Season/Team Fears & Concerns - Season Review Pending

[From Despair To Where?]

I think the team has a good mid to long term future. Don't expect to much this season, it's a year of transition. Gylfi and Karacan look quality prospects, but Pearce needs to loose the captaincy and get his head sorted. The rest all look Div 1 at best. The signings look to be a good piece of business although I do think that the cull of pre Rodgers signings has been a little too much, too soon. Rodgers needs to stamp his own personality on the team and there were clearly problems from last year but I feel he has used a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

My big concern is Rodgers himself. Not the manager, his credentials speak for themselves, but the man. As others have said, he is full of Brentisms and he needs to rpove that, despite all the talk, he needs to walk the walk. To be honest, the man fails to impress me. My early impressions are that a little bit of humility wouldn't go amiss. He needs to remember that, despite the glowing references and the impressive contacts book, he has yet to achieve anything. The Tommy Smith situation was frankly an embarassment. Talk up the signing for three months then getting gazumped makes us look stupid and is not in the style of the Reading that I know and like.

[gonesy]

Mills will still have his celebrity girlfriend

Oops that's 1 wrong statement already! As for RFC, I'm excited to see how things pan out this year. I haven't got a clue at the moment but I've always said that as long as we play some decent football I'll be happy. 400 mile round trips (at least!) last season to see the same old crap week in week out is what I don't want a repeat of. All the players seem to rave about BR so that's a good sign. The squad he's built is fresh and looks flexible enough to play more than 1 way if needed. No Plan B is what cost us last season.

[gonesy]

Absolutely no fears at all, good crop of very talented youngsters, some experienced older heads and a talented manager with great potential.

As above. Would like to add a very sensible Chairman who is securing our long term future in these times of fear.

I would also like Reading to add this (sorry - 2nd post I know but couldn't resist!)

[andrew1957]

I think the team has a good mid to long term future. Don't expect to much this season, it's a year of transition. Gylfi and Karacan look quality prospects, but Pearce needs to loose the captaincy and get his head sorted. The rest all look Div 1 at best. The signings look to be a good piece of business although I do think that the cull of pre Rodgers signings has been a little too much, too soon. Rodgers needs to stamp his own personality on the team and there were clearly problems from last year but I feel he has used a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

My big concern is Rodgers himself. Not the manager, his credentials speak for themselves, but the man. As others have said, he is full of Brentisms and he needs to rpove that, despite all the talk, he needs to walk the walk. To be honest, the man fails to impress me. My early impressions are that a little bit of humility wouldn't go amiss. He needs to remember that, despite the glowing references and the impressive contacts book, he has yet to achieve anything. The Tommy Smith situation was frankly an embarassment. Talk up the signing for three months then getting gazumped makes us look stupid and is not in the style of the Reading that I know and like.

Think you are being very unfair to our new leader. It is difficult to judge someone from a few radio sound bites - as I suspect you are. I am not easily impressed but at the fans forum he was extremely impressive. The other interesting thing is that every payer that has played for him seems to want to play for him again - see comments by new signings and others that said they would still like to pay for him. The Smith situating was unfortunate but Pompey offered a 4 year deal to our 3 and we lost out and have got Howard instead.

Just give BR a season before saying he is David Brent - time will tell but I think he will do well for us.

[Ark Royal]

Stinks of 87/88 and 97/98 again. If we finish 21st I will be delighted, but I genuinely fear that the drop is looming.

[Ryn]

I'm cheesed off that I was hoodwinked into renewing my season ticket early,

I'm cheesed off that they have stopped the hotdog and soft drink meal deal at the ground,

I'm cheesed off that we've shipped out Harper and they way he's been treated,

I'm cheesed off that we haven't seen enough of Marek,

I'm cheesed off that we still don't have much of a strike force, or a strong reliable goalkeeper.

I'm pleased that BR has tried to plug some of the other gaps in the side, and the talent that he has brought in for the obvious pittance available to him,

I'm pleased that we are trying to play nice football,

I'm pleased that some of the younger players are getting a go at proving their worth,

I'm pleased that we are at the start of a new cycle.

I'm unsure which direction the club is going in, and what the long term ambition of JM is, and whether he is now the weak link in this club.

[Gordons Cumming]

Sorry to post 3 times but it's amazing what a win and a 2 week break can do to confidence ( oh and few new signings)

Wonder what it will be like after we lose 0-1 on Saturday?

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

We're now paying the price for a totally needless relegation.

We've got a Chairman who's fallen out of love with the idea of bankrolling the club, as well as lossing a lot of money over the last year. Chairman has his own ideas and he's doing a good a job at it. Some might say it should be different, but with JM's current situation it's not going to change.

Rodger's is slowly building something, I think he put too much faith and therefore too much pressure on someone of the kids. I've talked elsewhere on the effect this will have on Pearce.

We've still got a few players who don't fit or aren't good enough, the fact we're pretty much stuck with Kebe out wide says a lot. It's a big shame that we couldn't get Smith in as well as the other new lads.

I don't expect anymore than mid table this season. Obviously promotion or the drop are never impossible in this game, but we should be safe. I think Rodgers may bring a few more faces in over the season, both on loan and permanent in January. Then he'll wait to the summer, when you'd think that after the massive cuts in the wage bill this season, he would have a little more room to get players in.

I think I've covered all my bases there.....

[Wycombe Royal]

We've got a Chairman who's fallen out of love with the idea of bankrolling the club,

I don't believe he was ever "in love" with that idea in the first place. His aim has always been to build this club up to be self-financing but he knew he had to bankroll it initially whilst he was putting the infrastructure in place.

[brendywendy]

I'm cheesed off that I was hoodwinked into renewing my season ticket early,

how?

did they promise you something you have not received?

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

We've got a Chairman who's fallen out of love with the idea of bankrolling the club,

I don't believe he was ever "in love" with that idea in the first place. His aim has always been to build this club up to be self-financing but he knew he had to bankroll it initially whilst he was putting the infrastructure in place.

I dunno. I think he liked talking about how much money he'd spent on the club. I think that the goal post have been moved when it comes to what is considered bank rolling. £800k for Butler was bankrolling the club, a similar fee for Rasiak was seen as good deal.

It's prob more to do with us being at a different level even now. I certainly think he's not comfortable with how football has gone, which I think a lot of feel actually.

[Wycombe Royal]

£800k for Butler was bankrolling the club, a similar fee for Rasiak was seen as good deal.

Firstly I don't believe that the fee was anywhere near £800k for Rasiak, and secondly it depends on where the money comes from as to whether it is "bankrolling" or not. If it comes out of his personal fortune then yes it is, but if it comes out of the accounts of RFC then no it isn't, and Rasiak's fee did not come from his personal fortune (I have no idea about Butler).

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

£800k for Butler was bankrolling the club, a similar fee for Rasiak was seen as good deal.

Firstly I don't believe that the fee was anywhere near £800k for Rasiak, and secondly it depends on where the money comes from as to whether it is "bankrolling" or not. If it comes out of his personal fortune then yes it is, but if it comes out of the accounts of RFC then no it isn't, and Rasiak's fee did not come from his personal fortune (I have no idea about Butler).

I'm pretty sure there been figure branded around the £600k mark for Rasiak.

My point was people got very excited if we spent £500k plus in the past.

[Tilehurst Mike]

Main concern is that we have too many fans who want instant success

Speak for yourself. That comment is total garbage. I have been watching the team since the early 60's and the club has been in existence since 1871. To expect and hope for more than a couple of years in the Premiership is not asking much really in all that time!

I blame the Chairman for the fall from the Premiership which could easily have been avoided withsome realistic investment in players. My biggest fear is that we are trying to continue to do things on the cheap all the time which doesn't always work. Rosenior has gone to Ipswich as a cost cutting exercise--that just about sums it up!

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Main concern is that we have too many fans who want instant success

Speak for yourself. That comment is total garbage. I have been watching the team since the early 60's and the club has been in existence since 1871. To expect and hope for more than a couple of years in the Premiership is not asking much really in all that time!

I blame the Chairman for the fall from the Premiership which could easily have been avoided withsome realistic investment in players. My biggest fear is that we are trying to continue to do things on the cheap all the time which doesn't always work. Rosenior has gone to Ipswich as a cost cutting exercise--that just about sums it up!

The only person who says Rosenior left as a cost cutting measure is Rosenior.

[Sun Tzu]

Main concern is that we have too many fans who want instant success

Speak for yourself. !

Ironic that, given several other people expressed the same concern !!

That comment is total garbage.!

Clearly it's not !! We're plagued by fans who demand instant success. We've seen it already this season when with a new manager, new players and a new way of playing we've had amiddling start and the criticisms have kicked in.

I have been watching the team since the early 60's and the club has been in existence since 1871. To expect and hope for more than a couple of years in the Premiership is not asking much really in all that time!!

What has that got to do with instant success ? I'm fairly keen for us to play in the Premeirhsip again at some time, but I'm not going to demand themanager's head if we aren't 20 points clear by Xmas !! I expect this season to be a building one and promotion challenges to come next season and possibly the season after. I'm happy to have a coupleof years watching Rodgers develop a new team

I blame the Chairman for the fall from the Premiership which could easily have been avoided withsome realistic investment in players.!

Have to say that comment deserves the 'total garbage' comment ! It's been done to death before so not really worth resurrecting !!

My biggest fear is that we are trying to continue to do things on the cheap all the time which doesn't always work. Rosenior has gone to Ipswich as a cost cutting exercise--that just about sums it up!

Indeed. 2 million on a centre back !!

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

To be fair we're hardly the only team who's fans demand instant success.

All clubs have the same problems, it's up to the club to manage.

Some of the mixed messages from the club may not help at times.

I think JM's been in this game long enough to realise not to listen to fans. I actually think our fans are alright compared to some other clubs I have experienced...

[Sun Tzu]

To be fair we're hardly the only team who's fans demand instant success.

All clubs have the same problems, it's up to the club to manage.

Some of the mixed messages from the club may not help at times.

I think JM's been in this game long enough to realise not to listen to fans. I actually think our fans are alright compared to some other clubs I have experienced...

None of the 'concerns' are unique to us really. In fact many clubs have an awful lot more than us to worry about over the next 12 months !

Don't disagree with your general thrust though SKDD, except for it being down to the club to manage the demand for success.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

To be fair we're hardly the only team who's fans demand instant success.

All clubs have the same problems, it's up to the club to manage.

Some of the mixed messages from the club may not help at times.

I think JM's been in this game long enough to realise not to listen to fans. I actually think our fans are alright compared to some other clubs I have experienced...

None of the 'concerns' are unique to us really. In fact many clubs have an awful lot more than us to worry about over the next 12 months !

Don't disagree with your general thrust though SKDD, except for it being down to the club to manage the demand for success.

It's not so much that they have to manage expectations, just that they have to deal with those expectations and to an extent protect Rodgers and his players from it.

It's the on demand society isn't it?

[Sun Tzu]

It's the on demand society isn't it?

Sure is !

Would just be nice for more of the fans to realise what is happening with the team and allow them (the youngsters in particular) to learn. That will mean losing games and the odd bad performance. Hearing boos from the East Stand after a couple of games is just stupid, likewise the 'where's the money gone' chants from people who wouldn;t understand even if they were told.

Too much to expect, people assume that buying a season ticket means they are guaranteed propmotion !