Many turning points can be identified in a club's history. I think two may stand out when evaluating the current period.

One may be the sale of Connor Wickham. The other may be the thrashing received last Saturday from Peterborough, hardly world beaters themselves, and on live TV for the world to witness. Would the owner be at the club this week to secure the signing of three players, but for that beating?

It is clear that funds from Marcus Evans were not as freely available over the past 12 months. The transfer fee from Connor Wickham is largely funding the transfer fees and wages of new signings.

It is that fee, combined with some new flexibility regarding the club wage structure, which has resulted in a host of former Premier League players joining the club. Undoubtedly there will be departures, with Tamas Priskin, Jaosn Scotland and Grant Leadbitter all likely to leave.

The likely best XI from the current squad - Stockdale; Edwards, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Cresswell; Bowyer, Andrews, Bullard; Martin or Emmanuel-Thomas, Chopra, Murphy - is full of Premier League experience, with plenty more on the bench. There is no doubt that side is the strongest fielded by the club for 10 years or more, and I think achieving a top four position is now not only very possible, it is very likely.

The signings of Ibrahima Sonko and Murphy gives presence at both ends of the pitch. Dodgy knee aside, Sonko was a key performer during Reading's promotion-winning season and in the following season in the Premier League. He is the type of forceful centre-back you can build a defence around. He will need an organiser alongside him - Ivar Ingimarsson, Mark Kennedy or Danny Collins, should he arrive on loan, would fit the bill. Murphy will provide a focal point in attack which Nathan Ellington or Emmanuel-Thomas, so far do not seem capable of doing.

Possible concerns are that half of the team may be in their thirties, with three more only on loan. If promotion is not achieved within the next year or two, I would be worried for the future. There will also be a concern regarding the discipline and motivation of a number of the new players.

With so many of the previously missing ingredients of a promotion winning team now in place - Michael Chopra (definitely the elusive 20-goal-a-season man), a host of quality midfielders and one in Keith Andrews who will be well capable of taking the holding role if required, attacking full-backs, creativity, a good goalkeeper - I foresee a top four finish. The Peterborough match may have been worth the embarrassment after all.

Bleedingblue added 21:35 - Aug 25 Good blog, I hope your evaluation of the team in the last paragraph is correct and we finish top four.
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Lightningboy added 21:49 - Aug 25 Our first choice 11 are starting to look pretty good now..the key will be keeping that 11 fit though. Never really rated Collins when i've seen him play for Sunderland/Stoke or Wales..would much rather someone else in that position.
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Kropotkin123 added 22:12 - Aug 25 I think the turning point was getting in a manager who knows what they are doing. He clearly has a plan, which is something our previous managers have been lacking. You can see, if you look hard enough, that the team had the makings of a good side when we were turned over 7-1 last week. Stockdale and creswell were the start of a great defence. A midfield including Bowyer, Andrews and JET (used as attacking mid) was a great start. as was Chopra upfront. Missing out on top players (particularly defensive players), due to being overambitious is not something we should be too critical of when the success rate brings us the likes of Chopra and Bowyer The only thing Paul Jewell has done wrong, in my opinion, is listen to the fans by switching to a 442 from a 451 before we were strong enough to do so. Whether we will get in the top four really depends on how bad/good the competition is, we, like Leicester should take time to form a good/great team, capable of making a serious challenge. But be under no illusions, as Jewell states, we still need more players, 2 in every position is what he stated, and we are still not there. 1 CB and 1 RB are probably now the top targets. Giving the players the patience to become a team is going to be one of the biggest challenges we face, and that is largely in our hands now...

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Tractorboy24 added 23:23 - Aug 25 Have to agree that the call to swap from 451 to 442 was I'll timed and thought. However I disagree that the owner only came to the club on the back of the drubbing, we've been after 2 of the 3 in the papers most of the summer, and jewell has always been on the look out for striking options. However, the hope for a top 4 finish will hopefully cone to fruition this year.

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Talbs77 added 01:16 - Aug 26 I agree with the 1st part of your blog, that the wickham money is funding the current recruitment of players (all of which I have been hugely impressed with) however I have to totally disagree with your 2nd part that town reaching a top 4 position "very likely". In my view this statement is completely ridiculous and thats not just me on the bandwagon on the shameful fiasco of Saturday teatime, Im speaking as a fan of 25 years. The Championship is completely and utterly unpredictable these days, at the end of day, pretty much 16 teams will feel exactly the same as ourselves in this league and, although I feel Paul Jewell is a man to be given time as I feel he has the skill and tools to get us promoted, its not going to happen overnight. You cant just get all these players in and expect us to suddenly turn into world beaters. You may be right, I hope you are and share your optimism. However I feel there has been/still is, somthing integrally wrong at the club at the moment whcih pj is trying to sort out in my view. Bare with me hear as I have felt this for a while and appreciate its only my view. Thw WHOLE club needs a bit of a more badboy/nasty/streetwise attitude. I think the whole club from board to fans are to fluffy/nice/EASY to play against, not helped by the ridulous statement from the chairwoman of the supporters club last week. A statement that in my view, only further dampens pashion at this great old football club. Lovely fluffy clubs/grounds dont see premier league football! Is Stoke City or previously Portsmouth all fluffy and nice to visit and win at home or away? Its going to take a long time to sort out the very ethos of this club which, in my view, needs to change dramatically.

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sonian_blue added 09:46 - Aug 26 Top four finish!!!!!!!!!!! Put the weed down. I will settle for top half right now.
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UsualSuspect added 12:54 - Aug 26 Agree with comments regarding strength/depth of squad when new defenders arrive but let's not forget ability to coach, tactics and man management, we need to get some confidence back amongst the players then results should improve dramatically (can't get any worse). Top four is a big shout, I for one hope you are right Sir.
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tractored added 09:47 - Aug 27 Ha ha have you been on the mushrooms?
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fifeblue added 12:28 - Aug 27 "There is no doubt that side is the strongest fielded by the club for 10 years or more, and I think achieving a top four position is now not only very possible, it is very likely." What a load of tosh. You are deluded if you think this bunch of misfits is better than the 2005 side, let alone that of 2001.
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pmason added 14:45 - Aug 27 the last couple of results have been the worst iv ever witnessed. And to think we were giving out about roy keane when his teams were losing by the odd goal or conceding in extra time !!! 12 in two is a miserable record that will be Paul Jewells for a very long time ...
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