John Fearn to Chelsea

[Thaumagurist*]

LOL @ those of you doubting Fearn's integrity as if you know the slightest thing about physiotherapy.

look m8, he is the reason we got relegated. open your eyes ffs

Was Fearn with Chelsea in the 80's?

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

He's off in January.

Pretty sure I saw a job advert for an academy physiopherapist on the OS a while ago, they're probably replacing Jon from within.

Well if they do it should be Lampard Snr - he's doing f88k all for his money currently!

[Royalee]

Convey was too lightweight for top English football.
Played very well in the Championship season, but was eaten alive in the Prem.
He was no Sidwell in regards to strength - put it that way.
More like Sicknote Anderton.

That's funny, I could've sworn many say they find the Championship more physical than the Premiership - are the Italian national team at a World Cup lightweight? He came back injured from that tournament and was never the same thanks to poor decisions which in the end cost him his place in English football.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Some people have pointed towards him misdiagnosing injuries. that is the job of a Doctor, a physios job is top treat the injury.

That said, at least we wont have to watch him run on to the pitch like its a mass of hot coals, with a sparkler up his arse. The bloke runs like a twat.

[readingbedding]

Convey was too lightweight for top English football.
Played very well in the Championship season, but was eaten alive in the Prem.
He was no Sidwell in regards to strength - put it that way.
More like Sicknote Anderton.

That's funny, I could've sworn many say they find the Championship more physical than the Premiership - are the Italian national team at a World Cup lightweight? He came back injured from that tournament and was never the same thanks to poor decisions which in the end cost him his place in English football.

I doubt you know any players personally old bean.

Injuryprone, lightweight, not good enough.
He wouldn't be playing in San Jose in his 20's if that was the case.

[Royal Rother]

wasn't

[Royalee]

Convey was too lightweight for top English football.
Played very well in the Championship season, but was eaten alive in the Prem.
He was no Sidwell in regards to strength - put it that way.
More like Sicknote Anderton.

That's funny, I could've sworn many say they find the Championship more physical than the Premiership - are the Italian national team at a World Cup lightweight? He came back injured from that tournament and was never the same thanks to poor decisions which in the end cost him his place in English football.

I doubt you know any players personally old bean.

Injuryprone, lightweight, not good enough.
He wouldn't be playing in San Jose in his 20's if that was the case.

He wouldn't be had he not had that bad injury. He was one of our best players when we went up and played in the World Cup, so I think he's a tad better than Jimmy Kebe, old bean.

[readingbedding]

Played in the World Cup eh
Reminds me of another injury prone player who failed to deliver....

[retro royal]

Thing I notice most is the team are getting unfitter by the year, the year we pissed the league we were fitter, stronger and more hungry than most the teams, we didn't have loads of flair, we broke quickly and caught teams out. I think i'm right but we lost a fitness coach after our first season in the premiership to West Ham, and since then we've got worse.

Brendan work on the fitness of the team as well, thats our weak point at the moment, oh and a quick centre back, and a striker that can finish, for me start playing 4-5-1 Stick Marek as a free role and use Karacan to pick up the loose balls. Its not like we've got strikers good enough to finish in any case.

[winchester_royal]

Thanks for the service John.

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

Chelsea - Introducing Our Latest Signing
His name is Jon Fearn and it's been confirmed that the current Reading head physio will be linking up with Chelsea in the New Year.

A statement on Reading's website read,

'The Royals regret to announce that our Head of Sports Medicine, Jon Fearn, will be leaving the club on 31st January 2010.'

'Jon has accepted an offer to join Premier League side Chelsea and take up their position of First Team Physiotherapist.'

Fearn has spent the past eight years with the Royals, under Alan Pardew, Steve Coppell and our former youth team coach Brendan Rodgers.

He's been a qualified physio since 1991 after qualifying from St Mary's.

Reading director of football, Nick Hammond, remarked,

'Jon has brought an outstanding level of expertise and professionalism to the medical department and we thank him for his tremendous input and hard work over the past eight years.'

'He has been an integral part of the management team that has contributed to the club's recent successes.'

'We'll miss Jon but we wish him every success in the future.'

Fearn will link up with the Blues in SW6 at the start of February, so he's got plenty of time to get practising on his initiation song for the lads!

[Aly Murty]

Thing I notice most is the team are getting unfitter by the year, the year we pissed the league we were fitter, stronger and more hungry than most the teams, we didn't have loads of flair, we broke quickly and caught teams out. I think i'm right but we lost a fitness coach after our first season in the premiership to West Ham, and since then we've got worse.

Niall Clark left for West Ham straight after Pardew and was instrumental in the fitness levels of our players - he was one of the first sport scientists to properly consider a player's recovery, preparation etc. without being a hugely biased ex-pro just desperate to get back in the game. Jon Goodman then came in and as an ex-pro, took the fitness work ever so slightly backwards, more towards that of a coach. He left to become a self-employed sport scientist I think, doing some work for the Northern Ireland team certainly.

Anyway, Jon Fearn had far less to do with the fitness work than the sport scientist - of course, he collaborated with them in terms of players with injuries, recovery work etc, but he certainly isn't in charge of fitness sessions. From my experience and knowledge of the set up, he's widely respected throughout the game and his judgement has never been seriously questioned. All the examples of injured players that have been brought up are flawed as not one of them had no previous evidence of a poor injury/fitness record and have all been injury prone since. The vast majority of decisions are based on what a player tells the physio and coaching staff, which is reflected in a lot of the aforementioned cases... Kitson was described as a poor trainer, struggling with fitness work etc. and so often got 'niggly injuries', Murts had a histroy of leg injuries (due to one leg being shorter than the other I think) and concentrated more on making sure he was 100% right, hence why he was often out for long periods - similar to Convey I believe who certainly felt any ache or knock he got.

Admittedly there are times that something perhaps should have been done quicker, but the possible problems brought about by surgery make it generally a last resort option and in many cases it isn't needed. The decision is not based solely on his opinion, but that of specialists, coaches and the player themselves. The number of times a player in the Premier League puts off treatment but then has to resort to it in tte end highlights this area as being one that is often uncertain.

These are all my interpretations of the events at the club, and so I may be wrong in which case I apologise but I think the accusations thrown at Jon Fearn are harsh and pure speculation with little facts to back them up.

[brendywendy]

oxf*rd hell aly

Top background knowledge of club physios


and this:

(due to one leg being shorter than the other I think)

like that brazilian.....whassisname........

[Millsy]

I'm not a sports physio, but what I do know is in the past few years we've had some very odd decisions: players being brought back way too early and going off injured again for even longer etc.

I honestly can't see why Chelsea would be after him but I guess he has a strong CV.

Not a loss in the slightest.

I'm sure the next physio can't be any worse.

[TBM]

I'm sure the next physio can't be any worse.

LOL

As if we will employ another physio.......Mr Mad will ask Ron Grant to do it as a favour!

[RoyalBlue]

Some people have pointed towards him misdiagnosing injuries. that is the job of a Doctor, a physios job is top treat the injury.

Actually physios do diagnose injuries and, in some respects, are better placed to do that than your average doctor.

I'm sure the next physio can't be any worse.

LOL

As if we will employ another physio.......Mr Mad will ask Ron Grant to do it as a favour!

Well since we seem to be racing back towards the bad old days, that wouldn't be particularly strange. After all, Jimmy Wallbanks ended up acting as manager!

[DelBoyRodders]

Not a big loss, and has made a few odd decisions with injuries in the past, one of which partly led to our downfall from the Premiership.

So not only are fans experts on what tactics and substitutions the manager should make, but are now experts on how to treat injured players.

Incredible!

[RoyalBlue]

[Whore Jackie]

He's off in January.

Pretty sure I saw a job advert for an academy physiopherapist on the OS a while ago, they're probably replacing Jon from within.

Seeing as the EP article says that Luke Anthony will be promoted that's hardly sticking your neck out is it?

Hadn't actually read the EP article. Heard he was leaving a few weeks ago, with no successor decided upon, and then noticed the OS ad.

[Carlos]

Gotta say loved Jon Fearn.

Campest run ever!

Always had one hand holding his hip (some kind of medical implements I assume)

Did enjoy his runs across the pitch. Can't just be me surely!