Valedictory, my dear Watson?

Despite assurances to the contrary Mark Watson failed to show up for United’s first training session of the new season today. Apparently neither his agent nor his girlfriend knew where he was and he had not been in touch with the club. It is rumoured that Denis Smith will give Watson until the end of the week to show up before trying to bring in a replacement centre-back.

God to be resurrected?

Unsubstantiated rumours, probably utter balzacs, suggest that Phil Whitehead, United hero ‘twixt the sticks, could be making a return to the Manor. Apparently Joey Beauchamp was seen at the Madejski Stadium earlier in the week and it has been suggested that he was asked by Denis Smith to sound out Whitehead’s opinion on coming back. Sources say that Whitehead is partial to the idea but that Reading are unlikely to be so keen on losing a goalkeeping legend.