New Signings ?

[Hoop Blah]

Armstrong was one of our best players last year.
Player of the year in fact.
This loan signing must be a special player.

And if Armstrong gets injured again???...........its a long old season!

If I was a loan player, what would be the point of moving, just to play in another team's reserves rather than your own...waiting for an injury that may never happen.

I thought it would be obvious....at Chelsea he has Ashley Cole and their new £18m signing infront of him in the queue for a left back spot.

At Reading he would be competing with the often fragile Armstrong.

Which gives him the best chance of playing competitive first team games?

[Barry the bird boggler]

Clodagh does not see age as a barrier to playing

Armstrong is not currently 100% fit

Bertrand is an England U21 international

The Chronicle believes Chelsea see Bertrand as the long term replacement for Ashley Cole

Bertrand has managed 54 appearances in the Championship on loan and was very highly rated by fans of Norwich

Methinks the left back spot is up for grabs

[SCIAG]

How is left back up for grabs? Armstrong has it nailed down.

Norwich's fans did rate him highly, but he was very disappointing last season.

Rother: Bertrand "can" play left wing, in the same way that SHunt "can" play central midfield.

[Southbank Old Boy]

If Rodgers wants the full backs to add a bit of width in a 4-3-3 then Armstrong possibly isnt the answer

[Thaumagurist*]

At last, first signing of the summer, it's Bertrand!

[Plymouth_Royal]

If Rodgers wants the full backs to add a bit of width in a 4-3-3 then Armstrong possibly isnt the answer

Thats assuming the its a stringent 4-3-3.

I have a feeling its more of a 4-5-1 with the two wingers having more license to go forward

[Royal Rother]

How is left back up for grabs? Armstrong has it nailed down.

Norwich's fans did rate him highly, but he was very disappointing last season.

Rother: Bertrand "can" play left wing, in the same way that SHunt "can" play central midfield.

I wouldn't really know tbh, but he started off as a left winger apparently and supposedly put in some impressive displays at left wing for Norwich early on. Nothing I've seen, just what I've read.

Norwich's fans seem pretty split - some don't particularly rate him, others were sorry to see him leave them and think he'll do well.

http://www.pinkun.com/cs/forums/1/17250 ... px#1725030

[jollyjiminy]

Armstrong and Bikey (suspended, maybe leaving) playing with the reserves at Tooting - the new lad among all the first teamers at Kettering. I wonder what Armstrong makes of that?

[Royal Rother]

And Southend supporters liked Dervite from what I've seen on shrimperzone.com...

A new thread that might develop into more of a discussion about his abilities...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/vb/showthre ... post990435

[readingbedding]

Not particulary inspiring signings so far, it's only mid July though.

[Gordons Cumming]

This is interesting.................

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= ... N%26um%3D1

Now this could be a photo from the future...............or maybe that is Pearce? It's certainly not Dorian!!

You decide.

[FiNeRaIn]

Armstrong was one of our best players last year.
Player of the year in fact.
This loan signing must be a special player.

And if Armstrong gets injured again???...........its a long old season!

If I was a loan player, what would be the point of moving, just to play in another team's reserves rather than your own...waiting for an injury that may never happen.

Armstrong is average at best. Bertrand will be our main left back all season.

[readingbedding]

Doubt that's in the manager's mind or Armstrong's.

[FiNeRaIn]

Doubt that's in the manager's mind or Armstrong's.

I don't have anything against armstrong, model pro who gave 100% all last season. He's just very average with no pace. A real sign of how weak we were that he got player of the year.
I fully expect bertrand to be the regular with maybe armstrong stepping in for league cup games.

[readingbedding]

Again, can't see it.

If that is patently clear to everyone, the next thing I'd expect to see would be a transfer request from Armstrong.

[FiNeRaIn]

Again, can't see it.

If that is patently clear to everyone, the next thing I'd expect to see would be a transfer request from Armstrong.

I didn't say it was clear to everyone. He was voted player of the season ( quite ridiculously IMO)-- so there is a large portion of reading fans who strongly rate him.

Im not one of them and neither is rogers by the sound of things. He's hardly going to tell Armstrong that though is he? On top of that, armstrong is paid a wage to be professional, he's not going to throw in a request at the first sign of some competition. Healthy signing by RFC- can't complain with this. Now lets get 1/2 strikers in so we aren't forced to play long next season.

[Tinrib]

Doubt that's in the manager's mind or Armstrong's.

I don't have anything against armstrong, model pro who gave 100% all last season. He's just very average with no pace. A real sign of how weak we were that he got player of the year.
I fully expect bertrand to be the regular with maybe armstrong stepping in for league cup games.

Can't disagree with any of that.

[winchester_royal]

Doubt that's in the manager's mind or Armstrong's.

I don't have anything against armstrong, model pro who gave 100% all last season. He's just very average with no pace. A real sign of how weak we were that he got player of the year.
I fully expect bertrand to be the regular with maybe armstrong stepping in for league cup games.

Can't disagree with any of that.

'Greed. Something we really lacked last season was strong attacking play from the full-backs. We missed Shorey a lot more than people are willing to admit last season.

[dobcheck]

It has to be a good signing and it adds competition for places. I thought Armstrong was superb last season but that was last season, we have a new manager and every player has to prove their worth no matter if they were a squad player or player of the season last year. Its a statement of intent from Rodgers "this guy was your player of the year last season but i think i have signed someone better to improve the team" and that i think can only be a good thing but it may not turn out to be correct but that is what he is paid for.

[Victor Meldrew]

Talking to people down here he was a bit of a frail lad when on loan.
Still,it's two years on but the idea (as we were told about Makin and Armstrong) that he could also play centre-back may be wide of the mark.