Shane Long

[Happy Fox]

The only way we are going to get the likes of Mills and Long is by pricing clubs better placed than us out of the market. It's what Man City have had to do and there's no other way around it if you want to bring in the players to get you achieving quickly. BANG!

Exactly our club is now following this trend, and I expect when we reach the prem, I think the owners will really go for it not just to survive in the prem

[Happy Fox]

Hello, Reading fan living in Leicester here and I come in peace.

So here are my thoughts on Shane Long.

Long had joined Reading as part of the Kevin Doyle deal and quickly moved from the academy side to an impact player for the first team.

is perhaps my favourite Shane Long/Reading fan moment. For the next few years was continued to be used as an impact sub and Kevin Doyle's understudy. Being given only 5-10 minutes in a match its hard to judge his goal scoring record on appearances, in fact I think Shane Long has a better minutes to goal ratio than the likes of Doyle.

In 2009 the club's form mysteriously collapsed and Long was used more regularly. A small flurry of goals from Long helped keep our promotion dream alive but ultimately we choked it. In the summer Doyle ect left, in came Brendan Rodgers and Long was (presumably) told to bulk up as he came back from summer a bit fat. He and the rest of the team were then awful until McDermott came in. Who then turned everything around with a victory at Anfield in the cup, in which Long scored the equaliser and won the winning penalty. Scored a few more goals (including a brace against Villa) but ultimately the goals came in small bursts. Jury still out on Long at this point.

Last season however, we had to drastically change the way we played when we sold Gylfi Sigurdsson. It took a while to adjust, hence being mid table for the first half of the season. Long then seemed to thrive, probably because we were getting to ball out wide more rather than relying on Sigurdsson to produce something special. I think having another striker alongside him also helped, especially Noel Hunt who would often drop back creating space for Long to work the channels.

In conclusion as a striker I would say that Long's main attributes are his speed, strength, work rate and despite being quite small he will win balls in the air. He is also a very capable finisher, however at times he does show his rawness as a player but this is something that has been reducing from his game as he's got older. Obviously with every signing theres a risk, but Long is rated very highly here, much more than Mills was. Although not quite as universally loved here as Kevin Doyle, Shane Long is probably the better goalscorer.

Thanks for the post , I never realized how many Reading fans live in Leicester/shire

[Guest Bilo]

Hello, Reading fan living in Leicester here and I come in peace.

So here are my thoughts on Shane Long.

Long had joined Reading as part of the Kevin Doyle deal and quickly moved from the academy side to an impact player for the first team.

is perhaps my favourite Shane Long/Reading fan moment. For the next few years was continued to be used as an impact sub and Kevin Doyle's understudy. Being given only 5-10 minutes in a match its hard to judge his goal scoring record on appearances, in fact I think Shane Long has a better minutes to goal ratio than the likes of Doyle.

In 2009 the club's form mysteriously collapsed and Long was used more regularly. A small flurry of goals from Long helped keep our promotion dream alive but ultimately we choked it. In the summer Doyle ect left, in came Brendan Rodgers and Long was (presumably) told to bulk up as he came back from summer a bit fat. He and the rest of the team were then awful until McDermott came in. Who then turned everything around with a victory at Anfield in the cup, in which Long scored the equaliser and won the winning penalty. Scored a few more goals (including a brace against Villa) but ultimately the goals came in small bursts. Jury still out on Long at this point.

Last season however, we had to drastically change the way we played when we sold Gylfi Sigurdsson. It took a while to adjust, hence being mid table for the first half of the season. Long then seemed to thrive, probably because we were getting to ball out wide more rather than relying on Sigurdsson to produce something special. I think having another striker alongside him also helped, especially Noel Hunt who would often drop back creating space for Long to work the channels.

In conclusion as a striker I would say that Long's main attributes are his speed, strength, work rate and despite being quite small he will win balls in the air. He is also a very capable finisher, however at times he does show his rawness as a player but this is something that has been reducing from his game as he's got older. Obviously with every signing theres a risk, but Long is rated very highly here, much more than Mills was. Although not quite as universally loved here as Kevin Doyle, Shane Long is probably the better goalscorer.

Hold on just a second.

We're trying to sign and have bid for your top scorer and you don't seem to be crying.

There's no bitterness here.

You aren't trying to tell us how rich you are or how much of a shit tip Leicester is, though you do live here so that might explain it.

You aren't even telling us we're deluded.

And, and..... that's actually a bloody good post that shows you have functioning grey matter!

This is a Sven-signing-striker-saga like none other.

[Babylon]

Thanks for the post , I never realized many Royals live in Leicester

Richard III, Lady Jane Grey.

[Babylon]

Richard III, Lady Jane Grey.

And the guy who was Boba Fett in Star Wars... that's as good as royalty to me.

[Phil Gee's Mullet]

Richard III, Lady Jane Grey.

Speaking of which, I could do with a Richard the III

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Hello, Reading fan living in Leicester here and I come in peace.

So here are my thoughts on Shane Long.

Long had joined Reading as part of the Kevin Doyle deal and quickly moved from the academy side to an impact player for the first team.

is perhaps my favourite Shane Long/Reading fan moment. For the next few years was continued to be used as an impact sub and Kevin Doyle's understudy. Being given only 5-10 minutes in a match its hard to judge his goal scoring record on appearances, in fact I think Shane Long has a better minutes to goal ratio than the likes of Doyle.

In 2009 the club's form mysteriously collapsed and Long was used more regularly. A small flurry of goals from Long helped keep our promotion dream alive but ultimately we choked it. In the summer Doyle ect left, in came Brendan Rodgers and Long was (presumably) told to bulk up as he came back from summer a bit fat. He and the rest of the team were then awful until McDermott came in. Who then turned everything around with a victory at Anfield in the cup, in which Long scored the equaliser and won the winning penalty. Scored a few more goals (including a brace against Villa) but ultimately the goals came in small bursts. Jury still out on Long at this point.

Last season however, we had to drastically change the way we played when we sold Gylfi Sigurdsson. It took a while to adjust, hence being mid table for the first half of the season. Long then seemed to thrive, probably because we were getting to ball out wide more rather than relying on Sigurdsson to produce something special. I think having another striker alongside him also helped, especially Noel Hunt who would often drop back creating space for Long to work the channels.

In conclusion as a striker I would say that Long's main attributes are his speed, strength, work rate and despite being quite small he will win balls in the air. He is also a very capable finisher, however at times he does show his rawness as a player but this is something that has been reducing from his game as he's got older. Obviously with every signing theres a risk, but Long is rated very highly here, much more than Mills was. Although not quite as universally loved here as Kevin Doyle, Shane Long is probably the better goalscorer.

nice one chief, appreciated

[OriginalRobboFOX]

Bert has left because he was being abused by John Doe apparently and I don't know about Liam, but I believe he does have inside info.

Bert has not left FFS! It'll take more than one or two keyboard warriors getting on his case to make him delete his account. He has been on here for years.

People need to understand that he has a bit of info every now and again. That is it. When he posts things I'm sure he don't need people questioning the authenticity of the info or badgering him every two minutes with 'Bert, do you know anything....' etc. Give the guy a break and appreciate his tit bits of inside info.

[Clarkielcfc]

hope this all happens quickly!! hopefully have him in by saturday!!!

[Happy Fox]

hope this all happens quickly!! hopefully have him in by saturday!!!

It would be pushing it slightly imo Reading would have to accept the bid today, player undergoes a medical tomorrow and personal terms, announced on a press conference at Friday

[Clarkielcfc]

haha anyone listening to talksport...adrian durham is having a right moan about us...ohhh i dislike that bloke with a passion!! 'leicester city should NOT be allowed to pay 7.5 million for ONE player'...blah blah blah...shut up durham!!!!!

[Bob Weasel Fox]

It would be pushing it slightly imo Reading would have to accept the bid today, player undergoes a medical tomorrow and personal terms, announced on a press conference at Friday

think sven has already hinted that we prob wont have a new striker before saturday

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

haha anyone listening to talksport...adrian durham is having a right moan about us...ohhh i dislike that bloke with a passion!! 'leicester city should NOT be allowed to pay 7.5 million for ONE player'...blah blah blah...shut up durham!!!!!

He's not saying we shouldn't, I think he's just wondering how a second tier team is paying top whack for someone.

[Jimbo]

Any1 think that this bid could

Just be put in to make brizzle panic that we have moved on from Maynard and we are pursuing other targets? I think they were resigned to losing Maynard but they wanted to hold out for 5.5-6m. It just seems like we hadn't shown alot of interest in long until now. I may be completely of the mark but what dya think?

Or maybe its the opposite?

Maybe we enquired about Long ages ago were told the asking price was 10 million, which supposedly it was when rumours about his future first came up so we switched to Maynard and steadily increased ours bids with him to make Reading realise what we were willing to pay. Then we go back and tell them how serious we are in the transfer market, and that we have 6/7 million to spend, Reading drop the asking price and boom Sven gets his man using smoke and mirrors to the best possible effect?

Its all a conspiracy

[Kingy_85]

Hold on just a second.

We're trying to sign and have bid for your top scorer and you don't seem to be crying.

There's no bitterness here.

You aren't trying to tell us how rich you are or how much of a shit tip Leicester is, though you do live here so that might explain it.

You aren't even telling us we're deluded.

And, and..... that's actually a bloody good post that shows you have functioning grey matter!

This is a Sven-signing-striker-saga like none other.

No mention that we should "pay back all the creditors from our administration days" either.

The blokes sound as a pound!

[MikeyT]

hope this all happens quickly!! hopefully have him in by saturday!!!

Would be great but if it is to happen i bet it won't be until at least next week. Probably getting way ahead of ourselves though. Bid to be accepted, him to come and have a medical, sign on the dotted line etc.

Be great if it could be done though.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Brian McDermott really doesn't want us to do well.

I love this.

[Clarkielcfc]

Brian McDermott really doesn't want us to do well.

I love this.

haha...dont think anyone wants us to do well...!!!

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Would be great but if it is to happen i bet it won't be until at least next week. Probably getting way ahead of ourselves though. Bid to be accepted, him to come and have a medical, sign on the dotted line etc.

Be great if it could be done though.

its weird but i still sort of hope we sign Maynard if only to piss the wurzels off

[ScouseFox]

This is superb, all this bitterness and jealously.

[MikeyT]

its weird but i still sort of hope we sign Maynard if only to piss the wurzels off

Let's just go caraaaazzzzzyyyy and sign both! ha

[Guest Bilo]

[Jimbo]

its weird but i still sort of hope we sign Maynard if only to piss the wurzels off

I hope we sign Maynard, he's a player I've wanted to see here for a few years, back before he moved to Bristol. And I'd love it even more if he signed now for the reason you state, it'd be great to rub their faces in it. But sadly I just can't see it happening anymore

[Guest MattP]

Brian McDermott really doesn't want us to do well.

I love this.

Of course he doesnt he manages a team in the same division.

[Guest shearfox]

Hopefully this happens as quick as the Mills deal...