Reading FC

Alex Pearce: 'Reading players have always kept the belief'
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Pearce: Watch out for the Reading FC run

By Jonny Fordham
February 04, 2013

Alex Pearce has told Reading’s relegation rivals to beware of their late-season run.

Royals have a timely knack of picking up the pace in the second half of the campaign and their recent purple patch has seen them win five of their last six.

Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 home win against Sunderland, thanks to a Jimmy Kebe brace, saw Brain McDermott’s side put a two-point buffer between the 17th-placed club and the relegation zone.

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And Pearce, away on international duty with Republic of Ireland this week, said: The boys have always kept the belief.

“The gaffer has instilled that in us. He said that it is always there for you if you are on it, and we can do it, we’ve proven that.

“We can go on a run. We have done it for the last three or four years. Any team that comes here is going to find it hard. That’s been proven over the last three years.

“We’ve felt that we can go on a run and it’s proven to be right.”

Royals travel to Stoke City this Saturday – the side they drew 1-1 against on the opening day of the 2012/13 Premier League season.

“It will be a good one,” added centre-back Pearce.

“It won’t be one for the faint-hearted. We’ll be going there with very high confidence and such high spirits as.

“The form that we’re in at the moment we can take on anyone.”

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A balanced perspective here.

Should we really be at all worried at Pearce going? Maybe the Club think he has reached his pinnacle, with no more to give.

We have Morrison waiting in the wings. Far from the finished article, but improving and Hector developing nicely.

Mapps seems to have settled in and Carico is obviously no mug in centre defence.

For once I tend to agree with the Club's position here.

Big P, Reading
04/02/2013 at 19:00

Here, Here Royals 1871.

It sounds like he's being played by a greedy agent!

The Commentator
04/02/2013 at 17:48

According to Teamtalk both WBA and Sunderland are interested in Pearce.

Royals1871
04/02/2013 at 16:53

fair points ray and Michael

big rumours circulating on twitter that pearce has in fact decided to become a free agent in the summer

has anyone else heard this

last chance saloon
04/02/2013 at 16:28

Big P - I belive Alf signed a contract extension to 2015, quite recently.

Last Chance - I agree with you ref AP's contract. Sidwell's situation was different, as he made it clear he wouldn't sign a new deal, but was prepared to be sold. We chose to retain him until his contract expired.

This Summer, as far as I'm aware (in addition to Pearce), Roberts, N.Hunt, Harte, Shorey, S.Taylor, Tabby, Brynn, Church and a number of Reserve/U21's are out of contract.

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
04/02/2013 at 15:41

Last chance, Your earlier post was much closer to the mark than your more recent one. Pearce has most definitely had Brendan whispering in his ear. The number 23 shirt, and bigging the player up as a club captain was Brendan's doing when he was manager here. He's known our Alex since he was a kid, so he undoubtedly has his phone number on his mobile. There is little anyone can do when a bigger, more illustrious club comes sniffing around, and few clubs in the world are immune. Even ManU lost Ronaldo, Arsenal lost Fabregas when the right club came a calling. And these were very well paid star players.

Sidwell was completely honest with the club, told them that he was not going to sign a new deal, and was going to run his contract down, because he knew that he could choose for himself where to further his career (and get a fat signing on fee, of course).

The club knew that they can not force any player to sign a contract, so took the view that dumping a "contract rebel" in the reserves would be to the detriment of the team as a whole. Given the excellent level of performance Sidwell gave the club in his final season here, I'm inclined to think that the club got that call right.

ray northstander
04/02/2013 at 15:36

Wonder's how long Roberts has left......

A. XYZ
04/02/2013 at 14:30

Don't mean to worry anybody, but hasn't Alfie now only got 18 months left on his?!

Big P, Reading
04/02/2013 at 14:26

southbank dave:

I'm more annoyed with the club.. if they believe Pearce to be a big part of the future of this club regardless what division we are in, they should never ever let him or any other player they think that of go into the last year of there contract

negotiations should have started when he was in the last 18 months of his contract and if he hasnt signed when getting into the last 12 months then im sorry its on the transfer list and get a fee

the clubs philosophy has to change on giving out new deals and be adaptable to different players and situation..

nicky hammonnd you may do some great deals when selling players on i.e kitson doyle hunt, long, gylfi but youve also cost the club a minimum of 5-6 million if not more with your mishandling of the sidwelll contract and now pearce

last chance saloon
04/02/2013 at 13:37

Sadly the word "Loyalty" was erased from the Footballer's dictionary several years ago.

askan
04/02/2013 at 13:35

Just sign your contract Pearce, so you can fully concentrate on the task ahead.

RFC have made you the player you are and now is the time to make the decision yourself and show some loyalty, and not let your agent decide it for you. His interest is that he will get a bigger slice of cash by you signing for someone else. All Agents in any profession are only interested in what they can get out of a deal.

Royals1871
04/02/2013 at 12:21

My attitude has always been- If the player doesn't want to play for you then let him go and replace him. Very few players from RFC have gone and performed wonders elsewhere. Long has done well at WBA and is loved by the supporters. Gylfi has not been as dynamic but would perform wonders for us if he came back. Sidwell, Doyle, Hunt, Kitson? Not exactly set the world alight. Too often players like managers click with one club and then have trouble performing elsewhere. Obviously there are exceptions eg RVP but players like him are world class.

askan
04/02/2013 at 11:53

last chance saloon - unfortunately, I think you're right, but as you say, we now have replacements, so hey ho. That's life in footy these days.

Looking forward to the Stoke game now!

Southbank Dave
04/02/2013 at 11:22

will be surprised if he signs if he was going to he would have by now imo his heads been turned and is gonna cash in big time in the summer

not irreplaceable though just makes it harder when its a player who has came through the academy