Goalkeeper to Replace Federici

[Royal Ginger]

Confirmed and modeling the new keeper kit

http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/jonathan-bond-reading-transfers-2526267.aspx

[Royalcop]

Steve Clarke on Bond -

"I’m delighted that we have managed to secure the signature of one of English football's brightest young goalkeepers.

"Jonathan is at the stage of his career where he needs a new challenge and the opportunity to establish himself as first choice goalkeeper.

"He has all the attributes needed to reach the very top and, with the help of Dave Beasant, it is our aim to get him there.

"With Jonathan joining Stuart Moore in our ranks we believe that our goalkeeping department is starting to look very strong again.

"It is my intention to bring one more experienced goalkeeper to the club to complement the young talent that we now have."
Read more at http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article ... boKTRKB.99

[P!ssed Off]

Despite PistolPete's red herring Montenegro airport business, and my failure to a) recognise Jonathan Bond and b) snap a picture of him with Hammond, I did manage to:
a) alert fellow nobbers that the club were in advanced talks with a player of his general appearance and b) warn to expect a signing today.


It's a scruffy goal, but I'll be claiming it none the less.

[mumbo-jumbo]

Dead ringer to Sindy's boyfriend Paul - one for the female fans I think.

[Sutekh]

Bond has been signed on an undisclosed fee - thought to be around £250,000 - and becomes the fourth signing of the week.

I have to say that Hammond and team have done it again, 250k for Bond is incredible (interested to know what the add ons are though...)

[PeterReadingborn59]

Brilliant work by RFC getting experienced players with desire to win promotion and mix with younger players breaking through, and a keeper equal if not better than MCCarthy. Effectively five new starting players: in goal, centre-backs as Ferdinand counts as new as we saw him so little, midfield and cf - and likely to add another one or two to strength forward line and defence.

Add-ons with Bond are good as it would mean he is playing even more and better for RFC or another club due to a transfer.

Seems likely for Cox and HRK to move on if reasonable offers are made. Shame as Cox does give it all when playing and scored, until Clarke arrived.

[Sutekh]

What about Ali Al-Habsi? I assume he's training with us and probably going to sign?

I presume he's going to sign for us shortly as he is in the Thailand squad so would we really shell out to take player we weren't going to sign on a 1 game tour?

So Myhill next year, sometime, never then.

[SCIAG]

a keeper equal if not better than MCCarthy.

If he was as good as McCarthy he wouldn't have been on Watford's bench. Perhaps equal in potential.

[Snowball]

Stoke manager Mark Hughes wants to sign former Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi, 33, as back-up to England Under-21 keeper Jack Butland with Asmir Begovic expected to join Chelsea. (Daily Mail)

[bobby1413]

Stoke manager Mark Hughes wants to sign former Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi, 33, as back-up to England Under-21 keeper Jack Butland with Asmir Begovic expected to join Chelsea. (Daily Mail)

Haha good luck with that

[tidus_mi2]

a keeper equal if not better than MCCarthy.

If he was as good as McCarthy he wouldn't have been on Watford's bench. Perhaps equal in potential.

In a way they are quite similar, if Bond goes on to be our first choice they will both have made their first team breakthrough at the age of 22, both were second choice at U21 level, McCarthy to Fielding (who is worse than him now) and Bond to Butland.

[PeterReadingborn59]

a keeper equal if not better than MCCarthy.

If he was as good as McCarthy he wouldn't have been on Watford's bench. Perhaps equal in potential.

In a way they are quite similar, if Bond goes on to be our first choice they will both have made their first team breakthrough at the age of 22, both were second choice at U21 level, McCarthy to Fielding (who is worse than him now) and Bond to Butland.

Goalkeepers are very dependent on the "first" choice keeper being injured or making mistakes, McCarthy was only brought on as Feds made so many blunders when Reading returned to the Premier League, it meant McCarthy had the opportunity to take the position. While McCarthy is good, he made errors and Feds did get selected again. Bond at Watford probably felt he'd dropped to third choice as they signed another keeper, and coming to RFC he could be first choice or least second.

[fedders1871]

But with Stoke interested in Al Habsi, i.e. offering more money that would surely mean Bond will be first choice and may result in us finding another keeper.

[bobby1413]

Just seems odd to bring him all the way to Thailand if a deal isn't practically done. Surely it's like a trial just to ensure he fits and looks decent?

Or does this sort of thing happen regularly?

[PeterReadingborn59]

RFC need another keeper to go with Bond and Moore, Al seems an ideal experienced keeper who could be first or second choice. Until Al signs for a team, I suspect RFC will continue to consider alternative options.

[paddy20]

a keeper equal if not better than MCCarthy.

If he was as good as McCarthy he wouldn't have been on Watford's bench. Perhaps equal in potential.

In a way they are quite similar, if Bond goes on to be our first choice they will both have made their first team breakthrough at the age of 22, both were second choice at U21 level, McCarthy to Fielding (who is worse than him now) and Bond to Butland.

Why were Watford willing to release him for £250k??? Cant be ready to take first team spot. We now looked to have lost Al Hasibi. Need a top goalkeeper URGENTLY

[Pepe the Horseman]

Shit, is Al Habsi not in Thailand with the team anymore?

[Ian Royal]

If he was as good as McCarthy he wouldn't have been on Watford's bench. Perhaps equal in potential.

In a way they are quite similar, if Bond goes on to be our first choice they will both have made their first team breakthrough at the age of 22, both were second choice at U21 level, McCarthy to Fielding (who is worse than him now) and Bond to Butland.

Why were Watford willing to release him for £250k??? Cant be ready to take first team spot. We now looked to have lost Al Hasibi. Need a top goalkeeper URGENTLY

Could be an Academy fixed price thing.

[Royalwaster]

Just seems odd to bring him all the way to Thailand if a deal isn't practically done. Surely it's like a trial just to ensure he fits and looks decent?

Or does this sort of thing happen regularly?

No - think only reason for taking him is that we couldn't risk not having a keeper .... as the trip was planned before we signed Bond. Could be that Clarke has decided he doesn't want him after all ....

[JordCot]

Having watched some of his highlights and the training vids from Thailand I just want to make a little prediction about Bond. If he is 1st choice this season i think we will end up pretty happy with him but we will concede a few goals were he saves but can't hold a shot and it spills to opposition striker.