Long to WBA

[roadrunner]

I'm sure he'd love that

Allegedly so.

[YateleyRoyal]

http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2011 ... id-101296/

West Brom will reportedly step up their efforts to sign Reading striker Shane Long this summer, according to reports.



Baggies chief Roy Hodgson is desperate to bolster his forward line in the transfer window and has been heavily linked with a swoop for the 24-year-old Republic of Ireland international hitman, who has been told he can leave the Madejski Stadium if a club matches their £8million valuation.

However, with Albion only looking to offer around £5million it seems they will struggle to entice the Royals to part with their prized asset.

A possible alternative for Hodgson would be to go for Long's fellow Ireland international striker Robbie Keane, who is set to be made available by Spurs chief Harry Redknapp as he looks to bring in funds for his own team strengthening.


Complete LOL at the notion that Long is worth more than Keane....

[roadrunner]

'greed, and I'd snap their hand off for £5-6m and Cox.

[Royal Rother]

Complete LOL at the notion that Long is worth more than Keane....

The (non RFC) Irish supporters I know would far rather have Long in their team than Keane.

[BR2]

I'm sure he'd love that

Allegedly so.

You must have heard the same rumour as me.

[RobRoyal]

Complete LOL at the notion that Long is worth more than Keane....

Er... Keane is 31 m8. Not many players at that age command big fees because naturally their performance level will drop off over the years and they have little or no resale value. I think you're LOLing at most of the football community there.

[YateleyRoyal]

Complete LOL at the notion that Long is worth more than Keane....

Er... Keane is 31 m8. Not many players at that age command big fees because naturally their performance level will drop off over the years and they have little or no resale value. I think you're LOLing at most of the football community there.

Umm, Keane is a proven Premier League and international striker, with very good records in both. I would rate Keane at about £5million at this stage of the game, and I dont think that one good season in the second tier would mean Long is worth more than that.

[Royalwaster]

It's about potential - you sign Keane on a 3 year deal and you have a 34 year old on your hands in 3 years time, whereas with Long you'd expect to have an even better player than you have now, who you might be able to sell on for more than you paid for ... that is if you think he did well because of innate skills and it was not just luck.

[YateleyRoyal]

It's about potential - you sign Keane on a 3 year deal and you have a 34 year old on your hands in 3 years time, whereas with Long you'd expect to have an even better player than you have now, who you might be able to sell on for more than you paid for ... that is if you think he did well because of innate skills and it was not just luck.

At this moment in time, I would rather pay £5mil for Keane and get at least two good years of service from a top player, who may possibly tail off at the end. If you pay the same amount for Long, you have a player who has no track record at the top level and has only just formed one in the second tier. Granted, he may not have had the chances to prove himself blah blah blah but surely if he had the natural skills he would have forced himself into the reckoning a lot sooner than now.

The way I see it, Long was always a reserve striker and only became first choice after the club lost Doyle and couldnt afford a replacement.

[roadrunner]

Thing is with Keane he's more than just a striker, his eye for a pass and his movement are superb. It seems to have gone a bit wrong since his ill-fated move to Liverpool where IMO they gave up on him far too quickly, but he would more than compliment a middle of the road Premiership side.

[Royal Rother]

Keane is as near as dammit finished. Lazy, slow, past it.

Forget him.

[brendywendy]

Thing is with Keane he's more than just a striker, his eye for a pass and his movement are superb. It seems to have gone a bit wrong since his ill-fated move to Liverpool where IMO they gave up on him far too quickly, but he would more than compliment a middle of the road Premiership side.

i hate him

[roadrunner]

Keane is as near as dammit finished. Lazy, slow, past it.

Forget him.

He's never had pace and never needed it. He's a clever player, picks out a pass and weighs in with some important goals.

[Royal Rother]

He was very decent for 2 or 3 years, but not any more.

Over-rated and overpaid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tw58Te7hkU

[Royal Lady]

How long left on Long's contract? Will he sign an extension - would we still get £8 million for Long at end of season if he's not firing them in like he did last season? RFC could have shot themselves in the foot with the £8 million tag - unless Longy is actually quite happy to stay here and isn't *that* bothered about going to a Premiership side....

[brendywendy]

but we dont really want him to go, hence why the price is so high, shirley?

[Royal Lady]

I suppose so. I really just assumed that his crying at the end of the PO final was more to do with him knowing he was leaving the club - which I took to mean he didn't 100% want to go.

[brendywendy]

yeah i guess.

thanks shirley

[Wycombe Royal]

I suppose so. I really just assumed that his crying at the end of the PO final was more to do with him knowing he was leaving the club - which I took to mean he didn't 100% want to go.

I would guess that he is sitting somewhere in the middle. He knows that now is probably the right time to further his career in the top flight, but on the other hand he loves it at RFC and feels part of the furniture almost. He doesn't strike as one to move solely for the money but he knows that he can play at a higher level and acheive more than he is doing right now.

[tee peg]

I suppose so. I really just assumed that his crying at the end of the PO final was more to do with him knowing he was leaving the club - which I took to mean he didn't 100% want to go.

I would guess that he is sitting somewhere in the middle. He knows that now is probably the right time to further his career in the top flight, but on the other hand he loves it at RFC and feels part of the furniture almost. He doesn't strike as one to move solely for the money but he knows that he can play at a higher level and acheive more than he is doing right now.

well put.