New Signings ?

[Royalwaster]

The truth is I think almost our entire team wasn't good enough for the Premiership - we made up for it in Season 1 with an amazing fighting spirit. In Season 2 a lot of the squad thought they'd arrived and were now Premiership players by right and were shown up for being not up to scratch.

[Tommy Youlden's Ears]

Meh. All this singling out of individuals is pants. "He was crap, she was crap". It's a team game FFS. We failed to get promoted this year not because other clubs had better players, nor because individuals let us down. We who watched know what happened, there was a collective loss of form and confidence. Neither Lady Luck nor Uncle Steve managed to put it right, and we failed. It happens.

I know that the point of HNA is to target individuals and slag them off, but anyone who's played team sports knows the feeling of a team that's just on it, and a team that's lost its way. Good managers maximise the former, and minimise the latter. Be that SC in 06, Clough at Forest, or (so far?) Capello with England - good teams are greater than the sum of their parts.

Let's just wait, switch off the forum til December, don't get too antsy about who is sold or signed, and just see whether BR has team building skills. Cos that's what matters, nowt else.

[loyalroyal4life]

steve finnan

[Ian Royal]

I'd happily have traded Oster, Halls, Sodje, Bennett, S Hunt and Duberry for a top class player who'd actually improve the squad. I think the wages squandered on those would have amounted to a decent wage at the very least.

SHunt was great up to January in 07/08 and we'd have been very light without Duberry. I agree with the other 4 players though, you make a valid point. Just took it too far beyond reason, into the downright ridiculous.

I can quite frankly say we'd be a premiership team if we didn't have Duberry last season as Pearce would've played with Bikey and mistakes wouldn't have been made. And no S Hunt was never great mate- he stood out in a terrible team

You can say it as frankly as you like, it doesn't make it true. Stupidest thing posted on HNA in a long time.

[Royalee]

Going back to the original topic, this would suggest Rodgers will bring a couple in which is encouraging:
http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2053026_wolves_join_reading_in_the_race_for_smith

[SteveRoyal]

Going back to the original topic, this would suggest Rodgers will bring a couple in which is encouraging:
http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2053026_wolves_join_reading_in_the_race_for_smith

Good. Smith, at least, is a proven scorer at this level and adds some extra experience to our relatively young team.

[Arch]

Going back to the original topic, this would suggest Rodgers will bring a couple in which is encouraging:
http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2053026_wolves_join_reading_in_the_race_for_smith

Nick Ive in reading rumours off HNA shock.

[Royalee]

Going back to the original topic, this would suggest Rodgers will bring a couple in which is encouraging:
http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2053026_wolves_join_reading_in_the_race_for_smith

Nick Ive in reading rumours off HNA shock.

Royals’ boss said: “I don’t think there will be wholesale changes. One or two will go and I would like to replace anyone who leaves."

[Vision]

So pretty much like most other seasons then and most other clubs for that matter.

Christ pre-season is tedious.

[Terminal Boardom]

So pretty much like most other seasons then and most other clubs for that matter.

Christ pre-season is tedious.

Oh come on, it's not that good!

[fester_royal]

i still cant see us signing anyone of any importance, if at all. the papers will always have rumours cause they need to sell themselves. but theres too much noise comming from above saying 'next season is looking promising with our youth finally comming through''. As interested as i am to see what happens this season, im not holding my breath for much and i hope many of my fellow royals think the same and give Brendan the time he needs.

[Ian Royal]

Going back to the original topic, this would suggest Rodgers will bring a couple in which is encouraging:
http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2053026_wolves_join_reading_in_the_race_for_smith

Nick Ive in reading rumours off HNA shock.

Royals’ boss said: “I don’t think there will be wholesale changes. One or two will go and I would like to replace anyone who leaves."

I could have told you that.

[strap]

Oh FFS - can't believe no lessons were learnt on the Kebe fiasco ...

"Reading have been linked with French second division starlets Gary Coulibaly and Claude Dielna of Istres.

Reports in France claim the Royals are in advanced negotiations with Istres to conclude a double deal for midfielder Coulibaly, 23, and 21-year-old defender Dielna.

Coulibaly is a strong central midfielder who represented France at Under-20 level but failed to live up to expectations at his first club Bastia and moved on a free transfer last summer.

Dielna plays in central defence and was sold to Istres by Lorient last summer."

Only saving grace was the story was on ClubCall so hopefully has no basis in fact.

The last "youngster" we bought whilst playing for a French 2nd Div club turned out to be a middle aged in football terms, with no football experience worthy of the name, and no footballing ability. I wuold hardly call 21 and 23 "youngsters", and seeing as they were off-loaded by more senior French clubs as not up to standard, it beggars belief that we appear to be in the running to snap them up.

Is it feasible that they could become the next Doyle/Long discovery? Or will they simply be so out of their depth a la Kebe that it becomes comical? What a wonderful summer this is going to be!!!!

[strap]

Oh FFS - can't believe no lessons were learnt on the Kebe fiasco ...

"Reading have been linked with French second division starlets Gary Coulibaly and Claude Dielna of Istres.

Reports in France claim the Royals are in advanced negotiations with Istres to conclude a double deal for midfielder Coulibaly, 23, and 21-year-old defender Dielna.

Coulibaly is a strong central midfielder who represented France at Under-20 level but failed to live up to expectations at his first club Bastia and moved on a free transfer last summer.

Dielna plays in central defence and was sold to Istres by Lorient last summer."

Only saving grace was the story was on ClubCall so hopefully has no basis in fact.

The last "youngster" we bought whilst playing for a French 2nd Div club turned out to be a middle aged in football terms, with no football experience worthy of the name, and no footballing ability. I wuold hardly call 21 and 23 "youngsters", and seeing as they were off-loaded by more senior French clubs as not up to standard, it beggars belief that we appear to be in the running to snap them up.

Is it feasible that they could become the next Doyle/Long discovery? Or will they simply be so out of their depth a la Kebe that it becomes comical? What a wonderful summer this is going to be!!!!

Thought I'd better add a "Tw@t Strap in slagging off new players before they've even signed shock horror" epilogue, just to satisfy the RTG's

[seahawk10]

Oh FFS - can't believe no lessons were learnt on the Kebe fiasco ...

"Reading have been linked with French second division starlets Gary Coulibaly and Claude Dielna of Istres.

Reports in France claim the Royals are in advanced negotiations with Istres to conclude a double deal for midfielder Coulibaly, 23, and 21-year-old defender Dielna.

Coulibaly is a strong central midfielder who represented France at Under-20 level but failed to live up to expectations at his first club Bastia and moved on a free transfer last summer.

Dielna plays in central defence and was sold to Istres by Lorient last summer."

Only saving grace was the story was on ClubCall so hopefully has no basis in fact.

The last "youngster" we bought whilst playing for a French 2nd Div club turned out to be a middle aged in football terms, with no football experience worthy of the name, and no footballing ability. I wuold hardly call 21 and 23 "youngsters", and seeing as they were off-loaded by more senior French clubs as not up to standard, it beggars belief that we appear to be in the running to snap them up.

Is it feasible that they could become the next Doyle/Long discovery? Or will they simply be so out of their depth a la Kebe that it becomes comical? What a wonderful summer this is going to be!!!!

Thought I'd better add a "Tw@t Strap in slagging off new players before they've even signed shock horror" epilogue, just to satisfy the RTG's

Thanks for adding that in, it is appreciated.

[brendywendy]

kebe does have some footballing ability, its just transient in nature, interspersed with utter shite

[strap]

Thanks for adding that in, it is appreciated.

No point in offending anyone's sensititvites during the close season is there?! I just wish the club would show a bit more bloody ambition.

Clearly the only reason these foreign players are being courted is because they're dirt cheap. What can they possibly bring to the club that we don't already have in the Academy? I would far rather give the Academy a chance to shine, as opposed to signing non-entities who haven't made an iota of an impression in their own lower leagues. Kebe is a classic. Just how much would James Henry had developed last season had he been given the opportunities and support Kebe received. And don't even get me started on the Simon Cox question.

Someone high up in the club has a serious problem with giving extended opportunities to Academy players, and frankly it has to stop. This buying of nobodies from abroad is counter-productive in so many ways. It costs money that could be better invested in the academy, it denies academy players playing opportuniites, it sends a clear message to the academy players that they are simply not good enough/experienced enough to warrant a place in the 1st 18 (as it is now). Just how are they going to get experience if they keep getting shoved down the pecking order by nobodies who can't even cut it in the French lower leagues. The whole point of extending the bench to 7 was to increase opportunities for home-grown academy players. It was not intended to be a work creation programme for 3rd rate euro nationals - (or perhaps it was, given Platini and Blatter's stances on English football, but that's another whinge).

I can hear the retorts already about sending our academy players out on loan to lower league/non-league English teams. Crass nonsense. All that does is shows them what they are missing at RFC and gives them a taste of something they will want more of. So what happens? They up sticks and go to join Swindon (Cox), Church (Orient I'll wager if he can't get some games with RFC this year), and Henry (Millwall ditto).

I seriously hoped this rubbish would stop with BR's appointment, but either someone higher up is in charge of player recruitment, or BR himself has an issue with the academy. Given his background it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out which is the more likely.

Anyway, I'm getting myself worked up over nothing - the report was in ClubCall so must be a load of nonsense. Awaiting some real transfer news, (Tommy Smith, Cork and Rose), to snap me out of morose mood .....

Apologies for droning on.

[Plymouth_Royal]

Thanks for adding that in, it is appreciated.

No point in offending anyone's sensititvites during the close season is there?! I just wish the club would show a bit more bloody ambition.

Clearly the only reason these foreign players are being courted is because they're dirt cheap. What can they possibly bring to the club that we don't already have in the Academy? I would far rather give the Academy a chance to shine, as opposed to signing non-entities who haven't made an iota of an impression in their own lower leagues. Kebe is a classic. Just how much would James Henry had developed last season had he been given the opportunities and support Kebe received. And don't even get me started on the Simon Cox question.

Someone high up in the club has a serious problem with giving extended opportunities to Academy players, and frankly it has to stop. This buying of nobodies from abroad is counter-productive in so many ways. It costs money that could be better invested in the academy, it denies academy players playing opportuniites, it sends a clear message to the academy players that they are simply not good enough/experienced enough to warrant a place in the 1st 18 (as it is now). Just how are they going to get experience if they keep getting shoved down the pecking order by nobodies who can't even cut it in the French lower leagues. The whole point of extending the bench to 7 was to increase opportunities for home-grown academy players. It was not intended to be a work creation programme for 3rd rate euro nationals - (or perhaps it was, given Platini and Blatter's stances on English football, but that's another whinge).

I can hear the retorts already about sending our academy players out on loan to lower league/non-league English teams. Crass nonsense. All that does is shows them what they are missing at RFC and gives them a taste of something they will want more of. So what happens? They up sticks and go to join Swindon (Cox), Church (Orient I'll wager if he can't get some games with RFC this year), and Henry (Millwall ditto).

I seriously hoped this rubbish would stop with BR's appointment, but either someone higher up is in charge of player recruitment, or BR himself has an issue with the academy. Given his background it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out which is the more likely.

Anyway, I'm getting myself worked up over nothing - the report was in ClubCall so must be a load of nonsense. Awaiting some real transfer news, (Tommy Smith, Cork and Rose), to snap me out of morose mood .....

Apologies for droning on.

Agree with the first half, but not too sure about the rest. Great points about our academy being undervalued in last year and if players like henry, sigurdsson and such were given more support they may have been more involved. I too dont want to go into the stupidity of letting simon cox leave who has more talent than long.

However, I disagree with the rest. Not every single player to come out of our scholars is going to be good enough, we may even have a couple of years of players where their just not up to standard. If you look at the players we've had leave the academy how many do you think we would have regretted moving on. Cox and ashdown the only 2 in my opinion. But I do believe that we're going to see more out of henry, pearce, karacan and church this season. BR, has said in the post how highly he rates henry and how he thinks he's going to explode on the first team this season. Unfortunately it looks as if davies, sigurdsson and bozanic(who can play there) may find it tough to get a look in due to BR's recent article on the OS. As for the POSSIBLE signing of these 2 french players i think your judging based on 1 inconsistent signing and that's harsh. We are desperate to land a centre back and out of players in the squad, pearce is the only academy graduate that is good enough. Seeing as we just released hately and the 2 experiened sodje and bennett, signing a 21 year old defender with league experience cant be bad. we have little cover at centre back and no other young players who eamon dolan has been raving about to come in. A bit dissapointed to see us after another DM if the that is true,but it could mean the exit of cisse and gunnarsson not staying. The impression I've got about the young players going on loan this season are the recent graduates that have been playing in the youths and doing well in the ressies. I.e. Baggie, taylor, O.kelly, walcott, bossman and vasilev, all with no league experience except for bossman. I strongly believe the club are saying the right things with regard to the academy and appointing BR is definitely an indication they are going to apply what they're saying. He was academy director here and at chelsea, he's had danny rose and ben hamer singing praise about him. He even loaned in a handful of talented youngsters at watford that he knew were good enough to play.

[winchester_royal]

Oh FFS - can't believe no lessons were learnt on the Kebe fiasco ...

"Reading have been linked with French second division starlets Gary Coulibaly and Claude Dielna of Istres.

Reports in France claim the Royals are in advanced negotiations with Istres to conclude a double deal for midfielder Coulibaly, 23, and 21-year-old defender Dielna.

Coulibaly is a strong central midfielder who represented France at Under-20 level but failed to live up to expectations at his first club Bastia and moved on a free transfer last summer.

Dielna plays in central defence and was sold to Istres by Lorient last summer."

Only saving grace was the story was on ClubCall so hopefully has no basis in fact.

The last "youngster" we bought whilst playing for a French 2nd Div club turned out to be a middle aged in football terms, with no football experience worthy of the name, and no footballing ability. I wuold hardly call 21 and 23 "youngsters", and seeing as they were off-loaded by more senior French clubs as not up to standard, it beggars belief that we appear to be in the running to snap them up.

Is it feasible that they could become the next Doyle/Long discovery? Or will they simply be so out of their depth a la Kebe that it becomes comical? What a wonderful summer this is going to be!!!!

I'm not sure we should stereotype all French Second Division players as being exactly like Kebe FFS.

[Plymouth_Royal]

Club has just put a link for transfer news on the OS. its going to be a productive week by the looks of things.