RFC - a total shambles

[Royal Rother]

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.

I've said it before but fair point HB. How much are we willing to spend / gamble on bringing someone in is the question that needs to be answered. Not by us of course.

If a gamble is to be taken I would far rather the gamble we take be the one where we chuck Alex Pearce in and see how he gets on. But if Coppell doesn't consider him ready yet, then I suppose we can question, but ultimately trust, his judgment.

[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?

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

I still think it goes back to the end of last season and the summer too.

The club didn't want to push on for the European spot and coasted through the last few games of the season. What message does that send to our better and younger players?

It tells them that if they want to achieve any more than what they've already done, ie getting into the Premiership and staying there for a while, they need to move somewhere else.

That must impact the view of the club with potential transfer targets and make it more difficult to bring in new players better than the ones we've got, and then our better players will have their heads turned by the likes of Sunderland, Blackburn, 'Boro and Pompey.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

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....

We'll hear it many times before the end of this month....

[cmonurz]

It’s a fair point of view RR, but I don’t think you will find many fans who would be happy to be relegated from this division without significant financial investment in the team. A point I made earlier in thread – how would we cope in the Championship without Shorey, Lita, Doyle, Kitson, Harper, Sonko and Hunt? Maybe Convey too. No Little. Murts might be done soon, etc etc. I wouldn’t go near us for automatic promotion next season if we go down, because the squad as we know it would fall apart.

Are we really happy to just accept our fate and fade back from whence we came?

Reading v Carlisle in League One in August 2011 in front of that 4,987. Now that would be an atmosphere.

[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.

I've said it before but fair point HB. How much are we willing to spend / gamble on bringing someone in is the question that needs to be answered. Not by us of course.

If a gamble is to be taken I would far rather the gamble we take be the one where we chuck Alex Pearce in and see how he gets on. But if Coppell doesn't consider him ready yet, then I suppose we can question, but ultimately trust, his judgment.

I'd love to see the youngsters given a chance too.

It seems we're not willing to go down either route though.

Ideally we'd see a bit of both, but all we seem to do is go with the same 14 or so players.

[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.

I still think it goes back to the end of last season and the summer too.

The club didn't want to push on for the European spot and coasted through the last few games of the season. What message does that send to our better and younger players?

It tells them that if they want to achieve any more than what they've already done, ie getting into the Premiership and staying there for a while, they need to move somewhere else.

That must impact the view of the club with potential transfer targets and make it more difficult to bring in new players better than the ones we've got, and then our better players will have their heads turned by the likes of Sunderland, Blackburn, 'Boro and Pompey.

Agree there too. Of course we could still have been in Europe, but we turned down the Intertoto Cup place which Blackburn then took up.

[Royal Rother]

It’s a fair point of view RR, but I don’t think you will find many fans who would be happy to be relegated from this division without significant financial investment in the team. A point I made earlier in thread – how would we cope in the Championship without Shorey, Lita, Doyle, Kitson, Harper, Sonko and Hunt? Maybe Convey too. No Little. Murts might be done soon, etc etc. I wouldn’t go near us for automatic promotion next season if we go down, because the squad as we know it would fall apart.

Are we really happy to just accept our fate and fade back from whence we came?

Reading v Carlisle in League One in August 2011 in front of that 4,987. Now that would be an atmosphere.

It costs a lot less to build a squad to get you out of the Championship than to climb up the PL table.

If we go down having spent loads of cash on average players we will be in a lot weaker position to strengthen and bounce back up.

If we have to sell all the players you mention that will only increase the coffers and we will have the stability and financial clout to quickly build the strongest squad in the Championship again.

With parachute payments available, the business of running a football club need not be as short-termist as people seem to think. Of course we don't want to go down (shadesrwrf apart ) but if we do it need not be a disaster as no team will ever have been as well placed to bounce back if we have not gambled cash away on silly signings on big wages.

Would you not agree?

[Platypuss]

1. Is it really so easy to get out of the Championship?
2. Would SC still be around to build the new squad that would be required?

[Old Biscuitman]

...but not as much of a shambles as Luton.

[Uke]

15 pages of speculation

None of us know what the real corporate aims of the club are, you all spout the 'money is there', 'we must sign players', 'brick by brick' soundbites as if the corporation that is RFC will put its business plan in the open.

(I'm guilty too)

It may well be that having had a taste of the 'Prem demands' they have decided that it is not necessary for the survival of the club long term. Indeed a parachute payment could maybe allow RFC several more years of survival at a profitable rate in the CCC with less risk.

OK it'll piss off fans who think we have a god given right to PL status, but when we compete for crowds and players against the big London clubs could we really survive? Its clear that teh big 4 will split from the Prem sooner rather than later as the other16 teams cannot truly compete financially.

What is truly 'ambitious' from the corporate viewpoint? Silverware or a longer term future and survival for the business? What would be better for the town?

[cmonurz]

I don’t in any way agree RR that it is particularly easy to build a squad capable of getting out of the Championship.

Look at how Sheffield United have struggled this season, and they ‘only’ lost Jagielka and Claude Davis (and signed Hendry and Beattie). Watford have done well, but then they didn’t lose anyone of note. Charlton struggled at first but now look set for the play-offs, but they only had to deal with losing Luke Young and Dennis Rommedhal. If we can’t use all the cash we have now to find players that will keep us up, what makes you convinced we could ‘just build the best side in the Championship’ once we go down?

[Old Biscuitman]

1. Is it really so easy to get out of the Championship?
2. Would SC still be around to build the new squad that would be required?

1. Out of the wrong end - yes.

2. Almost certainly not.

Therefore survival in the Premier League this season may be the most important objective RFC has ever had. Worth shelling out £20m for IMO.

[cmonurz]

15 pages of speculation

None of us know what the real corporate aims of the club are, you all spout the 'money is there', 'we must sign players', 'brick by brick' soundbites as if the corporation that is RFC will put its business plan in the open.

(I'm guilty too)

It may well be that having had a taste of the 'Prem demands' they have decided that it is not necessary for the survival of the club long term. Indeed a parachute payment could maybe allow RFC several more years of survival at a profitable rate in the CCC with less risk.

OK it'll piss off fans who think we have a god given right to PL status, but when we compete for crowds and players against the big London clubs could we really survive? Its clear that teh big 4 will split from the Prem sooner rather than later as the other16 teams cannot truly compete financially.

What is truly 'ambitious' from the corporate viewpoint? Silverware or a longer term future and survival for the business? What would be better for the town?

This club will not get another penny from me if it is genuinely not striving to stay in this division. Thankfully, I doubt that is the case.

[Huntley & Palmer]

15 pages of speculation

None of us know what the real corporate aims of the club are, you all spout the 'money is there', 'we must sign players', 'brick by brick' soundbites as if the corporation that is RFC will put its business plan in the open.

(I'm guilty too)

It may well be that having had a taste of the 'Prem demands' they have decided that it is not necessary for the survival of the club long term. Indeed a parachute payment could maybe allow RFC several more years of survival at a profitable rate in the CCC with less risk.

OK it'll piss off fans who think we have a god given right to PL status, but when we compete for crowds and players against the big London clubs could we really survive? Its clear that teh big 4 will split from the Prem sooner rather than later as the other16 teams cannot truly compete financially.

What is truly 'ambitious' from the corporate viewpoint? Silverware or a longer term future and survival for the business? What would be better for the town?

We know the money is there because Madejski and Hammond have stated it is if Coppell wishes to make use of it.

[Uke]

15 pages of speculation

None of us know what the real corporate aims of the club are, you all spout the 'money is there', 'we must sign players', 'brick by brick' soundbites as if the corporation that is RFC will put its business plan in the open.

(I'm guilty too)

It may well be that having had a taste of the 'Prem demands' they have decided that it is not necessary for the survival of the club long term. Indeed a parachute payment could maybe allow RFC several more years of survival at a profitable rate in the CCC with less risk.

OK it'll piss off fans who think we have a god given right to PL status, but when we compete for crowds and players against the big London clubs could we really survive? Its clear that teh big 4 will split from the Prem sooner rather than later as the other16 teams cannot truly compete financially.

What is truly 'ambitious' from the corporate viewpoint? Silverware or a longer term future and survival for the business? What would be better for the town?

This club will not get another penny from me if it is genuinely not striving to stay in this division. Thankfully, I doubt that is the case.

Really, so if we were relegated you'd move your support elsewhwere.

Like me, you are in effect a guaranteed income stream.

[Uke]

15 pages of speculation

None of us know what the real corporate aims of the club are, you all spout the 'money is there', 'we must sign players', 'brick by brick' soundbites as if the corporation that is RFC will put its business plan in the open.

(I'm guilty too)

It may well be that having had a taste of the 'Prem demands' they have decided that it is not necessary for the survival of the club long term. Indeed a parachute payment could maybe allow RFC several more years of survival at a profitable rate in the CCC with less risk.

OK it'll piss off fans who think we have a god given right to PL status, but when we compete for crowds and players against the big London clubs could we really survive? Its clear that teh big 4 will split from the Prem sooner rather than later as the other16 teams cannot truly compete financially.

What is truly 'ambitious' from the corporate viewpoint? Silverware or a longer term future and survival for the business? What would be better for the town?

We know the money is there because Madejski and Hammond have stated it is if Coppell wishes to make use of it.

Could they really state anything else in public?

[Platypuss]

I don’t in any way agree RR that it is particularly easy to build a squad capable of getting out of the Championship.

Look at how Sheffield United have struggled this season, and they ‘only’ lost Jagielka and Claude Davis (and signed Hendry and Beattie).

Arguably their biggest loss in getting out of the division was Warnock.

Which is why the double whammy of starting all over again the Championship without SC doesn't bear thinking about.

[cmonurz]

15 pages of speculation

None of us know what the real corporate aims of the club are, you all spout the 'money is there', 'we must sign players', 'brick by brick' soundbites as if the corporation that is RFC will put its business plan in the open.

(I'm guilty too)

It may well be that having had a taste of the 'Prem demands' they have decided that it is not necessary for the survival of the club long term. Indeed a parachute payment could maybe allow RFC several more years of survival at a profitable rate in the CCC with less risk.

OK it'll piss off fans who think we have a god given right to PL status, but when we compete for crowds and players against the big London clubs could we really survive? Its clear that teh big 4 will split from the Prem sooner rather than later as the other16 teams cannot truly compete financially.

What is truly 'ambitious' from the corporate viewpoint? Silverware or a longer term future and survival for the business? What would be better for the town?

This club will not get another penny from me if it is genuinely not striving to stay in this division. Thankfully, I doubt that is the case.

Really, so if we were relegated you'd move your support elsewhwere.

LOL

That's absolutely not what I said at all.

[Gordons Cumming]

As Coppell hasn't a clue what he's doing I imagine he can't wait for this, and many other Hobnob threads on the subject to see their course, so he can then think about making a decision on the future of Reading FC.

[Royal Rother]

1. Is it really so easy to get out of the Championship?
2. Would SC still be around to build the new squad that would be required?

1. Out of the wrong end - yes.

2. Almost certainly not.

Therefore survival in the Premier League this season may be the most important objective RFC has ever had. Worth shelling out £20m for IMO.

1. There would never have been a team as well placed financially to rebuild, so I think that's overly pessimistic.

2. Let's not kid ourselves that Coppell is the only one capable of doing a decent job in The Championship. (Neil Warnock might fancy a go.)

Shelling out £20m wouldn't come with a guarantee unfortunately.