Rob Couhig - New Interview

[MouldyRoyal]

It's all well and good saying BBC Berks should ask the tough questions, but we have seen with other clubs how quickly they can get banned from the club by overzealous owners and club management.

[Sutekh]

It's all well and good saying BBC Berks should ask the tough questions, but we have seen with other clubs how quickly they can get banned from the club by overzealous owners and club management.

Cuts both ways though, the club needs media coverage and the BBC, despite what many think of the organisation these days, still provides the biggest catchment.

[Orion1871]

That's not a contradiction, it's an acknowledgement there's more than one approach to bringing through young players....

That's certainly how my ears received what he said.

Not sure this is entirely accurate but my recollection is that he effectively said there are plenty of good young players cast off by other clubs and there is some good value to be had out there. Buy for £300k, sell for a couple of million (as he said they did at Wycombe) and it would be silly not to be on the look out for those as well as what is coming through the Academy, as they may well be more ready for 1st Team football.

It wouldn't surprise me if we see more deals such as the Savage/Elliott deals whereby we go to a Chelsea/Arsenal/Liverpool type of club and say, we'll take player X off your hands for nothing now on a 3 or 4 year deal. He'll be in or near to the first team immediately and if we sell him at any point during his time with us, you get 50 or 60% of any fee (less any agreed training costs etc).

May block some players coming out of our Academy but if the player we bring in is better at the same age, it would make sense.

Those deals had a lot to do with the role Eddie Niedzwiecki had at the club. Now he's gone there may not be the opportunity to make that type of transfer.

[morganb]

That's certainly how my ears received what he said.

Not sure this is entirely accurate but my recollection is that he effectively said there are plenty of good young players cast off by other clubs and there is some good value to be had out there. Buy for £300k, sell for a couple of million (as he said they did at Wycombe) and it would be silly not to be on the look out for those as well as what is coming through the Academy, as they may well be more ready for 1st Team football.

It wouldn't surprise me if we see more deals such as the Savage/Elliott deals whereby we go to a Chelsea/Arsenal/Liverpool type of club and say, we'll take player X off your hands for nothing now on a 3 or 4 year deal. He'll be in or near to the first team immediately and if we sell him at any point during his time with us, you get 50 or 60% of any fee (less any agreed training costs etc).

May block some players coming out of our Academy but if the player we bring in is better at the same age, it would make sense.

Those deals had a lot to do with the role Eddie Niedzwiecki had at the club. Now he's gone there may not be the opportunity to make that type of transfer.

So, what's Eddie doing at the moment? Perhaps if we want this kind of deal and he was instrumental to them perhaps we bring him back again?

[blueroyals]

I don’t mind going into bat in defence of our Tim

He is probably the entire Venn diagram of sports journalists with commentary experience who are also lifelong Reading fans

Would you rather a Jamie Theakston type Heart Radio focus group approved presenter from out of town? Because that is what you will get when Tim calls it a day. Have you heard Sky Sports commentary lately? It’s all just empty cliches, there is no substance or passion. That’s what happens when you push out good people with decades of experience to “freshen things up”

The BBC always lean to the status quo, so word from the club is always going to be reported in good faith whether you agree or not

[Sutekh]

It wouldn't surprise me if we see more deals such as the Savage/Elliott deals whereby we go to a Chelsea/Arsenal/Liverpool type of club and say, we'll take player X off your hands for nothing now on a 3 or 4 year deal. He'll be in or near to the first team immediately and if we sell him at any point during his time with us, you get 50 or 60% of any fee (less any agreed training costs etc).

May block some players coming out of our Academy but if the player we bring in is better at the same age, it would make sense.

Those deals had a lot to do with the role Eddie Niedzwiecki had at the club. Now he's gone there may not be the opportunity to make that type of transfer.

So, what's Eddie doing at the moment? Perhaps if we want this kind of deal and he was instrumental to them perhaps we bring him back again?

While it would be great to see Eddie back here in that role, chances are that the new owners may not be persuaded though, however if other clubs see that Elliott and Savage are thriving and attracting attention then that’s a lot of his persuasion work done anyway.

[Sutekh]

I don’t mind going into bat in defence of our Tim

He is probably the entire Venn diagram of sports journalists with commentary experience who are also lifelong Reading fans

Would you rather a Jamie Theakston type Heart Radio focus group approved presenter from out of town? Because that is what you will get when Tim calls it a day. Have you heard Sky Sports commentary lately? It’s all just empty cliches, there is no substance or passion. That’s what happens when you push out good people with decades of experience to “freshen things up”

The BBC always lean to the status quo, so word from the club is always going to be reported in good faith whether you agree or not

Occasional Tim substitute, Johnny Saunders is quality and what Tim should aspire to as a commentator, but sadly he isn’t quite near that level. The guy before Tim, Joel Hufford, had something about him so there’s talent out there that the local media can uncover. Pundit side-kick wise, Brian Howard is pretty sharp whereas Mick sadly gives the impression of not quite being with it. Ady is just

But I’d probably miss them if they weren’t there

[Reading4eva]

I don’t mind going into bat in defence of our Tim

He is probably the entire Venn diagram of sports journalists with commentary experience who are also lifelong Reading fans

Would you rather a Jamie Theakston type Heart Radio focus group approved presenter from out of town? Because that is what you will get when Tim calls it a day. Have you heard Sky Sports commentary lately? It’s all just empty cliches, there is no substance or passion. That’s what happens when you push out good people with decades of experience to “freshen things up”

The BBC always lean to the status quo, so word from the club is always going to be reported in good faith whether you agree or not

Occasional Tim substitute, Johnny Saunders is quality and what Tim should aspire to as a commentator, but sadly he isn’t quite near that level. The guy before Tim, Joel Hufford, had something about him so there’s talent out there that the local media can uncover. Pundit side-kick wise, Brian Howard is pretty sharp whereas Mick sadly gives the impression of not quite being with it. Ady is just

But I’d probably miss them if they weren’t there

There are definitely people who could step into Tim's shoes. Remember Joel, he was good but exited presenting completely. I would take Johnny every day of the week over Tim though

[Only one Trevor Morley]

I don’t think Couhig has an issue with the BBC (he is happy to be interviewed by south today). His issue is with Dellor and I think in particular Dellors willingness to blur what he was hearing via Howe and present it as fact. Dellor even said on twitter he wasn’t sure who the bigger villains were between Dai and Couhig! I think Couhig also irritated Dellor by actually using a pr machine that didn’t always include Dellor. Dellor used to being the main media guy in town which is no longer the case.

As for bbc radio Berkshire I’d get rid Ady and Mick and I say that as someone who gets all the endless references to when they played. But anyone under age of 40 will struggle - as my son said to me why do they keep mentioning Scott Taylor and Archie Lovell? who are they? We’re getting analysis through the lens of footballers whose heyday was 30 years ago….

[Sutekh]

I don’t think Couhig has an issue with the BBC (he is happy to be interviewed by south today). His issue is with Dellor and I think in particular Dellors willingness to blur what he was hearing via Howe and present it as fact. Dellor even said on twitter he wasn’t sure who the bigger villains were between Dai and Couhig! I think Couhig also irritated Dellor by actually using a pr machine that didn’t always include Dellor. Dellor used to being the main media guy in town which is no longer the case.

As for bbc radio Berkshire I’d get rid Ady and Mick and I say that as someone who gets all the endless references to when they played. But anyone under age of 40 will struggle - as my son said to me why do they keep mentioning Scott Taylor and Archie Lovell? who are they? We’re getting analysis through the lens of footballers whose heyday was 30 years ago….

Blasphemer!

[Orion1871]

I don’t think Couhig has an issue with the BBC (he is happy to be interviewed by south today). His issue is with Dellor and I think in particular Dellors willingness to blur what he was hearing via Howe and present it as fact. Dellor even said on twitter he wasn’t sure who the bigger villains were between Dai and Couhig! I think Couhig also irritated Dellor by actually using a pr machine that didn’t always include Dellor. Dellor used to being the main media guy in town which is no longer the case.

As for bbc radio Berkshire I’d get rid Ady and Mick and I say that as someone who gets all the endless references to when they played. But anyone under age of 40 will struggle - as my son said to me why do they keep mentioning Scott Taylor and Archie Lovell? who are they? We’re getting analysis through the lens of footballers whose heyday was 30 years ago….

Blasphemer!

Indeed. Sounds like that's a "Only one Trevor Morley" not raising their kids right problem rather than a Ady & Mick problem.

[rabidbee]

Don't worry guys, it's probably not long until the BBC axes Radio Berks. Then we can all look forward to weekly commentary from the Oxford matches on Thames Valley FM.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Don't worry guys, it's probably not long until the BBC axes Radio Berks. Then we can all look forward to weekly commentary from the Oxford matches on Thames Valley FM.

This. Like the Canadian singer and loyal Royal Joni Mitchell sang, you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone.

[RoyalBlue]

It wouldn't surprise me if we see more deals such as the Savage/Elliott deals whereby we go to a Chelsea/Arsenal/Liverpool type of club and say, we'll take player X off your hands for nothing now on a 3 or 4 year deal. He'll be in or near to the first team immediately and if we sell him at any point during his time with us, you get 50 or 60% of any fee (less any agreed training costs etc).

May block some players coming out of our Academy but if the player we bring in is better at the same age, it would make sense.

Those deals had a lot to do with the role Eddie Niedzwiecki had at the club. Now he's gone there may not be the opportunity to make that type of transfer.

So, what's Eddie doing at the moment? Perhaps if we want this kind of deal and he was instrumental to them perhaps we bring him back again?

.

Playing golf, I suspect.

Can't see RC increasing the headcount but maybe pay him on a job by job basis? I suspect paying him on deals done basis would take us dangerously close to unauthorised agent territory

[Reading4eva]

Those deals had a lot to do with the role Eddie Niedzwiecki had at the club. Now he's gone there may not be the opportunity to make that type of transfer.

So, what's Eddie doing at the moment? Perhaps if we want this kind of deal and he was instrumental to them perhaps we bring him back again?

.

Playing golf, I suspect.

Can't see RC increasing the headcount but maybe pay him on a job by job basis? I suspect paying him on deals done basis would take us dangerously close to unauthorised agent territory

Rob wants good people. Eddie is one of those instrumental in the development of such talented youngsters.

If Rob is aware of Eddie there's no reason why he wouldn't bring him back.

[The Royal Forester]

Don't worry guys, it's probably not long until the BBC axes Radio Berks. Then we can all look forward to weekly commentary from the Oxford matches on Thames Valley FM.

I seem to remember they did this quite a few years ago. As you say, the commentary was the O**ord match, not even a score update from our game. I had to resort to Teletext to find how we were getting on.
Was it Joel (Hufford?) and Tim who co-commented on our matches at one time? If I remember correctly, they didn't appear to get on too well. Joel, I think went to Southend (or somewhere around that area) to commentate for a Hospital Radio.

[Sutekh]

Don't worry guys, it's probably not long until the BBC axes Radio Berks. Then we can all look forward to weekly commentary from the Oxford matches on Thames Valley FM.

Been there before in the mid 90s when it was Thames Valley FM all you got was Oxfordshire this and Oxfordshire that

Remember listening to the breakfast programme on occasion and it was all Oxford United and all the “local” stories were from places like Banbury or Bicester. They did, however, at least manage to split the frequencies on match days so you got the Reading games. Overall it was a truly cr@p service but then I suppose the BBC has become a truly cr@p organisation.

[Sutekh]

Don't worry guys, it's probably not long until the BBC axes Radio Berks. Then we can all look forward to weekly commentary from the Oxford matches on Thames Valley FM.

I seem to remember they did this quite a few years ago. As you say, the commentary was the O**ord match, not even a score update from our game. I had to resort to Teletext to find how we were getting on.
Was it Joel (Hufford?) and Tim who co-commented on our matches at one time? If I remember correctly, they didn't appear to get on too well. Joel, I think went to Southend (or somewhere around that area) to commentate for a Hospital Radio.

Tim didn’t start getting football gigs until the early 00’s. Joel Hufford was the main man in the 90s and early 00’s but he left circa 2005 to join the NHS! The other guy who did commentary was Jonathan Southall who now gets sports bits and pieces on Radio 5 Live.

Suppose it beats the 80s though when it was 210 and Steve Beddow and while he was good their coverage was just non-existent, maybe a match report at half time or full time, so long as it didn’t interfere with whichever music program was on too much.

[katweslowski]

I don’t mind going into bat in defence of our Tim

He is probably the entire Venn diagram of sports journalists with commentary experience who are also lifelong Reading fans

Would you rather a Jamie Theakston type Heart Radio focus group approved presenter from out of town? Because that is what you will get when Tim calls it a day. Have you heard Sky Sports commentary lately? It’s all just empty cliches, there is no substance or passion. That’s what happens when you push out good people with decades of experience to “freshen things up”

The BBC always lean to the status quo, so word from the club is always going to be reported in good faith whether you agree or not

Ady is just

Agree with all of this. I like Tim and any mistakes or annoyances are forgivable as he's a genuine fan and loves the club.

Ady is intolerable and extremely hard to listen to. He lacks basic intelligence, he talks utter nonsense, he asks the most asinine and stupid questions.

[paddy20]

Just sounds like RC is on his first steps to becoming a fully fledged Reading fan.
Step 4: Reading fans understand that Deller is a bit of a dick.

Cant understand all this vitriol against Tim Dellor. Sure he gets carried away sometimes but he's a geniune fan as are Mick and Ady. I would hate them to be replaced by others less passionate about the club. Couhig needs to be told that they are his best PR outlet and as long as he's straight with them they will make sure the fans know this.