Has anyone else noticed...

[Cookie]

maybe we can combine this with the other shorey threads

I for one wish him gone and good luck.
He wasn't up for it last season, who's to say there will be any change when he gets kicked about abit at this level.

[Woodcote Royal]

It's a very valid point actually, but you'll just be called negative so best to keep it to yourself Skyline.

Unfortunately AP I think you might be the only one who actually got the point of my post.

Make that two.

It's nothing short of hypocrisy on Coppell's part and yet another sign that lessons from last season may not have been learnt.

Whilst the likes of Bikey had to work their socks off for modest reward, when his favourite defenders let in 7 at Portsmouth they all had to play in the next match to avoid losing confidence for the rest of the season

Shorey's attitude was a disgrace last season but it was DLC who was on his way within days of relegation.

The smell from the Shorey saga gets worse by the day, as getting rid of him sooner rather than later becomes more important than the price.

[The 17 Bus]

That same back 5 would be the ones to keep a clean sheet against Derby and help secure all 3 points, Sonko returned just a few matches later to the Prem, against Blackburn away, to cover for injuries I believe, that defence managed to let in 4 goals in no time and looked clueless, two soft goals from Doyles head could not hide the poor defending, and yet again Coppell did not change the team the following week, but then again it was a 2-1 win against Newcastle, so we wont moan about that.

[Lower West]

Perhaps Shorey is beginning to realise that he may have overated himself as well............. it could be that the wages being offered aren't at the level he expected ........ the fee could be agreed.........

If he does want to move back to the Premiership he'll have to prove himself again by performing well for Reading this season.

[Scarface]

Perhaps Shorey is beginning to realise that he may have overated himself as well............. it could be that the wages being offered aren't at the level he expected ........ the fee could be agreed.........

If he does want to move back to the Premiership he'll have to prove himself again by performing well for Reading this season.

He'll sulk (again), keeping him here could have a negative effect on the squad, as he's publically said many times he's "unhappy" and "wants to leave". How can the manager want to keep a player with that attitude. We need to accept Pompey's offer, get someone in who wants to play and move on. Coppell is desperate to keep his nice little clique at the club, so he's comfortable.

If Steve Coppell is so intelligent, why is he repeating the mistakes of last summer ?

[Nomad_Royal]

I'm probably going to get either slammed or dodded for this, but like I give a oxf*rd:

Has anyone else noticed this bit on the official site where SC is talking about Shorey:

Now he's come to the last year of his contract and reiterated that he would prefer to go. For us, we're in the situation where we can't finance a big move for someone else in case Nicky doesn't go.

But first and foremost, I would love him to stay. I want him to say he's happy here and wants to face the challenge of getting back into the Premiership that way.

I'm sure, not so long ago, Coppell came out and said words to the effect of "I only want players here who want to be here", but now he wants Shorey to stay even though he (Shorey) has said he wants to leave.

Maybe he's finding it difficult to keep up that attitude after his own doubts over whether he should stay here at the end of the season - might look a bit hypocritical to some.

Selective quoting dont you love it!

Coppell says he wants only players who want to be here. Sound good to me.

He then says he wants Shorey to say he is happy here and face the challenge of getting back into the premiership and given that he'd love him to stay at the club. Tha sounds sensible although unlikely to me.

AP and Skyline to pick two who have made the comment - How the hell is Coppell being hypocritical to say that?

[Vision]

Sorry to interrupt the usual self righteous indignation and wild accusations that seem to count as discussion on these boards but.......

Anyone consider the possibility that one of the stumbling blocks in moving Shorey on might have something to do with some kind of "loyalty clause" in his contract?

Unusual isn't it for Coppell and Howe to make a public comment that Shorey is looking to move on whilst the only comment Shorey himself has made is to stress that he has never asked to leave.

[Bucks Dave]

Vision, in the first line you missed out "repetitive". I don't come onto Hobnob much now but the same posters seem to keep posting the same comments.

[Woodcote Royal]

That same back 5 would be the ones to keep a clean sheet against Derby and help secure all 3 points, Sonko returned just a few matches later to the Prem, against Blackburn away, to cover for injuries I believe, that defence managed to let in 4 goals in no time and looked clueless, two soft goals from Doyles head could not hide the poor defending, and yet again Coppell did not change the team the following week, but then again it was a 2-1 win against Newcastle, so we wont moan about that.

So, keeping a clean sheet on the last day of the season against the worst side in the league counts above being one of the worst backlines throughout the entire campaign.

In fact, the side Coppell picked for our last match in the top flight was another object lesson in picking favourites and leaving the likes of Bikey on the bench.

If I were Bikey, I would be praying for someone to come in for me or, having my name changed to Ingimarsson.

Does anyone expect Coppell to say he'd love Bikey to stay, if for no other reason than he actually looked like he cared last season or, are these remarks reserved purely for "Couldn't give a sh*t " Shorey?

[Vision]

That same back 5 would be the ones to keep a clean sheet against Derby and help secure all 3 points, Sonko returned just a few matches later to the Prem, against Blackburn away, to cover for injuries I believe, that defence managed to let in 4 goals in no time and looked clueless, two soft goals from Doyles head could not hide the poor defending, and yet again Coppell did not change the team the following week, but then again it was a 2-1 win against Newcastle, so we wont moan about that.

So, keeping a clean sheet on the last day of the season against the worst side in the league counts above being one of the worst backlines throughout the entire campaign.

In fact, the side Coppell picked for our last match in the top flight was another object lesson in picking favourites and leaving the likes of Bikey on the bench.

If I were Bikey, I would be praying for someone to come in for me or, having my name changed to Ingimarsson.

Does anyone expect Coppell to say he'd love Bikey to stay, if for no other reason than he actually looked like he cared last season or, are these remarks reserved purely for "Couldn't give a sh*t " Shorey?

I suspect if Coppell were asked about Bikey's availability at every press interview then at some stage he would make a comment about wanting him to stay. He'd also say that he wouldn't stand in his way if his valuation was met as well.

Bikey wasn't dropped for Ingimarrsson for the final game he was dropped for a more attacking midfielder Matejovsky in a game that we had to go out and win.

I'd agree with you that Coppell's reluctance to fully utilise his squad was in my view a major reason for our relegation but to specifically critcise his selection for the final game which we won 4-0 away is a bit blinkered even by your standards.

[brendywendy]

It's a very valid point actually, but you'll just be called negative so best to keep it to yourself Skyline.

Unfortunately AP I think you might be the only one who actually got the point of my post.

Make that two.

It's nothing short of hypocrisy on Coppell's part and yet another sign that lessons from last season may not have been learnt.

Whilst the likes of Bikey had to work their socks off for modest reward, when his favourite defenders let in 7 at Portsmouth they all had to play in the next match to avoid losing confidence for the rest of the season

Shorey's attitude was a disgrace last season but it was DLC who was on his way within days of relegation.

The smell from the Shorey saga gets worse by the day, as getting rid of him sooner rather than later becomes more important than the price.

its a rubbish point
no hypocrasy at all

coppell was thinking about leaving and taking a rest from the game-nothing to do with shorey wanting to leave cos of the money to play in the premiere league.

twas a rubbish point-thats why everyone ignored it.

hell be off for decent money today or tommorrow i reckon
probably to play with sidders at the villa
well played the RFC backroom staff for holding out and not being held to ransom

[Uke]

Same quote different editor? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 540578.stm

"It's an unsatisfactory situation. First and foremost, I'd love Nicky to be happy, to play here and really to feel his future is with us.

"He wants to go, we have an asset, so what's the value? I've said to players, if they don't want to be here, as long as we get an acceptable market value, they can go.

"Just to make people happy, I'm not going to sell people cheaply. We don't have to sell players for financial reasons.

Why do we analyse every word he says too much?

Results are all that matters. The position at the end of the season is all that ultimately counts. (Wonder who said that?)

[Woodcote Royal]

I suspect if Coppell were asked about Bikey's availability at every press interview then at some stage he would make a comment about wanting him to stay. He'd also say that he wouldn't stand in his way if his valuation was met as well.

Bikey wasn't dropped for Ingimarrsson for the final game he was dropped for a more attacking midfielder Matejovsky in a game that we had to go out and win.

I'd agree with you that Coppell's reluctance to fully utilise his squad was in my view a major reason for our relegation but to specifically critcise his selection for the final game which we won 4-0 away is a bit blinkered even by your standards.

Why is it blinkered to put in context a 4-0 victory against the worst side in the Premiership by a country mile? We all know that, had we played Derby every week, Coppell's failure to utilise or strengthen his squad would not have resulted in relegation.

However, I don't see the above point as the main thrust of this thread. It's about Coppell's favourites and the double standards, at least in Shorey's case, he applies to them.

Having rightly put a huge emphasis on collective unity he is now undermining his great achievements here by pandering to those whose glory days at the club are well behind them.

His priority at this stage should be removing a player who has wanted to leave for at least a year. Otherwise, he has no chance of recreating the "all for one, one for all" squad mentality that allowed us to over achieve so spectacularly for 2 seasons.

In Bikey's case (a player who, IMHO, we should be trying very hard to retain) leaving him on the bench when he could justify a start in either defence or midfield, replacing others who had under performed throughout the campaign, did nothing other than convince him that it was time to move back to higher climbs.

[Vision]

I suspect if Coppell were asked about Bikey's availability at every press interview then at some stage he would make a comment about wanting him to stay. He'd also say that he wouldn't stand in his way if his valuation was met as well.

Bikey wasn't dropped for Ingimarrsson for the final game he was dropped for a more attacking midfielder Matejovsky in a game that we had to go out and win.

I'd agree with you that Coppell's reluctance to fully utilise his squad was in my view a major reason for our relegation but to specifically critcise his selection for the final game which we won 4-0 away is a bit blinkered even by your standards.

Why is it blinkered to put in context a 4-0 victory against the worst side in the Premiership by a country mile? We all know that, had we played Derby every week, Coppell's failure to utilise or strengthen his squad would not have resulted in relegation.

However, I don't see the above point as the main thrust of this thread. It's about Coppell's favourites and the double standards, at least in Shorey's case, he applies to them.

Having rightly put a huge emphasis on collective unity he is now undermining his great achievements here by pandering to those whose glory days at the club are well behind them.

His priority at this stage should be removing a player who has wanted to leave for at least a year. Otherwise, he has no chance of recreating the "all for one, one for all" squad mentality that allowed us to over achieve so spectacularly for 2 seasons.

In Bikey's case (a player who, IMHO, we should be trying very hard to retain) leaving him on the bench when he could justify a start in either defence or midfield, replacing others who had under performed throughout the campaign, did nothing other than convince him that it was time to move back to higher climbs.

He's not "pandering" to anyone. He's holding out for the valuation he feels he can get for Shorey whilst at the same time trying to not publicly make it look like he's trying to get rid of him. I alluded to a possible "loyalty clause" earlier which would certainly explain his remarks on the subject of Shorey. Of course you can choose not to accept that as a possibility . Personally i'd have settled for less far earlier and moved him on myself but i reckon the reason we haven't is that any bids have been well below our asking price rather than pandering to the player.

As for Bikey. he's in the same boat as most of our squad in that if an acceptable offer comes in for him, it will be put to him and he can decide just like Kitson and Shorey. Its just the reality of the situation we're in.

Of course its blinkered to criticise the team selection for a high pressure one-off "must win" game away from home that we won 4-0. If memory serves wasn't the Duberry/Ingimarrson central defensive pairing brought back for the Wigan game. We only conceded 1 goal in those last 3 games which would suggest it might have shored things up defensively. As i said in the end Bikey's place was taken by Marek as the Derby game was a must win and he's a more attack minded player. As i said i agree about Coppell not using the squad well enough through the season (although stating "it wouldn't have resulted in relegation" is still just our opinion and not fact) but I really can't see what your argument is with this particular decision given the outcome.

[Y25]

oh dear

you can feel the Coppell backlash developing bigtime

[brendywendy]

oh dear

you can feel the Coppell backlash developing bigtime

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

the same one thats been going for the last year you mean?

[Uke]

Coppell puts this thread to bed http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/pa ... 31,00.html

Of course I would love him, even now, to turn around and say 'you know what, I don't fancy a move, I've spent so many years at Reading, I want to stay here and help guide them back into the Premiership.'

But, he's been consistent right from this time last year. He's said he wanted to go, try a fresh challenge. We'll see what happens but I imagine he'll be gone.

[Lower West]

Derby were so bad as to be an embarressment to the Premership so don't overestimate Readings performance that day.

[SpaceCruiser]

Derby were so bad as to be an embarressment to the Premership so don't overestimate Readings performance that day.

Well, yeah. However, Reading were under pressure to perform so they could try to get something in case Fulham didn't do the business. Also, Derby were supposedly up for it because they apparently didn't want to end the season on a losing note....

[Huntley & Palmer]

All I can do is shake my head at this comment unfortunately :

"We will have a problem at left back, I'll be the first to admit that. Any possible purchases in that department over this summer have not materialised, partly because I'm a little fussy and partly because I was thinking Nicky might stay. Now we know he'll go, we have to be busy and get an alternative.
I'd hope to do something for the weekend, but it's not guaranteed. In the short term I have faith in Hunt or whoever plays."

No shit sherlock