HAS PROGRESS BEEN MADE ????

Its exactly 4 weeks before the Championship KOs the new season, so with that in mind are we in a better place than at the end of last season ?

Looking back last season was a disaster three managers (2 were cheap rookies) and a Summer that saw the squad totally remoulded. Result - we should have been relegated but for Readings 6 point deduction. It was a case that total mismanagement from the top down, which resulted in a a 3 window transfer embargo being imposed due to Tan's obsession with the Nantes money.

So are we in a better place now?
1. We have appointed a new management team ( with an international flavour) which seams to know what they are doing with positive signals coming out from the them.
2. We have our two best players back from long term injury ( Collins & Robinson)
3. 7 players have been released ( basically were about as much use as a chocolate fire guard)
4. 3 loan players have returned back to their clubs Kipri, Philogene & Kaba ( as it stands they will be missed)
5. 3 players have been brought in up to this stage who look like they have more to offer than those that have left
6. The Loan embargo has been reduced to 2 windows which means that January 2024 opens up on transfers.( Tan now has to pay the full balance of the Sala fee or big problems will rain down on us, I think he will have no option but to pay)
7. We are promised that there will be more quality coming in in the coming weeks
8. They appears to be a power struggle going on between Tan & Dalman which can get in the way of any progress however Dalman seams to be making some headway with this We shall see!

My view is its work in progress but we are in a better place than at the end of 2022/23, but there is still more to be done if we are to rise up the league table, how far have we progressed ? In my opinion we are 3 or 4 league places better than last year with a little more work on incoming players will determine whether that translates into mid-table or above for the coming season.
As usual my cup is half Full Whats yours

Work in progress is spot on.

I'll judge after 10 games. But the signs are certainly promising. And there seems to be a feel good factor returning. Certainly more good than bad.

Think you’ve summed it up really well, I’d say we’re certainly better off than we were going into last season - which bar the loan signings would have been even more of a disaster.

There seems to be a renewed sense of optimism, which can only be a positive in itself. Looking forward to seeing who else EB brings in

I also think that as much as Trying to sign up Rambo would represent a positive step forward, it would not be the silver bullet ( sorry about the Pune) everyone states

Plenty of players at the club who are not up to it
Both keepers
Romeo
Simpson
Ojo
Watters

And perhaps Sawyers

Plenty of players at the club who are not up to it
Both keepers
Romeo
Simpson
Ojo
Watters

And perhaps Sawyers

I am sure quite a few of those names will be moved on or loaned. We can add Campbell and Tanner to that list too. I already trust this manager's judgement far more than last year's Morison/Hudson failure. Patience is the key though as a lot of business will be done just before the season starts. I think we'll see loans from Premier league clubs coming our way then too.

Plenty of players at the club who are not up to it
Both keepers
Romeo
Simpson
Ojo
Watters

And perhaps Sawyers

see i personally think Romeo is quality, think the club as a whole struggled last season, but i think he's head and shoulders better than Bagan as a full back, and because Collins injury was pretty severe, i can see him being rested, missing a few games for the first few months, and we'll probably see NG slot into left back and Romeo right back.

Watters, i think its clear, no one wants to pay for him, just cancel his contract now, both walk away. Simpson was shockingly bad last season when he played, probably same with him, i cannot see someone offering up cash.

Plenty of players at the club who are not up to it
Both keepers
Romeo
Simpson
Ojo
Watters

And perhaps Sawyers

see i personally think Romeo is quality, think the club as a whole struggled last season, but i think he's head and shoulders better than Bagan as a full back, and because Collins injury was pretty severe, i can see him being rested, missing a few games for the first few months, and we'll probably see NG slot into left back and Romeo right back.

Watters, i think its clear, no one wants to pay for him, just cancel his contract now, both walk away. Simpson was shockingly bad last season when he played, probably same with him, i cannot see someone offering up cash.

I agree re Romeo. Certainly ok for a full back at this level.

I think Romeo is a very good full back. He's committed, aggressive in the tackle, pacey and has decent positional sense. Would be happy for him to keep his spot in the first team. Add another quality centre back to this squad and NG could switch back to being a full back too...very healthy competition then between Romeo and him!

Romeo is good. He struggled without a decent right side of midfield ahead of him. Get someone on that side of the team who's championship standard (ie NOT Ojo) then I think we see Romeo come on stronger.

Romeo had a good season last year and impressed me.

As for 'progress', I would have tentatively agreed, however, when Bulut said he was "Told to play the youngsters", and if this is indeed more Tan meddling, then we can safely say there has been zero progress.

I hope my fears of continued interferance is not the case, and we can now take baby steps forward.

The new manager seems to be doing the right things and the first three signings look promising.

I'm encouraged by that.

Obviously progress will be judged on when we start playing games (games that matter).

You can't judge pre season friendlies. The first couple are about fitness and then after that trying to find the right tactics for the team.

People are being harsh about the goalkeepers. They're not brilliant but they are Championship standard goalkeepers. We were lucky for many years to have the best goalkeepers in the league, that was always likely to stop at some point.

It's down to the manager to have a good pre-season plan in place which we are seeing.

We can judge the progress we've made 10-12 league games into the season. As fans we won't learn much in terms of progress until the season starts (other than new signings) but the manager will learn a lot, which is what really matters.

I'm to long in the tooth to be fooled by CCFC, last season we loan and bought cheap from the football league. this time we are trying are luck with players from Europe.No way will we be pushing for playoff. I'll be happy just to keep our heads above relegation.

I'm to long in the tooth to be fooled by CCFC, last season we loan and bought cheap from the football league. this time we are trying are luck with players from Europe.No way will we be pushing for playoff. I'll be happy just to keep our heads above relegation.

Embargo is somewhat restrictive though mate.

I'm to long in the tooth to be fooled by CCFC, last season we loan and bought cheap from the football league. this time we are trying are luck with players from Europe.No way will we be pushing for playoff. I'll be happy just to keep our heads above relegation.

Embargo is somewhat restrictive though mate.

Andrew, well said; given the restrictions of the the fee embargo we are looking to have done some good business to date and some fantastic news on way...!