And now Gunter...

[CountryRoyal]

we should seriously consider any offers over £250k.

[Top Flight]

Swansea, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa are all interested in signing Reading's Wales full-back Chris Gunter, 26, who is available for £1m

Awesome. Hope this comes to fruition. If Hammond were still here I'd want at least another £500k on that, but alas I fear our conning days are behind us. Anything over £750k IMO.

Whoever put a £1m release clause in Gunter's new contract needs shooting. That is an absolute joke for a top end Championship right-back who's been performing consistantly well at international level.

Top end

He bottled the Championship with Forest, he bottled the Championship under Adkins and he's spent the last two seasons drifting around above relegation. Top end championship right-back, my arse.

Your judgement of footballers is appalling Ian. Gunter is arguably the best right back in the Championship. He could be part of another 106 team. Our problems last season were not because of Gunter.

If we carry on getting rid of our best players then League One becomes more and more likely. Lose Gunter and our risk of relegation rises to 50%.

[Ian Royal]

Swansea, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa are all interested in signing Reading's Wales full-back Chris Gunter, 26, who is available for £1m

Awesome. Hope this comes to fruition. If Hammond were still here I'd want at least another £500k on that, but alas I fear our conning days are behind us. Anything over £750k IMO.

Whoever put a £1m release clause in Gunter's new contract needs shooting. That is an absolute joke for a top end Championship right-back who's been performing consistantly well at international level.

Top end

He bottled the Championship with Forest, he bottled the Championship under Adkins and he's spent the last two seasons drifting around above relegation. Top end championship right-back, my arse.

Your judgement of footballers is appalling Ian. Gunter is arguably the best right back in the Championship. He could be part of another 106 team. Our problems last season were not because of Gunter.

If we carry on getting rid of our best players then League One becomes more and more likely. Lose Gunter and our risk of relegation rises to 50%.

I think you are actually mentally ill, the sheer level of your delusional disconnect from reality is astounding. I'm assuming when you say 'arguably', you mean you'll argue it and everyone else will laugh in your face.

[Top Flight]

Awesome. Hope this comes to fruition. If Hammond were still here I'd want at least another £500k on that, but alas I fear our conning days are behind us. Anything over £750k IMO.


Top end

He bottled the Championship with Forest, he bottled the Championship under Adkins and he's spent the last two seasons drifting around above relegation. Top end championship right-back, my arse.

Your judgement of footballers is appalling Ian. Gunter is arguably the best right back in the Championship. He could be part of another 106 team. Our problems last season were not because of Gunter.

If we carry on getting rid of our best players then League One becomes more and more likely. Lose Gunter and our risk of relegation rises to 50%.

I think you are actually mentally ill, the sheer level of your delusional disconnect from reality is astounding. I'm assuming when you say 'arguably', you mean you'll argue it and everyone else will laugh in your face.

Swansea, Boro and Villa don't agree with you. I think I trust the judgement of their coaches and scouts more than yours Ian. You don't really know your football. You have shown that regularly.

[OLLIE KEARNS]

Your judgement of footballers is appalling Ian. Gunter is arguably the best right back in the Championship. He could be part of another 106 team. Our problems last season were not because of Gunter.

If we carry on getting rid of our best players then League One becomes more and more likely. Lose Gunter and our risk of relegation rises to 50%.[/quote]

What are the specific qualities that lead you think he is the best right back in the championship ?

[Sutekh]

Your judgement of footballers is appalling Ian. Gunter is arguably the best right back in the Championship. He could be part of another 106 team. Our problems last season were not because of Gunter.

If we carry on getting rid of our best players then League One becomes more and more likely. Lose Gunter and our risk of relegation rises to 50%.

What are the specific qualities that lead you think he is the best right back in the championship ?[/quote]

He is the best right back at Reading
He runs about a bit
He gets forward a bit
He plays for Wales
He won a tackle once

[OLLIE KEARNS]

Your judgement of footballers is appalling Ian. Gunter is arguably the best right back in the Championship. He could be part of another 106 team. Our problems last season were not because of Gunter.

If we carry on getting rid of our best players then League One becomes more and more likely. Lose Gunter and our risk of relegation rises to 50%.

What are the specific qualities that lead you think he is the best right back in the championship ?

He is the best right back at Reading
He runs about a bit
He gets forward a bit
He plays for Wales
He won a tackle once[/quote]

You'll have to help me with the tackle bit, when was that ??

[Top Flight]

He's been outstanding at Euro 2016. He certainly hasn't let Wales down. And he has never let us down.

When he is in a good team, with a good ethos, a way of playing, good organisation and clear structure, he is outstanding.

He has good personal attributes. (Speed, Stamina, Athleticism) He has good footballing ability (Passing, Crossing, Tackling, Positioning)

Unfortunately Reading FC have failed to organise a decent side over the last few years. But there is no reason why Gunter couldn't be a key part of a good Reading team. He has the attributes.

Maybe his nice good boy looks can be quite deceiving. People think he is not aggressive enough. He is a lovely polite person. But don't hold that against him. He is an excellent Right Back and arguably the best in the Championship. Don't be deceived.

[OLLIE KEARNS]

The opposite view would be

1. His one noticeable moment at Euro 16 was being bullied off the ball at the back post when Sturridge scored a last minute winner for England. The look of utter disgust on Hennessey's face while they both lay on the floor says it all and this standard of defending has been a constant during his time at Reading. All he had to do was stand up and block the shot !
2. He has played in plenty of good teams all of whom have under performed with the exception of Wales where he plays wing back. Three centre backs to focus on the defending side, a luxury he doesn't have when he plays full back.
3. His personal attributes are those of a 400m runner as opposed to a footballer. He is weak at the back post, constantly fails to stop crosses and constantly hits crosses at the other end straight along the ground for the first man to clear.

The number of soft goals that we've conceded during his time at the club is a major issue. Not his fault alone but we need a back four that can defend first and foremost.
All of that said there are worse full backs in the league but £1m for him would not be bad business at all.

[Ian Royal]

The opposite view would be

1. His one noticeable moment at Euro 16 was being bullied off the ball at the back post when Sturridge scored a last minute winner for England. The look of utter disgust on Hennessey's face while they both lay on the floor says it all and this standard of defending has been a constant during his time at Reading. All he had to do was stand up and block the shot !
2. He has played in plenty of good teams all of whom have under performed with the exception of Wales where he plays wing back. Three centre backs to focus on the defending side, a luxury he doesn't have when he plays full back.
3. His personal attributes are those of a 400m runner as opposed to a footballer. He is weak at the back post, constantly fails to stop crosses and constantly hits crosses at the other end straight along the ground for the first man to clear.

The number of soft goals that we've conceded during his time at the club is a major issue. Not his fault alone but we need a back four that can defend first and foremost.
All of that said there are worse full backs in the league but £1m for him would not be bad business at all.

Thank you for your input.

Chris Gunter has great stamina and can run up and down the right side of the pitch endlessly. When the ball is high up the pitch in the opposition final third he can even do a good line in overlapping his wide attacker. His crossing is mostly hopeful, but he does know the roughly the right areas to aim for and sometimes they come off.

Unfortunately, he's a soft touch who doesn't impose himself on games or opposition. In the middle third his first thought is always caution, to check back and pass sideways or backwards inside, rather than to play the positive ball forwards and inside or take on his man. It is of course important for a fullback not to give away soft turnovers in dangerous break positions, but it is also very important they don't rob the majority of moves of any forward momentum and impetus. When he does pass forward it tends to be long and hopeful into a channel with a low success rate.

Defensively he's rarely tight enough or strong enough. As you say, he's weak on the back post.

For effort, Chris Gunter is a 8 or 9 out of 10 guy every week. I'm absolutely certain he's a lovely guy. Unfortunately, his positive contribution to the team defensively and offensively is more like a 4 or 5 when you look past effort and running fast and long.

Being a great athlete or a great guy, does not make you a great footballer. There's a reason Gunter is called a great athlete, it's because he's not actually very good at the football. Not awful, just consistently a bit sub-par.

[Top Flight]

The opposite view would be

1. His one noticeable moment at Euro 16 was being bullied off the ball at the back post when Sturridge scored a last minute winner for England. The look of utter disgust on Hennessey's face while they both lay on the floor says it all and this standard of defending has been a constant during his time at Reading. All he had to do was stand up and block the shot !
2. He has played in plenty of good teams all of whom have under performed with the exception of Wales where he plays wing back. Three centre backs to focus on the defending side, a luxury he doesn't have when he plays full back.
3. His personal attributes are those of a 400m runner as opposed to a footballer. He is weak at the back post, constantly fails to stop crosses and constantly hits crosses at the other end straight along the ground for the first man to clear.

The number of soft goals that we've conceded during his time at the club is a major issue. Not his fault alone but we need a back four that can defend first and foremost.
All of that said there are worse full backs in the league but £1m for him would not be bad business at all.

Thank you for your input.

Chris Gunter has great stamina and can run up and down the right side of the pitch endlessly. When the ball is high up the pitch in the opposition final third he can even do a good line in overlapping his wide attacker. His crossing is mostly hopeful, but he does know the roughly the right areas to aim for and sometimes they come off.

Unfortunately, he's a soft touch who doesn't impose himself on games or opposition. In the middle third his first thought is always caution, to check back and pass sideways or backwards inside, rather than to play the positive ball forwards and inside or take on his man. It is of course important for a fullback not to give away soft turnovers in dangerous break positions, but it is also very important they don't rob the majority of moves of any forward momentum and impetus. When he does pass forward it tends to be long and hopeful into a channel with a low success rate.

Defensively he's rarely tight enough or strong enough. As you say, he's weak on the back post.

For effort, Chris Gunter is a 8 or 9 out of 10 guy every week. I'm absolutely certain he's a lovely guy. Unfortunately, his positive contribution to the team defensively and offensively is more like a 4 or 5 when you look past effort and running fast and long.

Being a great athlete or a great guy, does not make you a great footballer. There's a reason Gunter is called a great athlete, it's because he's not actually very good at the football. Not awful, just consistently a bit sub-par.

Absolute garbage.

You won't find Chris Coleman agreeing with what you write. Nor Brian McDermott or Steve Clarke. You are a very poor judge of a footballer Ian. Under a good manager and system Gunter could definitely be part of a very effective, winning football team. He already is a key part of a very successful Wales team and plays effectively for them both defensively and offensively. He could do the same at Reading. He is a player that we should be trying to keep. Not sell off cheap.

[Ian Royal]

So you don't think he's got great stamina and is a lovely bloke then?

[Top Flight]

No

[John Smith]

Thank you for your input.

Chris Gunter has great stamina and can run up and down the right side of the pitch endlessly. When the ball is high up the pitch in the opposition final third he can even do a good line in overlapping his wide attacker. His crossing is mostly hopeful, but he does know the roughly the right areas to aim for and sometimes they come off.

Unfortunately, he's a soft touch who doesn't impose himself on games or opposition. In the middle third his first thought is always caution, to check back and pass sideways or backwards inside, rather than to play the positive ball forwards and inside or take on his man. It is of course important for a fullback not to give away soft turnovers in dangerous break positions, but it is also very important they don't rob the majority of moves of any forward momentum and impetus. When he does pass forward it tends to be long and hopeful into a channel with a low success rate.

Defensively he's rarely tight enough or strong enough. As you say, he's weak on the back post.

For effort, Chris Gunter is a 8 or 9 out of 10 guy every week. I'm absolutely certain he's a lovely guy. Unfortunately, his positive contribution to the team defensively and offensively is more like a 4 or 5 when you look past effort and running fast and long.

Being a great athlete or a great guy, does not make you a great footballer. There's a reason Gunter is called a great athlete, it's because he's not actually very good at the football. Not awful, just consistently a bit sub-par.

This is a pretty good summary of Chris Gunter and one I'm mostly in agreement with. Please sell and refresh the squad and use his Euro involvement as a basis for commanding a higher transfer fee. Oh to still have Hammond at the club now.

[WoodleyRoyal]

Thank you for your input.

Chris Gunter has great stamina and can run up and down the right side of the pitch endlessly. When the ball is high up the pitch in the opposition final third he can even do a good line in overlapping his wide attacker. His crossing is mostly hopeful, but he does know the roughly the right areas to aim for and sometimes they come off.

Unfortunately, he's a soft touch who doesn't impose himself on games or opposition. In the middle third his first thought is always caution, to check back and pass sideways or backwards inside, rather than to play the positive ball forwards and inside or take on his man. It is of course important for a fullback not to give away soft turnovers in dangerous break positions, but it is also very important they don't rob the majority of moves of any forward momentum and impetus. When he does pass forward it tends to be long and hopeful into a channel with a low success rate.

Defensively he's rarely tight enough or strong enough. As you say, he's weak on the back post.

For effort, Chris Gunter is a 8 or 9 out of 10 guy every week. I'm absolutely certain he's a lovely guy. Unfortunately, his positive contribution to the team defensively and offensively is more like a 4 or 5 when you look past effort and running fast and long.

Being a great athlete or a great guy, does not make you a great footballer. There's a reason Gunter is called a great athlete, it's because he's not actually very good at the football. Not awful, just consistently a bit sub-par.

This is a pretty good summary of Chris Gunter and one I'm mostly in agreement with. Please sell and refresh the squad and use his Euro involvement as a basis for commanding a higher transfer fee. Oh to still have Hammond at the club now.

FOR oxf*rd SAKE YOU oxf*rd TARD CAN YOU NOT oxf*rd READ???? HE HAS A 1 MILLION RELEASE CLAUSE YOU oxf*rd HELM!!!! IT'S MAKES NO DIFFERENCE HOW HE PLAYS HE HAS A 1 MILLION RELEASE CLAUSE. HAMMOND WOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE HE HAS A oxf*rd 1 MILLION RELEASE CLAUSE. YOU STUPID oxf*rd CUNT

[John Smith]

FOR oxf*rd SAKE YOU oxf*rd TARD CAN YOU NOT oxf*rd READ???? HE HAS A 1 MILLION RELEASE CLAUSE YOU oxf*rd HELM!!!! IT'S MAKES NO DIFFERENCE HOW HE PLAYS HE HAS A 1 MILLION RELEASE CLAUSE. HAMMOND WOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE HE HAS A oxf*rd 1 MILLION RELEASE CLAUSE. YOU STUPID oxf*rd CUNT

Hammond would get £2.5 million if he was still with us

[sandman]

Thank you for your input.

Chris Gunter has great stamina and can run up and down the right side of the pitch endlessly. When the ball is high up the pitch in the opposition final third he can even do a good line in overlapping his wide attacker. His crossing is mostly hopeful, but he does know the roughly the right areas to aim for and sometimes they come off.

Unfortunately, he's a soft touch who doesn't impose himself on games or opposition. In the middle third his first thought is always caution, to check back and pass sideways or backwards inside, rather than to play the positive ball forwards and inside or take on his man. It is of course important for a fullback not to give away soft turnovers in dangerous break positions, but it is also very important they don't rob the majority of moves of any forward momentum and impetus. When he does pass forward it tends to be long and hopeful into a channel with a low success rate.

Defensively he's rarely tight enough or strong enough. As you say, he's weak on the back post.

For effort, Chris Gunter is a 8 or 9 out of 10 guy every week. I'm absolutely certain he's a lovely guy. Unfortunately, his positive contribution to the team defensively and offensively is more like a 4 or 5 when you look past effort and running fast and long.

Being a great athlete or a great guy, does not make you a great footballer. There's a reason Gunter is called a great athlete, it's because he's not actually very good at the football. Not awful, just consistently a bit sub-par.

This is a pretty good summary of Chris Gunter and one I'm mostly in agreement with. Please sell and refresh the squad and use his Euro involvement as a basis for commanding a higher transfer fee. Oh to still have Hammond at the club now.

FOR oxf*rd SAKE YOU oxf*rd TARD CAN YOU NOT oxf*rd READ???? HE HAS A 1 MILLION RELEASE CLAUSE YOU oxf*rd HELM!!!! IT'S MAKES NO DIFFERENCE HOW HE PLAYS HE HAS A 1 MILLION RELEASE CLAUSE. HAMMOND WOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE HE HAS A oxf*rd 1 MILLION RELEASE CLAUSE. YOU STUPID oxf*rd CUNT

Language Timothy.

[3points]

you don't have to sell a player for the value of the release clause. Fellaini went for more than his release clause if I remember correctly. You just need to create a bidding war between more than one club to get the price up a bit

[Ian Royal]

you don't have to sell a player for the value of the release clause. Fellaini went for more than his release clause if I remember correctly. You just need to create a bidding war between more than one club to get the price up a bit

Why would two clubs keep bidding more and more to sign the player, when they can both activate the release clause and both be able to negotiate wages with the player? Is a player really going to go: "oh, well you want to pay my current club more - forget about the wage deal, I'll go with you then!".

[Tommio]

you don't have to sell a player for the value of the release clause. Fellaini went for more than his release clause if I remember correctly. You just need to create a bidding war between more than one club to get the price up a bit

If, for example, Norwich were to offer £1m for Gunter and that is his release clause, then we have to accept that offer. The price can increase if a bidding war takes place, but Gunter wouldn't care about how much Reading are receiving. So it is unlikely that we will ever receive more than his release clause. Fellaini had a small release clause under contract with Everton, but then that contract ran out and they gave him a new one with a much larger release clause.