Back From Hiatus: Transfers and News

By: Ben | August 1st, 2009

Ohh it’s been too long, holidays and a bout of illness have kept me at bay but I’m back at full strength, so on with the news.

In the month that’s passed, we’ve had transfers in both ends of the spectrum, new kits and new tactics from the new boss. Did I mention it was new?

On the 30th June 2009 Ireland striker Kevin Doyle secured a move to Premier League new boys Wolves for an undisclosed club-record fee (thought to be around £6.5m). There had been a lot of talk before the actual deal was struck, and it didn’t come as much as a surprise when the press conference was called. It goes without saying that the team were disappointed to have missed out on promotion last season, and it was this failure which perhaps acted as a catalyst for players to leave. We’d already seen Lita, Hahnemann, Murty and Dubers leave, and the original Premier League team was depleted again with Kev’s departure. I for one will be watching Wolves’ progress intently; they’ve spent big this summer and Mick McCarthy has a strong team at his disposal. Here at Reading Offside we wish Kev the best of luck with his new team.

Stephen Hunt is again the centre of attention, this time with a move to Portsmouth seeminly imminent, maybe as soon as next week some reports are saying. I’ll do my best to bring you up to date with each progression on this.

Sheffield United have also opened talks with recently released Leroy Lita and Glen Little, hoping to snap the two ex-Royals on frees. No deals are concluded, but with no other interest reported they’re the front runners for their signatures.

And then on the other side of things, Boss Rogers made Chelsea youngster Ryan Bertrand our first signing of the 2009/10 season, bringing the left-back on loan for the season. Left-back was our area of experiment last year, with both Chris Armstrong and on-loan Dan Harding filling the role. I’m excited about Ryan’s potential, and Brendan gave good reasons for his approach, having worked with him as an understudy at Chelsea’s Youth Facility.

“He’s a big talent, he’s a boy who has obviously been groomed to fill in for Ashley Cole in the future.

“I was involved in Ryan coming to Chelsea when we took him to Gillingham at 16.

“I have worked closely with him for three years or so and nurtured his development and he’s developed into a top-class young player.”

After clocking up 40 appearances for Norwich last season, Bertrand could be a big-hitter for us this season.

And now the exciting bit! It’s a guilty pleasure of mine, checking out the new kits for each season, and I think Puma have juuust about nailed it this year…
Home
The new-look Puma design sees an arc down the arms and upper chest, whilst the hoops extend fully round the body. Admittedly from the shoot it’s a bit ‘oi oi sailor’-ish, but it looks lush in person.

Away
Back to basics as the startling Orange kit is dropped, and replaced with a beeeautiful white and green combination.
I love the green colour, it compliments the shirt so well, and a simplistic design is in favour of any eccentric one that some teams go for. Love love love it, well done Puma!