Rumour - Roberts to Swindon as player / coach

[The Rouge]

I have a strange view compared to the masses i think.

I think in the promotion season, he had some good moments but his contribution was largely flattered. His cameo involvment last season I was quite impressed with and it made me see him differently. It was a real shame he got injured. It is not like he is 40, if he can get fit I think he can contribute and contribute a lot.

[urz13]

If he can get fit, he'll be useful. His performance vs Arsenal last season in the 7-5 game was nothing short of exceptional and we fell apart when he went off. He can still play a part, I'm sure

[southbank1871]

Roberts has been a waste of space for a year and is now far too old and far to injured. He should not have been given a squad number. He says all the right things whilst sucking £20,000 a week out of RFC when he knows it is just his pension. Of course, we can't get rid of him - that would suddenly become racism!

How do people like you function in life when you're that thick?

[Lacoste]

Please god let this be true.

[ayjaydee]

Has anyone considered that there is the teensiest possibility that football clubs have something called insurance and that the drain on the clubs resources may be nothing like the figures quoted on here? No, thought not.

[peterroyal76]

Has anyone considered that there is the teensiest possibility that football clubs have something called insurance and that the drain on the clubs resources may be nothing like the figures quoted on here? No, thought not.

There's no place on here for rational arguments!

[Fox Talbot]

Has anyone considered that there is the teensiest possibility that football clubs have something called insurance and that the drain on the clubs resources may be nothing like the figures quoted on here? No, thought not.

Funnily enough I was just about to ask this. It might be in the club's interest he never plays again and we claim a refund from whoever.

Although I have absolutely no idea what risks the club can insure against. NA said at the Fans Forum JR was starting to run again but I didn't get the sense of bated breath.

[Royal Ginger]

Why didn't the club put a clause in the clause that allowed him to extend his contract stating he could only do so if he wasn't injured.

Club have oxf*rd up on this one IMO

HR rules still apply. Fast track to tribunal if an illness/disability are the reason for a termination.

And what HR rules would those be? Some a bloke down the pub told you?! There are times when the law is an ass but it's not mad enough to insist that an employer continue to employ someone who is fundamentally incapable of performing a job that they were employed to do. Otherwise we might all be dodging blind bus drivers! An employer is expected to make reasonable adjustments if that would help the employee to undertake his/her job but I'm not sure allowing Roberts to take to the pitch in a wheel chair could be regarded as 'reasonable'!

No, the ones that I use at work. Whilst it's true an occ health referral may allow for an enforced medical retirement, this is extremely difficult if a doctor says that there's a good chance he'll be fit again. Even your blind bus driver will most likely be able to sit there and sup up the sick pay for months on end whilst the process drags on. The point i was making was that dismissal on the grounds of illness or disability would never get into a contract as was suggested should have been done above.

[Broxroyal]

More to the point: - I wonder what the clause in his contract was that said he could invoke another year when we all thought he had finished. I guess we'll never know.
I'm not in favour of terminating someone's contract just because they are injured - we should look after them. Equally, I'm not in favour of extending a contract for someone who wasn't able to offer much last season and probably can't do much this.

[loyalroyal4life]

No big loss, more of a gain to be honest

[Gav]

Has anyone considered that there is the teensiest possibility that football clubs have something called insurance and that the drain on the clubs resources may be nothing like the figures quoted on here? No, thought not.

It might be in the club's interest he never plays again and we claim a refund from whoever.

There goes the no claims bonus...

[Rollerbob]

I'd love this to happen. Don't rate him at all.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I can't believe people don't rate him, he shat all over Arsenal in the cup last season. It's one thing to want him off the books because of his injury, but to not rate him when fit is bizarre.

[dogzbollox]

I don't care whether Roberts plays again or not, I want him to leave because I simply dont like him or what he says.

What wonderful considered and balanced reasoning - you must be a 'proper' Reading FC supporter huh? ...makes me wonder why I don't 'casually browse' this site as often as I used to...

[Platypuss]

Standard Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Lacoste wumming attempt - nothing to see here.

[FridaysGhost]

If the Jason Roberts of four years ago suddenly appeared in the next few weeks and transformed our Forward options, no-one would be more happy than me. If the Robin Friday of many years ago suddenly appeared in the next few weeks and transformed our Forward options, I would be ecstatic. The first situation is as likely as the second and - Robin Friday died a long time ago.

Given our current formation and our current forwards, it is difficult to pick out Championship teams who have a worst attack than we do! If we got rid of The Pog and Roberts and replaced them with Rhodes and Austin (now too late), which RFC Fan would object! Also, if our scouting system is now so good, why haven't we already brought in a decent Striker?

[scumbag]

If the Jason Roberts of four years ago suddenly appeared in the next few weeks and transformed our Forward options, no-one would be more happy than me. If the Robin Friday of many years ago suddenly appeared in the next few weeks and transformed our Forward options, I would be ecstatic. The first situation is as likely as the second and - Robin Friday died a long time ago.

Given our current formation and our current forwards, it is difficult to pick out Championship teams who have a worst attack than we do! If we got rid of The Pog and Roberts and replaced them with Rhodes and Austin (now too late), which RFC Fan would object! Also, if our scouting system is now so good, why haven't we already brought in a decent Striker?

oxf*rd off you tiresome oxf*rd, we all know we need a oxf*rd striker stop being a consistent bell-end on this forum.

[St. Brynjar]

Can't believe all the Roberts hate. Without him we would have had no chance of promotion. When he played last season he was our best striker. Unlike Le Fondre and Pogrebnyak, he can actually do things with a football. I'd love to see him in our 4-2-3-1 system.

[glass half full]

I suspect that Roberts is as frustrated as anybody at his inability to be fit to play.

I am, however, willing to believe that he has a lot of positives to offer as a non-player.

[sandman]

Can't believe all the Roberts hate. Without him we would have had no chance of promotion. When he played last season he was our best striker. Unlike Le Fondre and Pogrebnyak, he can actually do things with a football. I'd love to see him in our 4-2-3-1 system.

It's because he stands up for what he believes in which is never popular on HNA?.