CONFIRMED - Chris Baird

[Divvy]

He means announcing it before it IS actually a done deal and then he goes somewhere else.....

Are we going to get a striker or what?

Perhaps getting a striker was deemed a lesser priority since Jem's potential season long injury... Pog and Alf vying for one place up front.. slightly less important for the moment.

[One8Seven1]

Excellent signing. Now we can focus on the striker we need and we look in good shape.

[The Prisoner]

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/reading-fc-sign-northern-ireland-6069635

Reading FC sign Northern Ireland defender Chris Baird on free transfer
20 Sep 2013 11:32

Royals have swooped in to complete a deal with Fulham centre-back under the nose of Harry Redknapp


Reading have signed Northern Ireland international defender Chris Baird

The 31-year-old has been training with QPR for the past month but Royals have swooped in to complete a deal under the nose of Harry Redknapp.

The experienced defender, who has won 61 caps for his country, has been a free agent since leaving Premier League side Fulham in the summer.

Baird spent six years at Craven Cottage, having signed from Southampton in 2007.

Royals have been looking for defensive cover since they sold Adrian Mariappa to Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day.

And in Baird, they have captured a player who can play anywhere across the backline, although centre back is his favoured position.

He can also play in a defensive midfield role, which may came in handy given the knee injury sustained by Jem Karacan against Leeds on Wednesday.

Baird is Reading's fourth signing since the end of last season, joining Wayne Bridge, Royston Drenthe and Danny Williams.

An announcement of his arrival is expected later on Friday.

[The Prisoner]

http://www.wearetherangersboys.com/forum/showthread.php?169913-Baird-snubs-QPR-and-agrees-Reading-move

[Pepe the Horseman]

Rofl

Who the fuk does he think he is?
Delusions of grandeur if you ask me.
We are top of the league and favorites to go up, and he would be in a perm side next season and he says no. Ha ha .
Maybe Arsenal or United are cavorting him.
Mug
Bet he ends up nowhere.

[St. Brynjar]

Top, top signing.

[The Prisoner]

Top, top signing.

Plus Mariappa out for ££££....Baird in for 0£.

Baird > Mariappa

[kwik-silva]

WHERE'S ALL THE MONEY GONE? ALWAYS SIGNING PLAYERS ON FREE TRANSFERS AND NEVER SPENDING ANY £££.



etc.etc.

[Hungary Royal]

Kwik Silva - chill out. this guy is a quality signing and anything we nick off fake hoops is also an added bonus. when do we get to see him in action? any news feed on OS yet for this?

[M Brook]

Duped QPR again though

The only difference this time is Rangers have kindly kept him fit for the last month!

[Wycombe Royal]

Wycombe Royal likes this.

[kwik-silva]

Kwik Silva - chill out. this guy is a quality signing and anything we nick off fake hoops is also an added bonus. when do we get to see him in action? any news feed on OS yet for this?

Was a joke man although:

Robin Hinton @MrRHinton
Although Baird is a genuinely good signing. When are we gonna see some money spent...? #readingfc

[Hungary Royal]

Duped QPR again though

The only difference this time is Rangers have kindly kept him fit for the last month!

Quite, and to think that while he was being kept on ice by the fake hoops hoping he would sign for them and really he had his eyes on the real hoops, that is a beautiful sign, brings tears of joy to my eyes

[melonhead]

really good signing, adressing one of our thin areas, and making us stronger as a team/squad.

i am pretty confident that the club are persuing options in the striking department, and these will be sorted soon too.
from there we can start to be pretty hopeful i reckon
good work NH/NA

[melonhead]

Duped QPR again though

http://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/bair ... ading-move

I'd rather have signed Phillips, Kranjcar or Austin to be fair.

bridge + Baird >>>>austin


imo

[Hungary Royal]

Kwik Silva - chill out. this guy is a quality signing and anything we nick off fake hoops is also an added bonus. when do we get to see him in action? any news feed on OS yet for this?

Was a joke man although:

Robin Hinton @MrRHinton
Although Baird is a genuinely good signing. When are we gonna see some money spent...? #readingfc

Wait until January when AZ cashes in on his bonds he had in Cheshire building society and other selected branches. then we can have the pick of Europe,

[Platypuss]

Kwik Silva - chill out. this guy is a quality signing and anything we nick off fake hoops is also an added bonus. when do we get to see him in action? any news feed on OS yet for this?

Was a joke man although:

Robin Hinton @MrRHinton
Although Baird is a genuinely good signing. When are we gonna see some money spent...? #readingfc

Given that we're outside the transfer window, that response represents a special level of tardiness.

[Hungary Royal]

I guess the above comment from the honourable mod on was not aimed at my original comment.

[winchester_royal]

Another fan's favourite in the form of Chris Baird (31 years of age & 135 games) takes his leave after 6 years at Fulham. He had one of the hardest introductions to his time at Fulham that fans have seen in quite some years but showed real heart and fight in coming back to confound his critics. His signing from Southampton on 12th July 2007 was seen as something of a coup for Fulham and their new manager Lawrie Sanchez. He had been player of the season on the south coast and was wanted by several clubs but the link with his former Northern Ireland manager proved decisive. Baird had been playing as a CB at Southampton but a RB for his country and it was the latter position Sanchez had in mind for him. Baird said later that he didn't like playing there and had a torrid time trying to adjust to the role as pressure mounted on the team and manager. He became the focus for the dissatisfaction of a vocal minority of fans and had to withstand a prolonged period of sustained and unpleasant abuse. Remarkably he quietly got on with his work and eventually blossomed under Roy Hodgson to play a vital role as a defensive midfielder with a fantastic passing range and the hardest shot in the team. His journey from scapegoat to cult hero endeared him to Fulham fans in a way few other players enjoyed. His uncomplaining and hard working approach and his dedication to working for the team made him some one fans always wanted in the side but who had no real natural position within it. Later in his time with Fulham he discovered a talent for scoring great goals and his brace against the hated Stoke will live long in the memory. Unfortunately he didn't fit into Martin Jol's plans but whichever club is lucky enough to sign him will get a loyal servant and a fine footballer.

http://vivaelfulhamforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=710&p=1987

Jizz

[Isaac Hunt]

Cover for midfield, cover for Jem, cover for defence, cover for full backs. Great signing tbh.

Yep, this. Good signing following Jem's injury. Might also free Guthrie up from running his nuts off, as he has been so far this season.