Nick Blackman

[OLLIE KEARNS]

Order of events

1. Steve Clarke figured out a way of playing NB that brought the best out of him and no it wasn't down the middle. It was wide of 3 coming on to the ball which allowed him to make use of his shooting ability. Credit to Steve Clarke for that.
2. The rest of the division took about 2 months to figure out NB's newly found ability and set up accordingly i.e double up and keep his back to goal.
3. NB's goal return started to shrink just as Derby came in and probably (only time will tell) brought him at the very top of his price range.
4. His goal return at Derby continued to shrink (zero) meaning he ended up on the bench, just where he spent most of his time at Reading.

Anyone who doubts / doubted the wisdom of selling at the price offered would almost certainly think twice now if they're honest. He was off in the summer regardless, his second half impact would never have matched the first half, it was a fantastic deal for Reading with only 5 months left on the contract.
Time to let this one go now perhaps ?

[No Fixed Abode]

And since the sale of Blackman and Sa and the coincidence with the loss of form - what was the loss in revenue when the crowds dwindled?

Our loss of form was long before either of them were sold.

Prize money for winning the League is only something around £50k apparently, so I'm not sure selling Blackman for £4m will be outdone by the difference of a few quid for dropping a place or two.

But your loss of form got worse under BM. And dwindling attendances, lower sales of food and beverages etc?

[genome]

Our form actually improved under BM, then tailed off once we had nothing to play for.

[OLLIE KEARNS]

And since the sale of Blackman and Sa and the coincidence with the loss of form - what was the loss in revenue when the crowds dwindled?

Our loss of form was long before either of them were sold.

Prize money for winning the League is only something around £50k apparently, so I'm not sure selling Blackman for £4m will be outdone by the difference of a few quid for dropping a place or two.

But your loss of form got worse under BM. And dwindling attendances, lower sales of food and beverages etc?[/q

The Blackman money would cover the profit mark up on approx 3 million sales of food and beverages. I may have to build a detailed spreadsheet to see if a good business decision was made

[No Fixed Abode]

Our form actually improved under BM, then tailed off once we had nothing to play for.

No it got worse. PPG proves it. BM actually took Reading down the table and ended up with a minus goal difference when it was positive before.

[No Fixed Abode]

Our loss of form was long before either of them were sold.

Prize money for winning the League is only something around £50k apparently, so I'm not sure selling Blackman for £4m will be outdone by the difference of a few quid for dropping a place or two.

But your loss of form got worse under BM. And dwindling attendances, lower sales of food and beverages etc?[/q

The Blackman money would cover the profit mark up on approx 3 million sales of food and beverages. I may have to build a detailed spreadsheet to see if a good business decision was made

Don't forget to add the wages of Kerm and or Rakels who were brought in.

[Hoop Blah]

Don't forget to add the wages of Kerm and or Rakels who were brought in.

Pretty sure the wages for those two will be less than the wages for Sa and Blackman so that's another win.

For the record, I'd be gutted if we brought Blackman back.

[No Fixed Abode]

Don't forget to add the wages of Kerm and or Rakels who were brought in.

Pretty sure the wages for those two will be less than the wages for Sa and Blackman so that's another win.

For the record, I'd be gutted if we brought Blackman back.

We're talking about Blackman and whether that was good business to sell him. Sa's wages has nothing to do with it.

[Hoop Blah]

Well those two were both brought in to replace Sa, so not sure why you mentioned them then.

[genome]

Our form actually improved under BM, then tailed off once we had nothing to play for.

No it got worse. PPG proves it. BM actually took Reading down the table and ended up with a minus goal difference when it was positive before.

Going from 1 win in 10 before his appointment (60% loss rate), Brian lost only 3 matches out of 15 in 2016 (20% loss rate) up to the Palace match after which we had nothing to play for. Our loss of form definitely did not get worse under Brian. It improved, then fell off again.

[No Fixed Abode]

But was marginally worse overall

[genome]

You admit it improved initially then.

You'll need to specify the number of games to be considered form. 25 games is a bit of a stretch.

[No Fixed Abode]

You admit it improved initially then.

You'll need to specify the number of games to be considered form. 25 games is a bit of a stretch.

Initially has nothing to do with it.

Arsenal didn't win the league as they were 'initially' top at the start of the season.

[OLLIE KEARNS]

But your loss of form got worse under BM. And dwindling attendances, lower sales of food and beverages etc?[/q

The Blackman money would cover the profit mark up on approx 3 million sales of food and beverages. I may have to build a detailed spreadsheet to see if a good business decision was made

Don't forget to add the wages of Kerm and or Rakels who were brought in.

Good point ! I did that and then deducted Blackman's wages and it now amounts to 4 million beverages. You are stretching my spreadsheet skills now though !!

[genome]

You admit it improved initially then.

You'll need to specify the number of games to be considered form. 25 games is a bit of a stretch.

Initially has nothing to do with it.

Arsenal didn't win the league as they were 'initially' top at the start of the season.

But half an entire season cannot be considered "form".

[No Fixed Abode]

2015/2016 season

Clarke >>>>>>>>> BM

It's a fact.

[genome]

Come on Kes this is painful stuff

[No Fixed Abode]

I know. When the facts are there right in front of you and you're still saying BM did better than Clarke.

[genome]

Where did I say that?

I didn't even mention Clarke, you just brought him up

[Half Biscuit]

Under no circumstances.
Not sure why this is even being discussed.