Replacements for Long (if he goes)

[Lower West]

Ipswich have just picked up £8 million ofr Wickham, so they should be able to afford £4 million for Long now.

Ipswich lost £14 million last season.

[rfc2001]

£8m or whatever now or £0m next year, doesn't matter we ain't seeing any of the money, sod it just keep him!!

[rfc2001]

What is this Brett Williams like does anyone know??

Does he have any main attributes?? (Please say a first touch)

[pea]

What is this Brett Williams like does anyone know??

Does he have any main attributes?? (Please say a first touch)

He's got a real knack for navigating between Gatwick and Southampton in a taxi?

[urz13]

IF long goes, how long do you think it'll be until hunt + church/Manset/new signing form a decent partnership? Hunt and Long have been playing with each other for a few seasons now and I personally think there is no better partnership in any position in the club.

[SCIAG]

Hunt and Long have been playing with each other for a few seasons now

They really haven't. Long only started playing regularly when Hunt got injured in 08/09, and Hunt was injured for the vast majority of 09/10 (and I don't think they played together all season).

I think Karacan-Leigertwood is a better partnership.

[andrew1957]

According to Jonny Fordham on Twitter if Long goes he will not be replaced. As it looks ever more likely that he will be gone by 31st August I wondered how we felt about that.

The initial reaction is what on earth the club is thinking.

However, at least in the short term perhaps we do have to give Church, Hunt and Manset the chance to step up - particularly as only 5 subs are now allowed.

Looking at the stats for Church last two seasons they have been 22+14- 10 scored and 14+23 - 4 or 5 scored (think one may have been docked as an own goal). Based on these stats and looking at the season before last - rather than the disappointing one last time - Church is capable of scoring 15 if he is a regular starter.

The same goes for Hunt. Based on last seasons 19+14 - 10 goals - then 15 is a realistic target.

Manset managed 2 goals in just 4+9 appearances so has the potential to add 6 or more this season. That would give 36 goals against the 37 credited to our strikers last season (Long 21/Hunt10/Chutrch 4/Manset 2).

Then we have Bignall and Williams for whom the jury is well and truly out.

So my guess is that if Long goes we will give the other three a chance to step up. If they fail - or one of them gets injured - then no doubt Brain can pick out another gem loan signing.

[who are ya?]

There's no if or buts about it, when Shlong goes it is down to Church to show us his worth at this club now. If he does make any kind of impact this season coming I can't see it happening straight away (like Shane) then again there's a very real chance he'll just be a bag of shit and we're left looking amazingly average upfront.

[ZacNaloen]

If Long goes I actually expect to see Hal playing as a striker rather than a winger now, and we'll pocket the money.


Mcanuff is left side of midfield and Obita as his cover.

[Hoop Blah]

If Long goes I actually expect to see Hal playing as a striker rather than a winger now, and we'll pocket the money.


Mcanuff is left side of midfield and Obita as his cover.

And on the right? Antonio backing up Kebe?

We'd be leaving ourselves a couple of players short.

[brendywendy]

If Long goes I actually expect to see Hal playing as a striker rather than a winger now, and we'll pocket the money.


Mcanuff is left side of midfield and Obita as his cover.

And on the right? Antonio backing up Kebe?

We'd be leaving ourselves a couple of players short.

obita looks to be ahead of antonio now to me

[ZacNaloen]

Not sure what you mean Hoop, Antonio is already Kebe's understudy, and Taylor is also capable of playing on the right.

Difficult to argue we'd be a player short when we'd have promoted a player who was 3rd choice. As per the clubs normal remit, we've be looking for a new third choice and that probably would be someone from the academy anyway.

[Simon's Church]

I agree with Brendy, I think Obita is probably fourth choice winger now. Antonio may even have fallen behind Taylor, he should have been loaned out last season, obviously needs regular football to imrprove. His appearances have gradually got worse and worse since coming back from southampton.

[andrew1957]

If Long goes I actually expect to see Hal playing as a striker rather than a winger now, and we'll pocket the money.


Mcanuff is left side of midfield and Obita as his cover.

Don't disagree tha Robson-Kanu could be plan b/ if Hunt, Church and Manset fail to impress. Then loan/new purchase will be plan c/

If Obita is as good as it sounds he can cover McAnuff at LW as you say.

We are relatively blessed in the front 4 department. I was more worried about CB - but if we sign Sonko as well as Khumalo, then I think we have an outside chance of top 6 again.

[Wycombe Royal]

How about Neil Shipperley:

[dogzbollox]

How about Neil Shipperley:

Is that Barcelona?

[Millsy]

My hero Brian saying Long won't be replaced if/when he goes.

I'm f**king speechless.

Speaking of people going and replacements, I hope Madejski is having a nice summer.

[Svlad Cjelli]

The alternative is saying "we've got lots of money to spend now and we want a striker." As well as guaranteeing that prices will go up, its a kick in the teeth to the other squad members trying to prove themselves at the moment. It's just not the way Reading does things.

[Royalee]

Can we just sell Church instead for Madejski's extra cash and not replace him (because he's shit).

[howser]

At what point did anyone expect us to bring another forward in when Long goes, we have top class strikers here in Hunt, sometimes Church, converted winger HRK and the totally unporoven, Mansett, Williams. We also have a lot of full time goalkeepers, 5 ? maybe try one of them up front....will only be a matter of time lol !!