Team for 1st day of 2011/12 season

[Bandini]

I think HRK will make a pretty decent replacement for Kebe, and now might be the perfect time in his development for him to break into the first team on a permanent basis. If we can keep Jobi and Karacan I will be pretty optimistic about the future.

For the first time since Sidwell and Harper, I think that Jem and Leigertwood together make a sufficiently strong and dynamic centre pairing (with Tabb as a good replacement) to allow us to play with proper wingers, which is when we've looked at our best over the past 6 years. If we can keep them together, I'm pretty hopeful that Brian can build a team around them.

[marcusopp]

Assuming Long goes, which seems pretty much certain, I would like to see Church and Manset up front. Given the chance, due to the absence of Long, I think Church could come good.

No way mate.
We'll release Church I reckon. He's a bit like David Coulthard was in F1, he'll never be the main man. I reckon Williams will move ahead of him in the pecking order too, meaning, unless we sign a new forward the order will be;
Williams
Hunt
Manset
Church
Bell-Baggie

What ever happened to Mooney??? Is he still at Col U on loan?

[SCIAG]

No goal threat at all at the club now.

Anyone who thinks that next year will be anything other than a depressing slide into mediocrity is kidding themselves.

Where have I seen that before?

[Avon Royal]

No goal threat at all at the club now.

Anyone who thinks that next year will be anything other than a depressing slide into mediocrity is kidding themselves.

No Kebe, no chance.

Couldn't have put it better myself!

[Wycombe Royal]

No goal threat at all at the club now.

Anyone who thinks that next year will be anything other than a depressing slide into mediocrity is kidding themselves.

Where have I seen that before?

Yes but if they keep saying it every summer then one season they will eventually be right and will be able to say "told you so".......

[Avon Royal]

No goal threat at all at the club now.

Anyone who thinks that next year will be anything other than a depressing slide into mediocrity is kidding themselves.

Where have I seen that before?

Trust me, nobody wants it to be proved completely wrong more than I do!

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

I have a feeling Long will stay. McDermott is like a dad to him, which makes me feel he owes it to Brian to have one more season here. And seeing him crying as much as he did yesterday, showed how much he loves this club.

... this decision wont be SL's or BM's anyway .......wonga man Madejski will decide ..and it will only be a matter of time before the infamous "black hole in the accounts" line comes out.....Reading sell their biggest assets to fill this "hole" first it was Doyle, then it was Siggy...and now it will be Long.....

This post demonstrates perfectly just how little you know about how Reading FC is actually run and how decisions inside it are actually made.

....well enlighten me then on your brain thumping knowledge of Reading FCs inner sanctum...as if you know anmore than I do anyway

...next you'll be saying Sepp Blatters an ok guy...because you know he is

[URZZZZZZZZ]

McCarthy

Bertrand
Mills
Pearce
Griffin/Cummings

McAnuff
Leigertwood
Karacan
Kebe

Hunt
New Striker

Subs

Hamer
Morrison
Tabb
Manset
B. Williams
Some others

[Row Z Royal]

Bertrand

10/10 for optimism.


But if Bertrand isn't on the bench every week for Chelsea then he'll be replacing Alan Tate/Tait/can't remember in Swansea's new Premier League back line.

[RoyalJames101]

Think we might sign Davies from Chesterfield on a free (?). Seems a goalscorer and worth a try at this level.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Bertrand

10/10 for optimism.


But if Bertrand isn't on the bench every week for Chelsea then he'll be replacing Alan Tate/Tait/can't remember in Swansea's new Premier League back line.

Cheers. Scholes is coming out of retirement as back up for Karacan too. Darren Powell is also finally making the move to the club after years of trying to sign him.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

On a serious note, I'd love to see Cox come back. Apparently he's available on a free.

[Row Z Royal]

On a serious note, I'd love to see Cox come back. Apparently he's available on a free.

I can see the "free Cox" headlines now.

[SCIAG]

Bertrand

10/10 for optimism.


But if Bertrand isn't on the bench every week for Chelsea then he'll be replacing Alan Tate/Tait/can't remember in Swansea's new Premier League back line.

Or he'll be at Norwich. Him and Russell Martin at full back could be devastating.

I'm going to do a "best case scenario" (with only Kébé departing) and a "worst case scenario" (with every usual suspect leaving and no arrivals).

Best case scenario:
McCarthy

Cummings
Mills
Pearce
New LB/Harte

McAnuff
Legs
Karacan
HRK

Hunt
Long

Subs: Feds, Morrison, Griff, Tabb, Obita, Church, Manset
Worst case scenario:
McCarthy

Cummings
Pearce
Morrison
Harte

Obita
Tabb
Legs
HRK

Hunt
Manset

Subs: Andersen, Ívar, Griffin, Taylor, Antonio, D'Ath, Church

Obviously best case scenario is SJM wins the Euromillions and puts it all on black...

[Forbury Lion]

As it stands today, the team to start our first match (assuming NO-ONE comes in, and assuming the 3 departures as above) is:

McCarthy
Harte
Cummings
Mills
Pearce
Jobi
Jem
Legs
HRK
Hunt
Church

Not a bad lineup, however I fear we will struggle for goals without signing a replacement for Long.

[Optimist]

McCarthy
Cummings
Pearce
Morrison
New LB
HRK
Legs
Karacan
McAnuff (reckon he'll stay imo)
New Striker (BMc will pluck some unknown gem from abroad)
Hunt

Andersen, Harte/Griffin, Tabb, Howard, Taylor, Church, Manset

Providing we don't sign any rubbish, thats a decent team methinks.

[BirminghamRoyal]

McCarthy

Griffin - has played well most of the season imo
Pearce
Mills - Can't see him leaving
New LB - I like Harte but as everyone has already said he is too slow

Jobi - He won't leave. L'wood has stayed because Jobi is here
L'wood
Karacan - can possibly see someone coming in for him but I hope he'll stay
HRK

Williams - Assuming we don't get another new striker i'd like to see him start over church and Hunt
Manset

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Williams - Assuming we don't get another new striker i'd like to see him start over church and Hunt

[BirminghamRoyal]

Church is useless and i've no explanation for choosing him over Hunt. I'd just like to see Williams play.

[PEARCEY]

On a serious note, I'd love to see Cox come back. Apparently he's available on a free.

I can see the "free Cox" headlines now.