group of summer signings we may ever have made (if not the best? Time wil tell) could be heading through the In door. Could also potentially make DRK look a pillock, but then he probably thinks 'It's all about the money, money, money' as Jessie J would say.

[RockheadRumple]

To be completely honest I really hope he sees sense and chooses to stay. I'd still love him, he's basically one of my favourite players currently.

[yappy]

Well if the Secret Footballers article genuinely was about Pearce, and he's not happy with £25k a week in the Championship, he can do one for all I care.

[Colin Cheeselog]

Hope he stays.

Just because some internet mongs have worked themselves up into a fluster speculating about what he might be thinking and what he may have been offered, and some other internet mongs have read this as gospel, that doesn't change the fact that he's a very good player at Championship level, he's been at Reading for most of his life and he seems a pretty decent bloke.

[Isaac Hunt]

I wonder whether his agent wanted that article published? Hardly generates a view that he's in demand/weighing up his options!
The more articles that appear like that, the more his value and bargaining power diminishes.

I'm finding it boring now. He doesn’t want to stay at Reading - he thought he'd be able to walk away and secure a great deal somewhere else, including a nice signing on fee, but now realises the grass isn't any greener.

I say oxf*rd him.

[TBM]

Looks like putting him on the bench for the last few months has worked and means we might actually keep him...

[Elm Park Pasty]

i.e. he has had no offers from clubs yet so is trying to get back in the clubs good books.

Jog on to be honest Pearce.

Yeah, at the end of the day if he so upset with the money we're offering why doesn't he just forget about Reading and go somewhere else, and don't give me "cos he loves the club."

Clearly he's realised that his options aren't as fantastic as he thought.

I hope Reading stick to their guns and don't offer him a penny more than their last offer to him.

If he receives no other offers, I hope Reading lower their contract. The market conditions will have changed, he will want to sign rather than them begging him. Also would mean less money for Hal's brother. Not saying they make the offer stupid but why should he be offered the same money here when he thought he could get more elsewhere?

[Esteban]

Footballer in being precious and needy shocker.

[kevan]

A good negotiator would now be putting a time limit on the offer to Pearce, sign by xx or the offer lapses, and Hammond does seem to be quite good at negotiation. Put him under some pressure.