Madejski: Reading FC in much better position than QPR April 24, 2013 Reading chairman Sir John Madejski says that Royals are in a much stronger position financially compared to Queens Park Rangers. Both sides look set to be relegated from the Premier League, and they play each other on Sunday at Madejski Stadium (kick-off 1.30pm) in a bottom-of-the-table clash. Madejski said: "Weâve built this club brick by brick and we havenât gone for a quick fix. "QPR have got all the hallmarks of quick fix or allegedly quick fix." He added: "Over the years I have come to realise that players doesnât always work out. "Youâve got a 50/50 chance of them working out when they come to a club and, when youâre paying a lot of money, it can be quite an expensive pastime." QPR have a massive wage bill and signed the likes of Loic Remy and Christopher Samba in Janaury for £8m and £12m respectively. Samba, who signed a four-and-a-half year contract, is rumoured to be on close to £100,000-a-week. Meanwhile, Madejski said had Royals signed former player Gylfi Sigurdsson in January from Tottenham Hotspur in January, the season may have panned out differently. "What happened was Tottenham were trying to buy somebody," said Madejski. "If they had, then they would have sold Sigurdsson to us. "It went right up to the wire but their deal didnât come off. "Anton (Zingarevich) was trying to be ambitious. "Arguably, if we had got Sigurdsson it might have improved our chances."
Madejski has a damn good point. Theire wages will be 80-90% manageable in the Champ, yours just won't be manageable in the main.
Of course they're in a much better position to fight in the NPC next year. We couldn't be in a worse position if we tried. And this stuff coming from Phil Beard about holding the squad together is filling be with dread. Does he have any idea how useless this current crop of players would be in the hackball Championsh*t next season? It seems like they want to continue making one mistake after another. The only way we'll have half a chance next year is by having a complete clear out this summer but that could prove nigh on impossible with the insane decision not to insert relegation clauses into the mercenaries contracts. Reading, on the other hand, have the makings of a very decent NPC side there and could have a top-six finish next year.
So I am sure the Reading fans feel so much better about going down that us. Expect more of this over the coming months. Unfortunately.
Unfortunatgely, Reading fans know they are going down because their team isn't good enough. We all know we are going down because we've played **** all year.
Unfortunately, Reading fans know they are going down because their team isn't good enough. We all know we are going down because we've played **** all year.
Whether Madjeski is right or not depends on what happens over the next 3 years. If the words from TF & Co are true then we will be ok. However, what this season has taught me is to not defend QPR's future too vigorously since I was completely confident we would be fine this season and I was completely wrong. Approach it as what it is supposed to be. Entertainment. We hope we win but if we don't find some entertainment somewhere even if its only a friendly moan with the person you sit next to at LR. Let Madjeski worry about his own team and keep his nose out of ours.
"Over the years I have come to realise that players doesn’t always work out. You’ve got a 50/50 chance of them working out when they come to a club and, when you’re paying a lot of money, it can be quite an expensive pastime." Only thing Madejski's wrong about there is the word 'quite'!
His comments are only valid if the financial aspect restricts us and not them. At the moment it seems less than likely. Our owners took a gamble to try to maintain our Premiership status and it looks (barring miracles) to have failed. Reading spend a reasonable amount at the start of the season (Progrebny.. Progev... that Russian geyser etc) but shut up shop, almost resigned to their fate. It's not my money but I'm happier with our owners trying and failing rather than not giving the manager any chance. Better to go with a bang than a whimper.
Those who have spent big this season will actually be better off under FFP as the spending is used as a yardstick for future seasons...
