Rumour - Gary Hooper

[kentuckyfriedcharlie]

He's gone to the PL. soz. And that is confirmed San.

where does it say that

[maffff]

He's gone to the PL. soz. And that is confirmed San.

Is that the name of his golf course?

[Divvy]

He wont come here, not when there is Premier League interest, but it's nice to see our sights set so high. I still think we'll bag Billy Sharp, and he will more than do a job at this level. Saints fans were disappointed he wasn't given a chance in the Premier League, but tactics and a change in style came first (ala Le Fondre)

[Barry the bird boggler]

Still a chance of landing him, however would agree that it is extremely unlikely to happen if there is any PL interest. If we did manage it though surely it would be coup of year, perhaps decade even....

[winchester_royal]

I think, assuming our level of ambition shown so far this window is extrapolated across the summer, Hooper may well prefer to spend a year in the Championship with us building a team capable of competing at PL level rather than struggle at Hull/Palace,

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

Still a chance of landing him, however would agree that it is extremely unlikely to happen if there is any PL interest. If we did manage it though surely it would be coup of year, perhaps decade even....

still mate, jordan rhodes went to a championship club last year despite numbers of PL interest. granted he only had league 1 experience. hooper has championship experience at best and he thrived at that level. scotland's PL is probably equivelent to top half league one-lower/mid championship. still it will come down to where he is willing to play and who offers celtic the most money.

in my eyes i still see us as an attractive club for him:
1. he has already worked under NA and knows him well, presumably
2. he fits into NA's style quite well
3. considering the quality that we are bringing in this transfer window(drenthe,assuming he signs and bridge) we will surely be one of the favorites for promotion into the PL. (we all know its not guaranteed just look at wolves and blackburn).
4. the clubs who are in for him in the PL will surely be relegation fodder
5. a championship push for the PL surely is more exciting and better on a resume than being relegated from the PL in one season.
6. NA is extremely good at player development so he could potentially be england ready in a year or two.

im sure there are more reasons why we are attractive but this is all i could think of off the top of my head atm.

[Royal With Cheese]

I would imagine, after playing in the CL, the only think Hooper will be coming here for is the money.

Am I simplifying this too much?

Even if he came here - what's the most he could expect next season - a battle against relegation?

None of it makes any sense.

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

I would imagine, after playing in the CL, the only think Hooper will be coming here for is the money.

Am I simplifying this too much?

Even if he came here - what's the most he could expect next season - a battle against relegation?

None of it makes any sense.

it would be fair enough to assume that. the thing is, we have to trust AZ to sell his vision of this club and our future to the players he is bringing in. if were to believe anton we want to establish ourselves as a stable PL side in the upcoming years. we are already getting started on that by buying quality players that are capable at playing at the highest level.

[blythspartan]

I honestly believe that we would be a more attractive proposition than Hull. He is an Essex boy, so he may fancy a move back down South.

We shouldn't underestimate Reading as a place to live. Very close to London and not too far from the South coast.

Fair enough if a big club comes in for him but we should be able to compete with the lower Premier League clubs for players, especially, if we are serious about establishing ourselves in the Premiership long term.

[URZZZZZ]

given the fact Norwich was trying to get him for the past 2 transfer windows, i bet they are gonna try again, and no player will choose us over Norwich, over Hull yes, but not Norwich

[Pepe the Horseman]

Norwich have just signed two strikers

[Ian Royal]

With an ambitious new owner, no financial worries, modern training facilities and stadium, a manager he knows and over a decade's worth of being an established top 10 Championship side that's flirting more and more with establishing itself in the Prem, it's conceivable Hooper could roll the dice on a season in the Championship and then being established in a team set up compete well in the Prem.

It's easier for a player to establish themselves in a higher league, if they're doing it with familiar players and staff around them. Rather than trying to adjust to a new club, players, staff and league, all in one go. Especially if the club is also trying to make the step up at the same time.

Given footballers chase the big bucks, have supreme confidence in their own abilities, have short careers and aren't known for being the brightest, you'd have to think we've still only got an outside chance, even with all the postives.

I think the (just about) sensible choice would be us unless a PL club other than the three promoted sides come in for him. But then I'm massively biased and am probably over-estimating our chances of promotion.

[ankeny]

I honestly believe that we would be a more attractive proposition than Hull. He is an Essex boy, so he may fancy a move back down South.

We shouldn't underestimate Reading as a place to live. Very close to London and not too far from the South coast.

Fair enough if a big club comes in for him but we should be able to compete with the lower Premier League clubs for players, especially, if we are serious about establishing ourselves in the Premiership long term.

Our location has got us players in the past.Being so close to London can have it's merits.

[Norfolk Royal]

Norwich have just signed two strikers

One.

[St. Brynjar]

To those who present the 'why would he go and face a relegation battle' - if he comes here and we win the league, that's exactly the situation he could find himself in.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Norwich have just signed two strikers

One.

Have they not signed that Swedish bloke?

[leww_rfc]

To those who present the 'why would he go and face a relegation battle' - if he comes here and we win the league, that's exactly the situation he could find himself in.

So are you saying if we were to finish 2nd or go up via the playoffs, we'd be safe next year?

[RockheadRumple]

To those who present the 'why would he go and face a relegation battle' - if he comes here and we win the league, that's exactly the situation he could find himself in.

So are you saying if we were to finish 2nd or go up via the playoffs, we'd be safe next year?

That's what always happens.

[Norfolk Royal]

Norwich have just signed two strikers

One.

Have they not signed that Swedish bloke?

Some way off that as yet.

[St. Brynjar]

To those who present the 'why would he go and face a relegation battle' - if he comes here and we win the league, that's exactly the situation he could find himself in.

So are you saying if we were to finish 2nd or go up via the playoffs, we'd be safe next year?

Couldn't have put it better myself.