The Grass Isn't Always Greener - Reading FC's Departing Class of 2015

It's always nice to hear about a Reading player doing well at a new club, particularly if they left on good terms. I'm always happy to see Shane Long, Gylfi Sigurdsson or Adam Le Fondre pop on the Soccer Saturday's ticker but sometimes it doesn't quite work out so well for those who leave. So what's become of those who left us between the end of last season and today?

Nick Blackman (Derby - Apps: 13 Goals: 0)

This isn't a debate that needs reopening but as far as Derby are concerned they've so far signed a bit of a bust in Mr Blackman. The forward hasn't scored in 13 appearances and has only made five league starts since his January switch. What's worse is that the team's form has also collapsed with just four wins in 14 league games since Nick made the move to the Midlands. Meanwhile Reading sit with £3m odd in the bank from a player who was about to leave on a free in the summer....

Has the grass been greener? No...

His pay packet has probably gone up a bit but other than that it's been a miserable start to his post-Reading career.

*****

Adam Federici  (Bournemouth - Apps: 11)

It's been an up and down time on the South coast for Fedders, who's been mostly restricted to cup duties. The Australian did get a chance to play Premier League football after an injury to Artur Boruc but sadly an ankle injury kept him out until Boruc also returned.

Has the grass been greener? Maybe...

I'd say it's about the same. Yes he's not played regularly but he's managed 11 appearances in all comps and he's a regular part of a Premier League squad.

*****

Alex Pearce (Derby - Apps: 2 & Bristol City - Apps: 3)

It's hard not to sorry for Pearce, whose career has gone steadily downhill since winning our POTS honours in 2011/12. A summer free transfer to Derby earned him two cup appearances, while a loan spell at struggling Bristol City has only added three games to his resume.

Has the grass been greener? No...

Pearce has gone from captain and a first team regular to also ran who can't get a game even out on loan. A pretty awful set of circumstances in the year of a major international tournament for the Republic of Ireland man.

*****

Jem Karacan (Galatasaray - Apps: 10, Goals: 1 & Bursaspor - Apps: 4)

Again like Pearce, you can only feel sadness that Jem's not been fully able to get back on track since that awful injury he picked up against Leeds in September 2013. After a handful of games for Reading at the end of the following season, he made a move to one of his dream clubs Galatasaray but it hasn't really worked out for the midfielder in Turkey. Jem started just one league game for the club before being sent on loan to Bursaspor where after finally breaking into the team, he's now out with suspension for a red card.

Has the grass been greener? Maybe...

Well Jem did get to play in Europe and earned a three-year contract so it hasn't been all bad. His recent run in the Bursaspor team has been encouraging and hopefully that late red card that's forced him out of the team won't prove too costly. This is a tricky one to call so I'm going to give it a neutral rating for now.

*****

Pavel Pogrebnyak (Dynamo Moscow- Apps: 16 Goals: 1)

The 'Big f'ing Russian' hasn't had an easy time on the pitch since joining the Russian side. Pav has managed just one goal in 16 games for Dynamo Moscow but at least he's got all of that money he earned at Reading right?

Has the grass been greener? No....

Pav can buy an almost limitless supply of grass thanks to his Reading pay packet but his chances of featuring at Euro 2016 must be almost over after such a miserable goal return. Pog was also reportedly arrested for drink driving so he's had a pretty tricky time since leaving the Mad Stad.

*****

Hope Akpan (Blackburn - Apps: 32 Goals 3)

For a free transfer, Akpan has done pretty well since moving back up North to join Blackburn. Hope is a regular fixture in the Blackburn midfield and has managed nearly as many league starts this season (26) as he did in 2 1/2 years at the Mad Stad (37). He's also chipped in with three goals, trebling his tally from his Reading career.

Has the grass been greener? Yes...

Good example of how a fresh start can be just what a player needs. In hindsight he'd probably have been a better option than Alex Fernandez for Reading right now...

*****

Danny Guthrie (Blackburn - Apps: 17)

Also up in Lancashire is Danny Guthrie but unlike Mr Akpan, it's once again been a wasted season for the former Liverpool midfielder. Guthrie has made just 10 league starts this season and is yet to find the back of the net. Once again he's has an injury hit season and has been out since January with a hamstring problem.

Has the grass been greener? No....

Remember when Guthrie joined Reading and was talking up an England place? Well he's made just 66 league starts for three different teams in four seasons since then. He turns 29 in April and his best days are almost certainly behind him.

*****

Mikkel Andersen (Midtjylland - Apps: 28)

Our former back-up goalkeeper has finally found a club where he can be the number one and the Dane popped up on our TV screens recently to save a Juan Mata penalty in a Europa League tie, only to be ultimately undone by some bloke called Rashford.

Has the grass been greener? Yes....

Regular starts, European football, beating Manchester United. Not half bad.

*****

Stephen Kelly (Rotherham - Apps: 7)

From semi-regular at Reading to errr semi-regular at Rotherham! Kelly didn't get much of a look in under Steve Evans or Neil Redfearn but has been a regular starter under new boss Neil Warnock.

Has the grass been greener? Maybe....

On the one hand he's getting game time but on the other it's under Warnock.....

*****

Jake Taylor (Exeter - Apps: 9 Goals: 2)

He's Jake Taylor, he's one of our own and while he may not have been Championship quality, young Jake has slowly found his feet at fourth tier level with Exeter, scoring twice in the last three games.

Has the grass been greener? Yes...

He's playing football again and trying to work his way back up the hard way. Fingers crossed it comes off for Jake who's a lovely hard working chap.

*****

Ryan Edwards (Partick Thistle - Apps: 9 Goals: 1)

Like Taylor it's nice to see another former Academy graduate getting the chance to prove Reading wrong.  After struggling to find a club after being released in the summer, the young Aussie has now popped up in the Scottish Premiership with Partick and scored his first goal in a 2-1 win at Hamilton just over a week ago.

Has the grass been greener? Yes...

The hard work and dedication has paid off and it's great to hear he's back in the professional game.

*****

Yakubu (Kayserispor - Apps: 11 Goals: 0)

Clearly not being fed, the Yak is yet to score in 11 games for the Turkish side.

Has the grass been greener? No...

The Yak's grazing skills probably mean the grass is shorter but he's now scored just one goal for a European club since 2012, although that goal did help us get to Wembley.

*****

Jure Travner (Celje - Apps: 13 Goals: 1)

Who?

Has the grass been greener? Maybe...

Sorry, who was this?

*****

Zat Knight (Reality TV - Apps: Unknown)

I think Zat's retired, as the only thing I can find on him is that he was dating a 21-year-old, who's the daughter of a reality TV star in the states...

Has the grass been greener? Maybe...

From sitting on the bench at Rotherham to appearing on a TV show... tough one to call.....