Even *I* am actually quite concerned

[PremAddict]

On paper our first choice eleven is quite something, but just look at our options on the bench and the remainder of the squad as a whole - piss poor.

I can only see a mixed season and missing out on the play-offs at this rate.

That team needs investment!!!

I don;t think the first paragraph is really right. I think for the last couple of season we've had fairly even quality across the squad up to as many as twenty players. It's the two or three game breakers that we seem to lack. Look at this team:

AFed
Murty Duberry Pearce Golbourne
Henry Bikey Matejovsky Karacan
NHunt Long

Not a team you'd want starting for us, admittedly, and unbalanced, but for eleven players who didn't start yesterday is it really "piss poor"? Like everyone on Planet RFC, I think we clearly a short of a starting LB and I'm not convinced about RW either, but depth isn't the problem. It's first team quality. But I don't think you can lay the blame entirely at the door of the purse-string holders. Doyle, Lita, Harper, Ingimarsson, Convey, to a lesser extent Rosenior while with Fulham, have in the past shown quality far in excess of what's necessary to flourish in this league. Job one should be to try to fix the malaise in these players before just writing them off.

From one person who (rightly or wrongly) is accused of being an RTG to another, Arch do you think Coppell can fix this malaise? I am starting to doubt whether he can. A lot of our players need a serious kick up the proverbial behind...

I am afraid Coppell doesn't have the temperment and personality to inject fire into this team. I was sort of dumbfounded to read the article where Kitson revealed Coppell brought-in a motivational team. I had visions of David Brent and some hokey offsite team building exercise.

A reserved personality is not suited to this sort of malaise. I hate to say it but fear is the best motivator for professional atheletes no matter the sport. Better for someone like Roy Keane who can strike fear into players and in doing so, inject some respect and motivation to impress. You only need to read last week's MarcusH article in the post to figure that guys like Pardew who stand on the touchline tend to get the most results and motivation during a match.

[Royalee]

What he said.

[Streets]

Maybe so, but he hasn't exactly done a bad job here has he?

[winchester_royal]

I genuinely believe that with a new LB we have enough quality to succeed.

However I doubt whether we have the right manager to take us forward.

Coppell does not have the balls to play the youngsters, nor to make the necessairy changes, nor to give the players a good ass-kicking if needed.

I hope i'm proved wrong, but I think Coppell should go..

[Streets]

I genuinely believe that with a new LB we have enough quality to succeed.

Then you're wrong.

11 players on the field, yes, it's one of the better teams in the league.

Then you look at the bench and it's worrying.

Then you look at the squad and you panic!

[winchester_royal]

I genuinely believe that with a new LB we have enough quality to succeed.

Then you're wrong.

11 players on the field, yes, it's one of the better teams in the league.

Then you look at the bench and it's worrying.

Then you look at the squad and you panic!

Not really, with a new LB we would have at least 2 (IMO) Chamoionship class in every posiotion

GK - Marcus, Fed
RB - Murts, Rosenior
LB - New LB, Golbourne
CB - Boobs, Ingi, Pearce
CB - BK, Sonks
RM - Kebe, Henry
CM - Harps, Karacan, Gunnar
CM - Marek, Cisse
LM - Hunt, Convey
ST - Doyle, Lita
ST - Long, Hunt N, Mooney

I aint panicing.

[Streets]

LOL @ putting:

Federici
Golborne
Henry
Karacan

as Championship class.

Federici had one good game against United and was average to piss poor in the other handful of games he had.

[SCIAG]

Federici had one good game against United and was average to piss poor in the other handful of games he had.

Yeah, and he's only played a few games in his life .

[RoyalBlue]

I am afraid Coppell doesn't have the temperment and personality to inject fire into this team. I was sort of dumbfounded to read the article where Kitson revealed Coppell brought-in a motivational team.

That's one thing you can't knock him for. I think you'll find that an awful lot of sports teams, including some very successful ones, either employ or bring in from time to time sports pyschologists (that's what a motivational team are likely to have been). IIRC Pardew brought in a motivational team during his time at the club (Spirit, Tenacity & Flair + a lot of other motivational statements stuck up around the dressing room). Pardew did have the personality to inject and breath fire and I believe also tried the fear approach that you advocate.

Form means nothing at the moment.

Not even if it continues the trend of last season?!

As for Birmingham playing against poor teams, the significant difference is they won all three games and have nine points compared to our 4!!

[Plymouth_Royal]

winchester_royal:
Coppell does not have the balls to play the youngsters, nor to make the necessairy changes, nor to give the players a good ass-kicking if needed.

I hope i'm proved wrong, but I think Coppell should go..

dont agree with some of this. coppell watches our whole squad train day in day out so only he knows whether the youngsters should be playin. to be fair he gives them a chance in the cup games and im pretty sure that against palace we'll see pearce start alongside ingi.
make the necessary changes? in terms of striking options i think coppell has been fair with doyle and lita and hinted straight away after the charlton game that there is guna be changes in defence and upfront. there's nothing we can do about the centre of midfield, as MM, gunnarsson and karacan have been injured and away on international duty.
as for a good ass kicking, we dont know what goes on in the dressing room and im sure coppell gives the guys a rollocking when were playing off par.

were only 3 league games into the season and we have a few good players coming back from injury and the olympics, as well as golbourne who looks like he'll get his chance to shine. so i wouldnt call for his head.....yet

[Stranded]

Form means nothing at the moment.

Not even if it continues the trend of last season?!

As for Birmingham playing against poor teams, the significant difference is they won all three games and have nine points compared to our 4!!

No, new season - long break in between. You can't compare over seasons, some may want to but I'm afraid you can't.

Significantly Brum have also played 2 of their 3 at home. Whereas we've had 2 away against a newly promoted side, who won their next home game and a team that many on here seem to think will be top half or better.

3 games is simply nowhere near enough to judge anything on because there is such a lopsidedness to the league - like I said if there is no improvement by the international break in October then there is a major issue - if as I believe we are in or around the top 6 then things are going OK.

[Royalee]

Maybe so, but he hasn't exactly done a bad job here has he?

He hasn't exactly done as good a job as some of you fools are making out considering we're in pretty much an identical league position to where we were when he took over five years ago - for all the hoo ha and being the 'greatest manager in our history', he doesn't appear to have achieved much.

[Stranded]

Clearly just waiting for some fish to jump in your net there....

[SCIAG]

Maybe so, but he hasn't exactly done a bad job here has he?

He hasn't exactly done as good a job as some of you fools are making out considering we're in pretty much an identical league position to where we were when he took over five years ago - for all the hoo ha and being the 'greatest manager in our history', he doesn't appear to have achieved much.

He's had the three best finishes in our history, therefore he is our best ever manager.

[Streets]

Maybe so, but he hasn't exactly done a bad job here has he?

He hasn't exactly done as good a job as some of you fools are making out considering we're in pretty much an identical league position to where we were when he took over five years ago - for all the hoo ha and being the 'greatest manager in our history', he doesn't appear to have achieved much.

If that isn't a fishing trip you are one ungrateful old grump.

[RoyalBlue]

Form means nothing at the moment.

Not even if it continues the trend of last season?!

As for Birmingham playing against poor teams, the significant difference is they won all three games and have nine points compared to our 4!!

No, new season - long break in between. You can't compare over seasons, some may want to but I'm afraid you can't.

Just why can't you compare? There may have been a long break but that doesn't mean things automatically change. If morale in the camp is absolutely shyte (just as an example) a break between seasons won't necessarily improve it. If a team are really missing a good combative central midfielder and a quality specialist right winger, a break won't magic those players in!! If players can't pick a pass to save their lives, a break won't necessarily improve them. If your star striker can't buy a goal, a long break won't necessarily improve his confidence and lead to him hitting the back of the net on a regular basis. If your club are on a slide, a break won't necessarily halt it. If your Chairman is tighter than a Duck's Arse, a break won't necessarily make him more generous!

[winchester_royal]

winchester_royal:
Coppell does not have the balls to play the youngsters, nor to make the necessairy changes, nor to give the players a good ass-kicking if needed.

I hope i'm proved wrong, but I think Coppell should go..

dont agree with some of this. coppell watches our whole squad train day in day out so only he knows whether the youngsters should be playin. to be fair he gives them a chance in the cup games and im pretty sure that against palace we'll see pearce start alongside ingi.
make the necessary changes? in terms of striking options i think coppell has been fair with doyle and lita and hinted straight away after the charlton game that there is guna be changes in defence and upfront. there's nothing we can do about the centre of midfield, as MM, gunnarsson and karacan have been injured and away on international duty.
as for a good ass kicking, we dont know what goes on in the dressing room and im sure coppell gives the guys a rollocking when were playing off par.

were only 3 league games into the season and we have a few good players coming back from injury and the olympics, as well as golbourne who looks like he'll get his chance to shine. so i wouldnt call for his head.....yet

I'm not calling for his head, I just don't think he is the ideal man to take us forward.

[Royal Rother]

Maybe so, but he hasn't exactly done a bad job here has he?

He hasn't exactly done as good a job as some of you fools are making out considering we're in pretty much an identical league position to where we were when he took over five years ago - for all the hoo ha and being the 'greatest manager in our history', he doesn't appear to have achieved much.

Even you're not dumb enough to offer that as a serious point.

Ermm, are you?

[Royalee]

Please explain to me where progress has been made? Other than a few stadium improvements with the Premiership money, we're really not much better off if at all, especially not on the football side.

[rg6royal]

Please explain to me where progress has been made? Other than a few stadium improvements with the Premiership money, we're really not much better off if at all, especially not on the football side.

'greed

And you can tell that relegation has definitely had a massive effect on the players morale as there isn't as much passion there as there used to be.