Would Doyle be stupid to go to Wolves?

[handbags_harris]

Kurtz - wimabigclub - don't you remember the 50s?

I like Doyle's quote on the Wolves website "historically a massive club" (or similar). About time Wolves fans got it into their thick skulls them being a big club is exactly as Doyle describes it - HISTORY

[Wolfatthedoor]

Kurtz - wimabigclub - don't you remember the 50s?

I like Doyle's quote on the Wolves website "historically a massive club" (or similar). About time Wolves fans got it into their thick skulls them being a big club is exactly as Doyle describes it - HISTORY

Handbags - did you read my post - if you think most Wolves fans believe we are still a big club, you are deluded - the vocal minority might spout garbage about where we are in the current pecking order, but the majority know we have a strong history but have done nothing for half a century.

[Wycombe Royal]

At least Wolves have a big history..........

[Archie's penalty]

Good luck Doyler, you will be missed. Shame my last memory of him in a Reading shirt is him hobbling off against Burnley. Our premiership chances went then I reckon.

[handbags_harris]

Handbags - did you read my post - if you think most Wolves fans believe we are still a big club, you are deluded - the vocal minority might spout garbage about where we are in the current pecking order, but the majority know we have a strong history but have done nothing for half a century.

If being deluded means listening to the vocal minority (as they're the ones who speak out on behalf of the silent majority) then yes, I am indeed deluded. Can only go by what I see and hear though mate, and there aren't many Wolves fans down here to set me right, and the only Wolves fan I ever knew personally felt that Wolves are a massive club. He was a bit of a knobend though...

[Stooper]

Set to unveil Surman today according to their forum

[Barry the bird boggler]

I have this strong feeling that Wolves and Burnley are going to go straight back down next season...

[holsgrove breaks a leg]

Kurtz - wimabigclub - don't you remember the 50s?

I like Doyle's quote on the Wolves website "historically a massive club" (or similar). About time Wolves fans got it into their thick skulls them being a big club is exactly as Doyle describes it - HISTORY

Handbags - did you read my post - if you think most Wolves fans believe we are still a big club, you are deluded - the vocal minority might spout garbage about where we are in the current pecking order, but the majority know we have a strong history but have done nothing for half a century.

john de wolf and the sherpa vans trophy it says it all really. All the very best Kevin, no doubt he will be very close to being part of a Reading dream XI in years to come through his sheer effort and ability and was a very likeable and intelligent sounding chap. TBH he has sold himself short a little and i think a team like Fulham would have been ideal for him though not many irish boys there!!. Now it will be interesting to see BR's transfer policy coming into play given the expected departure of Hunt and maybe Bikey.

[Thaumagurist*]

I have this strong feeling that Wolves and Burnley are going to go straight back down next season...

That sounds about right.

[Dirk Gently]

I have this strong feeling that Wolves and Burnley are going to go straight back down next season...

That sounds about right.

Trouble is I think Stoke and Hull are dead certs to go down too - one of them at least will survive.

[rhroyal]

I have this strong feeling that Wolves and Burnley are going to go straight back down next season...

That sounds about right.

Trouble is I think Stoke and Hull are dead certs to go down too - one of them at least will survive.

It's a very weak league this season and some poor sides will stay up. Wolves definitely have a chance.

[Ian Royal]

I think Wolves are easily the strongest of the three promoted. And probably stronger than Stoke and Hull. Add in the normal 2 or 3 others from the more established sides that struggle each year and I think they'll survive.

In fact I wouldn't be surprised to see them finish top half.

[wickedwhispers]

I don't get it when people say, it's a very weak league.

Just because there are some obvious big club ommisions from the Prem doesn't make it weak. Those clubs have got their on merit and just bacause some of them don't have the big support some other clubs have outside the Prem doesn't mean they don't deserve to be there or are weak. Only time will tell on that one.

[Ian Royal]

I'd say it's fairly weak given two sides barely survived this season and now go into the harder second season. You then have Sunderland who have struggled for the last two years and Wigan who are constantly looking over their shoulder since their first season.

Only Sunderland really have the spending power to shore themselves up a lot and it's not exactly worked the last two years. Then you have the up and down teams like Pompey, Fulham & co. Then entering the league are Burnley, who are there on effort and determination and B'ham who have been relegated twice in 4 years and were fairly unconvincing throughout this season.

There is a lot more competition for relegation places than for top spots. That is surely the definition of a weak league.

[Hoop Blah]

I'd say it's fairly weak given two sides barely survived this season and now go into the harder second season. You then have Sunderland who have struggled for the last two years and Wigan who are constantly looking over their shoulder since their first season.

Only Sunderland really have the spending power to shore themselves up a lot and it's not exactly worked the last two years. Then you have the up and down teams like Pompey, Fulham & co. Then entering the league are Burnley, who are there on effort and determination and B'ham who have been relegated twice in 4 years and were fairly unconvincing throughout this season.

There is a lot more competition for relegation places than for top spots. That is surely the definition of a weak league.

Isn't that always the case? I can't think of a season were a couple of teams didn't survive by the skin of their teeth on the last day of the season or when there aren't more teams looking over their at relegation rather than looking ahead at the top spots.

I think with the amount of money being banded about the league will be quite competitive yet again and anyone who stays up will have earned it the hard way.

[Dirk Gently]

I'd say it's fairly weak given two sides barely survived this season and now go into the harder second season. You then have Sunderland who have struggled for the last two years and Wigan who are constantly looking over their shoulder since their first season.

Only Sunderland really have the spending power to shore themselves up a lot and it's not exactly worked the last two years. Then you have the up and down teams like Pompey, Fulham & co. Then entering the league are Burnley, who are there on effort and determination and B'ham who have been relegated twice in 4 years and were fairly unconvincing throughout this season.

There is a lot more competition for relegation places than for top spots. That is surely the definition of a weak league.

Isn't that always the case? I can't think of a season were a couple of teams didn't survive by the skin of their teeth on the last day of the season or when there aren't more teams looking over their at relegation rather than looking ahead at the top spots.

I think with the amount of money being banded about the league will be quite competitive yet again and anyone who stays up will have earned it the hard way.

the thing is that the gap between the clubs with losts of dosh and the others has increased, so there are a lot more clubs in the same sort of spending bracket. Past the top 6 or 7 in teh PL there's minimal difference in spending power and potential between teh other 13 in the PL and the top 6 or 7 in the CCC.

[rhroyal]

I don't get it when people say, it's a very weak league.

Just because there are some obvious big club ommisions from the Prem doesn't make it weak. Those clubs have got their on merit and just bacause some of them don't have the big support some other clubs have outside the Prem doesn't mean they don't deserve to be there or are weak. Only time will tell on that one.

Hull got less points than we did and stayed up. They were poor. Stoke are most likely facing second season syndrome. Portsmouth are half the side they were when we were up, although admittedly Fulham have gone the other way. Wigan have a rebuilding job to do with Bruce gone and Valencia on his way. Sunderland are in a mess. Burnley don't look like they have a hope, although I'm expecting the other 2 to compete. It's not like teams such as Bolton have become any stronger since we were there.

Add to this that at the top Man City, Villa, Everton and who knows Spurs appear to be getting stronger, the teams at the bottom will acquire less points.

In terms of points needed to survive, 06/07 > 07/08 > 08/09. FACT. Can't see any evidence to suggest that trend will stop any time soon.

[RobRoyal]

Good luck Doyler, you will be missed. Shame my last memory of him in a Reading shirt is him hobbling off against Burnley. Our premiership chances went then I reckon.

'Greed. In retrospect, there are significant parallels to our failed 2001/2 playoff attempt. Start promisingly, lose our key striker (and possibly best player) to injury. Squad thin on goals without him, go on to lose 1st leg with late goal (and suffer red card). Slightly makeshift side (with untried formation) give it their all in the home leg, but ultimately get picked off on the break.

It's pretty striking when you think about it

[Hoop Blah]

I'd say it's fairly weak given two sides barely survived this season and now go into the harder second season. You then have Sunderland who have struggled for the last two years and Wigan who are constantly looking over their shoulder since their first season.

Only Sunderland really have the spending power to shore themselves up a lot and it's not exactly worked the last two years. Then you have the up and down teams like Pompey, Fulham & co. Then entering the league are Burnley, who are there on effort and determination and B'ham who have been relegated twice in 4 years and were fairly unconvincing throughout this season.

There is a lot more competition for relegation places than for top spots. That is surely the definition of a weak league.

Isn't that always the case? I can't think of a season were a couple of teams didn't survive by the skin of their teeth on the last day of the season or when there aren't more teams looking over their at relegation rather than looking ahead at the top spots.

I think with the amount of money being banded about the league will be quite competitive yet again and anyone who stays up will have earned it the hard way.

the thing is that the gap between the clubs with losts of dosh and the others has increased, so there are a lot more clubs in the same sort of spending bracket. Past the top 6 or 7 in teh PL there's minimal difference in spending power and potential between teh other 13 in the PL and the top 6 or 7 in the CCC.

But that's pretty much been the case for the last ten years or so, the money the top 6 or 7 have is probably a couple 0's on the end more than it used to be, but that doesn't make the league any weaker this season than it has been for the last 5 to 10 years.

Especially not influenced by Ian's logic above.

[Dirk Gently]

Isn't that always the case? I can't think of a season were a couple of teams didn't survive by the skin of their teeth on the last day of the season or when there aren't more teams looking over their at relegation rather than looking ahead at the top spots.

I think with the amount of money being banded about the league will be quite competitive yet again and anyone who stays up will have earned it the hard way.

the thing is that the gap between the clubs with losts of dosh and the others has increased, so there are a lot more clubs in the same sort of spending bracket. Past the top 6 or 7 in teh PL there's minimal difference in spending power and potential between teh other 13 in the PL and the top 6 or 7 in the CCC.

But that's pretty much been the case for the last ten years or so, the money the top 6 or 7 have is probably a couple 0's on the end more than it used to be, but that doesn't make the league any weaker this season than it has been for the last 5 to 10 years.

To a certain extent, yes, but every year the gap's got bigger. To take just a few randowm teams, ten years ago the financial gap between Arsenal and Tottenham wasn't that big, and the gap between Tottenahm and Bolton, say was massive.

Now after 10 years' worth of Champions Leaue money, Arsenal are massively ahead of Spurs, and because Spurs and Bolton ahev been receiving similar sums of TV money in all this time there's not that much difference, financially, between either of them.

And quite apart from the money, the fact that the top teams are so much better than anyone else - and getting further ahead every year - means that they win the majority of their matches and so there are fewer points around for the other teams to scrap over. Hence the number of points for safety going down every year.