Richardson out

[morganb]

Talking of strikers, what was the story with Patton?

He was sent out on loan to Aldershot and was banging in goals for fun playing in a men's league every week. When Marriott got injured Sean was recalled.

I was expecting him to at least be sat on the bench every week, coming on for the last 20 minutes. This didn't happen though. He made a handful of sub appearances, started a couple of games, then dropped to being the extra player we took to games before eventually being demoted back to the Unders.

Any idea why? Perhaps he was ready for National League level but not for the higher standards of League 1? In hindsight it looks like we would have been better off leaving him at Aldershot and I wonder how this may have hampered his development.

Does Leam not like young players or understand how to progress their development? In the last few games where there was nothing riding on the result why didn't we play (start or sub on) a few of our Academy players rather than using the loans?

[stealthpapes]

Patton only started one game, then basically didn't feature afterwards.

This was our bench vs Rotherham

Howard, Norcott, Stickland, Abrefa, Ritchie, Osho, Patton

and this on the last day of the season

Howard, Norcott, Burns, Stickland, Ritchie, Camará, Osho

So, once the season was over, yes, we did play/sub on a few more Academy players.

[MR. CYNICAL]

Some people on here seem to think a transfer window is like a trip to Tescos. You just pop in with your list and buy whatever it is you want.

For Reading last summer it was more like popping in to the supermarket in the GDR, when all the good stuff has already gone to the Intershop for party members. With a limited budget and a limited supply, you get what's available.

The club knew in the summer they needed more strikers to convert chances in to to goals. They missed out on a few targets. Same thing in January. So we got Will Keane. More Dresden, less Dortmund.

We actually do get the ball forward, we do create opportunities in and around the box, it's just that only Marriott is regularly able to turn them into shots on goal.

There's lots of very well argued analysis on here of how the shape of the team is hindering the ability to score goals. I also fully understand the Tilehurst End's Ross' point about having no "patterns" or pre-planned routines in the middle third to open up defences. Both are made much worse by not having a target. You can't pass the ball forward to someone who's in the wrong position.

Incidentally, letting Wareham go looks like a worse and worse decision every time you look at it; it hasn't turned out well for him either.

Richardson will be defensive if he hasn't got enough attacking resources on the pitch.

I think that our overall performance will be better served by really going after at least two more good strikers as a priority rather than seeking a change in manager. If Richardson gets the resources he needs and doesn't impose results, then he will have to go.

Disagree that we get the ball forward and create opportunities in and around the box, quite the opposite and that's been the basis of fans frustrations. Seen many a game when we've hardly had a touch in the opposition box namely those two consecutive home games, Wycombe was one of them, where we sat back all second half and second half at Stevenage where we didn't get in the opposition box at all.

[Brogue]

Some people on here seem to think a transfer window is like a trip to Tescos. You just pop in with your list and buy whatever it is you want.

For Reading last summer it was more like popping in to the supermarket in the GDR, when all the good stuff has already gone to the Intershop for party members. With a limited budget and a limited supply, you get what's available.

The club knew in the summer they needed more strikers to convert chances in to to goals. They missed out on a few targets. Same thing in January. So we got Will Keane. More Dresden, less Dortmund.

We actually do get the ball forward, we do create opportunities in and around the box, it's just that only Marriott is regularly able to turn them into shots on goal.

There's lots of very well argued analysis on here of how the shape of the team is hindering the ability to score goals. I also fully understand the Tilehurst End's Ross' point about having no "patterns" or pre-planned routines in the middle third to open up defences. Both are made much worse by not having a target. You can't pass the ball forward to someone who's in the wrong position.

Incidentally, letting Wareham go looks like a worse and worse decision every time you look at it; it hasn't turned out well for him either.

Richardson will be defensive if he hasn't got enough attacking resources on the pitch.

I think that our overall performance will be better served by really going after at least two more good strikers as a priority rather than seeking a change in manager. If Richardson gets the resources he needs and doesn't impose results, then he will have to go.

It’s a good post, and I agree with the sentiment about the Tesco vs Transfermarkt comparison. However, irrespective of when Couhig took over, we had Brian Carey in post. As Head of Recruitment, he should have had a list as long as your arm for all eventualities — whether Dai stayed, whether we remained under embargo, whether Couhig took over, whether a multi-billionaire came in, etc.

Maybe he did — I don’t know, and I assume he probably did, as that’s his modus operandi. But Couhig and JJ dicked around, saying you get better bargains at the end of the window than at the beginning, so we’d do most of our business late. In my opinion, that’s what hamstrung us.

That approach is what led to such a poor pre-season, which Leam now seems intent on pinning on Hunt. If we’d dipped our toe in the market earlier — which is exactly what Leam is now saying we should do, get business done early so we can have a fully prepared pre-season — we could have had far better options available.

So while I agree it’s not like going to Tesco and picking whatever you want, and if we are using supermarket analogies, I’d say it’s more like choosing not to go to Costco, with its wider range, and instead leaving your shopping until late on a Sunday afternoon and ending up in a corner shop. At that point, all that’s left is the Happy Shopper Rich Tea biscuits, because the Fox’s chocolate ones have long since gone.

[Marcel]

Some people on here seem to think a transfer window is like a trip to Tescos. You just pop in with your list and buy whatever it is you want.

For Reading last summer it was more like popping in to the supermarket in the GDR, when all the good stuff has already gone to the Intershop for party members. With a limited budget and a limited supply, you get what's available.

The club knew in the summer they needed more strikers to convert chances in to to goals. They missed out on a few targets. Same thing in January. So we got Will Keane. More Dresden, less Dortmund.

We actually do get the ball forward, we do create opportunities in and around the box, it's just that only Marriott is regularly able to turn them into shots on goal.

There's lots of very well argued analysis on here of how the shape of the team is hindering the ability to score goals. I also fully understand the Tilehurst End's Ross' point about having no "patterns" or pre-planned routines in the middle third to open up defences. Both are made much worse by not having a target. You can't pass the ball forward to someone who's in the wrong position.

Incidentally, letting Wareham go looks like a worse and worse decision every time you look at it; it hasn't turned out well for him either.

Richardson will be defensive if he hasn't got enough attacking resources on the pitch.

I think that our overall performance will be better served by really going after at least two more good strikers as a priority rather than seeking a change in manager. If Richardson gets the resources he needs and doesn't impose results, then he will have to go.

It’s a good post, and I agree with the sentiment about the Tesco vs Transfermarkt comparison. However, irrespective of when Couhig took over, we had Brian Carey in post. As Head of Recruitment, he should have had a list as long as your arm for all eventualities — whether Dai stayed, whether we remained under embargo, whether Couhig took over, whether a multi-billionaire came in, etc.

Maybe he did — I don’t know, and I assume he probably did, as that’s his modus operandi. But Couhig and JJ dicked around, saying you get better bargains at the end of the window than at the beginning, so we’d do most of our business late. In my opinion, that’s what hamstrung us.

That approach is what led to such a poor pre-season, which Leam now seems intent on pinning on Hunt. If we’d dipped our toe in the market earlier — which is exactly what Leam is now saying we should do, get business done early so we can have a fully prepared pre-season — we could have had far better options available.

So while I agree it’s not like going to Tesco and picking whatever you want, and if we are using supermarket analogies, I’d say it’s more like choosing not to go to Costco, with its wider range, and instead leaving your shopping until late on a Sunday afternoon and ending up in a corner shop. At that point, all that’s left is the Happy Shopper Rich Tea biscuits, because the Fox’s chocolate ones have long since gone.

That’s one reason I find Richardson so easy to dislike. He always seem to imply all the problems this season were down to Noel and nothing to do with him

[morganb]

Looks like we also ended up with a lot of either the Yellow stickered players - all damaged and past their sell-by date - or the young ones who weren't quite ripe yet

[stealthpapes]

Given that we were active throughout the transfer window, with the first transfers announced in June and us active until deadline day, there’s a reasonable ‘centrist’ argument that the scale of the rebuild was underestimated by the club. I guess it’s hopefully lessons learned, and by people above the manager, if not we are in for another long haul next season.

As far as I’ve seen, Leam has only criticised the physical/preparation side from last Summer, we know he’s already made moves to do it ‘his way’ this year.

[nailseabiscuitman]

Some people on here seem to think a transfer window is like a trip to Tescos. You just pop in with your list and buy whatever it is you want.

For Reading last summer it was more like popping in to the supermarket in the GDR, when all the good stuff has already gone to the Intershop for party members. With a limited budget and a limited supply, you get what's available.

The club knew in the summer they needed more strikers to convert chances in to to goals. They missed out on a few targets. Same thing in January. So we got Will Keane. More Dresden, less Dortmund.

We actually do get the ball forward, we do create opportunities in and around the box, it's just that only Marriott is regularly able to turn them into shots on goal.

There's lots of very well argued analysis on here of how the shape of the team is hindering the ability to score goals. I also fully understand the Tilehurst End's Ross' point about having no "patterns" or pre-planned routines in the middle third to open up defences. Both are made much worse by not having a target. You can't pass the ball forward to someone who's in the wrong position.

Incidentally, letting Wareham go looks like a worse and worse decision every time you look at it; it hasn't turned out well for him either.

Richardson will be defensive if he hasn't got enough attacking resources on the pitch.

I think that our overall performance will be better served by really going after at least two more good strikers as a priority rather than seeking a change in manager. If Richardson gets the resources he needs and doesn't impose results, then he will have to go.

It’s a good post, and I agree with the sentiment about the Tesco vs Transfermarkt comparison. However, irrespective of when Couhig took over, we had Brian Carey in post. As Head of Recruitment, he should have had a list as long as your arm for all eventualities — whether Dai stayed, whether we remained under embargo, whether Couhig took over, whether a multi-billionaire came in, etc.

Maybe he did — I don’t know, and I assume he probably did, as that’s his modus operandi. But Couhig and JJ dicked around, saying you get better bargains at the end of the window than at the beginning, so we’d do most of our business late. In my opinion, that’s what hamstrung us.

That approach is what led to such a poor pre-season, which Leam now seems intent on pinning on Hunt. If we’d dipped our toe in the market earlier — which is exactly what Leam is now saying we should do, get business done early so we can have a fully prepared pre-season — we could have had far better options available.

So while I agree it’s not like going to Tesco and picking whatever you want, and if we are using supermarket analogies, I’d say it’s more like choosing not to go to Costco, with its wider range, and instead leaving your shopping until late on a Sunday afternoon and ending up in a corner shop. At that point, all that’s left is the Happy Shopper Rich Tea biscuits, because the Fox’s chocolate ones have long since gone.

I'm glad you said I assume but don't know. Couhig said when he got in there were things about the finances he hadn't been aware of so this "may" have affected decisions. At least this year will be a better indication of how we stand but the fact we went for a good young prospect in Ward and attempted to sign Libie, both for decent money shows better ambitions. I'm not a great fan of Richardson but the amount of bile heaped upon him from several quarters seem over the top, some of it based on post match interviews, perhaps some of Hunts interviews should be revisited, pretty uninspiring to say the least.

[South Coast Royal]

Posters seem to have mellowed in the short time since the season ended and accepted that LR will still be here.

Within the professional game and likewise in non-leagues a key to signing players is having good connections within the game.
So often outside of the Premier League, managers and DOFs are drawn towards players that they know and we have seen that with so many of the players that LR has brought in coming from previous associations with Wigan and Rotherham in particular.

Being a Southern club you would normally expect players to come from London and the South-the experience of watching players at the younger age groups for Chelsea, Arsenal etc. by our scouts should lead to following their careers especially when those young players move on and presumably for example somebody at the club knew about Olise from his Chelsea days.
Prior to LR somebody used links with Brighton and Portsmouth to bring in O'Mahoney and Doyle and Rictchie and Lane respectively and previously Ballard from Southampton but of late it has been a case generally of bringing players South from LR's old links.

I fear that with LR and Jacobsen we will get more of the same whereas a different manager might have a wider knowledge of the game in this country and the players across the country rather than just in East Lancs and West Yorks.

As others have said, a few weeks of no league football and a few signings that don't appear to be just those that have been with our manager previously will probably lead to a bit more interest and sense of anticipation for next season.
We can only hope that LR proves so many of us wrong-I don't mind eating humble pie if that happens and we have a promotion campaign and a team that excites us.
Unfortunately I have grave doubts that this manager has the philosophy or the contacts to make this happen.

[West F]

Given that we were active throughout the transfer window, with the first transfers announced in June and us active until deadline day, there’s a reasonable ‘centrist’ argument that the scale of the rebuild was underestimated by the club. I guess it’s hopefully lessons learned, and by people above the manager, if not we are in for another long haul next season.

As far as I’ve seen, Leam has only criticised the physical/preparation side from last Summer, we know he’s already made moves to do it ‘his way’ this year.

It stands to reason that Noel followed the fitness regime set out by the certified coaching of Rueben Seles. Being a small squad, he no doubt wanted them to be fit enough and no more to play a possession based game. This is alien to Leam who saw them as not being fit enough to outwork opposition teams. I anticipate that a few of our more fragile players will not make it through preseason unscathed.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

I can't be bothered to read all Brogue's rants etc but consider our last 2 promotions from this league....

1. Pardew - we basically bought our way out and even then it took him 2.5 seasons and we nearly messed it up when we eventually made it.

2. McGhee - it took him 3 seasons and after the first season when we finished towards the bottom there were plenty at Elm Park who wanted him out and slow hand clapped the perceived slow and ponderous passing.....it took him a further 2 seasons to build a promotion winning team with the players he needed for his style which we all agree produced some of the best football we have all seen.

All managers need TIME.

[Orion1871]

I can't be bothered to read all Brogue's rants etc but consider our last 2 promotions from this league....

1. Pardew - we basically bought our way out and even then it took him 2.5 seasons and we nearly messed it up when we eventually made it.

2. McGhee - it took him 3 seasons and after the first season when we finished towards the bottom there were plenty at Elm Park who wanted him out and slow hand clapped the perceived slow and ponderous passing.....it took him a further 2 seasons to build a promotion winning team with the players he needed for his style which we all agree produced some of the best football we have all seen.

All managers need TIME.

See. All we needed to do was give the likes of Bullivant and Ince time and they'd have come good.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Worked for Charlie Hurley

[stealthpapes]

I can't be bothered to read all Brogue's rants etc but consider our last 2 promotions from this league....

1. Pardew - we basically bought our way out and even then it took him 2.5 seasons and we nearly messed it up when we eventually made it.

2. McGhee - it took him 3 seasons and after the first season when we finished towards the bottom there were plenty at Elm Park who wanted him out and slow hand clapped the perceived slow and ponderous passing.....it took him a further 2 seasons to build a promotion winning team with the players he needed for his style which we all agree produced some of the best football we have all seen.

All managers need TIME.

See. All we needed to do was give the likes of Bullivant and Ince time and they'd have come good.

Not sure Ince comment really holds up as he was manager during the transfer embargo days and only got relegated after a second points deduction in as many seasons.

You can also add Coppell to the list, came here in 2003 and took two seasons to work through his plans.

Seems a long time since fans protested to stop him from walking away or bringing sacked.

McDermott took two stabs at getting up and let’s be honest, he’d have done a better job the post-relegation season. Sacked way too soon.

Selles went from bottom of the league to chasing playoffs, when given time to work out the characters in his squad and finessed his approach. That second half of 23-24 and first half of 24-25 were great fun.

[stealthpapes]

Given that we were active throughout the transfer window, with the first transfers announced in June and us active until deadline day, there’s a reasonable ‘centrist’ argument that the scale of the rebuild was underestimated by the club. I guess it’s hopefully lessons learned, and by people above the manager, if not we are in for another long haul next season.

As far as I’ve seen, Leam has only criticised the physical/preparation side from last Summer, we know he’s already made moves to do it ‘his way’ this year.

It stands to reason that Noel followed the fitness regime set out by the certified coaching of Rueben Seles. …

Snip.
No, no it doesn’t. Different coaching team, different players.

But yeah, small squad does require a slightly different approach to things.

[Clyde1998]

I can't be bothered to read all Brogue's rants etc but consider our last 2 promotions from this league....

1. Pardew - we basically bought our way out and even then it took him 2.5 seasons and we nearly messed it up when we eventually made it.

2. McGhee - it took him 3 seasons and after the first season when we finished towards the bottom there were plenty at Elm Park who wanted him out and slow hand clapped the perceived slow and ponderous passing.....it took him a further 2 seasons to build a promotion winning team with the players he needed for his style which we all agree produced some of the best football we have all seen.

All managers need TIME.

Shame the older HNA? board didn't get archived as it would've been interesting to see the comments from the time, but from some of the old match reports.

Where do you start after that debacle? What has happened to our club? From being in a great position to push on for promotion just before Christmas, we're now dropping like a stone and sit smack bottom of the current form league. The team yesterday looked like a bunch of misfits totally devoid of confidence and ambition. Yet another team came to the Mad Stad with a string of defeats behind them and just above the relegation zone only to walk away with three points. We're quickly becoming a laughing stock and an embarrassment. How ironic that Ade Williams would captain Coventry to victory and playing with the passion and guts that we know so well. How we miss him. Quite rightly we're now out of the play offs, and it would take a brave person to predict our return on current form. Of course it's possible but as other teams gather momentum and push on we are going in the opposite direction. Is it the managers fault or the players? Sure the manager can do nothing when the players are on the pitch, but he picks the team and he determines how the teams plays and who the club signs. To me Coppell has the charisma, motivational skills and personality of a wet flannel. Yet again last week whining on how easy it could be to finish in the bottom half of the table as in the play offs. Talk about negative. I actually think getting rid of him now would do no good. It's just a good job we've got enough points to avoid a relegation fight. Madejski won't sack him anyhow unless this abysmal run continues and if it does, Coppell should do the the honourable thing and fall on his sword.

I should have guessed it, the writing was on the wall last night, when 5 minutes before kick off the Rotherham PA introduced the night's guests of honour, The Chuckle Brothers. The 90 minutes that followed were in a similar vain, comedy without any laughs. In fact it must of been a nice reunion for them with Steve Coppell, the long lost third Chuckle Brother!. When you are 0-0 against a team who have only won at home once this season, you have been dragged down to their level of Div. 3 football, why wait until the 85th minute to bring on a sub to try and change things? Where was Coppell's plan B, come to think of it where was his plan A. This was shocking, but not as shocking as finding we are still in the top six! They say the league doesn't lie, quite right, take out the top 3 teams and then replace all the others with the names with Sh*t, Sh*t, and more Sh*t! Saturday's Pardew bashing should have been the catalyst for the rest of the season, instead the 'ammers game looks like a blip and we are back on our regular self destruct mission. Instead of giving teams like Rotherham a footballing lesson we once again got dragged down to their level (lower at times as they looked a lot more lively than we did!), tenacity, spirit and flair?? Not in Coppell's dictionary. If Kitson don't score, we get nothing, if Kitson doesn't get the service, Kitson don't score, we get nothing... rocket science? Morgan is a lightweight at the moment, Owusu hardly gonna be a 20 a season man, yet Coppell persists with his personal spats with Forster and Goater, Convey doesn't get a look in and we raid the British Museum for our two latest signings. Sort it out Coppell, NOW!. I dunno what I am more worried about at the moment missing out on the play-offs or actually getting there, now that could be real comedy!

Congratulations to Wigan on a remarkable achievement.Today we witnessed again yet another lack lustre performance throughout the squad. In fact it was not so much of an excellent Wigan performance but more that the game was handed to the oposition "on a plate". In the first thirty minutes we did not even have an attempt on goal and the general attitude from the players was appauling. Our season was virtually over some two months ago when Management actions were taken without due consideration and skill and demonstrated the real weakness of our clubs plight at the present time.
When pace, youth and skill were desperately required for injection into the squad our Manager supported by our Chairman decided to purchase players past their "sell by date" and this immediately in my view affected the team and its performances and at a considerable cost to the club in all respects.
In my opinion Steve Coppell is also a "spent force" and will not lead the Royals to future success in this Division or at a highter level and I say this having witnessed his quite unacceptable comments both pre and post matches and his clear inability to motivate players and supporters alike.
Rather depressingly our Chairman has decided to give him another contract presumably based upon what is considered a "successful season", but the true Royal fans knew and expected so much more from the start of the season. I believe that we do have talented players but they have been mismanaged and mistrained. If you closely observe the game today, you will have noticed that we have lost entirely our shape of play and our ability to pass the ball let alone pace up front. All these factors are crucial to any successful team and I remain very depressed at the prospect of "more of the same" which will be the case unless bold changes are made at management and training levels. Remember we achieved much success which was building well before decisions were made as to additional signings which were considered in the opinion of the Manager necessary for our "play off push". Therefore any new considered signings will now prove critical for the future of our club.
Notwithstanding the above I remain a loyal supporter of more years standing than I would like to own up to!
Have a good summer.

[Brogue]

I can't be bothered to read all Brogue's rants etc but consider our last 2 promotions from this league....

1. Pardew - we basically bought our way out and even then it took him 2.5 seasons and we nearly messed it up when we eventually made it.

2. McGhee - it took him 3 seasons and after the first season when we finished towards the bottom there were plenty at Elm Park who wanted him out and slow hand clapped the perceived slow and ponderous passing.....it took him a further 2 seasons to build a promotion winning team with the players he needed for his style which we all agree produced some of the best football we have all seen.

All managers need TIME.

lol love these sort of comparisons, I’m not sure using examples from 30 years ago holds water in the modern game. . We didn’t even have transfer windows when McGhee was here nor did we have the bosman ruling it was a completely different era. It’s bonkers. So basically what you’re saying is because we gave a manager 3 years in the role back in 1991 - 35 years ago, that’s means we should give Richardson more time now? you realise how ridiculous that sounds?

[blythspartan]

Worked for Charlie Hurley

I was only a kid when Charlie was the manager but I remember loving his swashbuckling team who scored lots of goals. My dad and uncles were pissed off the season after we got promoted as the board didn’t back him. He’s never remembered by the club which is a shame.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Worked for Charlie Hurley

I was only a kid when Charlie was the manager but I remember loving his swashbuckling team who scored lots of goals. My dad and uncles were pissed off the season after we got promoted as the board didn’t back him. He’s never remembered by the club which is a shame.

proper old-school manager (back when managers were actually in charge of managing), recall him immediately transfer listing seven players following a poor defeat.

[stealthpapes]

I can't be bothered to read all Brogue's rants etc but consider our last 2 promotions from this league....

1. Pardew - we basically bought our way out and even then it took him 2.5 seasons and we nearly messed it up when we eventually made it.

2. McGhee - it took him 3 seasons and after the first season when we finished towards the bottom there were plenty at Elm Park who wanted him out and slow hand clapped the perceived slow and ponderous passing.....it took him a further 2 seasons to build a promotion winning team with the players he needed for his style which we all agree produced some of the best football we have all seen.

All managers need TIME.

Shame the older HNA? board didn't get archived as it would've been interesting to see the comments from the time, but from some of the old match reports.

Where do you start after that debacle? What has happened to our club? From being in a great position to push on for promotion just before Christmas, we're now dropping like a stone and sit smack bottom of the current form league. The team yesterday looked like a bunch of misfits totally devoid of confidence and ambition. Yet another team came to the Mad Stad with a string of defeats behind them and just above the relegation zone only to walk away with three points. We're quickly becoming a laughing stock and an embarrassment. How ironic that Ade Williams would captain Coventry to victory and playing with the passion and guts that we know so well. How we miss him. Quite rightly we're now out of the play offs, and it would take a brave person to predict our return on current form. Of course it's possible but as other teams gather momentum and push on we are going in the opposite direction. Is it the managers fault or the players? Sure the manager can do nothing when the players are on the pitch, but he picks the team and he determines how the teams plays and who the club signs. To me Coppell has the charisma, motivational skills and personality of a wet flannel. Yet again last week whining on how easy it could be to finish in the bottom half of the table as in the play offs. Talk about negative. I actually think getting rid of him now would do no good. It's just a good job we've got enough points to avoid a relegation fight. Madejski won't sack him anyhow unless this abysmal run continues and if it does, Coppell should do the the honourable thing and fall on his sword.

I should have guessed it, the writing was on the wall last night, when 5 minutes before kick off the Rotherham PA introduced the night's guests of honour, The Chuckle Brothers. The 90 minutes that followed were in a similar vain, comedy without any laughs. In fact it must of been a nice reunion for them with Steve Coppell, the long lost third Chuckle Brother!. When you are 0-0 against a team who have only won at home once this season, you have been dragged down to their level of Div. 3 football, why wait until the 85th minute to bring on a sub to try and change things? Where was Coppell's plan B, come to think of it where was his plan A. This was shocking, but not as shocking as finding we are still in the top six! They say the league doesn't lie, quite right, take out the top 3 teams and then replace all the others with the names with Sh*t, Sh*t, and more Sh*t! Saturday's Pardew bashing should have been the catalyst for the rest of the season, instead the 'ammers game looks like a blip and we are back on our regular self destruct mission. Instead of giving teams like Rotherham a footballing lesson we once again got dragged down to their level (lower at times as they looked a lot more lively than we did!), tenacity, spirit and flair?? Not in Coppell's dictionary. If Kitson don't score, we get nothing, if Kitson doesn't get the service, Kitson don't score, we get nothing... rocket science? Morgan is a lightweight at the moment, Owusu hardly gonna be a 20 a season man, yet Coppell persists with his personal spats with Forster and Goater, Convey doesn't get a look in and we raid the British Museum for our two latest signings. Sort it out Coppell, NOW!. I dunno what I am more worried about at the moment missing out on the play-offs or actually getting there, now that could be real comedy!

Congratulations to Wigan on a remarkable achievement.Today we witnessed again yet another lack lustre performance throughout the squad. In fact it was not so much of an excellent Wigan performance but more that the game was handed to the oposition "on a plate". In the first thirty minutes we did not even have an attempt on goal and the general attitude from the players was appauling. Our season was virtually over some two months ago when Management actions were taken without due consideration and skill and demonstrated the real weakness of our clubs plight at the present time.
When pace, youth and skill were desperately required for injection into the squad our Manager supported by our Chairman decided to purchase players past their "sell by date" and this immediately in my view affected the team and its performances and at a considerable cost to the club in all respects.
In my opinion Steve Coppell is also a "spent force" and will not lead the Royals to future success in this Division or at a highter level and I say this having witnessed his quite unacceptable comments both pre and post matches and his clear inability to motivate players and supporters alike.
Rather depressingly our Chairman has decided to give him another contract presumably based upon what is considered a "successful season", but the true Royal fans knew and expected so much more from the start of the season. I believe that we do have talented players but they have been mismanaged and mistrained. If you closely observe the game today, you will have noticed that we have lost entirely our shape of play and our ability to pass the ball let alone pace up front. All these factors are crucial to any successful team and I remain very depressed at the prospect of "more of the same" which will be the case unless bold changes are made at management and training levels. Remember we achieved much success which was building well before decisions were made as to additional signings which were considered in the opinion of the Manager necessary for our "play off push". Therefore any new considered signings will now prove critical for the future of our club.
Notwithstanding the above I remain a loyal supporter of more years standing than I would like to own up to!
Have a good summer.

LOL

Brutal.