Just to Recap

[Royal Lady]

surely schards cringes when his missus comes on to defend him

Most husbands/boyfriends do !!

The best bit is she tends to do a good job of undermining his argument.

Seriously, why do you always talk about me as if I'm some sort of idiot? He did say "foreseeable future" and although we didn't finish mid table last season, we certainly were dull and uninspiring. More of the same this year, as we sold off every available asset.

Just cos you've been to 3 games this season doesn't make you the mouthpiece of RFC anymore than it does anybody else.

[Ian Royal]

Just describing what I see from your posts.

You're doing a pretty good job of making yourself look like an idiot on at least one thread on here today. I'm just helping.

"FOR the forseeable future" I disagree it was dull and uninspiring. It was also about a club in totally different circumstances to those we're in now and aimed quite obviously at Coppell at least in part.

I haven't been to three games and I don't consider myself the mouthpiece of the club. Just showing more of your ignorance there RL.

[Royal Lady]

Pathetic and unnecessary retort.

[brendywendy]

could i just butt in and say, ive no objection to RLs opinions, some times they are good ones
i was just saying- its like your mum coming on here innit


now stop being mean to her
she knows more about football than alot of the morons on here

[Ian Royal]

could i just but in and say, ive no objection to RLs opinions, some times they are good ones
i was just saying- its like your mum coming on here innit


now stop being mean to her
she knows more about football than alot of the morons on here

Ain't that the truth.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

We were not dull and uninspiring until after boxing day last season, FFS we even won 8/10 at one point leading up to that, then we gave Doyle a better contract, and Hunty wanted similar, or was off, sadly no one wanted to pay the £5m release clause, so for some reason we gave him a raise as well to the end of the season, with a new release clause.

Midtable was never achieved last season.

This season we may well be dull and uninspiring, but we are not mid table, most would be happy if we were.

What Schards did see was that JM was not going to finance the Prem, and that from there on it would be downhill, thats my take on it anyway, and so far he has been proven correct.

UEFA Cup, not ready, a few seasons ago we were not ready for the Prem, too many negative vibes from the man JM.

[Schards#2]

Just describing what I see from your posts.

You're doing a pretty good job of making yourself look like an idiot on at least one thread on here today. I'm just helping.

"FOR the forseeable future" I disagree it was dull and uninspiring. It was also about a club in totally different circumstances to those we're in now and aimed quite obviously at Coppell at least in part.

I haven't been to three games and I don't consider myself the mouthpiece of the club. Just showing more of your ignorance there RL.

Ian, with all due respect (which is more than you show others), you haven't got a clue.

I never wanted Coppell to go, I just felt his heart wasn't in it (correct), that whatever happened he would go at the end of the season (correct), that this would effect the team, (eventually correct), that when he left it would be hard to get a decent replacement as SJM wanted to sell and wouldn't pay for a top manager (correct) and that, for the same reason, we would be weakened by sales inadequately replaced on the cheap (correct) therefore, it would get a lot more dull and uninspiring, (indisputable) and we'd better prepare for mid table football at best, (now looking optismistic.

You can go on arguing that black is white or you could just accept this the original post proved accurate, I don't really care tbh, the facts will still be speaking for themselves.

[CMRoyal]

Just describing what I see from your posts.

You're doing a pretty good job of making yourself look like an idiot on at least one thread on here today. I'm just helping.

"FOR the forseeable future" I disagree it was dull and uninspiring. It was also about a club in totally different circumstances to those we're in now and aimed quite obviously at Coppell at least in part.

I haven't been to three games and I don't consider myself the mouthpiece of the club. Just showing more of your ignorance there RL.

Ian, with all due respect (which is more than you show others), you haven't got a clue.

I never wanted Coppell to go, I just felt his heart wasn't in it (correct), that whatever happened he would go at the end of the season (correct), that this would effect the team, (eventually correct), that when he left it would be hard to get a decent replacement as SJM wanted to sell and wouldn't pay for a top manager (correct) and that, for the same reason, we would be weakened by sales inadequately replaced on the cheap (correct) therefore, it would get a lot more dull and uninspiring, (indisputable) and we'd better prepare for mid table football at best, (now looking optismistic.

You can go on arguing that black is white or you could just accept this the original post proved accurate, I don't really care tbh, the facts will still be speaking for themselves.

Credit to you Schards2#, you've been broadly correct. I say that as someone who agreed with you hoping at the same time that you were wrong. You did get some details wrong though, mostly regarding timing eg expecting the fire sale to happen last season rather than this. And despite the post-Xmas decline I thoroughly enjoyed last season (bearing in mind that most seasons end in disappointment of some form). And after all we were just a swing of 2 goals in the Brum game away from a totally different story this season. It seems slightly self-regarding, therefore, to create a thread such as this purely for your own self-justification. Shall we move on and discuss where we think the club should go from here instead? It would be far less likely to end in flame wars.

[Ian Royal]

Just describing what I see from your posts.

You're doing a pretty good job of making yourself look like an idiot on at least one thread on here today. I'm just helping.

"FOR the forseeable future" I disagree it was dull and uninspiring. It was also about a club in totally different circumstances to those we're in now and aimed quite obviously at Coppell at least in part.

I haven't been to three games and I don't consider myself the mouthpiece of the club. Just showing more of your ignorance there RL.

Ian, with all due respect (which is more than you show others), you haven't got a clue.

I never wanted Coppell to go, I just felt his heart wasn't in it (correct), that whatever happened he would go at the end of the season (correct), that this would effect the team, (eventually correct), that when he left it would be hard to get a decent replacement as SJM wanted to sell and wouldn't pay for a top manager (correct) and that, for the same reason, we would be weakened by sales inadequately replaced on the cheap (correct) therefore, it would get a lot more dull and uninspiring, (indisputable) and we'd better prepare for mid table football at best, (now looking optismistic.

You can go on arguing that black is white or you could just accept this the original post proved accurate, I don't really care tbh, the facts will still be speaking for themselves.

None of that is what most people argued with you about.

It was that we were dull and uninspiring at the time, and I still disagree that were for the majority of the season. Nor did we require a sea change to finish higher than mid-table. Nor did we finish mid-table.

You can't claim to such a prophet when the only things you got right was pretty much what everyone was saying.

At least my digs only stick to what you or RL say and I don't trying to play the better fan digs with constant references to the number of games I attend. Pretending I blindly support the club is pretty pathetic as well considering how much criticism I dish out when I think it's warranted.

Perhaps if you actually admitted you were wrong occasionally you'd get an easier and more forgiving response. Rather than the pair of you tag-teaming anyone who dares criticise either of you, regardless of what was originally said.

I may not agree with a lot of what you say (especially on AE ) but at least I know you've got a clue and have thought it through. RL doesn't really help herself with a lot of the stupid questions she's asked recently and the way she takes any disgareement as a personal attack on her.

Say something I think is accurate and insightful and I'll happily agree with either of you.

[plymouth biscuitman]

[quote="Maguire"]Well it's a bit pointless praising him for giving us our second highest finish ever in 07/08 - I could have managed that team to their second highest finish ever

I'm sure you would have, but it would have course been in 20th position below Derby, the "record breakers".

[STAR Liaison]

I never wanted Coppell to go, I just felt his heart wasn't in it (correct),

that when he left it would be hard to get a decent replacement as SJM wanted to sell and wouldn't pay for a top manager (correct)

I would argue with your on these two - even if you are sure you are correct.

I think Coppell's heart was in it - but that was not enough, despite nearly being so. I also think it a touch arrogant to say you know what a very private man thought. I am willing to say what I thought but you state your thoughts are correct.

Secondly according to the meeting we had with the club this week the candidates for the job of manager were all in the same ball park in terms of salary - namely the going rate for a manager in the Championship. If you think he should have paid Premiership money for a Championship manager then tell me why you think that did not work last season.

[Schards#2]

I never wanted Coppell to go, I just felt his heart wasn't in it (correct),

that when he left it would be hard to get a decent replacement as SJM wanted to sell and wouldn't pay for a top manager (correct)

I would argue with your on these two - even if you are sure you are correct.

I think Coppell's heart was in it - but that was not enough, despite nearly being so. I also think it a touch arrogant to say you know what a very private man thought. I am willing to say what I thought but you state your thoughts are correct.

Secondly according to the meeting we had with the club this week the candidates for the job of manager were all in the same ball park in terms of salary - namely the going rate for a manager in the Championship. If you think he should have paid Premiership money for a Championship manager then tell me why you think that did not work last season.

On the first point, of course, I don't actually know for a fact what was going on in Coppell's head but I believe that, mentally, he had decided he was leaving after the relegation season and that, after being retained, largely as a result of the car park vigil, he was going to leave at the end of last season come what may if, for no other reason, that he needed a break. He eluded to it many times in interiew.

I would have happily kept Coppell as long as he wanted the job but, IMHO, he didn't want it indefinately and, one way or another, that transmitted itself to the players and resulted in a loss of....respect isn't the right word but a loss of Coppell being someone in complete control of the team's future.

With regard to the second point, firstly, I wouldn't believe everything the club tells you, IMHO, they tell you what the want to and nothing else, your being naive if you feel they are totally frank with you. Secondly, I would imagine the more demanding applicants never made it to interview.

[STAR Liaison]

I never wanted Coppell to go, I just felt his heart wasn't in it (correct),

that when he left it would be hard to get a decent replacement as SJM wanted to sell and wouldn't pay for a top manager (correct)

I would argue with your on these two - even if you are sure you are correct.

I think Coppell's heart was in it - but that was not enough, despite nearly being so. I also think it a touch arrogant to say you know what a very private man thought. I am willing to say what I thought but you state your thoughts are correct.

Secondly according to the meeting we had with the club this week the candidates for the job of manager were all in the same ball park in terms of salary - namely the going rate for a manager in the Championship. If you think he should have paid Premiership money for a Championship manager then tell me why you think that did not work last season.

On the first point, of course, I don't actually know for a fact what was going on in Coppell's head but I believe that, mentally, he had decided he was leaving after the relegation season and that, after being retained, largely as a result of the car park vigil, he was going to leave at the end of last season come what may if, for no other reason, that he needed a break. He eluded to it many times in interiew.

I would have happily kept Coppell as long as he wanted the job but, IMHO, he didn't want it indefinately and, one way or another, that transmitted itself to the players and resulted in a loss of....respect isn't the right word but a loss of Coppell being someone in complete control of the team's future.

With regard to the second point, firstly, I wouldn't believe everything the club tells you, IMHO, they tell you what the want to and nothing else, your being naive if you feel they are totally frank with you. Secondly, I would imagine the more demanding applicants never made it to interview.

That is fair enough but you did state that both were correct not opinion, which is what you are now saying.

[Big Foot]

Of course, by this summer EVERYONE with half a brain was predicting a big struggle and our lowest placed finish in a long time.

Elsewhere you said...

Thirdly I would say Rodgers wasn't the right man to appoint. We needed to get a manager with a stronger presence and greater man management experience, especially as Madejski knew this was going to be a "transitional period" and with such a young squad, heads would drop very easily. I'm not saying Barry Fry was the man for the job! But Rodgers has shown his poor man management skills in his handling of Harper & Matejovsky (to a lesser extent) as well as not being able to pick a consistent side.

Easy to say with hindsight. Most our fans were extremely positive about Rodgers joining.

So which one is your ACTUAL opinion? Or are you just trying to follow the status quo and disagree with RL, Schards and anyone else speaking out against the club.

How many home games do you actually have to sit through? How many minutes of league football of Rodgers' have you seen to form an opinion?

[Ian Royal]

Neither of those statements are mutually exclusive.

You can be extremely positive about the new manager, whilst expecting a hard season in lower mid-table, which would be our worst finish in years.

I've seen four games, three at home. Oh and neither of those specifically state they were my opinion.

My opinion was we'd start poorly struggling to pick up results whilst the tactics and team bedded in but we'd have a strong middle season before fading a little. Finishing roughly 12 - 16.

I was very positive about Rodgers to start with, what little experience he had showed him in a positive light. He was obviously familiar with the club and the players. He seemed to have a strategy and being extremely positive and forward thinking.

I started having doubts once the Tommy Smith saga began. I am now increasingly pissed off with him and think he may have been a large mistake. But he still has time to win me back round if he can start picking up a few results. I'm happy to give him all season + 10 - 15 games next season, if I think we're fairly safe from being relegated. Which currently I don't think is the case.

Hence why I've been saying since P'boro or earlier, that we need to get rid of him by December if we're going to and want the new manager to have a chance to turn us around.

[The Quiet Man]

Disillusionment with Rodgers as follows:

1 the Smith transfer - its not the way our club normally does business and then to find you never had the money to back it up anyway - poor
2 the panic dumping of first team players - couldn't you and hapless hammond have done this in 'real' pre season if it needed to be done
3 the statement that the first 5 games were pre season - funny that the club never refunded my season ticket for these extra friendlies we were playing at home
4 having started shakily you get your first win at Barnsley there are signs of some gelling of the team at the end of "pre season" you then go out and acquire another 4 players (third of a team) and presumably we start second "pre season" while these bed in which the manjority have yet to do
5 Before the Peterborough game you tell the local paper you still don't know your best team - no shit Sherlock, you, me and probably everyone but Royalee don't have an idea of your best team

I have some sympathy for the loss of Smith because he would have been the player IMHO who would have seen us in mid table bickering over direction rather than hovering above the bottom 3, but you have severely tested my and others patience with the rest of your public statements and your constant chopping and changing - you now must know this season is about survival first and world class models, groups, mentalities and any other coaching b*llocks you may care to serve up are a distinct second - you still have the time to avoid becoming a second Tommy Burns but not much time.

[juanpablo]

you called it dude but i still got the xmas dinner

[rhroyal]

After your original "dull and uninspiring mid table" post you were proved wrong as we made the playoffs and just missed out on promotion.

Whilst mathematically that was the case, 4 wins from our last 17 games is a decent enough represenation of what Schards forsaw. Our 4th place finish owed more to the poor form of the other clubs around us.

I thought our 4th place finish was owed to 77 points or so. If we match that this season we could very well finish 4th again.

[rhroyal]

Just describing what I see from your posts.

You're doing a pretty good job of making yourself look like an idiot on at least one thread on here today. I'm just helping.

"FOR the forseeable future" I disagree it was dull and uninspiring. It was also about a club in totally different circumstances to those we're in now and aimed quite obviously at Coppell at least in part.

I haven't been to three games and I don't consider myself the mouthpiece of the club. Just showing more of your ignorance there RL.

Ian, with all due respect (which is more than you show others), you haven't got a clue.

I never wanted Coppell to go, I just felt his heart wasn't in it (correct), that whatever happened he would go at the end of the season (correct), that this would effect the team, (eventually correct), that when he left it would be hard to get a decent replacement as SJM wanted to sell and wouldn't pay for a top manager (correct) and that, for the same reason, we would be weakened by sales inadequately replaced on the cheap (correct) therefore, it would get a lot more dull and uninspiring, (indisputable) and we'd better prepare for mid table football at best, (now looking optismistic.

You can go on arguing that black is white or you could just accept this the original post proved accurate, I don't really care tbh, the facts will still be speaking for themselves.

Credit to you Schards2#, you've been broadly correct. I say that as someone who agreed with you hoping at the same time that you were wrong. You did get some details wrong though, mostly regarding timing eg expecting the fire sale to happen last season rather than this. And despite the post-Xmas decline I thoroughly enjoyed last season (bearing in mind that most seasons end in disappointment of some form). And after all we were just a swing of 2 goals in the Brum game away from a totally different story this season. It seems slightly self-regarding, therefore, to create a thread such as this purely for your own self-justification. Shall we move on and discuss where we think the club should go from here instead? It would be far less likely to end in flame wars.

+ 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001

[Alan Partridge]

Disillusionment with Rodgers as follows:

1 the Smith transfer - its not the way our club normally does business and then to find you never had the money to back it up anyway - poor
2 the panic dumping of first team players - couldn't you and hapless hammond have done this in 'real' pre season if it needed to be done
3 the statement that the first 5 games were pre season - funny that the club never refunded my season ticket for these extra friendlies we were playing at home
4 having started shakily you get your first win at Barnsley there are signs of some gelling of the team at the end of "pre season" you then go out and acquire another 4 players (third of a team) and presumably we start second "pre season" while these bed in which the manjority have yet to do
5 Before the Peterborough game you tell the local paper you still don't know your best team - no shit Sherlock, you, me and probably everyone but Royalee don't have an idea of your best team

I have some sympathy for the loss of Smith because he would have been the player IMHO who would have seen us in mid table bickering over direction rather than hovering above the bottom 3, but you have severely tested my and others patience with the rest of your public statements and your constant chopping and changing - you now must know this season is about survival first and world class models, groups, mentalities and any other coaching b*llocks you may care to serve up are a distinct second - you still have the time to avoid becoming a second Tommy Burns but not much time.

Only just seen this post but all you needed to add was his 4billion references of the most loathsome club in the country and you'd have him to a tee.

Otherwise spot on.