Mcd says we haven't got any cash....

[brendywendy]

No bombs to drop here. Agree totally that without a decent cb we could be in massive. I still think we may. But where i differ is that i realise that without the money we may not be able to do much about it. And i think saying madeski is syphoning money from the club on the basis of unfounded speculation is outoforda

[rob the royal]

Interesting to note McDermott said he was 'delighted' with his centre backs and how they won all their headers... and yet on the radio it sounded like maybe we weren't too clever at the back?

I can't see us bringing anyone in...

[Jeffers217]

Prevention is better than cure IMO. The club are short-sighted. If we were to sign Kish (a bargain IMO) and a prolific striker, we'd have a really good chance of promotion. At the moment, I think it's gonna be a similar season to last if not worse

[Barry the bird boggler]

Interesting to note McDermott said he was 'delighted' with his centre backs and how they won all their headers... and yet on the radio it sounded like maybe we weren't too clever at the back?

I can't see us bringing anyone in...

We weren't brilliant really but then its what I'd expect given the talent involved. They did OK but to play that combination in a league game is just asking for a spanking.....

Sadly as we have no ambition or money we are going to be in for several spankings this season.

[rob the royal]

Interesting to note McDermott said he was 'delighted' with his centre backs and how they won all their headers... and yet on the radio it sounded like maybe we weren't too clever at the back?

I can't see us bringing anyone in...

We weren't brilliant really but then its what I'd expect given the talent involved. They did OK but to play that combination in a league game is just asking for a spanking.....

Sadly as we have no ambition or money we are going to be in for several spankings this season.

Er... no we don't have money but you're forgetting we do have ambition - the Chairman said so.

I hope we can get by with what we've got (or as everyone is hoping it's all a ploy to get Blackburn to let Zurab go a bit cheaper - but I'm not entirely convinced by that)

[Wycombe Royal]

Isn't Jay DeMerit still a free agent........

[rob the royal]

Isn't Jay DeMerit still a free agent........

think so, but I really don't think we're really looking - the Chairman's told the manager there's no money you have to sell first - and Brian's probably thinking to himself he hasn't got many he'd want to sell so he's happy to try and get by with the centre backs we've got.

And as Brendy said we managed to get by with 2 and a half the year we got promoted so it's not impossible.

[Hoop Blah]

Isn't Jay DeMerit still a free agent........

Good shout WR.

I've also quite rated him, and although he's not he quickest around he'd still be a better option than Pearce and probably Ingimarsson these days too.

It would still leave us with a lack of variety within our centre half options, and I think that's the problem as much just their quality.

[under the tin]

Isn't Jay DeMerit still a free agent........

think so, but I really don't think we're really looking - the Chairman's told the manager there's no money you have to sell first - and Brian's probably thinking to himself he hasn't got many he'd want to sell so he's happy to try and get by with the centre backs we've got.

And as Brendy said we managed to get by with 2 and a half the year we got promoted so it's not impossible.

I don't see too much correlation between Ingi and Sonko playing at the top of their game, and what we have now.

I'm no Madejski-basher, but sometimes he gives the impression of a man who will walk over nickels to pick up dimes.
I'm meh about the whole premier league thing, and can see the point in having a reasonably solvent club, consolidated in the championship.
What bothers me is I can see a team that will leak goals, and that's fine if the flair players bash more in at the right end of the pitch: but if those flair players become injured, or are sold off in order to balance the books, then we will concede more than we score, and will eventually end up trying to consolidate in League 1, on an even tighter budget.
I am not comfortable with the club appearing to be sliding backwards.

[brendywendy]

agree totally tbf



although regarding:

I don't see too much correlation between Ingi and Sonko playing at the top of their game, and what we have now.

before/at the start of the season Sonko was still regarded as a laibility with a 50p head.and im not sure Ivar had truly displayed his best form either.
its only after we trounced the league that they became greats

[Hoop Blah]

That's unfair on Sonko brendy.

He'd played 30+ games the season before and he and Ingimarsson had already built up a good partnership after Williams left. The back end of that season they looked pretty solid from what I remember, without Sonko quite getting into Superman territory admittedly (intereted if anyone can dig out when that started as I think it was before the Southampton game that I think would be most peoples suggestion).

It was still a massive gamble that season. In back up we had Aaron Brown (straight from non-league), and, according to some Chris Makin, then Dobson was added from just before Christmas. We got very lucky with both the form and ability to get through the whole season without injury or suspension.

[rob the royal]

I'm no Madejski-basher, but sometimes he gives the impression of a man who will walk over nickels to pick up dimes.
I'm meh about the whole premier league thing, and can see the point in having a reasonably solvent club, consolidated in the championship.
What bothers me is I can see a team that will leak goals, and that's fine if the flair players bash more in at the right end of the pitch: but if those flair players become injured, or are sold off in order to balance the books, then we will concede more than we score, and will eventually end up trying to consolidate in League 1, on an even tighter budget.
I am not comfortable with the club appearing to be sliding backwards.

I'm with you - the other problem is that once you start leaking a lot of goals your forwards often start to have trouble finding the net...
did we really have aaron brown back then... i think i need to have a look at our squad list for that season.

[Hoop Blah]

He signed that season, although if my memory serves me right he went out on loan straight away.

Something like that anyway. We also had Gunnarsson as back up of course.

[Terminal Boardom]

My take is tht we will only see players come in if we end up selling one or more of our stars. These would include Fed, Kebe, Jobi and Gylfi. Only after funds have been received or these players can we expect to see any movement regards players coming in.

Next, as mentioned earlier in this thread, we will make use of other youngsters coming through.

sadly, the net result is that some supporters will become disillusioned and decide to give up on their fix of pro football while Reading hover around mid/lower half of the table. If the club were to be relegated then attendances would drop even further.

[Wycombe Royal]

I hope Feds is sold and that we can use some of the money to bring in a new centre back.

We do not need more goalkeepers than central defenders in our squad.

[Gav]

That's unfair on Sonko brendy.

He'd played 30+ games the season before and he and Ingimarsson had already built up a good partnership after Williams left. The back end of that season they looked pretty solid from what I remember, without Sonko quite getting into Superman territory admittedly (intereted if anyone can dig out when that started as I think it was before the Southampton game that I think would be most peoples suggestion).

It was still a massive gamble that season. In back up we had Aaron Brown (straight from non-league), and, according to some Chris Makin, then Dobson was added from just before Christmas. We got very lucky with both the form and ability to get through the whole season without injury or suspension.

Ipswich at home, after his diving headed clearance, is what got him the name.

[FiNeRaIn]

He didn't even dive...the ball hit him in the head when on his feet.

[handbags_harris]

Indeed. Cross in, Hahnemann spills the ball to Ipswich striker, Sonko gets back, ball belted towards goal, Sonko puts his head in the way and doesn't move where almost any other man would have got out of the way.

[rhroyal]

I had 15 slack minutes at work the other day so I decided to check our most recent accounts on Companies' House. Believe me, we're not in a position to be spending money a on solid, top half centre back. We certainly need one though, maybe McD could pull off another loan coup from somewhere.

[Ark Royal]

My take is tht we will only see players come in if we end up selling one or more of our stars. These would include Fed, Kebe, Jobi and Gylfi. Only after funds have been received or these players can we expect to see any movement regards players coming in.

Next, as mentioned earlier in this thread, we will make use of other youngsters coming through.

sadly, the net result is that some supporters will become disillusioned and decide to give up on their fix of pro football while Reading hover around mid/lower half of the table. If the club were to be relegated then attendances would drop even further.

If someone comes in and offers 1-2 million for Feds, we should bite their fu cking hand off and then immediately get Zurab in.