Are we cured yet?

[Wealdstone at home]

Without sounding too smug I hope - I did say at the start of the season that;

Noel Hunt was an excellent buy and would score plenty.
Bikey would bully all who come before him
Kebe would be a major threat
The squad would be better off without the 'ego gang'
The younger players coming through would create the right team ethic and for us to trust the best english manager in England and the best Chairman

Armstrong is another excellent buy and now Matejovsky, Harper and Cisse have all got major competition.

We also have cover at centre back with Cisse and Bryn and Pearce.

Henry and Karacan....

And if Doyle goes for a handsome fee in January (Would rather keep him but who would he realistacally go to who will not be in a potential relegation scrap at season end in the Prem and wher he would get a regular first team place??) we have Mooney and probably get another replacement too.

And the club have millions in the bank (Or have rid themselves of potential massive debt at season end) And we have a better motivated and more exciting squad squad than we have had since 05/06 (although 06/07 was a great success, we knew sidders and probably Shorey were on the way out)

What we have now is Bloody great - perhaps the 'mental illness pandemic' that struck this website and RFC fans in general in August is finally disappearing.....

I know as most of us know that historically we have tasted success and the fallen from grace and then taken time to bounce - mainly due to management change and losing the handful of players that fuelled the original success.

I think this may have been behind the almost insane negativity at the start of the season (Confession - I had niggling doubts too)

Deja vu and all that stuff....

But please will posters now at least acknowledge the fantastic commercial decisions the club has made in selling and signing players.

We are currently the top scorers in English professional football - we are without doubt the most entertaining team to watch - and we are going places again.

The intelligence and the focus and the ability of our management team and players when under intense pressure and scrutiny from outside the club and from us fans within has been extraordinary so far this season.

Where is 'Thou Voice' and all the other Swindon fans that were so visible in August and throughout the summer months?

Probably writing PR for the Labour Party......

Come on you Rrrrrs

[Gordons Cumming]

Don't forget Duberry.

[Arnie_Pie]

You said all of that?

My my. You must be the (Reading) Oracle.

[Wealdstone at home]

You said all of that?

My my. You must be the (Reading) Oracle.

I did and most of it was posted on hear and I deserve a gold star for showing faith whilst all around were full of doubt etc...

Incidentally, what did you say at the same time?

[Wealdstone at home]

You said all of that?

My my. You must be the (Reading) Oracle.

I did and most of it was posted on hear and I deserve a gold star for showing faith whilst all around were full of doubt etc...

Incidentally, what did you say at the same time?

My apologies to the 'spelling police' - I meant 'here'

[Millsy]

Good post and well done with your predictions.

Would agree with all except for praising with transfer policy.

If we go up then great and it'll be a very impressive "best of a bad job". But it will nevertheless it will be the best of a bad job IMHO.

Not to have invested even just a tiny bit was a huge error on Madejski's part.

Perhaps £10 million on increased wages and a player or two just to get us a slightly better GD or 1 more point would bring us in another windfall of at least £30million and we wouldn't have gotten rid stars like Kitson etc.

It's turning out to be ok so far, yes, and that's down to very good work by RFC, yes, and it's a joy to behold, yes, and our brick by brick approach even now is something to be very proud of, yes.... but I for one won't be congratulating anyone for being in this position in the first place. We were a little too cautious, made too much of a booboo, and we have to hold our hands up and admit it.

But things are looking rosy and long may it continue!

[rob the royal]

personally i said that noel hunt would score at least 10 goals in his first 5 games for us so i'm pretty pooed off...

[floyd__streete]

What we have now is Bloody great - perhaps the 'mental illness pandemic' that struck this website and RFC fans in general in August is finally disappearing.....

Where is 'Thou Voice' and all the other Swindon fans that were so visible in August and throughout the summer months?

Bloody hell. Again another numpty who uses the rather twisted logic that if you are critical of or raise concerns about the club then you can't claim to be a supporter.

You talk about those who voiced concerns writing PR for the Labour Party, well you certainly spin RFC well nicely indeed. If we get through January without losing any of our top performers and are still sat amongst the top three, then by all means go ahead and pat yourself on the back.

[Wealdstone at home]

Good post and well done with your predictions.

Would agree with all except for praising with transfer policy.

If we go up then great and it'll be a very impressive "best of a bad job". But it will nevertheless it will be the best of a bad job IMHO.

Not to have invested even just a tiny bit was a huge error on Madejski's part.

Perhaps £10 million on increased wages and a player or two just to get us a slightly better GD or 1 more point would bring us in another windfall of at least £30million and we wouldn't have gotten rid stars like Kitson etc.

It's turning out to be ok so far, yes, and that's down to very good work by RFC, yes, and it's a joy to behold, yes, and our brick by brick approach even now is something to be very proud of, yes.... but I for one won't be congratulating anyone for being in this position in the first place. We were a little too cautious, made too much of a booboo, and we have to hold our hands up and admit it.

But things are looking rosy and long may it continue!

You make many fair points.

I completely agree that we should not have been in the position of being relegated at all.

However, I do think that JM made a miscalculation and SC showed too much loyalty to some and didn't make players feel threatened through healthy strong competition for places last season.

It led to the 'Ego Gang'

However, I believe getting rid of Kits, Shorey and Sonko at the time we did and for the money we got was absolutely right.

They were all I believe destructive to the squad as they believed their own hype (Always a recipe for disaster)and thought they were just a little better than their team mates. Which time will show; was completely untrue. Their best years are gone.

Mistakes made - yes - but the positive and aggressive response has been fantastic - the nation's politicians and bankers could learn a big lesson.

SC could have just walked away but he did not. Fold and cower or fight on and win.

I really do admire his enormous strength of character and determination - and the wisdom and humility with which he demonstrates them.

If we bounce straight back; the man (Already a lifelong hero of the club) should have a statue built outside the Mad Stad.

And what is more, I can feel it in my 'bones' - I just know we're going to do it.....

[Wealdstone at home]

What we have now is Bloody great - perhaps the 'mental illness pandemic' that struck this website and RFC fans in general in August is finally disappearing.....

Where is 'Thou Voice' and all the other Swindon fans that were so visible in August and throughout the summer months?

Bloody hell. Again another numpty who uses the rather twisted logic that if you are critical of or raise concerns about the club then you can't claim to be a supporter.

You talk about those who voiced concerns writing PR for the Labour Party, well you certainly spin RFC well nicely indeed. If we get through January without losing any of our top performers and are still sat amongst the top three, then by all means go ahead and pat yourself on the back.

'numpty' an interesting but somewhat unintelligent and unnecessary insult. (If it is an insult as I cannot find a definition for 'numpty')

Don't you understand football?

Keeping our 'top four performers' as you put it; is completely irrelevant.

We will sell players - we may sell our best players - but if we replace them in the right manner with the right players (And preferably young players) we grow, we maintain financial stability and we have a bright future.

If we keep them - well that's good too.

But........the only thing that is relevant is being in the top six or ideally the top two by May; not by January.

Whether we sell our 'Four best performers' or not.

The three players we have sold for large fees (In RFC terms) were all considered to be 'top performers'.

Time will tell that they had their best days with us (Which was great and they will always be respected for that) and they made us good money when they went - the same may apply to others in future.

Anyway - whilst you're passing irrelevant judgements in January - I'll be enjoying the goal fest and the excitement and saving my judgement until May.

My post was designed to highlight the fact that all the insane negativity was exactly that....insane negativity - and not the kind of intelligent comment and critique that I would expect from intelligent fans whether loyal or otherwise.

And posters like 'Thou Voice' have not been seen now things are going well...(And the thinly veiled glee with which his criticisms were shrouded gave me the impression that he may be a Swindon Fan )

[floyd__streete]

'numpty' an interesting but somewhat unintelligent and unnecessary insult. (If it is an insult as I cannot find a definition for 'numpty')

As unnecessary as calling those who voiced concerns Swindon fans?

Keeping our 'top four performers' as you put it; is completely irrelevant.

We will sell players - we may sell our best players - but if we replace them in the right manner with the right players (And preferably young players) we grow, we maintain financial stability and we have a bright future.

If. Our transfer record in the past 6 windows hasn't been too glorious has it. There are green shoots of recovery in respect of recent purchases but if you are saying we will be no worse off without the likes of Doyle and perhaps Bikey in January then you really are deluded.

Blaming Kitson, Sonko and Shorey for all the ills of last season was far too overly simplistic. Not to mention childish; much like calling those who dare to voice concerns Swindon fans.

[brendywendy]

I say! Swindon fans is a tad strong isnt it.

Its a pleasure to finally find a poster more positive than i.

And while i agree that the football we are playing,and the way the club have done it are awe inspiring.
I must just say that i remember threads like this after beating liverpool.and you know what happened after that.
So chill,

[Wealdstone at home]

'numpty' an interesting but somewhat unintelligent and unnecessary insult. (If it is an insult as I cannot find a definition for 'numpty')

As unnecessary as calling those who voiced concerns Swindon fans?

Keeping our 'top four performers' as you put it; is completely irrelevant.

We will sell players - we may sell our best players - but if we replace them in the right manner with the right players (And preferably young players) we grow, we maintain financial stability and we have a bright future.

If. Our transfer record in the past 6 windows hasn't been too glorious has it. There are green shoots of recovery in respect of recent purchases but if you are saying we will be no worse off without the likes of Doyle and perhaps Bikey in January then you really are deluded.

Blaming Kitson, Sonko and Shorey for all the ills of last season was far too overly simplistic. Not to mention childish; much like calling those who dare to voice concerns Swindon fans.

'numpty' = childish - 'swindon fans' conclusion drawn from unnatural enjoyment in criticising SC, JM & NH.

Therefore; You childish - me not childish.

No delusion. I repeat the only thing that matters is where we end up in May - whoever we buy or sell on the way (If we're promoted) is irrelevant.

Every RFC player will leave the club at some point - its where the team ends and the club's financial stability that are the only important measures of success - and both these measures are of equal importance.

I did not blame the 'ego gang' (I would also add Oster and Fae to the 'ego gang' membership) for all ills - but I do believe that my judgement about their destructive impact on the squad as a whole is completely correct.

[floyd__streete]

'numpty' = childish - 'swindon fans' conclusion drawn from unnatural enjoyment in criticising SC, JM & NH.

Which is a childish conclusion to draw.

No delusion. I repeat the only thing that matters is where we end up in May - whoever we buy or sell on the way (If we're promoted) is irrelevant.

But if we are to be promoted we will need our better players to be part of the picture next season, holding onto them is a must. We have already 'downscaled' - an inevitable consequence of relegation - in replacing England international Nicky Shorey with Chris Armstrong and Dave Kitson with N Hunt. I rate both Armstrong and N Hunt in this division but you can't argue that they are better footballers than Shorey and Kitson respectively surely?


I don't think that we are going to quite agree on all this, so let us both hope that you can bring this thread back to the top in May and be triumphant then.

[chilipepper91]

'numpty' = childish - 'swindon fans' conclusion drawn from unnatural enjoyment in criticising SC, JM & NH.

I was a Swindon fan for a while.

Apparently.


Anyway, enjoyment, or constructive criticism/opinions?

[Negative_Jeff]

I might have to update my username to Insanely Negative Jeff.

[Millsy]

Good post and well done with your predictions.

Would agree with all except for praising with transfer policy.

If we go up then great and it'll be a very impressive "best of a bad job". But it will nevertheless it will be the best of a bad job IMHO.

Not to have invested even just a tiny bit was a huge error on Madejski's part.

Perhaps £10 million on increased wages and a player or two just to get us a slightly better GD or 1 more point would bring us in another windfall of at least £30million and we wouldn't have gotten rid stars like Kitson etc.

It's turning out to be ok so far, yes, and that's down to very good work by RFC, yes, and it's a joy to behold, yes, and our brick by brick approach even now is something to be very proud of, yes.... but I for one won't be congratulating anyone for being in this position in the first place. We were a little too cautious, made too much of a booboo, and we have to hold our hands up and admit it.

But things are looking rosy and long may it continue!

You make many fair points.

I completely agree that we should not have been in the position of being relegated at all.

However, I do think that JM made a miscalculation and SC showed too much loyalty to some and didn't make players feel threatened through healthy strong competition for places last season.

It led to the 'Ego Gang'

However, I believe getting rid of Kits, Shorey and Sonko at the time we did and for the money we got was absolutely right.

They were all I believe destructive to the squad as they believed their own hype (Always a recipe for disaster)and thought they were just a little better than their team mates. Which time will show; was completely untrue. Their best years are gone.

Mistakes made - yes - but the positive and aggressive response has been fantastic - the nation's politicians and bankers could learn a big lesson.

SC could have just walked away but he did not. Fold and cower or fight on and win.

I really do admire his enormous strength of character and determination - and the wisdom and humility with which he demonstrates them.

If we bounce straight back; the man (Already a lifelong hero of the club) should have a statue built outside the Mad Stad.

And what is more, I can feel it in my 'bones' - I just know we're going to do it.....

Agree with all of that. Good points.

We have done incredibly well and full credit goes to everyone at RFC since the drop including actually 94% of us fans (on HNA at keast) who wanted Coppell to stay and showed him so.

Applause all around.

I think the "ego gang" observation is a very accurate one too.

----

Not wanting to get caught up in the "Swindon fans" banter (that's detracting from the more important points you raise)... I 100% genuinely have actually suspected some posters here on HNA as being infiltrating fans from other clubs wanting to sabotage things! The overly vocal nonsense I've read from some folk (over Coppell going etc) has honestly gotten me wondering if they're Swindon/Wolves/etc fans. We already have belligerent t*sspots from other clubs known to be here and some infiltrate the chatrooms so your comment wasn't that out of order! However a lot of the negativity has come from long established and well respected HNA posters who happen to be negative but actually clearly have RFC's interest at heart, and we'd do well to give these views - however different from our own - plenty of respect.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Wealdstone is now my hero, if only I could be as great as him

[The 17 Bus]

Wealdstone is now my hero, if only I could be as great as him

You are greater, everyone knows about Huntley& Palmers, most have no idea where Wealdstone even is.

[Franchise FC]

What we have now is Bloody great - perhaps the 'mental illness pandemic' that struck this website and RFC fans in general in August is finally disappearing.....

Where is 'Thou Voice' and all the other Swindon fans that were so visible in August and throughout the summer months?

Bloody hell. Again another numpty who uses the rather twisted logic that if you are critical of or raise concerns about the club then you can't claim to be a supporter.

You talk about those who voiced concerns writing PR for the Labour Party, well you certainly spin RFC well nicely indeed. If we get through January without losing any of our top performers and are still sat amongst the top three, then by all means go ahead and pat yourself on the back.

Actually, it was my quote about the spin doctors.





Can't remember what it was about, but I don't remember it being a scattergun insult to all those feeling negative. Might be wrong on that, I guess.