Merged threads - Stephen Kelly to Reading

[Travers Barney]

The deliberation at opportunistic moments (topically at Blackpool away a couple of years back) highlighted his limitations...great heart and all that but deep down not enough to even make it to the edge of fulham folklore.

Nice pass to Gera though.

coyw

[Rudolph]

I see Reading are planning for next season, good luck to him though, he was a tryer.

[Berserker]

Nice bloke, drop dead gorgeous (according to Mrs S), but not quite good enough fo us.

Agree with Mrs S

[epsomraver]

:Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: Thank you Reading.

:yay: 082.gif  077.gif

Is this really the depth that some Fulham fans have sunk to? How sad...... fp.gif

:plus one: I think this bloke is a WUM , at least that is the most polite thing I can post without  084.gif 

[copthornemike]

Always thought Kelly was a good professional who gave 100% and never a moan on or off the pitch - just a shame he did not have more pace.

Particularly enjoyed how he sold Gareth Bale two dummies rather than hoofing the ball up the pitch when he came off the bench to replace the injured Reither vs Tottenham.

Personally I feel we may a significant problem if / when Reither gets injured, or is signed up by another club when his loan finishes. Neither Baird or Hughes fill me with confidence at Right Back.

[epsomraver]

Very true and being Fulham as soon as we sell our best cover ............injuries occur.

[Snibbo]

Some silly comments on here.

Kelly never gave less than 100% whenever he played. Towards the end of last season he was one of our most consistent performers, showing more attacking intent and linking up really well with Duff. It's funny how many will say "BH Riise was worth the money for those two crosses in Basel." What about Kelly? Was it it not he who set up Gera's deciding goal?

Always provided decent cover and really cared about the club. Good luck, Mr Kelly.

Hear, hear.  Very decent squad player, and a good buy for what we paid - 500k I seem to recall. Anyone know what Reading have paid for him or is it a free?

[ZhenP.Senderos]

Maybe a tad over enthusiastic with the emotes but I am still glad to see him go.

[Bassey the warrior]

Some silly comments on here.

Kelly never gave less than 100% whenever he played. Towards the end of last season he was one of our most consistent performers, showing more attacking intent and linking up really well with Duff. It's funny how many will say "BH Riise was worth the money for those two crosses in Basel." What about Kelly? Was it it not he who set up Gera's deciding goal?

Always provided decent cover and really cared about the club. Good luck, Mr Kelly.

Hear, hear.  Very decent squad player, and a good buy for what we paid - 500k I seem to recall. Anyone know what Reading have paid for him or is it a free?

We got him for nothing.

[Lighthouse]

Have to say that we will miss him. We have no cover for an elderley German Gentleman and that frankly for a Prem club is pathetic. Kelly always worked hard and did a good job. Good luck to him.

We have adequate cover if necessary - Hughes and Baird have plenty of experience in that position.

So Hughes plays there and Senderos comes in at centre half making us weaker in two positions or Baird goes there and we all remember how great he was at right back. There is cover and 'making do'

[aussierod]

Could this mean Danny Simpson perhaps coming in then? We looked to sign him in summer if I recall correctly and Newcastle have now replaced him with the French international Mathieu Debuchy. Just a thought I've got, but I'm not sure Simpson would be able to displace Reither currently, however he is far younger, but also expecting a pay packet which I think even Newcastle were baulking at. Actually, I just googled him as I was trying to look into his contract situation and noticed this loosely linked article

http://soccerlens.com/fulham-qpr-and-west-ham-chasing-danny-simpson/100663/

Regarding Kelly though, he was an excellent squad player, ie someone who could step in and do a dependable job for either short or long term without too many errors, and never caused any problems when new players were brought in ahead of him, however he seemed to be missing that little bit extra to take him to that next level (part of that could stem from the fact he's not played much - 71 games in 3.5yrs  for us, I would think only 2/3 of which were in the league though). I wish him all the best and hope he gets the opportunity for some significant playing time in order to properly prove himself in the league

[Bassey the warrior]

Maybe a tad over enthusiastic with the emotes but I am still glad to see him go.

Why are you so irked by him?

[Bassey the warrior]

Could this mean Danny Simpson perhaps coming in then? We looked to sign him in summer if I recall correctly and Newcastle have now replaced him with the French international Mathieu Debuchy. Just a thought I've got, but I'm not sure Simpson would be able to displace Reither currently, however he is far younger, but also expecting a pay packet which I think even Newcastle were baulking at. Actually, I just googled him as I was trying to look into his contract situation and noticed this loosely linked article

http://soccerlens.com/fulham-qpr-and-west-ham-chasing-danny-simpson/100663/

Regarding Kelly though, he was an excellent squad player, ie someone who could step in and do a dependable job for either short or long term without too many errors, and never caused any problems when new players were brought in ahead of him, however he seemed to be missing that little bit extra to take him to that next level (part of that could stem from the fact he's not played much - 71 games in 3.5yrs  for us, I would think only 2/3 of which were in the league though). I wish him all the best and hope he gets the opportunity for some significant playing time in order to properly prove himself in the league

Why would he leave Newcastle to come here to be a backup?

[EJL]

:Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: :Haynes The Maestro: Thank you Reading.

:yay: 082.gif  077.gif

Such an over the top reaction for a player who gave his all to the team.

I'll be reacting exactly the same way when someone finally releases us from the horror of watching Senderos play CB.

Is that Reznov? Avatar King.

[ZhenP.Senderos]

Maybe a tad over enthusiastic with the emotes but I am still glad to see him go.

Why are you so irked by him?

Because watching him play makes me want to rip my eyes out.

Going forward, he offers nothing. Combination of pace and lack of movement, opting to stay safe and stay back. The rare moments that he does cross, they never threaten. Defensively he's not even solid, his lack of pace is exposed again because his positional  awareness is MIA. Painful to watch too when he's selected ahead of Baird.

PS For those attributes at age 29? No thanks

PPS This was typed in a calm manner :)

[aussierod]

Could this mean Danny Simpson perhaps coming in then? We looked to sign him in summer if I recall correctly and Newcastle have now replaced him with the French international Mathieu Debuchy. Just a thought I've got, but I'm not sure Simpson would be able to displace Reither currently, however he is far younger, but also expecting a pay packet which I think even Newcastle were baulking at. Actually, I just googled him as I was trying to look into his contract situation and noticed this loosely linked article

http://soccerlens.com/fulham-qpr-and-west-ham-chasing-danny-simpson/100663/

Regarding Kelly though, he was an excellent squad player, ie someone who could step in and do a dependable job for either short or long term without too many errors, and never caused any problems when new players were brought in ahead of him, however he seemed to be missing that little bit extra to take him to that next level (part of that could stem from the fact he's not played much - 71 games in 3.5yrs  for us, I would think only 2/3 of which were in the league though). I wish him all the best and hope he gets the opportunity for some significant playing time in order to properly prove himself in the league

Why would he leave Newcastle to come here to be a backup?

Danny Simpson's contract only has 6 months to run on it and he hasn't signed a renewal, and it seems Newcastle have moved on by signing his replacement already. He apparently wants to come to London so he could be asked to fight for the position with Reither and hope we don't look to sign Reither permanently. I'd still prefer Reither but he would reduce our age and we'd be bringing in a fairly talented young english RB. Also, apparently he was only(!!!) offered 25k/week at Newcastle and I guess he values himself a little higher and we could offer more than that I would have thought

[VicHalomsLovechild]

I'm really disappointed with some of the comments regarding Stephen Kelly. I always felt we took it on the chin when a player made a mistake and accepted the fact we were never going to be able to afford and persuade the best to come here. Those that did though and who made the effort would be rewarded. There have been a fair few who have played their best football while with Fulham and in part that's due to the support (and forgiveness for the odd lapse) they get from the fans. Stephen Kelly played 30 plus times for us last season and we were just shy of our best ever points finish in the Premiership. I hope he gets better from the fans at Reading.
There are a few real to$$ers on this board.

[Apprentice to the Maestro]

There are some bitter and graceless people on this board.

Kelly was a good professional for us. He showed patience waiting for his opportunities. He had a good run for us at right back last season that really merited a continuation into this season. He was good to the fans at the open training sessions and in other ways.

We should thank him warmly for his contribution and wish him well in his future career at Reading.

[Scrumpy]

I'm really disappointed with some of the comments regarding Stephen Kelly. I always felt we took it on the chin when a player made a mistake and accepted the fact we were never going to be able to afford and persuade the best to come here. Those that did though and who made the effort would be rewarded. There have been a fair few who have played their best football while with Fulham and in part that's due to the support (and forgiveness for the odd lapse) they get from the fans. Stephen Kelly played 30 plus times for us last season and we were just shy of our best ever points finish in the Premiership. I hope he gets better from the fans at Reading.
There are a few real to$$ers on this board.

Well said Sir!

[The Bronsons]

Kelly played some good games for us, and always did his best. Seemed a nice lad, too. Good luck to him, especially as he's moving to get more game time. I hope he does well.

As for those of you making stupid comments about the guy... words fail me.