Long Return Finally Confirmed

By Hob Nob Anyone?

The rumour that has been running for years has finally been confirmed, as free agent Shane Long has returned to Reading FC to sign a one year contract. The rumour gathered pace over the last month after it was confirmed that Southampton would not be renewing his contract, with rumours virtually every day that the deal was done. However, finally the rumour is definitely true with the club revealing Long back in Reading colours with pictures at the Oracle and the training ground. It's fair to say that the career of Reading's former player of the season, who spent some epic years at Reading, has been tailing off in recent seasons but there's plenty of reason to expect he will have plenty to offer in the Championship.

Shane Long signed for Reading originally back in 2005, a massive 17 years ago now, as an unknown player from Cork City. His first goal for the club came on New Years Eve in only his second appearance, coming off the bench with twenty minutes to play to grab the equaliser with just two minutes left on the clock. The first Reading goal of that game was scored by Kevin Doyle. Long went on to score 4 goals that season in limited opportunities mostly from the bench, including two goals off the bench in our 5-0 demolition of Derby. The next season with Reading in the Premier League, Long found himself frequently off the bench to replace either Leroy Lita or Kevin Doyle until he started to earn a place in the starting eleven later in the season. With 4 goals that season and 3 in the following 2007/2008 season in the Premier League, Long was recognised as a hugely creative force up front as a supplier rather than scorer.

That pattern continued until the 2010/2011 season when Long made a huge breakthrough, smashing in a massive 28 goals over the season as Reading finished the season with play-off final defeat. His incredible form earned him player of the season and a 6.5 million pound move to West Bromwich Albion to return to Premier League Football. Regular goals for club and country kept coming, which led to a 7 million pound move to Hull City in January 2014, and then just seven months later a 10 million pound transfer to Southampton. Long continued to make a big contribution for the Saints until, after seven years at the club, gradually dropping out of favour and getting less match time. Most of his appearances for Southampton were off the bench, especially in the last few seasons. Even with limited opportunities Long left Southampton with 37 further career goals.

Welcome back Shane!

From the Discussion

CO CountryRoyal 11 Aug 2017 · 7:23pm

:lol: :lol: :lol: Us and Burnley in for him for £10m according to @agentuefa on twitter. Just huge lols all round.
SR Snowflake Royal 11 Aug 2017 · 8:57pm

I think he could probably do a job.
TM tidus_mi2 11 Aug 2017 · 10:25pm

I think he could probably do a job. No doubt but we're not spending £10m on him so therefore the rumour is obviously BS.
LI linkenholtroyal 11 Aug 2017 · 11:05pm

Don't get me wrong I think Shane long is brilliant and have fond memories of when he played for us but... 10 million pound for a 30 year old is just insane, we would be lucky to get 2 good years out of him. If this is true it shows how the price of footballers is just insane. If it was 2/3 million yes. I would rather spend 10 million on an up and coming youngster and take a chance. He would be worth it short term, but no long term gain to the club.
CO CountryRoyal 12 Aug 2017 · 12:12am

Don't get me wrong I think Shane long is brilliant and have fond memories of when he played for us but... 10 million pound for a 30 year old is just insane, we would be lucky to get 2 good years out of him. If this is true it shows how the price of footballers is just insane. If it was 2/3 million yes. I would rather spend 10 million on an up and coming youngster and take a chance. He would be worth it short term, but no long term gain to the club. Thing is in this day and age ALL transfer's are primarily short term, the only long-term considerations are financial, i.e how much can they get for a player when they sell. Generally…
ST Stranded 14 Aug 2017 · 9:52am

Some Burnley fan who is supposedly ITK on that there Twitter, thinks it is between us and them for Long. Supposedly agreed terms with Burnley but wants to speak to us as we have shown interest due to strong family ties and would like to come back if possible. Obviously complete bollocks you would think, but even if there is 1% chance of this being true it would be interesting.
SU Sutekh 14 Aug 2017 · 10:16am

Actually think this would be ideal as he is the sort of player we need up front But then this is 99% likely to be just a load of old made up cobblers
RO Royalwaster 14 Aug 2017 · 10:22am

Some Burnley fan who is supposedly ITK on that there Twitter, thinks it is between us and them for Long. Supposedly agreed terms with Burnley but wants to speak to us as we have shown interest due to strong family ties and would like to come back if possible. Obviously complete bollocks you would think, but even if there is 1% chance of this being true it would be interesting. Well if he's agreed terms with a Prem club I'd say that's it for us surely ...

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