New signings

[Woodcote Royal]

Either/or, Harper or Marek >>>>>> our other midfield options.

I'm just completely baffled and disheartened by all this. We have chosen not to go for promotion. It's bizarre, and it makes me miserable.

That might apply on paper but not from what I've seen on the pitch.

Not only was Harper largely to blame for our exit from the cup, neither he nor Marek stood out that night in a team that BR would have seen as mostly his 2nd string.

The sad fact (for Harps and Marek) is that Karacan and Siggy are already ahead of them on merit and we, as supporters, should be really excited about some of the young players coming through.

[Royal Rother]

We are a Championship club coming out of our parachute period. Our squad was too big and had too many players in their 30s used to the glory days who would have found it difficult being positive whilst being kept out of the team by youngsters - more likely they would, without doing it deliberately, have become a negative presence around the club. They had to go, as did the players worth money who were also the higher wage earners.

Resent it all you like but at this time it's all about balancing the books, cutting the cloth and having a viable model in the short to medium term for the business that is Reading Football Club. It is also about giving the youngsters who have shown so much promise a chance to establish themselves and create a player progression model for the club, together with an obvious income stream from the sale of said players in the medium term.

Think of it this way - although it might have worked for other clubs, high wages and ex-Prem players didn't get RFC into the Premier League in 2005/6, or 2008/9... the model for 2009/10 has far more in common with 2005/6 than 2008/9, and that's just fine with me.

Too many supporters are impatient for success and view our slow start to the season as an indication that what Rodgers / the club are trying to do just will not work, which is short term knee-jerkism of a quite ridiculous level in my opinion.

Rodgers has brought in players he knows and likes in Bertrand, McAnuff and Rasiak (who are surely a better quality than the players of similar mould brought in by Coppell in Shunt, Sonko and whoever else he signed from Brentford) and players he has had his eye on for some time in O'Dea and Mills.

The squad he is building is new, young, vibrant, and yes, transitional but, although it will take time to bear full fruits, for those with their heads screwed on, it is an exciting time to be a Reading fan.

Some supporters just can't cope with Madejski's hair, Rodgers' watch, and indeed transition / change or prudent business practice in their football club and so will look for the negative in everything that is being done. I just find that odd when what Madejski has done in the past has brought such success to the club and when Rodgers has developed such a glowing reputation during his time in the game.

Of course everyone has a right to question moves made but these guys know far more about what they are doing and have a far better record of success in their fields of expertise than anyone on this board - should we not just give it a chance before ridiculing every move made?

[Tamworth_Royal]

OUT

Hahnemann
Murty
Lita
S Hunt (2.5m)
Doyle (6.5m)
Bikey (3.0m)
Harper
Duberry

IN

Mills (2.0m)
Howard
O'Dea (loan)
Rasziak (500k?)
McAnuff (500k?)

A net £9,000,000 in plus about £5,000,000 off of the wage bill, All together now.........

"this demonstrates our commitment to getting back into the Premiership"

+1 couldn't agree more.

-1 couldn't disagree more.

If the best bunch of young players in the clubs' history realise their full potential, they could form the backbone of our next Premiership squad for years to come.

This is something we could never hope to finance through the transfer market without the stadium expansion that had to be cancelled thanks to our abject under Coppell in the last 2 seasons.............................not that anyone should expect 2 of the clubs most blinkered supporters to grasp this concept.

You just don't understand Reading Football club at all do you Woodcote.
Your wildly optimistic if you think these kids would ever get us to the Premiership and if they did………..(just look at the top this quote)…. Madejski would only sell any talent this club has and has been doing that for the last two years and he aint goona change as demonstrated in this transfer window. He sells high and buy’s low.

I only hope Rodgers works miracles to keep us mid table because come the January transfer window the pot will be empty.

[winchester_royal]

Either/or, Harper or Marek >>>>>> our other midfield options.

I'm just completely baffled and disheartened by all this. We have chosen not to go for promotion. It's bizarre, and it makes me miserable.

That might apply on paper but not from what I've seen on the pitch.

Not only was Harper largely to blame for our exit from the cup, neither he nor Marek stood out that night in a team that BR would have seen as mostly his 2nd string.

The sad fact (for Harps and Marek) is that Karacan and Siggy are already ahead of them on merit and we, as supporters, should be really excited about some of the young players coming through.

100% agree. The Harps of 06/07 would easily make the first team, but he hasn't shown any of that form for a while.

Karacan and Sig >>>>>> Current Harps

Hence why they get in Rodgers' team, and Harper doesn't.

But as I said before, Harps will/should always be remembered fondly here because of his huge role in the 106 team.

[Archies Volley II]

We are a Championship club coming out of our parachute period. Our squad was too big and had too many players in their 30s used to the glory days who would have found it difficult being positive whilst being kept out of the team by youngsters - more likely they would, without doing it deliberately, have become a negative presence around the club. They had to go, as did the players worth money who were also the higher wage earners.

Resent it all you like but at this time it's all about balancing the books, cutting the cloth and having a viable model in the short to medium term for the business that is Reading Football Club. It is also about giving the youngsters who have shown so much promise a chance to establish themselves and create a player progression model for the club, together with an obvious income stream from the sale of said players in the medium term.

Think of it this way - although it might have worked for other clubs, high wages and ex-Prem players didn't get RFC into the Premier League in 2005/6, or 2008/9... the model for 2009/10 has far more in common with 2005/6 than 2008/9, and that's just fine with me.

Too many supporters are impatient for success and view our slow start to the season as an indication that what Rodgers / the club are trying to do just will not work, which is short term knee-jerkism of a quite ridiculous level in my opinion.

Rodgers has brought in players he knows and likes in Bertrand, McAnuff and Rasiak (who are surely a better quality than the players of similar mould brought in by Coppell in Shunt, Sonko and whoever else he signed from Brentford) and players he has had his eye on for some time in O'Dea and Mills.

The squad he is building is new, young, vibrant, and yes, transitional but, although it will take time to bear full fruits, for those with their heads screwed on, it is an exciting time to be a Reading fan.

Some supporters just can't cope with Madejski's hair, Rodgers' watch, and indeed transition / change or prudent business practice in their football club and so will look for the negative in everything that is being done. I just find that odd when what Madejski has done in the past has brought such success to the club and when Rodgers has developed such a glowing reputation during his time in the game.

Of course everyone has a right to question moves made but these guys know far more about what they are doing and have a far better record of success in their fields of expertise than anyone on this board - should we not just give it a chance before ridiculing every move made?

+1

Spot on as usual.

[Royalwaster]

Don't mind Harper going. DO mind him going effectively for free.

I think the thinking is something like this - Harper was one of our top earners; BR didn't see him as a key player in his squad - rating Karajan, Sigi etc. more highly; also, as has been said often, there was a big selling-on fee for Arsenal, so whatever we'd have sold him for, we'd have only got a fraction of it. This way, with a loan-swap, we might end up not having to pay out any money and we get Howard cheaply.

[Avon Royal]

We are a Championship club coming out of our parachute period. Our squad was too big and had too many players in their 30s used to the glory days who would have found it difficult being positive whilst being kept out of the team by youngsters - more likely they would, without doing it deliberately, have become a negative presence around the club. They had to go, as did the players worth money who were also the higher wage earners.

Resent it all you like but at this time it's all about balancing the books, cutting the cloth and having a viable model in the short to medium term for the business that is Reading Football Club. It is also about giving the youngsters who have shown so much promise a chance to establish themselves and create a player progression model for the club, together with an obvious income stream from the sale of said players in the medium term.

Think of it this way - although it might have worked for other clubs, high wages and ex-Prem players didn't get RFC into the Premier League in 2005/6, or 2008/9... the model for 2009/10 has far more in common with 2005/6 than 2008/9, and that's just fine with me.

Too many supporters are impatient for success and view our slow start to the season as an indication that what Rodgers / the club are trying to do just will not work, which is short term knee-jerkism of a quite ridiculous level in my opinion.

Rodgers has brought in players he knows and likes in Bertrand, McAnuff and Rasiak (who are surely a better quality than the players of similar mould brought in by Coppell in Shunt, Sonko and whoever else he signed from Brentford) and players he has had his eye on for some time in O'Dea and Mills.

The squad he is building is new, young, vibrant, and yes, transitional but, although it will take time to bear full fruits, for those with their heads screwed on, it is an exciting time to be a Reading fan.

Some supporters just can't cope with Madejski's hair, Rodgers' watch, and indeed transition / change or prudent business practice in their football club and so will look for the negative in everything that is being done. I just find that odd when what Madejski has done in the past has brought such success to the club and when Rodgers has developed such a glowing reputation during his time in the game.

Of course everyone has a right to question moves made but these guys know far more about what they are doing and have a far better record of success in their fields of expertise than anyone on this board - should we not just give it a chance before ridiculing every move made?

+1

Spot on as usual.

Not quite so sure about the "as usual" bit , but that post is absolutely spot on.

[Terminal Boardom]

There is a part of me that really hopes that Harps plays against us at the Lane and shows the doubters what he is capable of. Like it was HIS fault that the club failed to adequately replace Sidders? That's it. Blame the guy who always is prepared to take responsibility and try and make things happen.

BR is full of shit. He talks about needing experience to play alongside the youngsters yet the longest serving player at the club is literrally told to do one. Well BR, why don't you do one instead?

I am not impatient for success. Been supporting this shit for more years than I care to remember. But I do object to being fed a load of hot air and bullshit. I would be far happier if BR was a bit more SSC and a little less Jose Mourinho.

[Row Z Royal]

The sad fact (for Harps and Marek) is that Karacan and Siggy are already ahead of them on merit and we, as supporters, should be really excited about some of the young players coming through.

My personal view is that Harper/Marek > The Sig/Karacan.

However, I hope that the latter come through and Rodgers must be given the freedom to do what he thinks is right.

Our (my) trouble is that I don't like change, but just because we don't like it doens't mean it isn't needed.

[Royalee]

You're full of shit TB.

[winchester_royal]

There is a part of me that really hopes that Harps plays against us at the Lane and shows the doubters what he is capable of. Like it was HIS fault that the club failed to adequately replace Sidders? That's it. Blame the guy who always is prepared to take responsibility and try and make things happen.

BR is full of shit. He talks about needing experience to play alongside the youngsters yet the longest serving player at the club is literrally told to do one. Well BR, why don't you do one instead?

I am not impatient for success. Been supporting this shit for more years than I care to remember. But I do object to being fed a load of hot air and bullshit. I would be far happier if BR was a bit more SSC and a little less Jose Mourinho.

You do of course realise that Howard is just as experienced at CCC level as Harper?

And that Gunnar brings more experience to that midfield than Harper did anyway??

[Archies Volley II]

Don't mind Harper going. DO mind him going effectively for free.

I think the thinking is something like this - Harper was one of our top earners; BR didn't see him as a key player in his squad - rating Karajan, Sigi etc. more highly; also, as has been said often, there was a big selling-on fee for Arsenal, so whatever we'd have sold him for, we'd have only got a fraction of it. This way, with a loan-swap, we might end up not having to pay out any money and we get Howard cheaply.

Not got sound at the moment so can someone please confirm what has been said on the radio in Sheffield?

I assume Harper is there but has it been confirmed (from Utd at least) that Howard is coming to us?

[Tamworth_Royal]

Don't mind Harper going. DO mind him going effectively for free.

Don't Arsenal get 40% of free as well ?

Well done Nicky Hammond, He couldn’t negotiate his way out of a one tree maize

[FiNeRaIn]

Cutting cloth does not consist of getting rid of every recognised player in the squad im afraid, Madejski has gone WAY over the top. Im so disgusted about the treatment of harper im not going to talk about it, it makes my blood boil. This club does not want to be in the premiership and does not want to invest money to get there- madejski has lost all interest at this stage. He's done some great things for the club but its time for him to sell up and its time for a new era. I am not expecting a massive billionaire arab to come in, a young local businessman or consortium who are prepared to invest astutely a couple of million on the team a year with a bit more weight and direction would be nice. Madejski has long since gone stale here and a change would suit all.
I once believed in our brick by brick process until we took it all apart and went back to square one, there was never any need for this and its destroyed us. Change was always imminent after coppell left but going from a team finishing 4th place in the league to a team no one in football considers having any chance of making the play-offs now is not acceptable.
The finance record has been played to death but I really don't have confidence in the club and im left thinking " whats the point in it anymore"- not just with this, but football in general. Your comments about non league football got me thinking to be fair RR, thats where the real passion is.

[West Stand Flash]

Please guys, you have to go on Sheff United's forum & read their comments about Harper, I am actually pissing myself. They think they have got a combative ATTACKING, goal scoring midfielder who will boss the midfield.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I think a bit of wee has just come out.

[Royal Rother]

Your wildly optimistic if you think these kids would ever get us to the Premiership...

And I'm sure you were wildly optimistic in August 2005 that a bunch of players with no realistic aspirations to be anthing more than League 1 / Championship players at best, in Murty, Harper, Sonko, Sidwell, Doyle, Lita, Kitson, Convey et al would get us there weren't you?

And then equally optimistic, after little activity in the summer of 2006, that we would stay in the PL....

The truth is you cannot tell what will work and what won't - but bringing through young players from the Academy and on loan, plus a few older heads makes for an interesting time ahead. Can we not settle for that at this stage?

[Royalwaster]

Don't mind Harper going. DO mind him going effectively for free.

I think the thinking is something like this - Harper was one of our top earners; BR didn't see him as a key player in his squad - rating Karajan, Sigi etc. more highly; also, as has been said often, there was a big selling-on fee for Arsenal, so whatever we'd have sold him for, we'd have only got a fraction of it. This way, with a loan-swap, we might end up not having to pay out any money and we get Howard cheaply.

Not got sound at the moment so can someone please confirm what has been said on the radio in Sheffield?

I assume Harper is there but has it been confirmed (from Utd at least) that Howard is coming to us?

Harper himself said that Howard was going the other way - there was some question along the lines of whether he minded being part of a swap deal instead of a money deal and he said he didn't really mind with Howard going the other way, etc.

Nothing on Sheff Utd OS either confirming this, but Harper definitely is confirming it and said he knew about it 2-3 days ago.

[Royalwaster]

Please guys, you have to go on Sheff United's forum & read their comments about Harper, I am actually pissing myself. They think they have got a combative ATTACKING, goal scoring midfielder who will boss the midfield.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I think a bit of wee has just come out.

Link?

[Woodcote Royal]

You just don't understand Reading Football club at all do you Woodcote.

It seems to me that if one of us does, it sure as hell isn't you

[Archies Volley II]

Not got sound at the moment so can someone please confirm what has been said on the radio in Sheffield?

I assume Harper is there but has it been confirmed (from Utd at least) that Howard is coming to us?

Harper himself said that Howard was going the other way - there was some question along the lines of whether he minded being part of a swap deal instead of a money deal and he said he didn't really mind with Howard going the other way, etc.

Nothing on Sheff Utd OS either confirming this, but Harper definitely is confirming it and said he knew about it 2-3 days ago.

Thanks Royalwaster!

Due to the lack of information on this anywhere else I take it Harper said it was this transfer window and not arranged for Jan?!?!?