How Long Will BM Last at this rate?????

[Hoop Blah]

I have as much doubt that McD set the budget as I do McD had no involvement at all. The most rational assumption would be that all were involved, all were happy, and all were wrong.

Well that's my point of view, that it was a collaboration and that McDermott was a pretty big part of that discussion. I just don't think he was given £Xm and then spent it all which is pretty much what Brendy had been saying.

I don't want McDermott to be at fault, as much as I don't want any of them to be at fault. When discussing why we are where we are though I do think he has to carry a slice of the blame despite the 'he spent all he was given' argument.

[Extended-Phenotype]

It just bothers me, whether the blame is with the chairman or the manager, that we repeat mistakes.

Mistakes are always going to be made - the Prem is still a fresh experience for this club - but we can't keep expecting to do things on the cheap, and we can't keep dismissing modestly increasing our investment with scaremongering BS.

[cmonurz]

As I posted a couple of weeks ago, we’ve had 6 transfer windows as a Premier League club now, and have done it on the cheap in each and every one. Even the most one-eyed of Reding fans would have to acknowledge we came 8th in 06/07 because collectively our players vastly over-performed – and despite that I’d say it was that following transfer window, in summer ’07, where we made our biggest mistake, not building on the successes of the season just gone by improving the squad significantly.

[Archie's penalty]

As I posted a couple of weeks ago, we’ve had 6 transfer windows as a Premier League club now, and have done it on the cheap in each and every one. Even the most one-eyed of Reding fans would have to acknowledge we came 8th in 06/07 because collectively our players vastly over-performed – and despite that I’d say it was that following transfer window, in summer ’07, where we made our biggest mistake, not building on the successes of the season just gone by improving the squad significantly.

100% agreed about that transfer window (summer 2007) being the worst one.

Have to say that I am impressed by the learning process at the club this season. Took a long time but it's looking relatively positive at the moment.

[Extended-Phenotype]

It took longer than the fans, that's what is worrying.

[melonhead]

I have as much doubt that McD set the budget as I do McD had no involvement at all. The most rational assumption would be that all were involved, all were happy, and all were wrong.

Well that's my point of view, that it was a collaboration and that McDermott was a pretty big part of that discussion. I just don't think he was given £Xm and then spent it all which is pretty much what Brendy had been saying.

I don't want McDermott to be at fault, as much as I don't want any of them to be at fault. When discussing why we are where we are though I do think he has to carry a slice of the blame despite the 'he spent all he was given' argument.

defo partly to blame regardless of the budget or lack of one.

[melonhead]

It took longer than the fans, that's what is worrying.

[Extended-Phenotype]

As I'm not a teenage girl, smilies don't constitute much of an argument.

[melonhead]

i disagree
i think its possible you are a teenage girl, and also that a smiley can constitute argument

[Extended-Phenotype]

i disagree
i think its possible you are a teenage girl, and also that a smiley can constitute argument

In that case

[Pepe the Horseman]

i think its possible you are a teenage girl

[Extended-Phenotype]

I've had enough of this crap. I'm going shopping to cheer myself up.

[Ian Royal]

As I posted a couple of weeks ago, we’ve had 6 transfer windows as a Premier League club now, and have done it on the cheap in each and every one. Even the most one-eyed of Reding fans would have to acknowledge we came 8th in 06/07 because collectively our players vastly over-performed – and despite that I’d say it was that following transfer window, in summer ’07, where we made our biggest mistake, not building on the successes of the season just gone by improving the squad significantly.

We certainly overachieved, but I don't think by such a huge margin as you imply. That side had two crucial players who were just too old to go another season, another two who left. two that never recovered from injuries and another who's attitude and form went down the toilet.

Unfortunately it was a season too far for it. Yes though, the transfer activity to fix those problems was apalling in retrospect. I still think our summer dealings this year was only really one midfielder away from being just about good enough if we hadn't made as many mistakes elsewhere as well.

This window I think we've mostly got the balance right, it would have been superb if Ince or Sig had come off.

My one complaint about Brian as a manager is his brand of football really is dire unless it's bang on form.

[melonhead]

i disagree
i think its possible you are a teenage girl, and also that a smiley can constitute argument

In that case

see!

[Extended-Phenotype]

i disagree
i think its possible you are a teenage girl, and also that a smiley can constitute argument

In that case

see!

Bebo

[SPARTA]

JF- If the club goes down, what would happen?

AZ - I’m sure we will not go down. Nothing will change if we did, we will just come up next year.

Brian can't afford a slow start next season if we go down. He will be under a lot of pressure to get us back up at the first attempt.

[Maguire]

Brian can't afford a slow start next season if we go down. He will be under a lot of pressure to get us back up at the first attempt.

Thanks Captain Obvious

[SPARTA]

Brian can't afford a slow start next season if we go down. He will be under a lot of pressure to get us back up at the first attempt.

Thanks Captain Obvious

Well many here seem to think the bloke has a job for life. AZ said himself, we will go back up at the first attempt if we go down, he expects it. I'd give BM until November if it's a rough start, as per the norm.

[winchester_royal]

Brendy, with the news at the end of the transfer window that we were happy to pay more than £10m for Sigurdsson and were in the running for Ince for significant money too, have you readjusted your opinion on how the budget was set in the summer or what the club can sensibly afford?

Strikes me that, although these were only bids and not actual transfers, the club had the money and were willing to put it into the team if we really wanted to but the decision was made in the summer that we didn't really have (or perhaps want) to spend more to be competitive.

I think Anton is already on record as saying that investing so little in the summer was a mistake, although the reasoning behind it was (IMHO) perfectly understandable. They tried to rely on spirit and effort in the same way we did getting promoted but what they perhaps didn't anticipate was how much tougher it is to maintain that team ethic in a relation fight than in a promotion challenge.

Many mistakes were made in the first 6 months on the season, however what is most pleasing to see is that we are learning from them. The experiences of this season will be valuable (whatever the outcome) in our '5 year vision'.

Thanks for that winchester.

Brendy and I have had an ongoing discussion about why we supposedly had such a small budget and where the responsibility may lie with leaving ourselves so short. The discussion goes back to why we were so far off the pace and who should carry the can for it.

Brendy seems to think that McDermott's hands were tied because he 'spent all the money he had' and so he's largely blameless. My view is that McDermott would've had a significant influence on the budget the club gave him and I think he probably didn't ask for much because he wanted to stick with what he had (and that was the initial mistake).

Oh, sorry, didn't realise I was interrupting a private conversation

[melonhead]

Brian can't afford a slow start next season if we go down. He will be under a lot of pressure to get us back up at the first attempt.

Thanks Captain Obvious

Well many here seem to think the bloke has a job for life. AZ said himself, we will go back up at the first attempt if we go down, he expects it. I'd give BM until November if it's a rough start, as per the norm.

you cant sack him until the new year surge fails. november is way too early