News and Views
Modou Barrow Confirmed As Fourth Summer Signing
03 August 2017
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading have completed the signing of Swansea winger Modou Barrow for 1.5 million pounds. Barrow, who is Reading's fourth signing of the summer, spent three seasons with the Premier League side after joining them from FK Ostersunds in Sweden for the same value.
His debut for Swansea, in November 2014, was a memorable 2-1 home victory against Arsenal. The Gunners were a goal up with 67 minutes on the click when Barrow came off the bench. Swansea went on to score two late goals to claim the victory.
The Royals have been rumoured to be chasing the player for some time and had to go back with an increased bid after initial offers were rejected.
Barrow spent most of his Swansea career on the bench and had 21 starts for the club with a further 34 appearances as a substitute. His last start for the Swans was back in December 2016 - a 0-3 defeat at Middlesbrough. He scored two goals during his time at Swansea and also had loan spells at Nottingham Forest, Blackburn and, most recently at Leeds United. After losing his place in the Swansea team he headed out on loan at the turn of the year and made five appearances for Leeds.
Discussion On This Story:
Hound
Seems to be very good value for someone who was in the Swansea first team for much of last season
Should be a good addition to the squad anyway. My guess is we'll start 4-3-3 again this season and prob have him, Popa (who I reckon will do well this year) and JDB up front for the first game
Nameless
I read an article about him a while back that gave exactly the opposite impression. Player who has come up the hard way, pretty grounded and proud to be repres noting Gambia in the English leagues.
One training ground incident (being held by the throats by someone else isn't really showing a bad attitude is it ?) is thin stuff to use against a player. Doubt there are many players who have not had the odd disagreement on the training ground.
Wycombe Royal
I read an article about him a while back that gave exactly the opposite impression. Player who has come up the hard way, pretty grounded and proud to be repres noting Gambia in the English leagues.
One training ground incident (being held by the throats by someone else isn't really showing a bad attitude is it ?) is thin stuff to use against a player. Doubt there are many players who have not had the odd disagreement on the training ground.
So Barrow has a bad attitude for being held by the throat by Rangel, so what about Rangel? It would appear he has an even poorer attitude.......
wiggso
I read an article about him a while back that gave exactly the opposite impression. Player who has come up the hard way, pretty grounded and proud to be repres noting Gambia in the English leagues.
One training ground incident (being held by the throats by someone else isn't really showing a bad attitude is it ?) is thin stuff to use against a player. Doubt there are many players who have not had the odd disagreement on the training ground.
So Barrow has a bad attitude for being held by the throat by Rangel, so what about Rangel? It would appear he has an even poorer attitude.......
Yeah I always though Rangel was a bellend
and his first name rhymes with his surname
Hound
I get the feeling we make a large effort to sign the right kind of person as well as player. Team spirit was key for us doing so well last year. Anyone who seemed to have a bit of attitude - i.e. Mutch, maybe Oxford to a lesser extent, were quickly shipped out or dropped
blythspartan
I never quite get the no end product critiscm, as many very quick players e.g. Aaron Lennon have no end product. What they can do is panic defences and help other players find room, If they were the complete package they wouldn't be within our budget.
winchester_royal
Sketchy record, but there's obviously some potential and quality in there. If Jaap can work his magic then we'll have ourselves a bargain. If he can't then at least it's a relatively 'cheap' gamble that hasn't paid off.
CountryRoyal
Interesting you say that. I think they have made 3 very good value signings if this one comes off. All with a reasonable amount of experience, good age. I would also like to see as good a striker as we can afford come in, but other than that I think we are looking very strong
Like everyone else was obviously slightly deterred by Wolves fan's comments about Bod, and his goal return, but I thought about the bigger picture, and trusted Stam's judgment. Was very meh about Mannone too, but quickly came around.
This will be no different... at the moment i find it a bit uninspiring, but give it a few hours probably and I'll have warmed to the idea.
linkenholtroyal
Interesting you say that. I think they have made 3 very good value signings if this one comes off. All with a reasonable amount of experience, good age. I would also like to see as good a striker as we can afford come in, but other than that I think we are looking very strong
Like everyone else was obviously slightly deterred by Wolves fan's comments about Bod, and his goal return, but I thought about the bigger picture, and trusted Stam's judgment. Was very meh about Mannone too, but quickly came around.
This will be no different... at the moment i find it a bit uninspiring, but give it a few hours probably and I'll have warmed to the idea.
If this is a signing to add pace and not the answer to our striking crisis then this is a solid signing. If not then it worries me a little we are spending money on a position in which we already have a glut of talent.
I still feel we need a utility player in defence I like Jason Lowe Ex Blackburn on a free for this.
A Target man (where he is going to come from I have no idea)
And a CM, I would love Ledley, to do the link play from Defence.
Oilroyal
"Barrow is more than speed, though, possessing a trick or two that hasn’t been seen enough from Montero who tends to just push past a man. There are suggestions his final ball is better too while it was interesting that Ki Sung-Yueng, when asked to name his most skillful teammate, opted for ‘Mo’ who he claimed was like Messi in training but could now do with it being shown on the Premier League pitch".
and......"Barrow does seem to have a greater defensive responsibility to his game"
full write up here
Hound
We have the following defenders: Obita, Blackett, Moore, Cooper, Ilori, McShane, Gunter, Watson. Plus players who can fill in, such as Joey if desperate. All good if not very good defenders at this level.
CM we have Evans, Kelly, Swift, Joey, Quinn plus a couple of youngsters like Rinomhata. Also players like Beerens, Ilori who could do a job
Up front and wing we have Popa, Beerens, Mendes, JDB, Barrow if he comes. Plus McCleary, Harriott and Kermie hopefully by October time.
We can make two competitive teams out of that lot.
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