Are you getting excited yet?

[facaldaqui]

I don't know what to think. The ability to be excited by signings has been knocked out of me. Remember when Williams , Bridge, and Drenthe got signed? I also got excited about Sharpe, Murray, Vydra, etc., and nothing much happened.

I am not negative about the season but am waiting to see how this lot get on in the first few games. We still have last year's defence, minus Hector--they will need to improve, apart from any thing else.

[royalp-we]

Whenever we get to Pre season I get excited, because August is round the corner and club football back for my weekends.

I don't think Stam has signed 'Big time Charlies' and those suggesting this, could it be that you've just simply not heard of the players he and Tevreden have identified and brought in? It's a completely different Recruitment policy to previous seasons with the manager getting his own players, on permanent deals. Permanently signed to suit a particular system and character of player). Time will tell if this new policy works (I'm confident it will be more successful to the last few pre season bodge ups).

It will be good to see the respect Stam demands from our team. It's been reported its all smiles at the training ground but a hard graft.

BMcD had the players smiling but he was too friendly.
Clarke had the players not really knowing one another and miserable.
Adkins was just, well Nigel Adkins.

I'm confident Stam and his team can get some good results and achieve that mid table position which really, should be the benchmark for this year. Our squad is far too good to be anywhere near the bottom quartet and call me crazy, but I'm going 8th place finish, with thrills and pain along the way. Roll on Preston in three weeks.

[CountryRoyal]

Whenever we get to Pre season I get excited, because August is round the corner and club football back for my weekends.

I don't think Stam has signed 'Big time Charlies' and those suggesting this, could it be that you've just simply not heard of the players he and Tevreden have identified and brought in? It's a completely different Recruitment policy to previous seasons with the manager getting his own players, on permanent deals.

This confused me somewhat. I don't see anyone suggesting this is the case, and the only mention of 'big time charlies' was afaik by myself referring to part of our past recruitment policy (see; Drenthe, Vydra, Piazon, John). Indeed after the last few seasons I am far more open to our lesser known signings this year - none of which I have heard about bar potentially Adam Reach. It really seems like there is some degree of thought being put it into it and naively I am certainly excited to see how it all works.

Unfortunately I have a realistic/cynical/pessimistic attitude of late and I can see so many reasons as to why this new project will fail - again.

Completely agree with the first point. Don't know what to do with my hangover day Saturdays anymore.

[CountryRoyal]

I don't know what to think. The ability to be excited by signings has been knocked out of me. Remember when Williams , Bridge, and Drenthe got signed? I also got excited about Sharpe, Murray, Vydra, etc., and nothing much happened.

I am not negative about the season but am waiting to see how this lot get on in the first few games. We still have last year's defence, minus Hector--they will need to improve, apart from any thing else.

Just read this.

+1.

[Libertine]

Put me in the cautiously optimistic camp. Stam seems to have a style he wants to the team to play, has identified players who can fit into that system and, in some cases, has been able to convince them to come to Reading. Just seeing there is a plan in place, if nothing else, has me cautiously optimistic. But I am usually a "the glass is half full" type of optimist this time of year anyhoo...

[royalp-we]

Whenever we get to Pre season I get excited, because August is round the corner and club football back for my weekends.

I don't think Stam has signed 'Big time Charlies' and those suggesting this, could it be that you've just simply not heard of the players he and Tevreden have identified and brought in? It's a completely different Recruitment policy to previous seasons with the manager getting his own players, on permanent deals.

This confused me somewhat. I don't see anyone suggesting this is the case, and the only mention of 'big time charlies' was afaik by myself referring to part of our past recruitment policy (see; Drenthe, Vydra, Piazon, John). Indeed after the last few seasons I am far more open to our lesser known signings this year - none of which I have heard about bar potentially Adam Reach. It really seems like there is some degree of thought being put it into it and naively I am certainly excited to see how it all works.

Unfortunately I have a realistic/cynical/pessimistic attitude of late and I can see so many reasons as to why this new project will fail - again.

Completely agree with the first point. Don't know what to do with my hangover day Saturdays anymore.

I agree with the cynical/pessimistic bit; but you keep holding on to your realistic attitude you keep telling yourself you're having

I've spoke to lots of people who think this policy is the same as last years. You say there's reasons this project WILL fail. But you're excited to see how they all work together? so you're basically sat of the fence.

I see various reasons for this new project to prove more successful than the last couple; and in my post you've pickedd out on this thread; I explained my reasons.

[Lower West]

New season. New start. Same as every year. That's why I enjoy watching the game.

Tougher league than last year. So having low expectations. Should result in no disappointment.

After last years debacle of loan signings. Unknown permanent signings are a major step forward. As there's no reason to stop playing for the shirt.

[CountryRoyal]

Whenever we get to Pre season I get excited, because August is round the corner and club football back for my weekends.

I don't think Stam has signed 'Big time Charlies' and those suggesting this, could it be that you've just simply not heard of the players he and Tevreden have identified and brought in? It's a completely different Recruitment policy to previous seasons with the manager getting his own players, on permanent deals.

This confused me somewhat. I don't see anyone suggesting this is the case, and the only mention of 'big time charlies' was afaik by myself referring to part of our past recruitment policy (see; Drenthe, Vydra, Piazon, John). Indeed after the last few seasons I am far more open to our lesser known signings this year - none of which I have heard about bar potentially Adam Reach. It really seems like there is some degree of thought being put it into it and naively I am certainly excited to see how it all works.

Unfortunately I have a realistic/cynical/pessimistic attitude of late and I can see so many reasons as to why this new project will fail - again.

Completely agree with the first point. Don't know what to do with my hangover day Saturdays anymore.

I agree with the cynical/pessimistic bit; but you keep holding on to your realistic attitude you keep telling yourself you're having

I've spoke to lots of people who think this policy is the same as last years. You say there's reasons this project WILL fail. But you're excited to see how they all work together? so you're basically sat of the fence.

I see various reasons for this new project to prove more successful than the last couple; and in my post you've pickedd out on this thread; I explained my reasons.

Of course I am, as any sensible person would be considering we haven't even started the season yet and most of us havent seen any of the new boys play.

[Lower West]

Of course I am, as any sensible person would be considering we haven't even started the season yet and most of us havent seen any of the new boys play.

Tuesday night isn't far away.

[CountryRoyal]

Of course I am, as any sensible person would be considering we haven't even started the season yet and most of us havent seen any of the new boys play.

Tuesday night isn't far away.

It is for me. Im in fukking Chile.

[paultheroyal]

Not hugely. Last year's influx looked great on paper. Once burned twice shy.

Mendes doesn't seem to have much to recommend him.

Gravenberch, the Finn and Van der Berg seem decent at least. Solid.

Reach, Swift and Beerens seem to have plenty of potential.

The only one that stands out to me is Campi and he's not definite yet.

I don't think many more signings is a good thing without departures. Lots of new faces needing to gel is rarely productive. Despite the seven signings, we're still relying on Keown, McCleary, Griffin, Dickie or Watson to cover the uninspiring Gunter.

We still don't seem to have a central striker who can be relied on to score, though there do appear to be more goals elsewhere now.

And the reliance on academy graduates seems to have fallen by the wayside with Tish going and three or four signings who'll be competeing with the places of the likes of Fosu, Samuel and Tanner.

Stam does at least seem to want to play a viable and entertaining system. We shouldn't be in the relegation battles. But then again we've got a tough early run and a bad start can be huge in this division with a new manager and lots of new players.

Good god, he's back!

[Lower West]

Of course I am, as any sensible person would be considering we haven't even started the season yet and most of us havent seen any of the new boys play.

Tuesday night isn't far away.

It is for me. Im in fukking Chile.

I'm over the road.

[Maneki Neko]

this is the the best part of most seasons when a ball is yet to be kicked.

you can afford to be hopelessly optimistic, a record breaking season of wonder is still on the cards, all these players you've never seen play could still turn out to be footballing genii, this new untested manager could still be a tactical mastermind with unbeatable man management skillz,

enjoy it, people. revel in the excitement and positivity.
pessimism, worry and disappointment are for once the season starts, (maybe, but probably not, we shall surely sweep all before us!)
Huzzah!

[Forbury Lion]

I'm optimistic.

[muirinho]

this is the the best part of most seasons when a ball is yet to be kicked.

Exactly. If we had no manager, and one half-crippled senior player I'd still be excited.

Begin already!

(Unfortunately can no longer go Swindon, so season starts for me at Kingsmeadow on Saturday)

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I haven't been this excited since Tommy Burns signed Fleck, McIntyre, Brayson, Kelly, Gray, Howie, Crawford. New manager and 7 new signings. It couldn't get any worse, could it?

[NewCorkSeth]

I am yes.

Just to mention something I posted elsewhere on the site (dont remember where) I spoke to Quinn when I met him at the Ireland training session at Versailles and he said when we spoke about how things were at the club that he "thought we had the right man for the job" in Clarke, alluded to the rumours that the owners didnt like Clarke or that there was at least some disagreements at the club.
So for the people who keep saying the players didnt like Clarke or he lost the dressing roome or whatever I'm calling BS.
I heard it staight from the ginger horses mouth.

Also spoke to Long. Looked like he was remembering something from his childhood when i said I was a Reading fan.

[Ian Royal]

I am yes.

Just to mention something I posted elsewhere on the site (dont remember where) I spoke to Quinn when I met him at the Ireland training session at Versailles and he said when we spoke about how things were at the club that he "thought we had the right man for the job" in Clarke, alluded to the rumours that the owners didnt like Clarke or that there was at least some disagreements at the club.
So for the people who keep saying the players didnt like Clarke or he lost the dressing roome or whatever I'm calling BS.
I heard it staight from the ginger horses mouth.

Also spoke to Long. Looked like he was remembering something from his childhood when i said I was a Reading fan.

Perhaps if they'd turned out a few more results for him he wouldn't have got sacked. Besides, has anyone credible seriously suggested Clarke lost the dressing room? I mean, lost the plot, certainly. And he absolutely lost the board, entirely justifiably, but I don't recall anyone really suggesting he lost the players. Picked the wrong ones in the wrong places, again that's a yes.

[NewCorkSeth]

I am yes.

Just to mention something I posted elsewhere on the site (dont remember where) I spoke to Quinn when I met him at the Ireland training session at Versailles and he said when we spoke about how things were at the club that he "thought we had the right man for the job" in Clarke, alluded to the rumours that the owners didnt like Clarke or that there was at least some disagreements at the club.
So for the people who keep saying the players didnt like Clarke or he lost the dressing roome or whatever I'm calling BS.
I heard it staight from the ginger horses mouth.

Also spoke to Long. Looked like he was remembering something from his childhood when i said I was a Reading fan.

Perhaps if they'd turned out a few more results for him he wouldn't have got sacked. Besides, has anyone credible seriously suggested Clarke lost the dressing room? I mean, lost the plot, certainly. And he absolutely lost the board, entirely justifiably, but I don't recall anyone really suggesting he lost the players. Picked the wrong ones in the wrong places, again that's a yes.

Royalp-we suggest the players were miserable under Clarke 10 posts up in this thread.. And I believe I have read posts like this on many occasions.

What I took away from my conversation with (one) player was that the players (it seemed not just to be his opinion) respected Clarke and thought he was doing a good job.

[Ian Royal]

I am yes.

Just to mention something I posted elsewhere on the site (dont remember where) I spoke to Quinn when I met him at the Ireland training session at Versailles and he said when we spoke about how things were at the club that he "thought we had the right man for the job" in Clarke, alluded to the rumours that the owners didnt like Clarke or that there was at least some disagreements at the club.
So for the people who keep saying the players didnt like Clarke or he lost the dressing roome or whatever I'm calling BS.
I heard it staight from the ginger horses mouth.

Also spoke to Long. Looked like he was remembering something from his childhood when i said I was a Reading fan.

Perhaps if they'd turned out a few more results for him he wouldn't have got sacked. Besides, has anyone credible seriously suggested Clarke lost the dressing room? I mean, lost the plot, certainly. And he absolutely lost the board, entirely justifiably, but I don't recall anyone really suggesting he lost the players. Picked the wrong ones in the wrong places, again that's a yes.

Royalp-we suggest the players were miserable under Clarke 10 posts up in this thread.. And I believe I have read posts like this on many occasions.

What I took away from my conversation with (one) player was that the players (it seemed not just to be his opinion) respected Clarke and thought he was doing a good job.

Fair enough, I hadn't seen many people suggest it, but given p-we's recent track record with signings I'd be had pressed to say he has no credibility.

Still not sure how a player can think that 1 win in 8, or whatever it was, was a good job. I'm not surprised they'd be totally indifferent to him talking to Fulham though.