CONFIMRED - Vito Mannone

[genome]

Lol, relax. We aren't going to find a perfect goalkeeper for 2m.

[Simon's Church]

Ok keeper, probably as good as we could hope for.

It should at least mean one of ward or legg can go out on loan for the season. And get some games.

[Muskrat]

Lol, relax. We aren't going to find a perfect goalkeeper for 2m.

He's 1.88m. HTH.

[loyalroyal4life]

Interesting

He's quite a decent keeper from what I have seen, but prone to the odd horror show. Pretty much like the rest of our defence last season

Sounds like a like for like Al Habsi replacement

[Oilroyal]

Remember when Clarke signed Al Habsi, not many rated him at the time but he came good and even last season we all knew he still had a mistake in him. Mannone appears to be a like for like replacement and could turn out to be one of the best keepers in the championship. Big Sam managed to get the best out of him and I’m sure Stam will too. I’ll be happy to see him regain his form with us, if he comes.

[Super Kevin Bremner!]

I'd rather have David Button

[Chappers93]

With the money we're likely to spend don't think this is too bad, realistically for £2M we won't find much better in this market, just as good shot stopper as anyone we've been linked with but just like the other rumours he's not the complete package by a long shot

Reminds me of Feds a bit, confidence player and think moving from Sunderland and a fresh start is probably a good thing too, I trust Stam so if he wants him then fine

[3points]

Don't know much about him except when he played on loan for Hull at the Madejski a few seasons ago. And he was dreadful. An accident waiting to happen. Could see why Arsenal shipped him on.

Not a signing that fills me with confidence

[excavvyinbrittany]

With the money we're likely to spend don't think this is too bad, realistically for £2M we won't find much better in this market, just as good shot stopper as anyone we've been linked with but just like the other rumours he's not the complete package by a long shot

Reminds me of Feds a bit, confidence player and think moving from Sunderland and a fresh start is probably a good thing too, I trust Stam so if he wants him then fine

Chappers I agree with you also when we signed Al Habsi almost every post was negative

[Pepe the Horseman]

Lol, relax. We aren't going to find a perfect goalkeeper for 2m.

He's 1.88m. HTH.

Lol

[Chappers93]

With the money we're likely to spend don't think this is too bad, realistically for £2M we won't find much better in this market, just as good shot stopper as anyone we've been linked with but just like the other rumours he's not the complete package by a long shot

Reminds me of Feds a bit, confidence player and think moving from Sunderland and a fresh start is probably a good thing too, I trust Stam so if he wants him then fine

Chappers I agree with you also when we signed Al Habsi almost every post was negative

I wasn't a fan of Ali at the time but sad to see him leave now too

Realistically would people rather we spent £2M on Mannone or over £5M for Darlow who isn't that much better IMO... Also quoted that we had to pay more for Button too, hopefully it also means we then have more to spend elsewhere....

[genome]

How many Italians have played for Reading before?

[tidus_mi2]

How many Italians have played for Reading before?

Federici is half Italian

[Royal_jimmy]

Vito would be a decent keeper at this level. Happy with him over Button any day.

Solid signing if it happens and a good replacement for Ali

[Hound]

Grayson has confimred the story as well, so looks like as long as medical goes well he'll be joining today

[Sutekh]

Can't help but feel Feds or McCarthy would be better (& maybe cheaper) options if they were happy to return as first choice

[Hound]

Feds is inured isn't he?

[Oilroyal]

He also signed a new contract last month with B'mouth, a sign that he's happy to sit on the bench for them.

[Only one Trevor Morley]

Remember when Clarke signed Al Habsi, not many rated him at the time but he came good and even last season we all knew he still had a mistake in him. Mannone appears to be a like for like replacement and could turn out to be one of the best keepers in the championship. Big Sam managed to get the best out of him and I’m sure Stam will too. I’ll be happy to see him regain his form with us, if he comes.

This. Al Habsi was seen as a back up for Bond when we signed him on a free. Clarke played Bond most of the time in his final season and it was only the arrival of McDermott that saw him cement a regular place in the side. When he first made an appearance in the league (Middlesboro) everyone was nervous about him but by the end his name was being chanted.

I can forgive a goalie the odd calamitous mistake if they then save us 15 points a season which is what Al Habsi did. I think his shot stopping stats are great. The difference between Al Habsi and Bond was that Bond didn't inspire confidence in anything he did. Hopefully Mannone (who I am sure wil receive the same seventh nation army chant as he did at Sunderland) will be in the Al Habsi bracket.

[maffff]

He's been spotted arriving for his medical.