If, and a big if, we stay up what are next season's hopes

[Cripple Creek]

I am by no means counting my chickens and know that we are still quite capable of going down. I think it's unlikely but with Derby with nothing to lose, Fulham being full on because they have everything to lose and Special K seeming to have turned Newcastle around we have a tough time with the fixtures ahead.
Anyway, assuming we stay up (I think we probably will) how do you anticipate next season?
I feel very optimistic with Marek and if Glen Little comes back, we get a new centre back and a new forward I see no reason why we won't come back better.
This season has been and may still be stressful and not entirely enjoyable but I think and hope we have learnt a lesson - ie. we aren't really good enough as things stand.
My main concern is that we keep baldy and that we get to play Man U first game when their players haven't really settled after their hols because, frankly, playing them the way they played against Villa is too terrrifying to consider.
Anyway, bottoms up I have a good feeling about 2008/09. If we stay up I think we'll be 14th.
I'd like to see us sign Jimmy from Fulham but I guess that's in my dreams.

[brendywendy]

firstly ill point out that if we stay up, we were good enough

its good to see the team moving on, if coppell keeps us up well be well on our way to rebuilding the championship team with some real quality in the side going forward, another 3 in over the summer and we should be safe next year too.

still squeaky bum time
lose at newcastle next week and we are only a week away from more real trouble
but i have faith

[Coppelled Streets]

Without much improved investment I expect to be in the same position this time next season.

[papereyes]

if Glen Little comes back

I'd like to have a realistic view of this.

He's been out over 12 months now. He is into his 30s. Even if he does come back, it would be prudent to have his replacement bedded in now/over the summer.

[North Somerset Royal]

I am confident now that we will stay up and I agree that Marek looks a good prospect. I do not hold out such hopes for Glen however. Apart from the injury he is getting on now and I fear that he is probably past his peak. He will be a strong squad player but I would like to see us buy in a young fast right winger who can outpace prem full backs and put in a telling cross. I also think that we need to strengthen our striking force considerably if we are going to avoid another season of squeaky bums. If Sir Steve stays I suspect that Mr Zamorra will be joining us in the summer.

[The Surgeon of Crowthorne]

Without much improved investment I expect to be in the same position this time next season.

I think that, as has been shown with the spending of other relegation contenders, even if we do invest we'll most likely be in a similar squeeze next year.

[Royal Rother]

Since MM has settled in to the team, and since Bikey and Rosenior have established themselves we quite clearly have been good enough.

Long is getting better all the time and with Pearce gaining more valuable experience he could well be the central defender we need to add to the 1st team squad next season. We obviously need better service to the attackers but as the relationships / understanding develops between them and MM I can see more chances being created.

We can be better of course and must strive for that but whilst I am sure there will be some new faces I don't think too much surgery is needed.

Assuming Lita goes we will need a new forward, and whether Little remains fit or not we need a new right winger, but add those and an imposing figure in midfield and I would be confident of an improvement on this year's position.

[Gordons Cumming]

I think the days of Coppell being our manager are numbered..............and not a great deal of them either.

[Alan Partridge]

Pretty much agree with Rother We need a couple of new attacking options, wouldn't mind 2 forwards tbh, 1 with sheer pace. The wide positions have to be sorted out, whether it be a fully fit Little or AN Other, we can't have another season of Oster and Hunt. Maybe a new younger keeper. Other than that relatively happy with what we've got. I would probably sell Sonko, could get a decent price for him and replace him either with Pearce if they think he's good enough or with a new defender. Sonko hasn't shown he is up to Premiership football, especially this season.

I expect to see depart

Aaron Brown
Sam Sodje
Graham Stack
John Halls
DLC
maybe a few of the youngsters like Davies, Osano, Anderson
Lita

Wouldn't be surprised to see
Oster leave
maybe Duberry - i would keep him for another year.
If we get a really good offer for Shorey he could possibly go otherwise we could have another Sidwell situation where he goes for nowt.
Convey, again I'm not sure they think he's up to this league.
And as I've mentioned, if we got a decent offer I'd probably try and replace Sonko.

[Old Biscuitman]

I think the days of Coppell being our manager are numbered..............and not a great deal of them either.

Why so, GC?

[brendywendy]

I think the days of Coppell being our manager are numbered..............and not a great deal of them either.

eh?

[Schards#2]

Coppell has eluded to the fact the he needs a break. He's taken this club as far as pretty much anyone possibly could have and he's at a point where the team he built is breaking up and a lot of work is required to replenish the squad.

With the level of expectation for the team at ridiculous levels, it wouldn't surprise me to see Coppell resign at the end of the season, quitting while he's a long way ahead.

[brendywendy]

bet he doesnt

[starbug]

I think the days of Coppell being our manager are numbered..............and not a great deal of them either.

One the one hand I think Coppell has taken us as far as he can he seems too frightened to make significant changes and really push the chairman for investment... however because of this very fact I can see Madejski being quite happy to keep him on regardless of what division we're in. Things will only change if we get someone to buy Madejski out.

[Uke]

This club really needs a manager who spends, spends, spends and then blames lack of investment for the failure of his spending before moving on to his next rich owner.

My expectations next season - anything less than the Treble will be a great disappointment.

[3 veesinarow]

I think the days of Coppell being our manager are numbered..............and not a great deal of them either.

Why so, GC?

Because GC has more negativity in his little finger than most have in a lifetime...

[Ginger Ninjas]

Some sensible comments on here so far.

I think it (unfortunately) will be a big ask for Little to come back next season as the wonderful winger we all remember, and from his interview in the press last week, I get the feeling he won't be particularly pleased with a on year contract (which we are bound to offer) and Oster will also depart. Therefore a new right winger is imperative with Kebe/Henry as understudy.

The defence is starting to look a lot better and if/when Shorey returns to form we will have best the best full back pairing in the bottom half. Bikey is first name on the teamsheet at the moment so the only question is whether Ivar is the calm head needed alongside him or should a more imposing central defender be purchased? As for Marcus, I'm not too sure - it won't be easy to attract a goalkeeper who is proven in the premiership, Jasskelinen is perhaps a possibility, think Federici needs games and would like to see him a get championship season on loan somewhere.

We still are short of a central midfielder, unless Fae comes good, and although Harps and Marek have played pretty well together I'm not convinced this gives us the balance needed - especially whilst we continue to hit long balls and invite pressure back on us. Hunty will be first choice left mid next season (for all his faults) and with Convey in reserve this will be well down Coppell's priority list.

The biggest grey area is up front, IMHO. Lita will surely be shown the door, and if we get the £6M being mentioned in the papers then that's fine by me. His replacement will be our key summer signing I feel - get the right man, who has pace, can finish reliably and, perhaps most importantly, is able to read Marek's passing, and we could be on the way to mid-table obscurity next term. Who to go for? No idea. Maybe we'll just end up with three strikers, but with Cox also gone there doesn't even seem to be a youngster knocking at the door compared to other positions (Pearce, Henry, Karacan).

In summary, Coppell needs to find a right midfielder and striekr who will help adapt the way we play - something which the signing of Marek was the first step towards.

[Great Knolly]

We're still performing minor miracles considering our budget and wage structure.

The wage structure is something that can't be fixed easily without upsetting some players. Any player that you've heard of, that is any good, is probably out of our budget. We couldn't afford the transfer fee. We might be able to pay the wages he wants, but not without de-stabilizing the wage structure i.e. pissing off other squad members.
So all Coppell can do is find decent obscure players that we know nothing about, and hope that they come good before the boo-boys ruin their confidence.

I'm not in any way complaining. It's enjoyable to see how well a club like ours can do with a great manager and (in the main) a squad of hard working players who listen to that manager.

I'd be very happy to see us finish 12th next season. Anything much beyond that would require a billionaire and saying goodbye to most of this squad.

[cmonurz]

Simple really – I hope the club learns from the mistakes that have been made this season. Thanks to on the whole excellent management from top to bottom, this club achieved a record-breaking promotion, and it soon became evident that we had the infrastructure to not only compete at the top level, but to be considered a genuine top-flight side. That has been thrown away this season for a lack of investment in the squad, and indecisive management, at a team level.

Our club’s executives have told us that this club could grow and grow – now the fans need to be shown that ambition will be matched by further heavy investment in players, the ground, the academy etc. I’m prepared to believe that we might have spent this season’s cash firming up our infrastructure a little further, but next season, assuming we remain in the Premier League, we are going to have a hell of a lot of money to spend (helped by currently having the lowest wage bill in the league).

A new wage structure, and a new approach to transfers, please.

No reason why we can’t finish a comfortable 10th-12th next season, and not only that, but invest in the summer to the extent that fans can go to our first game in August actually believing that is a real possibility. I don’t think we need a billionaire to break into the top half, but we do need to spend £20m+ on quality additions to the side. Next year’s team should be based around a nucleus of Rosenior, Bikey, Shorey, Marek, Hunt and Kitson.

[brendywendy]

personally i dont want and dont think we need a totally new wage structure and different approach to signings

i will be very happy if we get one or two in at around 5 million
plus a million+squad player

and push the wages up to around 30-35 KPW for the best players

happy with the way this club does business, not happy to just jump on the crazy prem merry go round with everyone else

brick by feckin brick i tell thee