Why Goater joining rivals may prove a bad decision

By Matthew Grant
January 22 2004

After Ipswich Town expressed an interest in Shaun Goater, We look at whether the Goat leaving the Royals on loan may prove to work against Reading.

Ipswich Manager, Joe Royle has confirmed he has been in 'dialogue' with Steve Coppell but nothing else has been said by either of the managers. It is well known that Goater is highly fond of Royal after bringing him to Maine Road from Bristol City.

As expected when he joined the Royals in the summer, he was expected to get the goals that would fire us in to the promise land but Goater has not lived up to such high expectations from the Royals faithful. Something that sometimes can be seen as a little unfair but that’s life for you. He has recently come back from injury and scored in both games against Preston North End in the Carling Cup. Though the levels of discontent from Reading fans is quite easily heard in the stands at most games. Something that surely the former Rotherham forward must pick up. That you hear comments that he is not bothered and just here for the money. Goater in the summer made the big decision to join the Royals instead of a host of other clubs including Wigan, this meant moving his family a long way from Manchester where he was very happy and had settled down. I doubt this was an easy decision for him and so surely if he was not bothered and was in it for the money then he would have joined Wigan mainly because he would not have to move and they are well known for paying high wages.

I sincerely hope Goater proves the critics wrong and does get back on the goal-scoring trail. A move to Ipswich on loan though may turn out to be a bad decision for Reading especially with Ipswich being one of our promotion rivals. Under Joe Royal I could clearly see him banging the goals for the East Anglican club and in the process doing Reading no favours what so ever. So Mr Coppell I hope you have said to Joe Royle that you are not interested in letting Shaun Goater go and let him do what he does best, scoring goals...at Reading.

FEED THE GOAT AND HE WILL SCORE