will 7th be enough for Europe

[Seal]

All these people who don't want europe I just don't understand. Ok if you Mr C I can see why it might be an extra distraction he could do without but a fan ???? All these who don't want europe obviously don't follow Reading away. Personally I can't think of anything better than Bratislava or Sparta Prague away on a Thursday night. Bring it on !

We've done this to death but my reasons, as a fan, are pretty similar to the "extra distraction we can do without" scenario. All this eagerness for Europe is taking a very short term view in my opinion. I'd be interested to know what the split between the younger and older fans is on this issue. I'd be suprised if most who've been waiting for some time for this aren't prepared to wait just a little longer.

What makes you so sure we would ever get another chance?

[zac naloen]

All these people who don't want europe I just don't understand. Ok if you Mr C I can see why it might be an extra distraction he could do without but a fan ???? All these who don't want europe obviously don't follow Reading away. Personally I can't think of anything better than Bratislava or Sparta Prague away on a Thursday night. Bring it on !

We've done this to death but my reasons, as a fan, are pretty similar to the "extra distraction we can do without" scenario. All this eagerness for Europe is taking a very short term view in my opinion. I'd be interested to know what the split between the younger and older fans is on this issue. I'd be suprised if most who've been waiting for some time for this aren't prepared to wait just a little longer.

What makes you so sure we would ever get another chance?

What a lovely defeatist attitude.

You make it sound like Reading are playing miles above themselves and could never compete long term in the premiership

[Huntley & Palmer]

LOL @ us finishing higher than 9th

Look at the fixtures. With four games to go, we're right in the mix. A lot depends on the Bolton game. If we pull off a win there, they have to go to Chelsea next and we could be ahead of them before the month is over. We have an easier time of it than Portsmouth, who have not been very compelling of late. Eighth is very possible, seventh is a stretch but a win next week and suddenly it looks very, very doable. Of course, no doubt you and Mags will sneer at the prospect of Reading winning at the Reebok. You're entitled to your cynicism. I ceased to be cynical about Reading's achievements years ago.

We won't win at Bolton, I fully expect us to lose 1-0 and utterly frustrate the hell out of me all game, while I sit there and be thankful there is only one more away trip left to do.

[Huntley & Palmer]

All these people who don't want europe I just don't understand. Ok if you Mr C I can see why it might be an extra distraction he could do without but a fan ???? All these who don't want europe obviously don't follow Reading away. Personally I can't think of anything better than Bratislava or Sparta Prague away on a Thursday night. Bring it on !

We've done this to death but my reasons, as a fan, are pretty similar to the "extra distraction we can do without" scenario. All this eagerness for Europe is taking a very short term view in my opinion. I'd be interested to know what the split between the younger and older fans is on this issue. I'd be suprised if most who've been waiting for some time for this aren't prepared to wait just a little longer.

What makes you so sure we would ever get another chance?

What a lovely defeatist attitude.

You make it sound like Reading are playing miles above themselves and could never compete long term in the premiership

I'd say in 9th place we are playing above ourselves.

[Huntley & Palmer]

This club doesn't want or need European football next season.

Give me one good reason why not, and I'm afraid the extra games theory is bollocks.

Why not ask Steve Coppell at the next fans forum?

At least he's gets paid to answer stupid questions.

We won't be in the Inter Toto because we didn't apply for it.

Why was that, I wonder

Looks like another daft question for SC here...................and he does seem to enjoy them, doesn't he

So you as a fan do not want to see Reading playing in Europe, the more realistic proposition than us winning a cup or the league this season. Well, it was up until Charlton away

[Seal]

All these people who don't want europe I just don't understand. Ok if you Mr C I can see why it might be an extra distraction he could do without but a fan ???? All these who don't want europe obviously don't follow Reading away. Personally I can't think of anything better than Bratislava or Sparta Prague away on a Thursday night. Bring it on !

We've done this to death but my reasons, as a fan, are pretty similar to the "extra distraction we can do without" scenario. All this eagerness for Europe is taking a very short term view in my opinion. I'd be interested to know what the split between the younger and older fans is on this issue. I'd be suprised if most who've been waiting for some time for this aren't prepared to wait just a little longer.

What makes you so sure we would ever get another chance?

What a lovely defeatist attitude.

You make it sound like Reading are playing miles above themselves and could never compete long term in the premiership

Not at all, it is the attitude of a realist.

The defeatist attitude is to turn your nose up at European football for the first time is the club's history because of some irrational concern that it will ruin our performance next season.

[Behindu]

I'd say there are two pretty obvious and compelling sides to this...


I have no doubt the club would love the kudos (and cash) from playing in Europe next season - everyone from JM/ SC (at the the top) to me (at the bottom) would love it. It would be yet another challenge, an adventure and more great publicity for us.

ButI am also sure that SC in particular will have cooly analysed the challenges of the league next season and will be aware that he has a huge job to integrate new players into the team, change our style of play, ensure young players develop etc.

Realistically i think we HAVE to get the league right, that is by far the top priority. Off the pitch we have the stadium expansion which will take big resource from the back room staff. I think the club have a very clear idea of what they can achieve, and at this point in our history a European campaign might just stretch us too far.

I don;t think that means we don;t want it, or that we will throw games to avoid it. But i don think it means they can justify switching the team around, dropping Sidwell etc to help plan for next season rather than go hell for leather to win every game.

[southbank1871]

At the end of the day, I want Reading to win every game and to finish as high up in the table as possible. If this means we qualify for Europe for the first time in our history, then brilliant, I think we should embrace it.

As has been mentioned before, a few extra games in the season aren't likely to be the difference between relegation and staying up. People citing Ipswich and West Ham as examples of how the UEFA Cup can wreck your season need to understand that the problems these two teams had ran far deeper than simply playing Europe. Besides, I'd imagine Coppell would treat the UEFA Cup like the other cups and play fringe players.

FWIW, I think if we can get 9 points from our remaining 4 games, which is certainly realistic, it will be very close between Tottenham and ourselves and could even come down to goal difference.

[zac naloen]

All these people who don't want europe I just don't understand. Ok if you Mr C I can see why it might be an extra distraction he could do without but a fan ???? All these who don't want europe obviously don't follow Reading away. Personally I can't think of anything better than Bratislava or Sparta Prague away on a Thursday night. Bring it on !

We've done this to death but my reasons, as a fan, are pretty similar to the "extra distraction we can do without" scenario. All this eagerness for Europe is taking a very short term view in my opinion. I'd be interested to know what the split between the younger and older fans is on this issue. I'd be suprised if most who've been waiting for some time for this aren't prepared to wait just a little longer.

What makes you so sure we would ever get another chance?

What a lovely defeatist attitude.

You make it sound like Reading are playing miles above themselves and could never compete long term in the premiership

Not at all, it is the attitude of a realist.

The defeatist attitude is to turn your nose up at European football for the first time is the club's history because of some irrational concern that it will ruin our performance next season.

I'm not turning my nose up at european football, I can see SC point about not wanting Europe this year though. Better to play it safe, expand the squad and compete in two/three years time. The aim should be to stay in the premiership in the long term as this means more money for the club.

Europe can wait.

That really isn't defeatist.

[Seal]

All these people who don't want europe I just don't understand. Ok if you Mr C I can see why it might be an extra distraction he could do without but a fan ???? All these who don't want europe obviously don't follow Reading away. Personally I can't think of anything better than Bratislava or Sparta Prague away on a Thursday night. Bring it on !

We've done this to death but my reasons, as a fan, are pretty similar to the "extra distraction we can do without" scenario. All this eagerness for Europe is taking a very short term view in my opinion. I'd be interested to know what the split between the younger and older fans is on this issue. I'd be suprised if most who've been waiting for some time for this aren't prepared to wait just a little longer.

What makes you so sure we would ever get another chance?

What a lovely defeatist attitude.

You make it sound like Reading are playing miles above themselves and could never compete long term in the premiership

Not at all, it is the attitude of a realist.

The defeatist attitude is to turn your nose up at European football for the first time is the club's history because of some irrational concern that it will ruin our performance next season.

I'm not turning my nose up at european football, I can see SC point about not wanting Europe this year though. Better to play it safe, expand the squad and compete in two/three years time. The aim should be to stay in the premiership in the long term as this means more money for the club.

Europe can wait.

That really isn't defeatist.

No, but 'Europe can't wait' is an incredibly arrogant and presumptious statement - which was exactly the point of my initial post.

Teams much bigger than us like Spurs and Everton are desperately slogging it out for a European place. A host of other clubs with more pedigree (e.g. Newcastle, Villa etc etc) will come good again. What makes you think we will ever have a better chance?

[Blue and White Toucan]

southbank1871 Posted: 16 Apr 2007 09:48 Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the end of the day, I want Reading to win every game and to finish as high up in the table as possible. If this means we qualify for Europe for the first time in our history, then brilliant, I think we should embrace it.

As has been mentioned before, a few extra games in the season aren't likely to be the difference between relegation and staying up. People citing Ipswich and West Ham as examples of how the UEFA Cup can wreck your season need to understand that the problems these two teams had ran far deeper than simply playing Europe. Besides, I'd imagine Coppell would treat the UEFA Cup like the other cups and play fringe players.

FWIW, I think if we can get 9 points from our remaining 4 games, which is certainly realistic, it will be very close between Tottenham and ourselves and could even come down to goal difference.

Absolutely spot on post. Some people seem to think that Coppell will say to the team 'right we dont need to win this game because we could finish 7th and we dont want that do we' Absloute garbage. Coppell will want the team he puts out to win every game and if we get 7th then we WILL be playing European football next year.

We will have all players back fit plus the additions in the summer so we use the squad.

A point at Bolton along with 6 from home games and we have a big shout at 7th.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Europe can wait till when? It could be 50 years away

[brendywendy]

well win both our home games, and at least 1 draw from the two away games

7 points = 55 points

finish in 8th

just miss out on the tour of europes lesser known towns

[zac naloen]

Europe can wait till when? It could be 50 years away

and it could be next year.

[BR2]

I am with H&P and cmonurz on this and have been saying so for weeks-grab the chance while it is there,it may never come around again.
As I see it we have a really good chance of getting 6 points (home to Watford and home to Newcastle) and looking at Spurs and Pompey fixtures that could be enough even if we get nothing from Bolton or Blackburn.
What an end to the season it could be for 5,000 fans or so to go to Blackburn knowing that we need a point to get in the UEFA Cup.
UEFA Cup entry means that the great name of RFC will spread across Europe and we attract better players.
How bad is all of that?

[shadesrwrf]

At the end of the day, I want Reading to win every game and to finish as high up in the table as possible. If this means we qualify for Europe for the first time in our history, then brilliant, I think we should embrace it.

Totally agree.

As has been mentioned before, a few extra games in the season aren't likely to be the difference between relegation and staying up.

Don't agree. One game can make a big difference if for no other reason than it's an extra opportunity to pick up injuries. But more so that it's an undesirable distraction at this stage of the club's development. But if it happens it happens. I'm not saying we should refuse to play!

People citing Ipswich and West Ham as examples of how the UEFA Cup can wreck your season need to understand that the problems these two teams had ran far deeper than simply playing Europe.

Totally agree.

Besides, I'd imagine Coppell would treat the UEFA Cup like the other cups and play fringe players.

Fringe players by definition are the very ones who need to stay fit and focused on the task in hand. And next season, even more so than last, the task will be premiership survival.

FWIW, I think if we can get 9 points from our remaining 4 games, which is certainly realistic, it will be very close between Tottenham and ourselves and could even come down to goal difference.

Possible but I'm not so sure about realistic.

As I've said. If European football is on the agenda next season then so be it. But the "we must have it now because it might never happen again" mentality is I feel a sad reflection on life generally. Everything's got to happen yesterday.

Anybody who's been following Reading for more than just the last few years know very well that just isn't how things happen.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Don't agree. One game can make a big difference if for no other reason than it's an extra opportunity to pick up injuries. But more so that it's an undesirable distraction at this stage of the club's development. But if it happens it happens. I'm not saying we should refuse to play!

They can pick up injuries walking around at home, these are professional footballers and those at the top level play well over 50 games in a season so us playing over 45 or so should be no problem. If you would believe Coppell, anything other than league games are an undesirable distraction. I for one disagree with his viewpoint, if you aren't out there to win something then why bother? I'm not going to be happy with merely surviving season on season, you need more ambition than that

[BR2]

Having followed Reading for more than 50 years I definitely want it all NOW.
FA Cup final,League Cup final and playing in Europe are remaining ambitions and for selfish reasons the sooner the better as I might not be around long enough.
Brick-by-brick is fine in theory but football isn't a correct science so I am firmly in the "Let's have it today" camp because our house might end up being built of straw.

[SpaceCruiser]

I'd rather we established ourselves in the Premiership first before attempting to conquer Europe. If we don't make it into Europe this season, then I'm not bothered, there's always next season or the following season. But if we do make it this season, then great. But will we be fielding a weak team for Europe?

[shadesrwrf]

I'm not going to be happy with merely surviving season on season, you need more ambition than that

Couldn't agree more.