Chris Armstrong to leave

[Hoop Blah]

Primarily a left back? Are you sure?

Yes i am

It might be where he played as a kid (although from memory I thought Daniel Spence played left back more than him when I saw some of that age groups games) and it might be that he even thinks of himself as a left back.

Fact remains though, he's played the majority of his games at right back, and seems to be considered as a right back by his managers.

[Wycombe Royal]

Nearly everywhere says he is a right back except Wikipedia, so we know where TBM is getting his info from.

[TBM]

Nearly everywhere says he is a right back except Wikipedia, so we know where TBM is getting his info from.

Errrm from the man himself who says he's a left back at heart but can play either side.........the fact that he is right footed is probably why most managers play him as a right back. Every time i watched him in the reserves he was at left back......Even the official site say he was our reserve team left back: http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/Profile ... 79,00.html

Anyway, it doesn't take away the fact we have cover for left back so only need to buy 1 left back in the summer, not 2

[Hoop Blah]

Doesn't really matter where he thinks he plays if managers think of him as something esle.

Personally I've not seen enough from him to think he'd be good enough on either side if we needed him for more than a game here or there, so I'd still hope for another fullback to come in. I hope that I'm wrong there and he is capable at this level, he's done ok for Wycombe as well so that's a positive (although standing out for them doesn't make him a decent Championship defender).

He has time on his side as well, but if we rely on Cummings and Kelly (on either side) next season we're going to be stretched.

[TBM]

Doesn't really matter where he thinks he plays if managers think of him as something esle.

True but was just saying he was left back when playing in the reserves......

I would rather us spend money elsewhere than on a "back up" left back

[Ian Royal]

Thought he played left back for the reserves/youth for a season or so because we had two good right backs and no left back.

He's a right back who can play both comfortably.

[Darren Caskey's Dietician]

I'll be gutted to see Armstrong go, he was another of a good line of LB we've been blessed with over the past few years.

However, when one door shuts, another opens, and if we can use the space on the wage bill to land Ryan Bertrand, that would be brilliant. I think we should then follow the example of having the Hunt brothers playing together, and raid Southampton for Joseph Mills as backup

[FiNeRaIn]

id be quite happy with kelly and cummings as full back cover next season

LOL! Not even a good wind up. Must try harder.

[Scarface]

id be quite happy with kelly and cummings as full back cover next season

LOL! Not even a good wind up. Must try harder.

We don't have the finances to have 2 decent players for every position, get real!! We clearly need 2 quality fullbacks (Bertrand and Griffin would be great), but I think it's fair to accept the cover will be Kelly, utility players and also other loanees). I''m not saying it's ideal, but we need to concentrate on other areas of the squad where we need first choice players i.e (left back, right back, 2 centre backs and a striker)!!

Personally I'd ship Cummings out, as I bet he's on a decent wedge.

[Dirk Gently]

He's had two injuries in the past when the docs said he'd never play again, and he's fought back from both of those.

Sadly, I think this third one is looking more and more like one too many.

[brendywendy]

id be quite happy with kelly and cummings as full back cover next season

LOL! Not even a good wind up. Must try harder.

not joking thanks

[Ian Royal]

id be quite happy with kelly and cummings as full back cover next season

LOL! Not even a good wind up. Must try harder.

not joking thanks

I'm with you on that. I'd be happy with Cummings first choice if BM thinks he's ready.

[skipper]

id be quite happy with kelly and cummings as full back cover next season

LOL! Not even a good wind up. Must try harder.

not joking thanks

I'm with you on that. I'd be happy with Cummings first choice if BM thinks he's ready.[/quote]

Eeeek!

Im not sure of first choice - nothing currently on show to suggest he's able to step into Griffin's shoes, should he not sign (if we are even trying?).

Cover, i'll go with, but first team? Surely he'd have to be playing now, to suggest he would be ready for next season?

Thoughts?

[Ian Royal]

My thoughts are he had potential when we played him earlier. One awful game and otherwise inexperience at this level in a poor team showing up as poor positioning etc.

Not as good as Griffin obviously... As I said, I've seen enough in him to trust McDermott's judgement should he go with him. I'm not saying he should...

[Hoop Blah]

My thoughts are he had potential when we played him earlier. One awful game and otherwise inexperience at this level in a poor team showing up as poor positioning etc.

Not as good as Griffin obviously... As I said, I've seen enough in him to trust McDermott's judgement should he go with him. I'm not saying he should...

What if he's playing despite McDermott's judgement?

We'd never know because he couldn't come out and say so, but we could end up playing Cummings because we just can't afford or attract anyone else.

[brendywendy]

if he wasnt good enough, mcd would farm out on loan with view to sell.

[Hoop Blah]

if he wasnt good enough, mcd would farm out on loan with view to sell.

If someone would take him and as long as it didn't leave him too short in cover.

It doesn't matter how bad he is, if we can't get someone better in then McDermott won't just get rid or not play him, he'll have to.

I don't think that will be the case, and I think we'll see a new right back before the start of the season, but I was just making the point that him still being here and in the squad doesn't have to mean McDermott thinks he's good enough.

[Sun Tzu]

I don't think it's realistic to say we couldn't afford or get a player if the one we had for a position was considered not good enough to be selected.

Having said that I also think Cummings is actually a better player than we have seen. He doesn;t look to lack technical ability (IMHO). Like a lot of players in the first half of the season he seemed to lack confidence and any clue as to what he was expected to be doing.

McDermott signed Griffin for a variety of reasons and we've seen his influence. I don't think Cummings 'disappearance' becessarily says he has been discarded, more it reflects how succesful Griffin has been.

I'd hope McD works his magic on Cummings in the same way he has with Kebe, Tabb, Pearce and others....

[brendywendy]

if he wasnt good enough, mcd would farm out on loan with view to sell.

If someone would take him and as long as it didn't leave him too short in cover.

It doesn't matter how bad he is, if we can't get someone better in then McDermott won't just get rid or not play him, he'll have to.

I don't think that will be the case, and I think we'll see a new right back before the start of the season, but I was just making the point that him still being here and in the squad doesn't have to mean McDermott thinks he's good enough.

i think that mcd wouldnt go into a season relying on a RB that he didnt rate
but in my opinion he probably does rate cummings, and hopefully hes not as kineejerk as hob nob in his assessment of a player

[Ferris]

Shaun Cummings is the only person I've ever seen kick himself in the head. That is all.