[Mat15(MH)]

I understand that but it just proves if we keep stating an Interest in players without launching a bid whether it be 4 mil or 8 mil, were going to lose out on players. JP has been interested in this player for a while now as has RH and DA. by now you would of thought a bid, however small or large, would of been lodged. It just shows we like Yo save the pennies and bring in people who cannot improve the team on the last day of the window. I really wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happens with foster at this rate and we end up with paddy Kenny!

It's always been the same IMO at the Albion, save money and don't pay the wages therefore players don't come.

I understand we wouldn't of placed 8mil bid for him. But I'm sure reading would accept 5mil from a premier league team rather than 8mil from a championship club that probally won't come back up this season.

Just another example of not willing to pay for players and losing out.

Why would they rather accept 5 Million from us than 8 Million from West Ham?

[DudleyBaggieFan]

Why would they rather accept 5 Million from us than 8 Million from West Ham?

I would of thought long would of stepped in saying he would rather play prem football rather than championship.

[Mat15(MH)]

I would of thought long would of stepped in saying he would rather play prem football rather than championship.

I don't think that would stop the club accepting the bid,it might mean that Long rejects them then we'd still be in with a chance of buying him if we desperately want him,which if we do means we will offer them a decent deal.If not we move onto another target.

[Jack Russell]

Two announcements over the weekend.Who was it that said that.We will end up loosing out and going foreign instead

[royhan]

There's been plenty of specultation linking us to Long, but I cannot recall seeing a direct quote from Roy declaring our interest.

[bigbadjohn]

why do we take bloody ages messing about , then others clubs just make a bid instead of albion pratting about not doing anything !

[B_H_Baggie]

Well West Ham are certainly upping the ante.

Will ultimately come down to how much we want him as we will know how much they want for him by now and if we do go for him it will be down to the player to decide between us and them.

[Savvas78]

The ball's in our court now. If we really want him we will have to match West Hams' offer.

[wbako]

West Ham are bidding stupid money - leave them to it.

[lordbaggie]

I understand that but it just proves if we keep stating an Interest in players without launching a bid whether it be 4 mil or 8 mil, were going to lose out on players. JP has been interested in this player for a while now as has RH and DA. by now you would of thought a bid, however small or large, would of been lodged. It just shows we like Yo save the pennies and bring in people who cannot improve the team on the last day of the window. I really wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happens with foster at this rate and we end up with paddy Kenny!

It's always been the same IMO at the Albion, save money and don't pay the wages therefore players don't come.

I understand we wouldn't of placed 8mil bid for him. But I'm sure reading would accept 5mil from a premier league team rather than 8mil from a championship club that probally won't come back up this season.

Just another example of not willing to pay for players and losing out.

Yeah, just like JP did with Curtis Davies, Peter Odemwingie....

Sheesh, the things that JP gets falsely accused of just to stoke up the arguments that fit people's prejudices.

Never let the facts get in the way of your opinion, eh?

[wba1993dave]

stop moaning   People need to realize that West Ham have to get back to the Premier League this season, so there going to take a few risks, if they want to pay 5 million plus add ons then we look elsewhere, we wont pay that sort of money .

[lordbaggie]

West Ham are bidding stupid money - leave them to it.

Personally I've never been keen on Long even at £5m let alone £8m.

Would rather have A Johnson, Keane, Cole or Piqionne - someone with proven Prem league record.

So, I'm relieved.

But what happened to Readings "we won't sell him to a Championship rival"?

[richjonawba]

We could get alot better players than Shane Long for £8million, we could probably get 2 or 3 better players in fact. I wouldnt be happy seeing us spend over £3million for him.

[smethwickw]

Yeah, just like JP did with Curtis Davies, Peter Odemwingie....

Sheesh, the things that JP gets falsely accused of just to stoke up the arguments that fit people's prejudices.

Never let the facts get in the way of your opinion, eh?

I like how you have just picked out the 'good' buys and not the countless 'duds' we have signed in the past.

Anyway, as for Long I'm not fussed about him anyway. As you mentioned we need to be looking at Premiership players or those in the top flight of other countries.

[Lloydy]

I would be happy with Long but if the porn barons want to spunk £8m on him then let's leave them to it. We should not pay over the odds for him.

[tommi]

I dont understand why everyone was so shocked initially to see West Ham make the bid. Typical senseless move by the club once again.

If we get out bid by them for him it will be rather frustrating for the staff who put his name high up on the wanted list.

[LiamTheBaggie]

If West Ham want to run their club into financial ruin then let them because I would not like to see my club competing at those prices for a player who is in the last year of his contract. It just wouldn't make any sense in my opinion whether we rate the player or not we have to be realistic with our funds.

[LiamTheBaggie]

It's always been the same IMO at the Albion, save money and don't pay the wages therefore players don't come.

I understand we wouldn't of placed 8mil bid for him. But I'm sure reading would accept 5mil from a premier league team rather than 8mil from a championship club that probally won't come back up this season.

Just another example of not willing to pay for players and losing out.

If West Ham are willing to pay over the odds then let them. Why should we force ourselves into a bidding war with them when realistically we don't have the funds to? Whatever price Reading want for Shane Long would of been quite alot for a player in the final year of his contract. It would of made perfect sense to of tried to make the deal easier for ourselves if we are willing to sign the lad. If some club trys to beat our tactic by chucking stupid money around then let them.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

£5.5 million rising to £8 million is a ridiculous price to pay for a forward player without ANY Premier League experience 

This is obviously his value to Reading and I would hope that we now turn our attention to alternative targets.

West Ham are entitled to him at that price - only Gold, Sullivan and Brady are capable of sanctioning a signing like this - have they not learnt anything over the years - CRAZY FOOLS!

[WBAinDEVON]

Them two at at West Ham are Mega.8 million loose change to them.They wont crumble if they buy Long.They are premier league in terms of Money we are championship

[KnaveofAlbion]

Them two at at West Ham are Mega.8 million loose change to them.They wont crumble if they buy Long.They are premier league in terms of Money we are championship

Sorry but no, they are "Premier league in terms of money" because the owners are extreamly wealthy and can throw £tens of millions at the club "knowing" it'll be ok one day. This is exactly the same as what the owners of Leeds and Co thought.

JP is not in the same position and even if he were we're in no position to order him to spend his money on the club. The club is run as a proper business, West Ham isn't. This is the reason for the financial doping regulations that are coming in.

West Ham are run by fools. I wouldn't want us spending half that amount on Long. If i read in the next day or two we've matched that bid, or even 3/4 of it, it'll be very upset.

[boinger1968]

Sorry, have I missed something here? Have Reading accepted West Ham's offer and is Long going there? All I've heard so far are rumours so if there is any official word can someone please post a link. Failing that what's everyone panicing about? If the guy doesn't want to come to us then I'd rather he went to West Ham anyway. We only want players that want to play for us.

[boinger1968]

And another thing!....Just found this on SSN website

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_7062360,00.html

[Dan]

Reading must be absolutely mad to reject that offer, you could surely get a more than decent replacement in for a fraction of that. For someone who's only had one good season its a hell of a gamble from them.

Still, you'd think that rules us out. I can't see us breaking our transfer record, or at least so comfortably, for someone like Long. Particularly when Toivonen was ruled out as too expensive.

[KingKoren]

And another thing!....Just found this on SSN website

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_7062360,00.html

If they won't accept that we should turn our attentions elsewhere, he isn't worth the hassle. Let's just get him on a bosman next year - meanwhile lets try and find another Odemwingie.