It is one man's fault

[Mad Dog's Ghost]

Sticking with players who've brought you success is fine. But when one is perma-injured (Little) no-one's going to mind if you bring in a replacement.

There's something wrong at the heart of the club/team ... how else can you justify the recent performances, yesterday's first half being the most classic example.

[rhroyal]

I'm sure most of the people on here really support manure with their big time thinking.

Reading are still in a good position (status/finance), we could be like sheff wed,leeds,forest,leicester.

It will be ok.

Yes we are still in a good position, but if we had spent say £20 million, do you think this "rash" spending would have crippled the club, all things considered ????

OK, I know it may not have guaranteed safety, but I think four quality/proven Prem class players may have added to the squad, and that extra class might have fed better balls through to our forwards (as an example), so all talk of Doyle not scoring for god knows how long might have just have been a bad dream, if he and the rest had quality service to feed on.

I think part of the problem was that there weren't four or five proven premiership players about... everyone was after that type of person... £5million on the likes of Chopra was a real risk for Roy Keane. If there'd been players available, then I'm sure Coppell would have bought them.

Well, the likes of McFadden, Matt Taylor and Gary Cahill were available in January but we didn't even try them. McFadden could have been an awesome player for us, although he probably was always going to choose McLeish. And Taylor is a better player than Hunt.

[rfc58]

I'm sure most of the people on here really support manure with their big time thinking.

Reading are still in a good position (status/finance), we could be like sheff wed,leeds,forest,leicester.

It will be ok.

Yes we are still in a good position, but if we had spent say £20 million, do you think this "rash" spending would have crippled the club, all things considered ????

OK, I know it may not have guaranteed safety, but I think four quality/proven Prem class players may have added to the squad, and that extra class might have fed better balls through to our forwards (as an example), so all talk of Doyle not scoring for god knows how long might have just have been a bad dream, if he and the rest had quality service to feed on.

I think part of the problem was that there weren't four or five proven premiership players about... everyone was after that type of person... £5million on the likes of Chopra was a real risk for Roy Keane. If there'd been players available, then I'm sure Coppell would have bought them.

I know mate they don't grow on tree's, but I think they are about, Bolton got Cahil and Taylor, two players instumental in their survival.

Santa Cruz to Blackburn for 3+ million, need I go on ?

I do get your drift, but we needed to show these type of players that Reading were a serious club with Prem ambitions, other clubs did it, I mean, are we laughing at the Mackams now for their "rash spending" ??

If you keep aiming at players from obscure outposts, like Kebe, Bennett etc, who are Championship players at best, thats where you will end up.

I am so pissed off, I have had a season ticket for 16 years, even when I lived 150 miles away, seen us play lower league football, eventually see us rise to the top table, and lets face it, it only cost a small amount to get us there, to throw it all away by management, (and I include all the management) who are not cute enough to realise that to enjoy the fortunes of the Prem, you have to water and feed the golden goose !

I would like to say "Rant Over", but I can't opromise that !!

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

'we shouldn't spend good money, look at Leeds' is possibly the WORST arguement on here.

What about Portsmouth? a similar club to us struggling at the bottom, invested in quality and are a top club now with a cup final to look forward to. Or what about Aston Villa? Or Wigan? Or Sunderland? Or Everton? Fulham gave it a go in January..but i forgot the HNA experts 'Fulham are already down'
.

Portsmouth, Wigan and Fulham have chairmen willing to throw money away to keep their clubs up. They have not "invested", they are just Abromovich types to a lesser degree.

When we can get average crowds of 40,000 and have fan bases even remotely approaching Aston Villa, Sunderland and Everton, they would be worthwhile comparisons.

Portsmouth and Wigan average less than us,

they do, but as I said, they both have a chairman willing to throw money at the club knowing they'll never see it again.

could have added West Ham to my list

you could, but they are a vastly bigger club than us, with much more support, and they also have a chairman willing to spend stupid money. West Ham's revenue is far greater than ours. we can't compete with them financially.

, while I'm not saying we should be competing with these teams, they were examples of clubs that in the last 10-15 years have all been around the bottom of this division, and with wise investment have moved onto bigger and better things.

No they haven't. Some have thrown money away, which is one way, and some are just vastly richer than us. That fact you add Everton as an example of a club we should be emulating just shows how ridiculously misguided some of our fans are. We are a small club by premiership standards with a small revenue stream. Unless we have a chairman willing to burn £10 million a year, or get another 10,000 - 15,000 through the gate, it will always be a struggle in this division. Anyone thinking that if we just spent as much as West Ham everything would be wonderful is living in a dream world.

Of course they have 'invested' they have paid the going rate for players in this day and age, every other club has done that this season, apart from one. Have a guess who?

spending money on something you can't afford isn't an investment, it's just storing up debt to come and bite you later.

I actually wish there were rules in place to stop clubs spending more than they can afford as that way you'd avoid the situation which cripples football here financially, in making clubs go overbudget just to keep up with everyone else who's going over their budget too.

[PEARCEY]

New manager required - needs to do something when game plan is exposed as weak and no other answers provided

Very hard to do when you can only call on what you have, any mistakes have been in the past surely?

3-5-2? Maybe 3-4-1-2, playing Kitson in 'the hole'? Bikey as a Macherano-style midfielder in front of the back four? Henry on the right? Pearce in defence rather than a midfielder? All examples of things Coppell might have tried with existing personnel, but hasn't.

But are Henry and Pearce really good enough for the Premiership? How do you know that they are?

[Thou Voice]

I could completely understand Coppell trying not to make the same mistake and keep the core of the squad together, and I'm pretty sure that if he could go back in time now he would change his mind. It was an honest error with logic behind it. Sticking with players who are not performing is less defendable mind you.

Thou Voice questioned how can this be an honest mistake?

There waaaaas a window to fix of of these problems in January, but oh no. RFC continued to liee to us fans.

I want to see the Balding Guy out when we got down and fired, not resign. The ball stops at this blind bumbling fools feet and he is the very reason why we are where we are now, on the brink of total failure.

I hope that when I renew my season ticket next year we have a manager with some ability in charge, not a total silentnnnt failuree that we havve now.

For months I have been preaching about the failures of our so called manager. I accept all your apologies forthwith.

[winchester_royal]

I could completely understand Coppell trying not to make the same mistake and keep the core of the squad together, and I'm pretty sure that if he could go back in time now he would change his mind. It was an honest error with logic behind it. Sticking with players who are not performing is less defendable mind you.

Thou Voice questioned how can this be an honest mistake?

There waaaaas a window to fix of of these problems in January, but oh no. RFC continued to liee to us fans.

I want to see the Balding Guy out when we got down and fired, not resign. The ball stops at this blind bumbling fools feet and he is the very reason why we are where we are now, on the brink of total failure.

I hope that when I renew my season ticket next year we have a manager with some ability in charge, not a total silentnnnt failuree that we havve now.

For months I have been preaching about the failures of our so called manager. I accept all your apologies forthwith.

Thou Voice......i am starting to see your point, although i don't agree with your 'balding guy' insults, at least you are not narrow minded like some of the prats on here

[winchester_royal]

But are Henry and Pearce really good enough for the Premiership? How do you know that they are?

Pearce has been impressing in the Championship, and deserves his chance

As Dolan said in the programme yesterday, Henry has been widely acknowledged as the best player for the England U19's, a team which includes James Tomkins, Scott Sinclair, and Andy Carroll

The fact is we will not know untilthey are given a chance

[zummerset]

I could completely understand Coppell trying not to make the same mistake and keep the core of the squad together, and I'm pretty sure that if he could go back in time now he would change his mind. It was an honest error with logic behind it. Sticking with players who are not performing is less defendable mind you.

Thou Voice questioned how can this be an honest mistake?

There waaaaas a window to fix of of these problems in January, but oh no. RFC continued to liee to us fans.

I want to see the Balding Guy out when we got down and fired, not resign. The ball stops at this blind bumbling fools feet and he is the very reason why we are where we are now, on the brink of total failure.

I hope that when I renew my season ticket next year we have a manager with some ability in charge, not a total silentnnnt failuree that we havve now.

For months I have been preaching about the failures of our so called manager. I accept all your apologies forthwith.

Thou Voice......i am starting to see your point, although i don't agree with your 'balding guy' insults, at least you are not narrow minded like some of the prats on here

Thou Voice - your views border on the unacceptable but you have been banging on about the same point throughout 2008 i.e. SC is inept and out of his depth. Alladyce was stating on Sky Sports live that we had to make changes after 20 mins - but the subs were what at 68 mins?

I can't believe SC complaining about players speaking their minds when his best defense is ' I don't know why...' 'I could have spent..........'

Well thanks very much SC for all you have done and feck off very much for all you haven't done this season. The point is that it's not all about Steve and his failure -its about all the fans, season ticket holders, players, management etc etc.

I really am so angry to see so many years work squandered and the poor management of the failing manager that has left us all in the fecked up position. Sell the club JM or manage it - its not your toy mate ....its our Saturdays - thousands of us!

[rfc58]

I really am so angry to see so many years work squandered and the poor management of the failing manager that has left us all in the fecked up position. Sell the club JM or manage it - its not your toy mate ....its our Saturdays - thousands of us![/quote]
Can't fault that.

JM - We don't expect you tell spend 50+ million, but give us a fighting chance.

You like the money and coverage the PL attracts, spending some of the return is surely wise if you do want this rollercoaster to continue.

Hey, but what do I know !!

[zummerset]

I really am so angry to see so many years work squandered and the poor management of the failing manager that has left us all in the fecked up position. Sell the club JM or manage it - its not your toy mate ....its our Saturdays - thousands of us!

Can't fault that.

JM - We don't expect you tell spend 50+ million, but give us a fighting chance.

You like the money and coverage the PL attracts, spending some of the return is surely wise if you do want this rollercoaster to continue.

Hey, but what do I know !! [/quote]

More than John Madjeski sadly!

[papereyes]

'we shouldn't spend good money, look at Leeds' is possibly the WORST arguement on here.

What about Portsmouth? a similar club to us struggling at the bottom, invested in quality and are a top club now with a cup final to look forward to. Or what about Aston Villa? Or Wigan? Or Sunderland? Or Everton? Fulham gave it a go in January..but i forgot the HNA experts 'Fulham are already down'
.

Portsmouth, Wigan and Fulham have chairmen willing to throw money away to keep their clubs up. They have not "invested", they are just Abromovich types to a lesser degree.

When we can get average crowds of 40,000 and have fan bases even remotely approaching Aston Villa, Sunderland and Everton, they would be worthwhile comparisons.

Portsmouth and Wigan average less than us, could have added West Ham to my list, while I'm not saying we should be competing with these teams, they were examples of clubs that in the last 10-15 years have all been around the bottom of this division, and with wise investment have moved onto bigger and better things.

Of course they have 'invested' they have paid the going rate for players in this day and age, every other club has done that this season, apart from one. Have a guess who?

The thing with Portsmouth is that they were in the second tier and a bit aimless until Mandaric took over and spent some money. With Prosinecki, I think it was, one of the main early signings, they stormed the league. They then bought in a few wise free transfers but slipped down the league as they struggled to make headway. When Redknapp came back, he was accompanied by the arrival of Gaydamak and their great escape a few seasons ago was based on bringing in a few high profile players on decent wages (Mendes, Davis, Parmarot from Spurs, Benjani for £4 million, D'alessandro on loan - all not cheap wages, I can assure you)

This season, he spent £25 million plus on Nugent, Utaka, Johnson and Muntari then another £12 million in January on Diarra and Defoe. Portsmouth have money to spend because of a rich owner who is willing to spend it.

[Y25]

whether a miracle happens next week or not

its time for a change

[RobRoyal]

When all's said and done, next season we'll be in a weaker position squad-wise than we were when he took over.

Brilliant. In a lifetime of spouting bullshit, you just keep on lowering the bar. Bravo Sir.

[Southbank Old Boy]

I'd love to know how our legendary salary cap compares to the teams around us like Bolton, Fulham, Wigan, Derby, Birmingham etc.

If we're willing to offer the likes of Doyle, Shorey, Sidwell, Sonko, Hunt £20-25k a week I don't think we're as far behind as some people think. I can't see Bolton paying Taylor and Cahil much more than that or the likes of Sheff Utd paying out more than that on James Beattie or West Brom paying that to Phillips or Greening.

Players are out there. We decided that we didn't want to bring anyone in for whatever reasons. Unless we know what limitations the club had set themselves you can't possibly attribute the blame for our transfer policy at anyones door.

You can however criticise the manager for his team selection and the way he's managed the resources he's had at his disposal. I think most people would agree that we've not got the best out of the squad this season and that is what the managers job is.

Should he pay the price with his job? Possibly, and despite it being his work that got us up in the first place the last 12 months have been one long line of mistakes and misjudgements which can only be placed on Coppell. Personally I think we need a fresh face and a new voice and I have a feeling that Coppell will walk at the end of this season.

[Boston Royal]

I have a feeling that Coppell will walk at the end of this season.

I agree. I think next week may be his last game, regardless of whether we stay up or not.

[Royal Lady]

I thought he'd go at the end of the season whatever our position in the league. I think he does feel he's taken us as far as he can within the constraints available to him. I see him taking a break for a year or two and then maybe becoming Director of Football somewhere. I love him to bits and don't think he is culpable to be honest. I lay the blame squarely at the door of JM and his cronies (inc Howe and Hammond). JM will learn the hard way and see that his tight fistedness will leave many supporters no longer in awe of him, and no-one interested in buying the club. I can't even see us getting back into the Prem in the foreseeable future.

[Once were Biscuitmen]

Could JM & SC have done more to secure a status we would probably never have enjoyed without them?

Probably, but there is no point comparing ourselves with clubs that have owners who are prepared to burn their own money or take on huge levels of debt in the hope of future revenue streams that may not emerge. The vast majority of clubs that in the prem are simply much bigger than us and can afford higher transfer fees and wages. Even with higher spending and 'better' management any dispassionate analysis would tell you that our time in the Prem would be limited to a few seasons at best.

If SC had spent more of our limited budget it would not guarantee safety and at best would just see us 'enjoy' another relegation dogfight next season. If it is his fault we are going down then it is his fault that we are here at all. If we go down we do so in good financial shape and to a higher division than the one this club has spent the majority of its existence in.

The idea that JM should sell up is fine if you know some kindly Billionaire who is prepared to subsidize a loss making business so we can all enjoy Premiership football until our entry to the European Elite league is finalized. However not many people get to be Billionaires and be that stupid.

[Southbank Old Boy]

Spending more of our budget wisely (you have to hope that would've been possible considering, as we're constantly reminded, Coppell is this great manager that got us promoted in the first place) might well have meant that we'd have had a right winger and a central midfielder capabale of having some impact on the side and replace two of the teams key players we've missed since the summer.

You'd hope that we might've been able to bring in a forward capable of getting a goal or two over the last few months.

Just a slight improvement during the last few months, enough to maybe have beaten Fulham or Bolton, would've kept us up. I don't think that's a lot to ask considering the vast amounts of money flooding into the club from just being in this league..

[Royal Lady]

As the chairman and owner of this club, JM should carry the can. I know managers don't like Chairmen to interfere, but maybe Mr Mad should have INSISTED that Copps buy a couple of decent players in January, if there was all this money available. He didn't, because he didn't give Copps enough money to bring in the players we needed. He's very good at saying what he thinks us fans want to hear. I'd like to hear his comments after next week's game, whether we stay up or not.