Nice to see most of our former players doing well elsewhere. Chaplin got another Ipswich goal as well.
It was Lee Johnson that misjudged him, not Hecky. I like Lee Johnson, I think he's a very good manager. I like George Williams, I think he's a great fullback. Like others have already said, a fullback who can defend. And he really could, he was excellent. Lee Johnson didn't rate him and didn't want to play him. He sent him out on loan to Barrow. George returned, injuries hit and Lee more or less had no choice but to select him. He put George in at fullback and George did really well. So Lee selected him again, and he performed again, and again, and again. So Lee approached George in training, apologised profusely, and told him, "I got it wrong George, you're a great player, I'm sorry I misjudged you." Soon after Lee left. Hecky took over and selected George in every game in that fantastic run to the end of the season. Hecky didn't misjudge him, George was just as much part of the team as Winnall and Hourihane. We won promotion and it was thought, as a collective, as a club, we needed an attacking wing back, which George isn't. We didn't expect him to start many games, so offered a contract of very low value, which meant that we could get a fee if someone else came in and wanted to sign him, but could keep him as cover if no one did. But then, which is very strange for a football club as we appeared to grow a conscience, we told him the contract is still on the table, but you can leave for free if you like and get as much money as you can elsewhere. We did a nice thing. I think we made a huge mistake, I think we should have kept him and played him and I believe he would have performed very well at this level. But in this horrible world of football, my club did right by a player. I think they underestimated him, but Hecky played him in every match he could. George played at Wembley, twice, he played when we stuffed Walsall and Wigan, he played a huge part in that magical season and Hecky selected him whenever he could. Good manager, good player.
True we signed andy yiadom that summer who still is and has been a championship player ever since so Williams wouldn't have played much if at all.
I thought Yiadom was superb against us last Saturday. Best player in a Reading shirt by some way. As you’d expect we were a far better side with Yiadom in it. Gutted we couldn’t hold on to him for a year or two longer.
I agree, always liked him when he was here aswell think we only gave him a 2 year deal when we signed him in hindsight should have given him a longer deal. Maybe we didn't know how good he was.
