Steve Coppell believes that Reading got the better end of the swap deal that saw Liam Rosenior come here and Seol Ki-Hyeon go to Fulham.
As the two sides prepare for battle, and the two who traded places in August could well come up against their former sides, however with both not really fully establishing themselves both could be on the bench, Coppell has stoked the fire by saying that Reading got the better end of the deal with Rosenior as Seol didn’t want to be here anyway, Coppell told the media, “We got the better deal because Seol didn’t want to be here.
“He made that clear to everybody here. He wasn’t kicking up a stink about the situation but was very quietly, but equally forcibly, saying he preferred to move on.
“He said he wasn’t guaranteed first-team football but at the time he was in the first team. There was also New Malden as well, the centre of the Korean community, so from a family point of view he preferred to go.”
In an ironic twist of fate a string of injuries on the right side of midfield meant that had Seol stayed he would have most likely been a near ever present this season, so as much as he was signed to play as a right back, challenging captain Graeme Murty, Rosenior has filled in when needed, a move which Coppell admits has not seen him at his best, so his development hasn’t quite gone as planned, “To be honest, he hasn’t developed because he has come in and played as a makeshift midfielder, which we knew he could do, but long-term his position is obviously elsewhere on the pitch,” Coppell also told the media.
“Graeme Murty has had different people putting pressure on him in the right-back position and it has continuously brought out the best in him. He is still playing good football and is still a very important part of our machine.”
In the long run Rosenior was the better option for Reading, and probably more versatile, I do believe this but both sides have got players that can and will do a job for their new clubs.
Join Vital Reading
It’s easy to register, simply click the link and enjoy getting involved as the season unfolds!
Rosenior will eventually be the right back, but Murty will not be relinquishing this that easily will he, so he has to remain patient, but take his chances when they come along.
A lot of my Fulham friends would agree with you!
Neither player played did they, but Rosenior got a good reception from the Fulham fans which was good.