NO LONGER A RUMOUR - Alan Bennett

[Jaques Francais]

What si the chance we get a 4h decent irish player, 3 is rare enough, but 4 something has got to give, im prediciting mediocre things from this young man

Look at it another way.......

What is the chances that we get a 4th Centre Back on the cheap that finally proves to be a revelation.

Sonko came first on the cheap and he has proven to be a star. Then came Brown and Sodje who are yet to prove their credentials.....

This is Coppell's 4th gamble on a cheap Centre Back. What are the chances that this time it comes good and we have a real star on our hands without spending any cash. I like the way Coppell gambles by playing the numbers game.

He brings players in.......... If they are no good, he moves them on!! If they are good, he keeps them. Thats how he builds a team on the cheap. Coppell hasn't got a problem moving players on if they are not good enough (Forster, Williams, Owusu, Morgan, Broooker, etc......)

But from time to time a star emerges (Doyle) and that player stays. By following this method Coppell is building a top side on the cheap. What a brilliant manager.

Well put. Possibly post of the day (apart from this one, of course )

[West Stand Man]

Lets hope he is another good find and not another Aaron Brown. Unless he is decent, people will seriously question why the club had to put the season ticket prices up so much with so little investment in the team.

Only people who seriously believed that the ST increase was solely to invest in the team. Some of it will go to offsetting part of the stadium costs, and a lot went to the huge increase in player salaries on promotion. Don't get carried away with believing that STs (and gate receipts in general) are the major income any more, clubs live and breathe on sponsorship deals etc, we provide a nice little extra which is why many clubs treat their fans pretty shabbily (not us yet in my view).

[xtreme rebel]

Alan Bennett in today's Evening Echo in Cork:

http://www.eveningecho.ie/pdf/back.pdf

So what happens on Page 57?

Apparently on page 57 (haven't read it yet) Bennett jetted off to France with his girlfriend last night, the day after the team reported back for pre-season training. It would suggest that the Reading move is a done deal.

[9165]

If this lad signs, we will have:
Ingimarsson and Sonko (first choices)
Sodje "first reserve"
Brown/Mate/Bikey All unproven but none particularly whet the appetite
Pearce Up and coming, but will he get a decent chance ?
Bennett Waiting in the wings, an unknown quantity

Thats 8 centre halves for 2 places, can`t see us keeping all of these last 6 for very long.

[Royalee]

If this lad signs, we will have:
Ingimarsson and Sonko (first choices)
Sodje "first reserve"
Brown/Mate/Bikey All unproven but none particularly whet the appetite
Pearce Up and coming, but will he get a decent chance ?
Bennett Waiting in the wings, an unknown quantity

Thats 8 centre halves for 2 places, can`t see us keeping all of these last 6 for very long.

Bikey's a better player than Sodje.

[RoyalBird]

If this lad signs, we will have:
Ingimarsson and Sonko (first choices)
Sodje "first reserve"
Brown/Mate/Bikey All unproven but none particularly whet the appetite
Pearce Up and coming, but will he get a decent chance ?
Bennett Waiting in the wings, an unknown quantity

Thats 8 centre halves for 2 places, can`t see us keeping all of these last 6 for very long.

Sodje is also a reserve for right back I believe, Bikey can play a holding role in midfield and has also played right back once IIRC, and Mate is pretty much injured for this season, when his loan contract would have expired by then. So they all don't have to play centre back. HTH

[9165]

I know some of these can play in other position, but for example we have 3 reserve right backs after Murty, so I don`t think Sodje would be considered. It just seems excessive having 8 players for 2 berths, Bikeys versatility notwthstanding. I know Mate is out for the season, I would not expect him back TBH.

[bent copper]

off topic I know but Readings game on Saturday against Sheff UTD is to be shown live on Irish television.See rte.ie for details.

['lista]

Only people who seriously believed that the ST increase was solely to invest in the team. Some of it will go to offsetting part of the stadium costs, and a lot went to the huge increase in player salaries on promotion.

Let's not forget that a large proportion of the ST increase went on Premiership standard wigs for JM. We can't send our Chairman out in any old cheap toupee now that we're rubbing shoulders with the big boys in the top flight.

[Forbury Lion]

At this rate we could end up with a team of Kevin Doyles.

[xtreme rebel]

off topic I know but Readings game on Saturday against Sheff UTD is to be shown live on Irish television.See rte.ie for details.

Thats a big change given that RTE always show one of the 'Top 4'. the corresponding fixture earlier in the season when Reading beat Sheff Utd 2-1 was also shown on RTE.

Reading are popular now in Ireland given the number of Irish lads playing for them.

[The Rouge]

Can you say that again please, that sounds great!

[Big Ern]

At this rate we could end up with a team of Kevin Doyles.

I would be concerned if Kevin Doyle was playing in Goal.

[xtreme rebel]

At this rate we could end up with a team of Kevin Doyles.

I would be concerned if Kevin Doyle was playing in Goal.

He's played GAA so he wouldn't be so bad!

[Uke]

Can you say that again please, that sounds great!

that again please

Satisfied?

[Old Biscuitman]

Is he fluent in English, or will Sonko have to help him out like he has with some other recent newcomers?

[79Royal]

Is he fluent in English, or will Sonko have to help him out like he has with some other recent newcomers?

If he speaks anything like Steven Hunt speaks, then no, he isn't!

[Ian Royal]

What si the chance we get a 4h decent irish player, 3 is rare enough, but 4 something has got to give, im prediciting mediocre things from this young man

Look at it another way.......

What is the chances that we get a 4th Centre Back on the cheap that finally proves to be a revelation.

Sonko came first on the cheap and he has proven to be a star. Then came Brown and Sodje who are yet to prove their credentials.....

This is Coppell's 4th gamble on a cheap Centre Back. What are the chances that this time it comes good and we have a real star on our hands without spending any cash. I like the way Coppell gambles by playing the numbers game.

He brings players in.......... If they are no good, he moves them on!! If they are good, he keeps them. Thats how he builds a team on the cheap. Coppell hasn't got a problem moving players on if they are not good enough (Forster, Williams, Owusu, Morgan, Broooker, etc......)

But from time to time a star emerges (Doyle) and that player stays. By following this method Coppell is building a top side on the cheap. What a brilliant manager.

Well put. Possibly post of the day (apart from this one, of course )

Ingimarsson hardly broke the bank at about £100 - £150k either.

[xtreme rebel]

Reading have had a second bid turned down for Alan Bennett in the past 24 hours.

[Jaques Francais]

Reading have had a second bid turned down for Alan Bennett in the past 24 hours.

Source please.