Howard Now Confirmed

[Woodcote Royal]

Our post 95 team got relegated a few years later because we did not step up to the mark, we went a cheaper option on the managers and did not back them with money.

McGhee moved on when SJM would not let him buy a striker when he had his first choices out injured, who knows what might have happened that season had he been allowed to sign Nogan?? and you have to wonder why Pardew left, was it really because it was West Ham, or did discussions about the future of RFC not live up to his ambitions as a manager?

Everything Pardew has done since he left confirms that he wasn't good enough....................including not having the decency to return your shirt

[Row Z Royal]

Dodd me rotten, but has anyone else noticed that Wiki has us paying "65 million" for Howard

Explains where Madejski's money has gone

£73m now.

[leww_rfc]

Reading
On 2 September 2009 Howard signed for Reading on a three-year contract for a fee of £73 million, with the overated James Harper going the other way on loan.[7][8]

off his wikipedia, own up

[I was there at Elm Park]

Reading
On 2 September 2009 Howard signed for Reading on a three-year contract for a fee of £73 million, with the overrated James Harper going the other way on loan.[7][8]

off his wikipedia, own up

Talking of classic wikipedia wind ups, this one is my favourite for Reading players:

James Henry is a professional footballer contracted to Reading in the Championship. James has interest in various other sports, amongst his favorites is the high jump. During a training session for the National High Jump championships in 2006 James suffered an injury which would signal the end of his high jumping career. To the shock of manager Dermot McNicholl he cleared not only the bar, but the safety mats. Henry was shepherded off by his coach minutes later to the rapturous applause of his team-mates, but, sadly, his career ended that fateful afternoon.

[Doyler]

Like Sidwell has played brilliantly since he left. The problem with the two of them was that they complimented each other perfectly. One without the other just does not work. And has been said on a thousand threads not a million miles for here, Sidwell has not been adequately replaced.

Agreed, Villa should have signed Harps too.

[SeniorRoyal]

Sidwell and Harper were very fit and could both play box to box.In the first season in the premiership they were nearly always playing against three in midfield,and were very rarely overwhelmed.Arsenal at home the obvious exception,but that was two against five!

I personally think they were the best central midfield pairing by far we have had in my 40 years of watching Reading.They always played with two out and out wingers who hugged the touch line.With hindsight we should have paid Sidwell what ever he wanted to stay and we would still be in the premiership.

Not sure how Howard will fit in,unless he is going to play just behind a lone striker.His defensive work is none existent from the little i have seen of him,but he does have an eye for a goal which we do need.

[gazzer, loyal royal]

The reason this was late was because up until about 4 30 it was going to be a loan for both parties. But we cheakily asked how much they'd sell for and they said 500k. The paperwork was faxed at 4.55 but line was engaged. The harper loan was pretty simple, done and dusted about 3.

We had to prove we had sent the fax before the 5 o clock deadline

[Vision]

Like Sidwell has played brilliantly since he left. The problem with the two of them was that they complimented each other perfectly. One without the other just does not work. And has been said on a thousand threads not a million miles for here, Sidwell has not been adequately replaced.

Agreed, Villa should have signed Harps too.

When Villa were playing with a 3 man central midfield of Petrov, Barry & Sidwell they were a Top 4 team. The moment they bought Heskey and dumped Sidwell they started to sink like a stone. Whether this was purely down to the system change or to Sidwell being left out is open to debate but I suspect its a combination of both. Even this season the first game is a disappointing home defeat V Wigan and then Sidwell returns (in a 3 man central midfield) and they beat Liverpool & Fulham.

[Archie's penalty]

Sidwell and Harper were very fit and could both play box to box.In the first season in the premiership they were nearly always playing against three in midfield,and were very rarely overwhelmed.Arsenal at home the obvious exception,but that was two against five!

I personally think they were the best central midfield pairing by far we have had in my 40 years of watching Reading.They always played with two out and out wingers who hugged the touch line.With hindsight we should have paid Sidwell what ever he wanted to stay and we would still be in the premiership.

Not sure how Howard will fit in,unless he is going to play just behind a lone striker.His defensive work is none existent from the little i have seen of him,but he does have an eye for a goal which we do need.

Good post. Totally agree. Harps and Sidwell were brilliant together. An extra 5,000 a week would have kept us up but I suspect that when Sidwell smelt Chelsea a-coming we had no chance.

So Vision do you think Sidwell is key for Villa?

[Vision]

Sidwell and Harper were very fit and could both play box to box.In the first season in the premiership they were nearly always playing against three in midfield,and were very rarely overwhelmed.Arsenal at home the obvious exception,but that was two against five!

I personally think they were the best central midfield pairing by far we have had in my 40 years of watching Reading.They always played with two out and out wingers who hugged the touch line.With hindsight we should have paid Sidwell what ever he wanted to stay and we would still be in the premiership.

Not sure how Howard will fit in,unless he is going to play just behind a lone striker.His defensive work is none existent from the little i have seen of him,but he does have an eye for a goal which we do need.

Good post. Totally agree. Harps and Sidwell were brilliant together. An extra 5,000 a week would have kept us up but I suspect that when Sidwell smelt Chelsea a-coming we had no chance.

So Vision do you think Sidwell is key for Villa?

I thinks its mainly the system which suits the majority of their players to be honest but I do think he's a better player than most give/gave him credit for.

[Archie's penalty]

Sidwell and Harper were very fit and could both play box to box.In the first season in the premiership they were nearly always playing against three in midfield,and were very rarely overwhelmed.Arsenal at home the obvious exception,but that was two against five!

I personally think they were the best central midfield pairing by far we have had in my 40 years of watching Reading.They always played with two out and out wingers who hugged the touch line.With hindsight we should have paid Sidwell what ever he wanted to stay and we would still be in the premiership.

Not sure how Howard will fit in,unless he is going to play just behind a lone striker.His defensive work is none existent from the little i have seen of him,but he does have an eye for a goal which we do need.

Good post. Totally agree. Harps and Sidwell were brilliant together. An extra 5,000 a week would have kept us up but I suspect that when Sidwell smelt Chelsea a-coming we had no chance.

So Vision do you think Sidwell is key for Villa?

I thinks its mainly the system which suits the majority of their players to be honest but I do think he's a better player than most give/gave him credit for.

I think he's a lot better than Reo-Coker that's for sure. And glad to see Shorey playing regularly for Villa as well.