RUMOUR - Tommy Smith

[blade 1]

You're apparently in for Beckford. I'd be happier with that!

They want alot of money for him and the toon are supposed to be interested

i live in leeds and most leeds fans i speak to say he's a good player but his attitude lets him down. They are more worried about loosing snodgrass (which is the main reason i want to sign him after years of them pinching our best players)

[Ian Royal]

What will the reaction be on here when Rodgers leave us for a job with another club (and one day he will) and then say the same sort of thing about Reading players?

I'll be bloody fuming. He won't even have the excuse of inexperience.

Was talking to a couple of neutrals about it today and they thought it was bang out of order.

Watford could quite easily make an allegation to the FA about this IMO. I don't care how innocent it is, it's not on and isn't a way I approve of our club operating.

Saying that I'm not going to be calling for anyone's head just yet.

[Royalee]

Lol, get over yourself.

[Ian Royal]

Lol, get over yourself.

You may be happy supporting a club with no integrity like West Ham or Chelsea. I am not.

[Royalee]

Go and support whoever Coppell manages next then.

[Muskrat]

FWIW I'm a bit disappointed with BR over this. You have to give him the benefit of the doubt and put it down to managerial inexperience, but surely he's been around the game long enough to know where to draw the line when talking about proposective players, especially under the circumstances of his arrival here.

I criticised the Watford Chairman for his little outburst last week but I wouldn't blame Watford if they just stuck two fingers up at Reading now. However, money talks and I reckon if Reading offer in excess of £1m and in the absence of any offers from other clubs that interest Smith, Watford would do the mother of all climb downs and take the money.

[Ian Royal]

Go and support whoever Coppell manages next then.

We had integrity before Coppell. The only one who seems to have an issue is Rodgers and I'm nto going to crucify him for one thing I don't approve of.

I suspect I probably will have a soft spot for King Copps next club.

[Royalee]

It could be argued Pardew showed a complete lack of integrity when he was at West Ham with his Wenger scuffle, I seem to remember Martin Allen having a scuffle with Ian Holloway at our place too back in League 1.

As for talking in public about players, most of the top managers do it so get used to it. Sir Alex, Mourinho and so forth didn't get where they are by being nice and 'following the rules' minding their toes.

[W&E Royal]

I agree completely agree with the Watford chairman, anyone who thinks that Brendon is correct for talking about any player that isn't on the books of Reading Football Club is crazy. How would you feel if it was Pards or McGhee talking like that just a month after they left, you'd all go mental. To be honest this all leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

McGhee nicked Scott Taylor didn't he?

And Alan Pardew tried (unsuccessfully) to nick Nick Shorey....

Yes Scott Taylor signed for Leicester but i don't remember McGhee talking about him in the press. Pardew never once mentioned any of our players, the only person he took was Niall Clarke, if he wanted Shorey, are you really stupid enough to think he wouldn't have got him? The rumours about Shorey came from thios stupid website.

[Ian Royal]

It could be argued Pardew showed a complete lack of integrity when he was at West Ham with his Wenger scuffle, I seem to remember Martin Allen having a scuffle with Ian Holloway at our place too back in League 1.

As for talking in public about players, most of the top managers do it so get used to it. Sir Alex, Mourinho and so forth didn't get where they are by being nice and 'following the rules' minding their toes.

What's Pardew's antics at West Ham got to do with Reading?

[Royalee]

Okay, Martin Allen's antics whilst at Reading give Pardew's were when he left, although I'm sure he probably had a set two with someone when he was here.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Okay, Martin Allen's antics whilst at Reading give Pardew's were when he left, although I'm sure he probably had a set two with someone when he was here.

a translation would be beneficial

[Southbank Old Boy]

Pardew certainly had a bit of a heated exchange up at Peterborough one year

Not quite with the other manager from what I remember, but the fans didnt take to kindly to it

As for the comments made, unfortunately its probably not just a case of inexperience but a premeditated move to ensure he gets his man. Its the way of the world in the industry he works in, all part of the fun and games

I dont like it, but at the same time I think we didnt make a big enough effort to get players into the club under Coppell so I cant be too critical if BR thinks its what it takes to get Smith to the club

[Super Kevin Bremner!]

What Rodgers did was naiive at worst.

Anyone saying they don't approve of what looks like a genuine balls up is a knob'ed.

He's so transparent and desperate to please the people who interview him and the supporters that he seems to get a little carried away in his answers - unfortunately that will probably change now which would be a shame because I now feel I know more about this club than I have in a long long time, and I'm lapping up everything he's saying so far.

If it was a balls up/honest mistake, then benefit of the doubt, let's drop it.

That means you Ian.

[W&E Royal]

Okay, Martin Allen's antics whilst at Reading give Pardew's were when he left, although I'm sure he probably had a set two with someone when he was here.

What the hell? That doesn't make sense??

[Thaumagurist*]

Didn't Pardew once talk about bringing Paul Di Canio (or somebody) to Reading and the people at Wet Sham weren't happy about it?

[Terminal Boardom]

I think that there is mre to this than meets the eye. There must have been some words spoken off line between Russo and BR which we are obviously unaware of. I dont think that BR would have been so naive to talk so openly about Tommy Smith without good reason. But what has been said elsewhere about us having a couple of tasty games to look forward to can not be a bad thing. For both games, expect the away allocations to be very quick sell outs with similar sentiments that were belted out at Filbert Street back in 95.

[Deathy]

Didn't Pardew once talk about bringing Paul Di Canio (or somebody) to Reading and the people at Wet Sham weren't happy about it?

He did like to talk, yes.

[Royal Rother]

What Rodgers did was naiive at worst.

Anyone saying they don't approve of what looks like a genuine balls up is a knob'ed.

He's so transparent and desperate to please the people who interview him and the supporters that he seems to get a little carried away in his answers - unfortunately that will probably change now which would be a shame because I now feel I know more about this club than I have in a long long time, and I'm lapping up everything he's saying so far.

If it was a balls up/honest mistake, then benefit of the doubt, let's drop it.

Good post.

(Apart from the insult of course, I don't condone that sort of stuff!)

[Ian Royal]

What Rodgers did was naiive at worst.

Anyone saying they don't approve of what looks like a genuine balls up is a knob'ed.

He's so transparent and desperate to please the people who interview him and the supporters that he seems to get a little carried away in his answers - unfortunately that will probably change now which would be a shame because I now feel I know more about this club than I have in a long long time, and I'm lapping up everything he's saying so far.

If it was a balls up/honest mistake, then benefit of the doubt, let's drop it.

That means you Ian.

I'm disappointed that's all. I'm having a go at those saything there is nothing wrong with it. Something you don't seem to agree with either. I'm not very happy, but one possibly honest mistake is not enough to make me anti-Rodgers.