NO LONGER A RUMOUR - Karl Sheppard

[melonhead]

Second part, it is thrown around a lot but that's the point. the same people using the same scenarios as if there is no in-between in the market. Its bankruptcy or being well run.

only when viewed through your negative brain-ive certainly never said anything of the sort

personally i think its more :
we cant afford to do anything else
and this is the best/most sensible way of regaining promotion, without "risking" financial peril.
because the consequences of that risk failing are just too horrific.
imo

youre allowed to disagree though

[melonhead]

If you don't expect them to do anything (and by anything I mean even get in squads and look like they're going to be able to play for the first team) why wold you sign them?

Realistically the likes of Sodje and Makin were signed to be immediate back up to the players in the first 11. The likes of Bozanic, Manset, Baseya, Valisilev and the two Williams were bought to develop into first team players. I can't imagine the idea was to bring them in, pay them for 3 years and then let them go without ever playing for the club.

i meant the majority of fans, not the owner/scouts/managers

When I've been talking about players meeting their expectations I've been talking about my perception of why the club purchased them, not mine or other fans expectations (although obviously mine will sway my perception of the clubs!).

The club must be expecting (or at least hoping) these gambles to progress into first team squad players or they'd just be wasting their time and money signing them.

i think expect may be slightly too strong a word- id certainly have no qualms about using the words hope strongly

[Hoop Blah]

now i get what youre saying- i also am not expecting this guy to blow us all away straight away, or possibly ever

would be nice though!

Which is basically what the majority of the posts supposedly 'writing him off' are saying.

I can't believe you're being so negative about a player who's not even pulled on the shirt yet!!!

[melonhead]

now i get what youre saying- i also am not expecting this guy to blow us all away straight away, or possibly ever

would be nice though!

Which is basically what the majority of the posts supposedly 'writing him off' are saying.

I can't believe you're being so negative about a player who's not even pulled on the shirt yet!!!

ive not had a go at a single post that has written him off, however weakly, though

[Royal Lady]

Is this the striker bloke from Ireland?

Can't be @rsed to scroll back - in a nutshell - age/what we paying for him/what's his goal scoring record like/do we NEED another unproven striker at this level?

[winchester_royal]

Is this the striker bloke from Ireland?

Can't be @rsed to scroll back - in a nutshell - age/what we paying for him/what's his goal scoring record like/do we NEED another unproven striker at this level?

20/free transfer as at end of contract/decent/we need something different up front that's for sure

[Hoop Blah]

Is he different?

[Simon's Church]

Is he different?

Doubt anyone on here knows to be honest. Although, he's apparently good in the air so he's definitely different to Church.

[winchester_royal]

Is he different?

Haven't seen enough of him to judge.

But if he's quick then yes.

And I doubt we'd be bringing him in if he wasn't different, given we're not exactly lacking numbers.

[Extended-Phenotype]

First part of that is childish/idiotic comment so won't lower myself to that.

You aspire to be a child. Child is up. You would need to study for years to reach idiot status, and even then you’d keep taking time off with stress.

and this is the best/most sensible way of regaining promotion, without "risking" financial peril.

But isn't that sort of the point being made? Why does an increase in investment equate to financial peril?

With a team so nearly there, I'm not sure where the gamble really is.

[sandman]

 No footballer who has been bought in excess of 1-2m has ever played well.
 Every club which invests in players goes bankrupt.
 Investing in players has never earned a club success.

+1

[FiNeRaIn]

You aspire to be a child. Child is up. You would need to study for years to reach idiot status, and even then you’d keep taking time off with stress.

zzzz you're try-hard.

[melonhead]

First part of that is childish/idiotic comment so won't lower myself to that.

You aspire to be a child. Child is up. You would need to study for years to reach idiot status, and even then you’d keep taking time off with stress.

and this is the best/most sensible way of regaining promotion, without "risking" financial peril.

But isn't that sort of the point being made? Why does an increase in investment equate to financial peril?

With a team so nearly there, I'm not sure where the gamble really is.

arent you?

we could pay out 4 million +wages today for jordan rhodes, and it wouldnt guarantee promotion partly due to other clubs in the division willing to spend even more
and then next year wed be 4 million + further in debt

where does this 4 million come from? i aint paying it

im happy doing it how we do it thanks.


you can think what you like though

[Extended-Phenotype]

we could pay out 4 million +wages today for jordan rhodes, and it wouldnt guarantee promotion

It wouldn’t guarantee failure either, would it?

partly due to other clubs in the division willing to spend even more

They already spend more, don't they? Why does our current competitiveness dip because we stick a few more quid in?

and then next year wed be 4 million + further in debt

OR, heavens forbid, we get promoted! Failing that we cover the loss with a player sale, steady the ship and have another bash when we are ready.

where does this 4 million come from? i aint paying it

Football clubs rely on you a lot for financing transfers, do they?

[rfc2001]

He's played in Europe he's automatically awesome

[Royal Lady]

We have to trust McD's judgement on this - but if we were going to sign another striker, I was expecting someone older, with a proven track record in the championship and a play maker. We desperately need a striker in the mould of Cureton/Quinn/Senior/Kitson/Doyle - and we haven't got one.

[Simon's Church]

How would you describe the Cureton/Quinn/Senior/Kitson/Doyle mould then? How do you know Sheppard doesn't fit it?

[Mr ReadingFC]

he posted this on his twitter today

haha mouth is shut for today can open my mouth tomorrow!!
8 hours ago

and this on Monday

Exciting few days coming up........

[melonhead]

we could pay out 4 million +wages today for jordan rhodes, and it wouldnt guarantee promotion

It wouldn’t guarantee failure either, would it?

partly due to other clubs in the division willing to spend even more

They already spend more, don't they? Why does our current competitiveness dip because we stick a few more quid in?

and then next year wed be 4 million + further in debt

OR, heavens forbid, we get promoted! Failing that we cover the loss with a player sale, steady the ship and have another bash when we are ready.

where does this 4 million come from? i aint paying it

Football clubs rely on you a lot for financing transfers, do they?

but we dont have the 4 million. so all your "arguments" are superfluous

[Friday's Legacy]

fantastic news. he's young and driven and i'd take that over a fading jason roberts any day.

A source told the Post: “If Reading really want to sign Karl then they will get him, it’s that simple. From a football point of view, Reading is the perfect club for him and he knows that.”

he's turned down watford, p'boro, cardiff and blackpool.