Madman: Your time is Uppppppppppp

[Sir Rodger Doyle]

ISNT THE HOTEL A NET CONTRIBUTOR ETC ETC

No, not since 2008

[brendywendy]

Wouldnt surprise me if the withdrawal of financial support,and leaving us to feel what its like only spending the money bring in is just jms reaction, to being bood and accused of robbing the club at the very first sign of trouble. I know i would do the same if i was subjected to such horrendous public ingratitude. And the results we see would serve every single of the people who bood and sang along right.
We were shit,and played in a shed,and the new stadium, 106 points,7th place in the prem, squads full of intl players,season after season of competitive championship and prem football,and a name people now respect instead of laugh at, were all just a laughable dream. You should all be ashamed. Booooooo you, you muthas.

[Handsome Man]

Wouldnt surprise me if the withdrawal of financial support,and leaving us to feel what its like only spending the money bring in is just jms reaction, to being bood and accused of robbing the club at the very first sign of trouble. I know i would do the same if i was subjected to such horrendous public ingratitude. And the results we see would serve every single of the people who bood and sang along right.
We were shit,and played in a shed,and the new stadium, 106 points,7th place in the prem, squads full of intl players,season after season of competitive championship and prem football,and a name people now respect instead of laugh at, were all just a laughable dream. You should all be ashamed. Booooooo you, you muthas.

That's roughly how I feel at the moment

[brendywendy]

If it was giving us money up to 2008 then we are still probably up on the deal.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Wouldnt surprise me if the withdrawal of financial support,and leaving us to feel what its like only spending the money bring in is just jms reaction, to being bood and accused of robbing the club at the very first sign of trouble. I know i would do the same if i was subjected to such horrendous public ingratitude. And the results we see would serve every single of the people who bood and sang along right.
We were shit,and played in a shed,and the new stadium, 106 points,7th place in the prem, squads full of intl players,season after season of competitive championship and prem football,and a name people now respect instead of laugh at, were all just a laughable dream. You should all be ashamed. Booooooo you, you muthas.

Not meaning to be argumentative but this statement sounds like a total cop out!! Generally you do defend JM in your posts but now you are conceding he isn't currently doing whats best for the club & justifying his actions by blaming the fans for it! Come on he is a business man & as such needs pretty thick skin. Bit of a lame comment there me thinks.

Anyone would think the guy is bloody Gandhi FFS.

[FiNeRaIn]

Wouldnt surprise me if the withdrawal of financial support,and leaving us to feel what its like only spending the money bring in is just jms reaction, to being bood and accused of robbing the club at the very first sign of trouble. I know i would do the same if i was subjected to such horrendous public ingratitude. And the results we see would serve every single of the people who bood and sang along right.
We were shit,and played in a shed,and the new stadium, 106 points,7th place in the prem, squads full of intl players,season after season of competitive championship and prem football,and a name people now respect instead of laugh at, were all just a laughable dream. You should all be ashamed. Booooooo you, you muthas.

Some fair points, my question is why has he decided to completely DESTROY us as a club after achieving what was steady progression for the best part of 10 years? Brick by brick for a decade...down with a sledgehammer in two. I don't believe for a second he's done this as a kind of " fvck you" to the fans - I just think he really underestimates just what the fans see and know about the modern game, the predictable noises the club makes and this constant drivel about needing to cut cloth - absolutely no one believes it, so I have no idea why they keep pumping that crap out. I just genuinely think that Mr Mad thinks the fanbase are stupid and will be spoon fed. He's wrong, crowds will continue to fall this season and season tickets sales will plummet again next season as a result.

[Handsome Man]

No

He could have destroyed us by giving us £5 million for Matt Taylor when we were in the Premiership, or by tying Shorey down with a million plus 4-year deal.
He could ahve destroyed us by not getting the £12 million in last summer.

He is not destroying us now by failing to buy us a fourth centre half, when we have four great wingers and four great goalkeepers.

[Royal Rother]

Every time these threads start up the same old nonsense comes out. It's laughable. You might not agree with the way his going about things but when people suggest he has no ambition for the club or is destroying it, it just make me laugh now.

The club is run to a different set of rules to the majority and those rules include ensuring that the club has a viable long-term future whether a new buyer comes in or not. Selling young players for multi-millions is good business in a financial climate as volatile as this one. And if he chooses to write himself a cheque for the whole of the tfr fee it won't change my opinion of him a jot. It is HIS fcuking money people. Everything this club has done over the last 20 years is as a result of HIS money and he is still owed it. And he hasn't taken a salary during the entire time he's been here, nor has he charged exorbitant rates of interest on the substantial loans he made to the club.

Sure he enjoyed his time in the limelight for a bit (probably) - so what? Sure, he might even have a big ego and be a bit eccentric - again, so fcuking what?

[FiNeRaIn]

Every time these threads start up the same old nonsense comes out. It's laughable. You might not agree with the way his going about things but when people suggest he has no ambition for the club or is destroying it, it just make me laugh now.

The club is run to a different set of rules to the majority and those rules include ensuring that the club has a viable long-term future whether a new buyer comes in or not. Selling young players for multi-millions is good business in a financial climate as volatile as this one. And if he chooses to write himself a cheque for the whole of the tfr fee it won't change my opinion of him a jot. It is HIS fcuking money people. Everything this club has done over the last 20 years is as a result of HIS money and he is still owed it. And he hasn't taken a salary during the entire time he's been here, nor has he charged exorbitant rates of interest on the substantial loans he made to the club.

Sure he enjoyed his time in the limelight for a bit (probably) - so what? Sure, he might even have a big ego and be a bit eccentric - again, so fcuking what?

Sorry but at the end of the day, it is our club - we pay the money for our season tickets which keeps it afloat. No one begrudges loans that need repaying to him - even with interest. What is totally unacceptable is continuing to sell every decent player we have and invest none of it in the team. This is exactly what Michael Knighton was hounded out of Carlisle united for. Selling the likes of delap, jansen, boertien, scott dobie,etc all to higher teams and the money vanished. Everyone accepts a solid financial backbone, but at the end of the day football is a game and you need players to play that game. When you sell all your best players, whats the motivation to go and watch it? Are you completely forgetting the point of football and relating everything to business and finance? Of course, we could sell every single squad player and we'd be better off financially, we could sell our groundsmen and ticket office staff too...but then, what would be the point of the club even existing?
There is a balance needed between finances and on the park competitiveness. Sadly reading have gone to the ABSOLUTE EXTREME financially and completely forgotten the fact you need players to play football and remain competitive. Bleak times ahead - Mr mad doesn't look likely to sell either - I wonder if he's pricing potential buyers way out of the market as some sort of tactic too. Funny how cardiff and leciester can be linked to new buyers every week, but a team based 40 mins from london with a massive catchment area, prem football a few years ago, no debts unlike the other two..and no one is interested? Please...

[Royal Rother]

Where did we finish in the last 2 seasons after these asset stripping seasons people keep talking about. The club is not on its knees, it has money to reinvest in the team (presumably) and the continued support of loans from the owner. The vast majority of the other 92 would love to be in our position financially and with an ever expanding and productive academy. There is always a chance of relegation but the club is still moving forward in ways that will ensure its long-term future.

Anyway, what is the ABSOLUTE EXTREME you speak of? Absolute Financial Security? I can see that wouldn't appeal to everybody but it's okay with many I suspect, disappointed though everyone will be at Gylfi's departure.

[FiNeRaIn]

Where did we finish in the last 2 seasons after these asset stripping seasons people keep talking about. The club is not on its knees, it has money to reinvest in the team (presumably) and the continued support of loans from the owner. The vast majority of the other 92 would love to be in our position financially and with an ever expanding and productive academy. There is always a chance of relegation but the club is still moving forward in ways that will ensure its long-term future.

Anyway, what is the ABSOLUTE EXTREME you speak of? Absolute Financial Security? I can see that wouldn't appeal to everybody but it's okay with many I suspect, disappointed though everyone will be at Gylfi's departure.

Absolute extreme is continuing to sell the prized assets and not strengthen obvious weaknesses. Last match we had a fullback who hadn't played for the best part of a year...in the wrong position. We started with an injured centre back, a centre mid at right back who got injured and we had to replace with a right winger. We also had two strikers on the pitch, neither who have scored this season or look likely. The weaknesses are frighteningly obvious. We sit back and watch while clubs supposedly worse off financially than us invest in their teams and bring people in on loan ( something which does not break the bank) and we do absolutely nothing. How on earth, given the financial position of our club, can we not afford to bring people in on loan? Are you seriously accepting that RR?

[Horsham Royal]

Still almost 19hrs to go to get a decent striker and CB.
It will all happen tomorrow now the cash for Sigurdsson has come in.

[Royal Rother]

Where did we finish in the last 2 seasons after these asset stripping seasons people keep talking about. The club is not on its knees, it has money to reinvest in the team (presumably) and the continued support of loans from the owner. The vast majority of the other 92 would love to be in our position financially and with an ever expanding and productive academy. There is always a chance of relegation but the club is still moving forward in ways that will ensure its long-term future.

Anyway, what is the ABSOLUTE EXTREME you speak of? Absolute Financial Security? I can see that wouldn't appeal to everybody but it's okay with many I suspect, disappointed though everyone will be at Gylfi's departure.

Absolute extreme is continuing to sell the prized assets and not strengthen obvious weaknesses. Last match we had a fullback who hadn't played for the best part of a year...in the wrong position. We started with an injured centre back, a centre mid at right back who got injured and we had to replace with a right winger. We also had two strikers on the pitch, neither who have scored this season or look likely. The weaknesses are frighteningly obvious. We sit back and watch while clubs supposedly worse off financially than us invest in their teams and bring people in on loan ( something which does not break the bank) and we do absolutely nothing. How on earth, given the financial position of our club, can we not afford to bring people in on loan? Are you seriously accepting that RR?

Despite all that, we won the game.

Every club has weaknesses, most are glaringly obvious to their own supporters but not to others.

Anyway, I like the fact that we won a game like that against the odds - it means more to me (and the club) than if we had won after bringing in 2 or 3 loan players. A win like that does wonders for the confidence. Backs to the wall - then we find out what the players are really made of. Good stuff. Proper football!!

[FiNeRaIn]

I agree with you to an extent - but if you think that we'll get through the season like that, i'll have to disagree - everyone likes a hero's performance but they don't happen often. Play-offs should be our ambition as usual, but sadly with this team and squad, its not going to happen. Nothing I like more than youth players coming through to win games, but apparently now we are to sell our best one and we've got only a season of memories and an equalising penalty at liverpool to show for it after 6 years of bringing him through.

Modern day football hey.

[clauski]

These things always turn into a Hammond bashing exercise too (usually with good reason) so here goes:

How much is Hammond paid? It seems to me that he is employed to advise on the football side of things and he has advised we sell our star player for less than he would be worth in January after the way he's started the season (poor business sense), while we have no visible replacement (poor sporting sense), and with a massive loss of customer goodwill (just pure lack of any sense). Is he trying to trim the wages to protect his own overpaid existence at the club per chance?

[Royal Rother]

FR, £1m a year? I suppose it funds the Academy for another 2 or 3 years, in which time another couple of Gylfis will have come through... mmmaybe!

But yeah, modern football being dominated by money and greed pretty much sucks - I like the fact we buck the trend in the way we are run. I realise others would prefer us to be more competitive in playing the same financial brinkmanship game that other clubs specialise in...

It's the endeless regurgitation of unnecessary insults towards Madejski that irritate me.

[Horsham Royal]

FR, £1m a year? I suppose it funds the Academy for another 2 or 3 years, in which time another couple of Gylfis will have come through... mmmaybe!

But yeah, modern football being dominated by money and greed pretty much sucks - I like the fact we buck the trend in the way we are run. I realise others would prefer us to be more competitive in playing the same financial brinkmanship game that other clubs specialise in...

It's the endeless regurgitation of unnecessary insults towards Madejski that irritate me.

Yep.
The insults could at laest wait till after the window closes.

[clauski]

But yeah, modern football being dominated by money and greed pretty much sucks - I like the fact we buck the trend in the way we are run. I realise others would prefer us to be more competitive in playing the same financial brinkmanship game that other clubs specialise in...

Of which I'm one. The thing is there are huge numbers of successful businesses built upon debt - it's the debt that enables them to take a few risks and expand themselves and push forwards. It continues to amaze me how a one time entrepeneur like Madejski plays it so safe - other than the fact he is now older and more likely risk averse, and I guess thinking he should have got out a while ago but enjoyed the Premiership dream like the rest of us. But for all the talk of running the club well and on a stable footing I think this has and will continue to be shown to be a mistake. A little bit of courage and we could still have been a Premiership team. For all the talk of financial woes in football, where is the damage to any teams who are in financial trouble? Who were the last club our size to be wound up? Who has really been hurt by their big spending any more than the self imposed demotion we are putting it upon ourselves to carry out?

[Royal Rother]

Where to start with that...?

Ok, who's been hurt?

The owners of the clubs who've pumped in millions then had to sell for sixpence, thus losing large chunks of their fortunes.
The creditors of the clubs who have gone into administration.
Small ones like the local suppliers and St Johns Ambulance for e.g.
Large ones like HMRC particularly, i.e. our taxes get w@nked off time and time again by poorly run clubs going bust. I've had enough of that personally.

[clauski]

Where to start with that...?

Ok, who's been hurt?

The owners of the clubs who've pumped in millions then had to sell for sixpence, thus losing large chunks of their fortunes.
The creditors of the clubs who have gone into administration.
Small ones like the local suppliers and St Johns Ambulance for e.g.
Large ones like HMRC particularly, i.e. our taxes get w@nked off time and time again by poorly run clubs going bust. I've had enough of that personally.

Which is my point really. As a footballing entity, these businesses go on. So if you can't beat 'em why not join 'em? Investors that make a loss chose to make that investment. Creditors suffer, I agree, but that is the crazy world of modern day business - you can close down a company one day and start it again the next with a clean slate. So I say take a few risks, with the chance of making a major success of it, and if it doesn't work out we're no worse off football wise than we are right now. Of course, Madejski isn't the person to make this happen, he doesn't want to risk his money and if he doesn't want to then why should he. I agree. But it means that this thread is spot on and if we want to see progress as a club or as a business we need an ownership change sooner rather than later.