1st post....Noted Michail Antonio didn't figure in any of Reading's play-off matches, was especially surprised about the final bearing in mind his wembley experience, not aware of any injury He impressed me in his time with saints, strong direct brave winger with pace and I don't think he was ever replaced, Forte being a striker and N'Guessan out of favour (and now returned). The current squad apart from GK and centre backs are not physically big guys apart from RL's bulk(!) and at 5'11" he's quite a big lad and can look after himself He's still only 21, good long throw, I think we should go in for him as a squad player, cover for Chamberlain if he gets injured or is tempted away
Biggest issue is that Adkins wasn't here when Antonio was. I expect he'd have other targets in mind. Antonio's Reading contract comes to an end this time next year, so in his last season, he could well move if not playing for them. He did surprisingly well for us, but if Reading didn't think he was good enough to feature much in their squad in the Championship, does that mean that League 1 was his level?
Maybe CBK, but as we all know, some players just seem to get on better at different clubs. As you say though, I doubt it would happen due to the change in manager.
The points the OP makes are all incredibly good points, pace and power (adkins favourite things ) and a long throw which I think we're lacking and as football grows will become an important part of every teams game.
Probably a bit too raw for championship....hence why he has not kept a regular place in Readings side. If we get players in at all at this stage for me I think we need tried and tested players. If we are going to at least mount any sort of challenge this coming season. We either go with the squad we have got or bring in even better players. To me it is no brainer!
According to the lancaster telegraph weve had a bid for jack cork accepted, props more reliable than the echo saying it lol
As pointed out he was a Pardew player. You are right to say he was never really replaced last Summer though, even with the emergence of Alex. Not much Championship experience, can't see us making a move for him.
Why would he want to swap the bench at Reading for the bench at Southampton? Plus I can almost Guarantee Adkins is looking elsewhere. The fans have fond memories of Antonio, not Adkins. Still, at least its not a thread on Rohan Ricketts.
on one of our foums . I think it said you, Blackpool Burnley.... Sounds liek it could be true seeing as Adkins had him at Scunthorpe...
Would be a good signing if true, as long as he plays CB. We're pretty much set for CM's... Was very impressive previously when on loan a few years back... Would be a welcome addition I should think, if true that is
He was a CM when he joined here on loan but ideally we need a CB. Ah well, the more the merryer I guess I think he would probably prefer to join Burnley though as he has been on loan there for the last 18 months.
That's the sort of thinking that gets teams paying way too much for players. He's athletic, has raw talent and a useful long throw. Not sure if Adkins is an admirer, but someone probably will have alerted him if he's made available by Reading. He'd be a very useful player to have, presuming he'd be on the bench if Lallana and AOC were both fit. Some players have very different fortunes at different clubs.
Hal Robson-Kanu has come in and made an impact off the bench so he's been more of a regular than Michail. He'd be good here as a back-up winger when Puncheon inevitably goes but I think hoping ex players are going to come back is a bit far fetched considering we have a new manager now. We can do better but I will always appreciate the job he did here whilst on loan.
Even though he was loved by fans, I always felt and said at the time, that he didn't aleways know what he was doing. Raw pace by the bucketful, but he could trap it along way.
