CONFIMRED - Blackman to Derby

[TFF]

Any chance of promotion this season went with Blackman and so we might as well go with what we have and build for next season.

I really don't get this train of thought.

Yeah, he's scored more of our goals this season than anyone else but I really do think we'll be a better team without him and that without his selfish play others will find their way in front of goal.

I don't think we'll get promoted, but I didn't think we would yesterday morning either. I certainly don't think selling off such an average player for a great price has diminished those chances.

Agreed. Too much of our play after our little purple patch was going through him. Invariably the opposition would put two or three men on him and he'd spend the entire game trying to trick his way round them, losing the ball.

We'll be a lot more balanced without him.

Also agreed that promotion isn't happening this season anyway so might as well get something back on the bloke.

For me this deal is a sign that the owners/board aren't stupid - they're giving McD a little time to shape the squad rather than expecting instant results from his appointment

[Pepe the Horseman]

What would be Reading's league position this season if you took Blackman's goals away?

Top.

[SCIAG]

Nick Blackman 18 goals in 113 apps
Simon Church 22 Goals in 104

LOL

Those stats are wrong and not a fair comparison.

Nick Blackman scored 22 goals in 113 apps, or 18 goals in 103 league apps.
Simon Church scored 24 goals in 122 apps, or 22 goals in 104 league apps.

Both of them made half their appearances from the bench. Blackman made almost all his appearances as a wide player. Blackman took penalties, Church rarely did.

But it's just a silly comparison. Did Blackman do better than Glen Little, who scored 6 goals in 123 appearances?

[Hoop Blah]

Obviously it's a bit of a tongue in cheek comparison (at least that's how I read it).

Considering the only thing Blackman has really brought to the team is goals, and that everyone moaning seems to be basing that on the fact he's our topscorer, his goals record does become a bit more relevant.

Either way, he's now gone, and it was the right thing to do to take the money.

[Winston Smith]

What would be Reading's league position this season if you took Blackman's goals away?

well obv we wouldn't have played with 10 players in those games. So in this hypothetical question I am replacing him with someone who has scored 30 goals so far this season and we are top by some distance

[SCIAG]

No doubt in my mind that we've done the sensible thing and we probably won't miss him much. A few games without scoring and I might feel differently...

A very good player to have in August and September, but he's not done much for us outside of those periods and seven figures is good money. If he played at his best consistently then we would have got promoted two years ago.

There are questions over his attitude on the pitch, but off the pitch I've only heard good things, and I don't think it's remotely fair to blame other people's poor form on him.

[Winston Smith]

No doubt in my mind that we've done the sensible thing and we probably won't miss him much. A few games without scoring and I might feel differently...

A very good player to have in August and September, but he's not done much for us outside of those periods and seven figures is good money. If he played at his best consistently then we would have got promoted two years ago.

There are questions over his attitude on the pitch, but off the pitch I've only heard good things, and I don't think it's remotely fair to blame other people's poor form on him.

I blame your poor posting form on him

[RoyalJames101]

No doubt in my mind that we've done the sensible thing and we probably won't miss him much. A few games without scoring and I might feel differently...

A very good player to have in August and September, but he's not done much for us outside of those periods and seven figures is good money. If he played at his best consistently then we would have got promoted two years ago.

There are questions over his attitude on the pitch, but off the pitch I've only heard good things, and I don't think it's remotely fair to blame other people's poor form on him.

100% this.

I don't get the 'selfish' argument, surely if he wasn't so selfish he wouldn't have scored as many goals as he has done?

He's one of few players along with Williams who has actually tried to make something happen. McCleary looked more like his usual self against Bristol City, getting at the full back more and looking to go past him but the majority of the team are happy to just turn back and find a simple pass or cross from 30 yards short of the byline.

[Hoop Blah]

There are questions over his attitude on the pitch, but off the pitch I've only heard good things, and I don't think it's remotely fair to blame other people's poor form on him.

Not blaming any one players poor form on Blackman, but I would blame him for a part of our lack of creativity and the teams lack of form as I don't think he's pulled his weight in many ways this season (creating chances for hiimself and scoring goals not being two of those ways).

[quickwingerswife]

He always looked a bit tense, shown again with his strop last Saturday against Bristol Zoo. Reckon McD is not too bothered.

[Sutekh]

Looking forward to him dazzling us next season on MotD

[Extended-Phenotype]

Don't really think its all that helpful to measure Blackman on the stat of 18 goals in 113 apps.

It's more relevant to look at his more recent form and appreciate he has improved and looks a better player than he did before. Hence why nobody was offering good money for him at the start of the season.

Players progress.

[genome]

Players progress.

And then go on a run of 3 goals in 14 appearances.

[Hoop Blah]

Players progress.

Players also have freak runs of form for short periods then return to their standard.

[Snowball136]

Players progress.

And then go on a run of 3 goals in 14 appearances.

Playing mostly wide of 4

[floyd__streete]

Have we sold Blackman to cover our liability on the expensive disaster that has been Matej Vydra?

[St. Brynjar]

Really don't blame him for going given the treatment he got from some of his own fans. Just a shame we can't seem to hang onto anyone nearing the end of their contract these days - ALF, Feds, Karacan, Pearce and now Blackman gone for peanuts.

[Snowball136]

Have we sold Blackman to cover our liability on the expensive disaster that has been Matej Vydra?

Maybe we sold him to get Vydra on aa permanent...

That should make you happy

[genome]

Really don't blame him for going given the treatment he got from some of his own fans. Just a shame we can't seem to hang onto anyone nearing the end of their contract these days - ALF, Feds, Karacan, Pearce and now Blackman gone for peanuts.

Racist

[TBM]

Have we sold Blackman to cover our liability on the expensive disaster that has been Matej Vydra?

Maybe we sold him to get Vydra on aa permanent...

That should make you happy

It'll cost us £8m+ to sign Vydra and he wouldn't join us, not now Clarke has gone - which tbh was the only reason he signed for us in the first place