The Europe question....Nobbers view

[higher]

There are a number of thoughts bandied around regarding the possibility that via league position or fair play table we could find ourselves gracing the European stage next season.
Sir Steve clearly doesnt feel we are ready as a squad to compete meaningfully in "that stratoshere"and there can be inherant risks stretching the squad for something that "is not the nirvana or holy grail that many seem to think it is".He adds that "“We just want to win as many games as we can and see where we end up, and then take it from there".
Nicky Shorey "It’d be lovely to get into Europe and the fans would love it I’m sure, but maybe it is a bit too premature to be playing in Europe. You’ve got to have a massive squad for that kind of competition.â€

[EASTENDER MARKY]

Hopefully next season.

[Tutti Frutti]

Take it now. Might never happen again.

Besides, if we get relegated... oh yeah, it'll still be better than the clubs entire history apart from this season.

[PlasticRoyale]

Reading reserves cost twice as much as first team. sure they could do an admirable job in Europe

[Royalee]

Long term stability over short term any day. If we can sustain our stay in the Premiership, we will be able to expand the stadium and that'll make a hell of a difference as it'll take us past the Boltons, Blackburns, Charltons, Sheffield Uniteds, Wigans and the like and make us far more attractive for players.

I'd much rather we carried on building brick by brick like Madejski and Coppell have done and eventually end up with a club which is in Europe every season as opposed to being known as a one season wonder. I had us down to finish 8th at the beginning of the season and I'll be very happy with that.

[Winchester Royal]

Football is about winning things, Business is about making money.

We should be trying to win things.

[shadesrwrf]

Might never happen again.

That kind of attitude is anathema to me. There's every reason to think we'll have many opportunities for European football in the future. Reading aren't a one hit wonder, we're around to stay. I'd love a trip into Europe next season but if I'm honest I do think it would be a little to soon.

[floyd__streete]

'Yes' to europe.

[floyd__streete]

Reading aren't a one hit wonder, we're around to stay.

If we 'do a West Ham' next season I'll be recycling this quote

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I hope we qualify, draw a big team in the 1st rnd (Milan, Fiorentina, Valencia, A & R Madrid, B Munich are all Uefa Cup possibles) and go out narrowly. so it doesnt screw up our league season.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Go for it

Sh1t or bust


Life is too short

[Victor Meldrew]

Long term stability over short term any day. If we can sustain our stay in the Premiership, we will be able to expand the stadium and that'll make a hell of a difference as it'll take us past the Boltons, Blackburns, Charltons, Sheffield Uniteds, Wigans and the like and make us far more attractive for players.

I'd much rather we carried on building brick by brick like Madejski and Coppell have done and eventually end up with a club which is in Europe every season as opposed to being known as a one season wonder. I had us down to finish 8th at the beginning of the season and I'll be very happy with that.

Having a bigger stadium will not automatically take us past those teams you have mentioned nor will it mean more in terms of attracting players whereas a season in Europe would spread our name much wider.
As for this brick by brick approach-there are no guarantees.

We currently have a squad that will probably get us a top ten finish or better but next season if Sidwell goes and his replacement doesn't come up to scratch a similar position might be beyond us so I say go for it and (ask Oxford,Swansea,Barnsley and Nothampton fans) the descent from The Premiership can be even quicker than the rise.

[Tutti Frutti]

Might never happen again.

That kind of attitude is anathema to me. There's every reason to think we'll have many opportunities for European football in the future. Reading aren't a one hit wonder, we're around to stay. I'd love a trip into Europe next season but if I'm honest I do think it would be a little to soon.

I don't believe we're a one hit wonder either - but look at Forest etc. You've got to take the chance of glory when it comes.

[Behindu]

I hope we qualify, draw a big team in the 1st rnd (Milan, Fiorentina, Valencia, A & R Madrid, B Munich are all Uefa Cup possibles) and go out narrowly. so it doesnt screw up our league season.

I'd go with that option....

[BLUES & ROYAL]

If the chance arises

GO FOR IT

May not be in this position again.

[willz_royal]

I think its pathetic to take the moral high ground and say you dont want Europe. We have been dreaming f going places for years, and when the chance comes, you say "maybe next season", just cos the players MAY not be prepared. Well, the players will be fighting for all its wroth to try and prove themselves, and i for one will want to see them do this, and to let them have the chance of doing this.

[bassavage]

This is similar to the 2003/2004 season where I feel that if Pardew had stayed we probably would have been promoted. But would we have been ready with players like Hughes, Savage and Murray in the side? Probably not but I don't think anyone would have said no if we had been promoted.

The year after, 2004/2005, if we had beaten Wigan on the final day and got into the play-offs and then won it, when we weren't ready, would you have taken it? No doubt you would have.

So I say yes go for it.

[RG30]

I have mixed feelings on whether it would be of benefit a UEFA Cup run. On 1 hand, we are rewarded for the achievements of this season and like others may struggle to get a better opportunity but the format of the UEFA Cup is so stupid, and you have played 6 games (1st Round 2 Legs) followed by Group Stage 4 games before getting back into a decent knock out stage when your joined by 8 Champions League teams before it gets smaller and smaller.

I agree with SC that you need a big squad but if he's so worried, just play the Under 18's instead of buying for the sake of numbers.

As fans, we've never had it so good but we should be under no illusions about next season. It will be harder to stay up, and if Sunderland and Birmingham get promoted then they will spend more than us, they will have learned from previous lessons and we will have to raise the bar again, and it may mean 1 or 2 crowd favourites are under serious pressure for places.

I don't read too much into the theory about having a bigger stadium makes us more attractive for players. Just look at what Bolton have achieved and they are argubley a smaller club than us.

Taking the SC view finally, I'm not too fussed about what happens between now and the end of the season, if we get back to winning games and cement a Top 10 finish then I'll be celebrating heavily after Blackburn.

[Banjax]

you never know when your going to get the chance again

so go for it