Gets in another match, this time at home: While late scratch Daniel Williams sat out with a knock for Reading, the home fans got their first look at 18-year-old American striker Andrija Novakovich in the 81st minute. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...or-returns-birmingham-city-while-andrija-nova
H/t to @mschofield for posting this in the YNT U-20 WC roster thread. Probably not a lot of new information here, but it is encouraging that Novakovich seems poised to join the first team full-time next season.
What I love about this story is that Ramos is making a point that Reading and the US national team work well together, which is cool (I was a kid in Reading and have always had a soft spot for them). It was great with Bobby Convey and Marcus H, Danny W and now Novakovich
For him to miss this tournament I really would he's actually competing for a starting spot. Alternatively, his club could be covering for him because he wants to keep his options open with Serbia.
Reading, a team that made the semi-finals of the FA Cup but seriously underperformed throughout a season in which they were less than favorites in the championship but certainly expected to "there or thereabouts." Right now, the team is preparing to clean house. Even some of those not seen as having failed the club are on their way out. Karacan, after spending three quarters of the season out injured, is being targeted by prem clubs right now, and is talking like he wants out, and he's the captain. It's going to be a very different team next year. If they're making this request, they have plans for him. Now, of course, totally up to him to meet their expectations. He is not guaranteed anything. But they obviously like what they see, and think he's up to a more intense role. this will be, however, the first off season for the new and quite deep pocketed owners from Thailand. There are no expectations of wild eyed spending but there should be a bit of cash to bring in players.
I suppose that's possible, but even if he appeared for the US in this event, he would still be eligible to file a one-time switch.
Watching those clips, it's hard to imagine anything other than us in the semi's or final if we'd had him, our liabilities were at forward for the most part due to all those injuries and he looks quite legit. A shame we couldn't get him and then had to be beset by injuries at his precise position in the cup . Hopefully staying with Reading will pay off for him and us going forward.
Got a few minutes at the end of Reading's friendly in Thailand: http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/thailand-all-stars-0-0-reading-2533009.aspx
played in friendly vs tottenham. came on in a friendly today at the 85 min. http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/bristol-rovers-0-reading-fc-9703823
He hasn't made the bench for Reading to start the season. EDIT: Actually he did make the bench today in a 0-0 draw.
Probably a big deal for Andrija, but I've seen this picture before... 18 y.o yank on the verge of first team minutes at the championship, makes the bench, gets a couple games. Manager praises young lad, talks him up. Only for him never to make the breakthrough & even be serviceable to the club. Conor Doyle & Will Packwood just from recent memory come to mind. Sorry for being such a... PS: I love your user name
Starts for the U21s against Tottenham: Reading U21s: Moore, Long, Griffin, Fridjonsson, Hyam, Sweeney (c), Semedo, Kelly, Liburd, Novakovich, Fosu.— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 14, 2015
Yank-on-Yank violence: U21s: Great block-tackle by @cameroncv2 denies Novakovich as he pounces on a loose ball and drives forward. 0-1, 22mins #COYS— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 14, 2015 And an assist: U21s: @ReadingFC double their lead as Novakovich flicks the ball up from the right and Liburd heads home. 0-2, 40mins— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 14, 2015
I don't mind this since both of those other players are sort proving to be not ready and maybe even not good enough. What I do mind is how petty and small-minded it was to not let him play the YWC.