Exodus

[brendywendy]

if we lose them, get another RW, a CM and keep hunt and convey recovers, i reckon we'll be ok

losing kits would really screw us i fear though

[Vision]

As the one who would bring up Coppell's golden track record into almost every discussion not long ago, I have this observation: he never did it in one season, did he?

I mean, no-one could. When losing a third of our team surely even a god like Coppell would need a couple of seasons to get his team to gel, get the players up to speed etc etc...

As positive as I recently have been, I have to say that losing the bulk of our players will make a promotion challenge this year extremely difficult indeed.

The only solution is to convince Coppell to stay for 3 or 4 years to get us back into the Prem if Madejski is willing to do that. To expect anything near autopro with the probable exodus looming is totally unfair on Coppell, even given hsi incredible track record. My fear is that if we have this unrealistic expectation fans will be calling for his head come the end of next season instead of turning up a his parking space begging him to stay!

Spot on. One of the concerns i had about Coppell not walking away was whether he had the stomach to rebuild a new side over a period of time all over again rather than just do another season out of obligation. Given the likelihood of a very high turnover of players this summer, then expecting a promotion push as a given is more than a little naive.

For me it should be a pefect opportunity to blood a couple of our own youngsters alongside (those that remain) more experinced players who know what it takes to gain promotion from this Division.

Having said that i've been saying for a long time now that the club can't have it both ways. If they're not going to take risks and spend big in the transfer market then fair enough but then they must take more of a risk on the players we've already invested in from the Academy. This season represents a perfect opportunity in my view.

[andrew1957]

if we lose them, get another RW, a CM and keep hunt and convey recovers, i reckon we'll be ok

losing kits would really screw us i fear though

I agree Brendy.

Even as one accused of being an RTG normally I am getting a little worried. I was surprised Little was offered a PL move (which I certainly do not begrudge him) and it seems to me that several of our other stars may well see this and think "if Glen can get PL move so can I". Some we can replace and whatever happens I think our defence will be fine but my real concern is up front. If we lose Kitson and Doyle I will be very surprised if we find adequate replacements.

[RoyalBlue]

Looks like Shorey Harper and Sonko wont be too long behind in the exodus

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/footb ... ining_boro

Can anyone find a local paper that's talking about us lining up a move for one of their team's star players, heaping misery on them etc?

I thought not!

[earleyroyal]

Looks like Shorey Harper and Sonko wont be too long behind in the exodus

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/footb ... ining_boro

Harper going won't be as great a loss as some of the others who could leave. Assuming Matejovsky is fit for the season, it prevents us having the most lightweight midfield in the league again (unless we bring in someone similarly lightweight). Harper has his qualities and is a model professional but playing in the CCC alongside a creative lightweight is not suited to him. As with the end of last season, that midfield doesn't win the ball or stop the opponents playing, and because it sees so little of the ball then it doesn't create either. If Harper leaves we may end up with a more balanced midfield by playing Bikey.

Shorey couldn't be bothered in the Premiership, he'd be a disruptive influence in the CCC I feel and unlikely to play to his best either. Sonko can oxf*rd off, a great servant to the club before he decided to turn into a prima donna, his top level career was finished in January 2007 and if someone offers £3 million for him then I would snap their hands off.

[Royalee]

Looks like Shorey Harper and Sonko wont be too long behind in the exodus

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/footb ... ining_boro

Can anyone find a local paper that's talking about us lining up a move for one of their team's star players, heaping misery on them etc?

I thought not!

Don't be silly RoyalBlue, 'nobody does business in June'.

[earleyroyal]

if we lose them, get another RW, a CM and keep hunt and convey recovers, i reckon we'll be ok

losing kits would really screw us i fear though

I agree Brendy.

Even as one accused of being an RTG normally I am getting a little worried.

I think it may be time to give up everyone, the most relentlessly optimistic supporter this side of the man who tried to eat the cathedral in Monty Python is losing hope for a good season.

[andrew1957]

if we lose them, get another RW, a CM and keep hunt and convey recovers, i reckon we'll be ok

losing kits would really screw us i fear though

I agree Brendy.

Even as one accused of being an RTG normally I am getting a little worried.

the most relentlessly optimistic supporter this side of the man who tried to eat the cathedral in Monty Python is losing hope for a good season.

To be fair if I was a supporter of any other club I would just seem averagely supportive and optimistic BUT compared to the average Reading fan I guess what you say is true.

[Arch]

You can make a case for any one of Sonko, Shorey or Harper being dispensible, but all three is a lot. Sonko, in my view, is not just sensible but shipping him off even makes good sense; with Shorey there's a sense of inevitability, although it would be amusing to see him have to skulk around for another twelve months because no one wants him - either way we need another left back either for replacement or competition; Harper going would be very unfortunate, not because he's essential or even fits in very well with a Marek-based team, but because of his presence in the club and because the alternatives are very slim.

Anyway, whoever leaves, we need a starting right winger and a potential starter at LB. If Harper goes, we need a CM who complements Marek. That's a lot to ask RFC to find in a couple of months, especially given a no better than 50% success rate in signings in the last couple of years. This seems like good grounds for hanging on to Harper.

[Y25]

After over achieving 2 years ago we are now in the poo

Since then the players have pushed for better wages and got them

If you were told you would be basically doing the same job next year but for less money ... unless you were lazy or stupid (or both) you would look for another job wouldn't you?

Player loyalty no longer exists - only fan loyalty

[Archie's penalty]

I don't think it's going to be the exodus that everyone is talking about. Let's sit things out folks. Of all the transfers talked about in the football world only about 50 % of them happen.

I agree with Earleyroyal - Sonko can go jump as far as I'm concerned. I lost faith in Shorey as a man last year unfortunately - that England cap ruined him. Any of the others I would be sad to see go.

Harper for all his faults would be great in the championship and he puts so much effort in - the comment about the plane going down just shows how much he cares. I don't think Hunty will go now due to his poor second half of the season - surely Roy Keane can get better players. Doyle and Kitson - well of course I don't want either of them to go. Doyle I could see being a class premiership striker for another team as well as Kitson but it would p*ss me off if Kitson went to Wigan I mean come on Dave - Wigan!!! The fans don't give a sh*t!

So if we can have this team next year it doesn't look that bad:

Hahnemann

Rosenior Bikey Duberry Goldbourne/new signing


new signing/Henry Matejovsky Harper/Karacan if Harper leaves Hunt

Doyle/Kitson (depending who leaves) Lita

That's still a good team! And I think if we have a good season next year Coppell will give it a go for one more year.

A good year for me would be say 7th after an exciting end of the season. Or a playoff final win. If we make the playoffs and don't win that will be more depressing then finishing 7th with a good end of season. Anything less than 10th I expect Coppell to leave but I expect higher. Come on urrrrzzzzz!!!!!

What do you reckon?

[winchester_royal]

I don't think it's going to be the exodus that everyone is talking about. Let's sit things out folks. Of all the transfers talked about in the football world only about 50 % of them happen.

I agree with Earleyroyal - Sonko can go jump as far as I'm concerned. I lost faith in Shorey as a man last year unfortunately - that England cap ruined him. Any of the others I would be sad to see go.

Harper for all his faults would be great in the championship and he puts so much effort in - the comment about the plane going down just shows how much he cares. I don't think Hunty will go now due to his poor second half of the season - surely Roy Keane can get better players. Doyle and Kitson - well of course I don't want either of them to go. Doyle I could see being a class premiership striker for another team as well as Kitson but it would p*ss me off if Kitson went to Wigan I mean come on Dave - Wigan!!! The fans don't give a sh*t!

So if we can have this team next year it doesn't look that bad:

Hahnemann

Rosenior Bikey Duberry Goldbourne/new signing


new signing/Henry Matejovsky Harper/Karacan if Harper leaves Hunt

Doyle/Kitson (depending who leaves) Lita

That's still a good team! And I think if we have a good season next year Coppell will give it a go for one more year.

A good year for me would be say 7th after an exciting end of the season. Or a playoff final win. If we make the playoffs and don't win that will be more depressing then finishing 7th with a good end of season. Anything less than 10th I expect Coppell to leave but I expect higher. Come on urrrrzzzzz!!!!!

What do you reckon?

I'd say that team would have a serious chance of winning the league.

[Friday's Child]

While we should not underestimate the challenge of this league (most relegated teams don't do well, bar West Brom/Birmingham who seem to go up and down like yo-yos), we should think about the good players that we now have that were not in the promotion team, rather than the promotion team who are leaving.

For Harper, there is Matejovsky
For Shorey, there is Rosenior (arguably wrong side - but in principle)
For Little, there is no-one yet.... but then there was no-one last season either.
For Hunt, there is Convey - arguably Convey was the left-sided player of the promotion season, not Hunt.
For Doyle/Kitson/Lita - well there's no-one yet, but finding centre-forwards to perform at this level is surely the easiest position to recruit for??
For Sonko - there's Bikey - plus Duberry, also Cisse

So... given that all these players are here today, I am not overly concerned. SSC himself mentioned about having too much players last year, and the loss of certain first-teamers to me is not as big as it appears to some on here. Yes, there is the "togetherness" of Reading FC that provides an unmatchable competitive advantage, and has done so in years gone by, and there is the "time to gel" needed for new players, but I am comfortable that if these players are on the way out, then as long as we get a quality right winger, a half-decent left back (with pace would be nice!), and a new centre-forward (or two, depending on who goes), then on a like-for-like basis, we should be challenging for the title at least, if not running away with it.

I seem to be on my own in terms of this mindless optimism, but I truly believe that these things in football are cyclical, and the togetherness/spirit from the promotion season is all but gone anyway - probably left in the first half of last season - and that we need to regroup and rebuild to some degree. With Coppell in charge, the right club ethic, the nucleus of last season's squad, and three / four (depends on outgoings) signings, we will always be fitter than the rest of the league, have the superior quality in players, and have the determination to fight til the death.... last season was a blip.

[Archie's penalty]

While we should not underestimate the challenge of this league (most relegated teams don't do well, bar West Brom/Birmingham who seem to go up and down like yo-yos), we should think about the good players that we now have that were not in the promotion team, rather than the promotion team who are leaving.

For Harper, there is Matejovsky
For Shorey, there is Rosenior (arguably wrong side - but in principle)
For Little, there is no-one yet.... but then there was no-one last season either.
For Hunt, there is Convey - arguably Convey was the left-sided player of the promotion season, not Hunt.
For Doyle/Kitson/Lita - well there's no-one yet, but finding centre-forwards to perform at this level is surely the easiest position to recruit for??
For Sonko - there's Bikey - plus Duberry, also Cisse

So... given that all these players are here today, I am not overly concerned. SSC himself mentioned about having too much players last year, and the loss of certain first-teamers to me is not as big as it appears to some on here. Yes, there is the "togetherness" of Reading FC that provides an unmatchable competitive advantage, and has done so in years gone by, and there is the "time to gel" needed for new players, but I am comfortable that if these players are on the way out, then as long as we get a quality right winger, a half-decent left back (with pace would be nice!), and a new centre-forward (or two, depending on who goes), then on a like-for-like basis, we should be challenging for the title at least, if not running away with it.

I seem to be on my own in terms of this mindless optimism, but I truly believe that these things in football are cyclical, and the togetherness/spirit from the promotion season is all but gone anyway - probably left in the first half of last season - and that we need to regroup and rebuild to some degree. With Coppell in charge, the right club ethic, the nucleus of last season's squad, and three / four (depends on outgoings) signings, we will always be fitter than the rest of the league, have the superior quality in players, and have the determination to fight til the death.... last season was a blip.

And a standing ovation echoes round the stadium...(i.e that's the spirit).

[andrew1957]

While we should not underestimate the challenge of this league (most relegated teams don't do well, bar West Brom/Birmingham who seem to go up and down like yo-yos), we should think about the good players that we now have that were not in the promotion team, rather than the promotion team who are leaving.

For Harper, there is Matejovsky
For Shorey, there is Rosenior (arguably wrong side - but in principle)
For Little, there is no-one yet.... but then there was no-one last season either.
For Hunt, there is Convey - arguably Convey was the left-sided player of the promotion season, not Hunt.
For Doyle/Kitson/Lita - well there's no-one yet, but finding centre-forwards to perform at this level is surely the easiest position to recruit for??
For Sonko - there's Bikey - plus Duberry, also Cisse

So... given that all these players are here today, I am not overly concerned. SSC himself mentioned about having too much players last year, and the loss of certain first-teamers to me is not as big as it appears to some on here. Yes, there is the "togetherness" of Reading FC that provides an unmatchable competitive advantage, and has done so in years gone by, and there is the "time to gel" needed for new players, but I am comfortable that if these players are on the way out, then as long as we get a quality right winger, a half-decent left back (with pace would be nice!), and a new centre-forward (or two, depending on who goes), then on a like-for-like basis, we should be challenging for the title at least, if not running away with it.

I seem to be on my own in terms of this mindless optimism, but I truly believe that these things in football are cyclical, and the togetherness/spirit from the promotion season is all but gone anyway - probably left in the first half of last season - and that we need to regroup and rebuild to some degree. With Coppell in charge, the right club ethic, the nucleus of last season's squad, and three / four (depends on outgoings) signings, we will always be fitter than the rest of the league, have the superior quality in players, and have the determination to fight til the death.... last season was a blip.

I agree with most of what you say except the bit about strikers. Doyle and Kitson will both score 15/20 goals if they keep fit and stay. That would put us in contention for an immediate return to the PL.

But if they go finding replacements will be very hard. If you don't believe me just look at the top scorers for last season in the championship plus div 1 and 2. There are very few strikers who have scored more than 15 and would be available. Simon Cox (who we sold to Swindon) is probably top of the available and ability list and we let him go for next to nothing.

[Royalee]

Clutching

At

Straws

[Archie's penalty]

Clutching

At

Straws

Royalee

Being

Obnoxious

Let us have a bit of positivity won't you? Christ!

[earleyroyal]

I don't think it's going to be the exodus that everyone is talking about. Let's sit things out folks. Of all the transfers talked about in the football world only about 50 % of them happen.

I agree with Earleyroyal - Sonko can go jump as far as I'm concerned. I lost faith in Shorey as a man last year unfortunately - that England cap ruined him. Any of the others I would be sad to see go.

Harper for all his faults would be great in the championship and he puts so much effort in - the comment about the plane going down just shows how much he cares. I don't think Hunty will go now due to his poor second half of the season - surely Roy Keane can get better players. Doyle and Kitson - well of course I don't want either of them to go. Doyle I could see being a class premiership striker for another team as well as Kitson but it would p*ss me off if Kitson went to Wigan I mean come on Dave - Wigan!!! The fans don't give a sh*t!

So if we can have this team next year it doesn't look that bad:

Hahnemann

Rosenior Bikey Duberry Goldbourne/new signing


new signing/Henry Matejovsky Harper/Karacan if Harper leaves Hunt

Doyle/Kitson (depending who leaves) Lita

That's still a good team! And I think if we have a good season next year Coppell will give it a go for one more year.

A good year for me would be say 7th after an exciting end of the season. Or a playoff final win. If we make the playoffs and don't win that will be more depressing then finishing 7th with a good end of season. Anything less than 10th I expect Coppell to leave but I expect higher. Come on urrrrzzzzz!!!!!

What do you reckon?

I'd say that team would have a serious chance of winning the league.

I'd say that team has a decent back 5 apart from the unproven left-back, a midfield that would be too lightweight but a decent forward line. Would need a bit of investment and/or or a reshuffle of positions (Bikey in midfield anyone), before that team had a serious chance, in my opinion anyway.

[Archie's penalty]

I don't think it's going to be the exodus that everyone is talking about. Let's sit things out folks. Of all the transfers talked about in the football world only about 50 % of them happen.

I agree with Earleyroyal - Sonko can go jump as far as I'm concerned. I lost faith in Shorey as a man last year unfortunately - that England cap ruined him. Any of the others I would be sad to see go.

Harper for all his faults would be great in the championship and he puts so much effort in - the comment about the plane going down just shows how much he cares. I don't think Hunty will go now due to his poor second half of the season - surely Roy Keane can get better players. Doyle and Kitson - well of course I don't want either of them to go. Doyle I could see being a class premiership striker for another team as well as Kitson but it would p*ss me off if Kitson went to Wigan I mean come on Dave - Wigan!!! The fans don't give a sh*t!

So if we can have this team next year it doesn't look that bad:

Hahnemann

Rosenior Bikey Duberry Goldbourne/new signing


new signing/Henry Matejovsky Harper/Karacan if Harper leaves Hunt

Doyle/Kitson (depending who leaves) Lita

That's still a good team! And I think if we have a good season next year Coppell will give it a go for one more year.

A good year for me would be say 7th after an exciting end of the season. Or a playoff final win. If we make the playoffs and don't win that will be more depressing then finishing 7th with a good end of season. Anything less than 10th I expect Coppell to leave but I expect higher. Come on urrrrzzzzz!!!!!

What do you reckon?

I'd say that team would have a serious chance of winning the league.

I'd say that team has a decent back 5 apart from the unproven left-back, a midfield that would be too lightweight but a decent forward line. Would need a bit of investment and/or or a reshuffle of positions (Bikey in midfield anyone), before that team had a serious chance, in my opinion anyway.

Bikey in midfield with Duberry and Ingi at the back might work. You say the midfield I talked of was lightweight but what about Karacan?

[earleyroyal]

Fair point, I haven't seen Karacan play. Is he likely to be ready for the CCC this year? I did hear that he was a Parkinson-type midfielder which could help solve our midfield problem (although I doubt he'd be as effective as Bikey in there).