The Graduates

[Optimist]

http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDet ... 12,00.html

Six academy graduates signed pro contracts today. Michael Hector is the only one given two years, which clearly suggests the club agree with what Lawrie Sanchez said and they rate him very highly. Who do you reckon will be the next Pearce/Jem/HRK/etc and who will we never see?

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

Any reason why Santangelo hasn't signed?

[Optimist]

Apparently his contract expired last month but I can't find anything about him being released or having a renewal.

[TheRoyalJoe]

It will be interesting to see how Hector does, he has been tipped for big things.

[TheLawnMowerMan]

History shows that they have a slim chance of making it as a top flight player even after having achieved this much, although Hector does seem to be one of the pick of the crop.
Let's hope that at least a couple do make it into our Premier League squad in a few years time and that the rest at least have a decent career.

[Blakey's Right Peg]

Was Hector generally liked by Barnet fans?

Didn't he have a bust-up of some kind with one of his teammates? McLeod possibly?

[GreaterTorontoRoyal]

Any reason why Santangelo hasn't signed?

Aren't we allowed 3 players to return as overage players for the U18s? Or am I confused?
Maybe we've signed Henly and want to give Santangelo another year in the u18s?


Great to see a true Royals fan in Nick Arnold. Had a season ticket since before he was scouted.

[TheLawnMowerMan]

Any reason why Santangelo hasn't signed?

Let's hope he hasn't left - it appears he's a Swiss national. If that is correct do his folks still live there?
With any luck he's just taking a bit more time before signing up, although it is very difficult to break through at RFC as a goalkeeper at the moment. If we had the same strength in all positions it would be very very interesting.

[ZacNaloen]

Was Hector generally liked by Barnet fans?

Didn't he have a bust-up of some kind with one of his teammates? McLeod possibly?

Yeh cos he didn't think the guy was pulling his weight in a match iirc

[MouldyRoyal]

Was Hector generally liked by Barnet fans?

Didn't he have a bust-up of some kind with one of his teammates? McLeod possibly?

Yeh cos he didn't think the guy was pulling his weight in a match iirc

Barnet fans took Hector's side. He was very well liked by the fans. Worth noting he was played as a fullback and sometimes even as a holding midfielder despite being a CB by trade. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes to Portugal with the 1st team, and I also wouldn't be surprised if he's the fourth choice CB for next year (behind Pearce, Gorkss and another).

[SCIAG]

Partridge is a very good centre back. He and Hector are the two best centre backs we've produced since Pearce IMO.

Arnold is highly rated, but he's had serious injury problems. Hopefully he comes back as good as he was this time last year. Cummins really likes him.

Webb is functional, he knows his job and he does it, but our first team aren't playing like our youth teams yet so he might struggle to break in here, and other clubs might not want a player like him. Also, I think Liam Kelly is going to be a much better player.

I haven't seen much of Lossaso. We have an excellent record at developing young goalkeepers so Henly might well make it.

[Royal Ginger]

Lossaso's a name that's been thrown around a fair bit, i think he's another one that the club's fairly proud of. Don't forget we signed up Dominic Sammuel in December. I'm looking Looking forward to seeing how he gets on.

[maffff]

Partridge is a very good centre back. He and Hector are the two best centre backs we've produced since Pearce IMO0.

This time last year it was all about Jack Mills. These things change quickly.........

[If you still hate Futcher]

Was Arnold the RB for the development squad game against Woking last year - if so he was our best that night

[MouldyRoyal]

Partridge is a very good centre back. He and Hector are the two best centre backs we've produced since Pearce IMO0.

This time last year it was all about Jack Mills. These things change quickly.........

Indeed, if you remember Sigurdsson's breakthrough season, it looked in preseason like it was going to be Scott Davies' season! Scoring a freekick against Petr Cech. A year later he's playing for Crawley (and struggling to get in the team?). It changed v quickly for him.

[ZacNaloen]

Partridge is a very good centre back. He and Hector are the two best centre backs we've produced since Pearce IMO0.

This time last year it was all about Jack Mills. These things change quickly.........

Impressing the academy != Impressing in your league club loan. Clearly.

[pea]

Hector was highly rated by Barnet fans, his bust up with a teammate was him vocalising on the pitch what all their fans had been saying off it. Slightly naive but nothing he won't learn from.

I really rate Arnold, think he has a lot of potential and was unfortunate with injuries last year. Hope he gets a loan to a good club playing at a decent level this year

[SCIAG]

Partridge is a very good centre back. He and Hector are the two best centre backs we've produced since Pearce IMO0.

This time last year it was all about Jack Mills. These things change quickly.........

If you look at my posts a year or two ago then you'll see I was very pessimistic about Mills and MacDonald, whilst everyone was raving about our England u19 internationals (LOL @ Noel Blake) I was saying Hector was more likely to make it in the Football League. I was right about Mills, and whilst the jury is out on MacDonald I think he'll be gone in a year.

Arnold was indeed the right back against Woking.

[ZacNaloen]

SCIAG, out of interest are you a dedicated fan or do you have some other interest linking you to the club? You do seem to have had some insight to the academy over the years.

[winchester_royal]

From what I've heard the club are more excited about the 2 groups below these guys. Players like Tanner/Kuhl/Fosu-Henry are highly thought of.