Early expectations for next season

[Royal_jimmy]

Interesting to see everyone's takes here and the arguments why.

We will lose Bindon, we may even lose Savage but my expectations for us under 'normal' times should always be the top 6 in league one. Anything below that and it's a poor season. We have one of the clubs with the most potential in the division + with our stadium and training facilities we'll always be attractive to clubs for loaning their players out and signing good hungry players on free transfers.

If we can keep all the players together (maybe sell Garcia), resign most of the out of contract players whilst bringing in a few wise signings I don't see why we can't be in the mix for automatic promotion. One area for the team that I hope Noel Hunt finds a solution to is how we win matches against sides who come to our ground for a 0-0 - as results like Shrewsbury and Exeter at home cost us a playoff spot.

Out of the sides who got promoted I only see Bradford doing well. From the relegated sides Cardiff are a huge mess and Luton need a rebuild leaving only Plymouth who I think will be a force next season. If Charlton win the playoffs then I don't see Stockport, Wycombe and Leyton Orient doing so well again next season. Rotherham, Wigan, Barnsley and Peterborough could all be better next season though.

[RG30]

Having watched 2 years of this dross league the conclusion I have is the bad teams are really bad and the good teams are quite good. Anything less than top 6 has to be seen as a failure.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

League 1 is a money pit....

The only way to have any hope of selling the club at a profit is to get promoted....

Anything less is just an increasing debt burden....

Promotion has to be the aim from the get go with the investment to get there...

[tidus_mi2]

Interesting to see everyone's takes here and the arguments why.

We will lose Bindon, we may even lose Savage but my expectations for us under 'normal' times should always be the top 6 in league one. Anything below that and it's a poor season. We have one of the clubs with the most potential in the division + with our stadium and training facilities we'll always be attractive to clubs for loaning their players out and signing good hungry players on free transfers.

If we can keep all the players together (maybe sell Garcia), resign most of the out of contract players whilst bringing in a few wise signings I don't see why we can't be in the mix for automatic promotion. One area for the team that I hope Noel Hunt finds a solution to is how we win matches against sides who come to our ground for a 0-0 - as results like Shrewsbury and Exeter at home cost us a playoff spot.

Out of the sides who got promoted I only see Bradford doing well. From the relegated sides Cardiff are a huge mess and Luton need a rebuild leaving only Plymouth who I think will be a force next season. If Charlton win the playoffs then I don't see Stockport, Wycombe and Leyton Orient doing so well again next season. Rotherham, Wigan, Barnsley and Peterborough could all be better next season though.

Good point about loans, something we have really missed out on with the constant embargoes, Orient really benefitted from the loan system this season.

[parky]

This is very early, but expectations need to be managed, i think everyone agreed that the team overachieved last season and therefore we need not be judging them based on what was achieved this season. With the budget and the financial pressures this club will still be under even with new owners, we need to be realisitic. Anything above the bottom 4 should be seen as a good season.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Anything less than upper mid table would not be good enough.

Top six should be the aim. The re-build has to be done with this in mind.

Automatic would exceed expectations.

Some other expectations for next season:

Season ticket prices will increase.

The pitch should get more TLC.

The PA will not get upgraded.

The roller disco will not get built.

And if they replace Heineken with Moretti, I shall be royally (pun intended) ticked off.

[Snowflake Royal]

The only thing I'm expecting with any real confidence at this stage is Ian Royal. That's a given.

This too shall one day pass.

[Jackson Corner]

Mid table at best. A complete re build. With so many players leaving, out of contract.

[Snowflake Royal]

Mid table at best. A complete re build. With so many players leaving, out of contract.

Glad to see the recent takeover news hasn't changed you Eyeore

[Royal_jimmy]

Let's ask this question again at the end of July when we know who's staying and who we've signed

[tidus_mi2]

Let's ask this question again at the end of July when we know who's staying and who we've signed

It would be interesting to see whether people are more or less optimistic than at this point in time.

[Meatwad]

The main key was to get Dai gone and now with that being done, our future is something to actually look forward too and not dread. However, as others have said and I concur: We need to temper our expectations a bit under this new regime. This season we overperformed a bit and next season is not going to be easy with the likes of Stockport imo probably being an early title favorite and rebuilding, Plymouth coming down and I am sure being right up there also, whomever loses at Wembley between Orient and Charlton, etc.

Couhig is a shrewd businessman and I think is sincere in what he is saying but no he is not one who is going to overly stretch himself financially either. That is fine though as I think we have shown to be a good destination for loan players and I think we need to hit the loan market hard.

On the poll, I voted upper half of the table but I do think it is not totally out of the realm of possibility to be around the playoffs again if we can the get majority of guys re-signed and have a good window.

[Sutekh]

Expecting a sale of a player but not for a £twatamount.

Hoping that player would be Garcia.

Expecting a striker and left back to arrive along with a spare keeper.

Hoping Brian Carey has a magic box of persuasion spells still left over after wangling the likes of Elliott and Savage.

[Snowflake Royal]

Expecting a sale of a player but not for a £twatamount.

Hoping that player would be Garcia.

Expecting a striker and left back to arrive along with a spare keeper.

Hoping Brian Carey has a magic box of persuasion spells still left over after wangling the likes of Elliott and Savage.

Who was it we were lining upwhen Dai pulled the funding - we lost out on a couple of rumoured players with the confusion and on again off again embargos didn't we?

[Royal_jimmy]

The main key was to get Dai gone and now with that being done, our future is something to actually look forward too and not dread. However, as others have said and I concur: We need to temper our expectations a bit under this new regime. This season we overperformed a bit and next season is not going to be easy with the likes of Stockport imo probably being an early title favorite and rebuilding, Plymouth coming down and I am sure being right up there also, whomever loses at Wembley between Orient and Charlton, etc.

Couhig is a shrewd businessman and I think is sincere in what he is saying but no he is not one who is going to overly stretch himself financially either. That is fine though as I think we have shown to be a good destination for loan players and I think we need to hit the loan market hard.

On the poll, I voted upper half of the table but I do think it is not totally out of the realm of possibility to be around the playoffs again if we can the get majority of guys re-signed and have a good window.

The important thing is we can all concentrate supporting the lads next season rather than worrying if we'll have a club.

Interesting to hear your point about Stockport, you may be correct but I would imagine they'll find it tougher next season with second season syndrome + clubs in this league will be more wary of them. Norwood also isn't getting to younger. I wouldn't be surprised if they start slowly next season.

[Sutekh]

Rob calls for community…

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/spor ... g-fanbase/

[Forbury Lion]

I would expect all of the out of contract players the manager wishes to remain at the club would be offered a contract paying a fair League One rate for their experience and worth.
I believe transfers will be free signings to replace any players who decide not to sign up and maybe an experienced striker to replace Sam Smith and maybe a defender to replace Tyler Bindon, assuming we can't get him back on loan (seems unlikely, I imagine any loan he makes will be to the Championship). Maybe Nelson Abbey on loan? - It was rumoured last season.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I guess expectations is a spectrum. I think we should be capable of top 6, but if we're top half and playing encouraging football which suggests we can improve next year, Hunt's not under any real pressure in my view. If we're bottom half playing dreary football then he needs to start worrying for his job.

[Snowflake Royal]

I guess expectations is a spectrum. I think we should be capable of top 6, but if we're top half and playing encouraging football which suggests we can improve next year, Hunt's not under any real pressure in my view. If we're bottom half playing dreary football then he needs to start worrying for his job.

I guess it also depends on how quickly Couhig needs us up... 2 seasons and in your latter example Hunt is in trouble as you say. 5 seasons and he might get another summer and start.

[MartinRdg]

I guess expectations is a spectrum. I think we should be capable of top 6, but if we're top half and playing encouraging football which suggests we can improve next year, Hunt's not under any real pressure in my view. If we're bottom half playing dreary football then he needs to start worrying for his job.

I guess it also depends on how quickly Couhig needs us up... 2 seasons and in your latter example Hunt is in trouble as you say. 5 seasons and he might get another summer and start.

At RC's age, I would expect it to be a 5 year plan for RFC. He would hope to get promoted within 2 seasons and then become established in the Championship and, hopefully be promoted to the Premiership. He would then look to sell either as a mid-table championship team or a premiership team.