Gylfi to leave ?!!!

[RobRoyal]

Come on don't kid yourself. If a club like Southampton came in, there is no way Sig could turn them down.

And Reading wouldn't stand in the lads way....

True this. We couldn't match the wages they would offer him, either.

[FiNeRaIn]

Nottingham forest LMAO. Took all credibility out of that article.

To be fair, they might be looking at him as an option if they go up in the play offs, then it would be just a viable a move as West Brom or Wolves really.

Not really, they are in the same division as us. Why would gylfi want a sideways step?

[SpaceCruiser]

Nottingham forest LMAO. Took all credibility out of that article.

To be fair, they might be looking at him as an option if they go up in the play offs, then it would be just a viable a move as West Brom or Wolves really.

Not really, they are in the same division as us. Why would gylfi want a sideways step?

That would be true if they stay down.

[FiNeRaIn]

Which they will, curse of finishing third.

[Hoop Blah]

Nottingham forest LMAO. Took all credibility out of that article.

To be fair, they might be looking at him as an option if they go up in the play offs, then it would be just a viable a move as West Brom or Wolves really.

Not really, they are in the same division as us. Why would gylfi want a sideways step?

Have you lost the ability to read?

*if they go up in the play offs*

[SpaceCruiser]

I've just read reports quoting Nigel Gibbs that we are not looking to sell Sigurdsson.

Good news, people!!!

All those tossers like Bolton can do one!

[Elmer Park]

Unfortunately Gibbs interview was one of those which could be spun either way as he also said that every player has his price which, although perfectly true of course, I always feel does nothing to discourage possible purchasers of a player.

In addition of course if the summer goes like the last one Gibbs and McDermott will only have a limited say in transfer decisions.

[SpaceCruiser]

I would argue that saying that every player has his price does not mean that they are looking to sell the player. What they are saying that they'd put an unreasonable price to discourage any buyers, and if any is silly enough to try matching that price...

[BobKnows]

FWIW I am pretty confident that Sig won't get sold to a lower Prem / good Championship side this summer. We are not a selling club, despite what some on the tiresome Madejski haters might try and suggest....in the recent past big money moves have come when a player has proved to be a consistently quality performer, and Reading are moving in a downward direction, so the player wants/needs to move e.g Sidwell, Doyle, Shorey etc or someone has offered us good money for a player who is coming to the end of their career / useful time at Reading e.g. Kitson, Sonko etc. Both of these are perfectly sensible (or unavoidable) reasons to sell players.

Sig right now doesn't fall into either of these categories. He is a player full of potential but with not even one full season as a regular under his wing. He's at a club that looks to be now on an upward trajectory. There's no reason for him to move to a mediocre club. He might as well stay another season or two, as this is unlikely to damage his prospects. If we aren't performing then, or a really big club comes in for him, then yes ... he will probably go. Until then, in the Sig and Reading I trust

Don't let me down people

[SpaceCruiser]

A very good post, Bob, and I agree with all of it.

[Ian Royal]

FWIW I am pretty confident that Sig won't get sold to a lower Prem / good Championship side this summer. We are not a selling club, despite what some on the tiresome Madejski haters might try and suggest....in the recent past big money moves have come when a player has proved to be a consistently quality performer, and Reading are moving in a downward direction, so the player wants/needs to move e.g Sidwell, Doyle, Shorey etc or someone has offered us good money for a player who is coming to the end of their career / useful time at Reading e.g. Kitson, Sonko etc. Both of these are perfectly sensible (or unavoidable) reasons to sell players.

Sig right now doesn't fall into either of these categories. He is a player full of potential but with not even one full season as a regular under his wing. He's at a club that looks to be now on an upward trajectory. There's no reason for him to move to a mediocre club. He might as well stay another season or two, as this is unlikely to damage his prospects. If we aren't performing then, or a really big club comes in for him, then yes ... he will probably go. Until then, in the Sig and Reading I trust

Don't let me down people

Good point, apart from mentioning Sidwell. Who left for free and whilst we were still on the up.

[BobKnows]

FWIW I am pretty confident that Sig won't get sold to a lower Prem / good Championship side this summer. We are not a selling club, despite what some on the tiresome Madejski haters might try and suggest....in the recent past big money moves have come when a player has proved to be a consistently quality performer, and Reading are moving in a downward direction, so the player wants/needs to move e.g Sidwell, Doyle, Shorey etc or someone has offered us good money for a player who is coming to the end of their career / useful time at Reading e.g. Kitson, Sonko etc. Both of these are perfectly sensible (or unavoidable) reasons to sell players.

Sig right now doesn't fall into either of these categories. He is a player full of potential but with not even one full season as a regular under his wing. He's at a club that looks to be now on an upward trajectory. There's no reason for him to move to a mediocre club. He might as well stay another season or two, as this is unlikely to damage his prospects. If we aren't performing then, or a really big club comes in for him, then yes ... he will probably go. Until then, in the Sig and Reading I trust

Don't let me down people

Good point, apart from mentioning Sidwell. Who left for free and whilst we were still on the up.

Oops...ok not a big money move but a rather inevitable one I would suggest, considering who bought him...

[Hoop Blah]

We could've cashed in on Sidwell once he'd made it clear he wasn't going to sign a new deal but before his contract had run down (IF he was willing to accept the move of course) but we didn't. So I think that shows some support of Bobs point.

We are still essentially a selling club though, as most clubs are. We might get good fees for the players we lose, which is fine and great business, but we're still losing players we'd surely rather keep and having to accept that if a club wants one of ours we'll sell him. That's my take on it anyway.

[Ian Royal]

We could've cashed in on Sidwell once he'd made it clear he wasn't going to sign a new deal but before his contract had run down (IF he was willing to accept the move of course) but we didn't. So I think that shows some support of Bobs point.

We are still essentially a selling club though, as most clubs are. We might get good fees for the players we lose, which is fine and great business, but we're still losing players we'd surely rather keep and having to accept that if a club wants one of ours we'll sell him. That's my take on it anyway.

I disagree we are a selling club, although you may have a different interpretation of that phrase than me...

For me a selling club is one that consistently sells it's better players up to a higher level, but not at extortionate prices. Otherwise every single club, bar the biggest five or six in the world are selling clubs and it's a totally worthless description.

Over the last 20 years we have fairly rarely sold our better performing players to bigger teams for reasonable values. Consistently we've kept our better players to the point that they are then to be replaced or on the decline and they take a step sideways or down.

Who is there we've sold on to better clubs in the last 20 years? Shaka, Williams?, Gilkes?, Osborn, Taylor, Kitson, Doyle, Hunt, Sonko, Bikey, Shorey.

That's pretty much it, and we held out for extremely good prices, probably more than they were actually worth on the majority of those. Either that or there were other pressing reasons to get them off the books, like relegation and squad disruption. Which for me is fairly conclusive proof we aren't a selling club.

[PremAddict]

I think Bob's using the broader and therefore less useful (or more politely "philisophical") sense of the phrase "selling club". Even Arsene Wenger said Arsenal are a selling club but I don't think many would liken them to the League 1 sides that are more or less outsourced academies for larger C'ship and EPL clubs.

My more strict definition of "selling club" is an outfit that relies on identification, grooming, and selling talent as the primary purpose of the business.

[Hoop Blah]

Without knowing who's come in for our players in the past, and with what kind of bids, it's pretty difficult to say if we've been a selling club (by your definition Ian) or not.

Personally, until the 05/06 team I don't think we had much in the way of saleable assetts. Butler was probably the one that springs to mind as there was apparently some interest in him, but I don't think it ever turned into bids and then he went downhill so quickly it didn't matter.

All our other players were just steady journeymen that didn't really play for us at a time when they'd be seen as worth a punt (ie young and full of potential), or perform well enough to attract attention.

Whilst we were gaining promotion and then competing in the Premier League I'd agree we probably weren't a club that was willing to let our players go, mainly because we didn't fancy replacing them!

Who, before then, was a player we probably held onto despite clubs wanting to sign?

[BobKnows]

I think Bob's using the broader and therefore less useful (or more politely "philisophical") sense of the phrase "selling club". Even Arsene Wenger said Arsenal are a selling club but I don't think many would liken them to the League 1 sides that are more or less outsourced academies for larger C'ship and EPL clubs.

My more strict definition of "selling club" is an outfit that relies on identification, grooming, and selling talent as the primary purpose of the business.

By your stricter definition Reading are certainly a "selling club" and there is nothing wrong with that. But you are right that what I mean by a "selling club" is a club that will sell a player for profit, regardless of whether they are integral or important to the team - tbf most clubs only do this through financial necessity. However, I don't think we are that kind of club, and if we don't need to sell Sig, I don't think we will.

[Avon Royal]

Or so says the daily mail today..........

PSV Eindhoven target Reading star Gylfi Sigurdsson
By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 1:09 AM on 20th April 2010


Reading midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, 20, is a target for PSV Eindhoven but Royals manager Brian McDermott is desperate to keep the Iceland international who has scored 18 goals this season.

McDermott said: 'He is one of the biggest properties around. He will do well for Iceland and well in his career.'
McDermott has also joined the race for Peterborough striker Craig Mackail-Smith who is out of contract at the end of the season and the club's director of football Nicky Hammond has signed a new three-year contract, ending speculation he is to reunite with Steve Coppell at Bristol City.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1267359/PSV-Eindhoven-target-Reading-star-Gylfi-Sigurdsson.html#ixzz0lcW0aQlT

Got a feeling this is old news.

[Row Z Royal]

UR&G

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=97585&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

[loyalroyal4life]

Anyone think Mackail Smith will be a worthwhile purchase?