Brian - Goals on Sunday

[melonhead]

so, whenever a quote comes out that doesnt back up your view its all

- You basically can't believe a word any of them say half the time and even if they aren't just putting a spin on things and telling 'half-truths' their perception of what happened at the time isn't necessarily the reality (as it isn't for anyone)

tut

[Hoop Blah]

Not just when it doesn't back up my view no, I take everything that comes out of anyone in the industry with a massive pinch of salt because they're talk a lot of crap at times and it's a very emotive subject so perception and bias play a massive part in everyones opinion.

[mr_number]

You remind me a little bit of a juror in the Vicky Pryce case (the first go)

[Caskeys Lovechild]

- I'm confused by his 'I spent all my budget' comment when he then goes on to say he was working on bringing in a few other signings in the summer that didn't come off. If he'd spent all his budget I don't see how that makes any sense

I imagine he had a general budget for bringing in lower league players, players for the future etc - money that he didn't have to justify before making a move. On top of that if the right player came up, then subject to a full and detailed analysis by the coaching and commercial staff, and full approval from all of them, then bigger money could be spent. So yes, he spent his money, and tried for more. Whether the internal hierarchy slowed this down whilst he was seeking the approval or not, nobody knows - equally, it's unclear as to whether this process damaged our chances with Sigurdsson or Ince.

- He's also on record as saying he got everyone he wanted, another contradiction

Not really a contradiction - he went on record and said this AFTER th window was closed. He's not likely to go on record and say "I didn't get the big players I wanted because Anton's a prick, the process is too slow, and it screwed us - that's it we're down now!" is he? It's a mark of his man management that he is able to convey a positive message, at a time when he knew that the Russian had stabbed him in the back.

- His comments about being the second most active club in the January window are laughable when you look at the quality of players he bought in

Errr.....how does quality have any bearing on a measure based on volume??

- He was just a bit too 'happy to be in the league' as if we didn't deserve to be and so just enjoying our time with the big boys

We absolutely DO NOT deserve to be in this league. Promotion was a surprise, a shock and came too early in the 5 year plan - we were always destined to be relegated, and that was always fine - until the Chelsea Moaning C*** brigade re-branded themselves in RFC shirts, and started complaining that we weren't in European spots. We are NOT ready for the Premier League at the moment, and unless some serious bridge building goes on before the end of next season, we won't be ready at the end of next season either, and that's assuming that the smug one can get us promoted again (which I highly doubt).

We'll never really know who was most responsilble for the summer budget and approach but my inclination, having listened to those involved over the last few years, is that McDermott would've been the most happy to stick with what he had as that's the kind of guy he is and he's the one most emotionally attached to his existing squad (just as Coppell was before him).

Absolutely the right decision, if you factor our inability to compete on the transfer front with the likes of WigWam, Swansea and Aston Villa - take the increased profit, consolidate, build, give it another go from a better foundation/starting point

[Extended-Phenotype]

We know BM was wrong because he wasn't active enough in January. He didn't sign enough quality, didn't have enough alternative targets, left everything too late and had a scouting network in place which was essentially looking at recent opposition team sheets and signing the name we recognised.

Why are people still banging on about this? The truth is out, get over it.

[melonhead]

[AirRaidSiren]

We know BM was wrong because he wasn't active enough in January. He didn't sign enough quality, didn't have enough alternative targets, left everything too late and had a scouting network in place which was essentially looking at recent opposition team sheets and signing the name we recognised.

Why are people still banging on about this? The truth is out, get over it.

The truth hurts. Good post.

[MM]

Brian is the studio guest on our channel (PLTV) ahead of the Saints game today. To clear the facts:

He was given a summer budget and he spent it. He said could not have done any more with what was made available to him.

He tried to make two big signings in January, and acknowledged AZ made money available. Blackpool could not agree a deal on Ince, and he says we went in for Gylfi on deadline day, but could not do a deal.

Plenty of other interesting stuff but these seem to be the major points of disagreement on here so thought it was worth posting up.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

MaccyD says Kelly can play LB "no problem, and has plenty of pace."

Biggest problem we had was the "man in the hole." Still referring to Reading as "we".

"Guthrie prefers playing in front of back four, not behind the front two"

Andy Townsend likes HRK.

[Sanguine]

"Guthrie prefers playing in front of back four, not behind the front two

Interesting, to the extent that Brian didn't want to play Guthrie like that, but signed him anyway.

[blueroyals]

"Guthrie prefers playing in front of back four, not behind the front two

Interesting, to the extent that Brian didn't want to play Guthrie like that, but signed him anyway.

Yeah. We played 4-4-2 hoof ball all of last season. So let's sign somebody who can only play in-front of the back 4, shove him in CM and tell him to stop passing.



I just want to forget about this season