I see Antonio is currently on loan at Colchester anyonelse think he made a BIG mistake not signing for us when he had the chance?
I don't even know if there was offer on the table for him? Nothing was ever confirmed, except that Reading seemed pretty eager to hold on to him.
I don't think it was him that made that decision? I don't think Reading were willing to let him go or something..
Not sure the chance ever actually arose did it..? Reading wouldn't sell, and that's about it. As far as Antonio is concerned, he would certainly have been better off staying with us.
He didn't, Reading decided to extend his contract as there was a clause in it to keep him there for another year and they thought he would be up to the Championship standard instead of us trying to sign him.
My understanding was that his contract had expired at Reading , so we could have signed him on a free albeit we would have had to pay compensation. I think Reading then offered him a new deal as their valuation of him was alot more than ours.
That makes sense if true. If he had a choice, he definitely made the wrong one. He'll be nowhere to be found come Saturday's match, that's for sure.
Reading had a clause in his contract which allowed them to retain him for another season. Their value of him didn't match ours, which is a shame, as they have since, thoroughly underused him. You can't progress if you don't play, and he was already easily good enough for League One. Should be playing Championship football, IMO.
Agreed i thought he was a real prospect when he played for us, loads of pace and a delap style throw certainly a very usefull IMPACT sub.
We ended up replacing him with OXO, of course. Pacy winger style. But Antonio still has that to offer for Championship teams. Sadly, it's all a bit late now. We've progressed to the point where we don't need him anymore. However, if he'd have stayed with Saints, I'm sure he would be a valuable player, simply by progressing with us.
You have to admit he was a bit hit or miss though.....splendid personality. Saint wanted to sign him but he had an agreement with Reading for an extension to his contract which they engaged as soon as he was back at Reading. That would mean we would of had to have paid a larger fee for him. I am not sure but my sources tell me we were not prepared too pay one as it was double that which was agreed at the beginning of the loan period. I have nothing with which to back that up though.
Reading took up their one year option in order to make more from us...understandable, but the Don does not respond to blackmail. Antonio was exciting and hit and miss, but I bet Adkins could have got the best out of him.
I liked Antonio, fast and STRONG and a great impact player. However agree time has moved on - on the subject of Reading, will be interesting to see our friend Kaspars Gorkss in action on Saturday Will never forget Michail's goal at Wembley - what a strike
I never thought he was as good as everyone made out, and I didn't shed a tear when Reading took him back. Not saying he was bad, not at all. We've had many many weaker players than him. But I just thought he good games were too few and far between, and that he offered absoloutely nothing defensively. That's not to say he wont turn into a good player though. I thought Nathan Dyer was nothing but pace when we had him, and again I wasn't too disappointed when he left. But he's gone and proven himself at Swansea, and well done to the lad.
Not his fault, Reading held all the cards and would of sold him but they were demanding silly money, near on £1M. Cortese was having none of it. Antonio and Papa?? I was quite disappointed at the time we didn't keep one of them. But their gone now and we've moved onwards and upwards
