Ivar was my best signing for Royals...

[readingbedding]

From the EP.

Steve Coppell has hailed Ivar Ingimarsson as the best signing of his five-and-a-half-year reign at Reading.

Coppell, the club’s most successful-ever manager, recruited plenty of top players for Royals.

But he believes none matched his first, the arrival of Ingimarsson from Wolves a couple of weeks after he took charge at Madejski Stadium.

The former Iceland international cost £175,000 and was named Player of the Year at the end of the 2006/07 season.

And Coppell claims Ingimarsson’s absence towards the end of last season was a major factor behind Reading’s failure to make a swift return to the Premier League.

“Because of the evidence of last season I would say my most significant signing was Ivar,” said 53-year-old Coppell, who quit a fortnight ago after Royals’ promotion play-off semi-final exit at the hands of Burnley.

“I knew him and knew he would never let us down and he proved that. Towards the end of last season our home form suffered and I think we badly missed him.

“He wasn’t a goalscorer, but had he played I don’t think we would have suffered so many losses. His absence was a cutting blow.

“He was such a calming influence on the team. He is a tremendous professional who looks after himself and was great to have in the dressing room.”

Vice-captain Ingimarsson also volunteered to hand over the skipper’s armband to James Harper near the start of the season because he hoped it would give his team-mate a boost.

Coppell added: “Such is the person he is he came to me and said to me not being captain wouldn’t change the way he played.

“He thought being captain would have a real positive effect on Harper. Harps had been going on about it and Ivar thought it would bring the best out of him and give him a boost and that sums him up.

“So I would say in the six seasons I was at the club he is the most significant signing. He isn’t the most spectacular and doesn’t grab headlines but every other player depends on him in one way or another.”

Fair play Coppell.
I rate Ivar lots too.

But me knowing a lot less about the game that he does, I would have to go for the more flash and more obvious. Mr K Doyle.

[M-U-R-T-Y]

I agree, Ivar was a better signing than Doyle and the last few weeks of the season proved this.

[The 17 Bus]

Signed a couple of weeks after SC joined, and still in the team, or would have been at the end. Never flash but Ivar has been a solid player all along, many said he was past it, but it is odd how we fell away after he was injured??

Still lets have Bikey and Pearce, then we will be ok, or not.

[The 17 Bus]

But me knowing a lot less about the game that he does, I would have to go for the more flash and more obvious. Mr K Doyle.

K Doyle still has the potential to be a Premier League player, however it is now back to potential, due to his goal drought after Xmas in the last two seasons, there does not seem to be any rumours about clubs chasing him now???

Perhaps after how he seemed to fall away after Xmas for the last two years we should have let him leave.

[Millsy]

Good to know Coppell agrees with me then

As I've always said losign a defender totally disrupts the back four, no matter how good the replacement is. The defensive unit is very fine tuned and of vital importance. The short sighted amongst us will still harp on about our defensive record despite his departure not realising that the team works as a unit and when you have a disrupted defence the rest of the team compensates by sitting back and you might not let in as many but you also won't score as many.

An absolute rock of a player who we've sorely missed. And an incredible character to give the armband away for the sake of unity and a settled squad. Probably now my favourite player after I read that.

Well done Ivar.

And well done Coppell - I wish the rest of your signings were all as awesome as your first

[Ian Royal]

Like him a lot, but I think he's deteriorated over the last season or so. Less obvious down a level in the Championship, but he gets turned a lot easier now and his clearances are less assured and directed.

Certainly in the top 5 signings and most consistent over a long period. But I think I'd have to still pick at least Kitson and Doyle ahead of him. Maybe Little. Although all of them have had their flaws.

[IceRoyalsandKDoyles]

Steve Coppell has hailed Ivar Ingimarsson as the best signing of his five-and-a-half-year reign at Reading.

+1

I really hope Ivar gets back in the side next season, and as captain

[rhroyal]

In 06/07 Sidwell got a move to Chelsea, Shorey got an England cap. Doyle was nominated for PFA Young Player of the Season. Ivar Ingimarsson was so consistent that he was the fans' player of the season. Says a lot.

[loyalroyal4life]

and heres to the people saying he should be released at end of the season!!!


ivar and bikey for the foundation next season!!

[IceRoyalsandKDoyles]

and heres to the people saying he should be released at end of the season!!!


ivar and bikey for the foundation next season!!

+1

and I'd like to see us start the season with Ivar and Pearce, letting Pearce get some experience as he could well be a future captain for us... but when Bikey gets back I think him playing, with the cool head of Ingimarsson to make sure he does nothing stupid, we will have a very solid defensive partnership

[Dirk Gently]

and heres to the people saying he should be released at end of the season!!!


ivar and bikey for the foundation next season!!

+1

and I'd like to see us start the season with Ivar and Pearce, letting Pearce get some experience as he could well be a future captain for us... but when Bikey gets back I think him playing, with the cool head of Ingimarsson to make sure he does nothing stupid, we will have a very solid defensive partnership

Wally Downes certainly has said that he believes Pearce will be just that.

[brendywendy]

Probably now my favourite player after I read that.

100% agreed

solid and excellent proffessional, never flustered, brave, with a bit of quality about him too-th eman is the rock coppell built his team around.


and he lives in crowthorne too

muct be good

[loyalroyal4life]

and heres to the people saying he should be released at end of the season!!!


ivar and bikey for the foundation next season!!

+1

and I'd like to see us start the season with Ivar and Pearce, letting Pearce get some experience as he could well be a future captain for us... but when Bikey gets back I think him playing, with the cool head of Ingimarsson to make sure he does nothing stupid, we will have a very solid defensive partnership

Wally Downes certainly has said that he believes Pearce will be just that.

Where's Wally

[Woodcote Royal]

Signed a couple of weeks after SC joined, and still in the team, or would have been at the end. Never flash but Ivar has been a solid player all along, many said he was past it, but it is odd how we fell away after he was injured??

Still lets have Bikey and Pearce, then we will be ok, or not.

I thought Ivar looked particularly solid in our relegation season and especially down at Portsmouth, when all the back four kept their places for the next match.

Missing you already, Steve, or not.

[Sun Tzu]

Proves the best signings don't have to be the big money ones.

You can probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of bad games Ivar has had for us. Even lacking a bit of pace his speed of thought still makes him a very solid defender.

Hopefully we'll see him back next season, although not sure Pearce and Ivar would work - two very similar players and I'd rather have a Sonko / Bikey style player beside one of them.