Michael Duberry v Martin Keown

[Harry Carry]

ex-Chelsea protigy Duberry

[Forbury Lion]

Perhaps there were non playing contributions that have gone unnoticed, such any benefits Sonko may have received from having a player with Keown's experience at the club.

[Handsome Man]

Murty may have had a better game than him on Monday, but Duberry has done well for us is general. Keown was such a depressing signing. It is so brilliant how quickly everything changed round in less than a year.

His last season at Arsenal had been painful as we was repeatedly given last minute substitute appearances on the wing to accrue enough appearances to get a Premiership winners' medal. When he came to us he was so obviously past it. I thought he was crap anyway - I might have had a chance at centre half with Tony Adams and Steve Bould beside me, Patrick Viera and another defensive midfielder in front and David Seaman behind.

[papereyes]

Murty may have had a better game than him on Monday, but Duberry has done well for us is general. Keown was such a depressing signing. It is so brilliant how quickly everything changed round in less than a year.

His last season at Arsenal had been painful as we was repeatedly given last minute substitute appearances on the wing to accrue enough appearances to get a Premiership winners' medal. When he came to us he was so obviously past it. I thought he was crap anyway - I might have had a chance at centre half with Tony Adams and Steve Bould beside me, Patrick Viera and another defensive midfielder in front and David Seaman behind.

He coaches my mates at the university team and apparently can still outrun most of the squad over 100 metres. That's scary - he wasn't remembered for his pace at the best of times.

[Whore Jackie]

Didn't our form absolutely disintegrate that season? Were they brought in as it disintegrated or before?

Anyway, Keown played about 5 games for us, Ferdinand about double that. Impact on the pitch - minimal, impact behind the scenes? Who knows.

Oh, and if you want to see a small squad, Soccerbase, Reading squad, 04/05

Well two thirds of Reading’s total points that season came before the New Year, so the form did fall away. Doubt you can pin all the blame on Keown and Ferdinand for that. Classic mix of injuries, bad luck and Coppell’s indecision are as likely. Plus some much stronger teams over the last few months. Sixth or seventh in the table was probably a fair placement for the season as a whole, just a shame that West Ham nabbed the last play-off spot.

The point is, that since then, Coppell’s not really used the loan system too brilliantly. And come January, an inspired loan signing – old pro or not – might make the difference.

[Row Z Royal]

Caption:


"MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDD"

[rhroyal]

Duberry has only just turned 33, and should still be good for another season or two, I would have thought. Good experience, good physical strength, hopefully a good influence around the kids. Keown was 38 when he moved here, and clearly past it, especially as he wasn't given a cvoaching role. Hopefully he was still a positive influence on the younger players, but you could hardly rate his reading career as successful. Or even notable.

Keown did a job for us, was a rock when he came on at Sunderland away which was a massive win for us after being a goal down and allowed us to have a sniff of the playoffs until we capitulated against Cardiff

Quite right. Keown turned that game.

Never understood the vitriol surrounding the loan signings of Keown and Ferdinand. Suspect their influence off the field more than compensated for the lesser impact on the pitch. You can count on one finger, the loan signings – over the last 10 years – that have been truly made the difference, and Upson’s now an England regular. LittIe, for one, was really quite poor, whilst on loan from Burnley. Certainly wouldn’t be averse to a seasoned pro or two on loan, just to nudge us closer to promotion.

I'd say Upson's the best centre back I've seen play for us, he looked like the good kid in the playground when he was in Div 1. Chadwick had moments, but in general our short term signings have had very little impact since I've been following. Ferdinand and Keown were no different, I'd rather have Doobs any day. I think Michael Branch and Leo Roget take the prize for the most useless loan signings ever though. We still went up mind you.

[Whore Jackie]

I'd say Upson's the best centre back I've seen play for us, he looked like the good kid in the playground when he was in Div 1. Chadwick had moments, but in general our short term signings have had very little impact since I've been following. Ferdinand and Keown were no different, I'd rather have Doobs any day. I think Michael Branch and Leo Roget take the prize for the most useless loan signings ever though. We still went up mind you.

*cough*
Eric Nixon