Deniss Rakels

[royal_rumble]

Is it me, or did I see some pictures of Rakels having a medical at Lech Poznan? Didn't realise he was leaving!

[CountCowchula]

Season long loan according to Twitter

[Hound]

A quick google search suggests exactly that

Shame he got that injury last year, as quite like the lad and thought he could have been useful

Still reality is we probably should be aiming a bit higher

[pwb]

Google Translation from here - http://www.lechpoznan.pl/aktualnosci,2, ... 27523.html

Rakels on medical tests
Deniss Rakels goes on a medical test in the Railway. Latvia is close to Lech's annual contract, but the signing of the contract is a positive conclusion to the medical examination.
The 24-year-old is well known to the supporters of the Polish league. In the past he played in teams of Lubin Basin, GKS Katowice and Cracovia. In January 2016 he came to English Reading, which plays in the back of the Premier League. Last season he played in the club in three matches. In October he suffered an injury, after which he only performed in the U-23 team.

- As early as April I knew that Reading would agree to my transfer. I decided on Lech because he was very specific. I know it's a big club that has good players. Lech first spoke to me. It impressed me that he wanted to get me and that's why I decided to come here, "admits Rakels.

Łotysz played in 117 games in Poland. In the first division he played 47 matches with 25 goals. In the league he played in 70 matches. He scored 26 goals and scored 7 assists at the goals of his teammates. For seven years Rakels has been representing his country. He played seventeen meetings in national colors at the time.

- Denissa in Poland does not need to be presented. He is known for his warrior mentality, he is brave and very committed. They also report statistics from his entire career, scoring more than half of his official matches scoring goals or assists. He is also a versatile player, he can play both forward and backward - says Lech, Piotr Rutkowski.

If the results of the medical tests are positive, Łotysz will sign an annual contract with Kolejorz with the option of extension of 3 years

[Oilroyal]

it was bad luck him getting injured so early on last season but agree with Hound we need to be looking for strikers at a level or two up from Deniss. If his move goes through I'd like to wish him well.

[genome]

Will be fondly remembered for that goal at Charlton

[tidus_mi2]

Any replacement has to be able to replace Rakels in the "Jaap Stam had a dream" chant.

[muirinho]

Any replacement has to be able to replace Rakels in the "Jaap Stam had a dream" chant.

Slightly mispronounce Mendes or Meite?
Promote Sam Smith from the academy?

I'm more concerned that if some big money gets laid out for an actual striker, the whole basis for the chant gets ruined. For that reason alone, we shouldn't get one.

[Oilroyal]

[The Informant]

I liked Deniss but he was never ever going to make it at this level, injury or no injury. Was just too light weight unfortunately but when given an opportunity in front of goal, you would put your house on him.

This is a good move for him and us.

[Sutekh]

Harsh. Never got to see him get a run in the team really. One of the very very few that played under Brian and looked quite useful at times.

Thought he did well in the 2/3 chances he got with Jaap and then was done by that injury which kept him out until well into the new year and by then the first team had more or less set it's stall out with a particular style and sadly Deniss no longer fitted. It may well have come to that even if he hadn't picked up that injury but at least he would have had a chance.

Anyway, very good luck to him and hope he really does well back in eastern europe.

As to Reading. Well Yann retires at the end of the season. We have Mendes who we're still not quite sure about yet, Meite who is probably going to be used more as a winger/wide player and Samuel who I really want to do well but I don't think is the right sort of player for Jaap's overall plan and therefore will just be a bit part.

Reading really need to be looking for a striker who is in the mould of Yann but obviously a lot younger and perhaps with some pace. Cost a an arm and a leg of course but if there is a player out there who can fit that it's well worth the investment.

[Oilroyal]

Being hursh here but I hope this is the early stages of Brian making room for 3 or 4 upgrade players to come in.

[Hound]

Being hursh here but I hope this is the early stages of Brian making room for 3 or 4 upgrade players to come in.

Yep agreed. I do hope the players we sign are less 'cheap gambles' like we did last year. No more Danzells or weisers hopefully

[pwb]

signed loan

https://www.clubcall.com/reading/readin ... 54261.html

[LumpWarden]

main problem I've always had with Deniss Rakels is that it looks like his head is too big for his body

[Winston Biscuit]

Thoughts & prayers with the Reading BBQ Club. Cook ups will never be the same again.

[alfie9]

Sad to see him go. But with us looking to upgrade the striker position and Mendes finding some form in his absence, it was never going to work out. The Charlton winner was one of my favorite moments of the last 4 seasons.

[leon]

I'll miss The Cannibal.

[Oilroyal]

will be missed

[The Cap]

No sh*t Sherlock. So that's last season's national anthem up the spout then. If McShane's at the back, who's in attack?