Long poll at the request of someone on UR&G

[ReadingGlasses]

If Joao stays then no. The team always seem to just use a single striker, and realistically if Joao is at the club then that's going to be him. Long would probably be on too high wages to just be a back up option on the bench, and in that case I'd rather see one of the players coming up from the youth team like Clarke take that role.

If Joao gets sold, then maybe. Puscas isn't any good as a lone striker, and although Meite could do a job there it would be better to have him out wide. I could see Long working as that holding striker, bringing other people in to play.

Seeing as it looks like the club wouldn't be able to invest any incoming transfer fee for Joao anyway, he'll probably stay this season and Long won't be needed.

[morganb]

What if our only options are Long or Wickham?

Long Wickham sounds like a setting in a Dennis Wheatley novel.

[blythspartan]

Sounds like like Lewis Grabban has become a free agent. So it could be Long, Wickham or Grabban.

[Snowflake Royal]

What if our only options are Long or Wickham?

Melvin-Lambert, Clarke and Ehibhatiomhan please.

[SCIAG]

This poll isn't very long.

[Zip]

What if our only options are Long or Wickham?

Then definitely Long. I think he can do a job for us next season but we have such a limited budget and have to be realistic.

[Snowflake Royal]

This poll isn't very long.

The middle option is pretty long

[SCIAG]

We need to put more faith in our Academy products. Sell Joao, Meite and Puscas, and bring in Long and Wickham to be our two strikers for the season.

[Millsy]

Some would lije [sic] it for sure, but I'm meh.

[Simon's Church]

What if our only options are Long or Wickham?

Melvin-Lambert, Clarke and Ehibhatiomhan please.

Would be nice, doesn't sound like any travelled with the first team for pre-season though

[Elm Park Kid]

Ian Royal

[AthleticoSpizz]

Ian Royal

Brogue, our unelected moderator (despite my dedicated support..should I remind him) has savagely banned the ‘Ian Royal’ option

[Loafer]

Anybodies who thinks is a bad signing is clearly not a real fan and never went in 2005/06 season.

He is a Reading modern day legend.

[Hound]

Was a bit meh tbh, but on seeing the general reaction and moving into the Good camp

He can definitely do a job. But obvs very short term but maybe that’s fine for now

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Was a bit meh tbh, but on seeing the general reaction and moving into the Good camp

He can definitely do a job. But obvs very short term but maybe that’s fine for now

this

[Lower West]

Anybodies who thinks is a bad signing is clearly not a real fan and never went in 2005/06 season.

He is a Reading modern day legend.

Winning teams are built over a number of seasons. Following RFC has become akin to watching an addictive gambler continually rolling the dice. Every summer has become a rebuild with fewer and fewer quality players left on the books. Question that needs answering is why Long is happy to come back here. Is the money better than anyone else is prepared to offer.

[Snowflake Royal]

I just don’t see him doing much better than something like 8(16) - 4

With the size of the squad, I think someone his age is risky, and we need players you can expect to be available and fit for 70 - 90 minutes across 30+ games in a season.

He's spent the last 6 years as a midtable PL bit part / substitute.

If he can stay fit and contribute, fine. He's certainly pleased a lot of people, and distracted them from our glaring weaknesses.

[Snowball]

When Jason Roberts came to Reading FC in 2012 (age 34 years-plus)
he had scored a mere 24 goals over 6 seasons for Premier League Blackburn

Subsequently it's surprising that he only scored 6 goals for Reading

2006–2012 Blackburn Rovers 134 (24)
2012–2014 Reading 28 (6)


Yet, almost every Reading fan knows he transformed the club

IF footballers look after themselves they can play into their late thirties. Ronaldo (37) at Man Utd, Tiago Silva at Chelsea (37) are just two examples

LONG's last four seasons.

301 Minutes 1 Goal

452 Minutes (2 Goals) Championship
201 Minutes 0 Goals (Prem)

1,397 Minutes, 2 goals, 3 assists

1,268 Minutes 5 goals, 2 assists

The last time I looked at stats for players dropping from the Prem to the Championship they more than doubled the goals per minute rate

3,167 Minutes (all bit-part) 8 Premiership Goals, 5 assists

That's a goal every 4 games, 36 minutes, or a Goal-Assist every 2 Games - 36 minutes

If he only matched his Premiership rate that's a ten goal season with 5-6 assist. I would be very happy with that. Injury-free he could be getting 15+ When he dropped to Bournemouth he got two goals in 452 minutes, 1 every 256 minutes. Not shabby

Seriously, what are we expecting? He has always run his socks off, is as brave as they come.

Barring any long-term injury,I would expect him to break 10 goals-5 assists next season

[leon]

Think he’ll score a few goals for us.

Could be a Quinn/Roberts signing.

Fcuk it why not. He’ll want to do well for us, no other fcuker in 10 years has wanted to so it’ll make a nice change.

[Royal Rother]

Think he’ll score a few goals for us.

Could be a Quinn/Roberts signing.

Fcuk it why not. He’ll want to do well for us, no other fcuker in 10 years has wanted to so it’ll make a nice change.

This.