Get some perspective

[rhroyal]

Since he left we have been reduced to ground zero. I don't think Rodgers wanted to sell - he had to. So it is Mr M's fault - but if he is hit by the recession we can hardly be surprised that he has had to clamp down.

The next person who blames Mr. M for selling players in the summer deserves an almighty slap.

Doyle - Given a new contract last season, probably on very high wages and probably signed on the agreement that if we didn't go up, he could move. Even if we could financially afford to keep him here, we couldn't keep him with a bid of £6.5million. Once you're a Championship club it's very hard to keep Premiership players when clubs come knocking with offers like that. That's besides the point, we couldn't afford to and £6.5million was a very good offer that any club in their right mind would accept.

SHunt - Who was crying when he left? We were delighted. Why? His heart was not at this club any more. At the tail end of last season he was being kept out of the team by Kebe. Enough said. His mind was elsewhere, no use to us this season. May as well cash in on £3.5million and stop paying his wages.

Lita - Even if we offered him a new contract he would never have stayed. Boro or Reading (where you've hardly played for 2 years)? Easy decision.

Bikey - Once again, we couldn't keep him here with Burnley's offer. He stated he wanted to move to France or back to the Premiership, he would have been trouble and would have upset the team. There was also anger from the club towards him after his stupidity at Burnley. Some on here didn't want him to play for Reading again.

Harper and Rosenior - Constantly criticised before we let them go. Harper had offered little to the team in 07/08. Rosenior only looked good because we replaced him with Cummings. A good decision to get rid and build for the future. (Cummings a shocking decision, but criticise Rodgers, not JM) Would Harper get into our team now? We have Cisse, Karacan, Marek, Sig and Howard. Maybe Harper would find a place, but selling him is not what put us in this mess.

Murty - Had hardly played for us. Unfit, slow and past his best. Probably better than Cummings. Once again, he was a Rodgers mistake.

Hahnemann - I'd say JM's and Nicky Hammond's only mistake in the summer (in terms of players released). Should have been offered a new deal, we'd welcome him back with open arms now.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Good post RH, and no one should argue against it.

What has been disappointing is how the players that BR has brought in to make a team have so far failed to pay back his faith in them. Mills, Cummings and Odea, all dropped to the bench or further.

Meaning he has had to use the likes of Kebe, Cisse, Gunnarsson and Matejovsky. Three of whom have never regularly shown they desrve a place in any team in England.

Coppells biggest mistake in his time at RFC, going abroad for sub standard players like Kebe and Matejovsky, sadly it was cheaper than players from the UK. Gunnar and Ingi were different as they played in England for some time and knew the game here.

I would even put Bikey in the failure list, liability through most of his time here, though could have been better if he could have been arsed, as the talent was there.

[hobbit]

One area that has improved of late is our ability to score goals. We have managed to score in all of the last 6 fixtures and that is something we have not achieved since the back end if 2008 when we were flying high in the league.
Now we just need some improved performances by our defence and we are in with a good chance of reaching a safe mid table position which I believe is about where our I am hoping we can finish at the end of this season - anything above that will be a bonus as far as i am concerned.

[rhroyal]

I thought the opening post was very well reasoned and thought out. Then I saw all the stuff AP dug up. Andrew has the kiss of death. I'd much rather see him posting the mindless "Rodgers out, we're going down" drivel. That might improve our fortunes.

[andrew1957]

I thought the opening post was very well reasoned and thought out. Then I saw all the stuff AP dug up. Andrew has the kiss of death. I'd much rather see him posting the mindless "Rodgers out, we're going down" drivel. That might improve our fortunes.

My record is not so bad.

Predicted promotion at start of 2005/6 season and a top 10 finish at the start of 2006/7 season. Yes I dared to be positive in 2007/8 but I would now agree that SC was too conservative and should have made changes to the squad before the start of 2007/8.

As for Steve Coppell he will always be a Reading legend but things DID fall apart under him in the last two years and he left the team in a mess. His fault was mainly being too loyal to his players and they ultimately let him and us down two seasons running. In football as in business if you don't keep upgrading and making changes you go backwards and that in my opinion is what has happened.

That is why we have to give BR a chance because he really has got a huge job to do to get the club going again. Changing managers now is more likely to take us even further into the mire in the long run.

[bcubed]

To Floyd

I guess this season will tell us how many of our fans were just PL glory hunters - sadly all too many by out ever reducing crowd numbers.

At least I respect the fact that you attend matches, unlike some others on here who constantly slag the team off but have never even been inside the Madstad.

What rubbish. Most of the people who come on here to slag off the performances are the ones who are going to the games and have been for decades.

There's a lot to be annoyed about:

A lot of fan negativity has been fuelled by the calamity that was the second half of last season - we threw it away. The Premier League has some real under performers this season and smaller clubs are doing well out of it - no wonder people are annoyed we missed out. If we'd gone up we obviously would not have needed to cut our cloth - another bone of contention for fans - even if it was right and proper.

Also, rather obviously our inability to win home matches (or even to look like winning) - apart from the odd game here and there. Not only have we been unable to win, but often, until recently we never looked like winning and it was dull and heartless - in short a waste of time and money. We're Reading fans - we've paid money to see rubbish teams play with heart in the past, we don't mind that - what we don't like is seeing a team turn up and capitulate without ever giving it a real go.

This leads to the make up of the team. It's great to see youngsters in the team but with so many a bit of leadership is required... yes the older players have more experience but the only one with any leadership qualities is ivar. There are too many natural born followers and/or youngsters out there and not enough leaders.

Rodgers. He hyped up our chances and is failing to deliver and even though most fans would already have thought his aims were unrealistic, we probably all would have expected a few more points than what we've got so far. In addition his formations, team selections and substitutions can be odd or hard to understand.

Relegation is a possibility. If we go down fighting I won't be as disappointed. We're in a sticky position already... how long before we see 11 players out there playing like it's a cup final? This is what I want to see - and if we lose games and go down then fair enough. But at the moment, on the pitch, we are lacklustre and a little lacking in passion in my view.

+1
good post

[working class hero]

Since he left we have been reduced to ground zero. I don't think Rodgers wanted to sell - he had to. So it is Mr M's fault - but if he is hit by the recession we can hardly be surprised that he has had to clamp down.

The next person who blames Mr. M for selling players in the summer deserves an almighty slap.

Doyle - Given a new contract last season, probably on very high wages and probably signed on the agreement that if we didn't go up, he could move. Even if we could financially afford to keep him here, we couldn't keep him with a bid of £6.5million. Once you're a Championship club it's very hard to keep Premiership players when clubs come knocking with offers like that. That's besides the point, we couldn't afford to and £6.5million was a very good offer that any club in their right mind would accept.

SHunt - Who was crying when he left? We were delighted. Why? His heart was not at this club any more. At the tail end of last season he was being kept out of the team by Kebe. Enough said. His mind was elsewhere, no use to us this season. May as well cash in on £3.5million and stop paying his wages.

Lita - Even if we offered him a new contract he would never have stayed. Boro or Reading (where you've hardly played for 2 years)? Easy decision.

Bikey - Once again, we couldn't keep him here with Burnley's offer. He stated he wanted to move to France or back to the Premiership, he would have been trouble and would have upset the team. There was also anger from the club towards him after his stupidity at Burnley. Some on here didn't want him to play for Reading again.

Harper and Rosenior - Constantly criticised before we let them go. Harper had offered little to the team in 07/08. Rosenior only looked good because we replaced him with Cummings. A good decision to get rid and build for the future. (Cummings a shocking decision, but criticise Rodgers, not JM) Would Harper get into our team now? We have Cisse, Karacan, Marek, Sig and Howard. Maybe Harper would find a place, but selling him is not what put us in this mess.

Murty - Had hardly played for us. Unfit, slow and past his best. Probably better than Cummings. Once again, he was a Rodgers mistake.

Hahnemann - I'd say JM's and Nicky Hammond's only mistake in the summer (in terms of players released). Should have been offered a new deal, we'd welcome him back with open arms now.

Hardly BLAMING him when I say if he is being squeezed it is hardly a surprise. My point was that any of us would squeeze the Club rather than feel the pinch personally...

[Tilehurst Mike]

When the bench handed that piece of paper to Pearce on Tuesday that finally put things in to perspective for me. What a totally inept and useless Management team we have and that Rodgers is clearly out of his depth!!

[ZacNaloen]

When the bench handed that piece of paper to Pearce on Tuesday that finally put things in to perspective for me. What a totally inept and useless Management team we have and that Rodgers is clearly out of his depth!!

Notes get handed from the Bench to players on the pitch in every team in the country

[midfield diamond]

upgrading and making changes you go backwards and that in my opinion is what has happened.

That is why we have to give BR a chance because he really has got a huge job to do to get the club going again. Changing managers now is more likely to take us even further into the mire in the long run.

If the Club decide that BR's had his chance then they should dump him immediately and give someone else the benefit of whatever pennies fall out of SJM's piggy bank in January.
Most supporters find BR's team selection, tactics and substitutions bemusing, his interviews full of complete 'bull****' and his constant name dropping irritating.
Given his track record (McAnuff excepted) I wouldn't give BR any of my cash for new players. He will probably buy another midfielder to rotate rather than a specialist right back, goalkeeper and striker which we desperately need.
I was amused by his quote on the OS that he didn't want to buy 'journeymen' ...... Rasiak and Howard sprang to mind..... also Mills but not sure if he yet falls within that category as he's being kept hidden from us. Cummings will become one when he gets a free transfer.

[Focher]

Howard 4 clubs in 9 years? Not really a journeyman id say.

[brendywendy]

Given his track record (McAnuff excepted) I wouldn't give BR any of my cash for new players

bertrand?
rasiak?

[Dorset-Knob]

upgrading and making changes you go backwards and that in my opinion is what has happened.

That is why we have to give BR a chance because he really has got a huge job to do to get the club going again. Changing managers now is more likely to take us even further into the mire in the long run.

If the Club decide that BR's had his chance then they should dump him immediately and give someone else the benefit of whatever pennies fall out of SJM's piggy bank in January.
Most supporters find BR's team selection, tactics and substitutions bemusing, his interviews full of complete 'bull****' and his constant name dropping irritating.
Given his track record (McAnuff excepted) I wouldn't give BR any of my cash for new players. He will probably buy another midfielder to rotate rather than a specialist right back, goalkeeper and striker which we desperately need.
I was amused by his quote on the OS that he didn't want to buy 'journeymen' ...... Rasiak and Howard sprang to mind..... also Mills but not sure if he yet falls within that category as he's being kept hidden from us. Cummings will become one when he gets a free transfer.

"Brendan Rodgers is interested in buying MIDFIELDER, Brian Stock"

[Southbank Old Boy]

When the bench handed that piece of paper to Pearce on Tuesday that finally put things in to perspective for me. What a totally inept and useless Management team we have and that Rodgers is clearly out of his depth!!

Notes get handed from the Bench to players on the pitch in every team in the country

Bollocks they do, he nicked the idea from his mentor Jose and I dont see anyone else doing it

They still cocked it up though as Tabb went to play left back to start with

[midfield diamond]

Given his track record (McAnuff excepted) I wouldn't give BR any of my cash for new players

bertrand?
rasiak?

Bertrand's fine but as you know only on loan.
Rasiak has to be one of the most slow immobile strikers we've seen since Keith Scott. Yes he will score a few goals if the ball's on his head and he doesn't have to move for it but his presence isn't going to sell any extra tickets to come to see him.

[andrew1957]

Given his track record (McAnuff excepted) I wouldn't give BR any of my cash for new players

bertrand?
rasiak?

Bertrand's fine but as you know only on loan.
Rasiak has to be one of the most slow immobile strikers we've seen since Keith Scott. Yes he will score a few goals if the ball's on his head and he doesn't have to move for it but his presence isn't going to sell any extra tickets to come to see him.

Agree re Rasiak

I think the best way to use him is to bring him on for the last 20 minutes or so when defenses are more tired. I feel much more confident when we have a mobile player up front at the start of a game - like Church. At least after tomorrow we will have Long back.

[ZacNaloen]

When the bench handed that piece of paper to Pearce on Tuesday that finally put things in to perspective for me. What a totally inept and useless Management team we have and that Rodgers is clearly out of his depth!!

Notes get handed from the Bench to players on the pitch in every team in the country

Bollocks they do, he nicked the idea from his mentor Jose and I dont see anyone else doing it

They still cocked it up though as Tabb went to play left back to start with

It's odd then how I've seen it so many times, and even from Coppell on occasion

[Victor Meldrew]

What gets me is that we aren't playing the youngsters.
If that is our future then play them ffs.
Last Tuesday just ONE of the much-vaunted younger players started the game.
What fans find difficult to take is the constant failure of many of the older players-they are not very good.
BTW our "youngsters" really aren't very young when you look at other teams blooding 17 or 18 year-olds when ours tend to be 21 and the manager doesn't play them because they lack experience.

I'm not sure what perspective Andrew wants us to get-his buying into the "Rodgers is a manager that will lead us back to the Premiership"claptrap is naiive to say the least.
The bloke has done so little in football and yet for some reason Andrew you expect us to have blind faith in the man-have you ever seen "Life of Brian"? (I'm not talking of Brian Clough here).

We were asked to judge the manager after 10 games,then 15,then 20 and my judgement now FWIW is that the club should seriously be looking at a different option and the assumption that nobody else can do a better job with the same players is just nonsense -look at Barnsley's turnaround and I wouldn't be surprised to see Plymouth's fortunes improve now that they have changed the man at the helm.
Likewise the same may well happen at Wednesday and Coventry if and when their managers get the push so it might prove difficult for us to find 3 worse teams come the end of the season.

A rather rambling post after a rather long week I'm afraid but I am far from convinced that the club has any direction on and off the pitch (notes to players indeed-were they written in English,Icelandic or French?) so I find it very hard to have the kind of perspective that Andrew goes on about.

[Southbank Old Boy]

Bollocks they do, he nicked the idea from his mentor Jose and I dont see anyone else doing it

They still cocked it up though as Tabb went to play left back to start with

It's odd then how I've seen it so many times, and even from Coppell on occasion

When?

[rob the royal]

What gets me is that we aren't playing the youngsters.
Last Tuesday just ONE of the much-vaunted younger players started the game.
What fans find difficult to take is the constant failure of many of the older players-they are not very good.

Good point.

Like i said earlier on, it's a lack of leadership and not experience that we've got.