Hob Nob Anyone?

Orion1871 wrote: ↑26 May 2026 15:46

WestYorksRoyal wrote: ↑26 May 2026 15:33

Orion1871 wrote: ↑26 May 2026 15:22

I don't think we will sign Keane himself, but that's the sort of profile of player a midtable league 1 club like us will have to be targeting. Experienced with not a lot of competition from other clubs for signing.

Like it or not anyone 25 and under is more likely to sign with a club just down from the Championship, or competing at the top of this league for the last few years, than with a club like Reading.

Unfortunately there are more attractive propositions for players like Lisbie than Reading. Sadly that includes old three stands oxf*rd.

I would remind you we signed Benn Ward and Hayden Roberts in January, both of whom are <25 and have plenty of room to develop. Perhaps we have just decided not to get into a bidding war over Lisbie.

We wouldn't win a bidding war for Lisbie, so that is sensible not to get involved in one. As I said, clubs like oxf*rd are more attractive propositions than us, so once they are getting involved it is more likely/means we are out of the running.

The competition for Ward was Wigan, who have been in an even worse position than us, if a team higher up than us like Cardiff or Bolton had wanted him then he wouldn't be here. As for Roberts, I don't remember there being a lot of competition for that one, but maybe you remember better.

We've seen the good times of Reading FC, there was a chance to kick on as Brentford and Brighton have done but we didn't take it, and now we are back to our level.

Tend to agree - think of the poor supporters who started following after WW2 - nothing happend until relegation to Div 4 in 1971 - 25 consectuve years in Div 3. Unless we make the break upwards soon - Couhig has a bit of a rethink to do !

Millsy wrote: ↑26 May 2026 14:58 Agreed. In Rob we trust.

We or you?

Orion1871 wrote: ↑26 May 2026 15:46

WestYorksRoyal wrote: ↑26 May 2026 15:33

Orion1871 wrote: ↑26 May 2026 15:22

I don't think we will sign Keane himself, but that's the sort of profile of player a midtable league 1 club like us will have to be targeting. Experienced with not a lot of competition from other clubs for signing.

Like it or not anyone 25 and under is more likely to sign with a club just down from the Championship, or competing at the top of this league for the last few years, than with a club like Reading.

Unfortunately there are more attractive propositions for players like Lisbie than Reading. Sadly that includes old three stands oxf*rd.

I would remind you we signed Benn Ward and Hayden Roberts in January, both of whom are <25 and have plenty of room to develop. Perhaps we have just decided not to get into a bidding war over Lisbie.

We wouldn't win a bidding war for Lisbie, so that is sensible not to get involved in one. As I said, clubs like oxf*rd, having just come down from the Championship, are (sadly) more attractive propositions than us, so once they are getting involved it is more likely/means we are out of the running.

The competition for Ward was Wigan, who have been in an even worse position than us, if a team higher up than us like Cardiff or Bolton had wanted him then he wouldn't be here. As for Roberts, I don't remember there being a lot of competition for that one, but maybe you remember better.

We've seen the good times of Reading FC, there was a chance to kick on as Brentford and Brighton have done but we didn't take it, and now we are back to our level.

And don't we know it

MR. CYNICAL wrote: ↑26 May 2026 17:19

Millsy wrote: ↑26 May 2026 14:58 Agreed. In Rob we trust.

We or you?

In Rob you trust?

MR. CYNICAL wrote: ↑26 May 2026 17:19

Millsy wrote: ↑26 May 2026 14:58 Agreed. In Rob we trust.

We or you?

Royal we.

nailseabiscuitman wrote: ↑26 May 2026 17:07 Colchester fans seem quite keen to see him gone, citing his attitude.

Attitude issues are always a concern.

Regardless, there should be good alternatives out there where we don't have to pay a significant (or any) transfer fee.

Orion1871 wrote: ↑26 May 2026 15:46

WestYorksRoyal wrote: ↑26 May 2026 15:33

Orion1871 wrote: ↑26 May 2026 15:22

I don't think we will sign Keane himself, but that's the sort of profile of player a midtable league 1 club like us will have to be targeting. Experienced with not a lot of competition from other clubs for signing.

Like it or not anyone 25 and under is more likely to sign with a club just down from the Championship, or competing at the top of this league for the last few years, than with a club like Reading.

Unfortunately there are more attractive propositions for players like Lisbie than Reading. Sadly that includes old three stands oxf*rd.

I would remind you we signed Benn Ward and Hayden Roberts in January, both of whom are <25 and have plenty of room to develop. Perhaps we have just decided not to get into a bidding war over Lisbie.

We wouldn't win a bidding war for Lisbie, so that is sensible not to get involved in one. As I said, clubs like oxf*rd, having just come down from the Championship, are (sadly) more attractive propositions than us, so once they are getting involved it is more likely/means we are out of the running.

The competition for Ward was Wigan, who have been in an even worse position than us, if a team higher up than us like Cardiff or Bolton had wanted him then he wouldn't be here. As for Roberts, I don't remember there being a lot of competition for that one, but maybe you remember better.

We've seen the good times of Reading FC, there was a chance to kick on as Brentford and Brighton have done but we didn't take it, and now we are back to our level.

Clubs don't have "levels", they have ranges. You could try to rank clubs in size from 1 to 92 and then say who's "level" is what, but it would be so subjective and would use spurious differences to separate us from the likes of Swansea, QPR and Charlton, for example.

Right now, we're going into our 4th consecutive L1 season, we haven't seriously challenged the top 6 in our first 3, attendances are low and there's not much confidence in the squad or management. So right now, it's fair to say we're definitely a L1 club.

But a couple of good windows, a better season that brings fans back etc., and it can be reversed quickly. And worst case, I don't see these owners sticking around long if they don't turn it around. They'll sell and let someone else have a go, who may then get us climbing again.

So we're firmly in our range; we're not a massive club well below where we should be like Spurs in the Championship would have been. But we still have the infrastructure and potential fanbase to be better, and we should aspire to do so.

While I'm not sure Lisbie is the answer, the club could really do with a marquee signing to get optimism up a bit.

tidus_mi2 wrote: ↑26 May 2026 21:07 While I'm not sure Lisbie is the answer, the club could really do with a marquee signing to get optimism up a bit.

I don’t see someone from league 2 as a marquee signing that will get fans sending the box office into meltdown wanting season tickets.
I mean he’s not even that good in league 2.

It amazes me that last time we were at this level under JMs chairmanship we were signing players like Murty, Curo, Butler and Forster.
Now people are wetting themselves over some nobody from Colchester.
Though saying that we did have a decent manager in Pards unlike the clown we’re stuck with now.

Marcel wrote: ↑27 May 2026 08:28 It amazes me that last time we were at this level under JMs chairmanship we were signing players like Murty, Curo, Butler and Forster.
Now people are wetting themselves over some nobody from Colchester.
Though saying that we did have a decent manager in Pards unlike the clown we’re stuck with now.

Agree, but easier to attract the top L1 players back then; we were the big fish in the pond with one of the first new grounds etc and SJM had the cash back then.

As an aside, pretty sure Murty and Forster were signed by Tommy Burns?

Mid Sussex Royal wrote: ↑27 May 2026 09:13

Marcel wrote: ↑27 May 2026 08:28 It amazes me that last time we were at this level under JMs chairmanship we were signing players like Murty, Curo, Butler and Forster.
Now people are wetting themselves over some nobody from Colchester.
Though saying that we did have a decent manager in Pards unlike the clown we’re stuck with now.

Agree, but easier to attract the top L1 players back then; we were the big fish in the pond with one of the first new grounds etc and SJM had the cash back then.

As an aside, pretty sure Murty and Forster were signed by Tommy Burns?

Yes that maybe the case but they still chose Reading.

I suspect the budget we had under SJM, which was the biggest in the league at the time, would just be middling L1 losses now.

Looking at who has gone up automatically in the past few years, Birmingham and Wrexham blew everyone's out of the water financially. Lincoln were low spenders who were just smarter than everyone. Then Cardiff, Portsmouth and Derby are of similar size to us but I expect spent a bit more. Then play off winners like Charlton and Bolton had decent budgets too.

We should be able to replicate most of these with the right decision making, with Birmingham and Wrexham being the exceptions. But 7 or 8 teams will be saying the same, whether slightly larger clubs or smaller ones with ambitious budgets like Stockport.

WestYorksRoyal wrote: ↑27 May 2026 10:15 I suspect the budget we had under SJM, which was the biggest in the league at the time, would just be middling L1 losses now.

Looking at who has gone up automatically in the past few years, Birmingham and Wrexham blew everyone's out of the water financially. Lincoln were low spenders who were just smarter than everyone. Then Cardiff, Portsmouth and Derby are of similar size to us but I expect spent a bit more. Then play off winners like Charlton and Bolton had decent budgets too.

We should be able to replicate most of these with the right decision making, with Birmingham and Wrexham being the exceptions. But 7 or 8 teams will be saying the same, whether slightly larger clubs or smaller ones with ambitious budgets like Stockport.

What about Oxford when they went up?

WestYorksRoyal wrote: ↑27 May 2026 10:15 I suspect the budget we had under SJM, which was the biggest in the league at the time, would just be middling L1 losses now.

Looking at who has gone up automatically in the past few years, Birmingham and Wrexham blew everyone's out of the water financially. Lincoln were low spenders who were just smarter than everyone. Then Cardiff, Portsmouth and Derby are of similar size to us but I expect spent a bit more. Then play off winners like Charlton and Bolton had decent budgets too.

We should be able to replicate most of these with the right decision making, with Birmingham and Wrexham being the exceptions. But 7 or 8 teams will be saying the same, whether slightly larger clubs or smaller ones with ambitious budgets like Stockport.

I'd say Cardiff, Portsmouth and Derby are bigger than us, they certainly have a bigger fan base.

Marcel wrote: ↑27 May 2026 09:31

Mid Sussex Royal wrote: ↑27 May 2026 09:13

Marcel wrote: ↑27 May 2026 08:28 It amazes me that last time we were at this level under JMs chairmanship we were signing players like Murty, Curo, Butler and Forster.
Now people are wetting themselves over some nobody from Colchester.
Though saying that we did have a decent manager in Pards unlike the clown we’re stuck with now.

Agree, but easier to attract the top L1 players back then; we were the big fish in the pond with one of the first new grounds etc and SJM had the cash back then.

As an aside, pretty sure Murty and Forster were signed by Tommy Burns?

Yes that maybe the case but they still chose Reading.

Similar to Stockport, smaller club with an ambitious budget. They gave Brannagan a new contract most L1 clubs wouldn't be able to afford.

WestYorksRoyal wrote: ↑27 May 2026 10:47

Marcel wrote: ↑27 May 2026 09:31

Mid Sussex Royal wrote: ↑27 May 2026 09:13

Agree, but easier to attract the top L1 players back then; we were the big fish in the pond with one of the first new grounds etc and SJM had the cash back then.

As an aside, pretty sure Murty and Forster were signed by Tommy Burns?

Yes that maybe the case but they still chose Reading.

Similar to Stockport, smaller club with an ambitious budget. They gave Brannagan a new contract most L1 clubs wouldn't be able to afford.

Players will still choose Reading over a myriad of equally mired clubs. And a nobody he might currently be at the moment but so were Dave Kitson and Kevin Doyle at one point - and also every player just starting out.

Yes it was easier back in 2000 but in those days 750k was really serious money that barely anyone in the bottom 2 divisions could get anywhere near. Nowadays it’s pretty much a fee available to everyone so the club has to be able to sell itself and “the project” to convince players. Hope they have that charismatic “seller” in these dealings.

Clyde1998 wrote: ↑26 May 2026 18:02

nailseabiscuitman wrote: ↑26 May 2026 17:07 Colchester fans seem quite keen to see him gone, citing his attitude.

Attitude issues are always a concern.

Regardless, there should be good alternatives out there where we don't have to pay a significant (or any) transfer fee.

The late, great Bill Shankly always said that anybody can see whether a player is any good but the important thing is to know more about the man.
I think Wenger said more or less the same and those 2 managers did quite well didn't they?

Mid Sussex Royal wrote: ↑27 May 2026 09:13

Marcel wrote: ↑27 May 2026 08:28 It amazes me that last time we were at this level under JMs chairmanship we were signing players like Murty, Curo, Butler and Forster.
Now people are wetting themselves over some nobody from Colchester.
Though saying that we did have a decent manager in Pards unlike the clown we’re stuck with now.

Agree, but easier to attract the top L1 players back then; we were the big fish in the pond with one of the first new grounds etc and SJM had the cash back then.

As an aside, pretty sure Murty and Forster were signed by Tommy Burns?

I'm not sure Tommy Burns survived for long enough after the Magnificent Seven to sign either of them.

Interestingly we paid £700K (when we finally coughed it all up) for Murty back in 1998. 28 years and insane transfer fee inflation later and it seems a budget of £750K for a player is likely to be an issue for our current owners!

Oh, and when we signed Murty he arrived 'broken' and took some time to fix!

To be fair, we were financially sound and stable when signed the likes of Murty, Butler et al whereas now we're quite screwed and the club needs a hell of a lot of fixing. I'd rather funds go into sorting out the infrastructure (aren't they spending millions on club improvements already), stabilising accounts etc. Apples and oranges situation.

And it's not fair to point out good expensive purchases like Murty without also pointing to awful expensive purchases. Or even more importantly good cheap purchases (Doyle, Long, Kitson etc). It's not liek there's an easy linear relationship between money spent and quality gained.

I criticised JM heaviily for not spending enough but older and wiser now I've gone the other way and prefer infrastructure, stability, and love Rob's approach of looking for relative bargains.

Sure, spend big if you just need one or two pieces of a jigsaw on the backdrop of a stable club. But a club as screwed as ours needing huge input in all areas on and off the pitch, I'm quite happy with a more cautious approach. We don't want another Dai do we.