Griffin to sign

[Sun Tzu]

So, to conclude, in this thread titled 'Griffin to sign', we've established that Jem Karacan may be going to Turkey, but probably isn't, and we do or possibly don't mind if he goes?

I think some of that is up for debate to be honest....

[loyalroyal4life]

So most people are now agreeing that losing Jem isn't going to rock our squad, so what was wrong with me saying wouldnt mind him going to Turkey!!

We need cash from somewhere and he will do!

Losing him now may not rock our squad, but we'd be losing a potentially important player.

Please define what you mean as 'important' because for me losing someone who is highly unlikely to be in the 1st choice central partnership with just 1 year left on contract = sell on and get some monies

[Royal_Delight]

So most people are now agreeing that losing Jem isn't going to rock our squad, so what was wrong with me saying wouldnt mind him going to Turkey!!

We need cash from somewhere and he will do!

Losing him now may not rock our squad, but we'd be losing a potentially important player.

Please define what you mean as 'important' because for me losing someone who is highly unlikely to be in the 1st choice central partnership with just 1 year left on contract = sell on and get some monies

IMO, he did exceptionally well against Liverpool in the FA Cup last season. Constantly tracked back to support the defense and made many good tackles on Gerrard and Aquilani to prevent Liverpool from scoring. I know that I should not be judging him on one game but to play like that against one of the best teams in England is truly great. He may not be a first team player yet but I am confident that he will make the cut in the years to come. He's only 21!

[SpaceCruiser]

Please define what you mean as 'important' because for me losing someone who is highly unlikely to be in the 1st choice central partnership with just 1 year left on contract = sell on and get some monies

IMO, he did exceptionally well against Liverpool in the FA Cup last season. Constantly tracked back to support the defense and made many good tackles on Gerrard and Aquilani to prevent Liverpool from scoring. I know that I should not be judging him on one game but to play like that against one of the best teams in England is truly great. He may not be a first team player yet but I am confident that he will make the cut in the years to come. He's only 21!

Absolutely spot on.

[Still Hate Futcher!]

In the ideal world I'd rather we kept him. However, as disappointed as I'd be to see Karacan go (ditto Fed's) if we did have to sell to cover our debts/raise transfer funds then I think they could both be deemed surplus to requirements.

The loss of a player like Gylfi or Kebe would however probably screw our promotion chances.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Karacan can be the new HARPER imho, would be happy to get as many good seasons as the ledge gave us.

[Sarah Star]

Don't want to lose Jem... has Griffin signed yet?

[Royalwaster]

Don't want to lose Jem... has Griffin signed yet?

Having his medical this very minute - or rather waiting in the queue behind Tommy Smith, Robbie Fowler et al.!

[georgerob]

GRIFFIN FOR READING!

[Isaac Hunt]

Back on thread, hopefully this is getting closer...

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_6161622,00.html

Pulis ready to sell
Griffin and Tonge told they can leave

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has told Andy Griffin and Michael Tonge that they can leave the club.

Both players spent time on loan in the Championship last season with Reading and Derby respectively, and Pulis admits he will not stand in their way.

Pulis is looking to trim some of his squad members over the course of this summer ahead of their third season in the Premier League.

Yes, I'm open to offers for several players, including Griff and Tongey," Pulis told The Sentinel.

Ibrahima Sonko and Tom Soares also understood to be amongst those who could be allowed to leave.

"I'm not kicking any of these players out of the club," he continued. "But if offers come in for any of them, then we will speak to those involved."

Pulis, though, is welcoming back Carl Dickinson, Ryan Shotton, Ben Marshall and Diego Arismendi into the fold after all four spent time on loan in the Football League last term.

"Now we will want to see them come back and impress with their work-rate and attitude in pre-season before deciding whether another loan spell will do them good," he said.

Pulis also confirmed his retained list for the coming season with youth midfielder Nathaniel Wedderburn released alongside Amdy Faye.

The club have offered Salif Diao a new 12-month deal, while Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton is considering a short-term contract.

[Hoop Blah]

I've got a good feeling about the Griffen deal. I don't put a lot of weight against the guff that players spout about enjoying a club or being happy to stay etc etc because for the most part they're just saying the right thing.

I do think Griffen seems a sensible kind of guy though and probably realises where his level is and I reckon he'll know that he could do well and enjoy himself at Reading for a couple of seasons.

Tom Soares is another midfielder I've always quite liked and if we were to clear the decks a bit and needed a physical runner we could do worse. Another local lad too...

[Plymouth_Royal]

Please define what you mean as 'important' because for me losing someone who is highly unlikely to be in the 1st choice central partnership with just 1 year left on contract = sell on and get some monies

IMO, he did exceptionally well against Liverpool in the FA Cup last season. Constantly tracked back to support the defense and made many good tackles on Gerrard and Aquilani to prevent Liverpool from scoring. I know that I should not be judging him on one game but to play like that against one of the best teams in England is truly great. He may not be a first team player yet but I am confident that he will make the cut in the years to come. He's only 21!

Absolutely spot on.

Completely agree. Jem is one hell of player and is highly underrated IMO. He's got bundles of energy, likes to get forward and he's quite creative for a box to box midfielder. He also showed against liverpool that he's capable of playing against some good prem players. I hope he plays more games this season in place of howard, otherwise he'll be off to get first team football.

[W&E Royal]

According to a work colleague of mine, Tom Soares turned down a loan move to us in January as he's vowed never to play for us due to the dreadful way we treated his brother.

[Wycombe Royal]

Completely agree. Jem is one hell of player and is highly underrated IMO. He's got bundles of energy, likes to get forward and he's quite creative for a box to box midfielder. He also showed against liverpool that he's capable of playing against some good prem players. I hope he plays more games this season in place of howard, otherwise he'll be off to get first team football.

It's just a shame that his passing and shooting is woeful. All the other attributes of a very good box-to-box midfielder are there.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Karacan can be the new HARPER imho.

In that case, i'm happy for him to go!

[Row Z Royal]

Karacan can be the new HARPER imho.

In that case, i'm happy for him to go!

Booooooooo!

[W&E Royal]

Completely agree. Jem is one hell of player and is highly underrated IMO. He's got bundles of energy, likes to get forward and he's quite creative for a box to box midfielder. He also showed against liverpool that he's capable of playing against some good prem players. I hope he plays more games this season in place of howard, otherwise he'll be off to get first team football.

It's just a shame that his passing and shooting is woeful. All the other attributes of a very good box-to-box midfielder are there.

His passing isn't woeful, in some games it's been excellent, there have been a couple of games where his passing has been misplaced but they are few and far between, in think you're being a bit harsh on Jem.

[SpaceCruiser]

Completely agree. Jem is one hell of player and is highly underrated IMO. He's got bundles of energy, likes to get forward and he's quite creative for a box to box midfielder. He also showed against liverpool that he's capable of playing against some good prem players. I hope he plays more games this season in place of howard, otherwise he'll be off to get first team football.

It's just a shame that his passing and shooting is woeful. All the other attributes of a very good box-to-box midfielder are there.

His passing isn't woeful, in some games it's been excellent, there have been a couple of games where his passing has been misplaced but they are few and far between, in think you're being a bit harsh on Jem.

Well, he's still young and has potential to improve. I have high hopes of the young lad.

[Hoop Blah]

According to a work colleague of mine, Tom Soares turned down a loan move to us in January as he's vowed never to play for us due to the dreadful way we treated his brother.

Interesting. Louis was probably the more naturally gifted of the two (or at least flashier might be a better way of putting it) but he never really got a decent chance.

Not sure the club should've done more to help him make it, but maybe there's more to it than meets the eye. He's not one that's gone on to prove the club wrong!

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Soares was utter dogs mess at Stoke and hardly set the world on fire when put out on loan. In fact Charlton sent him back last season despite only paying a fraction of his wage.

Too much thinking with his willy me thinks...

Played a bit with Louis, didn't he have some pretty serious injuries?