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HIGH HOPES: Brendan Rodgers wants to see Simon Church continue his goalscoring form

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Brendan Rodgers’ loan snub

By Adam Lee
November 20, 2009

Brendan Rodgers failed in an attempt to bring in a forward on loan during the international break.

Royals’ boss has admitted his goal-shy strikeforce needs strengthening, with the club’s first-choice strikers Grzegorz Rasiak and Simon Church netting just six times between them so far this season.

Rodgers approached two separate clubs about taking a front man on loan after Reading’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich two weeks ago. But both inquiries came to nothing and he is now looking elsewhere.

He will not, however, be forced into making a knee-jerk signing.

“I’ve identified not just a striker – it has to be a certain type,” he said.

“I’ve identified a link striker because we already have strikers here that are very good.

“Unfortunately in the last 10 days I have had two possibilites that haven’t happened, but I won’t just bring anyone in for the sake of it.

“It needs to be the right peson with the right DNA and our search continues.”

Although he would not reveal the names of the two strikers he tried to take on loan, he did admit that Huddersfield forward Jordan Rhodes, who was linked to the club in a national paper, was not one of them.

Rodgers said: “I saw that in the paper and it is fair to say that he (Rhodes) is doing a good job.

“I know of the player and I have seen him, but there was never anything in it.

“He certainly wasn’t one of the strikers I enquired about.”

Of the strikers Rodgers does have at his disposal, Church will almost certainly start tomorrow as Reading look to end their Madejski Stadium hoodoo against Blackpool.

Following his equalising goal against Ipswich in the Championship earlier this month, Church went on to score in Wales 3-0 friendly defeat of Scotland at the Cardiff City Stadium last Saturday.

He then set up Swansea City’s Joe Allen to score in Wales Under-21s’ 2-1 loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday.

And Rodgers is hoping that Church’s current prowess in front of goal could be the springboard the player needs to go on an extended run of goalscoring form and fire Reading up the table.

“Simon is an up-and-coming talent and he’s a work in progress,” he said.

“He is only 20 years of age and is a full international.

“It is only a matter of time for Simon – the goals will flow for him.

“When he is in the box he is a threat and his movement is some of the best I have seen for a young player.

“My job is to show him the confidence I have in his ability because this is his first full season and people can bring be quick to get on players backs when they don’t score.

“He is a young player that has talent and there is no doubt that he will be a Welsh international for many years to come and let’s hope, which I’m sure he will be, that his best days come here at Reading.”

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Have a day off Silver royal

Blackpool are a decent side and i can see why they are where they are in the league, and being 2-1 down with 10 mins to go they are gonna throw everything at reading as they had nothing to lose and i applaud the players for with holding the pressure and fighting to the end. You must also remember that we haven't won at home in 10 months so being in that position is always gonna be a nervous time for the players... what about the chances created in the first half it could have been 3 -0 if it wasn't for a goalkeeper having his game of the season just like doncaster and cardiff..

BR has changed the way we play and in the last 4 games he is starting to get his rewards, to say he now plays the long ball is the biggest load of rubbish i've ever heard. SC had amazing success at reading, but we play far better football now than we ever did under him..

Maybe he played one up front cos rasiak was carrying a slight knock and could only get 20-30 mins out of him so it was better to start with a system the everyone knew from the start than having to change it after 30 mins cos he got injured...

BR will be good for us and i am pleased with the football i am seeing and that we have now started to pick up results to back that up.. Like any manager the guy needs time to implement his ideas and now his ideas have started to bring a run of results together it can only bode well for the future.... not saying we have turned the corner or are gonna challenge for honours but i actually look forward to watching the football that is played...

FRED BAINES
23/11/2009 at 14:00

I add my twopennyworth, ignoring the fact I was advised last time I knew nothing about football, and becuase the website seems to have become a bit of a club, and it needs fresh blood. We started the season playing from the back, with Karachan deep. Now we play the long ball so Siggy is played as he is more 'upfront', and what Karacan learnt in the first few weeks isn't needed anymore. I still think we aren't that good, and worry that putting a side under pressure for the first half and failing to score only invites a response in the second half when they realise they have nothing to lose. Are the players fit enough to withstand this? And come-on, Blackpool could have got 4 in the last 10 minutes when our defence look a shables. Also not playing two up front (from the start) may make the midfield look better than it is and help out the defence, but sometime we have got to move on from this surely, and I don't see Brendan rushing to do so. So the jury is out for me on how well this team 'might' perform.

Silver Royal, Woodley
23/11/2009 at 12:37

rh - point taken - i was actually not commenting on norman - just the first post, as my first posts reads, then yes you make a fair point and i hold my hands up - sorry - yes normans is only his opinion. i still stand by what most of what ray says are facts

ajr111, swindon
22/11/2009 at 23:59

AJR111 - Your first post in this series clearly implied that the contents of the first 2 posts by Ray Northstander and Northstand Norman were facts which was not entirely the case as some comments were clearly opinions. I have no problem with people posting their opinions on here (whether I agree with them or not) providing they don't try to pass off those opinons as facts because if they can't tell the difference its time they learned. For the record it is my opinion that Rasiak is far from being one of the worst players we have had at this level and that we haven't seen enough of Cummings yet to make a sensible judgement.

RH, Reading, Reading
22/11/2009 at 01:46

rh - whether i disagree with the you over the players ability or not,it does not change the fact that what the other 'poster' was saying has happened, so it must be fact

ajr111, swindon
21/11/2009 at 17:40

what are you on about rh? where do rasiak and cummings come in to it?

ajr111, swindon
21/11/2009 at 17:35

Kitson has gone out on loan to Middlesborough.

Why didnt we get him ?

Errr..let me guess....wages too high..DOH !

Danny0367, Chorley, Lancashire
21/11/2009 at 14:43

BR has a safety first, keep possession, passion. This would be fine in the Premiership with Chelsea quality players. My gripe with him is he has no experience at this level and doesn't seem to be adapting. I know this season will be tough but feel not uite so tough with a manager experienced at this level. Todays oppo are doing really well under Mr Holloway who has turned it round there without a lot of money. He is no genius but knows the division. We have to support the team and I accept that BR is unlikely to be sacked because of finances. I just wish we could see some sort of progress that we stuck with not forever chopping and changing with no apparent direction. Hey ho its always darkest just before dawn - hopefully dawn is today. I do think Rasiak is getting needless stick on here, as when he gets sensible service he does look a quality striker.

Pete50
21/11/2009 at 07:58

"What like Rasiak and Cummings? Possibly two of the worst players ever to play at this level for the club"

Is that a fact or an opinion then ajr111?

RH, Reading, Reading
20/11/2009 at 23:40

i think lee barnard might be the one he's looking for from southend - they're skint, he can't be on a massive wage, is fairly young and scoring goals,comes from tottenham youth system, sounds like sjm and nh type of player

ajr111, swindon
20/11/2009 at 19:52

any one know anything about this thorvason, or whatever his name is, thats on trial at the moment?

ajr111, swindon
20/11/2009 at 19:47

It looks like a three ringed circus at the moment,JM will not put his hand in pocket for good players, BR keeps talking about those certain players who will score or do what? Relegation is creeping up slowly. That's the three ringed circus.

Expom, Christchurch New Zealand
20/11/2009 at 18:37

Pete calm down, everything is going to be ok. Give BR a chance. Why do you think a new manager with no money would do any better. Generally clubs who stick by their managers do ok. Stopping getting so worked up - channel your energy in a positive way - or are you actually a Watford supporter. You are certainly not behaving like a true Reading supporter.

HARB has it right. Owing to the constraints placed on BR it is Mission Impossible.

Take a Chill Pill!
20/11/2009 at 17:34

I bet Brendan Rodgers is looking for the right scorer. It will have to be a top quality, proven goalscorer who won't cost the Chairman more than a few quid in loan fees and wages.

Welcome to Mission Impossible!

HARB
20/11/2009 at 17:09

Bigger question is if this idiot gets a striker would he play him? Mr Ferguson is back from holidays soon, world class resignation or sacking and in he comes.