Reading sniffing around Alan Bennett now.

**pete** · 18/01/2007, 2:13 PM

Read somewhere that Reading were preparing at 225k euro bid.

Also rumour doing the rounds now that we have rejected a 2nd bid.

It was a Colchester defender that Reading bid 1m for but his club looking for 2m sterling eventhough only 6 months left in his contract.

**Poor Student** · 18/01/2007, 2:31 PM

Originally Posted by pete

It was a Colchester defender that Reading bid 1m for but his club looking for 2m sterling eventhough only 6 months left in his contract.

It's that kind of nonsense that is encouraging English clubs to penny pinch around Ireland.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 19/01/2007, 5:20 PM

Originally Posted by razor

Apart from the boys ability I think Reading owe us a few bob anyway, don't you?

No, it was your fault Doyle had a clause.

Originally Posted by Sheridan

If he's good enough for the Premiership (and he's a fine defender, the most improved player in the league over the past two years) he's worth 500k.

If he's good enough for the Premiership he should be worth double that.

**pete** · 19/01/2007, 5:42 PM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

If he's good enough for the Premiership he should be worth double that.

My hunch is that a deal will be done on this within the next week. I get the impression Reading have given up on Colchester defender due to the price but would pay 250-300k sterling for Bennet which I feel we would accept.

**pete** · 20/01/2007, 2:48 PM

Sonko taken off injured. Looks crocked. AFAIK only 3 central defenders left in the Reading squad & not usre if the reserves any good. I think Coppell will be calling Turners Cross tomorrow...

**pete** · 20/01/2007, 3:04 PM

From the Mirror...

Lennox won't bow down to British

**brine3** · 21/01/2007, 11:24 AM

I would agree that players signed from the Scandinavian leagues are often of similar quality to the best LOI players, yet the Scandinavian leagues seem to be able to get way more money for their players. Their clubs tend to be financially more sound so aren't as desperate for money.

Markus Rosenberg went to Ajax for 5 million euro, and he's far inferior to Kevin Doyle.

**A face** · 21/01/2007, 11:36 AM

Lads, its nothing new that English clubs rip us off and they use alot of dirty tactics into the bargin. Its not like we have all copped on to this recently. As long as i have been following LOI football it was clearly obvious as to what was happening, English clubs have been raping LOI and all the while with a smug smile on their faces.

What needs to be different now is that Irish clubs need to start demanding the actual value of players. Not to bow down to what the media (who for the most part illustrate that they haven't got an idea each and every single week) think, or what advisors think or what scouts and English clubs think, the scouts and clubs should be the LAST thing that LOI clubs listen to as they are on the other end of the transaction. I mean in all fairness, anything they say should be taken with a pinch of salt.

If LOI clubs invest in players development then there is NOTHING wrong with expecting a proper fee for a player. In fact alarm bells should be going off all over the place, code red meltdown type scenario if basic development costs aren't being covered.

**neutrino** · 23/01/2007, 8:11 AM

Originally Posted by S�C

Amazed that people dont rate Benno.

We've had the best defence in the league for the last two season. There is a reason for that like.

On all our European travels opposition fans and Irish people living in the cities who come along to the games usualy ask about Benno before any other player

well anyone not rating him all support other clubs. sour grapes ? of course. if bennet went for a million people would still say something negative. plenty of naysayers on this forum. fair play to cork is what i say. if they've got players good enough to be sold on for good money and it benefits the club going forward then it shows they've been doing something right. developing players and selling em on has worked in other countries for leagues and clubs, so why not our league.

in terms of scandinavian players being sold for bigger money. thats simply down to them having a developed product. scandinvaian leagues have kicked on in the past 20 years and they have a mature league. ours is just starting out again. EL cud learn much from scandinavian leagues.
anyway players from these regions originally would have not been picked up or signed for very little money. our league is just at the stage of getting noticed. if the EL continues to develop then transfer fees in 3-5-10 years will be alot better. if cork or any EL club were qualifying regularly for champions league or uefa group stages players prices would rocket.