Funny old game this football! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22813924 Reading sign Wayne Bridge from Manchester City Reading have signed Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge, who has agreed a one-year deal at the Madejski Stadium. The former Southampton, Chelsea and England left-back is manager Nigel Adkins' first signing of the summer. Bridge, 32, joined City in 2009 but spent much of his time out on loan, including last season at Brighton. Wayne Bridge's career •Southampton (1997- Jul 2003) •Chelsea (Jul 2003- Jan 2009) •Fulham (Jan-May 2006, loan) •Man City (Jan 2009-present) •West Ham (Jan-May 2011, loan) •Sunderland (Jan-May 2012, loan) •Brighton (Jul 2012-May 2013, loan) •England (36 caps) "I'm delighted be signing for Reading and excited to be joining a team that is going to be looking for promotion next season," he said. Bridge, who had been linked with a move to QPR, has 354 league appearances and 36 England caps to his name. During six successful years at Chelsea, he won all three domestic trophies and also featured in two World Cup squads. He also went to one European Championship tournament with Sven-Goran Eriksson's England. Bridge signed for Manchester City in January 2009 for £12m and made 57 appearances for the club before loan spells at West Ham, Sunderland and Brighton. He made 42 starts for Gus Poyet's Brighton last season, achieving a play-off place with the Seagulls as well as the left-back position in the Football League Championship Team of the Year 2012-13. "Reading look like a team who are capable of getting back into the Premier League, a team that works hard for each other," added Bridge. "That is something I want to be a part of and I'm really looking forward to next season."
bless you. They've been discussing this since last night. I'm pleased for Bridge. I'm also pleased for Harry (as in taking this one in the nuts)
Good signing for Nigel. Bridgey's a damned good player who just needs to play regularly. At Brighton he showed that. If Reading are promoted and extend his deal they won't need to replace him with anyone better for a few seasons.
Ol' Bridgey's reputation has taken quite a hit over the years, yet he still an excellent LB. He may not be as good as those who displaced him, or since he stopped playing regularly, but he's still very capable. I'd rather have him than Danny Fox, for example. Actually, that's damning with feint praise, really.
