Freebies

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I'd take Alfie Mawson if possible, not sure about his wage demands but he'd certainly be a decent signing for us, I can imagine there will be a lot of interest for him though in this region on a free as well.

[NathStPaul]

I'd take Alfie Mawson if possible, not sure about his wage demands but he'd certainly be a decent signing for us, I can imagine there will be a lot of interest for him though in this region on a free as well.

Ex youth team player isn't he? Might hold a grudge. Certainly wouldn't say no if he is interested.

[Hound]

Mawsons wages were sky high - 30k+ if the internet is to be believed. Doubt he’d drop to our level

See Carroll released as expected by WBA. Would be silly not to give him a bell and see if he fancied coming back here

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Michael Hector is also available as well, in an ideal world, I'd take both him and Mawson, a very decent CB partnership for this level. Obviously that won't happen though, but one of them may be tempted, wages not withstanding.

Even with Mawson earning what he was, he will be taking a cut to come back to this level unless someone with parachute payments snaps him up, even then, it probably won't match what he was on before.

On the topic of Fulham, it seems Onomah, Cavaleiro and Knockaert have been made surplus to requirements. Would take the former 2 in a heartbeat for some quality in attacking areas, especially Onomah if we are wanting a good replacement for Swift. Again, wages probably dictate against us getting either, but if the opportunity was there for us, that's something I'd get behind. Would rely on Fulham subsiding wages however.

There are plenty of good free transfers available this time around.

[PATRIQT]

Carroll could definitely be a goer. He enjoyed it here, seems keen to just play football over earning big money. Surely have to approach him at least.

[King Cnut]

Michael Hector always thought he was better than he really is. After our Fulham thrashing he went over to applaud the Fulham fans, left a bitter taste that. Hope he doesn’t get signed.

Callum O’ Dowda not renewed at Bristol City.. Surprising, good talent. Don’t know what’s gone wrong.

[PATRIQT]

Michael Hector always thought he was better than he really is. After our Fulham thrashing he went over to applaud the Fulham fans, left a bitter taste that. Hope he doesn’t get signed.

Callum O’ Dowda not renewed at Bristol City.. Surprising, good talent. Don’t know what’s gone wrong.

What's wrong with applauding his own supporters?

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Callum O’ Dowda not renewed at Bristol City.. Surprising, good talent. Don’t know what’s gone wrong.

Probably to do with their large wage bill. Decent enough player, reckon he may end up at a Sunderland, Wigan or Rotherham though, maybe even top League One level.

[andrew1957]

Looks like Southampton are going to release Shane Long. He might consider coming here on modest wages for old times sake - for a year? Think he could still knock in a few at this level. If we lose Joao and Puscas we could do with an experienced option up front to help the young strikers develop. Who better than someone who developed as a teenager with us.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Looks like Southampton are going to release Shane Long. He might consider coming here on modest wages for old times sake - for a year? Think he could still knock in a few at this level. If we lose Joao and Puscas we could so with an experienced option up front to help the young strikers develop. Who better than someone who developed as a teenager with us.

I was hoping we may have gone in for him in January on loan potentially, I'd love to have him back for a year or two. I know they say never go back but we wouldn't be signing him at his peak anyway, we'd just need a good squad option who can work hard and hopefully knock a few in for us and I think it would really lift the morale of the fans as well.

[andrew1957]

Looks like Southampton are going to release Shane Long. He might consider coming here on modest wages for old times sake - for a year? Think he could still knock in a few at this level. If we lose Joao and Puscas we could so with an experienced option up front to help the young strikers develop. Who better than someone who developed as a teenager with us.

I was hoping we may have gone in for him in January on loan potentially, I'd love to have him back for a year or two. I know they say never go back but we wouldn't be signing him at his peak anyway, we'd just need a good squad option who can work hard and hopefully knock a few in for us and I think it would really lift the morale of the fans as well.

And I expect he would be a lot cheaper option than Carroll.

[Hound]

Did think O’dowda may be worth a look

Wouldn’t expect miracles but a solid enough player at this level

[Snowflake Royal]

Looks like Southampton are going to release Shane Long. He might consider coming here on modest wages for old times sake - for a year? Think he could still knock in a few at this level. If we lose Joao and Puscas we could so with an experienced option up front to help the young strikers develop. Who better than someone who developed as a teenager with us.

I was hoping we may have gone in for him in January on loan potentially, I'd love to have him back for a year or two. I know they say never go back but we wouldn't be signing him at his peak anyway, we'd just need a good squad option who can work hard and hopefully knock a few in for us and I think it would really lift the morale of the fans as well.

And I expect he would be a lot cheaper option than Carroll.

Why? Carroll has already played for us for reportedly just £1k a week, and Long is coming off a PL wage.

Long being cheaper makes no sense.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I was hoping we may have gone in for him in January on loan potentially, I'd love to have him back for a year or two. I know they say never go back but we wouldn't be signing him at his peak anyway, we'd just need a good squad option who can work hard and hopefully knock a few in for us and I think it would really lift the morale of the fans as well.

And I expect he would be a lot cheaper option than Carroll.

Why? Carroll has already played for us for reportedly just £1k a week, and Long is coming off a PL wage.

Long being cheaper makes no sense.

Let's not forget that £1k a week was never going to be long-term, hence why he only signed until Jan. Even if he signed on with us after that point, he would have undoubtedly earned more than £1k. I can imagine Carroll only did it short-term so he could get some minutes to get match fit, hope to impress and earn either a better contract with ourselves or elsewhere, which he ultimately did.

I don't think Long will be any cheaper than Carroll, although I bet there isn't a huge difference in wage demands all said and done. Granted, no matter how marginal the difference in wage demands between the pair are, every penny counts for us.

[Hendo]

Michael Hector always thought he was better than he really is. After our Fulham thrashing he went over to applaud the Fulham fans, left a bitter taste that. Hope he doesn’t get signed.

Callum O’ Dowda not renewed at Bristol City.. Surprising, good talent. Don’t know what’s gone wrong.

What's wrong with applauding his own supporters?

Quite. What did KC expect? Hector to come over to C1871 and be all apologetic? "Sorry my current club gave out an absolute thrashing to a team I haven't played for in 6 years"

[YorkshireRoyal99]

It's not as if Hector left on bad terms either, he just joined a far superior club for a good sum of money, who would turn down that opportunity? Despite never being involved at Chelsea, he's still made a better career for himself than what he would have done with us presumably.

[paultheroyal]

Looks like Southampton are going to release Shane Long. He might consider coming here on modest wages for old times sake - for a year? Think he could still knock in a few at this level. If we lose Joao and Puscas we could so with an experienced option up front to help the young strikers develop. Who better than someone who developed as a teenager with us.

I was hoping we may have gone in for him in January on loan potentially, I'd love to have him back for a year or two. I know they say never go back but we wouldn't be signing him at his peak anyway, we'd just need a good squad option who can work hard and hopefully knock a few in for us and I think it would really lift the morale of the fans as well.

And I expect he would be a lot cheaper option than Carroll.

I have it on very good authority that he will stay at Southampton. One year deal is on the table.

[Stranded]

And I expect he would be a lot cheaper option than Carroll.

Why? Carroll has already played for us for reportedly just £1k a week, and Long is coming off a PL wage.

Long being cheaper makes no sense.

Let's not forget that £1k a week was never going to be long-term, hence why he only signed until Jan. Even if he signed on with us after that point, he would have undoubtedly earned more than £1k. I can imagine Carroll only did it short-term so he could get some minutes to get match fit, hope to impress and earn either a better contract with ourselves or elsewhere, which he ultimately did.

I don't think Long will be any cheaper than Carroll, although I bet there isn't a huge difference in wage demands all said and done. Granted, no matter how marginal the difference in wage demands between the pair are, every penny counts for us.

If a 35 yo striker (36 in Jan) were to become free this summer who had managed just 19 goals and 12 assists since August 2016 and had never, ever played for Reading - would you, or indeed anybody else on here even remotely think that he is what we should be looking at?

Shane Long was great for us a decade ago - his career is winding down to a halt, we shouldn't be the last station. There will be better striking options available to us.

[andrew1957]

Why? Carroll has already played for us for reportedly just £1k a week, and Long is coming off a PL wage.

Long being cheaper makes no sense.

Let's not forget that £1k a week was never going to be long-term, hence why he only signed until Jan. Even if he signed on with us after that point, he would have undoubtedly earned more than £1k. I can imagine Carroll only did it short-term so he could get some minutes to get match fit, hope to impress and earn either a better contract with ourselves or elsewhere, which he ultimately did.

I don't think Long will be any cheaper than Carroll, although I bet there isn't a huge difference in wage demands all said and done. Granted, no matter how marginal the difference in wage demands between the pair are, every penny counts for us.

If a 35 yo striker (36 in Jan) were to become free this summer who had managed just 19 goals and 12 assists since August 2016 and had never, ever played for Reading - would you, or indeed anybody else on here even remotely think that he is what we should be looking at?

Shane Long was great for us a decade ago - his career is winding down to a halt, we shouldn't be the last station. There will be better striking options available to us.

Like who?

[Stranded]

Let's not forget that £1k a week was never going to be long-term, hence why he only signed until Jan. Even if he signed on with us after that point, he would have undoubtedly earned more than £1k. I can imagine Carroll only did it short-term so he could get some minutes to get match fit, hope to impress and earn either a better contract with ourselves or elsewhere, which he ultimately did.

I don't think Long will be any cheaper than Carroll, although I bet there isn't a huge difference in wage demands all said and done. Granted, no matter how marginal the difference in wage demands between the pair are, every penny counts for us.

If a 35 yo striker (36 in Jan) were to become free this summer who had managed just 19 goals and 12 assists since August 2016 and had never, ever played for Reading - would you, or indeed anybody else on here even remotely think that he is what we should be looking at?

Shane Long was great for us a decade ago - his career is winding down to a halt, we shouldn't be the last station. There will be better striking options available to us.

Like who?

There will be loans and in the free market would rather we take a risk on a young player like Robinson or that Orient player we were linked too then giving a deal to a player like Long that is mainly based on nostalgia.