Right then... just settling in to our new gaff on this forum. Having our own section was something we'd dream about in the past We've been linked with a dozen or so players and suppose we need somewhere to discuss it all. (Vitals make me want to kill myself and BOTN can be equally as bad) Rumoured Ins: Glenn Murray Crystal Palace (£4m) Lewis Grabban Norwich City (£6m) Jonathan De Guzman Napoli (Season Long Loan, option for perm) Charlie Austin QPR (No idea) Rumour that won't go away CONFIRMED OUTS: Ryan Fraser - Ipswich (Season Long Loan) Brett Pitman - Ipswich (Free/Undisclosed nominal) Josh McQuoid - Luton (Free) Jayden Stockley - Portsmouth (Season Long Loan) CONFIRMED SIGNINGS: Artur Boruc - Saints (Free) Adam Federici - Reading (Free) Josh King - Blackburn Rovers (Free/Tribunal) Christian Atsu - Chelsea (Season Long Loan) Tyrone Mings - Ipswich (Deal up to £8m) Sylvan Distin - Everton (Free) Filipo Costa - Chievo Verona (Loan - view to perm) Max Gradel - St Etienne (£6m approx) Lee Tomlin - Middlesbrough (£3m approx)
Agree with you on most things Ry and think we agree here, key players for me would be: Boruc Garbutt Trippier Pritchard Jota Gayle Think they'd all suit the EH mould.
Bournemouth bid £3m with another couple of mil in add ons. As for setting the world alight, he's only been playing as a regular since November last year just after Rowett took over. In that time he's been picked for England, been linked with big Utd and Liverpool and has scored a Championship hattrick. Yeah, pretty shite.. Oh, and he's 18.
Alright lads, you don't think you need centre backs? You only conceded a few less than us and I think we need atleast 2.
Yeah IMO we need a left back and a centre back as a minimum. George Friend at Boro has been linked and I think he could be a good shout. As for a CB, no idea.
Adam Federici should be confirmed very shortly. Goes with all of the best wishes from Reading fans. 10 years at the club, and was most likely the difference between us staying up and getting relegated last season. Shame we couldn't afford his wage demands, just hope you can give him the first team PL football he deserves.
I'd have Federici as first choice not Boruc tbh. Are you guys still linked with Distin? Shackell would be a good signing imo
Not sure whether we are still linked but I do think Distin would be a good signing given his experience. We have 3 CBs in Elphick, Cook and Ward, with young Cargill coming through. I'd like to add to that too along with a LB. No idea who we'd go for though.
Just a little breakdown of strengths/weaknesses of Federici Positives: Decent shot stopper, some saves he makes when he is on form are incredible Very good distribution, something which seems lacking with many Championship quality keepers Good character in the dressing room, doesn't seem to get too upset when he's put on the bench Negatives: Tendency to make mistakes in the big games, eg FA Cup Semi final Not very good at covering his near post. Not so much of a problem now, but he used to concede a lot from there. Will definitely be missed at Reading.
Interesting, thanks. As far as free transfers go, can't be bad. Interesting to hear about his periods on the bench, considering Boruc is 35/36 and signed on for one year maybe Federici is earmarked as our longer term keeper? With two signings done and a loan deal being discussed as we speak, Howe clearly isn't messing around. Does the bloke get a holiday at some point?
No CB's included in the list because we just haven't been linked with any. I see the post below yours mentions George Friend but I haven't seen this linked anywhere yet. Updated at the top too!
I watched Atsu a couple of times in Everton's European games. Very raw, decision making and final product lacking, but a very quick/tricky winger who looks like he has the beating of a lot of fullbacks. Very athletic too. Getting him on loan would be less of a risk/gamble than signing Gray imo
I saw him in a couple of internationals and he's very talented but frustrating, I think he got player of the tournament at the last AFCON. He did nothing all season at Everton though. I'd be a bit wary of Distin, he was brilliant for years but his age seemed to finally catch up with him very fast, probably worth it if you have other decent options though. Congrats on winning the league btw
I still to this day refuse to accept that we were really that interested in Gray in the first place. Either way, I agree that Atsu would be less of a risk than Gray. Should add some competition for Pugh on the left wing, if anyone is going to get the best out of him, it will probably be Eddie Howe.
Yeah it would be a good loan signing IMO (assuming he has the right attitude). Talking of young Chelsea players I wouldn't mind ourselves looking at RLC.
Yep I like the look of him too. Has all the attributes to become a very decent player in the PL. I'd happily have him on loan for the season. Cant see Mourinho letting him go out on loan though unless they sign another central midfielder during the summer. Will be a cracking addition to anyone in the bottom half of the league IMO.
Thanks, I trust your view following his 10 years of service. Based on interviews and what Howe has said, he seems like a top bloke too. Eddie goes for decent characters just as much as quality the way I see it. I think Boruc will be our number 1 next season, with Federici our cup keeper. Then we (probably) go down, Federici will be our number 1.
Not sure what to think of the strong links with Josh King, on one hand his stats at Blackburn are not overly impressive, but on the other had we have seen what he can do on a good day, when he was pretty much unplayable at Dean court, so no doubt a good player but is good enough to make the difference at this level ?
