Hoop Blah Regarding the comment about the Premiership being a busted flush and us losing money in it...
The two years in the Premier League are, I'm 99% sure, the only seasons we've made a profit since Madejski took over.
On beddings Sidwell point, we could've afford Sidwell at a time but he knew he was onto a winner if he didn't sign a new contract. I don't think he would've signed a new one with us on any realistic amount so that's kind of a moot point.
Dirk has it just about right in my book. Coppells reluctance to spend on 2 or 3 players at a time when we were at our most attractive and financially stable (after finishing 8th) was the biggest single factor in our demise. Add in the fact that we basically gave up on trying to better ourselves by turning our back on playing in Europe and the players knew they'd all acheived all they could at the club.
That took away the edge we had amongst a squad of players trying to prove a point individually and as a team. The end result, relegation.
I totally agree with most of that HB. My point about the Prem not being the panacaea of riches seems, IMHO, to be borne out by the finances of the Prem clubs. How many of them are operating at a profit?
