The "be realistic" transfer discussion thread

[Royal Rother]

A while ago papereyes unearthed what I found to be an extremely interesting series of articles.

If you have the time it is well worth reading... (in the context of can we successfully buck the trend by not getting involved in the massive money-go-round that buggers up smaller clubs' finances...)

Righty-O chaps

My scouring of soccernet has unearthed a very interesting story, and I'm gonna post it up here. If you have the time, read it. Its very interesting.

Very.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/st ... pe&cc=5739

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/st ... pe&cc=5739

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/st ... 25&cc=5739

A very intersting read. Funnily enough it brought back memories of Jack Mansell in 69-70. I wonder what would have happened had he been allowed to to continue after the drop in 70-71.

I suppose in many respects Coppell is a little like Finke, as was Mansell. In terms of playing style Mansell simply tore up the accpeted way of doing things in old Div 3, and Coppell has produced a team without stars. Once some of team members start to think of themselves as stars, things start to go a bit awry.

Intersting, cerebral stuff for a cold, wet, windy Tuesday morning ...

Glad you enjoyed the articles.

Interestingly Freiburg are currently 4th in the Bundesliga 2, a point off 2nd so could well be bouncing back yet again!!

[Alan Partridge]

Cod

A fair response, again i think most would agree.

Reason I asked is because I know people who go to eveery game home and away ( i did it for the last 2 season) and I know the cost involved, very few that do this can remain as objective with the 'happy to be here attitude' It's a bit of jealousy as well tbh. You see teams like Villa, West Ham etc, teams we've competed with last season spend good money on improving their sides. You see two teams that we beat last season and competed with very well at Villa last season, now lightyears away from us this. Due to money spent.

I think there's a middle ground somewhere, for Reading to improve and become a good side in this division they have to spend good money, I'd hazard a guess of around £10million or so to improve this side. Not supplement it, or add to it but IMPROVE it. I don't think with all the Premiership money around that would bankrupt this club. Of course players contracts ar elittered with bonuses and clauses as well which can cover you for relegation.

Reading have done things their way, it's very admirable in lots of ways. The refusal to pay over the odds and stick with players that have done well in the past has served them well. But now it's starting to go the other way, I think things have got a bit stale here, there certainly isn't the same exciting atmosphere that there was before matches, and I don't buy it because it's not a 'novelty' anymore. 1 or 2 signings of real intent could change that and also give the current players a lift.

I've said my piece about Coppell elsewhere, he isn't a problem at all and in no way should he leave the club. Nor is he beyond questioning. i think some of his team selections have been terrible this season along with some of the tactics. I agree entirely that they should be given the chance to turn things round. However it's now mid January, 2 months ago Coppell couldn't wait for January 'Reading needs 3 additions' We needed to spend money we were told, from the club's manager. Now it's back to the 'it's difficult' press release. That annoys me to be honest. Players should have been lined up so that when January came it was a case of crossing the T's, dotting the I's and taking medicals.

We needed to be ready and I sense a mass free for all come January 31st. I'm concerned that we won't act on it.

I believe certain players have ran their course at his level, capable squad players to fill in but in no way should they be playing 38league games a season. Again others in the squad haven't been given an opportunity to replace them, nor do i feel they will get that chance.

Coppell deserves the faith and backing of everyone at RFC, all fans everyone. However he and the club aren't beyond criticism/questioning and that's all people on here are saying.

[Henleyensian]

Answering on his behalf ...

Fanzines.

Which I imagine could be as reactionary as on here.

In fact, is some of this debate a response to the limited fanzine 'culture' we've had at our club?

Yeah, but our only fanzine is out once a month at best and it's letters page is full of made up quotes.

HNA is the only voice I can think of.

It is easy to be critical on here. I, for one, don't know who many of you are. A few years ago, when the team trained at Sonning, it was easy to meet other interested fans and at one stage we started having "curry evenings" and meeting each other under our hobnob name. Nowadays anybody can come on here and carp. Many of the people who used to post on here very rarely do now because so often this forum becomes a place to abuse others.

If you are so dismissive of the fanzine, perhaps you would like to offer them your help, or at least write letters to them if you think they should do better.

How many of you were around for "Pants Day" and how may tried in those days to encourage rather than condemn. Who remembers that some of the TEM (Tileurst End Moaners, for those who don't know) shouted for Pardew's head before he had had a chance? We had our ups and downs in our first years at the Mad Stad and watched the likes of Manchester City and Fulham go straight back up, but steadily and slowly we made it without being flashy. Who can say for certain that we are not negotiating for players? We know that everything the club does is done quietly and discreetly. We do not go to the red-top press to spread rumours and to try to spread discontent among players as some clubs (no names necessary) do.

BTW, somebody said that Cisse is no good. Was that person at the match on Saturday? I was, and I remarked how well he had played. Not everybody will agree, but it is about opinions and it does no good to player or team to rubbish somebody before they have had a chance ( as with Alan Pardew).

Please, all of you, wait until you know that we have not even tried to buy anybody, and we are sure of relegation, before you start this doom-mongering.

[Vision]

A while ago papereyes unearthed what I found to be an extremely interesting series of articles.

If you have the time it is well worth reading... (in the context of can we successfully buck the trend by not getting involved in the massive money-go-round that buggers up smaller clubs' finances...)

Righty-O chaps

My scouring of soccernet has unearthed a very interesting story, and I'm gonna post it up here. If you have the time, read it. Its very interesting.

Very.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/st ... pe&cc=5739

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/st ... pe&cc=5739

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/st ... 25&cc=5739

A very intersting read. Funnily enough it brought back memories of Jack Mansell in 69-70. I wonder what would have happened had he been allowed to to continue after the drop in 70-71.

I suppose in many respects Coppell is a little like Finke, as was Mansell. In terms of playing style Mansell simply tore up the accpeted way of doing things in old Div 3, and Coppell has produced a team without stars. Once some of team members start to think of themselves as stars, things start to go a bit awry.

Intersting, cerebral stuff for a cold, wet, windy Tuesday morning ...

Glad you enjoyed the articles.

Interestingly Freiburg are currently 4th in the Bundesliga 2, a point off 2nd so could well be bouncing back yet again!!

Haven't read these articles before, thanks for bringing my attention to them. Its uncannily relevant, even more so in the current climate.

[brendywendy]

Terrific argument "shut up"

You have completely changed my view of the people who post on here.

No worries, anytime.

As long as your happy with us just being here & looked at how far we have come.....yawn, then that is all good.

Personally after a bloody good first season I'd have liked the players, the management & the club to really push on. Unfortunately we have only gone one way since May last year...

push on from 8th to?

champions league?
LOL


maybe you should be the one shutting up

[West Stand Flash]

Terrific argument "shut up"

You have completely changed my view of the people who post on here.

No worries, anytime.

As long as your happy with us just being here & looked at how far we have come.....yawn, then that is all good.

Personally after a bloody good first season I'd have liked the players, the management & the club to really push on. Unfortunately we have only gone one way since May last year...

push on from 8th to?

champions league?
LOL


maybe you should be the one shutting up

Everyone knows last season was taking it to the extreme, but it is obvious we have gone backwards since then (and I am not just talking about league position).

[Platypuss]

I think it's worth repeating:

Boss - Spending equals ambition
Posted on: Tue 04 Dec 2007

Steve Coppell has reaffirmed the need for more signings as the Club continues to look for growth.

Earlier this week, Chairman John Madejski confirmed that funds are in place for January signings.

The boss has also said that we would be losing ground if we do not continue to make inroads in the transfer market.

Coppell said, "Players want to come to clubs with ambition, and we like to think we've got ambition.

"If you look at the summer, Man Utd and Liverpool spent £40million, £50million each, we spent hardly anything. So by definition we're losing ground.

"So, for this club to be ambitious we've got be be acquiring three substantial signings every year.

"To be honest, it's a minimum of three.

"As time goes by, those signings will become more expensive.

"For us to make those signings, they've got to want to come here.

"They've got to see the ambition, it's got to be tangible in the form of expensive signings, a bigger stadium.

"Everything about the Club has got to meet the demands of the modern Premier League player."

[West Stand Flash]

Terrific argument "shut up"

You have completely changed my view of the people who post on here.

No worries, anytime.

As long as your happy with us just being here & looked at how far we have come.....yawn, then that is all good.

Personally after a bloody good first season I'd have liked the players, the management & the club to really push on. Unfortunately we have only gone one way since May last year...

Oh, and here's a thought. If we had qualified for Europe last year, what would have satisfied you this year? Champions League or bussssssssst?

Whats with the bussssssssssssst? Isn't that SDR that talks like that? Yes it is.

You are a knob

[West Stand Flash]

Steve Coppell has reaffirmed the need for more signings as the Club continues to look for growth.
....
"To be honest, it's a minimum of three.

Hallelujah! Now why not just go and bring in three players then?!

Earlier this week, Chairman John Madejski confirmed that funds are in place for January signings.

Even better. I just hope we'll be able to spend it on someone soon.

You do now those quotes are from beginning of December??
Coppell saw us win like one game since then, so decided nothing is wrong & has decided to stick with our slow old lacklustre squad we have at present & is getting excited about Championship football next season.

[The whole year inn]

Grant McCann has just moved to Scunthorpe.

I would have assumed Reading would have gone after him TBH

[West Stand Flash]

Grant McCann has just moved to Scunthorpe.

I would have assumed Reading would have gone after him TBH

Wages would have been a problem.

[SpaceCruiser]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, whisper it, another new player may be coming along soon.....

[Alan Partridge]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, whisper it, another new player may be coming along soon.....

Udo Nwoko or summat

ALOL

Next LOLeveLOL

MaLOLtese internationaLOL

[g]

nigerian born, who married a malteaser

[West Stand Flash]

Biggest thing since Manchester United signed Roanldo surely?

[floyd__streete]

Another thoroughly underwhelming sounding signing for the relegation scrap ahead

[howser]

the 16th of January half way through the transfer window and what have we done so far, bought one, what looks promising lad, who we wont play, lets hope for his sake that his Czech Republic Euro spopt doesn't depend on him playing regularly, if it does he is buggered big style !!

With no mention of anyone else,maybe we are waiting for the last minute Halford type signing, that is........cock all use to anybody

[brendywendy]

the 16th of January half way through the transfer window and what have we done so far, bought one, what looks promising lad, who we wont play, lets hope for his sake that his Czech Republic Euro spopt doesn't depend on him playing regularly, if it does he is buggered big style !!

With no mention of anyone else,maybe we are waiting for the last minute Halford type signing, that is........cock all use to anybody

lots of mentions from other people on here about signing all sorts of people

and the management have said more to come too

the crystal ball that predicts marek will not play must be very good, can i have all the draws from the football league for saturday so i can fill in my coupon