Alex Pearce

[RockheadRumple]

I suppose the OP could have said it a little bit better but - yes I agree that we need him to stay. Straight away his influence throughout the team, not just the back line, is noticeable. You could argue that we've been more solid because of the new formation which of course is a factor but Alex seems to have got everyone motivated and concentrated. He clearly loves the club judging by his final whistle celebrations and the fact he's been a life long Berkshire resident.
Give him what he wants! It'll work out far cheaper than a new centreback would and I'm sure he's better than any realistic signing for us would be. It's just frustrating, like Wenger not giving Walcott what he wants. To quote SDR; "You know it makes seeeeennnssssee!!!"

[Focher]

[muddyfeet]

Good thighs

[ZacNaloen]

I like his passion

[Rex]

Rock solid as they say.

[Ian Royal]

Pearce wants to stay. The club wont pay the wages he's asked for, which aren't apparently that excessive, but closer to what Guthrie is on. It's hard to disagree he deserves the wage tbf. He's head and shoulders above every other defender here. The club set a precedent when they started paying big wages to the Guthrie's and Pogrebnyak's, and they'll get a lot more of this in the future or have to accept losing their best players.

Lets wait and see how he does over a few more games before we get too carried away about how much he is worth. He's got what it takes mentally, but he is pretty slow and flat footed for a PL defender. Hopefully he can carry on making up for that with his reading of the game, but I'm not sure he's done enough to really justify being one of our top earners on good PL level wages. I'm not saying Guthrie, or Pog have either, but they came with bigger reputations and more top level experience.

Personally I think Pearce really organises the back line better than anyone else we have, which is why I've been so disappointed he hasn't been playing until recently. Especially with poor form from Gorkss. And you can't help but love his committment and passion for the side. I nearly lost it when he came fist pumping toward the East Stand at the end yesterday.

I really hope he stays, but if I was Hammond I'd probably be holding off on meeting any serious wage demands for now, telling him our offer is on the table, but if he proves his worth over the next 10 games and gives us a decent sniff of survival, then we'll take another look at what he's asking for.

It'd be pretty stupid to sign him up to £30k a week right now with an almost inevitable relegation looming. Unless we get one hell of a relegation wage reduction clause in there, like 50 - 60%.

[cmonurz]

but I'm not sure he's done enough to really justify being one of our top earners on good PL level wages. I'm not saying Guthrie, or Pog have either, but they came with bigger reputations and more top level experience.

Personally I think Pearce really organises the back line better than anyone else we have,

This isn't John Lewis.

'Serve your time Alex, work hard, one day you'll get promoted.

He's slow. He's not the first PL defender to be slow. Tony Adams is one of the best defenders in my lifetime, and he was all about strength, balls and organisation. He might even have been slower than Pearce.

I agree that Pearce organises our defence better than anyone. And that's in this league. We will need to pay a little 'over the odds' to keep him, and we should.

[redscot]

I agree with OP. Reading should listens to the players demands and meet them. That way the players will be happy. If the fans dislike Pearce driving to training in a Ferrari then so be it.

[Gunny Fishcake]

but I'm not sure he's done enough to really justify being one of our top earners on good PL level wages. I'm not saying Guthrie, or Pog have either, but they came with bigger reputations and more top level experience.

Personally I think Pearce really organises the back line better than anyone else we have,

This isn't John Lewis.

'Serve your time Alex, work hard, one day you'll get promoted.

He's slow. He's not the first PL defender to be slow. Tony Adams is one of the best defenders in my lifetime, and he was all about strength, balls and organisation. He might even have been slower than Pearce.

I agree that Pearce organises our defence better than anyone. And that's in this league. We will need to pay a little 'over the odds' to keep him, and we should.

Spot on ....pay the man as there are very few players nowadays that you can say would die ( metaphorically speaking ) for the shirt.....AP would and does and has many times

[Millsy]

I hope we don't base the future finances of the club and our wage structure on one good performance.

Yes Pearce was/is not bad but as is being said lets wait before jumping in with a stupid offer.

However I do agree I'd rather have him in the squad than not.

[Ian Royal]

but I'm not sure he's done enough to really justify being one of our top earners on good PL level wages. I'm not saying Guthrie, or Pog have either, but they came with bigger reputations and more top level experience.

Personally I think Pearce really organises the back line better than anyone else we have,

This isn't John Lewis.

'Serve your time Alex, work hard, one day you'll get promoted.

He's slow. He's not the first PL defender to be slow. Tony Adams is one of the best defenders in my lifetime, and he was all about strength, balls and organisation. He might even have been slower than Pearce.

I agree that Pearce organises our defence better than anyone. And that's in this league. We will need to pay a little 'over the odds' to keep him, and we should.

Tony Adams was also one of the best centrebacks in the country, you don't need pace as much if you're the best. We're yet to see if Pearce definitely has enough about him to make up for the lack of pace at this level. The next few games will probably tell us that. Rushing into agreeing to a top contract when we're likely doomed and he may start getting shown up in a couple of games is just not smart.

[Royal Tezza]

Just here to +1 all previous comments about giving him the contract and making him captain ASAP, no disrespect to Jobi

[urz13]

I want him to stay of course, but what if he is asking for a ridiculous salary - everyone is assuming he wants 25-30ka week- what if he really wants 40k? Or 50k?

[Big Foot]

The bloke himself is desperate to get a contract signed here - it's the club who are treating him like shit and stalling

[Rsince67]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... ading.html

The big man himself knows how important a solid back four gunna be needed to give us a chance!

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

I want him to stay of course, but what if he is asking for a ridiculous salary - everyone is assuming he wants 25-30ka week- what if he really wants 40k? Or 50k?

i know where your coming from, but i dont think this is the case. pearcey knows the club and how the wage structure works and he loves this club. he has proven it time and time again how much he loves this club. he wouldnt go and offer some silly wage demands that he knows the club wont pay due to the wage structure. he probably asked for a fairly reasonable salary but the club being as frugal and well run as we are, are holding out on paying the little extra to force him to sign for his original wage. they are using pearce's love for the club as leverage imo.

[Rsince67]

I want him to stay of course, but what if he is asking for a ridiculous salary - everyone is assuming he wants 25-30ka week- what if he really wants 40k? Or 50k?

i know where your coming from, but i dont think this is the case. pearcey knows the club and how the wage structure works and he loves this club. he has proven it time and time again how much he loves this club. he wouldnt go and offer some silly wage demands that he knows the club wont pay due to the wage structure. he probably asked for a fairly reasonable salary but the club being as frugal and well run as we are, are holding out on paying the little extra to force him to sign for his original wage. they are using pearce's love for the club as leverage imo.

+2

[superchelski88]

In a wave of euphoria from a hard-fought 3 points which offers a slim glimmer of hope I really feel that the importance of Alex Pearce’s return needs to be emphasised.

I feel that Pearce’s return is a platform for the club to build on. His performance against WHam was solid and I feel that after such an extended lay-off he is really getting up to speed and he really impressed me. He didn’t put a foot wrong against the hammers and was my MOM (which is particularly impressive because centre-half is often a thankless position where only punishable mistakes are noted).

I don’t know what they have been feeding him but he looks a real beast. He was completely dominant in the air and looks like he has gained an extra yard from somewhere - always first to the ball making some vital interceptions.

He has clearly injected some confidence into the back line, barking out the orders, and has got Mariappa playing out of his skin. I think that it is becoming clear that for the most part of last season he was carrying Gorkks. Since his return we have 3 clean-sheets (not going to dignify the man city goal) – compare with with Villa’s last 15/3 defensive record against out 1/3 speaks volumes.

Pearce is obviously going to be vitally important considering our toothless front line (we won’t always get a lucky break like the hospital ball from Collison) a tight defence could be our only hope of staying up.

I also loved his passion at the final whistle and the fight he brings to the team (his tear ups with Nolan and Yaya got me up and out of my seat!).

The way he has been treated inspired me to sign up to the site and I really hope the club gets their act together and persuades him to stay because he is truly a classy player.

ALEX IF YOU ARE READING THIS... WE NEED YOU TO STAY!

+1million

[Woodcote Royal]

Harte and Pearce have been major beneficiaries of our new formation.

In a 4-5-1/4-4-1-1 their lack of pace is less exposed and this has helped them to put in excellent performances over the last 3 games. Who knows where current talks are but if Pearce really wants to stay, I'm sure his current form will ensure he gets a fair offer.......................if not, he and the club move on.

[Esteban]

I seem to remember Jimmy Kebe being in the same position this time last year and he ended up signing his contract. Worry about Pearce leaving if/when it happens.