Will we be next seasons whipping boys?

[godlike1]

Apparently no money for transfers
No strength in depth e.g Wayne Thomas, keegan, Sullivan not good enough for this league
A manager who goes for interviews everytime another clubs manager is sacked in this league
Poor season ticket sales
A club without any clues about marketing to the local economy to boost sales
A club which sells it's best players
We have no youth system or not one good enough to produce 1st team players. \"if your good enough your old enough\"

I need some inspiration as even when we were doing well this season we were not playing well.

Seriously worried even though I am getting another season ticket and will be cheering them on

[DRFC85]

So, nothing has changed since last year, or the year before that… we apparently had no money for transfers last year and ended up smashing our transfer record with Billy Sharp. It's the same with many of your points.

And I don't think you can say we sell all our best players, we fought tooth and nail to keep hold of Mills and Wellens in recent years, but at the end of the day the players wanted to leave. They are the only two players to have left who were hard to replace.

[timdrfc]

Apparently no money for transfers
No strength in depth e.g Wayne Thomas, keegan, Sullivan not good enough for this league
A manager who goes for interviews everytime another clubs manager is sacked in this league
Poor season ticket sales
A club without any clues about marketing to the local economy to boost sales
A club which sells it's best players
We have no youth system or not one good enough to produce 1st team players. \"if your good enough your old enough\"

I need some inspiration as even when we were doing well this season we were not playing well.

Seriously worried even though I am getting another season ticket and will be cheering them on

You forgot to mention fans who moan about everything the club does

[godlike1]

Apparently no money for transfers
No strength in depth e.g Wayne Thomas, keegan, Sullivan not good enough for this league
A manager who goes for interviews everytime another clubs manager is sacked in this league
Poor season ticket sales
A club without any clues about marketing to the local economy to boost sales
A club which sells it's best players
We have no youth system or not one good enough to produce 1st team players. \"if your good enough your old enough\"

I need some inspiration as even when we were doing well this season we were not playing well.

Seriously worried even though I am getting another season ticket and will be cheering them on

I suppose my main worry is will theclub do anything to inspire and excite fans for the next season. After today's poor performance and no win in god knows how many games does it exite anyone about the new season

Honest answers only please
You forgot to mention fans who moan about everything the club does

[DonnyOsmond]

After 21 games we were 9th in the league 3 points off of the play offs, that was with the majority of our squad fit. We did have a few players out injured i.e. Woods. Then we went through a spell where we had around 14 players fit which ruined our season. So how have we suddenly become next seasons whipping boys? I'm sure the management team will have learnt from this season and even if we do sell players we would sell them for a fair bit and I have faith in SOD to replace them.

[Thinwhiteduke]

Well, I havent renewed my Season ticket as I have much more important and interesting things to spend my time doing over the next 9-12 months.

If I was an individual who had never purchased a season ticket before, I think I would be less inspired than ever to think about getting one right now.

Regardless of injuries, we have been abysmal for pretty much the whole of this calendar year. Personally, unless there are wholesale changes, and with the calibre of teams coming up from League 1, I dont think Godlike will be far off the mark with his 'potential whipping boys' tag.

[Norfolk N Chance]

Wish people would give themselves time to calm down before putting utter crap on here.

Yes we are against it next season but we are in a good state in the first place.

Remember where we have come from to the great place we are now ......

Apparently no money for transfers
No strength in depth e.g Wayne Thomas, keegan, Sullivan not good enough for this league
A manager who goes for interviews everytime another clubs manager is sacked in this league
Poor season ticket sales
A club without any clues about marketing to the local economy to boost sales
A club which sells it's best players
We have no youth system or not one good enough to produce 1st team players. \"if your good enough your old enough\"

I need some inspiration as even when we were doing well this season we were not playing well.

Seriously worried even though I am getting another season ticket and will be cheering them on

[washyrover]

Apparently no money for transfers
No strength in depth e.g Wayne Thomas, keegan, Sullivan not good enough for this league
A manager who goes for interviews everytime another clubs manager is sacked in this league
Poor season ticket sales
A club without any clues about marketing to the local economy to boost sales
A club which sells it's best players
We have no youth system or not one good enough to produce 1st team players. \"if your good enough your old enough\"

I need some inspiration as even when we were doing well this season we were not playing well.

Seriously worried even though I am getting another season ticket and will be cheering them on

At leased the club has you as a sth.

[Superspy]

Wish people would give themselves time to calm down before putting utter crap on here.

Yes we are against it next season but we are in a good state in the first place.

Remember where we have come from to the great place we are now ......

yup, the fact that we have survived for 3 seasons in the championship is a great achievement in my book. once again we have defied the odds and 2 bigger clubs than us with more money have gone down. if we stay up again next season, it will be another achievement, if we go down, we can justify it with the size of the club and the money that we don't have. the fact is we've survived again, now we can scrap this season off and get ready for the next.

personally im really looking forward to it, as i've managed to use the club scout scheme to get my dad and his girlfriend a season ticket each, and i really enjoy going to the football with friends and family, so knowing they are going to be there for every game next season makes it even better for me.

[hoolahoop]

Looking forward to next season as ever, obviously delighted that this one is over. ST bought and delighted that TWD won't be there giving out negative vibes to our supporters.

No imo we won't be the ''whipping boys'' and to suggest that before you have seen the squad we will build and others teamm put out against us is quite frankly fookin stupid in the extreme.
I hope that this is the last negative, unfounded tripe that I read on here prior to next season's ko............however sadly I doubt it. Time for balls and support fellas.

[CusworthRovers]

There's no doubt in my mind that next season will be the most competitive in the NPC. It's a struggle to find a club smaller than ours. Let's just hope we have a team that's not the smallest in terms of quality, fight, experience, team ethics and most importantly in terms of getting results. The NPC has never looked more like a PREM 2 league that for some twist of fate we happen to be in. It's even knocking itself down to L1 when you see the likes now in there, and look at the established Swindons and Plymouths even struggling in there.

First things first is to retain our cream by them and the club stating they are going nowhere. That would mean SOD, Billy and Copps. Then the quality players in Woods, Muzzy, JOC, Oster.

After that..........it's making me think hard on this emotive subject. I've always been loyal to the players and fully believe we need a squad, and not just a team of 11-12 decent players followed by a bunch of lads never really threatening those elite 11-12. The trouble is finding the balance.

IMO we need players who can challenge the establishment and force themselves into being consistently picked on merit. Muzzy is doing this, as is Georgio.

When I see Deano for example, I just see a lad who can never get near Copps or Oster. I see him just as a cheaper stop gap, until those 2 return. I see him getting 5mins at the end if he's lucky. I'd rather try a youth player, or a released young player from a Prem club, or a loanee. All these would be cheaper options, and if they are good enough then we sign them with a view that they will replace and better Copps and Oster in that example.

I see the value in Sam due to his versatility across varying positions.

There are a group of players I would release now (with the knowledge that some others would come in). Id rather not, but feel our cloth needs cutting again next season and in view of this seasons plight. It plays on my heart strings but Messers

Sullivan, Thomas, Souza, Webster, Chambers, Brooker, Lockwood, Wilson, Shiels, Keegan, Fairhurst...............either will not or should not be making a consistent regular place in the starting 11, as said it's all based on type of player to come in and how many players Sean wants, but these fella's are vulnerable in my book.

[RedJ]

I overheard (it was hard not to) a guy today talking about a conversation he had with Copps' dad, and he said Copps said he'd only leave if JR or SO'D told him he was no longer needed, otherwise, he's willing to finish up here.

[LongbridgeMGRover]

reasons to be cheerful.........

1] how many of us said we'd be happy with that coveted fourth to bottom position- we got it.

2] in Steve Brooker we have the most favourable goals per minutes played ratio of any striker in the Championship.

3] we have a goalkeeper who can find touch more consistently than Johnny Wilkinson.

4] our opponents simply don't know what we will do next when we have a free kick [neither do our players, admittedly]

5] no other team when given a corner can get it back to the goalkeeper without the opposition touching it.

6] some thought our stadium too big, but we can almost fill it when its free to get in.

and finally,

7] we still have a club, and are in the Championship again next year,

8] the season's over.

[VikingJames]

Too early to tell, it all depends on the summer. Huge summer for us really. If we can get rid of some of the deadwood (not mentioning any names), and get some shrewd free signings in, then I think we can consolidate again.

If we make the same mistakes again and keep all the 'usual suspects' who haven't been performing for us, then we're looking at another struggle IMO.

[george-friend]

Apparently no money for transfers
No strength in depth e.g Wayne Thomas, keegan, Sullivan not good enough for this league
A manager who goes for interviews everytime another clubs manager is sacked in this league
Poor season ticket sales
A club without any clues about marketing to the local economy to boost sales
A club which sells it's best players
We have no youth system or not one good enough to produce 1st team players. \"if your good enough your old enough\"

I need some inspiration as even when we were doing well this season we were not playing well.

Seriously worried even though I am getting another season ticket and will be cheering them on

Reading this post has just reminded me why i dont post regular on this forum,ill thought out post.
The situation is no different to previous seasons,shut up moaning and remember where we were years ago.
Just out of curiosuty did you even go today ?

[grayx]

This may sound harsh,but I honestly think we have about 6 players up to championship football.
We are also seriously lacking in pace & also need bigger/more physical players. I can't see us putting this right cheaply,therefore can see us having to sell our prize asset. Unless we rectify this, we will do worse next season when you look at the sides that are going to be in the championship.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Not sure we need bigger players, we just need them to be tougher, a la Billy.

We cannot afford lightweights and as much as I like Oster for his skill and movement by enlarge he's normally only too willing to duck out of challenges which is shameful when the likes of Copps gets stuck in. Similar with Shiels.

As said above, much work to do on defending and attacking set pieces. One key acquisition could help us in these departments and we'll need to ship some out to make way on the wage bill.

[Glyn_Wigley]

Apparently no money for transfers
No strength in depth e.g Wayne Thomas, keegan, Sullivan not good enough for this league
A manager who goes for interviews everytime another clubs manager is sacked in this league
Poor season ticket sales
A club without any clues about marketing to the local economy to boost sales
A club which sells it's best players
We have no youth system or not one good enough to produce 1st team players. \"if your good enough your old enough\"

I need some inspiration as even when we were doing well this season we were not playing well.

Seriously worried even though I am getting another season ticket and will be cheering them on

In other words, no different to this time last year. Or the year before that. Or the year before that. Etc., etc., etc.

[jonnydog]

Agree with the majority. Definately NOT the whipping boys!

I  am SURE we'll come back stronger and fitter (touch wood, and morning Mr Magpie and all that b*llocks!!)

hopefully we'll all learn from this horrid (but not as horrid as some OTHER certain!!) season. However, lessons MUST be learned from this year!!

With regards to players getting tougher, yes For Billy, but IMO I would LOVE Copps to 'buff up' in training over the next few months to enable him to deck anyone in his path. If that happened he'd be unstoppable and skin anyone on the break!!

For next season... COME ON YOU REDS!!!!!!!!!!

[drfcsteve]

Well, I havent renewed my Season ticket as I have much more important and interesting things to spend my time doing over the next 9-12 months.

If I was an individual who had never purchased a season ticket before, I think I would be less inspired than ever to think about getting one right now.

Regardless of injuries, we have been abysmal for pretty much the whole of this calendar year. Personally, unless there are wholesale changes, and with the calibre of teams coming up from League 1, I dont think Godlike will be far off the mark with his 'potential whipping boys' tag.

In other words, you jumped on the bandwagon in the good times, and now the first bad season we have had in about 10 years (if you can even class staying in the second tier a bad season), then you are jumping ship. Hope we haven't got too many more fans like you.

[southwestexile]

we have the core of a good, mid-table to play-off challenging team.  IF we can maintain fitness (and a good luck at our pitch andth physio should be a high priority in close season) and IF we can bring in a few loanees who can add to the team (Mason) rather than provide the same as we already have (Killgallon) and IF SOD can unearth a few gems, we should be ok.  Lots of IFS but we have had EVERYTHING against us this season and survived.

If I have one gripe, it's that on the occassions I've seen us play this year we don't seem to have been that team who were 'the Arsenal of the Championship', we've become more of a 'West Ham of the Championship'.

However, in SOD we trust, look at the progress of Friend this season, if he continues to progress, wow!

And another thing, we will be above Leeds, West Ham, Leicester and many more - if only on alphabetical order atthe first kick-off.

[Wellred]

Well, I havent renewed my Season ticket as I have much more important and interesting things to spend my time doing over the next 9-12 months.

If I was an individual who had never purchased a season ticket before, I think I would be less inspired than ever to think about getting one right now.

Regardless of injuries, we have been abysmal for pretty much the whole of this calendar year. Personally, unless there are wholesale changes, and with the calibre of teams coming up from League 1, I dont think Godlike will be far off the mark with his 'potential whipping boys' tag.

In other words, you jumped on the bandwagon in the good times, and now the first bad season we have had in about 10 years (if you can even class staying in the second tier a bad season), then you are jumping ship. Hope we haven't got too many more fans like you.

Before you go accusing someone of jumping on the bad wagon etc etc. Read TWD's post and tell me what he has said thats inaccurate?