How Long Will BM Last at this rate?????

[Rex]

The mere suggestion that McD should go is just lunacy. Even if we do get relegated I would like to see him in charge next season. You don't become a bad manager overnight and even some of the top manager have been relegated.

Oh and Harry Rednapp....He can fook right off.

THIS

Paul Jewel is offering himself as a sacrificial lamb for Rednapp.

[Franchise FC]

The mere suggestion that McD should go is just lunacy. Even if we do get relegated I would like to see him in charge next season. You don't become a bad manager overnight and even some of the top manager have been relegated.

Oh and Harry Rednapp....He can fook right off.

THIS

Paul Jewel is offering himself as a sacrificial lamb for Rednapp.

Apparently, Redknapp is favourite for six different jobs at the moment - with each one the fans seem to have forgotten his financial track record (Portsmouth, Southampton, West Ham, Bournemouth)

[E. Andrew]

Now we still look like a championship team in how we are playing subsequently not getting away with what we would or in fact did in the Championship.

Thought it hardly mattered, many of the goals from last year looked like HRK's against Spurs. Teams 'get away with' those at every level, and remembering a certain K Doyle from the 06 run, I think it could be said that we 'got away with' many important goals. One of those could have won it yesterday, and one of those can lead to scoring in bunches, like we could have vs a lesser team than Chelsea.

Unfortunately, those crossing chances haven't come yet. McCleary has shown signs of being able to create them, as has McAnuff (to a much lesser extent, though we know he can). If both would commit to bringing the ball deeper into the corner, instead of trying to bring the ball across the box, we might see more of last year's Reading. And bringing back an experienced player like Roberts may also help to finish those chances.

[Born 'n Bred Royal]

I'm on record saying I believe we were (and then only just about) the third-best team in last year's championship
and that we stole the championship "somehow". It would have taken very little to have happened differently for
us to have lost at West Ham, Saints and Brighton, for example, and had we lost those games, we might have dropped other points.I'm aware, just as everybody is, that we won the league, but it always felt (to me) like "WTF, how did we win that?"

I don't think you're a long way from the truth there on paper West Ham were by far the strongest team in the Championship but like Southampton both clubs in the 2nd half of last season their form and consistancy was poor Reading took advantage of that and I think it was more down to the team spirit and togetherness rather than the quality in the squad that we went on that amazing winning run. Team spirit and togetherness might just be enough to stay up this season but it wont be in future Mcdermott is going to have to be ruthless and get rid of some of the players who won promotion last year and who are not good enough for the premiership otherwise It could cost him his job.

I agree, I think as a fairly inexperienced manager by PL standards McDermott wanted to give some (or most) of the players who won promotion a chance to show what they can do at this level. He is not a mug though and will quickly realise that there is a reason why McAnuff in particular is 30 and has never played in the prem before.

i hope we can get some of the spirit back from last season, and I fully trust Mcdermott's ability to do just that but in the long run it is quite clear we aren't technically good enough at this level and will need some investment.

[Royal Lady]

He should drop McAnuff - make Pearce captain - and give them all good kick up the backside to be honest. I'm sure the likes of McCleary, as just one example, can play a whole better than they currently are. Where's the tackling, where's the positioning, what's with the dubious free kicks? Why don't they run with the ball - they all seemed scared yesterday. Something seems to have happened since the Chelsea game. They need to keep their heads up, believe in themselves and give their all for 90 minutes. They've all got something to prove to stay in the team, so I suggest they jolly well knuckle down to it in training from this week onwards.

[marcusopp]

He performed miracles to get the team up last season, but it might have been better if he hadn't. I just don't think we are anywhere near good enough, and no change of manager will alter that.

Agree.
I could get tickets for games then too!

[Ian Royal]

December 2013.

+1

[Royalwaster]

It's hard to know what Anton's real thoughts are - does he think we've spent enough to be competing or does he realise that he's continued the MrMad tradition of conservative spending and that relegation was always on the cards? In that case, I could see him sticking to BM as long as we pick up a win here or there - if we're still on 1 pt in 5 games (which is not unthinkable) even the most tolerant owner will start getting itchy fingers and I wouldn't blame him (even though I'd be sad to see BM go ....).

[paultheroyal]

He should drop McAnuff - make Pearce captain - and give them all good kick up the backside to be honest. I'm sure the likes of McCleary, as just one example, can play a whole better than they currently are. Where's the tackling, where's the positioning, what's with the dubious free kicks? Why don't they run with the ball - they all seemed scared yesterday. Something seems to have happened since the Chelsea game. They need to keep their heads up, believe in themselves and give their all for 90 minutes. They've all got something to prove to stay in the team, so I suggest they jolly well knuckle down to it in training from this week onwards.

Noel, I know you read this forum under your "username that can't be discussed" but print this quote out and pin on dressing room door. Could be all the motivation you and the boys need!!!

[blueroyals]

As I said in a previous thread, it's not Brian's fault his budget wasn't sufficient to purchase enough players to ensure survival.

Anton and SJM surely knew that the team was made up of over-achieving Champ players, but chose to set a budget for Brian so small he could only afford 3 Prem quality players on free transfers.

I hope the FFF rules come in soon.

[JordCot]

What do you mean better if he hadn't. Even if we're not good enough we have the oppurtunity to play in the best league in the world.

If we had spent another season in the championship with a summer off reinforcement and walked it (obviously not as easy as that) we would be in a better position to stay up in the Prem the following season IMO. The team overachieved last year and it was brilliant but it has meant we had more weaker areas than we would of after a further season in the champ under AZ

Ok, let's assume the team did "overachieve" last season (not that I agree with that, but for the sake of argument). Rooting for us to go back down to sort things out would be like finding one of those coveted Willy Wonka golden tickets, tearing it up and saying "don't worry we'll just get another one the next time".

I for the life of me cannot wrap my brain around the mindset that we would have been better off not being promoted after last season or we will be better off if we go right back down after this one.

Right now what needs to be focused on, not by us but by the people running this team and the players who actually play the game, is how to generate more than the only 1 to 2 shots on goal per game we have seen the past couple excitement filled encounters.

Thinking we would have been better off in the long term with another season in the championship is not the same as rooting for us to go down. Since we are here already I am desperate to stay up but we could have done with steady improvement rather than such a big transition from (IMO) an overachieving championship SQUAD (more so the squad than the 1st team) to premier regulars

[Royal Lady]

He should drop McAnuff - make Pearce captain - and give them all good kick up the backside to be honest. I'm sure the likes of McCleary, as just one example, can play a whole better than they currently are. Where's the tackling, where's the positioning, what's with the dubious free kicks? Why don't they run with the ball - they all seemed scared yesterday. Something seems to have happened since the Chelsea game. They need to keep their heads up, believe in themselves and give their all for 90 minutes. They've all got something to prove to stay in the team, so I suggest they jolly well knuckle down to it in training from this week onwards.

Noel, I know you read this forum under your "username that can't be discussed" but print this quote out and pin on dressing room door. Could be all the motivation you and the boys need!!!

I love you Noel - you're a good lad on and off the pitch - unless you want this old battleaxe forcing her way into the dressing room to deliver the above speech in person - gee the boys up for me!!

[Royalclapper]

He needs to adjust to the ferocious increase in pace at this level.

Feck me, being a newly promoted championship manager is like having a really fit bird who has suddenly caught the eye of some rich flash git!

[facaldaqui]

As I said in a previous thread, it's not Brian's fault his budget wasn't sufficient to purchase enough players to ensure survival.

Who says we aren't going to survive? Give them a chance.

[larry1971]

It's hard to know what Anton's real thoughts are - does he think we've spent enough to be competing or does he realise that he's continued the MrMad tradition of conservative spending and that relegation was always on the cards? In that case, I could see him sticking to BM as long as we pick up a win here or there - if we're still on 1 pt in 5 games (which is not unthinkable) even the most tolerant owner will start getting itchy fingers and I wouldn't blame him (even though I'd be sad to see BM go ....).

and looking at the next 3 games against Newcastle, Swansea and Liverpool it's hard to see where that first win is going to come from.

[facaldaqui]

He needs to adjust to the ferocious increase in pace at this level.

Feck me, being a newly promoted championship manager is like having a really fit bird who has suddenly caught the eye of some rich flash git!

No, it is like unexpectedly pulling a really fit bird who is out of your league. Up your game or you lose her.

[facaldaqui]

It's hard to know what Anton's real thoughts are - does he think we've spent enough to be competing or does he realise that he's continued the MrMad tradition of conservative spending and that relegation was always on the cards? In that case, I could see him sticking to BM as long as we pick up a win here or there - if we're still on 1 pt in 5 games (which is not unthinkable) even the most tolerant owner will start getting itchy fingers and I wouldn't blame him (even though I'd be sad to see BM go ....).

and looking at the next 3 games against Newcastle, Swansea and Liverpool it's hard to see where that first win is going to come from.

We can beat Swansea: we're improving, they're getting worse.

[Victor Meldrew]

It's hard to know what Anton's real thoughts are - does he think we've spent enough to be competing or does he realise that he's continued the MrMad tradition of conservative spending and that relegation was always on the cards? In that case, I could see him sticking to BM as long as we pick up a win here or there - if we're still on 1 pt in 5 games (which is not unthinkable) even the most tolerant owner will start getting itchy fingers and I wouldn't blame him (even though I'd be sad to see BM go ....).

and looking at the next 3 games against Newcastle, Swansea and Liverpool it's hard to see where that first win is going to come from.

We can beat Swansea: we're improving, they're getting worse.

So that would be 4 points from 7 games-not exactly setting the world alight is it?
We CAN beat any of those 3 because they can have an off day and we can have an on day-their players are better,as are most teams,but I think we (the team of course)have to give everything for 90+ minutes of everyy game just to survive and I agree with snowball at the moment the team isn't.

[Rex]

He should drop McAnuff - make Pearce captain - and give them all good kick up the backside to be honest. I'm sure the likes of McCleary, as just one example, can play a whole better than they currently are. Where's the tackling, where's the positioning, what's with the dubious free kicks? Why don't they run with the ball - they all seemed scared yesterday. Something seems to have happened since the Chelsea game. They need to keep their heads up, believe in themselves and give their all for 90 minutes. They've all got something to prove to stay in the team, so I suggest they jolly well knuckle down to it in training from this week onwards.

Noel, I know you read this forum under your "username that can't be discussed" but print this quote out and pin on dressing room door. Could be all the motivation you and the boys need!!!

I love you Noel - you're a good lad on and off the pitch - unless you want this old battleaxe forcing her way into the dressing room to deliver the above speech in person - gee the boys up for me!!

I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once more able to avoid the drop, to ride out the storm of derision, and to outlive the menace of the bottom three, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of Madejski and Anton Zingarevich — even Mark Lawrenson wish his fish and wine . That is the will of the occasional ST holder and the day trippers. The club and the member of STAR, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, smashing the opposition over the head with clappers, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength.

Even though large tracts of the Premier League and many old and famous Clubs have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Championship and all the odious apparatus of rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight on the internet, we shall fight over land and seas, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our goalmouth, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight in the midfield, we shall fight on the touchline, we shall fight on the field and in the parking lot, we shall fight at the burger stands; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this support or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the Berkshire boarders, and guarded by the West Stand , would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the Premiership, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the lowly RFC.

[blueroyals]

As I said in a previous thread, it's not Brian's fault his budget wasn't sufficient to purchase enough players to ensure survival.

Who says we aren't going to survive? Give them a chance.

Nobody, but this team were odds-on favorites for relegation during pre-season, and still odds-on favorites to go down 5 games in. Apart from Pearce, Pog, Guthrie and McCleary everyone else is Championship standard, we needed at least two more Prem players I think but obviously the budget couldn't accommodate that. For that reason we shouldn't be debating whether BM should be sacked, we should be asking questions as to why, after what happened in 2007/2008, have we made the same mistake by not ensuring he had a budget large enough to make this over-achieving Champ team Prem standard.