Alex Pearce

[cmonurz]

Well quite, but we're just going round in circles really. If the club isn't prepared to pay (hypothetically) £35k a week to it's player of the season and a very promising young centre-back, a low Premier League level wage, then it isn't setting itself up to become a stable Premier League club.

[winchester_royal]

Decent defender who had an excellent 2nd half of last season. Didn't show much at the start of this one to suggest he's ever going to reach the top.

Certainly don't think he's talented enough to be able to hold Nicky Hammond to ransom.

Would be very surprised if players like Mariappa and Feds are on >30k though.

[Ian Royal]

Well quite, but we're just going round in circles really. If the club isn't prepared to pay (hypothetically) £35k a week to it's player of the season and a very promising young centre-back, a low Premier League level wage, then it isn't setting itself up to become a stable Premier League club.

Unless he isn't good enough to play week in week out and they know it. In which case they're spot on, especially if they're lining up a replacement who is good enough and will accept a similar wage.

[Cypry]

As I said on another, similar thread, is it possible he's not "frozen out"?

I do wonder if the transfer of Pearce in January is already a done deal, and we've committed not to play him in case of injury?

I should think that if a team like Liverpool has come knocking, then there would be little we could do to persuade an ambitious, young player to stay at Reading, even if we could match their salary offer...

Is it just possible that the club are resigned to losing him, and have agreed his transfer for a significant sum prior to the window opening with a clause that prevents him from starting games, and that's why he's not featured?

If we could get a few £M for him under those terms, and sign an experienced CB replacement in January with the incoming transfer fee, then that might be considered the best all round compromise, rather then lose him for nothing in the Summer....

[winnersh_royal]

Lets also just think about Cahill at the same age as Pearce before you all start writing the boy off, the club hasn't even given him a chance. 25k could look cheap at half the price if he goes to Liverpool and gets himself a regular spot. Like I said why would Pearce want to stay at a club that dosn't play him?

[Wimb]

He's being frozen out on the basis he's not signed a new deal.

I know that for a fact (whether you trust me or not is up to you) that no deal has been done with Liverpool. Even if I didn't know that, you simply wouldn't see a player like Pearce tapped up all the way back in September.

The club made barely any effort to sit down with him and thrash out a new deal until recently. They were far more worried with recruiting new players then tying up Federici, then Karacan and just expected Pearce to sign on the cheap and be done with it. Problem was, Pearce wasn't just going to sign like a good little academy lad and instead wanted a fair wage based on what others were earning in the first team, not the top wage just a fair one for a player who had been loyal and been voted player of the season last year.

I don't know the exact figure but I'm told he isn't even after Federici's level of cash. It's true he changed agents this summer and that's probably pushed up the asking price a little and delayed negotiations, but as others have said why isn't a young defender coming into his prime and seeing others given big deals, entitled to ask for similar terms?

To be fair I think the club has handled this all wrong. Why on earth they waited until this season to start serious negotiations is beyond me and how they've let it affect team selection is poor beyond words. There should have been a serious offer on the table 18 months ago or at least at the start of the season.

My own theory is that perhaps Brian or Nick Hammond just doesn't rate him long term and they're hoping somebody else emerges. They've dropped Pearce plenty of times before and just don't want to gamble on giving him a serious Premier League wage as they don't rate him quite that highly.

[Ian Royal]

I'd have to agree with that on the assumption sources are correct.

It's clear McDermott hasn't rated Pearce historically - dropped for Mills and Khizanishvili when playing better than his partner iirc. And dropped this season when playing better than his partner.

McDermott's management this season really really worries me.

[winnersh_royal]

My own theory is that perhaps Brian or Nick Hammond just doesn't rate him long term and they're hoping somebody else emerges. They've dropped Pearce plenty of times before and just don't want to gamble on giving him a serious Premier League wage as they don't rate him quite that highly.

You have summed it up perfectly, I think we must have similar sources! However the bit I have quoted is the part I'm most concerned about (yes I know it's only your own theory). However if you are even half on the money then I think it's very worrying; not least because it would be evidence of high-level incompetence but because so many other mangers would snap up a player like Pearce and there will be a que if its for free! How anyone can't rate such a talent is my only doubt with your theory. Readibg are set up at a championship club level so why would Pearce stay at that particular championship club if he isn't rated?

[winchester_royal]

My own theory is that perhaps Brian or Nick Hammond just doesn't rate him long term and they're hoping somebody else emerges. They've dropped Pearce plenty of times before and just don't want to gamble on giving him a serious Premier League wage as they don't rate him quite that highly.

You have summed it up perfectly, I think we must have similar sources! However the bit I have quoted is the part I'm most concerned about (yes I know it's only your own theory). However if you are even half on the money then I think it's very worrying; not least because it would be evidence of high-level incompetence but because so many other mangers would snap up a player like Pearce and there will be a que if its for free! How anyone can't rate such a talent is my only doubt with your theory. Readibg are set up at a championship club level so why would Pearce stay at that particular championship club if he isn't rated?

He's not Franz fooking Beckenbauer.

There will be very few clubs willing to pay Pearce >30k. Hammond knows this, that's why he's playing hard ball.

[winnersh_royal]

My own theory is that perhaps Brian or Nick Hammond just doesn't rate him long term and they're hoping somebody else emerges. They've dropped Pearce plenty of times before and just don't want to gamble on giving him a serious Premier League wage as they don't rate him quite that highly.

You have summed it up perfectly, I think we must have similar sources! However the bit I have quoted is the part I'm most concerned about (yes I know it's only your own theory). However if you are even half on the money then I think it's very worrying; not least because it would be evidence of high-level incompetence but because so many other mangers would snap up a player like Pearce and there will be a que if its for free! How anyone can't rate such a talent is my only doubt with your theory. Readibg are set up at a championship club level so why would Pearce stay at that particular championship club if he isn't rated?

He's not Franz fooking Beckenbauer.

There will be very few clubs willing to pay Pearce >30k. Hammond knows this, that's why he's playing hard ball.

I think Franz fooking Beckenbauer would be asking for a lot more than 30k and Reading wouldn't pay it even if he did he he was an academy boy

We are Reading mate, therefore Pearce is actually one of our best players. I think there will be no shortage of clubs willing to sign a 23 year old on 20k for free

[Ian Royal]

We're not talking about £20k though are we you tart. We're talking about £30k - £35k Which is at least 50% more than you're saying.

[winnersh_royal]

We're not talking about £20k though are we you tart. We're talking about £30k - £35k Which is at least 50% more than you're saying.

30k* typo you knuckle-dragger. Well someone will pay it... I mean someone paid Fed 35k - oh right that was 'Hardball Hammond' wasn't it?

[winchester_royal]

He's not Franz fooking Beckenbauer.

There will be very few clubs willing to pay Pearce >30k. Hammond knows this, that's why he's playing hard ball.

I think Franz fooking Beckenbauer would be asking for a lot more than 30k and Reading wouldn't pay it even if he did he he was an academy boy

We are Reading mate, therefore Pearce is actually one of our best players. I think there will be no shortage of clubs willing to sign a 23 year old on 20k for free

We'll see

[Big Ern]

£35K a week. He can fook off. He has not done anything near enough to deserve that. £20-25k a week at the very tops.

[Winnershroyal]

We're not talking about £20k though are we you tart. We're talking about £30k - £35k Which is at least 50% more than you're saying.

30k* typo you knuckle-dragger. Well someone will pay it... I mean someone paid Fed 35k - oh right that was 'Hardball Hammond' wasn't it?

Kudos on the name winnersh.

[winnersh_royal]

Kudos on the name winnersh.

winnersh is the bastion of the loyal royal!

[winnersh_royal]

£35K a week. He can fook off. He has not done anything near enough to deserve that. £20-25k a week at the very tops.

35k is pure conjecture at this point. I have a feeling he has been frozen out over a much lower figure as wimb suggested

[winchester_royal]

£35K a week. He can fook off. He has not done anything near enough to deserve that. £20-25k a week at the very tops.

35k is pure conjecture at this point. I have a feeling he has been frozen out over a much lower figure as wimb suggested

Everything is pure conjecture at the moment. We don't even know that he is being 'frozen out'. He's been on the bench for the last couple of games after all.

I have no doubt that Wimb's not a WUM, but Gazza is the most reliable source on here

[grey_squirrel]

£35K a week. He can fook off. He has not done anything near enough to deserve that. £20-25k a week at the very tops.

That is still over a £1M a year and you are happy to pay him that?!

No bloody wonder Madejski goes ape shit at salaries.

There is no one, no one in that team that currently deserves £25,000 a year.

[urz13]

Just bring back Khizanishvili.