SIGNED - Hope Akpan

[Lovely hot donuts!]

If this was one for the future then I wouldn't care but, from OS article, McDermott says: "He's 21 and is a player we feel can play at this level." Bullshit.

He also says: "We're delighted to get him and I know our fans will give him every support in his time here."
Well this forum seems to suggest otherwise!

[LoyalRoyalFan]

I to am disgusted at this signing

Oooooh, we've signed a player. How wrong of the management.

[melonhead]

yep. good work.
welcome to the club
dont mind the mongs

[crawleybackofthenet]

Well I'm pleased with this even if you lot aren't.

http://www.player.readingfc.co.uk/lates ... First-Half

Worth watching this if you have player.

Calm, confident and assured on the ball, strong, quick..

Looks to be everything we've been lacking in midfield this season.

Welcome Hope.

Sad to see Hope go, hopefully you paid a decent price. I believe we have a sell on clause as well.
Considering we got him for nothing though we're not complaining.

You've certainly got a good prospect and I see him continuing to improve with you.

He scores regular goals, and his distribution is good. Less good at tackling (think a young Paul Scholes) or marking (your first on Saturday)

If you wanted a song, would suggest -
"He can score goals, but he tackles like Scholes,
He's Hope Akpan, he can score goals"

Save this for when he scores, and swap the first line round when he inevitably gets booked/sent off.

Good luck for the rest of the season.

[winchester_royal]

If this was one for the future then I wouldn't care but, from OS article, McDermott says: "He's 21 and is a player we feel can play at this level." Bullshit.

How do you know it's bullshit?

[Royal91]

Apparently he played against us in the FA.

Shows how good he was NOT!!

[LoyalRoyalFan]

If this was one for the future then I wouldn't care but, from OS article, McDermott says: "He's 21 and is a player we feel can play at this level." Bullshit.

For goodness sake, talk about not giving the player a chance.

I forgot you were Chief Scout at Reading for many a year.

[Victor Meldrew]

I have just read that he has indicated that he would prefer to play for Nigeria rather than England.
Has the club taken into account African Nations Cups in the future?
Will the many scouse haters on here accept that we will now have 2 scousers on our books competing for a midfield slot?
With Akpan's disciplinary record expect a few fights.

[winchester_royal]

Apparently he played against us in the FA.

Shows how good he was NOT!!

Yeah, we dominated that game..

[CamberleyRoyal]

Sorry pieEater, if you look at the official pictures on the website you will see that he has stubble/a beard!
That is your man from earlier. They were at the hotel for long enough you could have come and checked yourself.

[Royals-lad14]

not exactly the 'premier league proven' player we are after, still got to give the guy a chance

[Blackbag]

Not moaning but what about all the premier league exprience we need i know its early days but jesus christ ! hope the next signing if their is one blows us out the water

[Woodcote Royal]

Can't wait to see what kind of crap the official RFC press officer can make up to make this sounds like we're showing intent of staying up etc etc.

I doubt they will have to apply too much effort to come up with something that's way beyond the comprehension of several muppets on this thread.

[SPARTA]

Cambers 2 HNA? 0

[Lovely hot donuts!]

If this was one for the future then I wouldn't care but, from OS article, McDermott says: "He's 21 and is a player we feel can play at this level." Bullshit.

How do you know it's bullshit?

Ok, I don't know it's bullshit BUT I do think it's unlikely a player could jump straight from League 1 to Premier League and to have confidence in it, rather than it just being a possibility, is bullshit.
Basically, I'll be quite miffed if McDermott decides to play him ahead of any of the other senior midfielders at the club.

[SPARTA]

Not moaning but what about all the premier league exprience we need

I'm surprised no-one else has asked that..

[NR_Royal]

"Brian McDermott's Royals emerged as 3-1 victors but he was so impressed by Akpan's performance that he has moved quickly to beat a number of Championship clubs to his signature, according to Sky Sports."

[LoyalRoyalFan]

If this was one for the future then I wouldn't care but, from OS article, McDermott says: "He's 21 and is a player we feel can play at this level." Bullshit.

How do you know it's bullshit?

Ok, I don't know it's bullshit BUT I do think it's unlikely a player could jump straight from League 1 to Premier League and to have confidence in it, rather than it just being a possibility, is bullshit.
Basically, I'll be quite miffed if McDermott decides to play him ahead of any of the other senior midfielders at the club.

.... because those SENIOR midfielders have done so much to stop us being joint bottom, haven't they?

[SPARTA]

He was the trialist who played the second half today.

[Royals-lad14]

"Brian McDermott's Royals emerged as 3-1 victors but he was so impressed by Akpan's performance that he has moved quickly to beat a number of Championship clubs to his signature, according to Sky Sports."