New manager Brendan Rodgers *confirmed*

[papereyes]

I'd like Coppell to stay and the club to learn from this and act on what they've learnt.

BUT if he was to go, continuity is better than an abrupt change. It really, really is.

[Baines]

Reminds me a bit of the last time we were in a real rut, during the 13 games without a win in the CCC, Dillon came out with 'we've been saying that weve had tough games, but this is Coventry at home, we should beat them' Something along those lines how Coventry weren't a very good side, we should beat them easily and of course we lost 2-1.

Wasn't it 1-0 to us at half time and before we went on to lose 2-1? And hadn't that happened before?

If so, there's probably some time-saving that can be done with regards to the match reports.

[andrew1957]

Even if we go down I hope SC stays.

For those who want him to go just think about it a minute. Exactly who would come here and do a better job. SC was voted manager of the season two years running and I am sure he has learned from his mistakes this year.

Whether we stay up or go down the future is far rosier if we stick with him rather than a knee jerk reaction and appointing someone else who is untried and untested or worse still someone like Sam Allardyce or Laurie Sanchez.

[Woodcote Royal]

Steve Coppell will always be remembered by Reading fans as the man who gave us 2 unbelievable seasons with the fantastic side he put together for next to nothing.

However, no one will convince me otherwise than that he is mostly to the blame for this dreadful season.

Our problems have had far more to do with his unjustified loyalty to players who have failed to deliver month after dismal month than any perceived lack of funds.

If JM was the biggest miser on the planet he would still have been prepared to stump up a lot more than Coppell elected to spend.

SC has a great track record for building good young sides at knock down prices but a poor one for establishing them at a higher level.....................and, IMHO, this campaign has laid out all the reasons why in graphic detail.

Don't make substitutions until it's too late for the changes to make much of an impact.

Don't drop favourite players until their poor performances have reached double figures and don't give new players more than 2 games to make an impact.

God knows what sticking with the same back four did for for squad morale after they let in 7 at Portsmouth. If I were DLC, having watched Shorey go through the motions all season, I think I'd be wondering why I even bother turning up for training.

What I find most frustrating is that in Rosenior, Duberry, Bikey and Marek we have signed players who can perform well at this level yet they've spent much of the season on the sidelines as the chosen few let us down time after time....................all this is down to Coppell, no one else.

I foolishly convinced myself last week that our manager would finally play the central midfield his team had been crying out for (Bikey and Marek) but, no, even with a win almost a matter of life and death, he sends out the "tried and failed, Harper must play" option we've seen week after tedious week.

I really am very sorry to this (and I will always be eternally grateful, Steve) but even if we stay up, I think it's time for both manager and club to move on.

Sanchez or Hoddle, for me.

[Upper West Ginger]

theres one man that would be perfect for our club. PAUL INCE!!
He would be very ambitious and want to take the club places. He would do what Roy Keane is trying to do at sunderland. he will want to invest a lot of money and have high ambitions.

Steve Coppell is a legend and will always will never be fogotten for what he has done for this club but i believe he has taken us as far as he can now. I will never forget that championship season and another SC result when we beat west ham 2-0 against pards was great. But now i feel its time for this club to move to the next level and i really feel Paul Ince would be up for the challenge.

One of the more sensible suggestions in this thread.
Whatever the outcome on Sunday, I expect a major clear out in the summer, and I expect SSC to leave, with our thanks and best wishes for the good times he gave us.

[andrew1957]

Sanchez or Hoddle, for me.

Oh dear if we appoint one of these I fear we will see Div 1 again before the PL!

[Woodcote Royal]

We will all have our own choices but both mine have good track records and Sanchez wasn't at Fulham long enough to be slagged off for his efforts there.

[Rax]

We will all have our own choices but both mine have good track records and Sanchez wasn't at Fulham long enough to be slagged off for his efforts there.

I know - let's replace the best manager we've ever had with either someone that failed at Wycombe and failed at Fulham or someone that is too far up Eileen Drewery's backside to care about our club and couldn't even deliver at Wolves FFS

Come on guys - get a grip - how about we support the team (and the manager!)

[emmer green dave]

Billy Davis was on Goals on Sunday 2 months ago and hinted then that he would be working again straight after the season end.

[sawyers left arm]

IMHO Coppell is totally to blame for this season.
His record in the transfer market is shocking, he plays people out of position constantly plus his love affair with Harper and Doyle.
No wonder come 4-55pm on Sunday we will be back in the championship.

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

Dolan or Johnson - relatively cheap for our thrifty chairman - but still good options - Johnsons record is highly impressive, and he likes to play the ball along the turf unlike Lawrie. Dolan has been highly lauded so could take a punt there

[Uke]

Reminds me a bit of the last time we were in a real rut, during the 13 games without a win in the CCC, Dillon came out with 'we've been saying that weve had tough games, but this is Coventry at home, we should beat them' Something along those lines how Coventry weren't a very good side, we should beat them easily and of course we lost 2-1.

Wasn't it 1-0 to us at half time and before we went on to lose 2-1? And hadn't that happened before?

If so, there's probably some time-saving that can be done with regards to the match reports.

Only in Punxatawney

[Woodcote Royal]

We will all have our own choices but both mine have good track records and Sanchez wasn't at Fulham long enough to be slagged off for his efforts there.

I know - let's replace the best manager we've ever had with either someone that failed at Wycombe and failed at Fulham or someone that is too far up Eileen Drewery's backside to care about our club and couldn't even deliver at Wolves FFS

Come on guys - get a grip - how about we support the team (and the manager!)

Sanchez did well at Wycombe, Northern Ireland and wasn't given sufficient time at Fulham.

Hoddle did well at Swindon,Chelsea and England

Why not "get a grip" and stop re-writing history?

[Alan Partridge]

We will all have our own choices but both mine have good track records and Sanchez wasn't at Fulham long enough to be slagged off for his efforts there.

I know - let's replace the best manager we've ever had with either someone that failed at Wycombe and failed at Fulham or someone that is too far up Eileen Drewery's backside to care about our club and couldn't even deliver at Wolves FFS

Come on guys - get a grip - how about we support the team (and the manager!)

Sanchez did well at Wycombe, Northern Ireland and wasn't given sufficient time at Fulham.

Hoddle did well at Swindon,Chelsea and England

Why not "get a grip" and stop re-writing history?

What I find funny is people slag off the choices like the ones you have suggested WR, yet they want 'Martin Jol' or 'Sam Allardyce' managers that aren't going to take a second look at us especially if we go down. Some Wycombe fans disliked Sanchez, but ultimately when he was manager there, they were in Divison 2 (League 1) consistently until his final season and they got to a cup semi final. They haven't returned to League 1 since he left. So to say he failed at Wycombe where he also had zero budget for the most part of his tenure is just totally false. Sanchez is a Reading boy, he knows the club, he watches us regularly and would be a frontrunner for the job if it were to become available.

Not so keen on Hoddle but again a realistic option.

IF there is a new man then similarly to what H&P said I will support him whoever it is.

[Joe]

I don't know if nyone has mentioned him yet, I can't be bothered to read all 11 pages but what about Jimmy Quinn? Seems to be doing well at cambridge (well they are in the playy off final) and more importantly its jimmy quinn.

That said anyone wnating to get rid of Coppell is stupid, if he managed to get us promoted before in such a way chances are he is probably best able to do it again! If he has made mistakes then he at least is one of the few managers around who will actively look to learn from them.

[dobcheck]

Lawrie Sanchez did well at Wycombe? he took them to one cup semi final but did nothing to improve their league posistion and i think if you ask most Wycombe fans he was not a good manager. On those credentials why not give John Duncan the job as he got Chesterfield to a semi final and even earned a reply against Boro.

[Alan Partridge]

Lawrie Sanchez did well at Wycombe? he took them to one cup semi final but did nothing to improve their league posistion and i think if you ask most Wycombe fans he was not a good manager. On those credentials why not give John Duncan the job as he got Chesterfield to a semi final and even earned a reply against Boro.

They've been in League 2 ever since he left.

[rhroyal]

With Sanchez, I know that managers need time. My Fulham fan mate admitted it, but he also said that giving them a chance looks a bit stupid if they take you down, if you catch my drift. I'm not convinced. He's a solid manager, but compare his track record to what Coppell has achieved at Palace, Brentord, Brighton and Reading and he's not in the same league. I think Hoddle wouldn't be so bad, but whoever earlier said Paul Ince has my vote. A young hungry manager who has shown what he can do to an extent, but will want to the chance to show everyone his ability on a bigger stage. This is all if my hunches are right and Coppell takes a break from football at the end of the season, he should under no circumstances be sacked, and indeed JM has promised he won't be.

[Elm Park Old Boy]

Sadly I suspect SC will leave (whether or not we go down - and I for one haven't abandoned hope).

But if he does I fear you misguided souls will soon realise that finding anyone as good, let alone better, is far easier wished for than done. I can see no candidate who might feasibly come to us who is as good as the manager we already have.

[rhroyal]

Having only really supported Reading since 2000 I can only really remember Pardew and Coppell who are both great managers, however I did catch a glimpse of Burns and I've seen enough times from other clubs that when a good manager leaves replacing them is not easy. Bolton had it with Allardyce, Charlton with Curbishley, Fulham with Coleman (what was Al-Fayhed thinking sacking him?) and this season Brum with Bruce when I thought they would stay up under him. Indeed when Wigan first lost Jewell they took a long time to sort themselves out. If Coppell goes do not necessarily expect good times to roll.