How we stack up against the opposition in terms of signings

[Uke]

I can't see the point in signing the likes of Litmanen, it's like Sunderland signing Andy Cole.

To broaden it slightly - and it's been longer coming than I expected - sooner or later football is going to hit the buffers in a very big way. When that happens, clubs which haven't lashed out stupid money will be the ones best able to cope in the brave new world.

People will look at a cost of their tickets, chairmen spending absurd sums of money on players they have literally never heard of who they know will leg it at the first opportunity for a few quid more, and join these things up and simply say they aren't going to put up with it any more, and just watch it on TV. But hang on a minute, what you see on TV has become so predictable that people start to switch off there at the same time. Big blocks of empty seats start becoming visible at all but a handful of grounds. Clubs further prostitute themselves to TV and start coralling the dwindling paying public into areas of the ground away from the side the cameras are on to give an impression of more atmosphere and excitement than is really there. Further pees off the paying public, which dwindles further. TV companies slash the payouts in the next contract, clubs are still committed to paying a million a year to players who can't even make the bench Etc etc

In this scenario, there will be clubs for which the penny drops first and I just wonder if Reading might be slightly ahead of the game.

Hooray!! This is almost word for word what I've been saying for the last year or 2.

Therefore it's a brilliant post!!

Good to see you back on the board BTW.

I agree it will implode at some point, at least outside of the global tourist attractions like Old Trafford, but it would be good if we can position RFC to be in touching distance of the top 10 when it does as opposed to alongside the likes of Norwich, Watford and Charlton is the second tier.

Is that possible though? I hope so!

Except its the clubs in 'touching distance' that are the ones chasing the 'dream/nightmare' and are the ones who will be hit hardest as they have further to fall

[Dai Brainbocs]

Cheers, I haven't been away, just seem to be expending less time and thought on football (rather on league football) recently, which itself I guess is symptomatic.

I move closer to this way of thinking with every month, and the transfer window always shifts me a bit further. It sets the alarm bells ringing when a club gets criticized for spending only 400K on a French Div 2 player, or on the other hand spends 2.5m on a player who proves not good enough to make the starting team. Fae's transfer fee alone must account for about a third of the ST revenue. I've never seen him play, but that's the point - I'm not bothered whether I do or not.

The whole thing is so predicated on TV money at a time when younger people are watching less and less TV while simultaneously being priced out of going to games.

I am starting to change my mind about the wisdom of an extension, because it strikes me that my family and I are exactly the market of occasional customers it would be aimed at attracting, but at around 100 quid for three to watch players we feel we have little stake in we probably wouldn't bother when two or three years ago we would have. The moment has passed, 24K might wind up the optimum capacity after all.

*dons flameproof suit and breathing gear*

[Hoop Blah]

I agree it will implode at some point, at least outside of the global tourist attractions like Old Trafford, but it would be good if we can position RFC to be in touching distance of the top 10 when it does as opposed to alongside the likes of Norwich, Watford and Charlton is the second tier.

Is that possible though? I hope so!

Except its the clubs in 'touching distance' that are the ones chasing the 'dream/nightmare' and are the ones who will be hit hardest as they have further to fall

I think Everton seem to be a well run club, and Blackburn too. I don't know what their finances are like but they don't seem to be setting themselves up for a big fall.

The likes of Pompey, Villa, West Ham and Sunderland all seem to be throwing money about like it's going out of fashion and I'd expect them to be hit harder if things start to crumble.

Then again, who is worst positioned, those teams who are living within their means or those that are throwing their sugerdaddies money about? You could argue that the likes of Villa have an advantage over us because they don't rely on the TV money as much as us because a big proportion of their expenses are picked up their loads'o'money benefactors.

[Stranded]

Pompey is an interesting case in point - they've spent big again in this window yet the bloke (Gaydamak?) who brought the club only 18 or so months ago has already put them up for sale. Whether that's a case that he feels he can't sustain them or just wants to cut and run whilst the going is good is anyones guess.

[Hoop Blah]

Pompey is an interesting case in point - they've spent big again in this window yet the bloke (Gaydamak?) who brought the club only 18 or so months ago has already put them up for sale. Whether that's a case that he feels he can't sustain them or just wants to cut and run whilst the going is good is anyones guess.

Haven't they denied that?

I can see why he would though. He's pumped quite a bit into the club and now he might see it as the perfect time to get out.

[Stranded]

I've not seen the denial's but it may have been.

They do seem quite keen to still try and push the Benjani deal through to balance the books at Pompey though according to BBC reports today, they've got the PL to investigate whether certain paperwork was sent on time so that they can get the money in.

[Hoop Blah]

I've not read any reports on anything today, too busy being a doom monger apparently, but I thought SSN last night were saying it was a rumour that they'd denied.

I probably misheard it.

[Arch]

A couple of things that puzzle me:

1. If Alfonso Alves is worth 12m, why is moving from Herenveen to Middlesborough?
2. Why does Ideal keep insisting that the only player we've signed is Kebe?
3. Litmanen?

[RoyalBlue]

But Kebe hardly comes with glowing references does he. A player who is prepared to go on strike to get what he wants, speaks little or no English, won't be up to speed at the top level in the French game let alone the English game and best of all he's carrying an injury and can't play at the moment. When we said we wanted a replacement for Little, we didn't mean in the sodding treatment room!

Big difference between him and Doyle is that IIRC Coppell saw Doyle play a few times before we signed him.

I thought it had been clarified that Kebe was actually injured with the hamstring strain he currently has rather than being on strike.

So why was he widely quoted in the media as stating that he had gone on strike and wouldn't play again unless they let him leave? Was he telling porkies? Or were the media making it all up? - in which case you would have expected his agent/lawyer to have acted quickly to correct things and protect his professional reputation.

If it was always down to the hamstring strain then that means his injury is longer term and more serious than has been suggested and that makes the decision to sign an injured right winger to replace/provide cover for another injured player even more bizarre!

[Royal Rother]

A couple of things that puzzle me:

1. If Alfonso Alves is worth 12m, why is moving from Herenveen to Middlesborough?
2. Why does Ideal keep insisting that the only player we've signed is Kebe?
3. Litmanen?

I suspect it will soon be ALOLfonso ALOLves, and LOLitmanen. And it's always been IdeaLOL.

[Alan Partridge]

A couple of things that puzzle me:

1. If Alfonso Alves is worth 12m, why is moving from Herenveen to Middlesborough?
2. Why does Ideal keep insisting that the only player we've signed is Kebe?
3. Litmanen?

I suspect it will soon be ALOLfonso ALOLves, and LOLitmanen. And it's always been IdeaLOL.

Transfer poLOLicy, CoppeLOLOL's warchest, next LOLeveLOL etc

[Wycombe Royal]

Here is a Sunderland fans view on this topic:

What does everyone make of our relegation rivals dealings and how does that leave the relegation battle looking?
In my opinion:

Derby have bought a new team but are too far adrift now to worry about. They may have enough, once they've all gelled, to pick up a few lucky points and to scrape enough to surpass 15 points.

Fulham have bought in a few. No one startling on paper, an unremarkable centre mid who wasn't starting for a midtable Bundesliga team, an untried and raw yank who's never played outside the MLS, a past it genius and his Finnish mate. They've bizarrely got rid of, in my opinion, one of their best players in Davis and are also becoming slightly adrift of 17th.

Birmingham have signed a few new attacking options. Zarate looked very decent and McFadden can do it in fits and starts but they haven't strengthened where they really needed to which is in defence. Schmitz and Jaidi are awful and they've got no back up for injuries. Missing out on Cahill was a big blow for them.

Bolton are oxf*rd in my opinion. Sold the only person who scores goals in their team and replaced him with a Championship plodder (copyright SMB PF forum). Bought a few half decent defenders but are going to struggle unless they draw every game 0-0, especially as Megson is determined to drain out any creativity or individual expression from the team. Peddling Wilhelmson and playing McCann instead of Campo is indicative of this.

Reading have managed to hang on to all their players and have signed a classy Czech centre mid as well as adding a couple of players to their painfully thin squad. Still shaky defensively but will easily have enough, at least at home, in my opinion.

I think Boro have done well to get Alves, although he's untried, and won't miss Woodgate too much if Wheater and Huth stay fit.

If I've missed anyone these teams have signed I'm sure you'll correct me but all in all we've come out of the window looking in a far healthier position than when we went into it.

Edit: forgot to do Wigan but I reckon they'll be alright.

[brendywendy]

A bit of a LOL at Sunderland signing Andy Reid for £4m, that must rate Hunt at around £6m.

I'm a bit disappointed Bolton got Raziak in time for tomorrow.

Do you think he will play?

If he had signed for us he might have got to warm the bench sometime in April!

have you had to reassess, and substitute "warm the bench" for "play in the reserves" now that marek seems to be close to? a start

[Alan Partridge]

A bit of a LOL at Sunderland signing Andy Reid for £4m, that must rate Hunt at around £6m.

I'm a bit disappointed Bolton got Raziak in time for tomorrow.

Do you think he will play?

If he had signed for us he might have got to warm the bench sometime in April!

have you had to reassess, and substitute "warm the bench" for "play in the reserves" now that marek seems to be close to? a start

Is it through choice or cicumstance?

The enforcer Gunnarsson is out, Fae in Africa and Cisse is having to play at the back because we have no one else. Yet Hunt has been preferred twice to play out of position than starting our new Czech. I really hope he plays tomorrow, its gonna be short on any quality and even if it's just for an hour, to watch a proper footballer play would be nice.

[BR2]

A couple of things that puzzle me:

1. If Alfonso Alves is worth 12m, why is moving from Herenveen to Middlesborough?
2. Why does Ideal keep insisting that the only player we've signed is Kebe?
3. Litmanen?

(1)Because 'Boro is the sort of club that sticks around in The Premier League and he is then in the shop window for other,bigger English clubs?
(2)He has probably forgotten about the other one because it was so long ago
(3)Litmanen-an interesting free transfer and a wonderful ball-player who has never relied upon pace.I saw him playing in the same Barcelona side as Rivaldo and Figo a few years ago at Stamford Bridge and he was the best player on the park.He never played enough at Liverpool to show his worth but with Bullard doing the running it could work for Fulham and in their current plight why not?
5years ago would you have said Sheringham?

[brendywendy]

A couple of things that puzzle me:

1. If Alfonso Alves is worth 12m, why is moving from Herenveen to Middlesborough?
2. Why does Ideal keep insisting that the only player we've signed is Kebe?
3. Litmanen?

great points

alves seems a good player, knowing nothing about him, and looking solely at the price tag, but your absolutely correct-herenveen? FFS-is that worse or better than being on loan in french division 2??
the reason he is going to boro is only the huge price they offered, but i, aswell as most others are unaware if anyone else was in for him

the doom mongers will say whatever they see fit to evoke a reaction
it was we will sign no one, then marek is signed, and it changed to we will sign no one else, or no one of quality
they said we need a winger, then kebe signs, and it all hes not good enough, he isnt a right winger-he only plays on both sides!

and litmanen:
this is the exact situation im so glad that RFC have refused to get involved with since having their fingers burnt with ferdi and keown.
a stupid rash signing of an over the hill big name, just to assuage the fans desperately howling for a transfer, get anyone in, as long as people have heard of him, at whatever the price

[Royal Rother]

Here is a Sunderland fans view on this topic:

Reading have managed to hang on to all their players and have signed a classy Czech centre mid as well as adding a couple of players to their painfully thin squad. Still shaky defensively but will easily have enough, at least at home, in my opinion.

Interesting and although not 100% accurate, FWIW, pleasing to see.

[Wycombe Royal]

Here is a Sunderland fans view on this topic:

Reading have managed to hang on to all their players and have signed a classy Czech centre mid as well as adding a couple of players to their painfully thin squad. Still shaky defensively but will easily have enough, at least at home, in my opinion.

Interesting and although not 100% accurate, FWIW, pleasing to see.

I think they were including Vasilev in the signings even though he signed in December and is in the acedemy team.

[BR2]

A bit of a LOL at Sunderland signing Andy Reid for £4m, that must rate Hunt at around £6m.

I'm a bit disappointed Bolton got Raziak in time for tomorrow.

What I find odd about that transfer is Keane's scattergun policy,i.e sign enough players and it might come right in the end,oh and they should be Irish or have a Man Utd connection.
What a contrast there is between Reid and Hunt.
One an overweight but very good passer of the ball.
The other fit and runs about a lot but a poor passer.
Presumably Keane was looking for a TYPE of player but in signing Reid he has gone for something completely different.
Personally I prefer Reid of the two as I prefer a passing game rather than hit 'n miss football but Keane doesn't seem to know what he wants.

Hopefully he doesn't have the last laugh on us.

[Stranded]

A couple of things that puzzle me:

1. If Alfonso Alves is worth 12m, why is moving from Herenveen to Middlesborough?
2. Why does Ideal keep insisting that the only player we've signed is Kebe?
3. Litmanen?

(1)Because 'Boro is the sort of club that sticks around in The Premier League and he is then in the shop window for other,bigger English clubs?
(2)He has probably forgotten about the other one because it was so long ago
(3)Litmanen-an interesting free transfer and a wonderful ball-player who has never relied upon pace.I saw him playing in the same Barcelona side as Rivaldo and Figo a few years ago at Stamford Bridge and he was the best player on the park.He never played enough at Liverpool to show his worth but with Bullard doing the running it could work for Fulham and in their current plight why not?
5years ago would you have said Sheringham?

Difference between Sheringham and Litmanen is that at 36 he was still playing fairly regularly.

Litmanen has managed around 10 games for Malmo since 2005 and has been without a club since June 2007.

Not saying he won't have any impact there but I'll be very surprised.