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Pavel Pogrebnyak has told Andrey Arshavin to come and join him at Reading FC
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Pogrebnyak tells Arsenal's Arshavin to join Reading FC

By Jonny Fordham
November 14, 2012

Pavel Pogrebnyak has told Andrey Arshavin to come and join him at Reading.

The Russia striker played with the Arsenal forward at Zenit St Petersburg and they have also been part of the international set-up together.

Earlier this month Royals owner Anton Zingarevich - a fellow compatriot and St Petersburg fan - spoke of his interest in bringing Arshavin to Madejski Stadium.

And Pogrebnyak is now having his say. He told a Russian website: "It's Arshavin who has to make the decision. Anton Zingarevich knows him well enough without listening to my opinion, as he is from St Petersburg.

"Andrey is a master and there is no doubt that it would be great to see him at Reading."

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On Fifa you also get lots of wins by setting pressure as 'high'. This & a 4-2-3-1 and you'll get a win Brian. Try a short corner too, confuses them and can create a better angle, I've got 3 routines set up on my Xbox.

Dog Leg
16/11/2012 at 08:16

My belief was that Mariappa can play in midfield? IMO, that is who should be there alongside the little fella. Leggetsworse is clearly jaded or off form.

Tilidie (The Original One), Woodley
15/11/2012 at 12:10

Ray, Surely a man of your considerable means should be donating £50 to Children in Need, however the Pearce situation unfolds. I've now got something in common with Bono; grandly demanding others donate whilst apparently padlocking my own wallet.

I agree that Guthrie is no Iniesta, although I can't recall anyone claiming that he was. The point is, that if he isn't available, for whatever reason, then Brynn should be on the bench as the only other 'fit' midfielder. Unless, of course, he's not considered physically able to play even 45 minutes of first teamj football.

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
15/11/2012 at 10:49

Just a few requests,

1) Brynjar Gunnarsson is an absolute bleedin' legend. You could not name a better player to show our younger players how to apply amd conduct themselves on and off the pitch. He is certainly nearing the end of his playing career, but I'd still back him to do a job for us in the Prem if called upon. Brian obviously thinks so, too.

2) Can we please give the Guthrie love-fest a rest please? Anyone from the outside would think that when he has played, the team miraculously morphs into freakin Barcelona. Results so far this season show that it makes little difference whether he in the side or not. From what I've seen of him so far, Simon Osborn would have kept him out of the team. Brian's job is on the line and he knows it. Only a complete moron of a manager would endanger their job by weakening the side because of some petty squabble. Brian sees Guthrie every day in training, and makes his team selections based upon what he sees in those training sessions. It's not just about last week's result. There is obviously a problem with Guthrie that the club are at pains to keep a lid on. In any event, remember; he is NO Iniesta.

3) It is OBVIOUS that Pearce has been whispered to by Brendan Rogers. We are not in a position to compete, wage-wise, with a club like Liverpool. It is pointless to further develop a player for the benefit of a rival club. Alex will be pulling on a red shirt in 2013. If I've got this wrong, I will donate £50 to children in need.

ray northstander
15/11/2012 at 07:58

Hello Forest. Who would've been included in preference to Brynn? How's Ritchie Bowman's knee coming on? Seriously, though, we could and should've brought in another midfielder (in my blinkered view).

I get the distinct impression (possibly wrongly) that Brynn won't be wheeled out even in the event of an injury crisis.

I don't know whether he's dropped behind Tshibola in the pecking order (though as an U-18 Tshibola isn't one of the 25). I can't comment on the quality of the younger players on the basis I haven't seen 'em play.

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
14/11/2012 at 16:03

I think Bryn is in the 25 man squad because his main role in the club is to help bring the youngsters through. Hence the reason, he is often plays as an allowed "over age player" in the youth teams. As BM, at the beginning of the season, thought he had all the players he needed, there was a place available, for him to cover in an emergency. If Bryn was not included, who would have been? Before you answer that, don't forget the under 21's (as of 1st January this year) can play this season in addition to the named squad.

Forest Royal, Forest of Dean
14/11/2012 at 15:42

How dare you, Hopeful! 'Dirty work' from the Sigg. I won't have it! He glided majestically across the pitch before immaculately and effortlessly despatching the ball into the oppositons net. Any other view uncomfortably impinges on my world view and, consequently, will be disregarded.

Lester, I think the medical team must've directed Guthrie to New Zealand, by boat, for his 'scan'. Seriously, how long are they intending to extend this 'injury'. Still, it is Pantomime season (almost, probably).

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
14/11/2012 at 15:24

@ MDDC: Very true Sir. But to retort, Gylfi did do his fair share of the dirty work in midfield I remember, before going on and having a pop at goal. He wasn't quite in the "free-role" Hughes was given.

Again I also agree with what you've mentioned about movement and ability. Even though we're supposedly playing a 4-4-2 formation, they way we seem to sit back and let teams come at us it looks more like 6-2-2 at best most of the times!

@HARB: I can only guess that maybe Bryn wouldn't sign if he wasn't included? Or maybe McD did actually miss out on another CM? Both pure guesses mind.

Not wanting to slate Jonny, but for anyone wanting to read some good theories regarding RFC's fortunes, someone posted a very good article about how similar this season seems with the season RFC were relegated from the PL on "thetilehurstend.com." Before anyone asks, I didn't write it, nor is it my site.

Hopeful Hoops, Reading
14/11/2012 at 14:14

Cos speculation is fun JJB!

I say sign him up, we all know a CM is required but chances like this may not come around that often.

He's obviously not having a great time at Arsenal which is why his form has dropped right off, but we've all seen what he's capable of.

He could be the catalyst RFC need to start playing the football we all want to see (and players want to play).

Either way (speculation or not), ain't nothing happening until Jan....what can we do in the meantime? Oh yeah, Guthrie can get fit & start playing how we need him to.

Lester Crinklesack
14/11/2012 at 13:52

yet again, the story does not back up the headline. There is no evidence here that Pogrebnyak has told Arshavin to do anything, Pog's just given an interview to someone else in which he said "it would be great to see him at Reading". News?

JJB
14/11/2012 at 13:22

Given that he won't even put him on the bench, it seems that McDermott feels the same way about Bryn as some of those on here.

This begs the question: Why did he waste an invaluable squad place on Bryn, and why did he leave us with such a weak centre midfield in terms of choice and quality?

HARB
14/11/2012 at 13:18

HH - I disagree with you, but only slightly. The Sigg was given some licence by BM, when Church, then Long, were deployed as a lone striker.

If anyone is genuinely suggesting Brynn as an option (other than perhaps an emergency right back), then repeat after me, in full John Laurie semi-unhinged style 'We're doomed!'.

Clearly the formation is important, but if we have virtually zero movement and lack the ability and, or, confidence to pass the ball it's a detail, rather than the major stumbling block.

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
14/11/2012 at 13:00

This is getting annoying now...

To all the posters who seem willing to put up what looks like your lottery numbers as a suggestion for formations, please bloody stop!

Fifa, Pro Evo, Generic football manager games ARE NOT real! Having a player situated just a few feet further away from where he would be anyway in reality only works to any great difference in computer re-generation.

In real-life you simply get told what position your playing and where to go, who to mark and what to do in x scenario. There rarely is any case where a player is told not to do any of the above because he's playing some "special role" that isn't midfield or as a striker.

The last player who was ever given anything near this mandate at RFC was Andy Hughes. Purely because he was in the form of his life, we had four very good standard positioned midfielders and were too cheap to find a decent striker who could play alongside Fozzy who by the way, was twice the player Shane Long was! You didn't see him topping up his goal tally in diving for pens.

Also most of these hairbrained midfield combinations don't seem to equate for the fact that we might actually need another CM on the bench. Bryn you say? Do me a favour...

Hopeful Hoops, Reading
14/11/2012 at 12:29

There's barely a slither of a chance of this transpiring. If we can't agree a new contract with Alex Pearce, then where's the cash for this coming from?

Where would be feature in our formation? He's not exactly ideally suited to chasing balls which have been hopefully pumped forward, is he? A mere cameo in our side would have him taking legal action against his agent and descending into a mild depression.

It's a distraction from the real business of accumulating enough points, by January, to keep us in the hunt for survival.

The real question, which seems to be being carefully avoided, is whether the Manager will have a midfielder on the bench on Saturday, or is he content to see Ledge and Tabb overworked and exhausted?