January Window

[Hoop Blah]

WTF????? Does anyone actually think Pog was McDermott's choice?

Indeed. And to some degree we were trying to play to Guthrie's strengths (or at least make him a focal point of our system) earlier in the season without particularly great success.

Also people now seem to be taking as gospel that Guthrie wasn't actually carrying an injury but has been ostracised for a month when that's nothing more than speculation.

Agree completely. The HNA? "narrative" has veered well away from the reality, as usual.

As opposed to the Dirk narrative and agenda that Zingaravich & TSI must be bad you mean?

Vision, like Wilshire said recently about himself, Guthrie seems to have become a better player during his spell out of the side! I don't think it's fair to say we played to his strengths though. McDermott tried to play him as a number 10 in most of his games and that just isn't his position. We saw with Brian Howard how that doesn't suit some midfielders just because they're players who like to pass the ball. You do also need players willing and able to pass the ball to make it work. I don't think we've got that quite right to be honest.

[Ian Royal]

I saw a Floyd rant earlier saying that's it's not likely Reading will splash the cash in January.....so like the way Reading play, don't expect too much movement.

So what you're saying is basically we have bottled it when it comes to making a big decision that affects our PL status again? Don't know why we even bothered giving Anton the club if he is just going to spend as SJM did.

Last time:

Fae (3 odd millon)
Rosenior (swap)
Marek (probably 2 million or short of 3)
Kebe (probably between half and 1 million)

This time

Pog (free)
Guthrie (free)
Gunter (2.5)
Shorey (free)
Mariappa (2.5-3)

Probably not a lot in it and tbh it wouldn't surprise me if we sign players from the Russian division 2 or something like that.

forgot mcleary from one list, and have used two transfer windows in another & not included wages in either
and comparing 1 1st season in the prem, with 1 second season in the prem.


the true comparison is:

last time:
seol ky hyun - 1M+ wages

this time:
Pog (free)+Big wages+signing on fee
Guthrie (free)+wages
Gunter (2.5)+wages
Shorey (free)+wages
Mariappa (2.5-3)+wages
Mcleary(free) +wages

You forgot Sodje - ~£250k, Mate (loan), Bikey (loan), possibly Andersen ~£100k. And probably a bunch of other turd that was only ever going to fill out the reserves or fairly expensive (for youth team) youngsters to develop.

[gazzer, loyal royal]

We will be going in for long if Antons old man stumps up some cash

[akranes]

We will be going in for long if Antons old man stumps up some cash

Why would WBA even consider selling him?

[gazzer, loyal royal]

We will be going in for long if Antons old man stumps up some cash

Why would WBA even consider selling him?

Where did I say they would? I just said we will be trying to get him back if we get the money to

[Royal Monk]

Where do you get your info from ??? there is no way we will be going in for Long who is playing in a current top 5 team

Get a grip you pleb

[Unknown]

Realistic
Darren Bent - not getting a game at Villa and would definitely get 7+ goals after Jan
Cudiccini OR Gomez - Both goal keepers at Spurs not getting any game time at all and are solid at PL level
Huddlestone - Solid CM
Roger Johnson - experienced from Wolves - CB
Dawson - Solid CB

Unrealistc
Gylfi - On loan.
Sidwell - We need this type of centre midfielder atm. Attacking, creative but can also defend

(Alot of Tottenham players I know)

[Ian Royal]

We will be going in for long if Antons old man stumps up some cash

Why would WBA even consider selling him?

Where did I say they would? I just said we will be trying to get him back if we get the money to

Seems like a pointless waste to me. Especially seeing as we should be focusing on central midfield and quite probably right back as well as bigger priorities.

[Mike Hunt]

Where do you get your info from ??? there is no way we will be going in for Long who is playing in a current top 5 team

Get a grip you pleb

gazza is solid dude.

But still, there is 0 chance. I do think he would want to come back, but it would take at least double what they paid for him.

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

leroy fer could be worth a shot. young dutch midfielder who has played at the international level and is bagging goals for fc twente.

[sputnik]

Roger Johnson - experienced from Wolves - CB

Experienced in the business of getting relegated from the Premier League.

[paultheroyal]

Charlie Austin
Alan Judge

It's the Reading way.

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

Jordan Rhodes seems to be adapting to the championship well...13 goals now.

[GSY-Royal]

Charlie Austin
Alan Judge

It's the Reading way.

Judge is the sort of attacking midfielder people on here have been screaming out for. Exactly the type of player we'll go in for, the bigger names cost far too much, especially in January when prices are always inflated.

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

Charlie Austin
Alan Judge

It's the Reading way.

Judge is the sort of attacking midfielder people on here have been screaming out for. Exactly the type of player we'll go in for, the bigger names cost far too much, especially in January when prices are always inflated.

would have been a good signing if we were still in the championship, but asking him to make the step up to the premier league from league one is a lot to ask. same situation with rhodes basically.

[JordCot]

Not sure how viable but I would love to see Dorrans, he never seems to consistently get games for WBA and on his day has real quality. Works well behind a striker but possibly more as a 451 rather than 4411 which would help with our ball retention.

Its a shame Redknapp is the one who has come in and is favouring the hard working players because another month or so of Hughes and we might have been able to get Mackie who is the type of player you need in a relagation fight

[marcusopp]

Jordan Rhodes seems to be adapting to the championship well...13 goals now.

Meaning his value is now beyond us. Anyway, our problems lay in the midfield. We've already got 4 senior strikers in our squad who have all scored at this level (albeit Roberts not for us, yet).
We really miss Karacan's work rate, and Legs needs cover too, so a center mid will do. Someone like Kalifa Cisse, but better!

[REMTARDROYAL]

Realistic
Darren Bent - not getting a game at Villa and would definitely get 7+ goals after Jan

yeah, start with the really realistic one

[Extended-Phenotype]

Why are people so keen to blow what little budget we will have on strikers? As far as I can tell, scoring isn't our problem.

A nice bonus would be a striker, but not before we've snared some quality in defence and midfield.

[Ian Royal]

Why are people so keen to blow what little budget we will have on strikers? As far as I can tell, scoring isn't our problem.

A nice bonus would be a striker, but not before we've snared some quality in defence and midfield.

because the only measure of quality they can really appreciate is scoring goals and they don't fully understand football?