GONE - Michail Antonio to Sheffield Wednesday

[RFCSPACE]

We'll regret this in a few years.

He may be a good player in a few years, but only if he leaves and plays regular football, which he won't with us. Either we keep an average player, no income now and make nothing in the future, or sell now, earn a bit of cash now and potentially some more in future add ons (albeit making a notional loss if he's worth much more in a few years).

Or, think of McLeary as Antonio in a few years. Except we gain money and don't have wait for him to develop.

Personally, not really rated Antonio so not all that bothered if he goes so maybe my perspective is a bit biased.

Do you reckon Antonio in a few years will be better than what McLeary is now?

[Petercccccc]

If Antonio has a good season in the championship next season, like Mcleary and depending how he's doing for us then why not.that would be 2 good season albeit 1 at a lower league. That's not to say he will achieve that with us though. If this take over happens I could maybe see him being kept on but loaned out. I hope so

[Snowball]

Not a pessimist, but a realist, we need to plan for a POSSIBLE relegation from the Prem.

If we go up and come straight back down we will, for one; lose Kebe, and if McCleary has improved, him too.

We might hang on to McAnuff because he will be getting a little old, maybe not


So HRK, Antonio, (Church, Hunt) the kids coming through MIGHT be (if we got relegated) the basis of a "new" Championship side.

[Ian Royal]

If Antonio has a good season in the championship next season, like Mcleary and depending how he's doing for us then why not.that would be 2 good season albeit 1 at a lower league. That's not to say he will achieve that with us though. If this take over happens I could maybe see him being kept on but loaned out. I hope so

I can't see us signing him up on a new improved, extended contract to send him back out on loan again. If there'd been no TSI and we hadn't gone up, he'd be stepping into Kebe's shoes right now. Sadly we've outgrown him atm and it's best for all parties that he moves on. You can't keep every player with promise in the hope they'll come good.

Some only come good because they get the opportunity to go out and play elsewhere. Some calls you get wrong, and you live with it.

[Norfolk Royal]

Not a pessimist, but a realist, we need to plan for a POSSIBLE relegation from the Prem.

If we go up and come straight back down we will, for one; lose Kebe, and if McCleary has improved, him too.

We might hang on to McAnuff because he will be getting a little old, maybe not


So HRK, Antonio, (Church, Hunt) the kids coming through MIGHT be (if we got relegated) the basis of a "new" Championship side.

You paint such a thrilling picture of the future.

[rhroyal]

If we go back down Obita should be ready for the Championship by then; if not we will have 4 years' parachute payments and AZ's money to strengthen on the wing.

We shouldn't hold onto players because we're planning relegation; about as backwards looking as you can be.

[Royal Ginger]

Developing promising youth prospects is the Reading way. SJM keeps telling us that the club will be run the same way after the take-over. As many people have posted above, it may not be what Antonio wants, and we may not be able to deal on a contract, if that's the case then fair enough, off he goes, but to say that we don't want to keep him because we can't keep hold of all of our promising players just isn't our way. He's our most developed younger player, and in 1 or 2 years he'll either be prem ready or be worth a pretty penny.

[Snowball]

If we go back down Obita should be ready for the Championship by then; if not we will have 4 years' parachute payments and AZ's money to strengthen on the wing.

We shouldn't hold onto players because we're planning relegation; about as backwards looking as you can be.

Not a pessimist, but a realist, we need to plan for a POSSIBLE relegation from the Prem.




There's a huge difference between considering a possibility and planning for an eventuality

[Pseud O'Nym]

There's a huge difference between considering a possibility and planning for an eventuality

No there isn't.

[Snowball]

There's a huge difference between considering a possibility and planning for an eventuality

No there isn't.

There is.

[Royal Ginger]

Handbags ladies!

[melonhead]

There's a huge difference between considering a possibility and planning for an eventuality

No there isn't.

There is.

depends on your defintion of huge, and what its huge in relation to

[LeFondreforEngland]

Agree with snowball, there's a very real possibility that we could go down and whilst it may not be the most beneficial thing to both player and club to keep him on the bench/ reserves all season we shouldn't discard him completely. Send him out on loan for a season. If he has a good season he'll go up in value, if we go down we've kept hold of a decent player with an extra season's experience and if he plays sh*t we've missed out on a few 100ks.

[sandman]

He's been on loan multiple times he now needs to settle somewhere with his family. It really isn't fair to hold him back because we might get relegated.

[LeFondreforEngland]

We wouldn't be holding him back as such. He'd be getting regular playing time at a championship club that may well benefit him/ us in the future, not just assuming that we'll get relegated that is. Who's to say he won't surpass kebe etc. As for him settling with his family I can see the problem there but anyone who's playing football for a living and being payed more than the vast majority of us can even dream about can't really complain that much. He's still only 22 as well. On top of that he was at sheff wed last season anyway so it won't be like being shipped off to an alien club if that were the move to be made.

[urz13]

He's been on loan multiple times he now needs to settle somewhere with his family. It really isn't fair to hold him back because we might get relegated.

We can't force him to go out on loan...

[LeFondreforEngland]

We can do what the f*ck we want, we're Reading fc.

[LeFondreforEngland]

But in all seriousness you're right i'm just postulating as to what I think would be the greatest good achievable for all involved sort of thing.

[Snowball]

There's a huge difference between considering a possibility and planning for an eventuality

No there isn't.

There is.

Bolton Chairman on Sky today said,

"All the bottom 10 clubs in the Premiership
plan in case of relegation..."

[Snowball]

Agree with snowball, there's a very real possibility that we could go down and whilst it may not be the most beneficial thing to both player and club to keep him on the bench/ reserves all season we shouldn't discard him completely. Send him out on loan for a season. If he has a good season he'll go up in value, if we go down we've kept hold of a decent player with an extra season's experience and if he plays sh*t we've missed out on a few 100ks.

Yup. But my guess is he'll probably go
and in a couple of years we'll be cursing