Speculation : Shane Long to return

[Royal Bahamas]

Signings like Michu that nobody had ever heard of and was untested at premiership level?[/quote]

One game against a different QPR side doesnt prove a lot tbf[/quote]

I had never heard of him but he did score like 15 in la liga from midfield and was the highest scoring midfielder in la liga so I'd guess the people in the know would have. How swansea got him so cheap is ridiculous luck and good initiative and I suppose having a manger who knew that league very well (I think all their signing have come from la liga)[/quote]

Laudrup signed three from La Liga, two of which he had Managed before, and the third a known entity. He has also been picking up players from Britain, with more in sight.
I believe that Swansea will be a very strong team this year, and that their mode of play will be difficult for the regular teams that have not yet played in Europe..... The truth will show when they play the European Regulars (Man's, Chel, Arse, etc)....as to just how good they are or are not!

[Man Friday]

TheSiege isn't a reincarnation of Snowball is he?

Sounds more like that idiot who has changed his name a couple of times before. The one who always came on when we lost...can't think for the moment but he used to end posts with something like "listen to the X, you know it makes sensesssssssssssssssss".

[Mike Hunt]

TheSiege isn't a reincarnation of Snowball is he?

Sounds more like that idiot who has changed his name a couple of times before. The one who always came on when we lost...can't think for the moment but he used to end posts with something like "listen to the X, you know it makes sensesssssssssssssssss".

But SDR / Thou Voice actually had talent, and were actually funny. TheSiege is ordinary, but if his goal is to annoy people and piss them off, it is working.

[urz13]

Michu would hardly fit into our system though would he? And you're not going to find a decent la liga striker on the cheap, that Real Mardid guy we were linked to would be £6m... Same as shlong

[Cypry]

Michu would hardly fit into our system though would he? And you're not going to find a decent la liga striker on the cheap, that Real Mardid guy we were linked to would be £6m... Same as shlong

Michu cost 2M and was an instant hit in the Prem. Why did'nt we get him? Stop thinking of this crap idea that some brilliant manager decides on a formation and tactics and eveything will then be O.K. The current Liverpool Manager tried that at RFC - and it all went pear-shaped!

Whereas the current Reading manager tried that and, oh, got us to the playoffs, then promoted the following year.....

Sorry pal, but you can spout all you like about who you think we should spunk cash on and sign, but I think I'll trust Brian and NH to decide who they want, and who would fit the (successful) side that they have built....

[LightwaterRoyal]

Michu would hardly fit into our system though would he? And you're not going to find a decent la liga striker on the cheap, that Real Mardid guy we were linked to would be £6m... Same as shlong

Michu cost 2M and was an instant hit in the Prem. Why did'nt we get him? Stop thinking of this crap idea that some brilliant manager decides on a formation and tactics and eveything will then be O.K. The current Liverpool Manager tried that at RFC - and it all went pear-shaped!

Brendan Rodgers didn't have the right players at Reading to play his style of football. At Swansea they already played in a similar way when he took over so it wasn't such a huge transition.
We all know McDermott is God but if he tried to make Barcelona play his long ball style they would get relegated because they simply aren't equipped for it.

Michu was a gamble for Swansea and so far has earned it, with Rob Greens help of course. Its only one game though don't get carried away.

[royalsroyalsroyals92]

Michu would hardly fit into our system though would he? And you're not going to find a decent la liga striker on the cheap, that Real Mardid guy we were linked to would be £6m... Same as shlong

Michu cost 2M and was an instant hit in the Prem. Why did'nt we get him? Stop thinking of this crap idea that some brilliant manager decides on a formation and tactics and eveything will then be O.K. The current Liverpool Manager tried that at RFC - and it all went pear-shaped!

Michu an instant hit, he's played one game so far! McCleary looked brilliant - why didnt another team get him? We didnt get him, cause we probably werent looking at him, however we got a good player anyway. Why didnt we sign Beckham however many years ago before united found him? Why didn't we scout out Messi while you're at it?

[Cypry]

What bizarre planet do you live on? RFC are a good footballing side who require strengthening if we need to GUARANTEE Prem football next year. If you wish to live in a world where our possible destination next year is the Championship, f*ck off and support WHUFC!

Certainly a less bizarre planet than you! I think it's called "the real World" or something like that....

All I see from you is "we should spend X amount on this player", "we're doomed if we don't get this player", "the current squad isn't good enough" etc etc

All I'm saying is that if Brian and Nicky Hammond decide that we go with what we've got, then I trust them......if, on the other hand, they decide to dip into the market again, then there's obviously something THEY see lacking in the side...

Where's your evidence that we're NOT looking at one, or more, of these players that you so crave?
We don't do our business in public on the whole, and every time I see him, Nicky Hammond is on the phone to someone, and I'm pretty sure it's not his stockbroker....

At the end of the day, it matters not one jot how many posts you put on here whining that the club seems to disagree with your opinion that we need to buy (three?) more players. We could very well be looking to strengthen, and maybe we need to, but that decision is down to Brian and I have faith that he'll be more than capable of keeping us up....

If you don't think that Brian is making the right choice, then maybe you should try to get some like minded "friends" together, and start to campaign for his sacking - I suspect it might be a lonely protest....

[Extended-Phenotype]

RFC are a good footballing side who require strengthening if we need to GUARANTEE Prem football next year.

Sorry, how does it guarantee premiership football next year?

[Royal Bahamas]

What bizarre planet do you live on? RFC are a good footballing side who require strengthening if we need to GUARANTEE Prem football next year. If you wish to live in a world where our possible destination next year is the Championship, f*ck off and support WHUFC!

Certainly a less bizarre planet than you! I think it's called "the real World" or something like that....

All I see from you is "we should spend X amount on this player", "we're doomed if we don't get this player", "the current squad isn't good enough" etc etc

All I'm saying is that if Brian and Nicky Hammond decide that we go with what we've got, then I trust them......if, on the other hand, they decide to dip into the market again, then there's obviously something THEY see lacking in the side...

Where's your evidence that we're NOT looking at one, or more, of these players that you so crave?
We don't do our business in public on the whole, and every time I see him, Nicky Hammond is on the phone to someone, and I'm pretty sure it's not his stockbroker....

At the end of the day, it matters not one jot how many posts you put on here whining that the club seems to disagree with your opinion that we need to buy (three?) more players. We could very well be looking to strengthen, and maybe we need to, but that decision is down to Brian and I have faith that he'll be more than capable of keeping us up....

If you don't think that Brian is making the right choice, then maybe you should try to get some like minded "friends" together, and start to campaign for his sacking - I suspect it might be a lonely protest....

Like this ^^^^^^^

[Extended-Phenotype]

Not sure anyone is saying they wouldn't want Rhodes. Most are just saying that like any other Prem club, they doubt Reading would fork out 6m for him.

Personally I'd love to have him here. But it's not my money and his price is deliberately inflated because Huds want to keep him; it isn't a realistic evaluation and that's why he's attracted little interest despite his obvious potential.

[Platypuss]

I get a lot of Flak on HBA because I say it like it is. I don't mind. Last season, I thought that RFC really played like more than the sum of their parts. However, for one of the top clubs in the Champ our goalscoring was not excessive. We relied on a good defence and the goals were spread around the team. In the Prem, the quality of our defence will be much more severely tested and our strikers will find it much more difficult! Brian has brought in good players to the club - I like Guthrie, McCleary and The Pog. However, given that we have not spent anything like the Transfer budget that was made public, there are still upgrades that could be made to the squad. I like Rhodes and 6m does not seem excessive to me for a person who is already an international. Furthermore, players who also have not played in the Prem AND who do not have his Goals-to-games ratio, have been picked up by other Prem clubs. I would have no qualms at all if Long came back to the club either - I like him, but I doubt that 6m would prise him away from WBA.
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"HNA"

[MouldyRoyal]

I get a lot of Flak on HBA because I say it like it is. I don't mind. Last season, I thought that RFC really played like more than the sum of their parts. However, for one of the top clubs in the Champ our goalscoring was not excessive. We relied on a good defence and the goals were spread around the team. In the Prem, the quality of our defence will be much more severely tested and our strikers will find it much more difficult! Brian has brought in good players to the club - I like Guthrie, McCleary and The Pog. However, given that we have not spent anything like the Transfer budget that was made public, there are still upgrades that could be made to the squad. I like Rhodes and 6m does not seem excessive to me for a person who is already an international. Furthermore, players who also have not played in the Prem AND who do not have his Goals-to-games ratio, have been picked up by other Prem clubs. I would have no qualms at all if Long came back to the club either - I like him, but I doubt that 6m would prise him away from WBA.
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Fair enough but there really isn't any need to post this exact same thing in every single thread.

We get it, you think Rhodes is worth the £6m being asked. The problem is, posting this repeatedly on this here forum is going to have absolutely no effect on whether or not Brian decides to try to sign him or not.

Please, dial it down a bit. You're not getting flak because you "tell it like it is", you're getting flak because you keep on saying the same thing over and over and over. It's incredibly tedious.

[Extended-Phenotype]

I get a lot of Flak on HBA because I say it like it is.

But you aren't saying like it is. You are saying the opposite. Repeatedly. In bad English. Spamming the board. Insulting everyone. And not listening to anything any rational person has to say.

So, yeah. Go f/ck yourself into a whining pink knot, basically.

[maffff]

So, yeah. Go f/ck yourself into a whining pink knot, basically.

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[JordCot]

I get a lot of Flak on HBA because I say it like it is. I don't mind. Last season, I thought that RFC really played like more than the sum of their parts. However, for one of the top clubs in the Champ our goalscoring was not excessive. We relied on a good defence and the goals were spread around the team. In the Prem, the quality of our defence will be much more severely tested and our strikers will find it much more difficult! Brian has brought in good players to the club - I like Guthrie, McCleary and The Pog. However, given that we have not spent anything like the Transfer budget that was made public, there are still upgrades that could be made to the squad. I like Rhodes and 6m does not seem excessive to me for a person who is already an international. Furthermore, players who also have not played in the Prem AND who do not have his Goals-to-games ratio, have been picked up by other Prem clubs. I would have no qualms at all if Long came back to the club either - I like him, but I doubt that 6m would prise him away from WBA.
,

"HNA"

1) what is the Transfer budget that was made public? all along I've heard Brian say if he wants a player he asks NH about it but I haven't heard a figure qouted

2) If we signed every Scottish International we wouldn't be doing ourselves too many favours

[peterroyal76]

So, yeah. Go f/ck yourself into a whining pink knot, basically.

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[Royal Ginger]

So, yeah. Go f/ck yourself into a whining pink knot, basically.

+1

+2

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['lista]

+ 4

I'M

[bracksroyal10]

At the end of the day everyone can speculate as to whether we have enough quality to compete in the PL with our current squad or not. However if I remember correctly AZ has said he wants to establish this club in the PL and also outlined some of the big plans he had in store such as upgrading the facilities and expanding the stadium.

I am pretty sure if he is willing to shell out for this he will be more than happy to shell out for new players in January should we find ourselves in trouble by then.

On the other hand you also have to look at our squad from last year that won the npc. Probably wasn't the best looking squad on paper in terms of individual ability. Yet we still won the league and the same applied most definetley when we finished so well in our first ever PL season. As the years go by the PL is becoming more and more competitive outside the top 6 or so like the Championshp in the way that if you go on a run of three victories or so you could find yourself 16th one minute and then suddenly in the top 10.

I personally think we needed to offload a striker or two and bring in another one would of liked to see Zaha as I do believe he will only get better and would add to what we have. Klasnic would of been a great free signing for us too even if it was for a year only. However Roberts still hasn't had his chance yet neither has Churchy who was on fire for us during pre season. Think the PL might bring the best out of Church like it did with some players during our last PL campaign players such as Stephen Hunt who was always the bench boy before then.


Its too early to judge our position in the PL I think by October/November we will all have a very good indication of what needs to be done in order to ensure our PL status for next year.