Freebies

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Shane long would be a good addition to the squad

[karbota]

JLow reckons we might be interested in Shane long.
Could do a job I suppose, not sure how fit he is nowadays

Yes please, now that would bring the crowds back terrific player.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

JLow reckons we might be interested in Shane long.
Could do a job I suppose, not sure how fit he is nowadays

Yes please, now that would bring the crowds back terrific player.

A classy player, sure he is much older now and may get the odd injury (but that’s the norm for anyone at Reading)

Certainly not the player he once was but bearing in mind most fans here seem to think we are nailed on relegation fodder, we can’t have it both ways, if that’s true then a player like Shane long on the cheap is a great bit of business

I don’t think it’s a cert but if we are as most think going to have a torrid season we can hardly turn our nose up at a player like long, who do some really think we can attract?

I think the important thing is, if he returns, judge him as he is now and as we are now, it isn’t 2006 for him, or for us

[Snowflake Royal]

We need players who, as much as possible, will compete all season. We're going to need a fairly small tight squad. Preferably players with something to prove, not players winding down their career falling through the divisions.

Long's game relied on pace. He's 35.

He hasn't started 20 league games in a season since 2016, 10 since 2020.

He hasn't scored 5 league goals in a season since 2019. 10 since 2015.

He's been on PL money for a decade, and we need players on average or less Champ wages.

The guy has been a part time PL bench warmer for years and no one would even consider him if he hadn't had one good season for us a lifetime ago.

[blythspartan]

I am not keen on Shane Long coming back tbh. I am still hoping to see a squad of mostly young hungry players and a few older heads to help guide them.

I would love to see someone like Joe Sbarra at Solihull Moors given a chance and Tshimanga at Chesterfield. Also, Clarke from the academy, if ready, and maybe one or two others. It would be great to see the squad stay fit and for the players to gain the understanding they’ll need all across the pitch. I want the starting 11 to pick itself.

It’s difficult to know what’s best. My way could quite easily see us relegated but maybe we’d have a squad and togetherness that would be able to bounce straight back. The thought of seeing Long play for 2 or 3 games and then getting injured doesn’t inspire me. We need to go forwards and not backwards.

[Hound]

Guess he’d still have something to offer off the bench but yeah difficult to get excited about

[PATRIQT]

I am not keen on Shane Long coming back...

I am still hoping to see a squad of mostly young hungry players and a few older heads to help guide them...

[paultheroyal]

This Grimsby goalkeeper is deeent. New Zealand international.

[blythspartan]

This Grimsby goalkeeper is deeent. New Zealand international.

Just out of interest what do you think of Sbarra and Dallas for Solihull Moors? I have watched Sbarra 3 or 4 times and he’s always impressed me. I think he could make the step up but it would be interesting to know someone else’s opinion.

[Franchise FC]

This Grimsby goalkeeper is deeent. New Zealand international.

Just out of interest what do you think of Sbarra and Dallas for Solihull Moors? I have watched Sbarra 3 or 4 times and he’s always impressed me. I think he could make the step up but it would be interesting to know someone else’s opinion.

A three division step up is always possible (see Jamie Vardy) but that’s what I would expect to be the outcome.
In our position, however …

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Mentioned it elsewhere but, players are likely to take a wage drop, even in demands, especially dropping down a division as an unattached player as well. There was no way that QPR were paying all of his wages on loan last season, probably half. I know he will have still be earning £30k a week, with Watford paying the rest, but players will know what Championship clubs can/can't afford these days and agents know what deals they could get.

I could guess Gray would demand something between £10-15k p/w. Maybe a bit pricey for what we can offer, but maybe not if it's on the low end.

I think you're a good £7k low on that estimate.

Potentially, I suppose it depends who is offering. If it's the likes of ourselves, it won't be much more than that at all given our restrictions and Birmingham I wouldn't have imagined would be able to pay significantly more, significantly being £7k more, and that's the kind of interest he is attracting at the moment from what we know.

[From Despair To Where?]

This Grimsby goalkeeper is deeent. New Zealand international.

Just out of interest what do you think of Sbarra and Dallas for Solihull Moors? I have watched Sbarra 3 or 4 times and he’s always impressed me. I think he could make the step up but it would be interesting to know someone else’s opinion.

A three division step up is always possible (see Jamie Vardy) but that’s what I would expect to be the outcome.
In our position, however …

Vardy still cost £1m


Sigurdsson's been released by Everton <ducks for cover>

In other news, not heard anything about the Everton player arrested on sex offence charges other than he posted bail again in January.

[NathStPaul]

If Gylfi is eventually acquitted then he'd be more than welcome.

[Royal_jimmy]

We need to start bringing players in

[NathStPaul]

Do you reckon?

[Pepe the Horseman]

Being linked with Union Saint-Gilloise left-back Matthew Sorinola. 21yo former MK Dons player.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

We need to start bringing players in

The transfer window isn't open until the back end of this week and most of our business will be with free agents where most aren't available until 1st July which is just under 4 weeks away. There will only really be outgoings or loan signings I'd expect before the end of the month.

[Hound]

We need to start bringing players in

The transfer window isn't open until the back end of this week and most of our business will be with free agents where most aren't available until 1st July which is just under 4 weeks away. There will only really be outgoings or loan signings I'd expect before the end of the month.

Not sure that’s quite how it works, or Swift would still be with us and not signed at WBA

Anyone being released is pretty much free to find another club

[YorkshireRoyal99]

We need to start bringing players in

The transfer window isn't open until the back end of this week and most of our business will be with free agents where most aren't available until 1st July which is just under 4 weeks away. There will only really be outgoings or loan signings I'd expect before the end of the month.

Not sure that’s quite how it works, or Swift would still be with us and not signed at WBA

Anyone being released is pretty much free to find another club

I mean he hasn't officially signed until the 1st July, people are free to negotiate and announce signings, but they won't actually be completed until after the contract is finished with ourselves.

In our case, I wouldn't expect us to announce many signings before players are released, but if we do then it's not a bad thing.

[Nameless]

The transfer window isn't open until the back end of this week and most of our business will be with free agents where most aren't available until 1st July which is just under 4 weeks away. There will only really be outgoings or loan signings I'd expect before the end of the month.

Not sure that’s quite how it works, or Swift would still be with us and not signed at WBA

Anyone being released is pretty much free to find another club

I mean he hasn't officially signed until the 1st July, people are free to negotiate and announce signings, but they won't actually be completed until after the contract is finished with ourselves.

In our case, I wouldn't expect us to announce many signings before players are released, but if we do then it's not a bad thing.

No reason a player can’t sign a contract now.
What clubs can’t do is register the player until their registration with their existing club has lapsed.