800k fee agreed for Michael Duberry

[Gordons Cumming]

Sodje would make good cover for right back,yes?

[ellpryjon]

on os now

http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10306~973555,00.html

[Big Ern]

Sodje would make good cover for right back,yes?

Better still, Greg Halford

[Royal Rother]

I like both Sodje and Bikey. With extremely limited opportunities they have not let anybody down, and have proved themselves to be pretty composed on the ball unlike many central defenders in the Prem.

Personally, I would be sorry to see either of them go.

[Huntley & Palmer]

on os now

http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10306~973555,00.html

Text aLOLerts

[M4 Junction 11]

On the radio last night Coppell said it was a close call whether to use Sodje or Bikey and he only used Bikey because he was a bit more physical but there was not much between the two.

Even our honest Mr Coppell isn't going to come out and say that Sodje was nowhere near selection after the way we defended against Birmingham is he?

I was hoping the interviewer would then go on to ask why he wasn't even on the bench then!

Coppell lied

Good point about the follow-up question (not asked) - I think it was 107FM

[M4 Junction 11]

on os now

http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10306~973555,00.html

Text aLOLerts

The club keep their cards close to their chest on transfer dealings so things must be near to completion to put this on the os.

[Hoop Blah]

Sodje would make good cover for right back,yes?

Not according to Coppell who has elected to play Sodje in the middle and move other players to right back when he's had to opportunity to stick him there.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

800k seems a bit much, but it's not really with the sort of money we will have brought in this season. Hopefully he'll come in and have a calming influence on the back 4 and sort the line out a bit.

Where did the Chairmen's comments about us being about to make another club record buy come from?? He does say strange things at times..

[Blue and White Toucan]

Am I right in saying that Bikey is only on loan till the end of the season?? That means that Coppell is merely covering all his options.

With Sonks out for a while I think Coppell is thinking that he needs someone to just help steady up the back now.

Halford, Bennett, and even Bikey are all with one eye on next year and beyond.

I suppose the thought is 'Get Doobs for £800k and a salary to get him here for the next 18 months and that will help us g'tee Prem Football' for next year'

£800k is nothing to insure againts possibly losing £30million in TV money next year - and we all know how cautious Coppell will be.

[Only one Trevor Morley]

800k seems a bit much, but it's not really with the sort of money we will have brought in this season. Hopefully he'll come in and have a calming influence on the back 4 and sort the line out a bit.

Where did the Chairmen's comments about us being about to make another club record buy come from?? He does say strange things at times..

I think we were. Barnett. But that fell through becuase Sodje didnt want to go and Luton wanted money and players.

Whether that gets resurrected today remains to be seen.

[fruits]

I would disagree. For 800k, we have a centre back who can come straight in and do a job for us. If he converts one loss into a draw or one draw into a win, by means of a good performance that we wouldn't have got from Sodje or Bikey, then he will have paid for himself.

Also a good experienced head to have round the place. He will be desperate to succeed as well as this is his last big chance.

Trust SSC!

Was n`t he at Leeds before and if so are they still paying half his wages a la
Fowler and others?

[fruits]

Reasonably pleased with this signing.

We need a centre back to partner Ivar, not hinder him like Bikey and Sodje have. Doobs knows whats he's doing and still has the physical attributes that made him a very good but raw prospect when he broke through ten years ago.

I'm waiting for some bad news on Sonko to come out and which means Doobs becomes a direct replacement for Sonko in the squad for the remainder of the season. With Bikey and Mate leaving in the summer then he becomes 3rd or 4th choice centre back, depending on other player movements, for next season.

A decent signing in my book.

so what about Bennett?

Bennett will I'm sure prove to be a good bargain - but its going to take him a while to get up to speed given him ionly just returning to pre season training in Ireland. Bennett offers competition in the medium term whereas Duberry can hopefully slot straight in. This now gives us 4 decent central defenders with hopefully Pearce developing further and Mate being given another chance.

The future looks bealker for Bikey and Sodje however.

Many have commented that Bikey may be better at central midfield.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

800k seems a bit much, but it's not really with the sort of money we will have brought in this season. Hopefully he'll come in and have a calming influence on the back 4 and sort the line out a bit.

Where did the Chairmen's comments about us being about to make another club record buy come from?? He does say strange things at times..

I think we were. Barnett. But that fell through becuase Sodje didnt want to go and Luton wanted money and players.

Whether that gets resurrected today remains to be seen.

Pretty stupid thing for the Chairmen to say really. People are gonna be dissapointed with Duberry becasue they were expecting another big money deal....

[Platypuss]

Duberry = Sonko 2
Bennett = Ingimarsson 2

Sounds fine to me.

We have to look at this in context - the majority of other Prem clubs wouldn't even blush at having at least 4 high-quality centre halves (not midfielders who "can do a job") on their books.

Ok, excluding Chelsea.

[donface]

Duberry = Sonko 2
Bennett = Ingimarsson 2

Racist

[From Despair To Where?]

800k seems a bit much, but it's not really with the sort of money we will have brought in this season. Hopefully he'll come in and have a calming influence on the back 4 and sort the line out a bit.

Where did the Chairmen's comments about us being about to make another club record buy come from?? He does say strange things at times..

I think we were. Barnett. But that fell through becuase Sodje didnt want to go and Luton wanted money and players.

Whether that gets resurrected today remains to be seen.

Pretty stupid thing for the Chairmen to say really. People are gonna be dissapointed with Duberry becasue they were expecting another big money deal....

I thought Madejski's comment was made before Halford signed

[Royalee]

Sodje would make good cover for right back,yes?

Maybe if he learns to mark properly, some positional sense and football skills, yes.

[ohagerup]

Maybe if he learns to mark properly, some positional sense and football skills, yes.

--> Rather harsh, I think. He played a good game i the FA cup fixture.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

800k seems a bit much, but it's not really with the sort of money we will have brought in this season. Hopefully he'll come in and have a calming influence on the back 4 and sort the line out a bit.

Where did the Chairmen's comments about us being about to make another club record buy come from?? He does say strange things at times..

I think we were. Barnett. But that fell through becuase Sodje didnt want to go and Luton wanted money and players.

Whether that gets resurrected today remains to be seen.

Pretty stupid thing for the Chairmen to say really. People are gonna be dissapointed with Duberry becasue they were expecting another big money deal....

I thought Madejski's comment was made before Halford signed

The way it's been reported in other threads was he said another club record signing on top of Halford. Like I said I've not actually seen or heard the quote though.