Coppell's latest backtrack

[Royal Rother]

The introduction of the 'foe facility' is dumbing down of the highest degree, allowing people to chicken out of reading and then submitting a counter argument to something that has been said.

I don't agree.

Are there not people at your local you would avoid having a conversation with at all costs because their views about politics, sport, TV, music and especially football are so ignorant that you can feel your brain itching to climb out of your ears whenever they come near?

It's like that on here.

People like you Royal Blue are at odds with me but can express yourself in an intelligent way and actually debate an issue and make some attempt to understand the other viewpoint. Many are like that. I wouldn't dream of blocking you, Floyd Streete, Alan Partridge, Schards, Royal Lady and others but people like West Stand Flash, Daniella, Space Cruiser, Sir Dodger Royal, Kes and AF1 have never in my memory, in many tens of thousands of posts said anything that was interesting, informed or intelligent. In my eyes. The fact that they can return the compliment by blocking me is equally satisfactory to all concerned as it should help to stop the stupid bickering that gets in the way of debate.

The fact that I can now avoid them (until some damn fool goes and quotes them! ) means I am a happier little poster.

[Franchise FC]

It is February 2008, 18 months since promotion and we are still watching the same side that won the Championship.

A fantastic achievement! If this was the plan then don't increase ticket prices.

Shouldn't you be praising the club for undercharging in 2005/06 when we were watching a mid-table Premier League side play in the Championship

By the way : what's happened to the number of posts ?

[TFF]

It is February 2008, 18 months since promotion and we are still watching the same side that won the Championship.

A fantastic achievement! If this was the plan then don't increase ticket prices.

Shouldn't you be praising the club for undercharging in 2005/06 when we were watching a mid-table Premier League side play in the Championship

By the way : what's happened to the number of posts ?

All the posts (bar a couple of pages) on AE got deleted in the revamp.

[Woodcote Royal]

So do our resident season ticket holders; those who attend home games and the vast majority of away games feel cheated that a hefty portion of their wage packet is being spent on watching the Championship winning side minus its two best midfielders?

Looking back at the clubs reason for the increased prices would leave a bad taste in my mouth personally.

As a STH, whilst I might be watching a team that is very similar to the one that wiped the floor with the Championship 2 years ago , funnily enough, it also looks remarkably similar to the one that finished 8th in last season's Premiership

Frankly, it's this sort of twisted nonsense that is so typical of the "never knowingly happy" section of our support.

To point out the blindingly obvious, one of 2 things was always going to happen to our exsisting players when we were promoted.

They were either, going to make the grade and earn huge wage increases or, have to be replaced by others who could do the job to the required standard.

We got lucky because most of our predomantly young side stepped up to the plate, meaning we only had to pay their increased wages rather than high fees to replace them as well.

If we're relegated you will have every right to complain, meanwhile, we're getting top flight football on the cheap compared to just about every other Premiership club in the south.

[Gordons Cumming]

The introduction of the 'foe facility' is dumbing down of the highest degree, allowing people to chicken out of reading and then submitting a counter argument to something that has been said.

I don't agree.

Are there not people at your local you would avoid having a conversation with at all costs because their views about politics, sport, TV, music and especially football are so ignorant that you can feel your brain itching to climb out of your ears whenever they come near?

It's like that on here.

People like you Royal Blue are at odds with me but can express yourself in an intelligent way and actually debate an issue and make some attempt to understand the other viewpoint. Many are like that. I wouldn't dream of blocking you, Floyd Streete, Alan Partridge, Schards, Royal Lady and others but people like West Stand Flash, Daniella, Space Cruiser, Sir Dodger Royal, Kes and AF1 have never in my memory, in many tens of thousands of posts said anything that was interesting, informed or intelligent. In my eyes. The fact that they can return the compliment by blocking me is equally satisfactory to all concerned as it should help to stop the stupid bickering that gets in the way of debate.

The fact that I can now avoid them (until some damn fool goes and quotes them! ) means I am a happier little poster.

I think there should be a facility which keeps all posts relevant to the thread subject.

HTH

[The whole year inn]

So do our resident season ticket holders; those who attend home games and the vast majority of away games feel cheated that a hefty portion of their wage packet is being spent on watching the Championship winning side minus its two best midfielders?

Looking back at the clubs reason for the increased prices would leave a bad taste in my mouth personally.

As a STH, whilst I might be watching a team that is very similar to the one that wiped the floor with the Championship 2 years ago , funnily enough, it also looks remarkably similar to the one that finished 8th in last season's Premiership

Frankly, it's this sort of twisted nonsense that is so typical of the "never knowingly happy" section of our support.

To point out the blindingly obvious, one of 2 things was always going to happen to our exsisting players when we were promoted.

They were either, going to make the grade and earn huge wage increases or, have to be replaced by others who could do the job to the required standard.

We got lucky because most of our predomantly young side stepped up to the plate, meaning we only had to pay their increased wages rather than high fees to replace them as well.

If we're relegated you will have every right to complain, meanwhile, we're getting top flight football on the cheap compared to just about every other Premiership club in the south.

You've been sold a ticket that cost how much extra?

Fair enough, but the price hike was justified with the pretence that the squad will need significant improvement.

Less than a week to go until the transfer window shuts and the club is yet again backtracking, despite all the noise from Hammond/Coppell et al saying that players are needed come January 1st.

I don't see how it is different to being sold a dodgy car.

[readingbedding]

The introduction of the 'foe facility' is dumbing down of the highest degree, allowing people to chicken out of reading and then submitting a counter argument to something that has been said.

I don't agree.

Are there not people at your local you would avoid having a conversation with at all costs because their views about politics, sport, TV, music and especially football are so ignorant that you can feel your brain itching to climb out of your ears whenever they come near?

It's like that on here.

People like you Royal Blue are at odds with me but can express yourself in an intelligent way and actually debate an issue and make some attempt to understand the other viewpoint. Many are like that. I wouldn't dream of blocking you, Floyd Streete, Alan Partridge, Schards, Royal Lady and others but people like West Stand Flash, Daniella, Space Cruiser, Sir Dodger Royal, Kes and AF1 have never in my memory, in many tens of thousands of posts said anything that was interesting, informed or intelligent. In my eyes. The fact that they can return the compliment by blocking me is equally satisfactory to all concerned as it should help to stop the stupid bickering that gets in the way of debate.

The fact that I can now avoid them (until some damn fool goes and quotes them! ) means I am a happier little poster.

I think there should be a facility which keeps all posts relevant to the thread subject.

HTH

That's called Moderating.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

It's the same shite every fcukin time isn't it?

Who said lets go and spend money on players not good enough? Who's said that?

It's the same shite every fcukin time isn't it?

Why not just accept the fact that if they were good enough, wanted to come here, were of the right personality, for the right price and with sensible wage demands we would sign them? Why not?

Why not just accept the fact that an awful lot more activity happens within the club during transfer windows than you know about?

Speculation is okay and mild disgruntlement I can live with but this rabid obsession with the lack of signings is just silly.

So if all this stuff was going on why do we never sign anyone, except risky signings on the cheap? You can't deny that's what all our signings have been since we went up, even Marek. Who's now becoming utterly overrated based on 10 minutes and that's not slagging him off, it's the truth and even if he does turn out to be better than Sidwell, which is what he should be (and will have to be one hell of a player to be) he's the only signing we've made who's improved our 1st 11 since promotion. Imo saying we don't need a new centre half because of a few performances form Cisse is knee jerk. Bryn looked class against Man U at Old Trafford, but he hasn't shown that form again.

There has to be a reason. Either our wage budget is totally unacceptable considering season tickets prices and general revenue. Which Coppell assure us is not the case. We're too picky over who we sign or were are really shite at negotiating.

Coppell has said every single thing I am saying. It's not an obsession, it's just repeating what Coppell himself has said and you can't deny he's said those thing, cause he just has.

We over achieved last season, but we should never, never have been in this situation and we're in this situation because we've allowed the team to go backwards by just not replacing Little and taking 6 months to sign a centre mid, who despite looking good for 10 mins, is still a slight risk.

So tell me what's wrong with what I'm saying? Has Coppell not said these things himself? How are we gonna move to the next level, which Coppell says we have to do, if we can't attract players better than what we have?

It's not just Coppell's problem, it could be from the Chairman down. But for me, the biggest problem we have attracting players, is we have a manager who keeps saying we can't attract players. Something he's said since he joined the club, he could be 100%, he shouldn't be saying it though.

Signing Leroy Lita sent a message to The Championship, it meant we're were in business. That's the sort of signings we need to make again.

Does anyone think we will?

[Woodcote Royal]

So do our resident season ticket holders; those who attend home games and the vast majority of away games feel cheated that a hefty portion of their wage packet is being spent on watching the Championship winning side minus its two best midfielders?

Looking back at the clubs reason for the increased prices would leave a bad taste in my mouth personally.

As a STH, whilst I might be watching a team that is very similar to the one that wiped the floor with the Championship 2 years ago , funnily enough, it also looks remarkably similar to the one that finished 8th in last season's Premiership

Frankly, it's this sort of twisted nonsense that is so typical of the "never knowingly happy" section of our support.

To point out the blindingly obvious, one of 2 things was always going to happen to our existing players when we were promoted.

They were either, going to make the grade and earn huge wage increases or, have to be replaced by others who could do the job to the required standard.

We got lucky because most of our predominantly young side stepped up to the plate, meaning we only had to pay their increased wages rather than high fees to replace them as well.

If we're relegated you will have every right to complain, meanwhile, we're getting top flight football on the cheap compared to just about every other Premiership club in the south.

You've been sold a ticket that cost how much extra?

Fair enough, but the price hike was justified with the pretence that the squad will need significant improvement.

Less than a week to go until the transfer window shuts and the club is yet again backtracking, despite all the noise from Hammond/Coppell et al saying that players are needed come January 1st.

I don't see how it is different to being sold a dodgy car.

So, even if the club, having set out with the best of intentions, was unable to find players who warranted multi million pound fees (and were willing so sign for lil ol' RFC) unless they spend it on someone, ANYONE!!! they are "back tracking" in your eyes.

Answer me this.

If the club are being deliberately tight with their money, why didn't they bite off Roy Keanes arm when he was begging them to accept £5m for Stephen Hunt?

[The whole year inn]

Totally different situation and you know it.

I am seriously interested at how much the season ticket price increase has been since promotion?

I am one of the few people on the planet that gets to less Reading games than Royal Rother

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

It's all about the image of the club imo, not the money. Maybe we're not as competitive as we should be in the wage market, but Coppell asures us that's not the case.

So how we change the image of the club is the most important thing for us now. Which is what I was alluding to in my previous post.

I still think we missed a massive chance to move this club forward in the summer. We certainly won't be in that position again this summer, as we simply won't have the buzz we had last summer.

[Woodcote Royal]

Totally different situation and you know it.

I am seriously interested at how much the season ticket price increase has been since promotion?

I am one of the few people on the planet that gets to less Reading games than Royal Rother

If the club were deliberately paying lip service to spending big bucks on the squad whilst privately doing their best to hang onto the money, they would have cashed-in on Hunt, too.......................and you know that.

My seat in the Upper West was £570 this season and last, having been (I can't remember exactly) about £200 cheaper in the Championship............................and, I have to say, both myself and the well known nobber who sits next to me would have paid substantially more for our prime seats.

[The whole year inn]

Why the massive increase in price?

[readingbedding]

Totally different situation and you know it.

I am seriously interested at how much the season ticket price increase has been since promotion?

I am one of the few people on the planet that gets to less Reading games than Royal Rother

If the club were deliberately paying lip service to spending big bucks on the squad whilst privately doing their best to hang onto the money, they would have cashed-in on Hunt, too.......................and you know that.

My seat in the Upper West was £570 this season and last, having been (I can't remember exactly) about £200 cheaper in the Championship............................and, I have to say, both myself and the well known nobber who sits next to me would have paid substantially more for our prime seats.

Ah man, I blocked him too, now I have to read his drivel.

[RoyalBlue]

Answer me this.

If the club are being deliberately tight with their money, why didn't they bite off Roy Keanes arm when he was begging them to accept £5m for Stephen Hunt?

Transfer window isn't shut yet! We let our only fit specialist right winger leaver at the 11th hour last time around!

Why do people think the club are backtracking and being too careful with their money? Simple, because not that long ago SC made it quite clear that he needed to significantly strengthen the squad and, with so many professional footballers in the world, we find it difficult to believe that he couldn't do that if the club was prepared to spend the 'really serious money' as JM himself has acknowledged will become necessary at some stage to keep us in the PL.

[The whole year inn]

Totally different situation and you know it.

I am seriously interested at how much the season ticket price increase has been since promotion?

I am one of the few people on the planet that gets to less Reading games than Royal Rother

If the club were deliberately paying lip service to spending big bucks on the squad whilst privately doing their best to hang onto the money, they would have cashed-in on Hunt, too.......................and you know that.

My seat in the Upper West was £570 this season and last, having been (I can't remember exactly) about £200 cheaper in the Championship............................and, I have to say, both myself and the well known nobber who sits next to me would have paid substantially more for our prime seats.

Ah man, I blocked him too, now I have to read his drivel.

Excellent

I was wondering how long it would takethe martyr of HNA?

RTG brigade don't like it up 'em. No counter arguments or offerings of anything constructive, just mere insults and 'oooh, you're on my foe list now'.

[Woodcote Royal]

Answer me this.

If the club are being deliberately tight with their money, why didn't they bite off Roy Keanes arm when he was begging them to accept £5m for Stephen Hunt?

Transfer window isn't shut yet! We let our only fit specialist right winger leaver at the 11th hour last time around!

Why do people think the club are backtracking and being too careful with their money? Simple, because not that long ago SC made it quite clear that he needed to significantly strengthen the squad and, with so many professional footballers in the world, we find it difficult to believe that he couldn't do that if the club was prepared to spend the 'really serious money' as JM himself has acknowledged will become necessary at some stage to keep us in the PL.

If the club didn't want to spend this money Hunt would have left on New Years Day.

They could have flogged him and brought in 4 bosmans to fill the gaps

[reading-dave22]

It's the same every time.

I got shot down for saying Coppell wouldn't do what he said he was gonna do. It was the same in the summer. Before the window opens he talks about all these things he's gonna do. Where are the 3 - 4 players who have improved are starting 11 that Coppell said we need to sign every season? What happened to Coppell admitting he'd made a mistake in the summer not signing enough players and he'd fix it in Jan?

Someone should find all the articles Coppell did in October and November and compare them to what he's saying now.

The worst thing is I'd knew this would happen, even if evryone else shot me down for saying so.

TBH Cisse played out of his mind on sasturday against united, i think he should replace ivar in centre back and have him and sonko when he comes back. nd the new signing again (cant spell his name) played an amazing game against united for the amount of time he was on the pitch..

[Southbank Old Boy]

It seems you might need to look up the difference between a shareholder and a stakeholder there Uke

The attitude that we are customers and not part of the club is one of the things that is starting to drive the "traditional fans" away from the game.

Nope, check again.

A stakeholder is someone whoowns a stake in the success of the project.

Unfortunately we are just customers. No matter what the government may suggest with pensions...

Nope, your wrong. A stakeholder is someone who ia affected by or has an interest in an activity or an organisation.

It has nothing to do with owning anything.

The fans of a football club are definately a stakeholder, in much the same way a local residents would be stakeholders in a proposed property development.

[The whole year inn]

..and the stakeholders have a right to question the 50% ticket price increases for watching the same side minus Sidwell and Glen Little.

This price hike not only ruled some people out of renewing upon promotion, but also taken a serious dent out of the pocket of people that have paid up.

All on false pretences that the squad needs improving.

18 months down the line and it is the Championship team that are running out every week.

Where is all this money going from RFC's 18-odd thousand season ticket holders and all the Premiership TV money etc?