...is hopefully going to be a shorter journey than the trip down Maynard's garden path.
Briefly on Maynard; there is quite a large part of me that doesn't want us to sign him from the perspective that he clearly isn't that interested in coming here. However, if we were in with a chance, I guess - nose, spite, face springs to mind with regard to how much potential he has.
With Carew going to West Ham and seemingly no other bids for Long, it appears we are the only club showing a genuine interest.
Fourth Official on Twitter has suggested that a bid is lodged and the Reading board has yet to provide us with an answer - with the recent statements from Sven and Vichai, I doubt this is the £7m reported in the press.
I actually think Brian McDermott seems like a nice bloke, but a poker player he is not. He has changed his mind on more than one occassion with regard to whether a bid has or hasn't been submitted by Leicester. It also seems clear that he has been told by the board to try and stimulate a Premiership bidding war.
In his latest interview after yesterday's match, he stated "..there has been lots of interest from the Premiership".
When asked for some sort of confirmation of this through the amount of bids Reading have received he said "Official bids...we've err...you know we'll wait, the way things are going...my experience is errm.....we've had lots of interest from clubs in the Premiership and one...someone....will make a bid and then four or five will make a bid..." Hmmmm
Bizarrely when asked what Long was worth in terms of value to the club (an opportunity to talk up his potential cost), Mc Dermotts's response was "..to me, nothing...." before going on to say if they got the right offer (adding from a 'PREMIERSHIP club' belatedly to his comment) he would probably leave.
The Long and winding road...
posted on 7/8/11
Yes he seems desperate not to sell to us or WHU. I can see where he's coming from though, he will want to get Reading promoted and he will not want to sell his best player to a rival. He's probably still miffed that we got Mills as well.
posted on 7/8/11
I think his predicament is that as a manager, he does not want to sell his best player to a Championship rival (understandable), but as an employee of the club he is being asked to motivate a bidding war for the player.
I think we have the strength in depth to get us through to at least the end of August, so don't think Sven will be held to ransom.
posted on 7/8/11
Excellent article. Well summarised and totally agree with what you said!
posted on 7/8/11
Yes - its clear this is a problem area for Sven as manager and of course us as fans.
What was clear yesterday and also evident during the Real Madrid match - is that our defence is well equipped to provide us with a real promotion base.
Thats job 1 completed and one which has been high priority for Eriksson -quite rightly.
However we are potentially going to miss out on some 30 odd goals from last season- no Yakubu -who gave us 11 in half a season and would be a shoe in for 20+ this season with the possession we are going to get plus Nugent making those intelligent runs.
Secondly King was worth 15 goals last season and quite honestly will be often restricted to a bench role during this season.
We desperately need 20 odd goals from a striker and nobody on our books will provide that.
The market is not good-the snatch this season was Chopra - great move by Ipswich... he's a pain - good strikers often are!- will fall out with team mates,manager, fans... but still score 20+
I share everyones differing doubts re Long and Maynard - but I can also understand Eriksson and the owners being prepared to gamble- without a striker our promotion prospects are seriously weakened .. and they cannot allow that.
One point on Long -his contract I think also runs out at the end of this season and if I'm right -no way will Madejski lose a fee!!
posted on 7/8/11
Both clubs seemed determined to hold off for Premiership bids, which may or may not come. There is also the consideration that some contracts have clauses along the lines of "can leave to go to a Premiership club for x price". But what happens if a Championship club comes in at x + £1m ?
I don't necessarily hold with the argument that Maynard doesn't want to come to Leicester. He wants to play in the Premiership but if the offer doesn't come it doesn't come.
The most sensible thing for Maynard to do is run down his contract and move on a free in the summer. But this may not be his decision to make and if Leicester keep their interest alive, we could (could) get him in January.
Not sure that there is no Premiership interest in Long - have heard that Bolton are sniffing around. But again, I suspect they might see him more as a squad addition and therefore offer less.
What is clear is that we need someone sooner,rather than later. Even if it is a loan until January - we will need to look a lot more potent than we seemed yesterday and throughout pre-season.
Suggested loan candidates (if possible) - Yakubu, Keane or go out and buy Sharp. I wouldn't be unhappy with Long but he is so over- valued it's just not true !
posted on 7/8/11
Owd little Fester getting all excited about beating Coventry yesterday
posted on 7/8/11
Yes I agree Maynard may come to Leicester, but Sven has clearly stated he only wants players who make it clear they want to come here - surely a sign of intent would have been if he handed in a transfer request - but as he isn't really commenting on the situation no one knows for sure.
Re: Sharp - Unfortunately he has broken his leg in three places.
Re: Yakubu - After doing well in pre-season, I think has been told he will feature in the first team squad at Everton
Re: Keane - Yep, would be good for a loan until January possibly, and there are reasonably strong rumours that Sven is enquiring about him, but whether he would drop down to the Championship is a different matter.
posted on 7/8/11
Funny smell round here, isn't there? Like a tree that's been widdled on by a tyke…
posted on 7/8/11
Owd little notts forest - Not too embarrassed about his clubs pathetic showing yesterday
posted on 7/8/11
Owd Shteve.....1 up front......at home.....v Barnsley!!