News and Views
Rafael Out, Moore Finished As Chaos Continues
17 January 2022
By Hob Nob Anyone?
The chaos continues at Reading after yet another disappointing weekend. Yet again, Reading dropped all three points despite leading 1-0 at Middlesbrough with just six minutes left on the clock. Reading remain three points outside of the bottom three but now only 8 points off the bottom of the table after Derby's great run of form continued. Meanwhile the club put out a surprise statement about defender Liam Moore wanting to leave the club. The statement didn't hold back and effectively implied the highly paid Moore is unlikely to play for the club again, as well as being immediately stripped of his captaincy.
The club statement also confirmed the club are fully supportive of manager Paunovic who is under huge pressure after recent humiliating results, including an FA Cup exit at Kidderminster and a 0-7 home trashing by Fulham. Paunovic has had a massively difficult job with injuries, financial difficulties and points deductions. His contract ends in the summer and the club feel it would make no financial sense to pay off a contract early when another manager is unlikely to have a major impact.
Although not unexpected, goalkeeper Rafael has agreed to terminate his contract with Reading and return to Brazil after dropping out of favour at the club. With Reading's injury list still causing huge problems the squad is now even smaller. Andy Carroll scored Reading's only goal at the weekend and it is not clear if that was his last performance in a Reading shirt - but it was likely it was. There is very little good news coming out of the club right now.
Discussion On This Story:
KC Royal
Starting to get a reminder of 2008 and a certain incident that was mentioned in The Secret Footballer book. I did some digging on here and posted in the SF thread, but i think said player wasn't actually injured at the time but was actually suspended for the month of March that season, and has basically distanced himself from the club ever since he left...
Zip
The problem is who will want him? His wages are far higher than his actual worth. Perhaps he can be loaned out for the rest of the season with some of his wages being picked up. No way anyone will pay £35k a week to cover his wages or even half that amount.
McDermolenko
He's off in the summer. Would rather we give it to McIntyre as he is more than likely to be here for the next couple of seasons. Maybe Laurent being the on field captain until McIntyre is fit.
TMac is barely ever fit.
What is more concerning than the next captaincy choice is that Liam was one of the very few players contracted beyond this season… Not that he is going to be a loss following this news but hardly ideal to lose yet another of our what, 8 or 9 contracted players?!
NathStPaul
He's off in the summer. Would rather we give it to McIntyre as he is more than likely to be here for the next couple of seasons. Maybe Laurent being the on field captain until McIntyre is fit.
TMac is barely ever fit.
Club captain's don't necessarily always have to be, its more about the message it sends out. Local boy being the captain of the club wins the supporters over. Trying to think about it from the owners perspective more than anything.
Pepe the Horseman
Fcuk him imo. If he's actively looking to move when we are deep in a relegation fight with a limited squad and after the amount of money we've paid him, then he deserves all he's going to get.
Yeh don't get me wrong, not in any way sticking up for Liam Moore, I can't wait for him to leave, just think the club are trying shift the blame away from Paunovic, and it seems to be working.
The Royal Forester
Trouble is with him going on loan is, we cannot replace him as he is still one of our players in the eyes of the EFL. Surely by stating he does not want to stay at the club he must be breaking his contract terms? If so surely we can rip up his contract and say goodbye to him? Serves him right if he can't find another club, or has to make do with a smaller pay packet.
NathStPaul
Fcuk him imo. If he's actively looking to move when we are deep in a relegation fight with a limited squad and after the amount of money we've paid him, then he deserves all he's going to get.
Yeh don't get me wrong, not in any way sticking up for Liam Moore, I can't wait for him to leave, just think the club are trying shift the blame away from Paunovic, and it seems to be working.
Yeah its a smart move. Like I just said to Zip, can see McIntyre getting the club captaincy in an attempt to get supporters back on side.
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