So the dilemma is all Smith's then. Does he go to Sheffield Utd or hold on at Watford in the hope Rodgers comes in with an acceptable deal? I suppose it's only a year he has to wait until he becomes a free agent, but he is getting on a bit. There are other potential strikers/signings available at o...

Tony Le Mesmer Pearce's distribution is very poor. Skyward or into touch a vast majority of the time.

Doesn't possess a lot of pace either.

Barry the bird boggler

Brilliant--I'd forgotten about her!!

Gordons Cumming Have we definitely lost out on Smith?

May be that the player doesn't really want to go there and Sheff Utd seem keen to 'blow' the monies received from the Tevez affair as quickly as possible. They also seem keen on other strikers.
Could be an interesting few days ahead!

in last years team thats fine i think we may need to pay that premium just to get someone of smiths experience i know you can win stuff with kids, but the odd experienced head through the spine is definitely required IMO id be just about happy with 1.8 for smith in todays climate, and with our bulg...

The bid has come from Sheff Utd. Rodgers was very clear that he would get his man in the Post this morning so I guess we'll see just how keen we are. A more realistic bid/price in the current market considering his goals/assists last season. In my view 750K was a derisory offer but what can you exp...

The bid has come from Sheff Utd. Rodgers was very clear that he would get his man in the Post this morning so I guess we'll see just how keen we are. A more realistic bid/price in the current market considering his goals/assists last season. In my view 750K was a derisory offer but what can you exp...

1.8 million - at that price, no thanks.... Just under the mill at his age with a year lefton his contract is about the right money. And he's not an out and out goalscorer anyway.... Unfortunately, in todays's inflated market (blame Real Madrid), that is the sort of price you are going to have to pl...

Lack of investment in new players is one of the major factors in reading being relegated. IMO its not just one player we need to take in to strengthen the team after 2 full seasons we still have not replaced Sidwell. Didn't we break our club transfer record to replace Sidwell ? We've spent a fair a...

An excellent fee and whilst very sorry to see him go, I do think we had seen the best of him and in my view was never the same player since getting injured at Everton away. It just gallls me to see how much the likes of Wolves, Hull, Stoke and even Burnley are prepared tp spend or have spent to comp...

This thread seems to have gone completely off at a tangent and instead of speculation about New signings (surely UR&G's), is now talking about the merits and numbers of centre backs on our books, past and present! FWIW, as much as I rate Pearce, his lack of pace and distribution(unless it improv...

Hughie Cheetham!!! A club record signing for £25,000, I think. Yep, he was utter pants and touted as the 'second' Bryan Robson at the time. Ended up playing in the Reading Sunday League. You can add Roger Joslyn and Dave Shipperley Surprised some of Burns other misfits haven't been quoted: Mark Rei...

not another one of these threads............. But very valid points. If we had been a bit more ambitious over the past couple of years we would not have been relegated from the Premiership. Theres a diference between being prudent and running a tight ship and the need to be realistic in order to co...

Yes, and probably a few thousand others who have yet to renew their season tickets. What exactly are the clubs ambitions next season, to get promoted, reach the play offs, 'consolidate' or simply 'balance the books'? I am looking forward to seeing some of the youngsters progress but one musn't lose ...

Focher

Brilliant and very subtle this one!!

Again I'm stunned!! Ivar is only 31!!!!! No one battered a eye lid when Trevor Morley or Mickey Gooding were playing for us at 39!! Spot On!! Of all the players that we missed through injury last season, Ivar was the one we missed the most. A model of consistency and 110% PRO whose reading of the g...

Wycombe Royal Apparently, according to BBC Berks, Hammond has said that we shouldn't expect an appointment this week.

Thats right. According to the 'Oracle', Tim Dellor, an announcement will be made a week this Friday.
The suspense and speculation is me!!

--for those oldies amongst you, there is an excellent article about him in today's Mail. I remember his signing at the time--50k from Chelsea which was a real coup/bargain at the time. Tragically his career was cut short by injury, but he became a cult figure in the few games he played for Royals an...

To be honest to only sell 9000 season tickets to date is pretty woeful in my view despatch the lure of buying early in case of Premiership football. To me it highlights how many fickle/plastic/glory hunter fans we have. You only have to look at the likes of Norwich, Charlton, Sheff utd to see how ma...

Oh I do hope he stays. Doyle is not playing for next Rep of Ireland qualifying game due to a calf injury - I secretly hope this puts clubs off wanting to sign him. To be honest, as good a player as Doyle is (and has been for Royals), he has fired blanks for the last two seasons after xmas, so I wou...