The Europe question....Nobbers view

[AthleticoSpizz]

you never know when your going to get the chance again

so go for it

could all be dead tomorrow


Worse still, the goalposts may be moved

[Farnborough Royal]

Go for it

Sh1t or bust


Life is too short

What he said

[shadesrwrf]

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

And if we "do a West Ham" next season I'll be the first to laugh at my misplaced optimism. But for the moment I see no reason to be anything but upbeat.

RFC appears to be going from strength to strength based on a very sound business model. The step by step approach is a wise one and will hopefully see the club continue to grow. I understand the fans' eagerness to experience success but I tend to believe that pushing for too much too soon could be counter-productive in the longer term.

[AthleticoSpizz]

and I understand the financial restraints that it imposes on the fans over the seasons.

Smash and grab for me


Wake up to yourself, financially, next season could be Scours Lane for some supporters....let alone two or three years time

[The 17 Bus]

I dont think we are ready for the prem yet, I think it will be better if we dont go up for a season or two, worked for Leeds.

[Barry the bird boggler]

I think we'll fall just short of qualification this season which is probably not a bad thing in itself as I would prefer us to keep it simple and just concentrate on settling down at this level by getting the squad together and building expectations esp. as next year will be the biggest test for this club ever.

That said if we do qualify we should try to win it.

Whatever happens it would appear the we can enjoy the remaining games of this season and hopefully finish within the top 10.

[Stranded]

For me, I just want Reading to win every game they can. So over the next 8 games, I don't want us to tail off. At the end of that, if we qualify then great, if we don't I won't lose any sleep over it.

[Huntley & Palmer]

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.

I'm of a similar viewpoint to you RG30. I can't understand people that give West Ham as an example of how it can go wrong, they played one round of UEFA Cup football. That doesn't destroy a season and certainly is not the reason they are in the bottom three. Similarly with Ipswich, post finishing in 5th place they started spending big money on players like Finidi George who unsettled the status quo. Coppell certainly will not be doing that either so they are irrelevant examples.

The only way to attract bigger players is through signing on fees and wages, that is how Bolton have done it. Large sigining on fees and lots of appearance and performance related bonuses, how else do you think they signed players like Djorkaeff, Babic, Okocha. With the extra money coming in from next season onwards, the whole of this league will step up another gear in wage demands and transfer fees. We need to make sure we do not get left behind

[LUX]

I voted "go for it".

Mind you, if we do, it has to be the youth team we put out for the League Cup.

[Woodcote Royal]

The UEFA Cup is a sh*t competition played mostly in sh*t towns across the continent against mostly sh*t teams for not a lot of money but hey, lets go for it because we might get relegated at the end of the season and never have the chance again.

Or, why not send the under 18's on a European tour............................... Reading fans in sh*t decision making shocker.

[higher]

Reading fans in sh*t decision making shocker.

Indeed it would be like leaving Herod in charge of the nursery should many fans get anywhere near the reins of power at RFC.
Having said that everyone on here barring a few notable exceptions has made made one non sh*t decision namely to follow the super royals.Not a bad choice that one. Urzzzz

[Huntley & Palmer]

The UEFA Cup is a sh*t competition played mostly in sh*t towns across the continent against mostly sh*t teams for not a lot of money but hey, lets go for it because we might get relegated at the end of the season and never have the chance again.

Or, why not send the under 18's on a European tour............................... Reading fans in sh*t decision making shocker.

So it's Champions League or nothing then? The UEFA Cup is still a decent level of competition, it's just been overshadowed and destroyed by UEFA in the last eight years. If the UEFA Cup is a "shit competition", what else are we meant to aim for?

[Woodcote Royal]

We will clearly have to use it as a stepping stone at some point (and I totally agree about UEFA destroying what was once a decent competition) but next season would be madness and I think Coppell is being totally honest when he says we're not ready.

Not long ago, many fans would been quite happy to get to the Prem by whatever means, and even if it meant getting hammered every week, because we would have had our day in the sun.

This season has shown how shortsighted such an approach would have been and I think the same applies to European football next season.

[kevan]

If we don't qualify - no drama, we will focus on the tough second season in the Prem

If we do SC will play a "cup team" to get good match expereince - no drama, First team will focus on the tough second season in the Prem, reserves will develop faster.

[AbovetheI]

"We'll go to Europe, and do the Europeans."

[higher]

Rather than busting blood vessels on the pitch why not simply qualify for europe by cozying up to match officials and being thoroughly nice.Drop anyone likely to tackle from the squad eg Sid ,Bikey and make Harper captain who can set the tone by hugging refs if they make any gobsmacking errors.
For our part we should all get right behind the ref by singing their praises for every single decision they make and shower the linos with rose petals as they potter up and down the touchline.
Latest fair play standings bearing in mind Liverpool are going to qualify anyway.
1 Liverpool ... 35
2 Reading .... 38
3 Portsmouth 41
4 Watford ..... 43
Aston Villa ... 43
6 Man Utd ..... 47