CONFIMRED - Sam Baldock

[blueroyals]

He's exactly the kind of striker I knew we would sign but I'm still disappointed

[Denver Royal]

It looks like PC has a plan to build a team/squad with plenty of character and Championship experience and after the debacle of last season that'll do for me.

Not for me. I hear you, and I can see the sentiment. However, us being better than a ‘debacle’ is not a particularly useful yardstick relative to the rest of the teams in this division who won’t give a hoot about it. This league is hugely competitive now. Ever more so. We could be improved, yet still go down? That wouldn’t be ok with me. Last year was rough, for sure. So was finishing 17th and 19th. But the main thing, and really the only thing, will be how we measure up to other teams, players, and managers this season. That’s usually how it works. Also not really sold on narrative of ‘try and consolidate mid to lower half, top half following year, top 6 year after, then top 2 in 4 years’.

[Top Flight]

I'm happy with this signing. Maybe he is the best we can get right now and he definitely improves matters for us on the pitch.

Coppell got Owusu before Doyle and Lita.

Baldock might be available to us right now and would tide us over for the time being. When the opportunity arises for Clement to bring someone better in then I'm sure he won't hold back. A football team cannot be built in one transfer window. Clement will need 5 years to build his team.

We haven't given any manager enough time for a long time now to build a side. Hopefully Clement will be given a proper chance by our fans which is just as important as the chance he needs from the board as well.

[FiNeRaIn]

Not a bad signing, although underwhelming.

I remember years as a Reading fan where we'd be playing some lower half of the table dross. They would turn up, work hard, play turgid football with no real names in their team and take about 200 away fans . All the hope they had was to eventually get a good crop of young players and maybe mount a miracle charge for the playoffs. I used to sit there and think how much of a struggle it would be supporting one of those sides. The reality is hitting me that this is basically now us. Our squad is pretty large, but very ordinary. We have a couple of young guys to watch out for but you worry we'll just flog them if a bid comes in down the line. Finances seem tight again and the brand of football has been oxf*rd for three years. Baldock is the type of signing those dross sides used to make. He's not awful, he's just a reflection of where we are that he's actually an upgrade on what we already have. It'll be a struggle watching him and Bod labor up front when you think of the people we've had there in the last 15 years but that's the cycle of football I guess. If he works hard, scores a few goals and consolidates our position next season it'll be a good signing.

[Wycombe Royal]

Not a bad signing, although underwhelming.

I think that sums it up pretty well. He is well liked at Brighton by the fans where has has played as a left winger and a support striker during his time there and that will obviously reflect in his goalscoring stats.

I still we are missing some pace up front (through the middle) although f he continues to put faith in Meite, and he can perform consistently that maybe that issue is solved as well.

[IRjAy]

He's exactly the kind of striker I knew we would sign but I'm still disappointed

Why are you disappointed? What were you realistically expecting?

He's a decent striker at this level and has a very good assist record.

[Coppells Lost Coat]

This is just a meh signing. As others have said, its a player who plays the role we are after. Many factors come into effect here. Price, wages, willing to come here and goals scored. He may come good but probably wont set the league alight. I think this league is his level and he will score goals - thats if he is played down the middle.
We have to be content in these types of signings and TBH i rather we signed players we can afford now and not gamble on the hope of promotion.

[Hound]

This is just a meh signing. As others have said, its a player who plays the role we are after. Many factors come into effect here. Price, wages, willing to come here and goals scored. He may come good but probably wont set the league alight. I think this league is his level and he will score goals - thats if he is played down the middle.
We have to be content in these types of signings and TBH i rather we signed players we can afford now and not gamble on the hope of promotion.

I agree with a lot of what you have said, but to me, that makes it a good (not brilliant) signing rather than a meh one

[CountryRoyal]

Sorry to be all doom and gloom but thoroughly underwhelmed at this (and if this concludes it) our entire summer’s transfers both in and out.

Who realistically were you expecting to come in?

Meyler and Yiadom - 2 experienced quality payers to fill in big issues we had at FB and CM last year
McNulty and Baldock - 2 strikers with a record of scoring goals. Admittedly both a bit of a punt, but unless you are paying 10m, they always are.
O'Shea - yeah rubbish signing, but wont play much.

We're on the way to getting rid of Yann, Joey and Evans so far, with prob a few more to come. Meite seems like he will be an option coming back off loan

We've kept hold of Moore (so far), and got a couple of decent young keepers to sign up again

Would like to know realistically what you were thinking would, or even might happen this summer

I said I was happy with the Yiadom signing, wanted him last season, didn’t think he’d come here so I’m chuffed with that. But for me the jury is out with the rest and I can’t help how I feel. I don’t particularly rate Meyler who spends more time playing oxf*rd video games than he does passing to a player in the same kit. Happy enough with McNulty but from the outside you wouldn’t expect a player who has done well at league two to make the step up, or even more so for a top half team (yes you can say ALF etc but those are the exceptions and not the norm), and obviously as you’ve said, the less said about John O’Shea the better.

I think it boils down to expectations and what is “realistic”. Truth is we don’t really know. After last season it’s clear that the majority of fans would be content with slight improvement and a comfortable mid table finish. I don’t buy the whole “with a better style”. Generally speaking if a team plays in an attractive expansive style of play they are more than likely going to be competing at the top end of the table, you don’t get too many teams playing great football losing all the time.

I also don’t think in this day and age managers are given the time to build something. Football is such a fickle business. For most of the championship imho each season is a new opportunity to get promoted. Also what’s a club of our size? Fan base etc ok, but are we not led to believe we have some very wealthy owners that are prepared to “spend big” for the right players? We’ve had these soundbites for a while now and I’m not seeing evidence of that this season. Listen I’m not saying I’d want us to do a Wolves or even what Forrest are doing, but so far our marquee striker is a 750k 25 year old with a decent season at League Two. When you compare that with what a lot of the teams competing at the top have then it doesn’t exactly inspire.

That all being said, we don’t have a huge track record of success with “big name” signings, so in that sense what’s the worst that could happen.

I would have liked to see us ship out and replace more of this squad but it is what it is. I’m not sure why I’m so pessimistic about our chances this season, it’s not normally like me but it is just how I feel at the moment. I certainly won’t be on here saying I told you so if we are gash and everyone is more than welcome to quote me to death and play points totting after we win the league with McNulty and Baldock scoring 50 between them, and John O’Shea playing most games keeping 20+ clean sheets

[muirinho]

Sorry to be all doom and gloom but thoroughly underwhelmed at this (and if this concludes it) our entire summer’s transfers both in and out.

Who realistically were you expecting to come in?

Meyler and Yiadom - 2 experienced quality payers to fill in big issues we had at FB and CM last year
McNulty and Baldock - 2 strikers with a record of scoring goals. Admittedly both a bit of a punt, but unless you are paying 10m, they always are.
O'Shea - yeah rubbish signing, but wont play much.

We're on the way to getting rid of Yann, Joey and Evans so far, with prob a few more to come. Meite seems like he will be an option coming back off loan

We've kept hold of Moore (so far), and got a couple of decent young keepers to sign up again

Would like to know realistically what you were thinking would, or even might happen this summer

I said I was happy with the Yiadom signing, wanted him last season, didn’t think he’d come here so I’m chuffed with that. But for me the jury is out with the rest and I can’t help how I feel. I don’t particularly rate Meyler who spends more time playing oxf*rd video games than he does passing to a player in the same kit. Happy enough with McNulty but from the outside you wouldn’t expect a player who has done well at league two to make the step up, or even more so for a top half team (yes you can say ALF etc but those are the exceptions and not the norm), and obviously as you’ve said, the less said about John O’Shea the better.

Think you'll be pleasantly surprised by Meyler, he's a very solid midfielder. I also don't get the criticism of his gaming - keeps him occupied, doesn't risk any injuries, and has zero impact on how he plays or trains. Much better than a porn or gambling habit. What's the difference between that and, say golf, or pool?

For me, these are very Reading-like signings - can see McDermott or Coppell bringing players like these in. And not very Tevreden-like at all. So it's a win from me, not just for the players themselves (except O Shea, can't work that one out), but for the change in direction that it signals.

Don't know if Tevreden has learned from the last few seasons, or if Clement has much more influence or there's somebody else getting involved.

But I like it!

[Hound]

yeah for me, there were glaring weakness in DCM, FB and up front. PC has filled these gaps with solid performers (if Baldock comes, we are still assuming solely on one journo's tweet

It might just be that I'm a little over optimistic as he has pretty much done exactly what I think he should have done - ie massively worked on the fitness of the players, filled those gaps, and not had too much of a complete overhaul.

I agree I'd like to see a few more leave, whether perm or on loan, but I'm quite looking forward to the season.

[CountryRoyal]

yeah for me, there were glaring weakness in DCM, FB and up front. PC has filled these gaps with solid performers (if Baldock comes, we are still assuming solely on one journo's tweet

It might just be that I'm a little over optimistic as he has pretty much done exactly what I think he should have done - ie massively worked on the fitness of the players, filled those gaps, and not had too much of a complete overhaul.

I agree I'd like to see a few more leave, whether perm or on loan, but I'm quite looking forward to the season.

That’s fair enough and I do agree especially with the bit in bold, but for me that was the very least we had to do to even stay in the division. I still look at creativity as being a an issue, we’re unlikely to bring anyone in in that regard so we’re going to be looking at several underperforming players last year stepping up, Aluko and Swift/Kelly particularly come to mind.

Fitness was a big issue so let’s hope that’s been and or being resolved.

[Tilehurstsouthbank]

Lots of folk writing this transfer off before we even know it's happening. If he signs, lets give the lad a chance. I'm pretty sure a certain a recently released Frenchman had a less than average scoring record before he joined us and low & behold, 19 goals in our Playoff season.

[Maneki Neko]

a strike force of bod, baldock, mcnulty +1 yoof is streets ahead of where we were last year imo, and for that I'm pretty happy.
adding an experienced half decent championship striker and a confident and hungry player who has done well in the league below us is good business.

[leon]

a strike force of bod, baldock, mcnulty +1 yoof is streets ahead of where we were last year imo, and for that I'm pretty happy.
adding an experienced half decent championship striker and a confident and hungry player who has done well in the league below us is good business.

Well quite

[John Smith]

a strike force of bod, baldock, mcnulty +1 yoof is streets ahead of where we were last year imo, and for that I'm pretty happy.
adding an experienced half decent championship striker and a confident and hungry player who has done well in the league below us is good business.

Well quite

I find it quite sad that you're both content that a League 2 striker, a dross non-goalscorer and the epitome of an average striker who didn't even set the world alight in a promotion winning side as our strikeforce for next season. Very sad in fact.

[leon]

a strike force of bod, baldock, mcnulty +1 yoof is streets ahead of where we were last year imo, and for that I'm pretty happy.
adding an experienced half decent championship striker and a confident and hungry player who has done well in the league below us is good business.

Well quite

I find it quite sad that you're both content that a League 2 striker, a dross non-goalscorer and the epitome of an average striker who didn't even set the world alight in a promotion winning side as our strikeforce for next season. Very sad in fact.

Why are you worrying. We're not in a relegation fight, are we?

[Coppells Lost Coat]

a strike force of bod, baldock, mcnulty +1 yoof is streets ahead of where we were last year imo, and for that I'm pretty happy.
adding an experienced half decent championship striker and a confident and hungry player who has done well in the league below us is good business.

Well quite

I find it quite sad that you're both content that a League 2 striker, a dross non-goalscorer and the epitome of an average striker who didn't even set the world alight in a promotion winning side as our strikeforce for next season. Very sad in fact.

Cheer up mate ffs. Must be bleak times in the JS household. No point writing off our players before the league has started is there?

[Tilehurstsouthbank]

Well quite

I find it quite sad that you're both content that a League 2 striker, a dross non-goalscorer and the epitome of an average striker who didn't even set the world alight in a promotion winning side as our strikeforce for next season. Very sad in fact.

Cheer up mate ffs. Must be bleak times in the JS household. No point writing off our players before the league has started is there?

Exactly this. As I said, Yann's scoring record before us was hardly prolific, then he goes and bangs 19 goals in. Strap might be able to correct me but wasn't Jimmy Quinn's scoring record before he had that amazing season with us pretty average?

[tee peg]

Well quite

I find it quite sad that you're both content that a League 2 striker, a dross non-goalscorer and the epitome of an average striker who didn't even set the world alight in a promotion winning side as our strikeforce for next season. Very sad in fact.

Cheer up mate ffs. Must be bleak times in the JS household. No point writing off our players before the league has started is there?

Why not.It will save time later........