Alan PartridgeIan RoyalAlan PartridgeIan Royal I thought he sounded like a top player when we brought him over and was really dissapointed to hear about his injury. Think him and Bikey both have the potential to get deals with us. Just depends how January goes really.
I know they are young but I disagree, I think we were short on bodies with the season closing in and had wasted all our time on Mensah. Coppell knew we were short and picked up the two lads he had seen or heard a bit about. Bikey having been sent off on trial i really can't see Coppell wanting him as a main target.
Having seen both, albeit Mate very briefly, neither have done enough to suggest they are better than what we have. I would be VERY surprised if we went for either of them.
I'll admit I've not seen either play live as far as I recall and my opinion is based on gut instinct, but I feel they are both players who in a year or so could be really good for us. They may end up being shit, but I think their both worth the effort given they won't cost much. But then if we pick up a quality CM or CB in particular in January then I would say they are almost certianly doomed.
Bikey's main problem seems to be cards, but I think that can be resolved, I'd say he's been a little unlucky so far. Sodje and Halls are the defenders that I see as being the most surplus to requirements. At least Bikey and Mate are young and still adjusting to the English game. Sodje just strikes me as a decent Championship player.
I got the same feeling about Sonko when he arrived. But then I thought Goater was great signing. Although I still don't accept he was as bad as many claim so hey ho.
I think Bikey is much better in the middle of midfield, I would agree totally that he has been very unlucky with some of the cards he's got. He was bought as a centre half and hasn't had a good game in the defence for Reading. Halls has been the biggest disappointment in years, he was class at Stoke and just plain ass here. Again agreed on Sodje. Sonko was 23 and on a free he also had 18months learning the game, and improving his game in the Championship, Sodje is 27/28 and has never played above League 1, it shows. He's not good enough.
Maté was extremely poor against Darlo, I think it's unfair to judge someone on one game especially as he hasn't played in ENgland and can't speak much English but you cans till look at raw attributes, he turned like the the QE2, had very little pace and for such a big bloke he looked frightened to head the ball. It is a shame that he got injured, maybe he might stay on loan maybe similar for Bikey but I can't see us paying money for either of them. They aren't better than what we have.
You are a very persuassive man AP.
I'd like to reserve judgement on Mate and hope he gets back to fitness and plays a few games before the loan ends. Bikey I thik would be worth a punt at a couple or hundred £k, but he as the seasonto prove himself more worthwhile.
It's hard being a Reading fan at the moment. I want everyone we sign to perform for us, I'm just not used to us playing at the sort of level where a lareg proportion of our younger singings probably just won't be good enough to risk taking a gamble on. We don't have that luxury now we're in the top flight. We've got to be ruthless.