TSI - The Promises, Policies & Progress Thread

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Having been a long time viewer of this forum, I find it interesting that your stance on TSI has changed since they came in. Initially you didn't want to see them spend vast sums of money, and yet here you are wanting exactly that.

I'd argue with that - my stance has been entirely consistent. Spending money is fine, as long as the money exists and is given - what I am violently opposed to is money being spent that's only lent to the club, so it stays on the the books as a liability - as a financial millstone around the club's neck for ever.

In any case, all three of the things under discussion here (training ground, Cat One EPPP status and stadium expansion - are investments, where money spent has a long-term payback. No-one can argue with them, surely, although not sure about a new training ground and where that idea came from as we have a great one which can be improved.

But the two worst things of all, which have been ignored warning signs for downfall at so many other clubs, are promises made at the time of takeover and not delivered, and lack of financial transparency (e.g. a club being registered in an overseas tax-haven where supporters get no access to the accounts.)

[ZacNaloen]

I understood the club weren't actually expecting category one status until next year as there was just that little bit too much work to do to the training ground in the summer. However, no news is good news...

Hmmmm, if that's the case they've changed the selection criteria, because I understood the initial assessment was for a 3-year term, with no change of academy status in that period. Certainly the financial package from the PL is worked out on a 3-year only basis.

That's just the murmourings. Because things were 95% there, but not quite (i.e building work not finished or something along those lines)

They do seem to be slow with the decision, the inspection was a couple of months ago now, so perhaps there was some truth in them.

With regards to a new training ground, pretty sure Anton has spoken publically about his intention there..

[Alexander Litvinenko]

With regards to a new training ground, pretty sure Anton has spoken publically about his intention there..

That's what confuses me ... we have a perfectly good training ground at Hogwood, in which a lot of investment has been made. It's definitely PL standard, albeit lower end of the PL, but surely it must make more sense to improve that to make it absolutely superb, rather than discard it and start from scratch.

The only possible reason i can think of is that the land at Hogwood is worth more when sold for housing, which is slightly worrying and I can't believe it's likely.

[ZacNaloen]

Well, the rumours originally started with them trying to buy the land surrounding hogwood. So my guess is they want more pitches.

[SPARTA]

Well, the rumours originally started with them trying to buy the land surrounding hogwood. So my guess is they want more pitches.

Arborfield Garrison are moving in the near future, but it may not be near enough in the future for us if we want to move sooner.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

JM owns Hogwood, simples.

[westendgirl]

With regards to a new training ground, pretty sure Anton has spoken publically about his intention there..

That's what confuses me ... we have a perfectly good training ground at Hogwood, in which a lot of investment has been made. It's definitely PL standard, albeit lower end of the PL, but surely it must make more sense to improve that to make it absolutely superb, rather than discard it and start from scratch.

The only possible reason i can think of is that the land at Hogwood is worth more when sold for housing, which is slightly worrying and I can't believe it's likely.

So you think JM would turn the club out in order to cash in for building - I doubt it. I think as HSSC says Anton wants to have a club training ground rather than pay rent to JM.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Hence the use of the words "I can't believe it's likely" ......

[Seal]

Hogwood is NOT prem standard. Same argument re: building new stadium versus upgrading an existing one: sometimes easier to start from scratch.

Back to stadium naming rights - the club would like to tie it in with a new shirt deal, and the figures they are looking for are realistic, not over ambitious. That tells me the owners are in touch with commercial realities and understand the market, which is reassuring.

It also illustrates that they are definitely treating this as a business investment, not a rich kid's play thing, so they are not going to throw money casually at new signings and high salaries. Which again is actually reassuring for our long term stability.

[SPARTA]

Wasn't the argument put forward that finally we could now afford to sign those players we didn't sign last time, yet now we haven't spent any more than last time, and the team looks weaker and we all knew that.

Only by the fans that got carried away!

AZ and CS said quite clearly we will remain prudent and not much will change. The emphasis will be on the academy in the future, and we can operate in a similar way as we did but with slightly bigger budgets. That is exactly the case this summer with our signings.

But idiots like you don't think it's enough, and the real fact of the matter is the squad needs major surgery and we cannot afford to do that all in one go.

GIVE IT TIME!

[SPARTA]

I don't know which previous username you used to have, but I am sure you were one of the morons spouting off about how we were finally in the money and how great everything was going to become.
Yet we've spent less than the last time we went up as far as I can tell, and the team was weaker this time around so needed more investment. And as you know, value of money depreciates, so what is an equal sum in terms of numbers is in reality less this year than it was last time.

All you people who kept saying how wrong everyone else was who doubted TSI the slightest, who mocked those raised questions about whether or not the money was even there, you are now claiming that you were right all along, meanwhile the money doesn't seem to be there and the lack of investment is showing, gravy train my arse.

Why do I have to have had a previous user name? Actually I'd been a long-time reader of the forum but no, I'd never bothered to join in the booing and hissing on here.

How have we spent less than when we previously went up? It's far more than double in fact! But that's not nearly enough for some. Yes I agree we need far more investment in the team than we got this summer, but you have to bear in mind the manager wanted to give the majority their chance, yet at the same time try and improve the side in several areas with a modest budget.

Listen, we got promoted too early. We overachieved last season, and we are weaker in this league as a result. But oxf*rd it, I'd rather be here than in the Championship. If we do end up going down, and I really hope we don't, we will have the benefit of 3 years parachute payments, as well as what is a bigger budget than we were afforded when SJM was solely in charge. Then we can build and prepare for promotion as we had planned.

It really isn't all doom and gloom, and there has been promising investment. But it will never be tens of millions per summer. That for us is totally unrealistic. It's better than it was under SJM, and perhaps in the future that may improve further as AZ learns more about what is required. Don't forget, SJM took many years to learn as well, and look at what we have achieved since 98 onwards. We've come a long long way. We can go even further with greater investment, but it requires patience.

[Murts-is-Lej]

They do seem to be slow with the decision, the inspection was a couple of months ago now, so perhaps there was some truth in them.
With regards to a new training ground, pretty sure Anton has spoken publically about his intention there..

From what I've heard from the odd coach I've spoken to, they seem to have passed Cat 1 for everything except the training ground. Not sure exactly what was deficient about it but if you've ever been to Cobham, Enfield or Shenley you'd realise that Hogwood is a very long way from being up with the best. McD has already admitted they're looking for a new site: http://bit.ly/SJ1zwe. Can't see that being ready for at least 2-3 years so maybe we'll be on the Cat 1 list next time around...

[melonhead]

Wasn't the argument put forward that finally we could now afford to sign those players we didn't sign last time, yet now we haven't spent any more than last time, and the team looks weaker and we all knew that.

[Cobi]

Wasn't the argument put forward that finally we could now afford to sign those players we didn't sign last time, yet now we haven't spent any more than last time, and the team looks weaker and we all knew that.

In terms of transfer fees spent, yes we have spent more.
In terms of signing on fees spent, yes we have spent more.
In terms of wages, there's a massive difference and yes we have spent more.

Some idiots will never be happy.

[Man Friday]

I don't know which previous username you used to have, but I am sure you were one of the morons spouting off about how we were finally in the money and how great everything was going to become.
Yet we've spent less than the last time we went up as far as I can tell, and the team was weaker this time around so needed more investment. And as you know, value of money depreciates, so what is an equal sum in terms of numbers is in reality less this year than it was last time.

All you people who kept saying how wrong everyone else was who doubted TSI the slightest, who mocked those raised questions about whether or not the money was even there, you are now claiming that you were right all along, meanwhile the money doesn't seem to be there and the lack of investment is showing, gravy train my arse.

Why do I have to have had a previous user name? Actually I'd been a long-time reader of the forum but no, I'd never bothered to join in the booing and hissing on here.

How have we spent less than when we previously went up? It's far more than double in fact! But that's not nearly enough for some. Yes I agree we need far more investment in the team than we got this summer, but you have to bear in mind the manager wanted to give the majority their chance, yet at the same time try and improve the side in several areas with a modest budget.

Listen, we got promoted too early. We overachieved last season, and we are weaker in this league as a result. But oxf*rd it, I'd rather be here than in the Championship. If we do end up going down, and I really hope we don't, we will have the benefit of 3 years parachute payments, as well as what is a bigger budget than we were afforded when SJM was solely in charge. Then we can build and prepare for promotion as we had planned.

It really isn't all doom and gloom, and there has been promising investment. But it will never be tens of millions per summer. That for us is totally unrealistic. It's better than it was under SJM, and perhaps in the future that may improve further as AZ learns more about what is required. Don't forget, SJM took many years to learn as well, and look at what we have achieved since 98 onwards. We've come a long long way. We can go even further with greater investment, but it requires patience.

Agree with a lot of this but where I think you've overstated the case is that this time SJM is around to advise Anton so Anton doesn't have to learn from base zero.

[SPARTA]

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport ... ich-plans/

ANTON Zingarevich reaffirmed his long-term commitment to Reading FC this week by highlighting his ambitious plans once again.

In the week when Zingarevich was forced to publicly back manager Brian McDermott before Saturday's 2-1 win over Everton, the Russian also spelt out his clear vision for the future.

It includes expanding the Madejski Stadium's capacity to around 38,000 and building a state-of-the-art training ground near Aldermaston, moves Zingarevich sees as necessary to bring Royals in line with rival top-flight clubs.

The possibility of selling off the naming rights to the Mad Stad could also be on the cards.

The 30-year-old Russian explained: "Every club wants to be in the Premier League and of course we have a vision here. But I've said it a number of times. The stadium is full every game so we need to expand it at some point. Maybe not tomorrow but over a period of five years.

"We also need to do some work on the internal infrastructure and training ground. They are basic things we need to improve on.

"Lately, other clubs are always improving their stadium and training ground and they are the basic things we need to concentrate on."

[Royal Lady]

I'd rather we concentrated first on getting in the right players to ensure that we are still in this division in the next 5 years first. I see he made no mention of players - maybe after McD explained to him that it's probably best not to talk about it to the media?

[ManchesterRoyals]

"We also need to do some work on the internal infrastructure and training ground. They are basic things we need to improve on.

"Lately, other clubs are always improving their stadium and training ground and they are the basic things we need to concentrate on."

What about improving the frigging Team first

[sandman]

"We also need to do some work on the internal infrastructure and training ground. They are basic things we need to improve on.

"Lately, other clubs are always improving their stadium and training ground and they are the basic things we need to concentrate on."

What about improving the frigging Team first

Do you moan this much in real life?

[ManchesterRoyals]

"We also need to do some work on the internal infrastructure and training ground. They are basic things we need to improve on.

"Lately, other clubs are always improving their stadium and training ground and they are the basic things we need to concentrate on."

What about improving the frigging Team first

Do you moan this much in real life?

Only when it comes to stating the frigging obvious