Some of Steve Coppell's decisions mystify me

[andrew1957]

I would begin by saying that I am a huge fan of SC and think he should stay as manager of Reading for as long as he wants to BUT some of his decisions do mystify me.

SC always says that he will keep faith with a winning side but we lost on Saturday.

Truthfully Sonko was awful on Saturday and possibly responsible for 4 of the goals. To me it was time to say to Sonko - well done old chap - go off to the ANC and come back a better player.

Also affter Spurs it became clear that players were ill (Shorey) and tired. Surely time to give Shorey a rest and possibly one of two others as well. This is why we have a squad and can bring in other players.

As I walked to the ground and heard the team news on the radio I could not quite believe what I was hearing - an unchanged team. Within two minutes of the start that decison did not look great to me.

[It's the round thing]

I would begin by saying that I am a huge fan of SC and think he should stay as manager of Reading for as long as he wants to BUT some of his decisions do mystify me.

SC always says that he will keep faith with a winning side but we lost on Saturday.

Truthfully Sonko was awful on Saturday and possibly responsible for 4 of the goals. To me it was time to say to Sonko - well done old chap - go off to the ANC and come back a better player.

Also affter Spurs it became clear that players were ill (Shorey) and tired. Surely time to give Shorey a rest and possibly one of two others as well. This is why we have a squad and can bring in other players.

As I walked to the ground and heard the team news on the radio I could not quite believe what I was hearing - an unchanged team. Within two minutes of the start that decison did not look great to me.

Hard to disagree. Ceratinly by half-time Shorey should have been subbed. However, I think SC is handicapped by a lack of quality in the squad. We certainly weren't deep last year, but this year, aside from untried players, we're missing Little and Sidwell, and there are more players playing internationally, so those that remain are getting really s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d.

JM it's time to make an investment or you could find the fair market value of RFC diminishing rapidly.

[Wycombe Royal]

JM it's time to make an investment or you could find the fair market value of RFC diminishing rapidly.

It is not up to him unless you want him to go out and identify and sign players. The club have said it the funds are in place for transfers this month but it is up to Hammond and Coppell now.

[rg6royal]

With no disrespect for the man as i do respect him alot as he is a great manager. He needs to make subs earlier than he does. He brought Long on yesterday with 8 minutes left ! It was clear Doyle and Kitson were knakered so why not bring him on and add some pace upfront.

[Sharpy]

or even leroy

[Oi Oi Saveloy]

SC always says that he will keep faith with a winning side but we lost on Saturday.

Just becuase we lost a game doesn;t mean we have to change it. Possibly SC was putting out what he felt to be his strongest team avail;able at the time.

Truthfully Sonko was awful on Saturday and possibly responsible for 4 of the goals. To me it was time to say to Sonko - well done old chap - go off to the ANC and come back a better player.

WOW - what insight you have into the game. I persoanlly would not say Sonko had a bad game. I would say he actually didn;t have a game at all.

Also affter Spurs it became clear that players were ill (Shorey) and tired. Surely time to give Shorey a rest and possibly one of two others as well. This is why we have a squad and can bring in other players.

Agree, I just can't remember the name of that other highly accomplished left back we have to walk into the team when Shorey is not on top of his game. Also, SQUAD - LOL

As I walked to the ground and heard the team news on the radio I could not quite believe what I was hearing - an unchanged team. Within two minutes of the start that decison did not look great to me.

No shit Sherlock. Narturally SC instructed Sonko to get himself sent off after 2 minutes for tactical reasons.

In short, you are a mong.

[Cripple Creek]

Oi Oi Saveloy, is it really necessary to be so unpleasant when replying to another poster. If you disagree fine but try to be polite.

[Oi Oi Saveloy]

Oi Oi Saveloy, is it really necessary to be so unpleasant when replying to another poster. If you disagree fine but try to be polite.

Yes.

[Royalee]

Coppell has cost us stacks of points this season with his tactics and mistakes in not buying the required players. Let's hope that he doesn't waste this transfer window like he's wasted the previous three.

[readingbedding]

Coppell has cost us stacks of points this season with his tactics and mistakes in not buying the required players. Let's hope that he doesn't waste this transfer window like he's wasted the previous three.

That sounds as if you know nothing about the game.

[andrew1957]

SC always says that he will keep faith with a winning side but we lost on Saturday.

Just because we lost a game doesn;t mean we have to change it. Possibly SC was putting out what he felt to be his strongest team avail;able at the time.

Truthfully Sonko was awful on Saturday and possibly responsible for 4 of the goals. To me it was time to say to Sonko - well done old chap - go off to the ANC and come back a better player.

WOW - what insight you have into the game. I persoanlly would not say Sonko had a bad game. I would say he actually didn;t have a game at all.

Also affter Spurs it became clear that players were ill (Shorey) and tired. Surely time to give Shorey a rest and possibly one of two others as well. This is why we have a squad and can bring in other players.

Agree, I just can't remember the name of that other highly accomplished left back we have to walk into the team when Shorey is not on top of his game. Also, SQUAD - LOL

As I walked to the ground and heard the team news on the radio I could not quite believe what I was hearing - an unchanged team. Within two minutes of the start that decison did not look great to me.

No shit Sherlock. Narturally SC instructed Sonko to get himself sent off after 2 minutes for tactical reasons.

In short, you are a mong.

Thanks for the positive comments!!

Surely after a loss is the time to give others a chance.

I was talking about Sonko's performance against Spurs on Saturday so he did have a game that day.

As for reserves DLC can play left back quite effectively - as he did when coming on for Shorey.

We could have brought in Bikey or Duberry for Sonko - Lita for Doyle (I think Doyle is great but could have done with a day off) - probably no other changes needed.

[Royalee]

Coppell has cost us stacks of points this season with his tactics and mistakes in not buying the required players. Let's hope that he doesn't waste this transfer window like he's wasted the previous three.

That sounds as if you know nothing about the game.

Manchester City away - Gunnarsson tiring, us in the ascendancy - did he bring on a sub before it was too late? No

Boro at home - we're in front but do we carry on and build on this? No, we sit back and conspire to nearly lose the game.

Spurs away - in front three times, surely time to bring Bikey on to man-mark Berbatov as he's the only one capable of doing anything for Spurs and he's making Sonko look silly. Does he change it? No, we lose.

There's a potential 8 points he cost us already, along with the countless points he's cost us playing Gunnarsson all season.

[readingbedding]

Coppell has cost us stacks of points this season with his tactics and mistakes in not buying the required players. Let's hope that he doesn't waste this transfer window like he's wasted the previous three.

That sounds as if you know nothing about the game.

Manchester City away - Gunnarsson tiring, us in the ascendancy - did he bring on a sub before it was too late? No

Boro at home - we're in front but do we carry on and build on this? No, we sit back and conspire to nearly lose the game.

Spurs away - in front three times, surely time to bring Bikey on to man-mark Berbatov as he's the only one capable of doing anything for Spurs and he's making Sonko look silly. Does he change it? No, we lose.

There's a potential 8 points he cost us already, along with the countless points he's cost us playing Gunnarsson all season.

This management lark is a right piece of p*ss, you should put forward your suggestions as to the next Reading Manager.

Someone who would not cost us stacks of points with their mistakes and tactics.

[Royalee]

Coppell has cost us stacks of points this season with his tactics and mistakes in not buying the required players. Let's hope that he doesn't waste this transfer window like he's wasted the previous three.

That sounds as if you know nothing about the game.

Manchester City away - Gunnarsson tiring, us in the ascendancy - did he bring on a sub before it was too late? No

Boro at home - we're in front but do we carry on and build on this? No, we sit back and conspire to nearly lose the game.

Spurs away - in front three times, surely time to bring Bikey on to man-mark Berbatov as he's the only one capable of doing anything for Spurs and he's making Sonko look silly. Does he change it? No, we lose.

There's a potential 8 points he cost us already, along with the countless points he's cost us playing Gunnarsson all season.

This management lark is a right piece of p*ss, you should put forward your suggestions as to the next Reading Manager.

Someone who would not cost us stacks of points with their mistakes and tactics.

Oh get over yourself.

[CMRoyal]

There's a potential 8 points he cost us already, along with the countless points he's cost us playing Gunnarsson all season.

It's quite right to criticise decisions - I'm no blind loyalist - but how do you measure the above against the points he's gained for us?

[readingbedding]

Coppell has cost us stacks of points this season with his tactics and mistakes in not buying the required players. Let's hope that he doesn't waste this transfer window like he's wasted the previous three.

That sounds as if you know nothing about the game.

Manchester City away - Gunnarsson tiring, us in the ascendancy - did he bring on a sub before it was too late? No

Boro at home - we're in front but do we carry on and build on this? No, we sit back and conspire to nearly lose the game.

Spurs away - in front three times, surely time to bring Bikey on to man-mark Berbatov as he's the only one capable of doing anything for Spurs and he's making Sonko look silly. Does he change it? No, we lose.

There's a potential 8 points he cost us already, along with the countless points he's cost us playing Gunnarsson all season.

This management lark is a right piece of p*ss, you should put forward your suggestions as to the next Reading Manager.

Someone who would not cost us stacks of points with their mistakes and tactics.

Oh get over yourself.

Great reply.

Come on, think and tell me what other manager in the history of football has not cost a team points through his selection, tactics and mistakes.

Coppell has got it right more than wrong, we wouldn't be where we are without that.


Steve Coppell's managerial career

Won Lost Drawn
Reading 09-10-2003 Present

Played 212
Won 98
Lost 63
Drew 51

[Gordons Cumming]

Is HNA the only fan site full of idiots?

Just wondered...............

[Stranded]

Coppell has cost us stacks of points this season with his tactics and mistakes in not buying the required players. Let's hope that he doesn't waste this transfer window like he's wasted the previous three.

That sounds as if you know nothing about the game.

Manchester City away - Gunnarsson tiring, us in the ascendancy - did he bring on a sub before it was too late? No

Boro at home - we're in front but do we carry on and build on this? No, we sit back and conspire to nearly lose the game.

Spurs away - in front three times, surely time to bring Bikey on to man-mark Berbatov as he's the only one capable of doing anything for Spurs and he's making Sonko look silly. Does he change it? No, we lose.

There's a potential 8 points he cost us already, along with the countless points he's cost us playing Gunnarsson all season.

So in one post you are blaming the manger for trying to close out a game rather than attack whilst ahead, then blaming him for trying to build on a lead in another.

Man City was due to an excellent last minute goal, following a poor goal kick, Gunnarsson's tiredness did not effect that.

[readingbedding]

Coppell has cost us stacks of points this season with his tactics and mistakes in not buying the required players. Let's hope that he doesn't waste this transfer window like he's wasted the previous three.

That sounds as if you know nothing about the game.

Manchester City away - Gunnarsson tiring, us in the ascendancy - did he bring on a sub before it was too late? No

Boro at home - we're in front but do we carry on and build on this? No, we sit back and conspire to nearly lose the game.

Spurs away - in front three times, surely time to bring Bikey on to man-mark Berbatov as he's the only one capable of doing anything for Spurs and he's making Sonko look silly. Does he change it? No, we lose.

There's a potential 8 points he cost us already, along with the countless points he's cost us playing Gunnarsson all season.

So in one post you are blaming the manger for trying to close out a game rather than attack whilst ahead, then blaming him for trying to build on a lead in another.

Man City was due to an excellent last minute goal, following a poor goal kick, Gunnarsson's tiredness did not effect that.

I imagine that the over-reactive poster didn't even go to City.

[Alan Partridge]

Wasn't because of the poor goal kick, still a long way to go to score from that! Was because this team can't defend properly. Think it was Samaras had an unchallenged header from 20 yards that he could flick on to his team mate who hadn't been tracked at all and was under no pressure as he released the volley. Those are players mistakes not Coppell's.

My only criticism(s) of Coppell are that he's too loyal to players and he waits too long to bring subs on.