Howard to Saints

[Hoop Blah]

If that rumoured 700k is the transfer fee and not his wages over the 3 years then it's an excellent bit of business for us.

In the right team Howard could be a decent player but he's never going to be better than an average and bit part Championship midfielder.

As for Antonio, he's shown less ability in his brief appearances than Henry did yet he couldn't break into the side. Antonio has a long was to go before he's good enough for this league, but he can be a useful sub to throw on because he's unpredictable and can certainly mix things up.

[Ian Royal]

Not happy with the direction of the club this shows.

Defensive battlers in the midfield and focusing all our attacking down the wings and with percentage hoofball. No real ability to keep the ball or show any creative guile.

wish Howard luck, never really got going for him here properly. With Legs I think he had a partner he could really shine with in a two man midfield. Shame.

[loyalroyal4life]

Only creative midfielder we have at the club

[Ian Royal]

Go on then?

Karacan - box to box, best at breaking up play and hassling
Tabb - box to box, best at breaking up play and hassling
Leigterwood - box to box, best at breaking up play and hassling - best passer other than Howard
Gunnarsson - old box to box player best at breaking up play

Who else is there in the senior squad?

In the league.
Howard - 5 assists + 7 more goals he's played an important role in. Total of 12 goals from 16 starts
Karacan - 9 from 30 (inc goals scored)
Tabb - 1 from 11
Leigterwood - 3 from 14 (including goals scored)
Gunnarsson - 0 from 4

Interested to hear who else you think is creative, or why Howard isn't given he's right up there with McAnuff, Kebe, Long & Hunt in terms of being involved in our goals.

[Carlos]

These people saying it is a stupid decision are pobably the same ones who criticise Howard when he plays.

Lets be honest he hasn't done much at the club, is clearly not fit enough to play in a 2 man central midfield where we need box to box players and he himself is probably quite unhappy in not playing.

He can be a good passer on his day but never showed much at all. He takes a good corner but lets face it if the ability to take a good set piece was all you needed to be in the team then Ian Harte would be first name on the team sheet. Oh.

[Ginger Ninjas]

Not happy with the direction of the club this shows.

Defensive battlers in the midfield and focusing all our attacking down the wings and with percentage hoofball. No real ability to keep the ball or show any creative guile.

wish Howard luck, never really got going for him here properly. With Legs I think he had a partner he could really shine with in a two man midfield. Shame.

Howard has not shown that he has the ability to play in a two-man centre midfield for us - even with Leigertwood alongside, you still have to put a proper shift in if playing 442 (especially as so many other teams now go for 5 in the middle).

In terms of playing in an advanced role (ie, in the middle of a 4231 formation) Howard doesn't offer the goal threat needed (compared to the likes of Sigurdsson).

I agree that Howard hasn't really had a fair crack here, but if we can clear his wages and bring in Leigertwood, it's a no-brainer. I also think that the likes of Taylor, Obita and D'Ath are not going to be far away from the starting XI next season, and I'd rather give them a go than Howard.

[Ian Royal]

Not happy with the direction of the club this shows.

Defensive battlers in the midfield and focusing all our attacking down the wings and with percentage hoofball. No real ability to keep the ball or show any creative guile.

wish Howard luck, never really got going for him here properly. With Legs I think he had a partner he could really shine with in a two man midfield. Shame.

Howard has not shown that he has the ability to play in a two-man centre midfield for us - even with Leigertwood alongside, you still have to put a proper shift in if playing 442 (especially as so many other teams now go for 5 in the middle).

In terms of playing in an advanced role (ie, in the middle of a 4231 formation) Howard doesn't offer the goal threat needed (compared to the likes of Sigurdsson).

I agree that Howard hasn't really had a fair crack here, but if we can clear his wages and bring in Leigertwood, it's a no-brainer. I also think that the likes of Taylor, Obita and D'Ath are not going to be far away from the starting XI next season, and I'd rather give them a go than Howard.

And you've worked this out from the one game in which they've played together? I seem to recall us doing quite well last season with him and Tabb playing together and Sigurdsson in the hole as well.

[Big Foot]

As said previously, I would literally stab a baby if it meant Howard had played his last game in a Reading shirt

Will be hosting a street party once we get rid of this utter pcunt from Swindon

[handbags_harris]

Not happy with the direction of the club this shows.

Defensive battlers in the midfield and focusing all our attacking down the wings and with percentage hoofball. No real ability to keep the ball or show any creative guile.

wish Howard luck, never really got going for him here properly. With Legs I think he had a partner he could really shine with in a two man midfield. Shame.

Echoes my thoughts exactly.

[Kitson12]

With 10 games left, I don't see it as the best move to send him out on loan. I admit I'm not his greatest fan, handbags will agree with this, but he IS useful, and anyone who says he isn't needs to look at what he can bring to a game at 0-0 or 1-1, etc. He was very good at Ipswich, great corner for Long to score. And he's joint top assist maker. What if Karacan/Tabb or Ledge were to get injured? Who would step in, I could see no-one better than Howard. Also, we'll no doubt play the 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 that we played at Ipswich again this season, which is a formation where Howard can, and has thrived.

I find this decision a little bit puzzling. Come the end of the season, fine, then let him go, but not now, when he can, and probably would, provide something different.

[Thomas L'Heureux]

As said previously, I would literally stab a baby if it meant Howard had played his last game in a Reading shirt

Will be hosting a street party once we get rid of this utter pcunt from Swindon

I'll be there m8!

[Plymouth_Royal]

Not great timing as we need experience for the play off push. But if McD has done this then I think he may secretly be building for next season. We'll have Karacan, Tabb, Hopefully Ledge, D'Ath (17 goals in 21 games! and MOTM performances) and Jake Taylor can play there(although he's naturally a deep striker). I'd be happy with that for next season.

[Plymouth_Royal]

:?:

Go on then?

Karacan - box to box, best at breaking up play and hassling
Tabb - box to box, best at breaking up play and hassling
Leigterwood - box to box, best at breaking up play and hassling - best passer other than Howard
Gunnarsson - old box to box player best at breaking up play

Who else is there in the senior squad?

In the league.
Howard - 5 assists + 7 more goals he's played an important role in. Total of 12 goals from 16 starts
Karacan - 9 from 30 (inc goals scored)
Tabb - 1 from 11
Leigterwood - 3 from 14 (including goals scored)
Gunnarsson - 0 from 4

Interested to hear who else you think is creative, or why Howard isn't given he's right up there with McAnuff, Kebe, Long & Hunt in terms of being involved in our goals.

I agree with this Ian. If I was to be picky though I would add D'Ath and J.Taylor to that list. D'Ath creative midfielder who I think will break into the team next season. j.Taylor can play there but he's more of a deep striker.

[loyalroyal4life]

People forgetting that Mcanuff can play through middle if needs be which may also allow Antonio to feature more.

If howard isn't going to play regularly (which he aint) then let him go, sure he would prefer first team football in a team likely to win promotion than an optimisitc mid table team that has more than likely left it too late to mount a serious challenge.

[Ian Royal]

People forgetting that Mcanuff can play through middle if needs be which may also allow Antonio to feature more.

If howard isn't going to play regularly (which he aint) then let him go, sure he would prefer first team football in a team likely to win promotion than an optimisitc mid table team that has more than likely left it too late to mount a serious challenge.

McAnuff has been superb on the wing and adequate in the middle. It would be insane to switch him into the middle for Antonio who hasn't yet been favoured with a single start. HRK who has had a fair few starts and been adequate is not in McAnuff's league on the wing either.

[Whore Jackie]

People forgetting that Mcanuff can play through middle if needs be.

No, he really can't.

[Whore Jackie]

Especially when he's switched there late in the game. He never looks happy being moved into the middle and HRK is a really poor impact sub. In a worst-case-scenario, I'd far rather start Jobi in the middle (assuming Leigertwood is the other CM). And play HRK from the off, who's always much more effective starting of a game.

[yappy]

Howard isn't a bad player, to be fair without him and Tabb last season we never would've seen the best of Kebe and Sigurdsson. Their battling in midfield gave the front four a lot of freedom and I am a little surprised that haven't been teamed up more often this season. But if we are honestly getting 700k and I presume Howard would be on a decent wage, do I think that money could be spent better elsewhere? I honestly do.

The timing isn't great, and I agree that we don't have another midfielder like him, but the fact is I don't think Howard has ever fully fulfilled his potential here. You can throw up stats, but with Howard taking a lot of free kicks and corners I would be a little concerned if he didn't have a good few assists. I'm not saying it's a bad skill to have, but had Harte taken those free kicks and corners instead I don't think the number of assists would be much different. It's quite like strikers who take penalties, yes a goal is a goal, but the more goals from open play the better.

[Ian Royal]

Howard isn't a bad player, to be fair without him and Tabb last season we never would've seen the best of Kebe and Sigurdsson. Their battling in midfield gave the front four a lot of freedom and I am a little surprised that haven't been teamed up more often this season. But if we are honestly getting 700k and I presume Howard would be on a decent wage, do I think that money could be spent better elsewhere? I honestly do.

The timing isn't great, and I agree that we don't have another midfielder like him, but the fact is I don't think Howard has ever fully fulfilled his potential here. You can throw up stats, but with Howard taking a lot of free kicks and corners I would be a little concerned if he didn't have a good few assists. I'm not saying it's a bad skill to have, but had Harte taken those free kicks and corners instead I don't think the number of assists would be much different. It's quite like strikers who take penalties, yes a goal is a goal, but the more goals from open play the better.

That's all well and good, except Harte has played more games and his corners and free kicks (that aren't shots) haven't led to as many goals, so I don't think that last point really stands up.

[Wimb]

Not happy with the direction of the club this shows.

Defensive battlers in the midfield and focusing all our attacking down the wings and with percentage hoofball. No real ability to keep the ball or show any creative guile.

wish Howard luck, never really got going for him here properly. With Legs I think he had a partner he could really shine with in a two man midfield. Shame.

Echoes my thoughts exactly.

^^^ and mine