Reading play off final side

[Cooperman]

Saint Brendan

View attachment 4908

Indeed. Those halcyon days of the Rogers era, brilliant times.

 

[Swanjaxs]

When Brendan was appointed almost every Swans fan went "meh".

We need to find the next Brendan.

He almost came back, was sat in the Village Hotel waiting for the go-ahead, apparently...

 

[Skippyjack]

There's not a player in todays squad that would get in that squad, not one.

Vig for Ma-calamity.. Beattie and Richards would stroll into this side, and they were probably our weak links in that squad.. Orlandi and Gower were different gravy to our current midfield and they were effectively rotation players for Allen and Britton.. and everyone hated them, the stick they used to get.. it's crazy the spell that Matt Grimes has on our fanbase... he wouldn't get in the squad

 

[J_B]

He almost came back, was sat in the Village Hotel waiting for the go-ahead, apparently...

And had Joe Allen already lined up to come with him.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Vig for Ma-calamity.. Beattie and Richards would stroll into this side, and they were probably our weak links in that squad.. Orlandi and Gower were different gravy to our current midfield and they were effectively rotation players for Allen and Britton.. and everyone hated them, the stick they used to get.. it's crazy the spell that Matt Grimes has on our fanbase... he wouldn't get in the squad

Not one player of the current squad would even get on that bench apart from Viguroux, fact.

 

[Swanjaxs]

And had Joe Allen already lined up to come with him.

Also a fact mate, Joey was sat in TGI Fridays on Wind St that Sunday night with his in-laws waiting to sign next morning, was a Stoke City player a week later.
The rest is history.
The next level...

 

[A4Jack]

I know a few have mentioned Monk playing in the Premier League, did he even play more than one or two sub appearances for us in the PL? Genuinely question as can't remember if he did. I know Caulker took his place the first season and I thought Flores was Ash's partner season 2.

Monk after he came back from the bad injury was a massive part of the rise. Even his partnership with big Dennis Lawrence in League One was collosal.

 

[Skippyjack]

Not one player of the current squad would even get on that bench apart from Viguroux, fact.

Moore played his role superbly, impact sub, he wasn't an out and out goalscorer, but he was a superb technical player that could read a game and pick a pass.. Beattie was a bit of a donkey, but he always gave 100%.. Serran was the most underrated CB, he just had two better CBs who never got injured and never missed a game.. but even he had his detractors, because he was a cultured ball playing CB, and didn't dominate in the physical form that Monk and Ash had

 

[Swanjaxs]

I know a few have mentioned Monk playing in the Premier League, did he even play more than one or two sub appearances for us in the PL? Genuinely question as can't remember if he did. I know Caulker took his place the first season and I thought Flores was Ash's partner season 2.

Monk after he came back from the bad injury was a massive part of the rise. Even his partnership with big Dennis Lawrence in League One was collosal.

At least 20 games in the first season if I remember correctly, happy to be proven wrong mind

 

[A4Jack]

At least 20 games in the first season if I remember correctly, happy to be proven wrong mind

Not sure tbf mate you may well be right.

Looking back at those seasons compared to now is enough to make you cry.

It's like having everything you ever wished for in life only to end up back at home living with your parents.

 

[Skippyjack]

And Alan Tate as a FB, it never worked, he was rubbish there, but I'd probably still have picked him over Tymon, because Tate could play 90 minutes

 

[A4Jack]

And Alan Tate as a FB, it never worked, he was rubbish there, but I'd probably still have picked him over Tymon, because Tate could play 90 minutes

Tate was not great going forward but far better defensively than any of our current back four

 

[Swanjaxs]

Not sure tbf mate you may well be right.

Looking back at those seasons compared to now is enough to make you cry.

It's like having everything you ever wished for in life only to end up back at home living with your parents.

I'm most likely wrong in fairness, halcyon days, scrambled head time.
Next level

 

[jonboyswan]

Picking Darling over Monk is allowing judgement to be clouded by perceptions of what may have happened later. Mental. On a football level anyone who’d pick Darling over peak Garry Monk probably shouldn’t be allowed out unaccompanied. Monk played dozens of Premier League games in a moderately good Premier League team. Darling has probably played roughly the same amount of second tier games in a bang average to poor Championship team. Have a word with yourselves mun.

You do realise that Monk played afew seasons in a division below Darling and only when he reached 30ish did he play at a higher level. Monk also played in a side that was on the upward curve and were favourites for a couple of seasons in league 1 and then genuine playoff contenders in the championship, not a midtable side like today? Darling arguably has been our most consistent player since the end of last season and for me has potential to far exceed Monk.

 

[A4Jack]

I'm most likely wrong in fairness, halcyon days, scrambled head time.
Next level

Never stop believing that it's where we should be mate. It may be back one day.

Not with Luke at the helm mind or with our current crop