RFC - a total shambles

[Stranded]

Well there's no doubt we are in a relegation battle now and with 0pts likely from the next two games then the Bolton game will be huge on the 2nd Feb.

Not only will it be a chance to take point of a rival it could be pivotal for us. Win and it stops the poor run, lose and potentially it's 6 defeats on the spin with a trip to Goodison Park to look forward to - winning is a habit but so is losing and if this run becomes 6/7 straight defeats it could be harder to turn than an oil tanker.

Despite us probably not picking up points in Jan I think we'll still be about 14/15th at the end of the month given the fixtures others have and the amount of games against each other.

[Royal Rother]

I asked the question how will they react, not for a mini-diatribe about how spoilt they are.

Can you answer the question?

I'd hope that they try to prove they're as good if not better than the new arrival.

I'd hope that they prove their worth and importance to the team and then go to the club and ask for parity with those players they feel of equal worth to.

As we spend longer in this division, hopefully that is, we'll have to pay closer to the going rate. With the extra revenue that'd coming in that shouldn't be too hard even if we don't have a sugar daddy willing to match some of the less frugal owners in the league.

As I've said, I hope so too but chips are down, we need 3 wins from the last 5 games and new player on £40k pw hasn't settled in but is still getting a place in front of say, Ingi. 1-0 with 5 minutes to go and new signing makes a calamitous cock-up that results in a late goal and we now need 3 wins in 4 games.

Perhaps I'm being somehow fatalistic but I just fear that the reaction from the team mates when that new player is selected in front of Ingi again for the next game would not be great, and anything that undoes a percentage of team spirit when those chips are down is bad news.

Anyway, that's my fear, even though I do basically agree with what you and H&P have said.

[ankeny]

Don't worry, Floyd, there will be three teams worse than us at the end of the season.

Apart from derby name two teams that are worse then us,Sunderland?Picking up points regular,Fulham?Harrods money could see them get clear,Bolton?too good,Birmingham?Improving all the time,Middlesborough?see Birmingham ,Reading?Where is our next win coming from?

[Schards#2]

"The trademark feeble response to anyone who takes issue with platypuss.

Less effort than discussing the issues I suppose."

It's my standard response to people who have amply proven that they are incapable of discussion, yes.

Is there a problem with that?

No, just overwhelming indifference.

Obviously.

I can honestly say I NEVER saw that coming. No, really, it genuinely wasn't the most predictable post ever made.

It didn't really deserve anything else, though, did it?

Keep up the indifference, it's rather amusing.

The tragedy is that you appear to consider these sort of purile responses clever in some way.

But that your tragedy, not mine, I really don't care beyond making passing comment whilst holding on the phone. It's that or stare into space but if it makes you feel good, you knock yourself out.

While of course I am hanging on your every word and am not treating this as a petit divertissement at all.

Damn, my money was on the next response being

"has Frimley GreenShotspur stolen your log in?"

I've got to go and see a client now so won't be posting for a couple of hours but if it makes you feel good about yourself, feel free to tell yourself that i've stopped responding because you've hammered me into submission with your superior intellect and debating skills. You can have that little moment on me.

[cmonurz]

What a strange way of looking at things RR. Why not the scenario where the expensive £40k per week signing makes a telling contribution in that game, securing a victory, and making it 2 wins from 4 games?

[Platypuss]

What a strange way of looking at things RR. Why not the scenario where the expensive £40k per week signing makes a telling contribution in that game, securing a victory, and making it 2 wins from 4 games?

Indeed.

Somewhat odd to profess to not understand how people can be pessimistic and without balance, but can only see negatives when an expensive new signing is involved.

[Dr Hfuhruhurr]

So, essentially, we shouldnt sign anyone in case they make a mistake?

[papereyes]

So, essentially, we shouldnt sign anyone in case they make a mistake?

Bryn >>> all central midfielders in the world.

[Platypuss]

"The trademark feeble response to anyone who takes issue with platypuss.

Less effort than discussing the issues I suppose."

It's my standard response to people who have amply proven that they are incapable of discussion, yes.

Is there a problem with that?

No, just overwhelming indifference.

Obviously.

I can honestly say I NEVER saw that coming. No, really, it genuinely wasn't the most predictable post ever made.

It didn't really deserve anything else, though, did it?

Keep up the indifference, it's rather amusing.

The tragedy is that you appear to consider these sort of purile responses clever in some way.

But that your tragedy, not mine, I really don't care beyond making passing comment whilst holding on the phone. It's that or stare into space but if it makes you feel good, you knock yourself out.

While of course I am hanging on your every word and am not treating this as a petit divertissement at all.

Damn, my money was on the next response being

"has Frimley GreenShotspur stolen your log in?"

I've got to go and see a client now so won't be posting for a couple of hours but if it makes you feel good about yourself, feel free to tell yourself that i've stopped responding because you've hammered me into submission with your superior intellect and debating skills. You can have that little moment on me.

How many words do you write when you really do care?

[Barry the bird boggler]

Que Sera Sera
Whatever will be will be
And there's naff all any of us can do about it

[Huntley & Palmer]

I asked the question how will they react, not for a mini-diatribe about how spoilt they are.

Can you answer the question?

I'd hope that they try to prove they're as good if not better than the new arrival.

I'd hope that they prove their worth and importance to the team and then go to the club and ask for parity with those players they feel of equal worth to.

As we spend longer in this division, hopefully that is, we'll have to pay closer to the going rate. With the extra revenue that'd coming in that shouldn't be too hard even if we don't have a sugar daddy willing to match some of the less frugal owners in the league.

As I've said, I hope so too but chips are down, we need 3 wins from the last 5 games and new player on £40k pw hasn't settled in but is still getting a place in front of say, Ingi. 1-0 with 5 minutes to go and new signing makes a calamitous cock-up that results in a late goal and we now need 3 wins in 4 games.

Perhaps I'm being somehow fatalistic but I just fear that the reaction from the team mates when that new player is selected in front of Ingi again for the next game would not be great, and anything that undoes a percentage of team spirit when those chips are down is bad news.

Anyway, that's my fear, even though I do basically agree with what you and H&P have said.

I think the disappointing thing for me and, I assume, other people is that if new players are not available then we would make the best of the squad we have. I had hoped that starting Pearce as replacement for Sonko would serve two purposes, give everyone an idea of how the player would get on at a level we need him to play at and also send a message to players like Ivar, Doobs, Sonks etc that we are willing to push them with youth and test their ability to play at a high level. I would like to see Pearce and Henry start against Spurs, possibly even Karacan as well. If they play well against a strong Premiership outfit then perhaps the players currently out there might receive the reality check they need and kick on to the level we know they can play at.

[cmonurz]

That has indeed been disappointing H&P, although the argument that players ‘are not available’ is wearing wafer thin, especially now that two players highlighted on this board as being available in January (Sidwell and Taylor) are apparently on their way to one of our main rivals.

[Royal Rother]

What a strange way of looking at things RR. Why not the scenario where the expensive £40k per week signing makes a telling contribution in that game, securing a victory, and making it 2 wins from 4 games?

Indeed.

Somewhat odd to profess to not understand how people can be pessimistic and without balance, but can only see negatives when an expensive new signing is involved.

It is a given that there might be a positive impact (and by inference assumed by most posters that there would be) I am just giving the balancing view; but I really do see investing in new players on higher wages at this stage of a relegation battle as a gamble.

[Royal Rother]

I asked the question how will they react, not for a mini-diatribe about how spoilt they are.

Can you answer the question?

I'd hope that they try to prove they're as good if not better than the new arrival.

I'd hope that they prove their worth and importance to the team and then go to the club and ask for parity with those players they feel of equal worth to.

As we spend longer in this division, hopefully that is, we'll have to pay closer to the going rate. With the extra revenue that'd coming in that shouldn't be too hard even if we don't have a sugar daddy willing to match some of the less frugal owners in the league.

As I've said, I hope so too but chips are down, we need 3 wins from the last 5 games and new player on £40k pw hasn't settled in but is still getting a place in front of say, Ingi. 1-0 with 5 minutes to go and new signing makes a calamitous cock-up that results in a late goal and we now need 3 wins in 4 games.

Perhaps I'm being somehow fatalistic but I just fear that the reaction from the team mates when that new player is selected in front of Ingi again for the next game would not be great, and anything that undoes a percentage of team spirit when those chips are down is bad news.

Anyway, that's my fear, even though I do basically agree with what you and H&P have said.

I think the disappointing thing for me and, I assume, other people is that if new players are not available then we would make the best of the squad we have. I had hoped that starting Pearce as replacement for Sonko would serve two purposes, give everyone an idea of how the player would get on at a level we need him to play at and also send a message to players like Ivar, Doobs, Sonks etc that we are willing to push them with youth and test their ability to play at a high level. I would like to see Pearce and Henry start against Spurs, possibly even Karacan as well. If they play well against a strong Premiership outfit then perhaps the players currently out there might receive the reality check they need and kick on to the level we know they can play at.

I have to say I would far far rather we went down having taken that gamble than having spent £30m on new players... and if we stayed up, what a way to do it!!

[Platypuss]

What a strange way of looking at things RR. Why not the scenario where the expensive £40k per week signing makes a telling contribution in that game, securing a victory, and making it 2 wins from 4 games?

Indeed.

Somewhat odd to profess to not understand how people can be pessimistic and without balance, but can only see negatives when an expensive new signing is involved.

It is a given that there might be a positive impact (and by inference assumed by most posters that there would be) I am just giving the balancing view;.

Might others not be doing the very same thing when expressing a negative view of the club's position?

[Hoop Blah]

RR, what about the scenario where the players in the squad that are good enough to play at this level feel they're being held back because the club won't bring in players good enough to support them in the battle?

How about the scenario where we enter a really tough run of games that we need to get something out of it with say, only one fit recognised centre half. Or maybe our centre forwards are playing out of form or like flogged horses due to the massive workload placed on them due to the current squad mistakes?

There is obviously a risk to bringing in players, they might not settle, they might not bond with the squad etc etc, but they are possible outcomes. Right now we know we have big gapping holes in the squad. To do nothing about it has to be worse than cautiously shying away from potential disharmony because of eventualities that are only slight possibilities.

[West Stand Flash]

RR, what about the scenario where the players in the squad that are good enough to play at this level feel they're being held back because the club won't bring in players good enough to support them in the battle?

How about the scenario where we enter a really tough run of games that we need to get something out of it with say, only one fit recognised centre half. Or maybe our centre forwards are playing out of form or like flogged horses due to the massive workload placed on them due to the current squad mistakes?

There is obviously a risk to bringing in players, they might not settle, they might not bond with the squad etc etc, but they are possible outcomes. Right now we know we have big gapping holes in the squad. To do nothing about it has to be worse than cautiously shying away from potential disharmony because of eventualities that are only slight possibilities.

Spot on - Every other club strengthens for now where as Coppell continues to rule of instant signings & spouts of the usual crap of 'long term benefit for RFC' blah blah blah blah blah blah....

[Huntley & Palmer]

I asked the question how will they react, not for a mini-diatribe about how spoilt they are.

Can you answer the question?

I'd hope that they try to prove they're as good if not better than the new arrival.

I'd hope that they prove their worth and importance to the team and then go to the club and ask for parity with those players they feel of equal worth to.

As we spend longer in this division, hopefully that is, we'll have to pay closer to the going rate. With the extra revenue that'd coming in that shouldn't be too hard even if we don't have a sugar daddy willing to match some of the less frugal owners in the league.

As I've said, I hope so too but chips are down, we need 3 wins from the last 5 games and new player on £40k pw hasn't settled in but is still getting a place in front of say, Ingi. 1-0 with 5 minutes to go and new signing makes a calamitous cock-up that results in a late goal and we now need 3 wins in 4 games.

Perhaps I'm being somehow fatalistic but I just fear that the reaction from the team mates when that new player is selected in front of Ingi again for the next game would not be great, and anything that undoes a percentage of team spirit when those chips are down is bad news.

Anyway, that's my fear, even though I do basically agree with what you and H&P have said.

I think the disappointing thing for me and, I assume, other people is that if new players are not available then we would make the best of the squad we have. I had hoped that starting Pearce as replacement for Sonko would serve two purposes, give everyone an idea of how the player would get on at a level we need him to play at and also send a message to players like Ivar, Doobs, Sonks etc that we are willing to push them with youth and test their ability to play at a high level. I would like to see Pearce and Henry start against Spurs, possibly even Karacan as well. If they play well against a strong Premiership outfit then perhaps the players currently out there might receive the reality check they need and kick on to the level we know they can play at.

I have to say I would far far rather we went down having taken that gamble than having spent £30m on new players... and if we stayed up, what a way to do it!!

Unfortunately though, I think the stall was set out on that particular subject when Gunnar started as a make shift central defender against Villa. If ever there was one of the final nails in the coffin for our academy boys this season then that was it, the last one will be if none of them start against Spurs tomorrow.

[Platypuss]

RR, what about the scenario where the players in the squad that are good enough to play at this level feel they're being held back because the club won't bring in players good enough to support them in the battle?

I think this is a very big point indeed and is alluded to in SC's December statements on visible ambition.

[Stranded]

My optimists hat is on and looking at out fixtures have looked at the following to ensure our survival

Home wins against:

Bolton, Birmingham, Fulham & Man City (awful travellers)

Home draws against:

Blackburn, Spurs

Home defeats:

Man Utd, Villa (and anyone else I've missed)

Away wins:

Derby

Away draws:

Wigan & Boro

Away defeats:

The rest

Gives us 19 more points and a total of 41 (P38 W11, D5 L22), probably be safe following the home point with Spurs.