CONFIMRED - Modou Barrow

[Muskrat]

Well you've pretty much got in one there. Our last competitive game and we had three wingers on the bench, one came on after 74 minutes and the other two not at all, so I'm correct to say that Stam chose ( not refused as you said I said) to play them. We've now aquired two more who can play on the wings, so why do we need another? Plus he doesn't even look as good as the one's we've got already, so kinda pointless really

[Snowflake Royal]

Well you've pretty much got in one there. Our last competitive game and we had three wingers on the bench, one came on after 74 minutes and the other two not at all, so I'm correct to say that Stam chose ( not refused as you said I said) to play them. We've now aquired two more who can play on the wings, so why do we need another? Plus he doesn't even look as good as the one's we've got already, so kinda pointless really

It's pretty obvious that McCleary was unfit and carrying an injury for much of the latter stages of the season Stam changed up our shape to deal with the selection problems he had. And clearly it worked seeing as we had a strong end to the season. And he stuck with those changes in the final game. It wasn't the shape that failed us, it was a complete lack of doing what we'd done right in attack in the previous games that saw us winning them.

McCleary has a history of significant injury problems and Harriott has been out for a long time. He may not be back for a while, he may not be the same player when he returns. Popa is still relatively untested and Fosu has gone. Stacey hasn't looked that close to the first team. It's entirely sensible to buy a wide forward if we're going to play with them, and clearly that's still in the plans.

[Woodcote Royal]

+1

It beggars belief that anyone who watched us regularly in the last half of the season would suggest that we aren't crying out for some pace down the flanks and, whatever his other attributes, Barrow has this in abundance. How would you miss the fact that McCleary hasn't out paced a full back in months

And, as you say, Harriot, as much as I would love to see him make his mark, has been out long enough with a hamstring to place some doubt on his future.

If this isn't happening now, that's a shame because he looks a very decent player, especially at this level and that price.

[Sutekh]

Not sure whats happening on this one. As of this morning there's a rumour on vital football that Reading have cooled interest yet HITC and Planet Swans report last night that Reading are expecting to complete the signing. HITC also running Leeds fan's twitter comments about how they think Reading can't actually have seen him play....

[Norfolk Royal]

The Sun (I know) this morning says he's discussing personal terms with us.

[From Despair To Where?]

I'd take a consistent end product over searing pace any day of the week.

Glen Little didn't have pace but is the best winger I've ever seen in a Reading shirt. A drop of the shoulder or a deft touch gave him all the space he needed.

Our problem last season wasn't pace, it was urgency coupled with an inability to change the pace of an attack. Speed of thought rather than just speed.

[Norfolk Royal]

I'd take a consistent end product over searing pace any day of the week.

Glen Little didn't have pace but is the best winger I've ever seen in a Reading shirt. A drop of the shoulder or a deft touch gave him all the space he needed.

Our problem last season wasn't pace, it was urgency coupled with an inability to change the pace of an attack. Speed of thought rather than just speed.

It's a fair point but it would be nice to see any sort of speed compared to some of our slowcoach performances last season. Raw speed always carries some sort of threat no matter how inconsistent the end product is.

[Hound]

Not sure whats happening on this one. As of this morning there's a rumour on vital football that Reading have cooled interest yet HITC and Planet Swans report last night that Reading are expecting to complete the signing. HITC also running Leeds fan's twitter comments about how they think Reading can't actually have seen him play....

to be fair, the way Leeds played - i.e. just hoof it up to Wood and hope for the best - wasn't especially conducive to good wing play

I'd rather go with the 40 odd games he was picked for in the Prem

[From Despair To Where?]

I'm not dismissing raw pace as an asset and I do think it's ironic Leeds fans saying we can't have seen him play when he only started 1 game for them.

£1.25m-£1.5m for him would be good business IMO.

[CountryRoyal]

I would have suggested that our build up was slow because it was down to our players technical ability (or lacktherof) not being confident or accurate enough with the quick first time passes.

While there is an element of that, I'm now thinking that it didn't really help that our wingers aren't blessed with blistering pace. McCleary is no slouch but as others have eluded to he's hardly a speed merchant, he uses all of his abilities to be effective. Beerens on the other hand isn't quick and relies solely on skill to beat a man or even get that extra yard to put in a cross (speaking of, I thought our crossing last season was some of the worst I've seen considering the amount we put the ball into the box).

It was quite easy to defend against us in a lot of ways because the play was often in front of their defence, we didn't get in behind as much and to do that you need a certain type of player. Kermorgant for all of his qualities isn't going to be that guy, I thought Grabban might have been - but he was just shite.

If the wingers can push up at speed then that will stretch the defence leaving more room for our midfielders to push up and find space to work a pass or a shot.

[leon]

I'd take a consistent end product over searing pace any day of the week.

Glen Little didn't have pace but is the best winger I've ever seen in a Reading shirt. A drop of the shoulder or a deft touch gave him all the space he needed.

Our problem last season wasn't pace, it was urgency coupled with an inability to change the pace of an attack. Speed of thought rather than just speed.

But tbf that team he was in specialised in breaking very quickly and relentlessly, so we had a fair amount of pace all through the team.

[CountryRoyal]

Apparently Swans rejected bid of £1.25m, holding out for £1.5m.

[Snowflake Royal]

I'd take a consistent end product over searing pace any day of the week.

Glen Little didn't have pace but is the best winger I've ever seen in a Reading shirt. A drop of the shoulder or a deft touch gave him all the space he needed.

Our problem last season wasn't pace, it was urgency coupled with an inability to change the pace of an attack. Speed of thought rather than just speed.

But tbf that team he was in specialised in breaking very quickly and relentlessly, so we had a fair amount of pace all through the team.

This is where Harper was so under appreciated. He moved the ball through midfield and into dangerous places so effortlessly and with the minimum touches.

Just simple balls out wide to Murty, Shorey, Little and Convey where the opposition were weak and we could do damage.

There was no control, touch, look, roll it forward, touch, touch, dither, pass back, lump it. he just played it early where it needed to go for the best route forward eventually.

The players really need to be thinking two to three passes ahead like Chess. I'm passing to you so you have these options to move us forward. We didn't think ahead enough last year.

[bcubed]

I'd take a consistent end product over searing pace any day of the week.

Glen Little didn't have pace but is the best winger I've ever seen in a Reading shirt. A drop of the shoulder or a deft touch gave him all the space he needed.

Our problem last season wasn't pace, it was urgency coupled with an inability to change the pace of an attack. Speed of thought rather than just speed.

But tbf that team he was in specialised in breaking very quickly and relentlessly, so we had a fair amount of pace all through the team.

This is where Harper was so under appreciated. He moved the ball through midfield and into dangerous places so effortlessly and with the minimum touches.

Just simple balls out wide to Murty, Shorey, Little and Convey where the opposition were weak and we could do damage.

There was no control, touch, look, roll it forward, touch, touch, dither, pass back, lump it. he just played it early where it needed to go for the best route forward eventually.

The players really need to be thinking two to three passes ahead like Chess. I'm passing to you so you have these options to move us forward. We didn't think ahead enough last year.

Amen to that brother

[leon]

But tbf that team he was in specialised in breaking very quickly and relentlessly, so we had a fair amount of pace all through the team.

This is where Harper was so under appreciated. He moved the ball through midfield and into dangerous places so effortlessly and with the minimum touches.

Just simple balls out wide to Murty, Shorey, Little and Convey where the opposition were weak and we could do damage.

There was no control, touch, look, roll it forward, touch, touch, dither, pass back, lump it. he just played it early where it needed to go for the best route forward eventually.

The players really need to be thinking two to three passes ahead like Chess. I'm passing to you so you have these options to move us forward. We didn't think ahead enough last year.

Amen to that brother

Add in Sidwell's end to end dynamism and that was some midfield.

[Gus the teenage cow]

No, No, No, this guy is another Mass Sarr - an athlete but not a footballer.

We should not go higher than £2.5 million and if he signs he will have to learn to adapt to the rigid almost straight-jacket like tactictal structure imposed by Herr Stam curbing his innate African cavalier footballship....I think it's a match made in a stinky place for anything above £3 million

[From Despair To Where?]

Keep up, Gus. The fee is reportedly between £1.25m and £1.5m.

[tmesis]

No, No, No, this guy is another Mass Sarr - an athlete but not a footballer.

Mass Saar was an athlete?

The only thing he ran for was a burger van.

[Woodcote Royal]

Quite. Where do people get these insane ideas from

[CountryRoyal]

Alan Nixon reckons we're still in for him.