Even *I* am actually quite concerned

[The 17 Bus]

I thought it was up to our DoF if bids were accepted or not, most of it has been paper talk though, so perhaps we got no bids, inall reality, anything over £3m would have taken Harper and Doyle back to the prem, I would assume both will have get out clauses allowing it.

[The 17 Bus]

I hope that Sunderland fans enjoy what Keane is spending, because as sure as shit smells they will be fecked if it goes wrong, as it usually does.

[Thou Voice]

For the love of God...

...it's only been 3 GAMES...

...let the damn transfer window close and then let the team get settled.

How do you expect our manager to prepare teams when he knows that any day a player will be swept away.

No, wait until September 2nd then RFC will find it's feet and kick arse in the Championship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AYgRawlEVo

[Southbank Old Boy]

I thought it was up to our DoF if bids were accepted or not, most of it has been paper talk though, so perhaps we got no bids, inall reality, anything over 33m would have taken Harper and Doyle back to the prem, I would assume both will have get out clauses allowing it.

Of course it's not up to the DoF

Everything we hear coming from the club is that Coppell is in control and Hammond is just the administrator who looks after the details. I have no doubt that whether a player comes in or leaves is down to Coppell and I've seen no evidence to suggest otherwise

[Southbank Old Boy]

For the love of God...

...it's only been 3 GAMES...

...let the damn transfer window close and then let the team get settled.

How do you expect our manager to prepare teams when he knows that any day a player will be swept away.

No, wait until September 2nd then RFC will find it's feet and kick arse in the Championship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AYgRawlEVo

Team settled? There wasn't one player in that starting eleven who hasn't been here for the best part of a year!

The make up of the side might have changed slightly, but they shouldn't need to get settled even if they have dropped a division. What they need is a shake up and some fresh blood to fill some of the gapping holes in our team/squad.

The problem with waiting until the window closes is that then it'll be too late to address the problems.

[rfc58]

I hope that Sunderland fans enjoy what Keane is spending, because as sure as shit smells they will be fecked if it goes wrong, as it usually does.

Time will tell.

But there is a middle ground between their way and our way.

[rfc58]

For the love of God...

...it's only been 3 GAMES...

...let the damn transfer window close and then let the team get settled.

How do you expect our manager to prepare teams when he knows that any day a player will be swept away.

No, wait until September 2nd then RFC will find it's feet and kick arse in the Championship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AYgRawlEVo

Team settled? There wasn't one player in that starting eleven who hasn't been here for the best part of a year!

The make up of the side might have changed slightly, but they shouldn't need to get settled even if they have dropped a division. What they need is a shake up and some fresh blood to fill some of the gapping holes in our team/squad.

The problem with waiting until the window closes is that then it'll be too late to address the problems.

Yep, what he said..

[The 17 Bus]

Three league games and not one goal from open play, and most fans have been concerned about the way we have played so far.

[RoyalBlue]

I hope that Sunderland fans enjoy what Keane is spending, because as sure as shit smells they will be fecked if it goes wrong, as it usually does.

I do not believe that, after last season, people are still coming out with that line!!

How many times did people mock his big spending and say that Sunderland were doomed and who the hell had the last laugh?!!

Whilst we're on about it, let's mock the way Birmingham have decided to spend what is required to keep/get the players they want. Looks like it's all going to end in tears for them too!

Royal Blue - Tin Hat in the post for you squire, you are NOT allowed to say that !

It's alright thanks. After years of upsetting people on this board, I've already got a hat made of titanium and a suit far more fire resistant than the best asbestos.

[Southbank Old Boy]

I hope that Sunderland fans enjoy what Keane is spending, because as sure as shit smells they will be fecked if it goes wrong, as it usually does.

Time will tell.

But there is a middle ground between their way and our way.

It also depends on how easily Sunderland and their consortium of owners can afford the outlay.

I've not read anything about silly wages up there, just a lot of money blown on fee's. If thats the case they probably won't be any worse off than us, in fact with Keane at the helm I can see them settling in up in the Premiership for a good few years at least. His spending has been pretty successful so far

[Thou Voice]

But the pace in the championship is very different then in the premiership.

Remember that the team hass to get used to actually being tackled and tackling again.

Remember that the premiership is 20% football, 10% complaining and 70% flapping around on the ground like a wet fish on land as soon as anybody comes within ten feet of you should you have the ball.

[The 17 Bus]

I hope that Sunderland fans enjoy what Keane is spending, because as sure as shit smells they will be fecked if it goes wrong, as it usually does.

I do not believe that, after last season, people are still coming out with that line!!

How many times did people mock his big spending and say that Sunderland were doomed and who the hell had the last laugh?!!

Whilst we're on about it, let's mock the way Birmingham have decided to spend what is required to keep/get the players they want. Looks like it's all going to end in tears for them too!

That would be the same Birmingham that bought players like Upson for a lot of money, then had to sell them when they got relegated the last time, however this time they seem to be more sensible, no mega signings on going up, and no fire sale on relegation, just sort of brick by brick now.

[RoyalBlue]

I hope that Sunderland fans enjoy what Keane is spending, because as sure as shit smells they will be fecked if it goes wrong, as it usually does.

I do not believe that, after last season, people are still coming out with that line!!

How many times did people mock his big spending and say that Sunderland were doomed and who the hell had the last laugh?!!

Whilst we're on about it, let's mock the way Birmingham have decided to spend what is required to keep/get the players they want. Looks like it's all going to end in tears for them too!

That would be the same Birmingham that bought players like Upson for a lot of money, then had to sell them when they got relegated the last time, however this time they seem to be more sensible, no mega signings on going up, and no fire sale on relegation, just sort of brick by brick now.

Exactly no fire sale on relegation.

[CholseyRoyal]

There were no problems with our defence according to Rosenior after the match in his interview on Radio Berks. It was just extremely good play by the Charlton strikers.

[The 17 Bus]

We have sold just two players so far, hardly a fire sale here, and we did not have to sell, whereas they had to lose Upson as they could not afford his wages after the last relegation.

Things have changed a bit now in football, and contracts are a tad more realistic.

Did you know that Birmingham have a squad of just 20 players at the moment, if we had that the fans would be even more angry.

[rfc58]

I hope that Sunderland fans enjoy what Keane is spending, because as sure as shit smells they will be fecked if it goes wrong, as it usually does.

Time will tell.

But there is a middle ground between their way and our way.

It also depends on how easily Sunderland and their consortium of owners can afford the outlay.

I've not read anything about silly wages up there, just a lot of money blown on fee's. If thats the case they probably won't be any worse off than us, in fact with Keane at the helm I can see them settling in up in the Premiership for a good few years at least. His spending has been pretty successful so far

That's a good assessment, and I for one hope they do well.

They have realised that you need to give yourself every chance of surviving in the top flight to earn the big money from TV etc, and you need to have a squad, not a team that has enough about it, and I say fair play to them, i just can't help but be jealous, as I think our squad last Aug was better than theirs, they needed to spend the bucks, we, by comparison didn't need to have a major over haul, but that's the past now, and it can't be changed.

I hope, but very much doubt, we add quality to the squad. All this arguement about who should we have up top, I think is a diversion away from the real problem, the service they are working off.

Oh well, brick by brick....

[rfc58]

We have sold just two players so far, hardly a fire sale here, and we did not have to sell, whereas they had to lose Upson as they could not afford his wages after the last relegation.

Things have changed a bit now in football, and contracts are a tad more realistic.

Did you know that Birmingham have a squad of just 20 players at the moment, if we had that the fans would be even more angry.

But what would you say out of our squad are good enough to actually make the clubs ambition of promotion come true ?

Its quality not quantity.

Whilst we have players like Bennett, Sodje etc in the squad, we all know they are two bob.

[Royal Rother]

It's far far too early for a debate about when Coppell will walk due to failure of this squad.

3 games in, W1, D1, L1. We have had to put up with Cisse in place of Matejovski for much of those 3 games. And the utterly hapless Lita and Doyle partnership has played almost 270 minutes together.

We have a number of decent alternatives. Now Coppell needs to use them. If they don't work and come mid October we're not Top 6 then fine, the manager's position is open to wider debate, but there's plenty of time yet for things to change. He won't just sit back and do nothing when he has a number of alternatives chomping at the bit.

Loyalty is a strong aspect of Coppell's management style but I will be staggered if his patience with underperforming players is not drastically shorter than last season.

[Southbank Old Boy]

It's far far too early for a debate about when Coppell will walk due to failure of this squad.

3 games in, W1, D1, L1. We have had to put up with Cisse in place of Matejovski for much of those 3 games. And the utterly hapless Lita and Doyle partnership has played almost 270 minutes together.

We have a number of decent alternatives. Now Coppell needs to use them. If they don't work and come mid October we're not Top 6 then fine, the manager's position is open to wider debate, but there's plenty of time yet for things to change. He won't just sit back and do nothing when he has a number of alternatives chomping at the bit.

Loyalty is a strong aspect of Coppell's management style but I will be staggered if his patience with underperforming players is not drastically shorter than last season.

What makes you think he's going to change it about?

What are these decent alternatives?

I agree it's too early to say he should be going on the back off 3 performances, even taking into account the last 18 months. We've gone with him now, we have to stick with it until it's shown to not work, whenever that is. Personally I can see Coppell dragging us out of this malaise and so I predict that'll be some time towards the end of the year.

[The 17 Bus]

We have sold just two players so far, hardly a fire sale here, and we did not have to sell, whereas they had to lose Upson as they could not afford his wages after the last relegation.

Things have changed a bit now in football, and contracts are a tad more realistic.

Did you know that Birmingham have a squad of just 20 players at the moment, if we had that the fans would be even more angry.

But what would you say out of our squad are good enough to actually make the clubs ambition of promotion come true ?

Its quality not quantity.

Whilst we have players like Bennett, Sodje etc in the squad, we all know they are two bob.

That would be two players who are not wanted, ahve been told they can leave, but no one wants them, have to do better than that.