Confimred - Brandon Barker

[Mr Optimist]

His official squad photo

LOL!

For those of a certain age, the music from the Hamlet ads basically sums up the melancholy resigned feeling I have towards Reading FC at the moment.

[Hendo]

Only problem with this signing is that:

a) it's not a position we lack depth I think it is, tbh. We don't really have a pacey direct winger, apart from Meite and maybe Hoilett who are regularly available and have experience at this level. All the rest are inside forwards, such as Ovie, Ince and Hal
c) we should be very careful with signings because of our squad and financial limitations We would've had to get approval from EFL for this signing, so imagine that has been taken into consideration and he would be on a very small wage for a very small amount of time. Say he is on £5k/week, he is effectively on a 12 week contract, that is only a total of £60,000 - hardly going to break the bank.
b) it's clearly just a distraction from the manager question this is bollocks

Nothing to do with whether he's any good or not.

Whether he adds a slightly different style or not isn't the question imo. We have Meite, Hoilett, Ince, Azeez, Camara and Ejaria already. Plus we just handed Abrefa a debut there.

Six / seven players for two positions isn’t a lack of squad depth.

It isn’t going to break the bank and we got approval. That doesn't make it a good use of resources. Not spending the money could be more valuable. Or spending it where we are stretched (fullback, striker, centreback) more appropriate.

Well it should be, if he adds a different style, that has to be a positive as the current style isn't working at all.

Meite is only just coming back from a very serious injury, Hoilett is fine and a similar type of player, Ince isn't the same type of player, Azeez is constantly injured, Camara has only had a couple of cameos off the bench and is still very young, Ejaria is constantly injured and you wouldn't have him in your team anyway and Abrefa only just had his professional debut.

So I'd argue that we only have 1 or 2 players currently for 2 positions, Barker adds a third - this can only be a positive.

Maybe they've been trying to get a defender or another striker in as well, but there isn't anyone out there that is a) worth looking at or b) wanting the wage we can offer, we don't know. As it proved with this signing, things can come out of the blue without any rumours.

[leon]

His official squad photo

LOL!

For those of a certain age, the music from the Panama ads basically sums up the melancholy resigned feeling I have towards Reading FC at the moment.

Yep.

They should play air on a g string (phoooaaarrrhh) instead the god awful sweet caroline

[Snowflake Royal]

Excellent example of how we got in this position. Just keep signing players and ignore the ones we're paying for the same spot on the team sheet because you don't want to consider them.

[blythspartan]

I wasn’t overly enamoured by this signing but I did say on another thread that we haven’t had any direct pace in the team for a while now and a speedy winger would be good. We still need another experienced CB so, hopefully, we’ll be signing one soon.

[URZZZZ]

Excellent example of how we got in this position. Just keep signing players and ignore the ones we're paying for the same spot on the team sheet because you don't want to consider them.

The same players that have got us 8 defeats in a row?

Aside, the problem was mainly paying average players excessive wages. This is a 6 month contract on, presumably, a lower wage. World of difference

[Hendo]

Excellent example of how we got in this position. Just keep signing players and ignore the ones we're paying for the same spot on the team sheet because you don't want to consider them.

The same players that have got us 8 defeats in a row?

Aside, the problem was mainly paying average players excessive wages. This is a 6 month contract on, presumably, a lower wage. World of difference

Not even that, only 3 month contract up to the end of the season.

I'm really struggling to see how people are getting so angry with this.

[Stranded]

Excellent example of how we got in this position. Just keep signing players and ignore the ones we're paying for the same spot on the team sheet because you don't want to consider them.

The same players that have got us 8 defeats in a row?

Aside, the problem was mainly paying average players excessive wages. This is a 6 month contract on, presumably, a lower wage. World of difference

Won't even be 6 months - imagine it is a deal that will end on the 7th May - so less than 3 months.

It is absolutely not the type of deal that got us into the mess we are in - he appears to offer something we haven't got and many have been screaming out for - pace out wide. I can't imagine he is on any more than 2 to 3k per week either and takes a spot that we have in the squad. His wages will be about 10 to 15% of the saving made with Rafael hading back to Brazil. It's fine and if it works out, we may be able to offer him something more permanent in the summer. Remember we currently stand to lose Halliovic, Ejaria, Azeez, Ince, Camara who all play in that position, so this may have one eye on a more permanent recruitment in the summer.

[tidus_mi2]

Excellent example of how we got in this position. Just keep signing players and ignore the ones we're paying for the same spot on the team sheet because you don't want to consider them.

The same players that have got us 8 defeats in a row?

Aside, the problem was mainly paying average players excessive wages. This is a 6 month contract on, presumably, a lower wage. World of difference

Not even that, only 3 month contract up to the end of the season.

I'm really struggling to see how people are getting so angry with this.

Because it's Ian

[Stranded]

Excellent example of how we got in this position. Just keep signing players and ignore the ones we're paying for the same spot on the team sheet because you don't want to consider them.

The same players that have got us 8 defeats in a row?

Aside, the problem was mainly paying average players excessive wages. This is a 6 month contract on, presumably, a lower wage. World of difference

Not even that, only 3 month contract up to the end of the season.

I'm really struggling to see how people are getting so angry with this.

Mainly because people were expecting one specific announcement from the club and instead got Barker instead. It's just general anger rather than annoyance at one budget deal.

[Snowflake Royal]

The same players that have got us 8 defeats in a row?

Aside, the problem was mainly paying average players excessive wages. This is a 6 month contract on, presumably, a lower wage. World of difference

Not even that, only 3 month contract up to the end of the season.

I'm really struggling to see how people are getting so angry with this.

Because it's Ian

No one, me included, is angry about it. They're just questioning it's value and benefit.

[Stranded]

Not even that, only 3 month contract up to the end of the season.

I'm really struggling to see how people are getting so angry with this.

Because it's Ian

No one, me included, is angry about it. They're just questioning it's value and benefit.

Benefit will only be quantified at the end of the season but if he is involved in say 3 or 4 match winning moments then job done.

[Snowflake Royal]

Because it's Ian

No one, me included, is angry about it. They're just questioning it's value and benefit.

Benefit will only be quantified at the end of the season but if he is involved in say 3 or 4 match winning moments then job done.

True.

We all agree the best way to get winning moments is to replace Pauno tho. Even if it means replacing him with a tub of lard.

[Millsy]

Remember this is still Pauno's preseason because they had that little covid break, and it's normal to sign players in preseason.

[Stranded]

No one, me included, is angry about it. They're just questioning it's value and benefit.

Benefit will only be quantified at the end of the season but if he is involved in say 3 or 4 match winning moments then job done.

True.

We all agree the best way to get winning moments is to replace Pauno tho. Even if it means replacing him with a tub of lard.

Absolutely but it looks unlikely that will happen. Not even convinced a heavy defeat tonight would see the trigger pulled - unless there is going to be something random happen tonight and he isn't even there.

In that case, the only way to get out of this is to try something different - the signing of Barker may be part of that.

Or it may just be 30k wasted on an inevitable slide to League 1 - however, the thought of a marauding Meite on one wing and pure pace on the other feels like it could offer a path out of this. If we stop letting in 3 goals a game.

[Snowflake Royal]

Benefit will only be quantified at the end of the season but if he is involved in say 3 or 4 match winning moments then job done.

True.

We all agree the best way to get winning moments is to replace Pauno tho. Even if it means replacing him with a tub of lard.

Absolutely but it looks unlikely that will happen. Not even convinced a heavy defeat tonight would see the trigger pulled - unless there is going to be something random happen tonight and he isn't even there.

In that case, the only way to get out of this is to try something different - the signing of Barker may be part of that.

Or it may just be 30k wasted on an inevitable slide to League 1 - however, the thought of a marauding Meite on one wing and pure pace on the other feels like it could offer a path out of this. If we stop letting in 3 goals a game.

That's the problem isn’t it. Stopping conceding. And that requires a change to our whole approach in defending from GK to midfield.

[Hound]

Benefit will only be quantified at the end of the season but if he is involved in say 3 or 4 match winning moments then job done.

True.

We all agree the best way to get winning moments is to replace Pauno tho. Even if it means replacing him with a tub of lard.

Absolutely but it looks unlikely that will happen. Not even convinced a heavy defeat tonight would see the trigger pulled - unless there is going to be something random happen tonight and he isn't even there.

In that case, the only way to get out of this is to try something different - the signing of Barker may be part of that.

Or it may just be 30k wasted on an inevitable slide to League 1 - however, the thought of a marauding Meite on one wing and pure pace on the other feels like it could offer a path out of this. If we stop letting in 3 goals a game.

surely we aren't going to bin off Ince after a couple of games and a couple of assists? Possibly could see Ince replace Swift at number 10

I think Barker will be plan b at best - start on the bench and throw him on when we are inevitably losing (prob after 86 mins knowing Pauno)

[Ascotexgunner]

Excellent example of how we got in this position. Just keep signing players and ignore the ones we're paying for the same spot on the team sheet because you don't want to consider them.

Its as if we are still basing the club on Ron Gourley's Chelsea model.
Keep pissing money up the wall and you will start winning stuff......

[Stranded]

True.

We all agree the best way to get winning moments is to replace Pauno tho. Even if it means replacing him with a tub of lard.

Absolutely but it looks unlikely that will happen. Not even convinced a heavy defeat tonight would see the trigger pulled - unless there is going to be something random happen tonight and he isn't even there.

In that case, the only way to get out of this is to try something different - the signing of Barker may be part of that.

Or it may just be 30k wasted on an inevitable slide to League 1 - however, the thought of a marauding Meite on one wing and pure pace on the other feels like it could offer a path out of this. If we stop letting in 3 goals a game.

surely we aren't going to bin off Ince after a couple of games and a couple of assists? Possibly could see Ince replace Swift at number 10

I think Barker will be plan b at best - start on the bench and throw him on when we are inevitably losing (prob after 86 mins knowing Pauno)

I doubt it, he's looked ok. No doubt Barker will start on the bench on Saturday (assume he isn't eligible for tonight) and come on with 25 or so to go if the game allows.

With Hoilett suspended tonight we could see Ince shift across to the left and Meite start - or we may see a total shift in formation - hard to tell but might as well try anything now.

[Hound]

Meite looked proper knackered after about 15m on Saturday. I'm not sure he is fit to start on a heavy pitch tbh

But do agree he'd be the best option alongside Swift and Ince if so.

honestly, when you write these names out - Swift, Joao, Meite, Ince, Hoilett etc - still find it hard to believe we are where we are. Barker himself kept mentioning it in his interview