S8nts

[royalZILLAAA]

Always rather be a Reading fan. Football fanhood is a weird mix of masochism and elation, I wouldn't rather be a fan of Man Utd or FC Winnersh or anyone in between.

[cmonurz]

How does it not?

Establishing yourself as a prem club has as much to do with having the infrastructure to cope with the demands (including any and all supplemental income), as having good enough players.

Obviously it's the 'in five years' part of the statement that qualifies my opinion - and we aren't going to establish one of the country's leading academies, and see it bear the fruit of youth team that will both fund our transfers and supply our first team in that five year period.

A more appropriate statement might have been '"we're not going to splash millions on the playing squad, but concentrate on firmly cementing Reading FC as one of the leading youth academies in the country, infrastructure that will strongly support our long-term aim of establishing ourselves in the top flight in the next ten years."

[jellytot]

Yep they are looking to be safe. They are getting results home and away.
We need to start winning away! Need more quality t compete. For me we are still
Going down. We are so pathetic in transfers. Painful.

[RoyalBlue]

Another terrific result for them from 2 down last night. I've said all season that they have a really good chance of staying up, plenty of goals in their team. And now they've seemingly added a bit of steel at the back, it is only 2 defeats in the last 12 league games for them. They got promoted behind us and yet they sit 6 points ahead of us in the league this time. Do you find it a bit galling to see that their owners have been willing/able to invest in some quality whereas we are still scouring the bargain bins? Or are you genuinely happy with us remaining dear old little circumspect Reading?

It's not that long ago that the RTGs and Board (football club) supporters were chiding anyone who dared criticise RFC's approach to transfers by saying things like 'Southampton spent a fortune on transfers and look what good it's done them'.

I now thrust those very same words back down their throats -

Yes, 'Southampton spent a fortune on transfers and look what good it's done them'.

Meantime, under the questionnable guidance of JM, Anton now also appears to think that RFC can be successful going their own way and trying singlehandedly to buck the established (and largely successful) economic model of top tier English professional football.

Now waiting to be quoted the usual exception to the rule and 'proof' of the doomsday scenario i.e. Portsmouth!

[melonhead]

so 6 more points is what 30 million gets you is it?

meh.

and we aren't going to establish one of the country's leading academies, and see it bear the fruit of youth team that will both fund our transfers and supply our first team in that five year period

.
you say that as though we havent already got a good academy thats providing us with upcoming players who wont benefit from this new academy much sooner

[If you still hate Futcher]

No way I'd be Saints - I'd never do that with my sister/mother/brother/aunt/father/uncle no matter how attractive they may be

[Extended-Phenotype]

Same boring argument.

Just wish Reading would take a risk on finance instead of on players for a change. Why does everyone think we are going to bounce right back up again if we go down? Anyone who has shone will f/ck off, probably tired of the club's lack of ambition, leaving us with who to fire us to the top again? Akpan?

It's not like getting here in the first place was easy.

[Cypry]

Looking at recent form we're about even stevens with them - 7 points each from the last 5 games. The 6 point difference is down to them beating us (a true six pointer if ever there was one).

I still think they'll struggle to avoid the drop....

In terms of money, they were the 7th highest spending team in EUROPE during the summer - largely affordable because they have seemingly limitless backing, but also because they already have the luxury of a CAT1 academy, a quality training facility (currently undergoing an upgrade with work expected to be finished June this year) and no immediate requirement to look at stadium expansion etc....

We have a lot more to do, including, but not limited to, meeting CAT 1 requirements (we already have a high quality academy, with a really good group of players already in place, if we don't get CAT1 we run the risk of losing those players), finding a new training ground location, buying the land, building the facility (including laying nearly 20 full size pitches and everything else that goes with it) and then possibly looking at stadium expansion as well.....

That's where the difference is between us and Southampton - a more mature infrastructure, meaning more funds are available to spend on their playing staff...
If we do it right, and get the infrastructure in place over the next couple of years, then possibly we might be able to consider being in the top ten spenders in Europe in a couple of years time.....?

[Royal With Cheese]

Just wish Reading would take a risk on finance instead of on players for a change.

We did that with Fae and RFC were absolutely raped on Hob Nob.

TBH - they can't win.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Fae has become as much a Copy and Paste retort to investment as Doyle/Long have to pissing around in the dented tins trolly.

[Royal With Cheese]

It was easier to type than copy and paste three letters.

[melonhead]

if we had the money spare to do a saints we would, but we havent, so we didnt

[Extended-Phenotype]

It was easier to type than copy and paste three letters.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Another terrific result for them from 2 down last night. I've said all season that they have a really good chance of staying up, plenty of goals in their team. And now they've seemingly added a bit of steel at the back, it is only 2 defeats in the last 12 league games for them. They got promoted behind us and yet they sit 6 points ahead of us in the league this time. Do you find it a bit galling to see that their owners have been willing/able to invest in some quality whereas we are still scouring the bargain bins? Or are you genuinely happy with us remaining dear old little circumspect Reading?

Yes, they've spent a lot more money than us and are still only 6 points ahead. Hardly turned into Manchester United over night.

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

They will say at end of season, if they finish 17th...it was money well spent ...and it will be given the pot next season..

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/201 ... xt-190601/

[melonhead]

and if they dont stay up its 30 million down the drain, plus wages



plus they obviously feel able to gamble that money
we dont

[Extended-Phenotype]

Another terrific result for them from 2 down last night. I've said all season that they have a really good chance of staying up, plenty of goals in their team. And now they've seemingly added a bit of steel at the back, it is only 2 defeats in the last 12 league games for them. They got promoted behind us and yet they sit 6 points ahead of us in the league this time. Do you find it a bit galling to see that their owners have been willing/able to invest in some quality whereas we are still scouring the bargain bins? Or are you genuinely happy with us remaining dear old little circumspect Reading?

Yes, they've spent a lot more money than us and are still only 6 points ahead. Hardly turned into Manchester United over night.

6 points ahead, not in a relegation spot.

[If you still hate Futcher]

Why do people keep banging on about transfer fees as if that's the overriding factor in deciding success or failure - if that were the case QPR would be in the top 6 and Soton would be top 3.

Further to Cypry's reply about completing the infrastructure you could also argue that getting in a player like Pog is taking us to another level. Fulham were very keen on signing him and there were also other clubs interested so for him to choose us is a bit of a coup.

OK he may have taken a bit of time to adjust but it was still a bit of a when it was announced. The same for Carrico, OK there may not have been as many people in for him but for him to come here at all shows that there is a project in place for him to believe in.

The very fact that we haven't had to spend much on these 2 is more down to the brilliance of Hammond and the timing of our interest than the players abilities. If Bargain Hunt* ever do a show for DOF and fan then he'd only spend about £5 and he'd then take the auction and make £500 on each item.

*Working from home with TV on

[Royal91]

Southampton have spent all that money, but in reality its still Lambert FC

[sputnik]

pissing around in the dented tins trolly.