Coppell Has 200m To Spend

[ThaiPauly]

I have just read on Sky Sports that Steve Coppell has said that his Chairman has told him that there is 200 million quid in the kitty to strengthen the Reading squad in the summer.

Coppell has said that he would rarther keep it in the bank .

I just do not understand that at all, he then goes on to say that if Reading qualify for Europe (which he hopes we don't) he will play his reserves.

As much as I admire SC for his magnificent achievements at Reading...surely strenghthening the squad with THAT kind of cash has to be a good thing? Whilst we have some very good players we also have some very average ones, certainly strikeforce wise it would be great if we could get a Rooney or an Andy Johnson ....we could even afford 4 Ronaldo's with it!

Please bear in mind that Reading's most expensive signing ever was Greg Halford(who)? You ask, and that was only 3.5m He's only played once since he was signed at Christmas.......he even got Michael Duberry on a free, and I reckon he's well past his Premiership sell by date

I bet MOST of you would love your Chairman to say that your Manager had that money available?

Apart from Chelsea and Man United fans who know that money is no object.

Trouble is ....what superstars would want to go to a club with no more ambition than retaining their EPL status?

[bartender100]

Firstly congratulations to Reading for a superb season, Ive watched them a few times when they have been live,and i really hope they get a European spot.

Thaipauly,they are a team as they are,sling Rooney in ,or Shevchenko (you wish)and you may screw it up,to many promoted teams have done that on the second season up,. You have a team of stars let them carry on,save the money to develop the youth team . Good luck from sunny Norfolk

[Sunderland]

Who's been drinking then? Steve Coppell or John Madejski? If they have 200 million pounds to spend, why so many rumours that Steve Sidwell will be on his way this summer? I would have thought if they had the cash to burn, he would be worth hanging onto.

[ThaiPauly]

why so many rumours that Steve Sidwell will be on his way this summer? I would have thought if they had the cash to burn, he would be worth hanging onto.

.

Its not about the money with SS..he has been offered a club record 15 grand a week, which is a great deal for a player with only a season in the EPL under his belt.

He feels he wants to play for a team with European Ambitions and to force his way into the England team.

However not ONE team above us in the league has expressed an interest, as far as I am aware the interest comes from Newcastle and Man City. IMO he is better off where he is, at least he is the first name on the team sheet week in week out, but if we DO qalify for Europe he would probably not get a game...so I CAN se his point.

I think If City offload the trouble maker Barton, he could fill is boots admirably, but I would be sad to se him go

[Sunderland]

why so many rumours that Steve Sidwell will be on his way this summer? I would have thought if they had the cash to burn, he would be worth hanging onto.

.

Its not about the money with SS..he has been offered a club record 15 grand a week, which is a great deal for a player with only a season in the EPL under his belt.

He feels he wants to play for a team with European Ambitions and to force his way into the England team.

However not ONE team above us in the league has expressed an interest, as far as I am aware the interest comes from Newcastle and Man City. IMO he is better off where he is, at least he is the first name on the team sheet week in week out, but if we DO qalify for Europe he would probably not get a game...so I CAN se his point.

I think If City offload the trouble maker Barton, he could fill is boots admirably, but I would be sad to se him go

If Reading have 200 million set aside, 15 grand a week for a highly rated midfielder doesn't sound like a big sacrifice to me. However, if Reading are keeping their wages capped below that and can still attract decent players, then fair play to the management of the club.

Sunderland's poor seasons in the Premier League were largely due to having far too many disinterested players on big salaries who were more interested in what they could take than what they could give. Reading's squad is still largely the one that got them up last season, so those kind of problems are yet to surface.

It's good to see Reading having a successful season in the Premier League; the challenge will be to keep the momentum going next season. As Wigan have shown, it's not always as easy the following season.

One factor in Reading's favour is that they are in a more geographically favourable area than a club like Middlesbrough, Newcastle or Sunderland. It's often the case that players won't move to the north-east due to its remote location and bitter climate; whereas Reading is not that far from London.

I have no doubts that Dwight Yorke would never have swapped Sydney for Sunderland but for the chance to join up with Roy Keane again. Similarly, most of Keane's signings have had some connection or other with Manchester United, Celtic, Ireland or Trinidad and Tobago!

Steve Coppell is a pretty shrewd manager, but I wonder if he will carry the weight to be able to attract bigger names to Reading, if they continue to hold a place in the top 6 or 7.