Morning Peeps, It is being widely speculated that we are about to dip into the emergency transfer market again..... One name that has been widely tipped is Jack Rodwell. WOW, that would be a coup. Is it too little too late? If these new players can hit the ground running, you never know... When was the last time we had this kind of quality in our team?
Morning all. Who knows whether Rodwell is within our means. We have no idea yet how deep Cellinos pockets are but we certainly know how deep Gfh pockets were. They didn't feckin have any
We also had our fair share of wasters. We had Fowler, Duberry, Seth Johnson etc. Cant believe we splashed out 7m for him
Another good signing will show intent ..... for next season because although we are only 7-points of 6th, there are too many other teams who will not drop the number of points we need. So Reading may get caught but other clubs stand a better chance of slipping into 6th. I think the best we can hope for is that BMcD hardly drops another point this season and with his new team, because if he messes up still after the money Cellino has given him ........ So for all those like Billy who still believe in Brian, you need to hope he starts performing
Don't know why we have left it so late in the day. Shame Cellino's plan didn't come together in January
Elland lets face facts. We were riding high at the start of November in 5th spot and since then we've been smashed, ridiculed and laughed at on the pitch because of crap performances and incoherent tactics. We only have one decent performance and the manager wasn't around for that. The players brought in by BMcD have not performed (Except Butland) Flowers and haigh and GFH and the FL seem to have conspired against us getting this deal over the line and slowing things down. Lots of people need to be asked serious questions about this including the FL for allowing GFH into our club without a pot to piss in. Our season is done for another year
Our season might be done for another year Doc (although I don't believe it myself). But if our two loan signings are anything to go by, we will be pushing hard for auto next season, nevermind top 6.
Agreed. One thing worth noting Boggers. These loanees will not be costing a fortune as its for less than three months. Im sure Cellino realises we can't make playoffs. This is an exercise in selling season tickets and testing the waters with McD. Give him the proper tools and see what he's made of. It will be a whole different matter in the summer trying to attract quality like Butland and Wickham permanently. They would command huge transfer fees and wages and unlikely to want to spend a full season in our division. While I am thrilled with these loan signings, Im not fooling myself we'll be getting as good in the summer as much as wed all love to see it. There is one main thing that attracts such players and that is promotion to the pl and gfh have seen to it, thats highly unlikely this year
Fair points all round Eire. The thing is, these loanees aren't guaranteed starters for their clubs. Indeed thaey aren't even guaranteed places on their clubs' benches. So maybe we can buy for not much, or even go fo a season long loan in 14/15. Either way, the season isn't over yet.
The one thing that puzzles me is how can a team go to the giddy heights of fifth and then drop to where we are now. We had more or less the same team, I can't be arsed but if anyone can show the team in fifth to the one now that would be nice.....
I think most realised when we were fifth though, it was a false position, many here rightly maintained we were really a mid table outfit. Read somewhere what our record against top six teams was. Cant remember exact figures but was shocking. Someone else might have exact stats
Looking ahead to the summer and Massimo Cellino, I would say that we will be bringing in some Italian talent equivalent to the Butland, Wickham, Saha, Rodwell, Dyer ....... etc, etc, etc. There are also clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, Spuds, Arse etc who have snapped up kids that need experience. Classic example is the Chelsea kid who went to Derby (Bamford) 5 goals in 6 games, so there are top players who need to be playing who will now be able to go to Leeds Utd in the summer. I'm confident (Unless the FL **** it up) that next season will be our last in the Championship
Fair enough, I never bother with stats......off subject but I've just ordered my Rhinos tickets and they have junior tickets for 16 and under for a tenner, now that's how to look after the fans. The customer service is second to none IMO, something the Whites should take note...
Its definately not over this season, especially if we were to recruit another loan (midfield talent). We might be 7 points off 6th? But with the quality added recently there's no reason why we can't go on a run. A couple of wins in the next few games and then we even play reading. Win that one at home and that could see that gap severely dented. Admittedly there are other teams in the mix for 6th spot but as long as we concentrate on our games and start winning (if we can do this!) Then it will just come down to form at the end of the season and there's no reason we can't be at the top of that particular table. Bottom line is that we shouldnt be relying on others dropping points but it will happen! We just can't afford to drop many ourselves
Additionally Butland and wickham have clearly been bought in (at some expense) so we have a go this season. Finally some ambition THIS season. There's no use looking towards next season just yet as there's no assurance what players will be in our team. If we don't go up butland and wickham aren't likely to be with us
It will take likely 74 or 75 points for the sixth spot. Means we need 32 points from a possible 45, 10 wins and 2 draws from 15 games. We've only won 12 from 31 games, so unless we suddenly turn into Real Madrid with the two new signings, we won't make the playoffs
I agree its not going to be easy, and I'm not saying we will necessarily do it. But I'm loving the ambition shown by the quality of these two signings. And that's the key thing for me. I don't want to have to write the season off just yet. But it looks like we're at least still giving it a go rather than solely building for next year. I say this a fan who can't make it every week but wants to go when I can. But I don't want to pay those prices when we have as a club have given up for the season. I'm much morely likely to go when I can see we are still fighting until the death! We may not make the playoffs but at least it can be exciting for the fans to see the players give it a go. Brian did inspire his Reading team to an almightly run at the back end of the year they won the league (obviously we won't win league) and with quality additions we are not dead yet!
