Royals ready to pay for Bikey?

[Hoop Blah]

Just as a comparison, Blackburn picked up Christopher Samba, who has looked very impressive in the couple of games I've seen them play, for nothing in January.

At £1.5M I still think we can find a player that will represent better value AND, most importantly, improve the current squad more than Bikey but if Coppell thinks otherwise then so be it.

[Wycombe Royal]

Just as a comparison, Blackburn picked up Christopher Samba, who has looked very impressive in the couple of games I've seen them play, for nothing in January.

Sometimes you get lucky with a signing, just like we did with Doyle (and Long to a lesser extent). However getting good players for very little money does not happen that often, and unfortunately when it comes to free transfers we will be a long way down the pecking order in terms of attracting the best ones.

[Royal Rother]

Just as a comparison, Blackburn picked up Christopher Samba, who has looked very impressive in the couple of games I've seen them play...

Supporters of other clubs have said much the same about Bikey in the last 3 months.

[Hoop Blah]

Just as a comparison, Blackburn picked up Christopher Samba, who has looked very impressive in the couple of games I've seen them play, for nothing in January.

Sometimes you get lucky with a signing, just like we did with Doyle (and Long to a lesser extent). However getting good players for very little money does not happen that often, and unfortunately when it comes to free transfers we will be a long way down the pecking order in terms of attracting the best ones.

Yep, totally agree. It's always a gamble signing any player, and we've had our fair share of results from bargin basement finds but I was just pointing out the possibility that at £1.5m he isn't quite a bargin.

Just as a comparison, Blackburn picked up Christopher Samba, who has looked very impressive in the couple of games I've seen them play...

Supporters of other clubs have said much the same about Bikey in the last 3 months.

Have they?

To be fair it wouldn't surprise me because he's the sort of defender that looks good on highlights, but Samba has impressed me in the live games I've watched, despite a few hairy moments which remind me much more of Sonko than Bikey does.

[East Stand Royal 500]

Sometimes you get lucky with a signing, just like we did with Doyle (and Long to a lesser extent). However getting good players for very little money does not happen that often, and unfortunately when it comes to free transfers we will be a long way down the pecking order in terms of attracting the best ones.

In that case SC must be the luckiest manager alive! How much did it cost to put the current squad together (ignoring the most recent signings)?

I disagree. It was not good luck but good scouting in the places where others don't think of looking because they don't expect to find quality outside the big clubs. If there's no competition for your targets you can pick up bargains.

Coppell & Co - carry on as you were! I'd rather trust your judgement than some of the posters on this thread.

[Diddyroyal]

A good bit of business me thinks!

1.5 million for a young talented international player who is already settled and getting better by the game?

that is a bargin in todays market!

[From Despair To Where?]

Looking at games such as Villa, Man City and even Liverpool in the Carling Cup I think the potential is there. £1.5m is a decent enough price although I thought the alleged agreed fee was closer to £1m.

[Millsy]

1.5 mill??

No.

750k TOPS.

I still get very nervous when he's playing.

Not saying he can't improve, but I don't think splashing out is wise on him.

And 1.5 might not seem a lot, but it'll be our joint 2nd highest spend.

However, if Coppell thinks he's worth 10 million, then I agree.

In Coppell we trust.

[Bristol Royalz]

Bikey in a one on one where he doesn´t have to think about position is strong.

But he is many red cards in waiting

1) Positioning is poor gets behind and when behind always pulls at the shirt.

2) Is rash

I´m in the category of better available

[The whole year inn]

If we don't sign him up, would anyone else in the Prem look at him?

[Woodcote Royal]

Not long ago, I didn't think we'd go above 750k to get his signature but this just shows how fast he is improving.

Consistency is one of the most common failings in young players but this seems lost on so many Reading fans, and might go some way to explaining our appalling record for getting youth players into the first team.

Bikey has had some very good games, plus a few he would like to forget

But, even at £1.5m, he could yet prove to be one of Steve Coppell's bargain basement finds of the season.

As others have said, if Coppell thinks he's worth the money, that's good enough for me.

[The 17 Bus]

I think 1.5m is too much, he has not stood out, has the faults that others have pointed out, and might improve with quality coaching, but to be worth 1.5m will only be after SC and co have improved his game, so RFC would be adding value, lets not over pay for any player.

[rg6royal]

I really think that we have signed to many defenders, bennet, doobs and now bikey probably!

[readingbedding]

I think 1.5m is too much, he has not stood out, has the faults that others have pointed out, and might improve with quality coaching, but to be worth 1.5m will only be after SC and co have improved his game, so RFC would be adding value, lets not over pay for any player.

So you think that if he was bought by another team from under our noses for £1.5M the fans would be happy with that?

Rubbish.

[Stranded]

I think 1.5m is too much, he has not stood out, has the faults that others have pointed out, and might improve with quality coaching, but to be worth 1.5m will only be after SC and co have improved his game, so RFC would be adding value, lets not over pay for any player.

£1.5m is not too much. We are a Premiership club these days and £1.5m is a bargain in those terms.

There will be very few signings that we make from this day onward that will cost less than £1.5m. Somebody mentioned that he would be our joint 2nd highest signing, he wouldn't be for long.

He's 22 and is currently playing for us in the Premiership and has faults, our record signing hasn't even got in the squad yet.

You buy any player at that age and you are going to add value to them if the coaches do their job right as he's moving toward his peak years not away.

For me, he's nowhere near the finished article but at that price and at his age it is a risk worth taking especially with the riches we are about to get.

[The 17 Bus]

I think 1.5m is too much, he has not stood out, has the faults that others have pointed out, and might improve with quality coaching, but to be worth 1.5m will only be after SC and co have improved his game, so RFC would be adding value, lets not over pay for any player.

So you think that if he was bought by another team from under our noses for £1.5M the fans would be happy with that?

Rubbish.

So are any other clubs in there trying to buy him?

We and others have shown that you do not need to spend millions on a player to achieve success at this level, what you do need is tip top management and coaching, something we seem to have at this point in time.

[Dave the rave]

Just as a comparison, Blackburn picked up Christopher Samba, who has looked very impressive in the couple of games I've seen them play, for nothing in January.

Sometimes you get lucky with a signing, just like we did with Doyle (and Long to a lesser extent). However getting good players for very little money does not happen that often, and unfortunately when it comes to free transfers we will be a long way down the pecking order in terms of attracting the best ones.

Yep, totally agree. It's always a gamble signing any player, and we've had our fair share of results from bargin basement finds but I was just pointing out the possibility that at £1.5m he isn't quite a bargin.

Just as a comparison, Blackburn picked up Christopher Samba, who has looked very impressive in the couple of games I've seen them play...

Supporters of other clubs have said much the same about Bikey in the last 3 months.

Have they?

To be fair it wouldn't surprise me because he's the sort of defender that looks good on highlights, but Samba has impressed me in the live games I've watched, despite a few hairy moments which remind me much more of Sonko than Bikey does.

Having seen what he can do this season it's not really a gamble is it? It's more a question of cost. I'm not Bikey's biggest fan but he'll improve. A bit pricey? yes. A gamble? No.

[brendywendy]

Sometimes you get lucky with a signing, just like we did with Doyle (and Long to a lesser extent). However getting good players for very little money does not happen that often, and unfortunately when it comes to free transfers we will be a long way down the pecking order in terms of attracting the best ones.

In that case SC must be the luckiest manager alive! How much did it cost to put the current squad together (ignoring the most recent signings)?

I disagree. It was not good luck but good scouting in the places where others don't think of looking because they don't expect to find quality outside the big clubs. If there's no competition for your targets you can pick up bargains.

Coppell & Co - carry on as you were! I'd rather trust your judgement than some of the posters on this thread.

5.1 million for the 1st team squad (before the transfer window opened)
i beleieve its the least spent by any of the current prem sides

[Stranded]

I think 1.5m is too much, he has not stood out, has the faults that others have pointed out, and might improve with quality coaching, but to be worth 1.5m will only be after SC and co have improved his game, so RFC would be adding value, lets not over pay for any player.

So you think that if he was bought by another team from under our noses for £1.5M the fans would be happy with that?

Rubbish.

So are any other clubs in there trying to buy him?

We and others have shown that you do not need to spend millions on a player to achieve success at this level, what you do need is tip top management and coaching, something we seem to have at this point in time.

Don't disagree but it's a fact of life that now we are looking like a more established Prem team the cost of bargains will go up. We will struggle to get many players under £1m through the door now that will actually improve what we have.

[Behindu]

We have Bikey on loan with a clause int he deal allowing us to buy him for a predetermined figure.

On that bais of course no other clubs are in for him as he's not available to other clubs. He's ours if we want him at the price. If we start haggling then I suspect our option is forfeit and others could come in, although I suspect Bikey might have a big say and decide that this is where he wants to be....

Personally i think £1.5 million is a gamble, but we are now in a position when we can take the odd gamble. It could well turn out to be a massive bargain as Bikey has all the components needed to be a very good player.