RUMOUR - Andrew Surman

[Deathy]

Surely Saints will want at least £1.5m for Surman, and that alone rules us out.

Set your sights lower!

[Southbank Old Boy]

But we need cover at left back, and IF SHunt does go this month, buying Surman would give us a left sided midfielder AND someone who could fill in at left back if needed. Surman would also be part of the strengthening of the squad SHOULD we get promoted.

The big negative against that theory is that SSC has stated that he likes specialists and is against "utility" players.

Thats what he's always said, but he loved to play Gunnarsson all over the place, used Hughes in many positions, and was happy to play both Bikey and Cisse out of position last season at times. He was also apparently happy to go into the season with Hunt as our left back, signed Rosenoir and played him on the wing and has used both Convey and Hunt on the right wing at times too

Actions speak louder than words

Cisse wasn't played out of position, we moved him to midfield, previously he was a centreback. On the doobery crossbar challenge video this season he even described himself as "Defender"

I interpret Coppell's actions and words as prefering specialist players for first choice, but likes to have players who are adaptable and intelligent enough to do a job elsewhere when called upon.

So Cisse is a defender who can play in midfield, or visa versa. Either way he can be counted as a utility player. Same with Gunnarsson, who Coppell bought in to act as a utility player within the squad

I agree that Coppell prefers specialists who are good in their positions. But he has quite often picked utility players, or players playing out of position - it's all the same thing - instead of a specialist for the position. The point is that even though he says he prefers specialists he often buys players who are capable of playing in more than one position and so surely it wouldn't be an issue with buying Surman

[Ian Royal]

Sorry, I wasn't claiming otherwise, just saying that Cisse wasn't played out of position.

[Southbank Old Boy]

Sorry, I wasn't claiming otherwise, just saying that Cisse wasn't played out of position.

Well he was at some point, either his best, natural and most comfortable position is in midfield or centre back and he's played both

[Arch]

Surely Saints will want at least £1.5m for Surman, and that alone rules us out.

Set your sights lower!

We've bought players for that much or more in four successive transfer windows.

[Deathy]

Surely Saints will want at least £1.5m for Surman, and that alone rules us out.

Set your sights lower!

We've bought players for that much or more in four successive transfer windows.

Who did we buy in the summer for £1.5m or more? Umm...

Championship, you're 'aving a laugh.

[Sun Tzu]

Surely Saints will want at least £1.5m for Surman, and that alone rules us out.

Set your sights lower!

We've bought players for that much or more in four successive transfer windows.

Who did we buy in the summer for £1.5m or more? Umm...

.

He didn;t say we bought anyone in the summer for that amount, just that we had done so for 4 successive windows.

There is no reason why we won't spend that or more this Jan. I can see us buying 2 players for that sum each....

[Southbank Old Boy]

Most people accept that the summer is a transfer window though

[Sun Tzu]

Most people accept that the summer is a transfer window though

Indeed.

Doesn't change the fact that we paid the money in 4 successive windows, Arch didn't say we paid it in the LAST four windows ( right back at you.....)

[Southbank Old Boy]

If it's getting that picky then I expect your right, but I hope you're not include Marek last Jan as he was only £1.4

[JimmytheJim]

Surely Saints will want at least £1.5m for Surman, and that alone rules us out.

Set your sights lower!

you are really obsessed with making that point, and i can't really understand why. if he was deemed to be the right player for the club, then reading would pay the going rate.

[Deathy]

Surely Saints will want at least £1.5m for Surman, and that alone rules us out.

Set your sights lower!

you are really obsessed with making that point, and i can't really understand why. if he was deemed to be the right player for the club, then reading would pay the going rate.

I disagree. I don't think we'll meet an evaluation of that level, especially now in the current global market. For this level certainly.

[Ian Royal]

Surely Saints will want at least £1.5m for Surman, and that alone rules us out.

Set your sights lower!

you are really obsessed with making that point, and i can't really understand why. if he was deemed to be the right player for the club, then reading would pay the going rate.

I disagree. I don't think we'll meet an evaluation of that level, especially now in the current global market. For this level certainly.

That's because you're obssessed with your opinion that we only do transfers on the cheap and ignore all evidence to the contrary.

I still find it amusing that about the only thing you're consistent about is that we won't pay over £1m for anyone which is, frankly, absurd.

[Sun Tzu]

:(

If it's getting that picky then I expect your right, but I hope you're not include Marek last Jan as he was only £1.4

I'm not sure why Jay failing to understand what another poster said makes anyone else 'picky' !!

But if it gives you the chance to use a few emoticons then I'm sure it was worth while

If we 'only' spend the estimated £1.42 million we spent on Marek this January then Jay will still be wrong....

[Deathy]

"at this level"

I do not believe we will spend anything like £1.5m on one player at this level. I don't care about the Premiership, it's pennies at that level. It's ritches at this level.

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

Think its going to be Alex Pearce plus cash for Surman - reason Coppell has brought Pearce back is so he doesnt get injured which would buggar up any deal

Also hear that James Beattie is being muted - a friend in Sheffield says there is some talk of Reading and Beattie, not sure if he has any release clause that would allow hiom to leave, but just quoting what I have been told

[Stranded]

"at this level"

I do not believe we will spend anything like £1.5m on one player at this level. I don't care about the Premiership, it's pennies at that level. It's ritches at this level.

£1.5m when you are second and look like a decent bet to go up is also pennies in relative terms.

If the club think Surman is right they will pay the fee - the whole fee does not need to paid up front - often you pay half and the rest later making a deal of this size very possible IF the player is one we want.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Think its going to be Alex Pearce plus cash for Surman - reason Coppell has brought Pearce back is so he doesnt get injured which would buggar up any deal

And then plays him in the FA Cup at Cardiff on Saturday...... guess we'll know more on that at 3pm tomorrow - but my guess is that Reading is hardly likely to sell Pearce who the management have already said is a future captain of the club and has been an outstanding youngster for us this year.

[SCIAG]

"at this level"

I do not believe we will spend anything like £1.5m on one player at this level. I don't care about the Premiership, it's pennies at that level. It's ritches at this level.

What about the £1m on Lita? Pennies?

Is that Marek fee before or after inflation? We paid in Czech money (krona iirc), 100,000,000 pieces of it.

Pearce + cash for Surman? No thanks, I'd rather have Pearce. I'd tolerate a straight swap.

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

Think its going to be Alex Pearce plus cash for Surman - reason Coppell has brought Pearce back is so he doesnt get injured which would buggar up any deal

And then plays him in the FA Cup at Cardiff on Saturday...... guess we'll know more on that at 3pm tomorrow - but my guess is that Reading is hardly likely to sell Pearce who the management have already said is a future captain of the club and has been an outstanding youngster for us this year.

I think that Coppell is planning for Hunts departure- with limited cash available a swap deal is highly likely. You have to question why the day after agreeing to extend Pearce's loan deal at Soton, Coppell suddenly pulled the plug on it without no known injuries in the squad. I agree that 2.15 tomorrow, when team is announced we will have a better idea-but a Surman/Pearce swap deal is likely.

With regard to Pearce and the clubs view on him- if he is currently unable to hold down a place in the Championship team, what chances in the future ,if we get to the promised land again, will he have of playing -whereas Surman is a ready made player for the Premiership. We have yet to have an academy player that cracks it and makes a first team place their own - I dont see that changing in coming years