Division one things to forward to……..

[Snowflake Royal]

Agree. Don't really understand that argument either, I suppose Burnley will be rather unhappy that they've gone up...

It's a really simple thing. Winning > Losing.

It’s not just that - it’s the constant scrapping and the opposition being the ‘better side’. It’s a bit demoralising, even when we were scraping wins

True, watching the likes of Bristol, Birmingham and co playing slicker passing football with more creativity whilst we pump yet another long ball for Carroll to head to no one is soul destroying.

Don't know why the people who are so dead set against relegation think we can turn things around in the much more costly and higher quality Championship where we've been failing for a decade, but not in League One.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Think I'd rather stay where we are than be average at a poorer level tbh

Agree. Don't really understand that argument either, I suppose Burnley will be rather unhappy that they've gone up...

I’d rather we stay up but if we survive this season can you honestly see us surviving next season in the Championship? Based on the last few years I don’t see it. Yes, the embargo will be lifted but it’s not like we’ll only need to add 2 or 3 players to the squad to turnaround our fortunes, and I have no faith in Ince anymore.

I think our academy players, with a few proven league one players and maybe a couple of premiership youngsters could do well in League One. We could have youngsters that are good enough for the Premiership if given the chance to play, and if we can mould them into a TEAM that has an identity who knows what we could achieve.

Yeah possibly. We'd still be down there granted I imagine, but I could see us surviving. Assuming it was QPR who went down, I'd be confident that Rotherham, Cardiff and Huddersfield would be down there again and possibly a couple of the promoted sides, other teams in the bottom half like Swansea, Stoke and Bristol City aren't that good. There could be potential issues for other clubs like Birmingham as per usual, or West Brom if they were to hit administration or anything.

We've had a history of bringing through academy players at this level before, so we can do it again, we just need to be in a better position to do it. It's frustrating, but I can understand why P.Ince favours experience over youth, this season of all seasons. We'd have to rebuild a full squad, but we've got the recruitment team in place and we've had to do that this year, but under less restrictions next season. I don't see why dropping down a level would make it any easier to create a team with an identity again and, whilst winning games is good, I'd rather be testing ourselves against better opposition rather than beating Shrewsbury and Cheltenham at home.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

It's a really simple thing. Winning > Losing.

It’s not just that - it’s the constant scrapping and the opposition being the ‘better side’. It’s a bit demoralising, even when we were scraping wins

True, watching the likes of Bristol, Birmingham and co playing slicker passing football with more creativity whilst we pump yet another long ball for Carroll to head to no one is soul destroying.

Don't know why the people who are so dead set against relegation think we can turn things around in the much more costly and higher quality Championship where we've been failing for a decade, but not in League One.

Those clubs aren't in our situation though. We play like a side battling to survive, because that's what we are at the moment. I'd imagine without restrictions we could be looking to build a more progressive side.

Likewise (as mentioned below), I don't see why we'd have to go down to League One to do any of the things mentioned above and this league isn't that good. Even now, we are not a million miles away from any of the sides in the bottom half, you yourself said this is a squad that should easily stay up and that's under restrictions.

[Orion1871]

It's a really simple thing. Winning > Losing.

It’s not just that - it’s the constant scrapping and the opposition being the ‘better side’. It’s a bit demoralising, even when we were scraping wins

True, watching the likes of Bristol, Birmingham and co playing slicker passing football with more creativity whilst we pump yet another long ball for Carroll to head to no one is soul destroying.

Don't know why the people who are so dead set against relegation think we can turn things around in the much more costly and higher quality Championship where we've been failing for a decade, but not in League One.

It's better to try and turn things around at this level than it is at a lower one.

Luton and Millwall have proven that with good recruitment you can compete at this level. We are putting a better recruitment strategy together now, and dropping down a division could have an adverse effect on that process.

[Hound]

No doubts I’d rather we stay up. But just to balance we’re actually quite well placed in many respects if we do go down.

[Webster750]

Far too much optimism here.

I see Dai selling absolutely any assets with value for personal gain (if they even exists at this point?) before either leaving us in a literal sense or giving much less attention to the project which will have the same end result, anyway.

[Franchise FC]

Have to say that that is the upside and with being able to trade properly again the ability to mix those youngsters with 2/3 brighter lower division prospects experienced at those levels and hungry to get on might well make for something worth watching after a decade if utter ******* shyte. Have to find a manager with new ideas and ambition to go with it though - sort of another Alan Pardew.

Everything else about it both sucks and blows chunks at the same time though.

Sounds perfect but then I don't trust Dai to bring any good man in. We're more likely to drop further or stagnate in midtable with him owning us.

Midtable L1 >>>>>> Championship relegation fights constantly.

Given the likely reduction in revenue and the need to stay within FFP I think there’s a very real risk we’ll be looking over out shoulders … again
This time for a drop into the basement

[blythspartan]

Clearly most of you have never experienced what its like in the lower divisions

I remember the playoff semi final win against Wigan, the draw at Brentford when we got promoted, a 3-0 away at win at Port Vale to win the division 4 title and beating Wolves 1-0 in the League Cup. Plus, many other great experiences.

However, other than seeing us get to a playoff final playing some of the most awful football I have ever seen (the game at home to Sunderland springs to mind) and the FA Cup semi final not a lot else springs to mind for years now.

But, do you remember the years fighting against relegation in what was then Division 3, or the years in Division 4? I do and do not want a return to those days.

I do indeed but football and the club have changed since those days. At the moment I don’t see us surviving long in the Championship whether we get relegated this season or next. Of course I want us to compete at the highest possible level but the reality is we could well be in League One next season. I am not happy about that but it might not end up being the worst thing in the world.

[Franchise FC]

Clearly most of you have never experienced what its like in the lower divisions

I remember the playoff semi final win against Wigan, the draw at Brentford when we got promoted, a 3-0 away at win at Port Vale to win the division 4 title and beating Wolves 1-0 in the League Cup. Plus, many other great experiences.

However, other than seeing us get to a playoff final playing some of the most awful football I have ever seen (the game at home to Sunderland springs to mind) and the FA Cup semi final not a lot else springs to mind for years now.

The games you’re quoting are over a period of c25 years
I’d wager most of us have enjoyed significantly more highlights in the last 20 years, even if the last 5-10 have been difficult

[blythspartan]

This is a really good thread. Lots of good posts with differing opinions, which is what a forum is all about.

[Hound]

Far too much optimism here.

I see Dai selling absolutely any assets with value for personal gain (if they even exists at this point?) before either leaving us in a literal sense or giving much less attention to the project which will have the same end result, anyway.

He’s already lost a ton and nothing left to sell. And fantasies of personal gain are long gone

[Snowflake Royal]

Sounds perfect but then I don't trust Dai to bring any good man in. We're more likely to drop further or stagnate in midtable with him owning us.

Midtable L1 >>>>>> Championship relegation fights constantly.

Given the likely reduction in revenue and the need to stay within FFP I think there’s a very real risk we’ll be looking over out shoulders … again
This time for a drop into the basement

Not really, we'll still be better off financially than half the teams in the division.

[Sutekh]

Agree. Don't really understand that argument either, I suppose Burnley will be rather unhappy that they've gone up...

I’d rather we stay up but if we survive this season can you honestly see us surviving next season in the Championship? Based on the last few years I don’t see it. Yes, the embargo will be lifted but it’s not like we’ll only need to add 2 or 3 players to the squad to turnaround our fortunes, and I have no faith in Ince anymore.

I think our academy players, with a few proven league one players and maybe a couple of premiership youngsters could do well in League One. We could have youngsters that are good enough for the Premiership if given the chance to play, and if we can mould them into a TEAM that has an identity who knows what we could achieve.

If we stay up we’ll need an entirely new team to survive next year

If nothing else an entirely new defensive unit is needed as the donkeys the club have been fielding these last two years have so far shipped 147 league goals in almost 2 seasons.

[Snowflake Royal]

It’s not just that - it’s the constant scrapping and the opposition being the ‘better side’. It’s a bit demoralising, even when we were scraping wins

True, watching the likes of Bristol, Birmingham and co playing slicker passing football with more creativity whilst we pump yet another long ball for Carroll to head to no one is soul destroying.

Don't know why the people who are so dead set against relegation think we can turn things around in the much more costly and higher quality Championship where we've been failing for a decade, but not in League One.

It's better to try and turn things around at this level than it is at a lower one.

Luton and Millwall have proven that with good recruitment you can compete at this level. We are putting a better recruitment strategy together now, and dropping down a division could have an adverse effect on that process.

Better yes. But harder. And we've been trying and failing on that at this level for years.

Fact is, our Academy players have potential to make it at this level, but they need time and games and they aren't going to be given it in the Championship. But they regularly step down to L1 and perform. We may be out from under transfer restrictions next season, but we'll still have our wage budget capped to the point its one of the lowest in the division. Going down, we have many contracted players who can perform well, and rebuilding the squad requires fewer signings and can be done to the required quality much cheaper. Stay up, and we need an entirely new midfield again - not our strongest area in terms of Academy ready players, we're losing most of our senior strikers too. In League 1 we can probably do with Bouzanis, Andresson and CBC, in the Championship we can't. It's double the signings required, and to get quality each is much more expensive than the L1 equivalent.

Not to mention that in L1 you become a more attractive prospect. Your facilities are streets ahead of most L1 clubs. You've a long record of recent seasons in the top two tiers and can make a good argument for being able to bounce back and compete at the top of the table. In the Championship you're saying "Hey, want to come and fight relegation, maybe struggle in lower mid-table if you do well?"

We're light years away from the sort of solid team Millwall and Luton have put together. And do you know how they got there? Building on promotion from L1.

[Sutekh]

I'll say it again, we've got the base of a good, fairly cheap, L1 squad to build from with what we have left.

GK: ???, Andresson, CBC
RB: Yiadom, Abrefa
LB: Guiness-Walker, Clarke
CB: Holmes, ????, Dorsett
CB: McIntyre, Sarr, Abbey
CM: ????, Craig, Leavy
CM: ????, Osorio
RF: Azeez, ????
LF: Ince, Camara
ST: Carroll, Ehibhatiomhan, Clarke

6/7 decent L1 signings would do it.

Of those we might be able to extend Hoilett could offer something, Mbengue would be an asset, Long could be of value. A fit Hutchinson would be decent, not sure on his contract.

I'm ignoring Meite and Joao as they're too good and expensive to sign on for L1.

Yeah Scott and Senga two more young players who would be in the mix

Your mate Ejaria may still be around. Bouzanis on a long contract for GK.

It wouldn’t take much to fill in the gaps and have a decent L1 side

Good shout on Scott and Senga. I was trying to name players who'd be an asset, I suppose Bouzanis would be ok for the bench.

Think this Carson chap might be one for the future, least it seems to be him who gets a decent mention in nearly every u21 game at the moment and Leavy I believe is highly rated so wouldn’t expect him to just be released.

Keeper wise think the club should be aiming CBC as the no1 choice long term (presuming they can get him to re-sign) but it’s always difficult to get them experience without just chucking them in but then if he’s a great communicator/decision maker and can organise well that’s much of the job taken care of. Think he should be the no.2 next season. Did not understand signing Bouzanis up for 3 years as all it does is block the largely excellent youngsters at the club at a time they need to have the opportunity to move up.

The whole area is a real mess that needs expert advice and handling by goalkeeping experts.

[Fezza]

Lirterally nothing to look forward to in L1, it's a graveyard for big clubs and we'd be back in the EFL's sh!tbooks again for wages. Our academy would be looted by bigger clubs and our owner may well pull out > Administration!

[blythspartan]

Lirterally nothing to look forward to in L1, it's a graveyard for big clubs and we'd be back in the EFL's sh!tbooks again for wages. Our academy would be looted by bigger clubs and our owner may well pull out > Administration!

I don’t class us as a big club tbh so we might be alright.

[Fezza]

Lirterally nothing to look forward to in L1, it's a graveyard for big clubs and we'd be back in the EFL's sh!tbooks again for wages. Our academy would be looted by bigger clubs and our owner may well pull out > Administration!

I don’t class us as a big club tbh so we might be alright.

We're not at all, thus we won't have the spending power of Wednesday, Derby, Portsmouth etc. Our academy would possibly be the only point of difference. If the chairman leaves though we'd be buggered.

[Sutekh]

Lirterally nothing to look forward to in L1, it's a graveyard for big clubs and we'd be back in the EFL's sh!tbooks again for wages. Our academy would be looted by bigger clubs and our owner may well pull out > Administration!

I don’t class us as a big club tbh so we might be alright.

We're not at all, thus we won't have the spending power of Wednesday, Derby, Portsmouth etc. Our academy would possibly be the only point of difference. If the chairman leaves though we'd be buggered.

But then so would pretty much any club not at the top of the highest level be if their chairman upped and left.

[blythspartan]

Lirterally nothing to look forward to in L1, it's a graveyard for big clubs and we'd be back in the EFL's sh!tbooks again for wages. Our academy would be looted by bigger clubs and our owner may well pull out > Administration!

I don’t class us as a big club tbh so we might be alright.

We're not at all, thus we won't have the spending power of Wednesday, Derby, Portsmouth etc. Our academy would possibly be the only point of difference. If the chairman leaves though we'd be buggered.

Yep, the house that Sir John built could all come crashing down but we just don’t know.

The perfect scenario is we stay up, rebuild in the close season and build a team capable of mid table obscurity for a while and bit by bit improve the squad until we’re capable of competing for a playoff spot again.

However, based on recent results, injuries and Ince’s lack of tactical ability relegation looks more likely. I don’t think any Reading fan wants us to get relegated but it might not turn out as bad as some people think.