On Trial - Stoppila Sunzu

[RoyalBlue]

SDR hears that Reading plan to snap up Sunzu after the ANC. Emmm window closed? Player possibly then lost. Whats going on? Fact or not?

However Saints looking to bring two defenders in £4mill + each deal. Investment = Success. RFC wake upppppp

Real Facts.

Try telling that to QPR.

Still time for their investments (crazy as they might seem) to pay off. Meantime we face the prospect of having plenty of time in the Championship to once again contemplate the consequences of our failure to invest sensibly to give us a much better chance of PL survival.

[ManchesterRoyals]

SDR hears that Reading plan to snap up Sunzu after the ANC. Emmm window closed? Player possibly then lost. Whats going on? Fact or not?

However Saints looking to bring two defenders in £4mill + each deal. Investment = Success. RFC wake upppppp

Real Facts.

Try telling that to QPR.

Still time for their investments (crazy as they might seem) to pay off. Meantime we face the prospect of having plenty of time in the Championship to once again contemplate the consequences of our failure to invest sensibly to give us a much better chance of PL survival.

So what would we do different if we went down and came back up?

[Jay o/]

Once the work permit has been sorted this should be announced, a la Pog.

Sounds like maffff is right in saying it's all done now and just waiting for the permit. Great if true.

[Royal Ginger]

Meh, i dunno. There's an awful lot of confidence in someone who's not all that tested. Hope he'll be great, have faith in the scouting staff, but don't quite get the hype yet.

[akranes]

Meh, i dunno. There's an awful lot of confidence in someone who's not all that tested. Hope he'll be great, have faith in the scouting staff, but don't quite get the hype yet.

For a £300k fee (apparently?), imagine if he puts in amazing performances over the competition and goes and signs for..

QPR.

I'd oxf*rd kill myself

[SPARTA]

The word's spreading back in Zambia.

Also interesting read on Sunzu - http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football/f ... -world-xi/

Arsenal & Reading Target Stoppila Sunzu: One Of The Best Defenders In The World

Stoppila Sunzu (TP Mazembe and Zambia)

No look back at 2012 is complete without recognition for what was probably the greatest victory in sporting history. While UK coverage is likely to focus on British Olympic successes or the remarkable comeback staged by the European Ryder Cup team, everything pales in comparison to Zambia’s triumph in the Africa Cup of Nations. At the heart of their side was centre-back-cum-anchorman Sunzu, ever-present and titanic in a defence that kept four consecutive clean sheets and defeated overwhelming favourites Côte d’Ivoire on penalties in the final. It was Sunzu’s responsibility to take the decisive ninth spot-kick in the shootout and the then-twenty-two year-old scored with composure that belied his years. Ever since that kick, Sunzu has been linked with clubs all over Europe, with recurring reports over the last week linking him with Arsenal and Reading. On the basis of his showing in 2012, it will not be long before he makes the move.

[WTRoyal]

The word's spreading back in Zambia.

Also interesting read on Sunzu - http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football/f ... -world-xi/

Arsenal & Reading Target Stoppila Sunzu: One Of The Best Defenders In The World

Stoppila Sunzu (TP Mazembe and Zambia)

No look back at 2012 is complete without recognition for what was probably the greatest victory in sporting history. While UK coverage is likely to focus on British Olympic successes or the remarkable comeback staged by the European Ryder Cup team, everything pales in comparison to Zambia’s triumph in the Africa Cup of Nations. At the heart of their side was centre-back-cum-anchorman Sunzu, ever-present and titanic in a defence that kept four consecutive clean sheets and defeated overwhelming favourites Côte d’Ivoire on penalties in the final. It was Sunzu’s responsibility to take the decisive ninth spot-kick in the shootout and the then-twenty-two year-old scored with composure that belied his years. Ever since that kick, Sunzu has been linked with clubs all over Europe, with recurring reports over the last week linking him with Arsenal and Reading. On the basis of his showing in 2012, it will not be long before he makes the move.

Yup - it is indeed an indication of the seriousness of this lineup that the right back is called "piss take"... or am I due a whooosh?

[Royal91]

Well if Reading get one of the best CB's in the world for £300k then Hammond really has outdone himself!

[GreaterTorontoRoyal]

The word's spreading back in Zambia.

Also interesting read on Sunzu - http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football/f ... -world-xi/

Arsenal & Reading Target Stoppila Sunzu: One Of The Best Defenders In The World

Stoppila Sunzu (TP Mazembe and Zambia)

No look back at 2012 is complete without recognition for what was probably the greatest victory in sporting history. While UK coverage is likely to focus on British Olympic successes or the remarkable comeback staged by the European Ryder Cup team, everything pales in comparison to Zambia’s triumph in the Africa Cup of Nations. At the heart of their side was centre-back-cum-anchorman Sunzu, ever-present and titanic in a defence that kept four consecutive clean sheets and defeated overwhelming favourites Côte d’Ivoire on penalties in the final. It was Sunzu’s responsibility to take the decisive ninth spot-kick in the shootout and the then-twenty-two year-old scored with composure that belied his years. Ever since that kick, Sunzu has been linked with clubs all over Europe, with recurring reports over the last week linking him with Arsenal and Reading. On the basis of his showing in 2012, it will not be long before he makes the move.

Yup - it is indeed an indication of the seriousness of this lineup that the right back is called "piss take"... or am I due a whooosh?

Lukasz Piszczek

[akranes]

Nabil Hassan ‏@NabilHassan79
Zambian defender Stopilla Sunzu's trial spell at #readingfc has now ended, club now considering whether to make a firm offer for him.
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[pea]

Piszczek too please Brian

[maffff]

Yup - it is indeed an indication of the seriousness of this lineup that the right back is called "piss take"...

Chris Gunter??

[royal67]

Yup - it is indeed an indication of the seriousness of this lineup that the right back is called "piss take"...

Chris Gunter??

Genuine LOL.....

[VINTAGE ROYAL]

has he signed yet? Any ITK's

[SPARTA]

has he signed yet? Any ITK's

Almost everything agreed with the player, fee agreed with the club, now it's all about the work permit. Zambian tweets.

[ManchesterRoyals]

Sunzu’ll be great asset for Reading – Karacan

HIGHLY rated English Premiership side, Reading FC midfielder, Jem Karacan believes Zambia star defender Stoppila Sunzu will be a great signing for the struggling club.

Karacan, who came through the Reading Youth Club, said Sunzu was a good player and would be a positive contribution to his side which had proved to have the worst defence in the Premiership this season.

The 22-year-old Karacan told the Reading Post that he remembered the 23-year-old Sunzu from the time when as an under-20 midfielder he went to that club for trials in 2007 after the FIFA Youth World Cup in Canada.

“He will be a great acquisition if he does sign. He’s trained with us before a few years ago and we remembered who he was straight away. He is a top guy and always has a massive smile on his face,” Karacan said.

The Turkish Karacan finished in third spot in the Player-of-the-Season voting in the 2010-11 season and was second in the 2011-12 promotion season at the club despite his campaign being blighted by injury.

Sunzu has been training with Royals this week on a special permission from the Zambia camp currently preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations that starts tomorrow with a view to sealing a permanent transfer in the January window.

Sunzu is expected to rejoin the national team today.

The Reading paper quotes Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president, Kalusha Bwalya saying such opportunities do not come around often in a player’s career and that FAZ was happy to let the player take up this chance to move.

“Reading were quite insistent on seeing him so it is a good sign. Ultimately it is advantageous to our team to have players from clubs at the highest level,” Kalusha said

If Sunzu joins the Royals, he will become Reading’s fourth January addition after the capture of Stephen Kelly from Fulham last Friday for £1.2 million while another of manager Brian McDermott’s targets, Tomas Rogic, has completed a trial with Celtic in Spain.

McDermott maintained last week that he was still interested in the 20-year-old attacking midfielder.

But with QPR and Fulham also now taking up an interest, Royals will face a fight to resurrect any deal.

[bennno]

FFS Reading, is he signed or not signed. We all know he has been on trial please let us know if it was successful.

[ZacNaloen]

I'm having flashbacks to the Pog thread right now

[maffff]

I'm having flashbacks to the Pog thread right now

Yep.

[CountryRoyal]

"...while another of manager Brian McDermott’s targets, Tomas Rogic, has completed a trial with Celtic in Spain.

McDermott maintained last week that he was still interested in the 20-year-old attacking midfielder.

But with QPR and Fulham also now taking up an interest, Royals will face a fight to resurrect any deal."

Dafuq? I thought celtic had already signed Rogic, subject to a work permit?