Rumour: Joel Latibeaudiere

[linkenholtroyal]

Feels like agent talk. Norwich local press already making it clear they aren't in talks so very possible we aren't either.

agreed more likely that we are looking at Nmecha or Morgan Rogers on loan. this guy has ben the one that is touted as available so they assume we are looking at that player. put 2+2 together and getting 5. another CB would make absolutely no sense.

[Zip]

Got good defenders, got full back cover. No. This is stupid.

Spend your resources where they're needed, don't stack up cost where you're fine for possibly marginal gains.

McIntyre, Holmes and Richards are the future of our defence.

+1. No need for this signing.

[Millsy]

Unreasonably long surname.

For that reason it's a no from me.

[WoodleyRoyal]

Maybe porno just doesn’t fancy McIntyre. Managers all have different opinions. Maybe he doesn’t think he’s up to it. Who knows. But considering we had 6 academy graduates on the pitch against Watford I think it’s harsh to say we aren’t giving youngsters a chance.

[Snowball]

Unreasonably long surname.

For that reason it's a no from me.

Take out the vowels

Ltbdr

[Millsy]

Unreasonably long surname.

For that reason it's a no from me.

Take out the vowels

Ltbdr

In all seriousness I don't get the hate.

Admittedly I don't know much about him other than what I've googled but I hope this comes off.

Young chap, looks strong, does play at RIGHT BACK from what I can see, a position we could still cover (I'm not convinced by Holmes defensively yet and who knows how good the Portuguese kid will be for us). Permanent signing too. What's not to like?

[Snowflake Royal]

Unreasonably long surname.

For that reason it's a no from me.

Take out the vowels

Ltbdr

In all seriousness I don't get the hate.

Admittedly I don't know much about him other than what I've googled but I hope this comes off.

Young chap, looks strong, does play at RIGHT BACK from what I can see, a position we could still cover (I'm not convinced by Holmes defensively yet and who knows how good the Portuguese kid will be for us). Permanent signing too. What's not to like?

We've got three perm RBs already. Two injured but should be back around the turn of the year. Another obviously unwanted. Plus a hot prospect on loan, a young centreback and potential midfield switcharounds.


Woodley
We've given a good number of Academy players some chances. And they've looked solid. Which is why it would be disappointing if we made signings that then relegated those players who have been proving able so far.

[Millsy]

Take out the vowels

Ltbdr

In all seriousness I don't get the hate.

Admittedly I don't know much about him other than what I've googled but I hope this comes off.

Young chap, looks strong, does play at RIGHT BACK from what I can see, a position we could still cover (I'm not convinced by Holmes defensively yet and who knows how good the Portuguese kid will be for us). Permanent signing too. What's not to like?

We've got three perm RBs already. Two injured but should be back around the turn of the year. Another obviously unwanted. Plus a hot prospect on loan, a young centreback and potential midfield switcharounds.


Woodley
We've given a good number of Academy players some chances. And they've looked solid. Which is why it would be disappointing if we made signings that then relegated those players who have been proving able so far.

I hear that mate.

It depends how you are argue it I guess. I'd say Araruna is a) unproven and b) longterm injury. Yiadom is disliked by many (it was certainly no foregone conclusion by HNA that he was the undisputed king) but is also injured hence injury prone. We have a very young ?overrated? loan star who may or may not be good (see: Virginia). Holmes not up to it atm IMHO. Watson likewise. Etc etc.. I'm not saying I'm right because I have no crystal ball. On the flip side we would be stupid (WITHOUT GETTING CARRIED AWAY) NOT to consider the possibility (however remote) that this MAY, just MAY be a once-in-a-generation season where all the factors have luckily conspired together to make us a real contender for promotion this season, whereby every point or goal difference may be the difference between promotion or not. So just strengthening up a dodgy RB position might be crucial.

Sometimes it's also the case with young folk from PL clubs that they're just a great prospect for a good price and you have to take it even if you already have decent cover. Decent deals come don't come around often. That's why I like that it's permanent. Young promising chap from PL. When have we seen that before? (Swift, Harper, Sidwell, Ejaria etc). Again, see above re: the strange position we find ourselves in... perhasp this will be the only period for the next 10 years when things are looking so promising for us that we can actually attract quality players. We may not get this chance again for decades.

Again, all just a guess from me for good discussion's sake and I might be wrong but I don't think this would be a bad move in the current situation. - unless of course he's expensive and not that much better than what we have and limits chances for development of our own youth.

[From Despair To Where?]

Intruiged by these "3 perm RBs". We've got Yiadom who spends half the season injured, we've got Araruna who's a CM, we've got Holmes who's a CB and we've got Watson who's not done anything for 2 years, who saw a 20y/o CB picked ahead of him at RB and who's OOC next summer. I'm inclined to think the only reason he's in the First Team squad is that he's too old for the U23s.

We've also got Morrison OOC next summer. I also don't see Moore being here beyond 2022. Priority is to get McIntyre and Richards nailed down yo new contracts but, whilst I agree that on the face if it, he could be seen as a luxury in the here and now but he's highly rated, available now and would make sense for the future.

We'd be fools not to be interested.

[Snowflake Royal]

Intruiged by these "3 perm RBs". We've got Yiadom who spends half the season injured, we've got Araruna who's a CM, we've got Holmes who's a CB and we've got Watson who's not done anything for 2 years, who saw a 20y/o CB picked ahead of him at RB and who's OOC next summer. I'm inclined to think the only reason he's in the First Team squad is that he's too old for the U23s.

We've also got Morrison OOC next summer. I also don't see Moore being here beyond 2022. Priority is to get McIntyre and Richards nailed down yo new contracts but, whilst I agree that on the face if it, he could be seen as a luxury in the here and now but he's highly rated, available now and would make sense for the future.

We'd be fools not to be interested.

Araruna has played half a game in midfield and looked out of his depth and about half a dozen appearances at RB where he's looked fine.

He's a RB

No idea where Millsy gets the idea Yiadom wasn't popular on here.

[From Despair To Where?]

OK then, next summer when Watson and Morrison have gone, if Richards and McIntyre sign new contracts, we're left with 6 defenders including Araruna.

[SCIAG]

Intruiged by these "3 perm RBs". We've got Yiadom who spends half the season injured, we've got Araruna who's a CM, we've got Holmes who's a CB and we've got Watson who's not done anything for 2 years, who saw a 20y/o CB picked ahead of him at RB and who's OOC next summer. I'm inclined to think the only reason he's in the First Team squad is that he's too old for the U23s.

We've also got Morrison OOC next summer. I also don't see Moore being here beyond 2022. Priority is to get McIntyre and Richards nailed down yo new contracts but, whilst I agree that on the face if it, he could be seen as a luxury in the here and now but he's highly rated, available now and would make sense for the future.

We'd be fools not to be interested.

Latibeaudiere is no more a right back than Holmes is, Araruna has looked much better in defence than midfield, and Yiadom is unlikely to spend half the season injured again - suspect he’ll be available for 30+ matches.

Think Watson is a bit of a red herring - but so is “maybe we’re after this centre back to be fourth or fifth choice right back”. Even with Araruna and Yiadom out, we have two credible options, one of whom we literally just signed and who has an even better pedigree.

If he’s leaving Man City due to lack of game time then I’m not sure he would be looking to sit on our bench either. That isn’t what we did with Sidwell, Harper, Swift, or Ejaria, so not sure those comparisons stack up. If he’s going straight into the side then it’s a yes - if he isn’t then it’s a no, with the knowledge that we might look back on it with regret.

If we’re worried that we won’t have enough defenders next summer then deal with that next summer. In the mean time signing another young player who needs regular games would either mean we neglect him or neglect another one of our players.
We’re already not giving games to one member of the U17 World Cup squad, let’s not make it two.

[Zip]

OK then, next summer when Watson and Morrison have gone, if Richards and McIntyre sign new contracts, we're left with 6 defenders including Araruna.

Why is Morrison gone next summer?

[Simon's Church]

Wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up at Swansea. Was in that u17 WC winning team and knows cooper already

Probably a good shout, they already have Guehi and Gibbs-White from that squad. Rodon is still being linked with a move to Spurs too

[Nameless]

Only scenario where this works is if both McIntyre and Holmes have good loan deals arranged pending us getting some extra cover.
In that case we have this guy to cover this season, the loan guy is here until the summer and then Holmes and McIntyre come back with 30 games under their belt .
Seems rather convoluted .
Would definitely prefer we used our youngsters who are doing everything they are being asked and looking very much at home in the team. Holmes and McIntyre in particular are local lads who grew up supporting the team, the sort fans identify with and will see playing for the club as a bit more than just a way of getting rich and famous...

[From Despair To Where?]

OK then, next summer when Watson and Morrison have gone, if Richards and McIntyre sign new contracts, we're left with 6 defenders including Araruna.

Why is Morrison gone next summer?

I'm not saying he will go or that I want him to go but he's out of contract next summer and will be 33. I don't think think its particularly outlandish to suggest he may not be here next season.

[Snowball]

We've got three perm RBs already. Two injured but should be back around the turn of the year. Another obviously unwanted. Plus a hot prospect on loan, a young centreback and potential midfield switcharounds.

Yiadom broke down (same knee issues) so will now always be a suspect/risk. Even if he gets fit and stays fit, he may be limited by the mechanics of his knee.

Araruna's injury is hardly minor, and the above could apply him too. Though he was decent at RB, many were not convinced. Recovery from ligament injuries is not always 100%. Prior to the start of this season he wasn't getting a look-in, so although, fully-fit he might have been able to do a decent job, he was hardly an obvious choice, back-up at best.

Tennai Watson, it seems, is totally out of favour (for whatever reason).

So, ATM we have ONE specialist RB who has yet to kick a ball for Reading. Looks great on YouTube, but still has to prove himself and avoid serious injury... and he's a loanee.


Seems to me that there's an 80% chance none of the above will be regular RB next season (presuming we don't sign the loanee)

[Snowball]

OK then, next summer when Watson and Morrison have gone, if Richards and McIntyre sign new contracts, we're left with 6 defenders including Araruna.

Why is Morrison gone next summer?

I'm not saying he will go or that I want him to go but he's out of contract next summer and will be 33. I don't think think its particularly outlandish to suggest he may not be here next season.

Totally agree. He's one of my favourite players, but we've seen before how older players can fall off a cliff, fail to recover from knocks etc

From the club's POV, approaching 34, they will have to have arranged the succession, have to have insurance against Moore moving on. We need McIntyre level or McIntyre+ level CBs who can step in almost immediately. I like the idea of VG youngsters getting games, experience and being almost-ready for regular first-team action. Only issue is keeping them happy.

But it could be we are looking to send out our Academy CBs for a season on loan. Who knows?

What I'm always amused at though, is how we have intense discussions without
asking "Why does THE CLUB want to get these people in?"

Sometimes (not too often, of course) I think, the manager the DoF, half a dozen coaches, scouts,
between them, maybe, just MAYBE, they know better than a trainee accountant from Basingstoke

[TiagoIlori]

Eddie said in a Twitter group chat that he was on the list of potential centre halves around the time we signed Lewis Gibson. Probably is agent talk unless someone is leaving permanently.

[Snowflake Royal]

Why is Morrison gone next summer?

I'm not saying he will go or that I want him to go but he's out of contract next summer and will be 33. I don't think think its particularly outlandish to suggest he may not be here next season.

Totally agree. He's one of my favourite players, but we've seen before how older players can fall off a cliff, fail to recover from knocks etc

From the club's POV, approaching 34, they will have to have arranged the succession, have to have insurance against Moore moving on. We need McIntyre level or McIntyre+ level CBs who can step in almost immediately. I like the idea of VG youngsters getting games, experience and being almost-ready for regular first-team action. Only issue is keeping them happy.

But it could be we are looking to send out our Academy CBs for a season on loan. Who knows?

What I'm always amused at though, is how we have intense discussions without
asking "Why does THE CLUB want to get these people in?"

Sometimes (not too often, of course) I think, the manager the DoF, half a dozen coaches, scouts,
between them, maybe, just MAYBE, they know better than a trainee accountant from Basingstoke

If the club had a better record with signings and performance in recent years we might be more accepting. Or if the club didn't regularly overstock in one position while seemingly ignoring gaping holes in others.

Equally if we didn't have a Cat 1 Academy or each new manager saying they'd bring through the youth, then sideline many of them.