Rumour - Alex Iwobi

Sutekh · by **Sutekh** » 23 Nov 2015 13:03

Charles Watts Reading have been linked with a possible move for young Arsenal attacker Alex Iwobi.

The 19-year-old starred during this summer’s Emirates Cup, scoring as the Gunners thumped Lyon 6-0.

He has gone on to make appearances this season in the Premier League, the Champions League and the Capital One Cup.

There are several clubs rumoured to be interested in signing Iwobi on loan and Royals had scouts watching him during a recent Under-21s match against Stoke.

Could he be on his way to the Mad Stad to help beef up the attack?

Pepe the Horseman · by **Pepe the Horseman** » 23 Nov 2015 13:04

No more loans.

genome · by **genome** » 23 Nov 2015 13:10

Pepe the Horseman No more loans.

Depends if we make a couple perm in January, surely?

CountryRoyal · by **CountryRoyal** » 23 Nov 2015 13:15

No thanks. I'd rather developed our own young players.

tidus_mi2 · by **tidus_mi2** » 23 Nov 2015 14:12

CountryRoyal No thanks. I'd rather developed our own young players.

Are any of our young strikers good enough? The only one who comes close right now is Samuel and he's just coming back from an injury.

Pepe the Horseman · by **Pepe the Horseman** » 23 Nov 2015 14:39

Liburd?

tidus_mi2 · by **tidus_mi2** » 23 Nov 2015 15:17

Pepe the Horseman Liburd?

Hmm maybe, I would prefer Clarke to blood our own youngsters but only if they're good enough, there must be something about Liburd for Clarke to keep him selected on the bench.

The only thing I can think of for this Iwobi guy is that he's listed as a winger/striker, perhaps it's a niche sort of striker Clarke is going for.

Nameless · by **Nameless** » 23 Nov 2015 15:23

Liburd is significantly better than Samuel, although Samuel is not bad. Novacovic is pretty useful as well although younger than those 2. So we're not badly off for young up and coming strikers.

tidus_mi2 · by **tidus_mi2** » 23 Nov 2015 15:28

Nameless Liburd is significantly better than Samuel, although Samuel is not bad. Novacovic is pretty useful as well although younger than those 2. So we're not badly off for young up and coming strikers.

Is he? If you watch the U21 matches then I guess you'd have a first hand experience of his abilities, that said, when he's been playing for the U21s, he's been an over-aged player in an age group where it will make a difference.

CountryRoyal · by **CountryRoyal** » 23 Nov 2015 15:31

tidus_mi2
CountryRoyal No thanks. I'd rather developed our own young players.

Are any of our young strikers good enough? The only one who comes close right now is Samuel and he's just coming back from an injury.

Based on what I've seen, which admittedly isn't extensive, I would say Iwobi is no better than Samuel and or Liburd. Not now anyway, and if he is, it will only potentially be marginally, in which case it wouldn't warrant his inclusion at the expense of the others imo.

To answer your question, maybe, but if they're not, this guy won't be the answer. I suspect Samuel will make a pretty decent championship striker, and if Nameless has seen Liburd play more than most of us and his judgement is to be respected, then that is even more impressive

JimmytheJim · by **JimmytheJim** » 23 Nov 2015 16:41

We don't need a new striker, or a new winger.

We are spoiled for choice as it is.

What we need is a manager who doesn't compensate for his lack of tactical nous by bringing in more and more strikers. If we're not careful we're going to end up like a bargain-basement QPR.

Sutekh · by **Sutekh** » 23 Nov 2015 17:48

JimmytheJim We don't need a new striker, or a new winger.

We are spoiled for choice as it is.

What we need is a manager who doesn't compensate for his lack of tactical nous by bringing in more and more strikers. If we're not careful we're going to end up like a bargain-basement QPR.

We need competition for Sa
We need a centre back
And looking at the current mess caused by injuries we need cover in midfield
Don't think Iwobi fills any of those holes

Nameless · by **Nameless** » 23 Nov 2015 18:06

I do watch the U21's so have seen Liburd play 4 times this season I think. Don't think the fact that he is a slightly overage player is of any relevance. He's usually up against centre backs at least as big as he is and most have been at Premiership academies for the last 10 years being intensively coached by top coaches whilst he has been out of the English coaching system.
He's got power and pace, decent technique, works hard, scores goals and combines well with other players (whereas Samuel to me is a bit of a lone wolf). Liburd is still developing and is not by any means the finished product but considering the route he has taken to get here I think he is quite a prospect and should be pushing the first team seriously before too long. Suspect he is on the bench a bit by default and a bit as a development exercise right now but would love to see us comfortably ahead in a game at half time and be able to give him a decent outing. He may not have the mental side of the game to be able to use his physical attributes but we'll only find out once he plays.
I have no idea about the Arsenal lad , if he is a superstar then fair enough but if not then I think finding out of Liburd can make the leap to the first team would be of more benefit than helping someone else's youngster train on.

Sutekh · by **Sutekh** » 24 Nov 2015 09:29

Nameless I do watch the U21's so have seen Liburd play 4 times this season I think. Don't think the fact that he is a slightly overage player is of any relevance. He's usually up against centre backs at least as big as he is and most have been at Premiership academies for the last 10 years being intensively coached by top coaches whilst he has been out of the English coaching system.
He's got power and pace, decent technique, works hard, scores goals and combines well with other players (whereas Samuel to me is a bit of a lone wolf). Liburd is still developing and is not by any means the finished product but considering the route he has taken to get here I think he is quite a prospect and should be pushing the first team seriously before too long. Suspect he is on the bench a bit by default and a bit as a development exercise right now but would love to see us comfortably ahead in a game at half time and be able to give him a decent outing. He may not have the mental side of the game to be able to use his physical attributes but we'll only find out once he plays.
I have no idea about the Arsenal lad , if he is a superstar then fair enough but if not then I think finding out of Liburd can make the leap to the first team would be of more benefit than helping someone else's youngster train on.

I think it's a bonus for a player to come to the game having been outside the English coaching system during his formative years. Usually they're much better for it.

UpThePrem · by **UpThePrem** » 07 Jan 2016 08:55

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/485760/Alex-Iwobi-Arsenal-Reading-loan-deal-transfer-news-gossip-deals-rumours-latest

Could be a very good replacement for Blackman albeit another loanee.

Edit - Just spotted the older thread on this. Feel free to merge.

Pepe the Horseman · by **Pepe the Horseman** » 07 Jan 2016 09:03

Charlo Watts recks no more loans.

Snowball136 · by **Snowball136** » 07 Jan 2016 09:40

Pepe the Horseman Charlo Watts recks no more loans.

But we might make some loanees permanent, send one or two back?

Royalwaster · by **Royalwaster** » 07 Jan 2016 10:00

Snowball136
Pepe the Horseman Charlo Watts recks no more loans.

But we might make some loanees permanent, send one or two back?

Not sure it's that easy ... only if parent club agrees to 'recall' loanee ....

Pepe the Horseman · by **Pepe the Horseman** » 07 Jan 2016 10:24

Also if Bri Bri has said no loans, it doesn't make much difference what happens with the current loanees.

genome · by **genome** » 07 Jan 2016 10:29

Get Reading running an article on this now, but doesn't say anything about it being a loan. what are the odds of it being a permanent move? Is he very highly rated by the Arse?