New Owners - Redwood Watch

[Stranded]

It's worrying to hear Rob Couhig once again referring to the Academy losing £3M a year. Until he starts seeing the academy as a cost rather than a loss, I fear he is highly likely to kill off the goose that has laid some pretty good golden eggs.

Like most things in life, the academy has a cost, but the club gets a lot in return for that cost. It's not pouring money down a drain without any positive return.

I think 'investment' and 'expenditure' would be the best terms to use, rather than a cost/loss/etc.

I haven't to listen to Couhig's interview yet, so I don't know the exact wording of what he said about the academy. He did previously say it was costing £200k per month (during a Q&A ahead of one of the matches towards the end of the season).

The biggest issue is Couhig is not going to be looking at the long term picture. He's seventy-seven, so he will probably be looking at five years maximum.

The academy is something which needs consistent funding in order to maximise the potential returns from it. As has been discussed at various points on here before: you can have a number of seasons of losses, but that be followed by years of profit. You can only judge it on the longer term picture.

It's a tough balancing act but if it really is losing 3m per year then it probably needs to be downgraded. Our one big sale from the Academy in Olise and even he came into it relatively late following release from Chelsea - he is already a global talent and we frankly are unlikely to see many of those come through our ranks. How much money have we actually made from selling Academy players?

The weird benefit we may now have as Cat 1 in L1 is that players may see a clear, quick path to 1st team action. If a player is at a PL club then their path is likely to be PL2 - L1 loan - Champ loan - Champ loan - first team/release but with us they can probably skip the loans, be in the first team at 18/19 and if good enough get permanent moves to Champ/PL.

[Marcel]

It's worrying to hear Rob Couhig once again referring to the Academy losing £3M a year. Until he starts seeing the academy as a cost rather than a loss, I fear he is highly likely to kill off the goose that has laid some pretty good golden eggs.

Like most things in life, the academy has a cost, but the club gets a lot in return for that cost. It's not pouring money down a drain without any positive return.

I think 'investment' and 'expenditure' would be the best terms to use, rather than a cost/loss/etc.

I haven't to listen to Couhig's interview yet, so I don't know the exact wording of what he said about the academy. He did previously say it was costing £200k per month (during a Q&A ahead of one of the matches towards the end of the season).

The biggest issue is Couhig is not going to be looking at the long term picture. He's seventy-seven, so he will probably be looking at five years maximum.

The academy is something which needs consistent funding in order to maximise the potential returns from it. As has been discussed at various points on here before: you can have a number of seasons of losses, but that be followed by years of profit. You can only judge it on the longer term picture.

It's a tough balancing act but if it really is losing 3m per year then it probably needs to be downgraded. Our one big sale from the Academy in Olise and even he came into it relatively late following release from Chelsea - he is already a global talent and we frankly are unlikely to see many of those come through our ranks. How much money have we actually made from selling Academy players?

The weird benefit we may now have as Cat 1 in L1 is that players may see a clear, quick path to 1st team action. If a player is at a PL club then their path is likely to be PL2 - L1 loan - Champ loan - Champ loan - first team/release but with us they can probably skip the loans, be in the first team at 18/19 and if good enough get permanent moves to Champ/PL.

Can’t see any young players from the academy getting much of a look in with that dinosaur Richardson in charge.
He will just fill the squad with 30+ year old northern journeymen

[Sutekh]

Dai has filed to get his holding company for Reading FC (Rehne Sports Management) struck from Companies House, thus dissolving it and finally closing the whole chapter on his ownership.

[Sutekh]

Dai has filed to get his holding company for Reading FC (Rehne Sports Management) struck from Companies House, thus dissolving it and finally closing the whole chapter on his ownership.

[Royalwaster]

I think 'investment' and 'expenditure' would be the best terms to use, rather than a cost/loss/etc.

I haven't to listen to Couhig's interview yet, so I don't know the exact wording of what he said about the academy. He did previously say it was costing £200k per month (during a Q&A ahead of one of the matches towards the end of the season).

The biggest issue is Couhig is not going to be looking at the long term picture. He's seventy-seven, so he will probably be looking at five years maximum.

The academy is something which needs consistent funding in order to maximise the potential returns from it. As has been discussed at various points on here before: you can have a number of seasons of losses, but that be followed by years of profit. You can only judge it on the longer term picture.

It's a tough balancing act but if it really is losing 3m per year then it probably needs to be downgraded. Our one big sale from the Academy in Olise and even he came into it relatively late following release from Chelsea - he is already a global talent and we frankly are unlikely to see many of those come through our ranks. How much money have we actually made from selling Academy players?

The weird benefit we may now have as Cat 1 in L1 is that players may see a clear, quick path to 1st team action. If a player is at a PL club then their path is likely to be PL2 - L1 loan - Champ loan - Champ loan - first team/release but with us they can probably skip the loans, be in the first team at 18/19 and if good enough get permanent moves to Champ/PL.

Can’t see any young players from the academy getting much of a look in with that dinosaur Richardson in charge.
He will just fill the squad with 30+ year old northern journeymen

The same LR who used young players extensively in his previous jobs? As others have said this year the academy graduates just weren't as good as previous seasons and we also ended up losing several due to inability to offer contracts.

[stealthpapes]

It's worrying to hear Rob Couhig once again referring to the Academy losing £3M a year. Until he starts seeing the academy as a cost rather than a loss, I fear he is highly likely to kill off the goose that has laid some pretty good golden eggs.

Like most things in life, the academy has a cost, but the club gets a lot in return for that cost. It's not pouring money down a drain without any positive return.

I think 'investment' and 'expenditure' would be the best terms to use, rather than a cost/loss/etc.

I haven't to listen to Couhig's interview yet, so I don't know the exact wording of what he said about the academy. He did previously say it was costing £200k per month (during a Q&A ahead of one of the matches towards the end of the season).

The biggest issue is Couhig is not going to be looking at the long term picture. He's seventy-seven, so he will probably be looking at five years maximum.

The academy is something which needs consistent funding in order to maximise the potential returns from it. As has been discussed at various points on here before: you can have a number of seasons of losses, but that be followed by years of profit. You can only judge it on the longer term picture.

It's a tough balancing act but if it really is losing 3m per year then it probably needs to be downgraded. Our one big sale from the Academy in Olise and even he came into it relatively late following release from Chelsea - he is already a global talent and we frankly are unlikely to see many of those come through our ranks. How much money have we actually made from selling Academy players?

The weird benefit we may now have as Cat 1 in L1 is that players may see a clear, quick path to 1st team action. If a player is at a PL club then their path is likely to be PL2 - L1 loan - Champ loan - Champ loan - first team/release but with us they can probably skip the loans, be in the first team at 18/19 and if good enough get permanent moves to Champ/PL.

Clyde made a good stab at estimating this elsewhere. It’s not just about the big sales and it’s all about the long game.

[Sutekh]

I think 'investment' and 'expenditure' would be the best terms to use, rather than a cost/loss/etc.

I haven't to listen to Couhig's interview yet, so I don't know the exact wording of what he said about the academy. He did previously say it was costing £200k per month (during a Q&A ahead of one of the matches towards the end of the season).

The biggest issue is Couhig is not going to be looking at the long term picture. He's seventy-seven, so he will probably be looking at five years maximum.

The academy is something which needs consistent funding in order to maximise the potential returns from it. As has been discussed at various points on here before: you can have a number of seasons of losses, but that be followed by years of profit. You can only judge it on the longer term picture.

It's a tough balancing act but if it really is losing 3m per year then it probably needs to be downgraded. Our one big sale from the Academy in Olise and even he came into it relatively late following release from Chelsea - he is already a global talent and we frankly are unlikely to see many of those come through our ranks. How much money have we actually made from selling Academy players?

The weird benefit we may now have as Cat 1 in L1 is that players may see a clear, quick path to 1st team action. If a player is at a PL club then their path is likely to be PL2 - L1 loan - Champ loan - Champ loan - first team/release but with us they can probably skip the loans, be in the first team at 18/19 and if good enough get permanent moves to Champ/PL.

Can’t see any young players from the academy getting much of a look in with that dinosaur Richardson in charge.
He will just fill the squad with 30+ year old northern journeymen

A few more like Benn Ward then?

[Extended-Phenotype]

Tbf we needed a bit of experience, and at times that experience on the pitch paid off. Pays off less when most of your starting 11 get crocked, though.

Anyway, summer signings weren’t on Richardson, and xmas signings are always as good as you can get. Last season was patching up along with a few promising prospects. This season needs to build further on a more solid foundation. Both Leam and Rob have been fairly vocal about signing fit young players. Let’s hope they remain true to their word.

[Clyde1998]

I think 'investment' and 'expenditure' would be the best terms to use, rather than a cost/loss/etc.

I haven't to listen to Couhig's interview yet, so I don't know the exact wording of what he said about the academy. He did previously say it was costing £200k per month (during a Q&A ahead of one of the matches towards the end of the season).

The biggest issue is Couhig is not going to be looking at the long term picture. He's seventy-seven, so he will probably be looking at five years maximum.

The academy is something which needs consistent funding in order to maximise the potential returns from it. As has been discussed at various points on here before: you can have a number of seasons of losses, but that be followed by years of profit. You can only judge it on the longer term picture.

It's a tough balancing act but if it really is losing 3m per year then it probably needs to be downgraded. Our one big sale from the Academy in Olise and even he came into it relatively late following release from Chelsea - he is already a global talent and we frankly are unlikely to see many of those come through our ranks. How much money have we actually made from selling Academy players?

The weird benefit we may now have as Cat 1 in L1 is that players may see a clear, quick path to 1st team action. If a player is at a PL club then their path is likely to be PL2 - L1 loan - Champ loan - Champ loan - first team/release but with us they can probably skip the loans, be in the first team at 18/19 and if good enough get permanent moves to Champ/PL.

Clyde made a good stab at estimating this elsewhere. It’s not just about the big sales and it’s all about the long game.

It was here: https://www.royals.org/forum/viewtopic. ... 0#p5640178

[Sutekh]

Can’t help but feel this summer close season is going to be a total damp squib at the moment. Currently no sign of any players, offered new deals, actually signing them, next to no rumour or transfer talk let alone getting players through the door in time for pre-season and just 1 first team friendly announced and no rumours of others on the way. Surely it should be a tad busier than this by now? Perhaps they’re waiting for the World Cup when they can start chasing whichever Jordanian or Iraqi catches the eye

[South Coast Royal]

Can’t help but feel this summer close season is going to be a total damp squib at the moment. Currently no sign of any players, offered new deals, actually signing them, next to no rumour or transfer talk let alone getting players through the door in time for pre-season and just 1 first team friendly announced and no rumours of others on the way. Surely it should be a tad busier than this by now? Perhaps they’re waiting for the World Cup when they can start chasing whichever Jordanian or Iraqi catches the eye

Or a DR Congo player already known?

[traff]

Can’t help but feel this summer close season is going to be a total damp squib at the moment. Currently no sign of any players, offered new deals, actually signing them, next to no rumour or transfer talk let alone getting players through the door in time for pre-season and just 1 first team friendly announced and no rumours of others on the way. Surely it should be a tad busier than this by now? Perhaps they’re waiting for the World Cup when they can start chasing whichever Jordanian or Iraqi catches the eye

Or a DR Congo player already known?

Leroy Lita?