Rumour: Kevin Phillips on loan

[Svlad Cjelli]

I can't understand why anyone could be in favour of this - a few years ago, maybe, but he's now 37 and has managed to complete 1 90 minutes in the past year.

We want young, hungry players with something to prove, not people with nothing to prove who want a nice quiet place to end their careers.

People get old and past it - move on!

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

He'll probably go to Burnley as well !!!...any player with a pulse is going there according to the various media .....obv they just missed out on Darren Bent

[Snowball]

I can't understand why anyone could be in favour of this - a few years ago, maybe, but he's now 37 and has managed to complete 1 90 minutes in the past year.

We want young, hungry players with something to prove, not people with nothing to prove who want a nice quiet place to end their careers.

People get old and past it - move on!

Agreed: We want young, hungry players with something to prove, not people with nothing to prove who want a nice quiet place to end their careers.


I don't dispute he MIGHT be the man to get us up
but I would seriously wonder whether ethos-wise he'd
be right at this time.

[Hoop Blah]

I'm amazed at the negativity on this thread!

Phillips is a poacher, someone who's scored most of his goals on instinct and a cool head for finishing. He's the exact opposite of all our current forwards and could offer that genuine quality infront of goal that we've been crying out for.

If we bring him in then, like the benefit of the doubt we're supposed to give to McDermott for signing 'young and hungry' players (they aren't all hungry, many of the young players are wasters and think they've made it already when they get in our side/squad) I'd give McDermott credit for sussing his attitude out and making the right judgement.

If we can afford him and McDermott is happy with his fitness and attitude I think he'd be an excellent addition.

[Royal_Delight]

tbh, and I'm not kidding here. I would love for Pires and Phillips to sign for us next season. I believe that they would add a whole new dimension to the team. A mixture of experienced pros and up and coming stars... I LIKE IT!

[andrew1957]

No chance of this happening if we are buying Manset.

[Svlad Cjelli]

There's experienced and there's past it.

I'm not sure everyone can make the distinction.

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

tbh, and I'm not kidding here. I would love for Pires and Phillips to sign for us next season. I believe that they would add a whole new dimension to the team. A mixture of experienced pros and up and coming stars... I LIKE IT!

.......they'll be going to Burnley

[Hoop Blah]

There's experienced and there's past it.

I'm not sure everyone can make the distinction.

In the same way as there is young and full of potential with a likelihood to fulfil it, and young and relatively shit? All over this board we're told, if we express a negative sentiment over a player, to trust the manager and give th player a chance etc etc.

If it was the last 10 minutes of the play off final who would you rather the ball dropped to 15 yards out with a couple of onrushing defenders? Kevin Phillips or Brett Williams?

He might not be up to 90 minutes of cut and thrust Championship football a couple of times a week but I bet he's still in good enough shape to have a positive impact during the run in.

[Hampshire Royal]

I'm amazed at the negativity on this thread!

Phillips is a poacher, someone who's scored most of his goals on instinct and a cool head for finishing. He's the exact opposite of all our current forwards and could offer that genuine quality infront of goal that we've been crying out for.

If we bring him in then, like the benefit of the doubt we're supposed to give to McDermott for signing 'young and hungry' players (they aren't all hungry, many of the young players are wasters and think they've made it already when they get in our side/squad) I'd give McDermott credit for sussing his attitude out and making the right judgement.

If we can afford him and McDermott is happy with his fitness and attitude I think he'd be an excellent addition.

Who's that then?

[Hoop Blah]

In the past players like Lambert, Glasgow, Rifat, Boucaud and Morgan. Some might say more recent players that have wasted their chances (and some might tell you stories and rumours of the wrong attitude) are Henry, Davies or one or two of the foreign youngsters we've tried out.

I'm not saying they were all wasters, but just because they're young doesn't mean they're hungry or good enough to kick on yet we're always told on here to give them a chance.

[brendywendy]

In the past players like Lambert, Glasgow, Rifat, Boucaud and Morgan. Some might say more recent players that have wasted their chances (and some might tell you stories and rumours of the wrong attitude) are Henry, Davies or one or two of the foreign youngsters we've tried out.

I'm not saying they were all wasters, but just because they're young doesn't mean they're hungry or good enough to kick on yet we're always told on here to give them a chance.

lol- youre told that as its moronic to get on the backs of young players. and with young players theres always a chance that with experience theyll turn into good players, so writing them off early is silly.

plus theyre low cost punts. only takes 1:10 to come off and weve done well

[Hoop Blah]

And I do, by and large, give them plenty of time and scope to prove themselves. That's why I take in the reserve and youth game that I do.

My point on this thread was that there was so much negativity around a proven older player, a lot of it by those that would be so vocal on giving a youngster a break now and again.

[Super Royals]

I'm saying no more, but i believe we're interested.

Would be a great signing imo - he is capable of netting 20 in a season
Wages would be high though, would Birmingham pay half of his wages do you think

[Svlad Cjelli]

20 a season? Phillips?!? Considering his age and the few games he's played in the past year?

I have to say I think that's utterly, utterly unrealistic. It might have been true 3 years ago, but not any more.

[Elmer Park]

I would see some value to a Club like ours getting him on loan for the rest of the season if he is available but he could only realistically be able to come off the bench for the last half hour and try and nick a goal which admittedly could prove valuable. However, assuming Hunt isn't too badly injured, bringing in Phillips or any other striker now would mean freezing out one of our existing four 'first team' strikers and I cannot see McDermott doing this.

As for a permanent move I think this would only be likely for a Club with larger wage resources than ourselves as his wages would be a considerable expense for a player who could not realsitically start many matches. Leicester City maybe ?

[Barry the bird boggler]

Reading's busines this window is now over. HTH.

[Snowball]

He MIGHT be good for the last 25-30, as you say, but I would
worry about team morale since that is basically saying "none
of you can cut it"... We'd hardly keep him for next season at
this age, so EVEN THOUGH I could believe he could be the man
who gets those few vital goals to get us into the POs, and maybe
into the Prem, it would worry me.

If we don't sign that special ready-now midfielder (looking unlikely)
I'd say that quietly RFC are NOT trying too hard for the POs but
are quietly building to be a Watford without the shakes.

That is loads of young, hungry players, with Griffin-Harte's REAL job
to help the kids develop enough to take their positions, and us looking
to go for automatic in 11-12 or more likely 12-13

trouble with that is, who do you lose while you're building?

Kebe, McAnuff almost certainly, plus Feds in the summer, probably Long, possibly The Turk

and we still need youngsters like Cummings to re-sign and get some more games
(or should that be the other way round?)

[Snowball]

He certainly looked a good player (still) in the FA Cup v Coventry yesterday

[Barry the bird boggler]

So, when's he joining then