Reading FC

Reading FC assistant manager has praised trialist Gunnar Thorvaldsson
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Striker Thorvaldsson could be Reading FC's missing 'link'

By Jonny Fordham
November 26, 2009

Icelandic international striker Gunnar Thorvaldsson could be the answer to help out Reading’s goal-shy attack.

The 27-year-old striker has been on loan at Madejski Stadium for nearly two weeks and has impressed Royals’ coaching staff and even managed two goals in eight minutes for the reserves yesterday.

Icelandic trialist scores twice for Reading FC's reserves

Chief scout Brian McDermott has been tracking the former Hannover 96 player who is currently playing for Esbjerg in the Danish top-flight for several years now.

Steve Coppell came close to signing him in 2005, but then already had Kevin Doyle, Dave Kitson, Leroy Lita and Shane Long.

“He’s been on Brian’s radar for some time and Reading came close to signing him a couple of years ago,” assistant manager Dean Austin told the Reading Post.

“At that time though the club decided against it due to the number of strikers they had already.

“He’s been with us for 10 days now and he’s been doing very well. He’s a link striker and someone who plays in and around the striker and offers us something different up front.

“He’s been training well and is a good lad too so we’ll see what happens there.”

Reading already have captain Ivar Ingimarsson from Iceland, along with Brynjar Gunnarsson and Gylfi Sigurdsson, which would make it easier for Thorvaldsson to settle in Berkshire if signed on a permanent basis.

Brendan Rodgers has until midnight tonight to sign Thorvaldsson on an emergency loan, after that deadline he would have to wait until the transfer window in January to re-open if he wants to sign him.

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A missing link who, even if signed now, will not be permitted to play for us until the January transfer window opens!

Yes, Chairman Madejski, this does really demonstrate your true level of ambition for Reading Football Club.

HARB
26/11/2009 at 19:56

Brendan wants a player with the right DNA. So do we need to do a DNA test on the 'missing link' ?

Exiled in Scotland, Central Scotland
26/11/2009 at 16:08

According to the Vital Football article ("Royals fail in transfer market - again!"), it is not possible to sign players registered outside the UK (e.g. Thorvaldsson) on loan outside the transfer window.

runrunrunrunkebe
26/11/2009 at 12:34

hey, throw in ronaldo and kaka and we will be the world class team rodgers always dreamed of having!

R0yals4Life, Singapore
26/11/2009 at 10:47

With him and our other new signing, Martin Paterson, Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba we may have some hope after all.

I'm not ahead of myself am I? I did read a rumour on HNA afterall so it MUST be true.

Tom_Foolery, Reading
26/11/2009 at 10:27

SIGN HIM UP, if he can score then we need him!!! hope they do!!!

Monkity, Reading
26/11/2009 at 10:21

He’s in an interesting one. Apparently showed a lot of promise 3 or 4 years ago but has been quite quiet since then. He probably has the ability to do a job for the club, and even if church and long are fit, neither are scoring consistently for the club… The ratio of shots to goals this season has been poor at best, unacceptable at worst!

I’d like to see a new face at the club, even if it is only on loan for a few months cover, but equally I imagine Rodgers doesn’t want to rock the boat at the moment given our recent improvement.

This time tomorrow all will be clear!

The Conservative Liberal
26/11/2009 at 10:17

with him and martin paterson, we may have some hope after all

R0yals4Life, Singapore
26/11/2009 at 10:07

So will the Chairman push the boat out to make this happen before the loan window slams shut or will Brendan Rodgers be forced to limp on with our current pitiful and mostly injured strikeforce?

Premier League ambition, Championship survival or League One destiny? The Chairman's budgetary controls will speak louder than his words.

HARB
26/11/2009 at 10:00

Come on Madejski sign him up!!!

Before we were famous-loyal royal!!
26/11/2009 at 09:57

Have seen a few of his goals on youtube - looks like he can find the net, which cant be bad and if reports are true that he is very similar to Kevin Doyle then, for once, you wont see me moaning about this signing happening :-)