RUMOUR - Tommy Smith

[Wycombe Royal]

It's a bit premature to go down the "tapping up" route. It is very possible that Rodgers has heard this information about Smith from someone else he is in contact with at Watford. He only left there a few weeks ago so I am sure he is still in contact with people there.

However he has been a bit stupid in making these comments to the media and I am pretty sure he will be called to a meeting at the club to discuss his approach to speaking with the media.

[Alan Partridge]

From what i gather he has spoken to smith personally so if that's what 'tapping up' is then BR would be guilty of it in this case. Just feel it's inexperience and a bit of immaturity from BR as a manager. You don't talk about other people's players unless the deal is done, it's not done. Reading haven't agreed a fee and possibly won't do, Watford may even just choose not to sell to Reading, wouldn't be surprised now.

There's nothing wrong with going back to previous clubs and attempting to sign players but with the way BR left Watford to come here you'd think he'd keep a lower profile or treat them with a bit more respect to try and let things pass with them smoother. They are still very bitter and annoyed that he's here, so to talk about one of their players and say i know he wants to come here, is hardly very smart.

[Royal Rother]

Agreed. I really like the fact that he tries to answer every question directed at him with honesty and openness, it seems that is going to be one of the hallmarks of his managership, but he does need to learn when to shut down I think. As you say, a bit of inexperience showing I guess.

[W&E Royal]

I agree completely agree with the Watford chairman, anyone who thinks that Brendon is correct for talking about any player that isn't on the books of Reading Football Club is crazy. How would you feel if it was Pards or McGhee talking like that just a month after they left, you'd all go mental. To be honest this all leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Please, please, please, please do not spell Brendan, Brendon again!

Sorry - I share the same name as the great BR and people spell my name Brendon all the time, drives me up the wall!

I also get called Brian, Brodie, Byron and the big one....... Brenda

Sorry Brian, my bad.

[TBM]

From what i gather he has spoken to smith personally so if that's what 'tapping up' is then BR would be guilty of it in this case. Just feel it's inexperience and a bit of immaturity from BR as a manager. You don't talk about other people's players unless the deal is done, it's not done. Reading haven't agreed a fee and possibly won't do, Watford may even just choose not to sell to Reading, wouldn't be surprised now.

There's nothing wrong with going back to previous clubs and attempting to sign players but with the way BR left Watford to come here you'd think he'd keep a lower profile or treat them with a bit more respect to try and let things pass with them smoother. They are still very bitter and annoyed that he's here, so to talk about one of their players and say i know he wants to come here, is hardly very smart.

Who cares that they're bitter?! - they hate us for "nicking" their manager anyway, so to say their best players wants to join us too isn't gonna make things worse. Maybe he's just playing mind games (remember who he worked under at Chelsea) and its his way of unsettling the club to accept a bid from us, a lower bid than they previously would have rejected, knowing Smith doesn't want to play for them but instead us!

[Plymouth_Royal]

From what i gather he has spoken to smith personally so if that's what 'tapping up' is then BR would be guilty of it in this case. Just feel it's inexperience and a bit of immaturity from BR as a manager. You don't talk about other people's players unless the deal is done, it's not done. Reading haven't agreed a fee and possibly won't do, Watford may even just choose not to sell to Reading, wouldn't be surprised now.

There's nothing wrong with going back to previous clubs and attempting to sign players but with the way BR left Watford to come here you'd think he'd keep a lower profile or treat them with a bit more respect to try and let things pass with them smoother. They are still very bitter and annoyed that he's here, so to talk about one of their players and say i know he wants to come here, is hardly very smart.

Reminds me of the harry redknapp way of trying to sign players he wants. Declare his interest publicly, talk up the player, unsettle the players club, and more often than not get the player.

[Hoop Blah]

I agree with AP and RR here. It's not quite the right way to go about it, but it obviously happens in pretty much all the time but you don't need to go telling the media about it and talking so openly about other clubs players.

[Tilehurst End]

Quite possible that Smith's agent has spoken to BR and said "Look he wants to come and play for you, are you coming back with a better offer?"

I agree it was probably a mistake to go public though. Maybe BR is a future president of Real Madrid.

[Thaumagurist*]

I agree completely agree with the Watford chairman, anyone who thinks that Brendon is correct for talking about any player that isn't on the books of Reading Football Club is crazy. How would you feel if it was Pards or McGhee talking like that just a month after they left, you'd all go mental. To be honest this all leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

McGhee nicked Scott Taylor didn't he?

And Alan Pardew tried (unsuccessfully) to nick Nick Shorey....

[Hoop Blah]

Quite possible that Smith's agent has spoken to BR and said "Look he wants to come and play for you, are you coming back with a better offer?"

I agree it was probably a mistake to go public though. Maybe BR is a future president of Real Madrid.

It's still not the right way to go talking about it in the media though.

I like the cut of Rodgers jib though, but I hope he doesn't start going too far on things like this and bringing a bit of 'arry or the Special One to our club who I think have handled ourselves in the right way under JM's leadership.

Pretty sure that talking to the players agent is still against the rules by the way. It goes on all the time of course, and I'm sure we still used to do it under the previous manager, but there is no need to go shouting about it to the press when you can side step the question if needs be.

[loyalroyal4life]

Watford have reacted angrily to Brendan Rodgers' comments that striker Tommy Smith wants to join Reading.

Former Hornets boss Rodgers is keen to take Smith to Reading, but his old club have rejected a 'derisory' offer from their Championship rivals.

A £1.8million bid from Sheffield United has been accepted by Watford, but Rodgers claims the 29-year-old would prefer a move to the Madejski Stadium.

"He wants to be here," Rodgers told the Reading Evening Post. "He's a player that has turned down a number of moves.

"There were a number of other offers for Tommy and then one big one came in (from Sheffield United).

"He doesn't have to go anywhere unless he wants to. But there's been good communication.

"Nick Hammond's been having good communication with the chairman there and hopefully, I'm not sure how quickly, there will be some sort of resolution on it."

Disappointment
However, Watford chairman Jimmy Russo has responded to Rodgers' comments and admits to being 'disturbed' by what the Reading manager has had to say.

Russo told the club's official website: "It is with disappointment that I have read Brendan Rodgers' comments regarding our player Tommy Smith.

"I am somewhat disturbed as to how Brendan knows Tommy's future intentions.

"His comments are not very respectful to the fans and the staff at Watford Football Club and he must not forget that Watford gave him his first managerial opportunity

"Reading have failed to meet our valuation of the player in question, in fact last week I labelled the bid 'derisory'."

[Tilehurst End]

Quite possible that Smith's agent has spoken to BR and said "Look he wants to come and play for you, are you coming back with a better offer?"

I agree it was probably a mistake to go public though. Maybe BR is a future president of Real Madrid.

It's still not the right way to go talking about it in the media though.

I like the cut of Rodgers jib though, but I hope he doesn't start going too far on things like this and bringing a bit of 'arry or the Special One to our club who I think have handled ourselves in the right way under JM's leadership.

Pretty sure that talking to the players agent is still against the rules by the way. It goes on all the time of course, and I'm sure we still used to do it under the previous manager, but there is no need to go shouting about it to the press when you can side step the question if needs be.

As I said I agree about the going public thing but I think Rodgers is intelligent enough not to say anything without considering the full implications or repercussions that might follow.

[Deathy]

Watford have reacted angrily to Brendan Rodgers' comments that striker Tommy Smith wants to join Reading.

Former Hornets boss Rodgers is keen to take Smith to Reading, but his old club have rejected a 'derisory' offer from their Championship rivals.

A £1.8million bid from Sheffield United has been accepted by Watford, but Rodgers claims the 29-year-old would prefer a move to the Madejski Stadium.

"He wants to be here," Rodgers told the Reading Evening Post. "He's a player that has turned down a number of moves.

"There were a number of other offers for Tommy and then one big one came in (from Sheffield United).

"He doesn't have to go anywhere unless he wants to. But there's been good communication.

"Nick Hammond's been having good communication with the chairman there and hopefully, I'm not sure how quickly, there will be some sort of resolution on it."

Disappointment
However, Watford chairman Jimmy Russo has responded to Rodgers' comments and admits to being 'disturbed' by what the Reading manager has had to say.

Russo told the club's official website: "It is with disappointment that I have read Brendan Rodgers' comments regarding our player Tommy Smith.

"I am somewhat disturbed as to how Brendan knows Tommy's future intentions.

"His comments are not very respectful to the fans and the staff at Watford Football Club and he must not forget that Watford gave him his first managerial opportunity

"Reading have failed to meet our valuation of the player in question, in fact last week I labelled the bid 'derisory'."

Russo just loves the attention doesn't he.

[Dirk Gently]

Russo just loves the attention doesn't he.

Wheras Reading's chairman is a publicity-shy, shrinking violet!

[Platypuss]

What will the reaction be on here when Rodgers leave us for a job with another club (and one day he will) and then say the same sort of thing about Reading players?

[Deathy]

Russo just loves the attention doesn't he.

Wheras Reading's chairman is a publicity-shy, shrinking violet!

I'm a fan of neither, in all honesty.

What will the reaction be on here when Rodgers leave us for a job with another club (and one day he will) and then say the same sort of thing about Reading players?

That's football.

[Mr Optimist]

What will the reaction be on here when Rodgers leave us for a job with another club (and one day he will) and then say the same sort of thing about Reading players?

Yes, highly likely and not a nice prospect. I think the high esteem that Sir Steve and his reign at RFC holds may be diluted slightly when he is re-employed as a manager somewhere and decides to come back and pick at the carcass of his old RFC squad...Ingi, Harps, Marek possibly?

Such is football life.

[brendywendy]

From what i gather he has spoken to smith personally so if that's what 'tapping up' is then BR would be guilty of it in this case. Just feel it's inexperience and a bit of immaturity from BR as a manager. You don't talk about other people's players unless the deal is done, it's not done. Reading haven't agreed a fee and possibly won't do, Watford may even just choose not to sell to Reading, wouldn't be surprised now.

There's nothing wrong with going back to previous clubs and attempting to sign players but with the way BR left Watford to come here you'd think he'd keep a lower profile or treat them with a bit more respect to try and let things pass with them smoother. They are still very bitter and annoyed that he's here, so to talk about one of their players and say i know he wants to come here, is hardly very smart.

'greed


SC 1-0 BR

[blade 1]

it's all gone abit quite up here so i guess he wants to play for you.

But your going to have to make a better offer, you cant expect watford to loose out on £1m.

Not that bothered either way, hes a decent championship player but i'd rather play jamie ward or sign snodgrass to be fair.

[Deathy]

it's all gone abit quite up here so i guess he wants to play for you.

But your going to have to make a better offer, you cant expect watford to loose out on £1m.

Not that bothered either way, hes a decent championship player but i'd rather play jamie ward or sign snodgrass to be fair.

You're apparently in for Beckford. I'd be happier with that!