New Owners - Redwood Watch

[stealthpapes]

I was getting very frustrated with the lack of ambition in the transfer market. Seeing our best players leave for small fees or nothing at all. These frustrations have eased this week by readjusting my expectations under the realisation of what has been the primary cause. I held on to this notion that we are a good championship side. Threatening to reach the premier league if the wind direction was favourable. But, that was who we were. We are now Wycombe. Run by Wycombe people, to Wycombe budgets with Wycombe expectations. The players we are bringing in are Wycombe signings. Brought by Wycombe people on Wycombe wages. We will be exactly were we are in five years time. Generating enough revenue through the fans and player sales to fund more Wycombe signings. Do it. Breathe in the Wycombeness of it all. Let it wash over you in waves of gratitude for even having a club. Enjoy the cold beers of mediocrity. Wash down the hot dogs of gratitude as our player budget goes up in flames and fireworks. Be excited as relegated Crawley guy plays out of his skin to become an absolutely believable player that consigns Elliot to the bench, and hopefully a move before the window closes. The thrill of signing the guy from Swindon we had a look at 15 years ago as back up for Jobi and Kebe. See it, live it and love the Wycombedetude of it all, and it will be OK.

Amazing.

[Orion1871]

I was getting very frustrated with the lack of ambition in the transfer market. Seeing our best players leave for small fees or nothing at all. These frustrations have eased this week by readjusting my expectations under the realisation of what has been the primary cause. I held on to this notion that we are a good championship side. Threatening to reach the premier league if the wind direction was favourable. But, that was who we were. We are now Wycombe. Run by Wycombe people, to Wycombe budgets with Wycombe expectations. The players we are bringing in are Wycombe signings. Brought by Wycombe people on Wycombe wages. We will be exactly were we are in five years time. Generating enough revenue through the fans and player sales to fund more Wycombe signings. Do it. Breathe in the Wycombeness of it all. Let it wash over you in waves of gratitude for even having a club. Enjoy the cold beers of mediocrity. Wash down the hot dogs of gratitude as our player budget goes up in flames and fireworks. Be excited as relegated Crawley guy plays out of his skin to become an absolutely believable player that consigns Elliot to the bench, and hopefully a move before the window closes. The thrill of signing the guy from Swindon we had a look at 15 years ago as back up for Jobi and Kebe. See it, live it and love the Wycombedetude of it all, and it will be OK.

+1

[RoyalBlue]

The two are similar but there are significant differences.
Sir John built infrastructure first and foremost. The modern and appropriately sized stadium. The conference centre, hotel and Academy. These things were there to give us a financial advantage at the time. The more money they brought in, the less money he would have to put in. All of the time, the asset value of the club increased. He was willing to invest money in emerging talents and in players who had significant potential. As they gained experience and improved, they would naturally elevate the performance levels of the team. There were more successes than failures here, due in the main to diligence and ability of those who sought them out and coached them. The Cat 1 academy gives us an advantage over other clubs in our ability to recruit and nurture our own talented players. Which has proved to be one of the most important assets we have had over the last three years. This will only continue to get better with time, with the right stewardship.

Wycombe on the other hand lived within their means and have not developed or grown at all over the last ten years. They are still playing in front of 5500 fans in the same stadium and still without an adequate training ground and facilities that will take them to another level. There is nothing wrong with that, it is who they are. A good community club existing in their own sphere.

We are different. The infrastructure is there. The potential is there. The Wycombe model, wedded now to Sir John’s, will most likely be one that sees us in the upper reaches of league one. I would imagine that this would eventually lead to promotion. But, what happens after that, who knows. The gap between the Championship and the Premier league is a chasm compared to the one we stepped across last time.

I think you've just answered your own question from earlier. There isn't a 'Wycombe model' as such, that was a team living within their own means and still being fairly successful whilst doing it. Couhig knew he didn't have the money to invest in the infrastructure needed, so he sold the club to a billionaire. Had Wycombe managed to stay in the Championship for one season longer and given Lomatadze the time needed to invest, they might still be there.

With Reading, as you've just eloquently explained, you have a club that can live within its means and operate at a higher level than Wycombe, owning to our relative size, fan base and cat 1 academy. Sir John took us from a small club with a history in the lower divisions and aging infrastructure, to a medium sized club, with modern infrastructure and established us as a tier 2 club - with a couple of flirtations in the Premier League. We had a golden opportunity there, but missed out, it happens. But nevertheless, Madejski was fantastic for us.

I think it's already being forgotten a little bit, just how much damage Dai did to the club. We took a hard hit and have dropped down a level as a result and it could have been far worse. It will take more than 1 transfer window (which is still open!) to get us back up to the Championship. And when we do get back up, Couhig will need investors ready to pull the trigger to keep us there and move us forwards again.

I think he's learnt his lesson a little bit in that respect, we have Aliya already on board and another about to join too.

I'm fairly comfortable with Redwood so far, despite my initial concerns. I can look past the over-enthusiasm, give them the time needed to make a difference and judge them at the end of the season.

There is a Wycombe model. It is one that lacks the financial investment in the acquisition of the best young players with potential to grow, along with their value. It manages financial risk by simply not taking them.

I'd like us to follow the Brentford model! How the f*ck did they achieve what they have and, IIRC, it certainly wasn't by their owner spending big, at least in the early days.

[Snowflake Royal]

I think you've just answered your own question from earlier. There isn't a 'Wycombe model' as such, that was a team living within their own means and still being fairly successful whilst doing it. Couhig knew he didn't have the money to invest in the infrastructure needed, so he sold the club to a billionaire. Had Wycombe managed to stay in the Championship for one season longer and given Lomatadze the time needed to invest, they might still be there.

With Reading, as you've just eloquently explained, you have a club that can live within its means and operate at a higher level than Wycombe, owning to our relative size, fan base and cat 1 academy. Sir John took us from a small club with a history in the lower divisions and aging infrastructure, to a medium sized club, with modern infrastructure and established us as a tier 2 club - with a couple of flirtations in the Premier League. We had a golden opportunity there, but missed out, it happens. But nevertheless, Madejski was fantastic for us.

I think it's already being forgotten a little bit, just how much damage Dai did to the club. We took a hard hit and have dropped down a level as a result and it could have been far worse. It will take more than 1 transfer window (which is still open!) to get us back up to the Championship. And when we do get back up, Couhig will need investors ready to pull the trigger to keep us there and move us forwards again.

I think he's learnt his lesson a little bit in that respect, we have Aliya already on board and another about to join too.

I'm fairly comfortable with Redwood so far, despite my initial concerns. I can look past the over-enthusiasm, give them the time needed to make a difference and judge them at the end of the season.

There is a Wycombe model. It is one that lacks the financial investment in the acquisition of the best young players with potential to grow, along with their value. It manages financial risk by simply not taking them.

I'd like us to follow the Brentford model! How the f*ck did they achieve what they have and, IIRC, it certainly wasn't by their owner spending big, at least in the early days.

They scouted untapped markets thoroughly, brought in unknown quality cheaply, and then sold it for a permium when it was proven quality.

10-15 years on, there are fewer untapped markets, and they're harder to access (here) because of Brexit.

[Whore Jackie]

Disappointed that the owners haven't reciprocated Port Vale's pricing for our match there in February, for the forthcoming home match.

https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/ticket-and-travel-information-reading

[West F]

I think you've just answered your own question from earlier. There isn't a 'Wycombe model' as such, that was a team living within their own means and still being fairly successful whilst doing it. Couhig knew he didn't have the money to invest in the infrastructure needed, so he sold the club to a billionaire. Had Wycombe managed to stay in the Championship for one season longer and given Lomatadze the time needed to invest, they might still be there.

With Reading, as you've just eloquently explained, you have a club that can live within its means and operate at a higher level than Wycombe, owning to our relative size, fan base and cat 1 academy. Sir John took us from a small club with a history in the lower divisions and aging infrastructure, to a medium sized club, with modern infrastructure and established us as a tier 2 club - with a couple of flirtations in the Premier League. We had a golden opportunity there, but missed out, it happens. But nevertheless, Madejski was fantastic for us.

I think it's already being forgotten a little bit, just how much damage Dai did to the club. We took a hard hit and have dropped down a level as a result and it could have been far worse. It will take more than 1 transfer window (which is still open!) to get us back up to the Championship. And when we do get back up, Couhig will need investors ready to pull the trigger to keep us there and move us forwards again.

I think he's learnt his lesson a little bit in that respect, we have Aliya already on board and another about to join too.

I'm fairly comfortable with Redwood so far, despite my initial concerns. I can look past the over-enthusiasm, give them the time needed to make a difference and judge them at the end of the season.

There is a Wycombe model. It is one that lacks the financial investment in the acquisition of the best young players with potential to grow, along with their value. It manages financial risk by simply not taking them.

I'd like us to follow the Brentford model! How the f*ck did they achieve what they have and, IIRC, it certainly wasn't by their owner spending big, at least in the early days.

There is no Brentford model. What there is, is the Reading model that clubs like Brentford and Brighton have adopted and adapted through the implementation of new technologies and data analytics. Believe it or not, there was a time when Reading used innovation to develop advantages over other sides. It was more effective than what followed. Which was asset splitting and player sales to try and raise cash. Then what amounted to gambling for success by increasingly chasing losses. Which, as has been demonstrated, almost collapsed the house that John built. Can effective scouting and recruitment still work? Yes, even if there are no untapped wells left. You can still have an advantage over your peers at any time through being intelligent, shrewd and sticking to the plan.

[PremAddict]

There is a Wycombe model. It is one that lacks the financial investment in the acquisition of the best young players with potential to grow, along with their value. It manages financial risk by simply not taking them.

I'd like us to follow the Brentford model! How the f*ck did they achieve what they have and, IIRC, it certainly wasn't by their owner spending big, at least in the early days.

There is no Brentford model. What there is, is the Reading model that clubs like Brentford and Brighton have adopted and adapted through the implementation of new technologies and data analytics. Believe it or not, there was a time when Reading used innovation to develop advantages over other sides. It was more effective than what followed. Which was asset splitting and player sales to try and raise cash. Then what amounted to gambling for success by increasingly chasing losses. Which, as has been demonstrated, almost collapsed the house that John built. Can effective scouting and recruitment still work? Yes, even if there are no untapped wells left. You can still have an advantage over your peers at any time through being intelligent, shrewd and sticking to the plan.

Agreed and the days of a club having a "moneyball advantage" I think are over for the most part. With today's sports, it's all about recruitment and selling the story. RFC is a sell-on club, a waypoint for young, talented players to prove and establish themselves and we have a great story and infrastructure to back it up. Money is part of it but getting regular football and having a Cat1 academy are the keys to our success. RC was drooling over our academy setup. I'd happily settle for a team of Michael Olise's that stay for 2-3 years and move on.

[Brogue]

Almost feels like a response to some of the most recent discussions on this thread....

Appreciate the time and trouble to address these items, including the 'tightrope' of hype vs. reality at the start of the window....

One item that JJ mentioned that ppl often forget is the cost off add ons - he mentioned a 30-40% on cost vs basic salary - so £1 of salary equates to £1.35 on the wage bill.

(Also, feels like a bit of pitch rolling in case results don't pick up....)

If results don’t pick up, the only thing rolling will be Noel’s head.

I feel for your missus with premature you are.

Yes you don’t want to piss Rose off. By all accounts she’s… how can I put this…. Unstable. Yes that’s the word I shall use

[West F]

Disappointed that the owners haven't reciprocated Port Vale's pricing for our match there in February, for the forthcoming home match.

https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/ticket-and-travel-information-reading

There is still time for this decision to be made. Attracting twice as many Port Vale fans for half price would be the equation.