What could we do to survive now???

[Ascotexgunner]

The only thing I'd add is that the premiership clubs will get even more money next season because of the new telly deals.
If we had a few more points I'd say yes but the shape we are in at the minute, definatly not. Its not worth it.

[robbieroyal]

Why not go down, take the parachute payment and then get promoted again at the first time of asking but £30m richer with the same manager?

If only it was that easy.......

[melonhead]

So if survival in the premiership is worth £40 million surely its worth a gamble to invest £20 million in jan and try and stay up?

LOL!

[melonhead]

Why get to the prem if your not willing to gamble to stay there tho?

One reason would be because you can't afford the stakes - there are probably other reasones too.

This should be far from true.. New investment and a promotion worth £90 million yet to invest anything. Our club is a lot richer than they let on.

wheROFLe has all the money gone?!

the 90 million includes the parachute payments, and the majority of the rest goes on wage increases.
only have to look at the accounts from last time to see that.

[Royal Lady]

Fordham tweeted earlier "McD won't ask for millions" - I tweeted back "that's cos he knows he won't get it". What's he going to get for January I wonder, £500k?

[melonhead]

id guess at another 5 million.
maybe 10 if hes gone a bit mental on the sherry in the pre christmas period

[Avon Royal]

He'll get nothing because he can't be trusted to spend anything wisely.

[melonhead]

yawn

[Pepe the Horseman]

yawn

Tired, pickle? Let's get you in your PJs and hit the hay.

[melonhead]

yay

[murof]

I think we need to change our formation, have 5 in midfield, this will help shore up the defence a bit as this is where we've been shown to be lacking the most.
Having only one striker would mean that Roberts couldn't play in that role, he just doesn't have the legs (and probably desire) anymore. Any one of Prog, Le Fondre and Hunt could do well in that role.
If we could get that magical balance in midfield between defence and attack then I think we will have cracked the problem, though we will probably have to get someone new in for us to get there. Tabb has given his all but he is still lacking in quality (and to be fair he has actually been better than most of the other players, apart from Shorey), and Leighterwood has been very disappointing to say the least.
Gorks needs to be sold off though as he is not good enough for this league.
Brian McDermott needs to do what Sam Allardyce is very good at and get some good quality loan players into the squad.
And Brian doesn't need to go, he just needs to look at how we play and and think about whether hoofing the ball upfield is really the best way to play football in the best league in the world in the 21st century. (I would be worried though if BM decided that there was no other way to play than the hoof it up 4-4-2)

The main thing is that we can still turn it around and survive, all we need to do is finish above 3 other teams. 10 wins out of 22 remaining games is not beyond us.

[Platypuss]

I think we need to change our formation, have 5 in midfield, this will help shore up the defence a bit as this is where we've been shown to be lacking the most.
Having only one striker would mean that Roberts couldn't play in that role, he just doesn't have the legs (and probably desire) anymore. Any one of Prog, Le Fondre and Hunt could do well in that role.

? IMO Roberts is about the only striker we have who could play the one up top role.

[yappy]

I think we need to change our formation, have 5 in midfield, this will help shore up the defence a bit as this is where we've been shown to be lacking the most.
Having only one striker would mean that Roberts couldn't play in that role, he just doesn't have the legs (and probably desire) anymore. Any one of Prog, Le Fondre and Hunt could do well in that role.

? IMO Roberts is about the only striker we have who could play the one up top role.

Think Roberts or Hunt could play the lone striker role, Alfie isn't physical enough and Pog isn't agile enough.

[Nomad_Royal]

The only thing I'd add is that the premiership PLAYERS will get even more money next season because of the new telly deals.
If we had a few more points I'd say yes but the shape we are in at the minute, definatly not. Its not worth it.

Corrected for you.

I dont buy this "we must stay in the Premiership because there is more TV money next year and as a result it will be harder to get back up".

Almost all of the increased money from TV deals will find its way into the players ( and their agents ) hands and unless you assume that there are a number of brlilliant talented players who simply arent currently coming to the Premiership because they arent yet being offered enough money, that means that it will be the same players as currently in the Premiership who will simply demand more money from the clubs.That doesnt make the Premiership any better - just the players wealthier.

Every time the TV payments increase it seems to be the same.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I think we need to change our formation, have 5 in midfield, this will help shore up the defence a bit as this is where we've been shown to be lacking the most.
Having only one striker would mean that Roberts couldn't play in that role, he just doesn't have the legs (and probably desire) anymore. Any one of Prog, Le Fondre and Hunt could do well in that role.

? IMO Roberts is about the only striker we have who could play the one up top role.

Think Roberts or Hunt could play the lone striker role, Alfie isn't physical enough and Pog isn't agile enough.

Didn't Roberts whinge that Blackburn tried playing him as lone striker, and it didn't work?

[Royal Biscuitman]

I'd say, first of all, McD to step aside. New manager should be Curbishley, Coppell or someone with big balls. Someone who wont give up the fight. Warnock? I know it sounds extreme, but its worth a go.

The club will survive. Relegation, if it comes will not be the end, just another chapter in our history.

The current manager is the best fit for the club's current long term plan, the club do not have big balls (not the Reading way) so to appoint a manager who doesn't fit the mould will be a frustration as they will want to buy players when funds are not available.

Last season McDermott has overachieved with a poor squad, Few managers will get anything more from this squad. If you look at Steve Coppell, He assembled a stronger squad over a longer period of time. He made mistakes too (Ferdinand, Keown, Brooker etc) but because he made them before achieving success he gave himself a season more in the championship to sort it out. McDermott is a season ahead of Coppell, the squad rebuilding hasn't caught up.

Oh and I would rather see us relegated two seasons in succession than see Neil Warnock appointed manager.... the current Steve Coppell does not have any interest in management so he wouldn't be a good fit, Alan Curbishley - what has he achieved recently?