Sshh! It's how we operate.

[Snowball]

IMO the club is doing an excellent job and is starting the process of building a new team that could be very good
and better next year and the year after.

Henry looks a decent Championship player now and will improve.

Church, HRK, Davies look very, very promising, as does Siggy.

Pearce will just get more and more experienced. Already he's a very good player.

The difference for me now is CONFIDENCE and (it seems) a desire to receive the ball
and play with it.

If we miss out this year we could easily win this league next year with the kids finally paying off.


Meanwhile the club lives within its means. Shame on them for their prudence.

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

[quote="Snowball"]IMO the club is doing an excellent job and is starting the process of building a new team that could be very good
and better next year and the year after.

Henry looks a decent Championship player now and will improve.

Church, HRK, Davies look very, very promising, as does Siggy.

Pearce will just get more and more experienced. Already he's a very good player.

The difference for me now is CONFIDENCE and (it seems) a desire to receive the ball
and play with it.

If we miss out this year we could easily win this league next year with the kids finally paying off.

Nothing wrong with prudence as long as chairman realises the impacts it can have on attendances etc if we should slip further down the table - and understands that when he bleats on radio about supporters getting down to the stadium to support the team - he also has to show a commitment to the cause - great to have the balance sheet showing club in the black, but not great being in Div 1/2 because of it

[Snowball]

If we were dumb enough to go down to Level 3, yes I think it would be a disaster. We would lose almost every one of the current squad.


But I don't for a minute think we'll be below half-way.

The squad looks tasty to me though we have an issue or three in central defence and surely MUST buy someone ready-made, a leader (and 26+)

I can see now why Smith (age 29) would help



But surely, if this side + a good CB and a good attacking, goalscoring midfielder will be top third or better?

And the following year, if we didn't nick it this year, these already-very-promising kids could really hit the ground running after another year's experience

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

If we were dumb enough to go down to Level 3, yes I think it would be a disaster. We would lose almost every one of the current squad.


But I don't for a minute think we'll be below half-way.

The squad looks tasty to me though we have an issue or three in central defence and surely MUST buy someone ready-made, a leader (and 26+)

I can see now why Smith (age 29) would help



But surely, if this side + a good CB and a good attacking, goalscoring midfielder will be top third or better?

And the following year, if we didn't nick it this year, these already-very-promising kids could really hit the ground running after another year's experience

Snowball - this is the real question -

Coppell had the academy players but didnt use them any great level ....

Rodgers is a firm believer in the younger players, but can they produce the level of performance that Coppell obviously didnt believe they could...

The bigger question though is what came first ...the chicken or the egg???

[Snowball]

Was Steve Coppell a good coach? Was Steve Coppell a good motivator?


Despite the club's great success in going up and the first year, who would say yes to either?

I liked SCC a lot but it used to drive me bonkers listening to him, so dead-pan. Almost DE-motivating.

[Terminal Boardom]

I understand from reliable sources that the land that the Madejski Stadium was built on was provided by the local authority (additionally the proceeeds from the sale of Elm Park paid for part of the development) - if that is the case there is obvious a substantial value to that land, and it is not owned by Egoman - which makes me question exactly what is up for sale and whether it is a leasehold and not a freehold sale?



Does anyone know?

IIRC, the retail park below the East stand is also owned by the club. It was this development that caused the whole planning application to be referred to the Government because of the amount of out of town retail space being proposed.

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

I understand from reliable sources that the land that the Madejski Stadium was built on was provided by the local authority (additionally the proceeeds from the sale of Elm Park paid for part of the development) - if that is the case there is obvious a substantial value to that land, and it is not owned by Egoman - which makes me question exactly what is up for sale and whether it is a leasehold and not a freehold sale?



Does anyone know?

IIRC, the retail park below the East stand is also owned by the club. It was this development that caused the whole planning application to be referred to the Government because of the amount of out of town retail space being proposed.

The land is obviously owned by the council - so are you saying that all the units are under the ownership of Reading Football Club??

[Terminal Boardom]

If we were dumb enough to go down to Level 3, yes I think it would be a disaster. We would lose almost every one of the current squad.


But I don't for a minute think we'll be below half-way.

The squad looks tasty to me though we have an issue or three in central defence and surely MUST buy someone ready-made, a leader (and 26+)

I can see now why Smith (age 29) would help



But surely, if this side + a good CB and a good attacking, goalscoring midfielder will be top third or better?

And the following year, if we didn't nick it this year, these already-very-promising kids could really hit the ground running after another year's experience

Snowball - this is the real question -

Coppell had the academy players but didnt use them any great level ....

Rodgers is a firm believer in the younger players, but can they produce the level of performance that Coppell obviously didnt believe they could...

The bigger question though is what came first ...the chicken or the egg???

The key question here is who is the better coach of players: Coppell or Rodgers?

When it comes down to experience of coaching - and I mean leading drills on a training ground, I might be tempted to go with BR. SSC has spent all of his post playing days as a Manager. Not as a number 2, reserve coach, or youth coach. BR, meanwhile has worked his apprentice taking junior teams and progressing over the years through our Academy, onto Chelsea and Watford and eventually returning to us. BR's experience comes predominantly with youngsters.

[Terminal Boardom]

IIRC, the retail park below the East stand is also owned by the club. It was this development that caused the whole planning application to be referred to the Government because of the amount of out of town retail space being proposed.

The land is obviously owned by the council - so are you saying that all the units are under the ownership of Reading Football Club??

As I understand, the retail park falls within the 66 acres of land sold to the club for £1. I would say that the land is owned by the club and not by the Council. I had a copy of the site plan a few years ago as drawn up by the surveyors. I think I gave it away

[Mad Dog's Ghost]

In response to the recent player-based posts on this thread ..

Yes, we have some good kids who've come through the academy and gained good experience last year either at RFC or elsewhere.

Yes, we seem to have a manager who can get the best out of limited resources (judging by Watford fans indignance).

I think the final piece in the jigsaw is signing a couple of players the manager geniunely believes will give RFC the crucial edge. And the sanctioning of that comes down to Madejski. It means probably parting with £2m - £3m. That wouldn't push RFC into financial meltdown. The big question is whether he'll do it. He did when Coppell wanted Lita. Has he got the balls to do it now.

We'll get our answer in the next couple of weeks.

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

IIRC, the retail park below the East stand is also owned by the club. It was this development that caused the whole planning application to be referred to the Government because of the amount of out of town retail space being proposed.

The land is obviously owned by the council - so are you saying that all the units are under the ownership of Reading Football Club??

As I understand, the retail park falls within the 66 acres of land sold to the club for £1. I would say that the land is owned by the club and not by the Council. I had a copy of the site plan a few years ago as drawn up by the surveyors. I think I gave it away

Bet egoman was waxing lyrical with that deal...more in his ball park - cheques for £1!!

[Still Hate Futcher!]

Was Steve Coppell a good coach? Was Steve Coppell a good motivator?


Despite the club's great success in going up and the first year, who would say yes to either?

I liked SCC a lot but it used to drive me bonkers listening to him, so dead-pan. Almost DE-motivating.

I'd say yes to both questions. You only had to see our performances during the promotion season and our first year in the Prem. Even after the disappointment of the last 2 seasons I still think Coppell regularly put out well organised, well motivated sides - you don't need to smash tea cups to be a good motivator.

[Franchise FC]

Bet egoman was waxing lyrical with that deal...more in his ball park - cheques for £1!!

Please tell me you're not that stupid.

The land deal came with conditions that the stadium, retail park and hotel were to be built - a clause required the building to be completed in a limited amount of time, otherwise the land would revert to the council.
So SJM was up for c£40m outlay as soon as the £1 cheque cleared.

[FiNeRaIn]

One point people don't touch on.

If madejski had taken us over 3/4 years ago, people would be likening him to michael knighton of carlisle. Asset stripping, pure and simple. Selling our best players for substancial fees and not bringing in replacements. Thats what knighton did at carlisle for years with players like delap, boertien, matt jansen,etc, he was hated. The only reason madejski gets off and is called " astute" is because he's been here for a while and funded a new ground ( subsequently with loaned payments).
I really can't understand why its not visable to a lot of people the step backs we are taking. Clubs around us like forest are investing to strengthen and we are struggling to find players ti fill positions. Talk of brynjar in defence ( seriously, wtf?)
We spent 2 years in the prem and have 3 eyars parachute payments, we have sold kitson, doyle, sonko and shorey for almost 15 million and how much of that has been invested in the team? Madejski is on a par with michael knighton, im sorry.

[Y25]

No problem with the slow quiet approach as long as there is a positive end result.

[Southbank Old Boy]

Its not a case of Coppell vs Rodgers as a coach or motivator

Its more Coppells backroom staff vs Rodgers backroom staff with the result influence by Coppell and Rodgers ability to get the best out of those resources

Its also dependant on the players attitude and ability (obviously influenced by the above) and a huge slice of luck along the way

[Mad Dog's Ghost]

And one or two decent signings.

Please.

[floyd__streete]

Was Steve Coppell a good coach? Was Steve Coppell a good motivator?


Despite the club's great success in going up and the first year, who would say yes to either?

This taken from the time you spent at Hogwood and inside the home dressomg room at the Madj then, yes?

A lot of revionist nonsense coming out on these pages this inactive summer. I was one of a good many who had serious misgivings about the last management regime 18 months or so ago, but I am yet to be 100% sold on the new management team; Rodgers has it all to prove and just because Jose Mourinho praised the way he put out the cones at training doesn't necessarily guarantee this bloke is going to be a success.

[Snowball]

Hey I greatly admired the man, Steve Coppell and to finally get into the Premiership
and have two season was wonderful.


But I remember the first game v Boro and it looked like a train wreck early on and I thought it was
a relegation season. When we got back and won that, I was amazed. I truly believe, if we had lost that 3-0 or 4-0
(and that was what it looked like for half-an-hour) we might well have had a record low points like Derby.

I am (I was) utterly chuffed that we did so well that season but I never quite believed it


Season two I thought we looked devoid of ideas and outclassed and had lost belief.

That to me is about motivation, and its when SCC came out with his deadpan, flat remarks
when it seemed we needed some OOMPH...

I agree it's not about bullshit or throwing cups, but I would find it hard to raise my game under such a manager.

That isn't really a criticism, but in the last two years Steve did say some "honest" things which frankly, in motivational terms, seemed pretty dumb.

"I don't know what to do".

"I don't know my best midfield"

etc


I also think, and used to remark on it, that our second 15 was almost the same as our first 15. We seemed to accumulate
a lot of not-that-cheap-to-run "OK" players at the expense of a few players with a real extra, automatic choices


And the extra year, despite how much I enjoyed the first half home wins etc, we seemed to be tactically limited
and unable to come up with Plan B or C.

I don't know enough at the ground-level to comment with authority, but my instinct was that SCC was excellent
at building a squad (good buying etc) but not a brilliant tactician or one to one coach.

Didn't Matejovsky get a lot of stick early days when he complained about a lack of coaching/tactics?

[Yorkshire Royal]

If madejski had taken us over 3/4 years ago, people would be likening him to michael knighton of carlisle. Asset stripping, pure and simple. Selling our best players for substancial fees and not bringing in replacements. Thats what knighton did at carlisle for years with players like delap, boertien, matt jansen,etc, he was hated. The only reason madejski gets off and is called " astute" is because he's been here for a while and funded a new ground ( subsequently with loaned payments).
I really can't understand why its not visable to a lot of people the step backs we are taking. Clubs around us like forest are investing to strengthen and we are struggling to find players ti fill positions. Talk of brynjar in defence ( seriously, wtf?)
We spent 2 years in the prem and have 3 eyars parachute payments, we have sold kitson, doyle, sonko and shorey for almost 15 million and how much of that has been invested in the team? Madejski is on a par with michael knighton, im sorry.

I don't fully agree with all that, but it's an interesting point... I hoped football would take a step back and join the reality of the rest of the world, but there seems to be even more money floating about. I think to a certain extent, what Reading FC has tried to do is honourable and the right thing - making a profit and running as a genuine business. But with seemingly football has once again shown how absurb it all is..