Oh dear.....

[Alan Partridge]

Interesting that Coppell says that as i seem to recall last summer him telling us that our 4 forwards were our strongest suit, they then didn't muster 20 goals between them.
.

Spacey Mode On >>> Yes they did <<< Spacey Mode Off.

Correct:

Kitson = 10
Doyle = 6
Long = 3
Lita = 2

TOTAL = 21 goals.

AP murked....

21 fair fcuks, that's a very impressive total from our 'strongest area' no wonder we went down.

[weybridgewanderer]

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2032486_royals_step_up_hunt_for_irish_pair

Hmmmmmmmm. Now I know this is a paper, so it's classed a rumour.
Even still, I don't feel comfortable relying on 2 unproven blokes. One of whom is brother to our good ol' Huntie.

Noel Hunt unproven?

PLAYER STATS 2007 / 2008
League--------------Scottish Cup-------------League Cup
Apps Sub Goals ----Apps Sub Goals----------Apps Sub Goals
32....2....12........3........................ 5............5

17 goals in 32 games?

[Stranded]

Surely the key word in that quote is "happy".

3 happy strikers is better for the club that 4/5 were 1 or 2 don't want to be here. Makes sense.

Doesn't suggest that we won't move for anyone but hey, it's another stick to use isn't it.

[SteveRoyal]

I don't think 10 goals is all that bad a tally.

The issue there is that most of his goals were from distance, or tight angles. Where we weren't scoring was from closer in - the goals I'd expect Lita and Doyle to score. Their totals show where we were let down - in terms of creativity and in terms of the tap-ins, the close range efforts.

Which is why I find it very hard to attach any blame or fault to Kitson for last season. He did his job and more.

Not exactly, no. I'd expect a top quality strike partnership (that's two players) to notch up 30 goals.

How many teams in the Prem actually achieve that?

What people forget (and I forgive them for it) is that most of the Premiership is actually quite average and the Top 4 distort things by a very large amount. Take the teams just outside the Top 4 last season. Everton (taking a strike force of Yakubu, Johnson, Osman and Anichebe) tallied 26, Villa (Carew, Agbonlahor, Moore and Harewood) tallied 30 and Blackburn (Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Roberts and Derbyshire) tallied 33.

Its the same level of numptiness that suggests 20 goals is a good tally in the Prem. It is 'good' for a Top 4 side. It is absolutely amazing for a player in any other team in the league.

As a comparison, we got 20 Prem goals from our front four last season and 24 the previous season.

So, in conclusion...
Our defence was naff..

[cmonurz]

Weybridge - I'd say one season in the Scottish league makes Hunt relatively unproven.

On Coppell - I'm just speechless.

[SteveRoyal]

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2032486_royals_step_up_hunt_for_irish_pair

Hmmmmmmmm. Now I know this is a paper, so it's classed a rumour.
Even still, I don't feel comfortable relying on 2 unproven blokes. One of whom is brother to our good ol' Huntie.

Noel Hunt unproven?

PLAYER STATS 2007 / 2008
League--------------Scottish Cup-------------League Cup
Apps Sub Goals ----Apps Sub Goals----------Apps Sub Goals
32....2....12........3........................ 5............5

17 goals in 32 games?

Let me rephrase that:
Unproven in English football.
Better?

[Alan Partridge]

Weybridge - I'd say one season in the Scottish league makes Hunt relatively unproven.

On Coppell - I'm just speechless.

'greed, was absolutely 50/50 on Coppell staying, didn't mind as he'd acknowledged his mistakes at the forum, thought well even if he stays he won't make the same mistakes again and yet here it is. Absolutely unbelieveable, never thought i'd say this but I wish he'd gone now, truthfully. 70/30 now.

[LoyalRoyal22]

They have got it all wrong, we have to get in a 4th striker.

[papereyes]

We have three strikers. How likely is it that two are out at the same time? I mean, that didn't happen at all in the Premiership did it.

[SteveRoyal]

They have got it all wrong, we have to get in a 4th striker.

http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/pa ... 76,00.html
http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/pa ... 04,00.html

But we have 5 strikers?

[Alan Partridge]

We have three strikers. How likely is it that two are out at the same time? I mean, that didn't happen at all in the Premiership did it.

We have 3 strikers that managed 11 league goals between them last season. Long is yet to prove he merits regular first team football as a starter fro us, Lita is hit and miss although i am a fan personally and Doyle is on the back of a really poor season imo. I am stunned by Coppell's comments, truly stunned.

[SpaceCruiser]

Look here, he may have said that he'd be happy with 3 forwards, but it doesn't mean he's not trying to find another forward. He's just saying that if he fails to get another forward for some reason (like being unable to agree a fee with the selling club or being unable to agree wages with the player), then he'll make do with 3 forwards.

[Huntley & Palmer]

I reckon Noel Hunt will be in a Reading shirt by the beginning of the season....and he will be our only buy. Looks like Hammond didn't get such a cracking deal after all!

When you look at the squad number changes, HRK (the left winger, NOT the striker ), Karacan and Church etc will all get run-outs next year.

Mid-table mediocrity anyone???

Yup, true on all counts and what I expect for this season. Still, it'll be a laugh

[BR2]

So as long as the three are happy then everything is fine?
What about the idea that we need different types of striker?
Surely it's no good having three of about the same height,none of whom can play hold-up football or are we going to carry on with last season's tactic of knock it long and hope.

There is no evidence of brick-by-brick ON the pitch as we try to build a team,it's all about numbers like 7 or 8 centre-backs and 3 similar strikers.
Still there are about 13 working days before kick-off with nobody coming in-that doesn't strike me as team building with plenty of preparation by a settled side for a promotion push.

The idea of another dwarf up front in Hunt's brother seems crazy and the idea of two Hunts doesn't bear thinking about.
The next thing we will hear is that 3 months of a close season is just not long enough to identify players to bring in-after all most of them are on holiday.

[Alan Partridge]

Look here, he may have said that he'd be happy with 3 forwards, but it doesn't mean he's not trying to find another forward. He's just saying that if he fails to get another forward for some reason (like being unable to agree a fee with the selling club or being unable to agree wages with the player), then he'll make do with 3 forwards.

'Make do' the two words that sum up Reading's transfer policy since 2006.

[LoyalRoyal22]

They have got it all wrong, we have to get in a 4th striker.

http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/pa ... 76,00.html
http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/pa ... 04,00.html

But we have 5 strikers?

Good one, . I doubt any of them could step up to first team level. Although Church was half decent on FM08.

[Old Biscuitman]

I am amazed that, having shown that we are capable of performing in the Premiership, there has been no apparent effect on the club's ambition. By contrast WBA and Stoke are taking action to demonstrate that they are going to make a determined shot to stay there. Derby are making clear their aspirations to get back. We meanwhile, with the exception of selling our best striker, sit on our hands.

I have always been a great admirer of both JM and SC, but I am beginning to wonder, particularly about JM's motives. I think that unless we bounce straight back up, we are in for many years of mid-table mediocrity. Sad, sad...

[brendywendy]

Its just possible that coppell has put these comments out there to make potential selling clubs realise we arent that desperate so wont be held over a barrel on price


there are many reasons to say something to the press
usually-informing us fans about"the truth" is usually well down the priority list

[Vision]

I reckon Noel Hunt will be in a Reading shirt by the beginning of the season....and he will be our only buy. Looks like Hammond didn't get such a cracking deal after all!

When you look at the squad number changes, HRK (the left winger, NOT the striker ), Karacan and Church etc will all get run-outs next year.

Mid-table mediocrity anyone???

Yup, true on all counts and what I expect for this season. Still, it'll be a laugh

Ive said it before but mid table whilst finally blooding some of our own youngsters would do me fine for the next couple of seasons.

[Huntley & Palmer]

I reckon Noel Hunt will be in a Reading shirt by the beginning of the season....and he will be our only buy. Looks like Hammond didn't get such a cracking deal after all!

When you look at the squad number changes, HRK (the left winger, NOT the striker ), Karacan and Church etc will all get run-outs next year.

Mid-table mediocrity anyone???

Yup, true on all counts and what I expect for this season. Still, it'll be a laugh

Ive said it before but mid table whilst finally blooding some of our own youngsters would do me fine for the next couple of seasons.

'greed, though I want to see them put some effort into replacing Shorey before the season starts.