Dave Kitson signs new deal

[Hoop Blah]

There aren't too many players whon have left Reading over the last few years who we didn't want to leave.

A selling club to me, means that players who we want to keep attract big offers that is tempting for us and for the player in question.

By why is that? Is it because we've turned down all offers for our players or because nobody has actually been that interested in them to make an offer?

Personally I'd say the latter.

[Big Ern]

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OK, using Ern's claim that 'lots' = 3 then I'll argue that 'decades' = 10 years !!

We'd probably agree that (as I mentioned) the Webb / Dixon / Sanchez / Senior era was a time when we were a selling club (and may just squeeze in as being 'decades' ago !!)
[/quote]

Once again interpreting things to suit your (lack of)argument.

Why not add Shaka Hislop and Simon Osbourne to your list. And who was the Chairman when these 2 under contract players were sold....Yep, you've guessed it, a certain John Madejski. The very same Chairmen who also sold Allaway to Leeds a few seasons back for a tidy sum of money. Even at the time of selling Hughes, SC was quoted as saying he didn't want to sell him, but the offer was too good.

You continue to talk out of your arse.

[Behindu]

Theres not a lot of gambling on Championship players by Premiership clubs these days so unless you can give sound examples of when we've turned down offers for our players I don't see how you can say we've not been a selling club for any other reason than a lack of demand.

As pointed out to Ern buying by Prem clubs isn't the point. Brighton have been a selling club but the vast majority of their players don't go to Prem clubs....

And we are not talking about interest as reported by the tabloids. I have no doubt that there will have been plenty of interest in our players. Given our success over recent years it is inevitable that other clubs look at them. However the fact that we have made it clear that WE ARE NOT A SELLING CLUB is in istelf going to deter enquiries, in the same way the becasue Crewe openly state that they are a selling club means other clubs go looking at their players.

[Big Ern]

However the fact that we have made it clear that WE ARE NOT A SELLING CLUB is in istelf going to deter enquiries,

No, it's going to help the club shift season tickets and merchandise more than anything, and help to push the price up of these players currently being coverted by potential buying clubs.

[Hoop Blah]

Theres not a lot of gambling on Championship players by Premiership clubs these days so unless you can give sound examples of when we've turned down offers for our players I don't see how you can say we've not been a selling club for any other reason than a lack of demand.

As pointed out to Ern buying by Prem clubs isn't the point. Brighton have been a selling club but the vast majority of their players don't go to Prem clubs....

But when you're a club at the top end of the Championship the likely candidates for your players are Premiership clubs or the big fish in the Championship who more often than not look to failing Premiership players.

And we are not talking about interest as reported by the tabloids. I have no doubt that there will have been plenty of interest in our players. Given our success over recent years it is inevitable that other clubs look at them. However the fact that we have made it clear that WE ARE NOT A SELLING CLUB is in istelf going to deter enquiries, in the same way the becasue Crewe openly state that they are a selling club means other clubs go looking at their players.

I agree that we might have had interest in our players and some has been put off by an impression that we'd not sell BUT Madjeski's way of running things isn't likely to lead to massive prices for our players. The fact that we sold Hughes when Norwich put in a decent bid supports this and I can't see any evidence that clubs have shown more than a passing interest in the likes of Harper, Shorey and Doyle....so far.

[Behindu]

However the fact that we have made it clear that WE ARE NOT A SELLING CLUB is in istelf going to deter enquiries,

No, it's going to help the club shift season tickets and merchandise more than anything, and help to push the price up of these players currently being coverted by potential buying clubs.

How so ?

West Ham sell all their best players, buy rubbish ones and still shift more season tickets and shirts than we do...

[Big Ern]

However the fact that we have made it clear that WE ARE NOT A SELLING CLUB is in istelf going to deter enquiries,

No, it's going to help the club shift season tickets and merchandise more than anything, and help to push the price up of these players currently being coverted by potential buying clubs.

How so ?

West Ham sell all their best players, buy rubbish ones and still shift more season tickets and shirts than we do...

Jesus Wept

Possibly because West Ham have a bigger fan base than us.

[Behindu]

Jesus Wept

Possibly because West Ham have a bigger fan base than us.

Jesus wept because of West Ham's appalling performance this season....

Nice inverted logic by the way - we don't sell players (ie are not a selling club) so we can sell more tickets.

West Ham sell more tickets but sell their best players !

[Big Ern]

Jesus Wept

Possibly because West Ham have a bigger fan base than us.

Jesus wept because of West Ham's appalling performance this season....

Nice inverted logic by the way - we don't sell players (ie are not a selling club) so we can sell more tickets.

West Ham sell more tickets but sell their best players !

So you are now saying we are a bigger club then West Ham Priceless

If you fail to see the clubs logic for saying we are not a selling club, then you will need to really improve for when you start your GCSE's.

[Behindu]

So you are now saying we are a bigger club then West Ham Priceless .

Big Ern in 'I can't read' shocker !!!!

If you fail to see the clubs logic for saying we are not a selling club,.

Is it to do with the fact that you have been unable to list the players we have sold, therefore fatally undermining your claim that we are a selling club !!!

[Big Ern]

So you are now saying we are a bigger club then West Ham Priceless .

Big Ern in 'I can't read' shocker !!!!

If you fail to see the clubs logic for saying we are not a selling club,.

Is it to do with the fact that you have been unable to list the players we have sold, therefore fatally undermining your claim that we are a selling club !!!

er, they have been mentioned by me and Hoop Blah, so I suggest you are one who needs reading lessons, but just for you,

Under John Madekski, players of note

Simon Osborne
Shaka Hislop
Shuan Allaway
Andy Hughes

There are others we can add to the list such as darius Henderson, Nathan Tyson etc, but they were not major losses at the time.

Not Under Madejski.

Neil Webb
Laurie Sanchez
Trevor Senior
Keith Curle
Kerry Dixon

I challenge you to find a former player, so not currently in the squad, who could have made an impact in the Premiership and was not sold or let his contract run out?

[Behindu]

[Under John Madekski, players of note

Shuan Allaway?

I bet you saw all his first team apperances !!!

[
I challenge you to find a former player, so not currently in the squad, who could have made an impact in the Premiership and was not sold or let his contract run out?

Why would I want to do that ? If you want to issue challenges make them of some relevance... and maybe make them intelligible !

[Hoop Blah]

[Under John Madekski, players of note

Shuan Allaway?

I bet you saw all his first team apperances !!!

[
I challenge you to find a former player, so not currently in the squad, who could have made an impact in the Premiership and was not sold or let his contract run out?

Why would I want to do that ? If you want to issue challenges make them of some relevance... and maybe make them intelligible !

I'd like you to name a few examples of players where we've turned down realistic bids that support your claim that we've NOT a been a selling club for decades.

[Monkfish]

[Under John Madekski, players of note

Shuan Allaway?

I bet you saw all his first team apperances !!!

[
I challenge you to find a former player, so not currently in the squad, who could have made an impact in the Premiership and was not sold or let his contract run out?

Why would I want to do that ? If you want to issue challenges make them of some relevance... and maybe make them intelligible !

I suggest Big Ern finds a brick wall he can bang his head against. It's better than trying to argue with this fool.

[Behindu]

I'd like you to name a few examples of players where we've turned down realistic bids that support your claim that we've NOT a been a selling club for decades.

Surely such bids are unlikely to be in the public domain ? Just becasue they don;t make the EP it doesn't mean it doesn't happen, and whilst Ern might not like it it will also be a factor that a club that says 'we aren't selling' will deter speculative bids.

How many players have we sold the the last 10 years where raising cash has taken precedence over the needs of the team ?

And please note we are using 'decades' here as per Ern's definition of 'lots'

[Hoop Blah]

I'd like you to name a few examples of players where we've turned down realistic bids that support your claim that we've NOT a been a selling club for decades.

Surely such bids are unlikely to be in the public domain ? Just becasue they don;t make the EP it doesn't mean it doesn't happen, and whilst Ern might not like it it will also be a factor that a club that says 'we aren't selling' will deter speculative bids.

How many players have we sold the the last 10 years where raising cash has taken precedence over the needs of the team ?

And please note we are using 'decades' here as per Ern's definition of 'lots'

Apart from the fact that you said decades and so it includes the likes of Shaka, Adie, Super Si and Taylor there aren't many examples of taking the cash apart from Andy Hughes and the case of good business sense to take Leed's cash for Allaway.

I still maintain that thats because we've never received any concrete offers anywhere near worth accepting because other teams just haven't covetted our players. This is likely to change as we continue to be successful though. Proving that is obviously impossible either way but there have been rumours in the past of interest and if you think clubs wouldn't have gone public in a bid to unsettle our players if they actually wanted them then I think you've got your head in the sand. It would also have made good PR for JM to say he'd turned down offers at times when he's taken stick for not splashing the cash a bit more so I've no doubt we'd have got a sniff of any decent bids at some point.

[Behindu]

I'll concede the use of the term 'decades' was rather ill advised !

Given that for the last 5-6 years we've been consistently one of the best teams in our division it seems a racing certainty that other teams have been watching our players. Concrete offers are just the end of the process though - don;t you think most transfer deals start with manager A calling Manager B and floating the idea of a deal ? A selling club is likely to want to talk, a non S selling club will cut the conversation short and never get to an offer.

In terms of offers though it is a known fact that Everton made a bid for James Harper...

[Big Ern]

I'll concede the use of the term 'decades' was rather ill advised !

Given that for the last 5-6 years we've been consistently one of the best teams in our division it seems a racing certainty that other teams have been watching our players. Concrete offers are just the end of the process though - don;t you think most transfer deals start with manager A calling Manager B and floating the idea of a deal ? A selling club is likely to want to talk, a non S selling club will cut the conversation short and never get to an offer.

In terms of offers though it is a known fact that Everton made a bid for James Harper...

Did everton really make an offer for Harper, as It was not known by me. Hopefully someone other than yourself will back this up.

Fact is, these players have only porved themselves at Premiership level this season, and I can assure you the club will be tested with offers for a number of these players as soon as the transfer window opens, and if they are big enough offer, they will go.

[Behindu]

Did everton really make an offer for Harper, as It was not known by me. Hopefully someone other than yourself will back this up..

It was in the papers and everything....

Fact is, these players have only porved themselves at Premiership level this season, and I can assure you the club will be tested with offers for a number of these players as soon as the transfer window opens, and if they are big enough offer, they will go.

Yep, not exactly rocket science is it...

If Real Madrid offer £25 million for John Halls we'll take the money.

Never doubted that there will be times when we do indeed sell the odd player.

But the club has not operated as a Selling club, and I don;t see that changing.

You really think Mr M spent 15 years building the club up just to start flogging his main assets once success is on the horizon.

By the way, what does the 'Big' relate to ?

[Hoop Blah]

I'll concede the use of the term 'decades' was rather ill advised !

You mean wrong right?

Given that for the last 5-6 years we've been consistently one of the best teams in our division it seems a racing certainty that other teams have been watching our players.

Watching our players yes, not bidding for them, which is my point.

Concrete offers are just the end of the process though - don;t you think most transfer deals start with manager A calling Manager B and floating the idea of a deal ? A selling club is likely to want to talk, a non S selling club will cut the conversation short and never get to an offer.

I think most transfers probably start with a conversation between a manager and an agent/representative/player/players mate just as often as they do a manager. I never said we gave our players away, and like clubs like Preston, Crewe, Norwich, Leeds, Palace etc etc we'd be looking for a good price for any sale but we'd still sell if someone had placed a good offer.

Do you think Norwich said yes please West Ham, do take Dean Ashton off us when they first enquired? I reckon they'd have said no, we don't want to sell our best player but West Ham then came back with a silly money offer because he was a player they actually wanted, not just kept an eye on unlike, it would seem, clubs did with our lot.

In terms of offers though it is a known fact that Everton made a bid for James Harper...

If you say so!