Sonko

[brendywendy]

I'd rather hope that his past achievements will be totally forgotten by the management so as they can give an objective view of whether he is worth signing up.

luckily we as a club, and our manager would never do otherwise.

[Sarah Star]

I'd just like to know what has made our manager go from saying he wouldn't sign him to considering him now.

[Focher]

If Sonko had never played for us before, there is not a hope in hell he'd be anywhere near the club under consideration. Id rather have Guy Branston at the back, and i mean that from the bottom of my heart. Nothing personal.

[brendywendy]

I'd just like to know what has made our manager go from saying he wouldn't sign him to considering him now.

maybe sonko has proved to McD that his attitude at least is spot on, and that his fitness seems better

[Maguire]

Id rather have Guy Branston at the back, and i mean that from the bottom of my heart. Nothing personal.

That's probably the most racist thing I've ever read.

[RobRoyal]

If Sonko had never played for us before, there is not a hope in hell he'd be anywhere near the club under consideration. Id rather have Guy Branston at the back, and i mean that from the bottom of my heart. Nothing personal.

Well that's rubbish. We're talking about a 30-year-old centre-back who was one of the finest defenders in this division only 5 years ago, not old enough to be considered past his peak, who is available on a free and will presumably accept wages comfortably within the range of the club. The major mark against him has been his inability to perform consistently to a decent level since a serious injury a few years back. It's absolutely sensible to take a punt on the guy in the hope that he can regain something like his old form, because if he even plays to 80% of the ability he showed in 2005/6 he'll be a great bargain. If he can't do it - well, we've at least got experienced centre-back cover in for no outlay.

It's also absolutely sensible to throw into the mix that people at the club know Sonko's character, and can be confident that his attitude and professionalism are top notch. That's not nostalgia, it's using the info we have to make the best decision.

[floyd__streete]

I'd rather hope that his past achievements will be totally forgotten by the management so as they can give an objective view of whether he is worth signing up.

luckily we as a club, and our manager would never do otherwise.

Another sentimentalist.

If Sonko had never played for us before, there is not a hope in hell he'd be anywhere near the club under consideration.

I'd probably agree with this tbh.

It's also absolutely sensible to throw into the mix that people at the club know Sonko's character, and can be confident that his attitude and professionalism are top notch. That's not nostalgia, it's using the info we have to make the best decision.

Didn't he refuse to play for the reserves shortly before leaving us?

[Focher]

If Sonko had never played for us before, there is not a hope in hell he'd be anywhere near the club under consideration. Id rather have Guy Branston at the back, and i mean that from the bottom of my heart. Nothing personal.

Well that's rubbish. We're talking about a 30-year-old centre-back who was one of the finest defenders in this division only 5 years ago, not old enough to be considered past his peak, who is available on a free and will presumably accept wages comfortably within the range of the club. The major mark against him has been his inability to perform consistently to a decent level since a serious injury a few years back. It's absolutely sensible to take a punt on the guy in the hope that he can regain something like his old form, because if he even plays to 80% of the ability he showed in 2005/6 he'll be a great bargain. If he can't do it - well, we've at least got experienced centre-back cover in for no outlay.

It's also absolutely sensible to throw into the mix that people at the club know Sonko's character, and can be confident that his attitude and professionalism are top notch. That's not nostalgia, it's using the info we have to make the best decision.

If he signs, then im sure you will look back on your post and realise your the one talking rubbish, Sonko lost his career in one foul swoop by deciding to be the big man and play on at home to Sheffield Utd in the 2006/2007 season.

[who are ya?]

Apart from that ONE season he's been quite embarrassing to watch on a football pitch to be honest. I don't think we have a player training with us who is a top class, frustrated defender looking to hit his best again, we have a shit footballer hoping a hoof down Nostalgia Avenue will rescue his career.

[brendywendy]

I'd rather hope that his past achievements will be totally forgotten by the management so as they can give an objective view of whether he is worth signing up.

luckily we as a club, and our manager would never do otherwise.

Another sentimentalist.

id say so.
but what im saying is looking at BMcDs actions so far, he isnt, and wouldnt dream of doing something for sentimental reasons. if bri thinks hes past it, or has the wrong attitude, he wont bring him in. if he does, he will.

[brendywendy]

Apart from that ONE season he's been quite embarrassing to watch on a football pitch to be honest. I don't think we have a player training with us who is a top class, frustrated defender looking to hit his best again, we have a shit footballer hoping a hoof down Nostalgia Avenue will rescue his career.

two side of the same coin, and well only be able to tell after the fact which side of the coin is more accurate

[RobRoyal]

Didn't he refuse to play for the reserves shortly before leaving us?

Er...yes. Well ok, but I chalk that up as a relatively minor spat. I think we know he isn't going to turn out to be a Greg Halford, let's say.

If he signs, then im sure you will look back on your post and realise your the one talking rubbish, Sonko lost his career in one foul swoop by deciding to be the big man and play on at home to Sheffield Utd in the 2006/2007 season.

Given that my point is yes, he may well have been effectively finished by his injury but it's worth finding out, considering he's on a free, I don't see how an unsuccesful season is going to show that I'm talking rubbish.

Criticising him for an ill-advised decision to put himself on the line for the club seems a bit churlish to me. Not sure what the evidence is that his attempt really made that much of a difference to the rest of his career.

[Archie's penalty]

Happy to see Sonko back. If he does a good job tonight, sign him up.

And BMD will do so I reckon.

[Terminal Boardom]

If I had to make a choice between Mills or Sonko at the back, I would choose Sonko every time. Sure, Sonks had his moments and he did get found at in the Prem. In the Championship I am sure that he will do well enough if and when called upon. Mills, however, is too much of a liability. Too many lapses in concentration, limited pace to recover his position and generally too easy to wind up.

There is no room for sentiment in football - SSC showed that with the mistakes that he made in his last 2 seasons with us. That's why I prefer BMcD's judgement over any keyboard warrior on here.

[who are ya?]

We're more likely to get a Sonks who makes your toes curl everytime he goes near the ball, give away a penalty and get sent off over the one season hero where steaming through 4 of his own players to head the ball away was seen as genius because he was surrounded by a great team.

[brendywendy]

snks and ivar were the rocks that whole two years was built on

[Woodcote Royal]

Another sentimentalist.

............... and another dim witted contribution from a typical source.

Here is a player who is free, would like to return to us, was once an excellent performer at this level and, whatever I may think as a fan, Brian McDermott's decision to give Sonko a trial had nothing to do with sentimentality but everything to do with strengthening his squad whilst making a minimal dent in the budget.

If the player isn't deemed good enough he won't be signed but that decision will be made based on a fair assessment of his current fitness and ability rather than the blind ignorance posted by yourself and others.

[who are ya?]

I would love nothing more than for the Sonk to sign and prove me wrong for a season or 2, I really would.
I just think his shoddiness will far outshine his "qualities".

[floyd__streete]

If the player isn't deemed good enough he won't be signed but that decision will be made based on a fair assessment of his current fitness and ability rather than the blind ignorance posted by yourself and others.

Yes, and the omens aren't looking so good considering he was used sparingly by Portsmouth last season and has been injury ravaged for the past 3 seasons. What he did for Reading nearly half a decade ago is not particularly relevant any more. Hope you can understand my point here, I can't make it any more simple for you, old man.

[Ian Royal]

If the player isn't deemed good enough he won't be signed but that decision will be made based on a fair assessment of his current fitness and ability rather than the blind ignorance posted by yourself and others.

Yes, and the omens aren't looking so good considering he was used sparingly by Portsmouth last season and has been injury ravaged for the past 3 seasons. What he did for Reading nearly half a decade ago is not particularly relevant any more. Hope you can understand my point here, I can't make it any more simple for you, old man.

Thats slightly misleading in that Pompey had problems elsewhere they needed to use their loanees more desperately meaning he had to sit out a lot. Although the fact they aren't trying to sign him by the looks of it doesn't say a lot.

the positive is that despite being on about £19k a week at Stoke, he's vocal about just wanting to get back to playing and the money not mattering, so should be happy to take a big pay cut, especially coming back to where his best memories are.

he's making all the right noises, Reading feeling like being home, askign teh supporters not to expect him to pick up where he left off and to let him actually work to prove himself. Just wanting to play and get his career back on track. We could do far worse than Sonks if he's fit. And that's not expecting to see Superman return.