Coppell tries to control Wild Bunch

Ins and outs at Reading part one: The outs

The summer transfer minefield is something that fills me with more than a little anxiety, especially now I’ve realised we are relegated (see my previous blog entry). Inevitably, as one of the fallen angels from the Premiership, transfers in might be outweighed considerably by transfers out. Will we hang on to all (or any?) of our key players, or will I be called upon by Steve Coppell to do my Lone Ranger act and fill an empty space on the subs bench? (I am available Steve).

With this apprehension denting my cool, clam exterior, a couple of nights ago I sought solace in a DVD night with my lovely (and very football savvy) girlfriend.

Sports DVDs were obviously out. Although the first half of the 1995 play-off final did enthuse briefly, the thought of seeing a missed penalty and John Madejski bouncing and “doing the Madejski helicopter” dance after Ade Williams’ second goal poured cold water on that thought.

Something which would be thought provoking… A Downfall or an Atonement-esque movie, was definitely out, as the prospect of either Hitler or a wet-nightie-wearing Keira Knightly morphing into James Harper proved too risky at this point. No, it needed to have gore and a slight hint of melancholy.

We settled (well I settled and convinced my lady that it was a film that would “improve us as people”) on The Wild Bunch, the poetic Peckinpah classic starring William Holden and Ernest Borgnine.

With the bullets flying and the blood popping everywhere, my mental resolve began to be bolstered. Like our four anti-heroes, Reading could face the Mexican hordes, the Palaces, Brums, and first up Nottm Forest, of the Championship with confidence. With Steve “Gatling Gun” Coppell at the helm, we would be alright. “Trust in Cop”, I thought.

At the end of the film, many lie slain. Our heroes (sorry spoiler alert), having fought as representatives of the Old West, have also fallen, but as Old Man Sykes turns to Thornton just prior to the credits he utters: “It’s not like it used to be, but it will do.”

This campfire rhetoric inspired me into action and so, conference calling a friend, we began discussing who might leave the Mad Stad. I then disregarded what they said and decided on this:

Currently already in the Reading version of Boot Hill are:

• Kitson, De la Cruz, Oster and Little – all four will be missed but in the longer term it made sense for players and club to part ways.

Those who might be riding off into the sunset:

• Leroy Lita If you had asked me last season whether he would be a Reading player in a year’s time, I would have said not a chance. He had fallen out with Coppell, his attitude off the pitch seemed bad (according to reports), he wasn’t playing and he didn’t look like he was going to. Loaned out to Charlton when we desperately needed goals last season, he looked like he would be out the door sharpish.

However, when he came back from Charlton, in terms of attitude he looked like a new player. Seeing him score on the final day at Derby, you could see that he had the hunger for scoring on a personal level. With Kitson gone, his strength and “at ‘em” attitude might well prove handy (as did the four goals against Trollhatten.) I think the reformed desperado will stay.

• Stephen Hunt Old curly flatcap/wide tie combo himself. Again he seemed like a man destined for pastures new, especially with Roy “Mad Dog” Keane knocking at Reading’s door. But I feel that he might just stay.

Keane has bought half the Spurs squad (obviously they are surplus to requirements as Tottenham get bigger players to “break into the top four”- a threat that they have made forever, and consistently failed to achieve, even when there were only four teams in the entire league), and Tainio and Malbranque are both able to fill a Hunt-esque role. Maybe the suitors aren’t as many as we think.

The other possible factor that will sway him to stay is us buying one Noel Hunt. Hell, it’s like a Hunt family version of Bonanza at Reading currently. I think Stephen “six shooter” Hunt stays as well.

• Kevin Doyle Again, the likes of Sunderland and Villa have courted the Cork Cowboy. I think we’re safe though. Both he and Hunt will continue to get regular international footy whilst playing in the Championship (an option not open to Kitson and Harper) and crucially he has said that he doesn’t mind staying. Staying, good lad.

• James Harper Yeah, he might go. Middlesbrough will offer the money and he will go to try and impress Capello. It will be a great loss if he goes and he will need replacing.

• Nicholas Shorey esq. The final of the “obvious” candidates who might leave. It’s pretty obvious he wants out. However, no decent offers have emerged yet and the likes of West Ham and Pompey have been active elsewhere.

Again I can see him staying. Although as my girlfriend said “I can see a last minute bid made for him on transfer deadline day” I think she’s right….he will go. Bugger.

The likes of Fae will leave (oh well, don’t fall off your horse as you ride out of town), the likes of Hahnemann, Sonko, Cisse, Convey, Rosenoir, Murty and the rest of the posse will stay. Next up – I will venture my opinion on who we might buy and extol the virtues of my new best friend, Noel Hunt.

Mike Hanbidge

Comments

[Mike]

Re Kevin Doyle - I was meaning we bought him from Cork..(try getting cowboy alliteration incorporating Wexford... "Wild West Wexfordian"?)either way- a diamond player, I'm sure you'd agree Joseph, who isn't leaving - brilliant.

[Joseph]

Kevin Doyle is from Wexford, not Cork!

[pasher]

Here's hoping you are right, and the squad stays together (and the season doesn't end like the Alamo)

Think releasing Oster was a mistake. If Little had stayed, Kebe and him would have provided two decent options on the right. Without Little, the team is short in that position, and Oster was capable of good runs and quality delivery. Just hope Kebe doesn't get injured, or we will be back to where we were for much of last season.

Was great to that Lita is scoring in Sweden, and with Noel, have four good strikers again. Could do with a tall striker though.