Matthew Ridenton (Lions FC | Australia)

Just once?

Chances created, but a version of the metric where taking a corner (and putting it in the box) = creating a chance.

Any player whom started out at the Phoenix and goes on to play at higher levels deserves our respect and our best wishes. I hope Matt makes it.

Ridenton was the one referred to, not A Rod

I doubt whether Reading came knocking more like an agent selling Ridenton to get a trial. Does not make sense that he cannot make an A League Team which is bottom of the table but a Championship side would want him.

We will wait and see but I will be very surprised if he makes it there.

Lots of things don't make sense.

Singh was a bench player for us at the end of last year and is now on the Bayern bench, whilst Davilla was playing in Delhi in a nothing comp.

That's a very fair point, actually.

However, Reading aren't a Mickey Mouse club. I doubt my agent would be able to get me a trial in the Championship, so if they've agreed to have him there for a week, they must be thinking he has a chance of winning a contract...doesn't make sense otherwise.

Singh showed outstanding talent. Ridenton at best will be remembered as a journey man

I always thought he did a decent job for us. But he played very bad recently with the Jets, shockingly bad. Hope he get's the job.

Reality is that for Matt, he is not going to get a contract renewal at the Jets because he is a visa player and we have enough DM talent currently at the Nix.

If he wants to keep playing professionally he needs to look overseas. Not sure he will get much game time at championship level, until he can prove himself over there. (Lewis even struggled at a lower level)

But I wish him all the best. maybe he just needs the right environment and a fresh start.

Maybe the new environment will suit him. Look at Singh, nobody thought he would be Bayern Munich first team material.

The football world is stunned as Ridenton fails to win a contract at Reading. Trial’s over

I'm sure his agent is shocked.....

Tim Payne's brown envelope at Eastern Suburbs awaits.

He might be visiting Wellington  this Friday then

as long as he maintains his form with Jest then we'll be sending him packing with another loss.

go easy on the kid

Yep, no idea why we're reveling in a young kiwi player who's struggling.

yep, if was playing for the nIx and was a spare tyre, responsible for our defeats then I may understand

But having a laugh at him, after trialling at a championship club and failing is preety sharke 

Call me shark then. He was massively over rated by the majority here. Why Ernie signed him as an import is absolutely baffling.

He is too slow for HAL level

Hopefully he made a few contacts in the UK in his short time over there.

If Steven Old can forge a career at League Two level, so can Ridenton.

Unfortunately I imagine Newcastle will cut him adrift at season end, and his A League days will be over.

totally agree, he has been overrated since his time at the nix, I never understood why we kept him for as long as we did, almost fell off my chair when Ernie signed him for Jest.

He has been left out of the squad.

I guess that means he returned from his trial to late in the week.

Ridenton gaining a contract with Reading was always going to be unlikely. But the ambition shown by Ridenton cannot be discredited. A young player willing to go out of his comfort zone and expose himself to a higher level of football. This experience can only be of benefit to Ridenton.

while Kosta may grouse, Ridenton has been messed around by the Nix being in turmoil. How would he have gone under the coaching of Rudan or Uffie? Worth a bet just as well as Rufer. Possibly better. 

Did his best in tough times for us, and when you consider Lia and Brown were frequently scapegoats for us, I don't think he's in too bad company there.

I watched Ridenton pretty closely for the Jets and everytime I watched he was in the bottom 2 or 3 performing players on the pitch. He just really wasn't any good. Maybe he'd be a tidy passer in our current system, but I think the game demands more than that.

Point being- as was made by Musa too, young players and their development is much better now than previously at the Nix. Maybe he wouldn't have kicked on, but he'd have a much better environment to develop his game. Players flourish in different situations.

Ridenton and Lia, the  two most worthy recipients of Nix Scapegoats.

And Brown sans head bandages..

FFS, as a football supporter surely we owe it to the game to back every Kiwi kid who is willing to sacrifice years of his or her life to reach beyond the domestic amateur league and have a crack at professional football.

Agreed- especially since we're not Brazil, Italy, France....we have a rather limited (though admittedly growing) professional players base and really can't afford to bag kids who are giving it a go.

We can still say they're not good enough (eg Kayne Vincent...) but let's remember, the more kiwis who make it at a decent level, the better!

we still have to have a bit of realism surely......at the end of the day we can be as proud and supportive to everyone for giving it a go.....but the reality is if you're barely making it at A-league level youre not gonna set Europe alight - compare Ridenton to Rojas. One lit the a-league up but couldnt make it in Europe.

It's fine to criticise Ridenton's performances for the Jets, Nix, AWs or whoever. However it's wrong to revel in any struggles he's having. Not the right thing to do.

If he goes on to have a ten year career in League Two, Scandinavia, the USL stateside good for him.

Coming to a HandyPrem side near you?

https://twitter.com/NewcastleJetsFC/status/1232127...

**Disclaimer, not saying that it's his level but he's been released at a tricky time to find another pro gig.