Adkins to West Brom

[From Despair To Where?]

Poor old Sam has really had it, only a small whisper, but Nigel could be on their radar.

I'd take Sam any day of the week.

I like Adkins but yes please to a swap!!!!

I'd rather have Di Canio managing Reading than that cock faced, hoofing, yamyam twatrag

[Extended-Phenotype]

I wonder if it is intellectually possible for people to criticise/defend Adkins without mentioning McDermott as if the success, failure, opinion and appointment of either is intrinsically linked with the other?

I bet it isn't.

[Readingfanman]

We're 9th, one whole point off the Play Offs. It's incredibly unlikely, but with a stonking run (you know like the one from 2 years ago), we could still just about win the league. Let alone get promoted. And even if we don't, it's hardly the end of the year. We can reasonably expect to be in amongst the challengers next year.

On what basis, if we didn't get promoted this season, are we in amongst the challengers for next year? I really don't see any basis on which you can claim that. If Adkins is to stay at the club, and gets to bring in his own players, will people not clamour for him to have "time to gel" the players etc?


3 more clubs get relegated from the Premier League with bigger resources and become challengers, added the 3 losing teams in the Playoffs, and then probably anyone who finished above us if we finish outside the Playoffs. Say we finish 10th, for arguments sake, that would put us behind 9 other clubs in terms of challengers. Personally, I don't see any evidence of how we can be considered challengers for the title or promotion next season, when so far this season we have shown no evidence of being a team who are capable of achieveing either.

[Brum Royal]

Regardless of who is in charge, the twice we've got promoted we've been in this division for four years (admittedly once after coming up and once coming down). Ok the first time down we nearly made it back at the first attempt, but history suggests it'll take a little while for us to re balance ourselves before we move forwards again.

And that was without the upheaval of (potential) change of ownership at the very top of the club.

[grey_squirrel]

We're 9th, one whole point off the Play Offs. It's incredibly unlikely, but with a stonking run (you know like the one from 2 years ago), we could still just about win the league. Let alone get promoted. And even if we don't, it's hardly the end of the year. We can reasonably expect to be in amongst the challengers next year.

On what basis, if we didn't get promoted this season, are we in amongst the challengers for next year? I really don't see any basis on which you can claim that. If Adkins is to stay at the club, and gets to bring in his own players, will people not clamour for him to have "time to gel" the players etc?


3 more clubs get relegated from the Premier League with bigger resources and become challengers, added the 3 losing teams in the Playoffs, and then probably anyone who finished above us if we finish outside the Playoffs. Say we finish 10th, for arguments sake, that would put us behind 9 other clubs in terms of challengers. Personally, I don't see any evidence of how we can be considered challengers for the title or promotion next season, when so far this season we have shown no evidence of being a team who are capable of achieveing either.

If you are seriously going to use that methodology, then we may as well pack our bags now (forever).

[Cypry]

We're 9th, one whole point off the Play Offs. It's incredibly unlikely, but with a stonking run (you know like the one from 2 years ago), we could still just about win the league. Let alone get promoted. And even if we don't, it's hardly the end of the year. We can reasonably expect to be in amongst the challengers next year.

On what basis, if we didn't get promoted this season, are we in amongst the challengers for next year? I really don't see any basis on which you can claim that. If Adkins is to stay at the club, and gets to bring in his own players, will people not clamour for him to have "time to gel" the players etc?


3 more clubs get relegated from the Premier League with bigger resources and become challengers, added the 3 losing teams in the Playoffs, and then probably anyone who finished above us if we finish outside the Playoffs. Say we finish 10th, for arguments sake, that would put us behind 9 other clubs in terms of challengers. Personally, I don't see any evidence of how we can be considered challengers for the title or promotion next season, when so far this season we have shown no evidence of being a team who are capable of achieveing either.

Oh well, at least we can write off Burnley, Derby and Ipswich as they only finished 11th, 10th and 14th last year, so they can't possibly be challengers this year...

This is football, not a oxf*rd maths exercise......

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Readingfanman is basically right though. He's saying that if we finish midtable or worse this year we are less likely to be challenging next year. Teams in decline dont win title's and if we dont at least come close to making the play offs, that will include us.

Take a look back at the last 10 winners of the Champ. With the exception of QPR (who spent a fortune) you will see that the winners come from either the relegated teams or a team that narrowly missed out the season before.

The club is at a tipping point right now. Thats why the whole Adkins thing is so devisive.

[RoyalBlue]

Readingfanman is basically right though. He's saying that if we finish midtable or worse this year we are less likely to be challenging next year. Teams in decline dont win title's and if we dont at least come close to making the play offs, that will include us.

Take a look back at the last 10 winners of the Champ. With the exception of QPR (who spent a fortune) you will see that the winners come from either the relegated teams or a team that narrowly missed out the season before.

The club is at a tipping point right now. Thats why the whole Adkins thing is so devisive.

So it takes 2 or 3 years to fix before we get promoted as Champions (or we could go up in one of the other two positions earlier). Does that really matter that much if at the end of that time we get promoted with a really strong squad and infrastructure with a very good chance of surviving longer term in the future? Far better that, IMO, than bodging together a team for one push at promotion and which then crashes and burns out of the PL like we did last time around.

[imHobb]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25639176
Reading: Nigel Adkins dismisses West Brom speculation

[wingnut]

Readingfanman is basically right though. He's saying that if we finish midtable or worse this year we are less likely to be challenging next year. Teams in decline dont win title's and if we dont at least come close to making the play offs, that will include us.

Take a look back at the last 10 winners of the Champ. With the exception of QPR (who spent a fortune) you will see that the winners come from either the relegated teams or a team that narrowly missed out the season before.

The club is at a tipping point right now. Thats why the whole Adkins thing is so devisive.

So it takes 2 or 3 years to fix before we get promoted as Champions (or we could go up in one of the other two positions earlier). Does that really matter that much if at the end of that time we get promoted with a really strong squad and infrastructure with a very good chance of surviving longer term in the future? Far better that, IMO, than bodging together a team for one push at promotion and which then crashes and burns out of the PL like we did last time around.

I really don't get this attitude. Presumably, then, you didn't celebrate us getting promoted last time? And I don't accept it was a "bodged together" team. Brian did what he was good at - put together the best team he could, given the resources available.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Readingfanman is basically right though. He's saying that if we finish midtable or worse this year we are less likely to be challenging next year. Teams in decline dont win title's and if we dont at least come close to making the play offs, that will include us.

Take a look back at the last 10 winners of the Champ. With the exception of QPR (who spent a fortune) you will see that the winners come from either the relegated teams or a team that narrowly missed out the season before.

The club is at a tipping point right now. Thats why the whole Adkins thing is so devisive.

So it takes 2 or 3 years to fix before we get promoted as Champions (or we could go up in one of the other two positions earlier). Does that really matter that much if at the end of that time we get promoted with a really strong squad and infrastructure with a very good chance of surviving longer term in the future? Far better that, IMO, than bodging together a team for one push at promotion and which then crashes and burns out of the PL like we did last time around.

Going off topic here. But IF it takes 2-3 years then fine. But if we have a crap season now, we are much more likely to follow Sheff Wed, Sheff Utd, Charlton, Bradford, Ipswich, Coventry, Middlesborough, Derby, Leicester etc, etc.

We are not on a stable financial footing like we were in 2009. It wont just come good like last time. Now is our best chance to get back.

[Bandini]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25639176
Reading: Nigel Adkins dismisses West Brom speculation

"A chancer puts on £25 and the bookie takes the odds all the way down," Adkins told BBC Radio Berkshire. The chancer, who appeared to be entirely unashamed at being in the know about the possible switch, subsequently sought to recover his stake from the bookie on the grounds that the move was not going to happen.

[melonhead]

[Ian Royal]

Readingfanman is basically right though. He's saying that if we finish midtable or worse this year we are less likely to be challenging next year. Teams in decline dont win title's and if we dont at least come close to making the play offs, that will include us.

Take a look back at the last 10 winners of the Champ. With the exception of QPR (who spent a fortune) you will see that the winners come from either the relegated teams or a team that narrowly missed out the season before.

The club is at a tipping point right now. Thats why the whole Adkins thing is so devisive.

He's basically wrong. Because the margins between the top and lower mid-table are so narrow in terms of performance. Assuming we finish 10th and have our worst season in over a decade. The biggest correlation to indicate league position is still wages. Now it's not fool proof, but if our wages remain one of the highest in the division, which it is reasonable to expect, then we can reasonably expect to be amongst the challengers next year.

Unless there is some sort of massive firesale and recruitment freeze. But lets face it, that's pretty unlikely. We've always done things carefully and spread the risk and cost. I see no reason for that to change whilst Madejski is still involved.

We don't need to win the League to get promoted.

[watfordroyal]

Malky MacKay Not going to West Brom! This leaves door open for NA.

Was talking to Malky before Xmas about Reading and his 1st question was what I thought of NA!
It all makes sense now, NA to WBA, MMac to URZ !!

[Ian Royal]

I wonder if it is intellectually possible for people to criticise/defend Adkins without mentioning McDermott as if the success, failure, opinion and appointment of either is intrinsically linked with the other?

I bet it isn't.

What would you give me if I don't mention MaccyD again (by name or sly reference) in relation to Adkins performance, no matter what the provocation, for the rest of the season?

[RoyalBlue]

Readingfanman is basically right though. He's saying that if we finish midtable or worse this year we are less likely to be challenging next year. Teams in decline dont win title's and if we dont at least come close to making the play offs, that will include us.

Take a look back at the last 10 winners of the Champ. With the exception of QPR (who spent a fortune) you will see that the winners come from either the relegated teams or a team that narrowly missed out the season before.

The club is at a tipping point right now. Thats why the whole Adkins thing is so devisive.

So it takes 2 or 3 years to fix before we get promoted as Champions (or we could go up in one of the other two positions earlier). Does that really matter that much if at the end of that time we get promoted with a really strong squad and infrastructure with a very good chance of surviving longer term in the future? Far better that, IMO, than bodging together a team for one push at promotion and which then crashes and burns out of the PL like we did last time around.

I really don't get this attitude. Presumably, then, you didn't celebrate us getting promoted last time? And I don't accept it was a "bodged together" team. Brian did what he was good at - put together the best team he could, given the resources available.

Yes I celebrated promotion last time because I was under the now clearly deluded expectation that between them Anton, Madejski and McDermott would invest in the additional quality players that, even at that point, it was clear we would need to give us a reasonable chance of surviving more than one season in the PL. I also now realise that you can't survive purely on hard work, fitness, loyalty and commitment. Nor do you stand much chance of survival if you persist in playing the style of football that got us promoted. And if not bodged, perhaps a very good cut and shut job but not something of genuine high quality, good for a year or two more.

[Mr Angry]

From The Times:

West Brom are expected to appoint former Werder Bremen head coach Thomas Schaaf, 52, as their new manager ahead of the game against Southampton on Saturday.

Speculation over.

[Readingfanman]

We're 9th, one whole point off the Play Offs. It's incredibly unlikely, but with a stonking run (you know like the one from 2 years ago), we could still just about win the league. Let alone get promoted. And even if we don't, it's hardly the end of the year. We can reasonably expect to be in amongst the challengers next year.

On what basis, if we didn't get promoted this season, are we in amongst the challengers for next year? I really don't see any basis on which you can claim that. If Adkins is to stay at the club, and gets to bring in his own players, will people not clamour for him to have "time to gel" the players etc?


3 more clubs get relegated from the Premier League with bigger resources and become challengers, added the 3 losing teams in the Playoffs, and then probably anyone who finished above us if we finish outside the Playoffs. Say we finish 10th, for arguments sake, that would put us behind 9 other clubs in terms of challengers. Personally, I don't see any evidence of how we can be considered challengers for the title or promotion next season, when so far this season we have shown no evidence of being a team who are capable of achieveing either.

Oh well, at least we can write off Burnley, Derby and Ipswich as they only finished 11th, 10th and 14th last year, so they can't possibly be challengers this year...

This is football, not a oxf*rd maths exercise......

& how many years have all three been languishing around in mid table for now? 5+?


Fwiw - I've gone back through the tables since we got promoted the first time and got the finishing positions for the season before of each side for the top two spots:

Cardiff - 6th
Reading - 5th
QPR - 13th
Newcastle - Relegated from Top Flight
Wolves - 7th
WBA - 4th
Sunderland - Relegated from Top Flight
Reading - 7th


Hull - 8th
Southampton - Promoted from League 1
Norwich - Promoted from League 1
WBA - Relegated from Top flight
Birmingham - Relegated from Top Flight
Stoke - 8th
Birmingham - Relegated from Top Flight
Sheff United - 8th


So no team (Except QPR who had a tonne of money pumped in that summer) has finished below 8th in the last 8 years and then been promoted the following season (without the use of the playoffs, which I haven't yet checked). Fact remains going by the stats above, if we miss the playoffs and finish mid table, we are much more likely next season to be a mid table side rather than a challenger to the title.

[loyalroyal4life]

From The Times:

West Brom are expected to appoint former Werder Bremen head coach Thomas Schaaf, 52, as their new manager ahead of the game against Southampton on Saturday.

Speculation over.

In NA we trust