Coppell's latest backtrack

[Blue Blooded]

SC said last year that the side were punching above their weight yet in the summer

Wonder why they said that because if we do end up going down we will have the spin that the Table never lies.

Does anyone believe that we were punching above our weight last season?

I don't - I bet Coppell doesn't either.

This was more about keeping players expectations down and keeping a lid on wages. I don't blame Coppell - why shoot the messenger who has to be the public face and voice of the club?

The situation regarding Mr Mad is what is holding us back and now threatening our chances - the crux is not who does and who doesn't want to play, rather it is who wants to pay!

[Royal Lady]

Good post BR2. No-one has said we should spend ALL the money accrued over the past two seasons, and spend it rashly on players. However, you get what you pay for usually (Hughes being an exception there for Norwich!) and maybe if we'd been able to make one or two bigger name signings, other bigger names/better players would have started to consider joining them (and us!)

If the Club hadn't made such a big deal about why they were having to increase ST prices, I wouldn't mind, but they've not only increased ST prices, had money from PL, had TV revenue money for TWO SEASONS, we've brought no-one of note who will help us maintain a PL place imho. THAT is what the gripe is all about imho.

[Uke]

Why all the moaning?

In my opinion we don't need signings. We have one of the best away records in the prem and our home record is improving.
The defence has played out of their skin this season, games like villa, pompey and tottenham are prime examples of their solidness, how many assists have come from the right wing?? Who wants to upset a team spirit as strong as our's with better players, who wants to bankrupt the club with a couple of silly big name signings...my god...we'll do a leeds or something. Remember where we were three years ago!!! Im happy to see us getting spanked stupid every week, every time a goal is conceded I think " don't get upset, we were loosing to colchester a few years ago". all is forgotten, im grateful.

Greast post.

And all the better for your approval

[Tinrib]

Ok - I've read the article twice, and I can safely say that in no part of that article does Coppell say we aren't going to bring in any more players. - He says, and quite rightly too that following Cisse's performance against Man U that we're unlikely to bring in any more CB's, and we'll go with what we've got. (and we have two more coming back from ACON)

I have no issue with that.

But the negative, knee jerk reactions of the illiterate whose clearly misread/cannot comprehend the article is laughable.

We have bought in whats looks to be a class CM in Marek.

We have it would appear the Kebe chap coming in. (I have no idea what he's like)

And who knows about other players that RFC might've tried to sign, but for whatever reason have failed to do so.

Of course the majority of you whining souls would prefer to bring in a no-one from the Maltesse league. The same people who would be on here in 6 months time complaining because he's crap.

And what Coppell says , and as pointed out by Platypus is correct. The reality of that actually happening is completley different, a bit like you lot pulling a stunner every weekend. - Almost impossible, unless you've got the image to back it up.

[West Stand Flash]

Good post BR2. No-one has said we should spend ALL the money accrued over the past two seasons, and spend it rashly on players. However, you get what you pay for usually (Hughes being an exception there for Norwich!) and maybe if we'd been able to make one or two bigger name signings, other bigger names/better players would have started to consider joining them (and us!)

If the Club hadn't made such a big deal about why they were having to increase ST prices, I wouldn't mind, but they've not only increased ST prices, had money from PL, had TV revenue money for TWO SEASONS, we've brought no-one of note who will help us maintain a PL place imho. THAT is what the gripe is all about imho.

Spot on.

Investement is a must in all walks of life, football especially. If you don't strengthen then there is only one possible outcome. I just don't know SC reasoning as to why he isn't strengthening. The bloke is going loopy slowly but surely. The vast majority of his tactics & substitutions have proved that this season already.

[floyd__streete]

But the negative, knee jerk reactions of the illiterate on here is laughable.

Nice one - if you don't agree with someone, dismiss them as illiterate. I was totally able to comprehend every opinion contrary to yours thus far so perhaps it is you who have a reading problem. Down with aggressive RTG-ism.

[Platypuss]

And what Coppell says , and as pointed out by Platypus is correct. The reality of that actually happening is completley different, a bit like you lot pulling a stunner every weekend. - Almost impossible, unless you've got the image to back it up.

"What first attracted you to short, balding millionaire Paul Daniels?"

[Royal Lady]

Good post BR2. No-one has said we should spend ALL the money accrued over the past two seasons, and spend it rashly on players. However, you get what you pay for usually (Hughes being an exception there for Norwich!) and maybe if we'd been able to make one or two bigger name signings, other bigger names/better players would have started to consider joining them (and us!)

If the Club hadn't made such a big deal about why they were having to increase ST prices, I wouldn't mind, but they've not only increased ST prices, had money from PL, had TV revenue money for TWO SEASONS, we've brought no-one of note who will help us maintain a PL place imho. THAT is what the gripe is all about imho.

Spot on.

Investement is a must in all walks of life, football especially. If you don't strengthen then there is only one possible outcome. I just don't know SC reasoning as to why he isn't strengthening. The bloke is going loopy slowly but surely. The vast majority of his tactics & substitutions have proved that this season already.

Maybe because he plans to leave at the end of the season, doesn't want to spend a lot of money (or Mr Mad isn't allowing him to) on players who a new manager coming in won't rate and therefore wasting a few million? Just a thought, but as far as I'm aware, the ROI job hasn't been filled yet has it.......?

[Stranded]

Good post BR2. No-one has said we should spend ALL the money accrued over the past two seasons, and spend it rashly on players. However, you get what you pay for usually (Hughes being an exception there for Norwich!) and maybe if we'd been able to make one or two bigger name signings, other bigger names/better players would have started to consider joining them (and us!)

If the Club hadn't made such a big deal about why they were having to increase ST prices, I wouldn't mind, but they've not only increased ST prices, had money from PL, had TV revenue money for TWO SEASONS, we've brought no-one of note who will help us maintain a PL place imho. THAT is what the gripe is all about imho.

Spot on.

Investement is a must in all walks of life, football especially. If you don't strengthen then there is only one possible outcome. I just don't know SC reasoning as to why he isn't strengthening. The bloke is going loopy slowly but surely. The vast majority of his tactics & substitutions have proved that this season already.

He is strengthening or at least trying too.

We have brought one player in who looks (on limited viewing admiteddly) that he could be as good a midfielder as we've had if not better. And we look like getting another bloke that has been scouted and they feel offers us something we haven't got.

He used a player within the squad to fill a gap in defence that looks like actually being an improvement on what we currently have there.

The strengthening of a first XI doesn't always mean going out and getting new players, it can be acheived quite as effectively by using the current players in a different way.

Most people's gripe seems to be that we haven't bought certain players that they want or we haven't spent £3 or £4m on them.

[Royal Rother]

That is why Reading were able to turn around from a very average season of poor football in 2004/5 to become the best Championship team ever seen the following season with virtually the same squad and management.

We signed Convey, Doyle, Hunt, Lita and Gunnarsson in summer 2005?

Convey signed in July 2004.
Gunnarsson, Oster and Hunt were not mainstays of the team in 2005/6.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

That is why Reading were able to turn around from a very average season of poor football in 2004/5 to become the best Championship team ever seen the following season with virtually the same squad and management.

We signed Convey, Doyle, Hunt, Lita and Gunnarsson in summer 2005?

Convey signed in July 2004.
Gunnarsson, Oster and Hunt were not mainstays of the team in 2005/6.

The biggest impact was the signing of Lita. Because it sent a messgae. What message do our signings make in recent summers? Certainly not we're looking to get to the next level like Coppell has claimed we should be doing.

[Tinrib]

But the negative, knee jerk reactions of the illiterate on here is laughable.

Nice one - if you don't agree with someone, dismiss them as illiterate. I was totally able to comprehend every opinion contrary to yours thus far so perhaps it is you who have a reading problem. Down with aggressive RTG-ism.

Its not about disagreeing with anyone, Coppells comments are there to be seen for all

The ability to digest simple information, as opposed to wasting pages of bandwith on unfounded vitriol, certainly lends itself to the illiterate.

But the richness of your post , given the crap you've written in recent weeks is a LOL

[Tinrib]

And what Coppell says , and as pointed out by Platypus is correct. The reality of that actually happening is completley different, a bit like you lot pulling a stunner every weekend. - Almost impossible, unless you've got the image to back it up.

"What first attracted you to short, balding millionaire Paul Daniels?"

Debbie McGee - well suited to Paul Daniels IMHO.

However if Paul daniels pulled Lucy Pinder, then I'd give your anolgy credence.

But he wont.

[Royal Lady]

Tinrib - it's only "crap" because you don't agree with it!

I do wish people were allowed to air their views on here without others feeling the need to patronize them or tell them they're wrong, when clearly, they are merely stating how they feel or what they believe.

[Royal Rother]

Do you think spending over the odds for players sends a message out that is anything other than we are a bunch of desperate numpties, and sets the scene for future transfer dealings for years to come?

(Okay I know it's only 10 minutes but) I'll take a Matejovski at £1.4m for the whole bally lot of Roy Keane's signings for £40m+.

Messages of the sort you want are worth d.squat in reality.

[Royal Rother]

Tinrib - it's only "crap" because you don't agree with it!

I do wish people were allowed to air their views on here without others feeling the need to patronize them or tell them they're wrong, when clearly, they are merely stating how they feel or what they believe.

Yes, we really should look after tender souls such as West End Flash and Daniella. If we insult them too much they might be driven off the board and that would be a bloody tragedy.

[floyd__streete]

But the richness of your post , given the crap you've written in recent weeks is a LOL

I shall console myself with the fact that you managed to read it, so at least it wasn't a display of that rabid illiteracy you fear is engulfing HNA. The one good thing about impending relegation is that if we do go down we will be taking holier-than-thou attitudes such as yours down with us . Tin rib? Tin pot more like.

[Royal Lady]

Do you think spending over the odds for players sends a message out that is anything other than we are a bunch of desperate numpties, and sets the scene for future transfer dealings for years to come?

(Okay I know it's only 10 minutes but) I'll take a Matejovski at £1.4m for the whole bally lot of Roy Keane's signings for £40m+.

Messages of the sort you want are worth d.squat in reality.

You can pay 7 million for a player and not be paying "over the odds" for him, surely. It all depends who it is doesn't it?

[Tinrib]

Tinrib - it's only "crap" because you don't agree with it!

I do wish people were allowed to air their views on here without others feeling the need to patronize them or tell them they're wrong, when clearly, they are merely stating how they feel or what they believe.

Its not the opinion I disagree with. Not at all.

Its the FACT that people have read into a short 'piece ' in the local rag something that clearly is not there.

Simple really.

oh. p.s I did'nt call anybodys opinion crap.

[Woodcote Royal]

He used a player within the squad to fill a gap in defence that looks like actually being an improvement on what we currently have there.

The strengthening of a first XI doesn't always mean going out and getting new players, it can be acheived quite as effectively by using the current players in a different way.

Most people's gripe seems to be that we haven't bought certain players that they want or we haven't spent £3 or £4m on them.

I couldn't agree more but please remember that, whilst the serial whingers are desperate for the club to spend millions, regardless of whether the players concerned are worth that kind of money, when it comes to their own wallets things are seen in a rather different light.......................I believe some stand to gain substantial sums should we fall through the trap door.

With die- hard support like this, we'll be just fine.................