Tonight it was a case of either a deafening silence from the Madejski Stadium – or else silence proving golden as far as Glenn Roeder's hopes of securing Leroy Lita's services on a longer-term basis were concerned.
With his initial, 93-day loan period now up, the hope was that the Canaries could tie up a half-season loan deal with the Royals and bolt some much-needed firepower onto the front of the side between now and the end of the season – certainly that was the way that the under-fire City chief was thinking in the aftermath of that 3-2 home defeat by Forest at the weekend.
“With Leroy we would very much like to keep him – and Reading know that,” said Roeder, speaking straight after Sunday's miserable home defeat.
“And we'll be working on that over the next couple of days – he can stay on a second-half [season] loan now.”
Quizzed as to whether – having had his first, three-month loan spell – Lita could then qulify for a second, full tour of duty, Roeder was adament that it was all within the rules.
“The three months – the 93 days are up – but you can convert that to a full, half-season loan. And we would like to do that,” added Roeder. “And Reading know that. Whether we can achieve that we will have to wait and see, but we will certainly be working hard on trying to make that happen.
“And having spoken to Leroy several times over the last couple of weeks he would very much like to stay.”
In fairness, the player himself was making similar noises after the game.
Asked: 'Where next for Leroy Lita?' his response left every door open. “I don't know – we'll see,” he said.
“We'll see in the next few days.”
The fact that this weekend is FA Cup weekend will bring matters to a head – either he will or won't be eligible to play at The Valley. And if he isn't, that suggests that either Reading want him for themselves for the last five months of his contract. Or else, they have a buyer in line who will not wish the player to be cup-tied.
Either way, Roeder is likely to have his answer sooner rather than later.
“I don't know – like I said, we'll see in the next few days and, hopefully, something will be sorted then.”
But would he like to stay? “I've been asked that question over and over again – and, as I've said, I've no problem with that.”
Who will have a problem if he doesn't stay is the City chief whose strike options ahead of that trip to The Valley will narrow to Antoine Sibierski and AN Other if Lita's services are not forthcoming.
Given that Sibierski has yet to wholly convince the City faithful that he is the answer to their goal prayers, Roeder will then have to either ask Arturo Lupoli to go up through the middle again – having all-but decided that his best position was wide-left – or else give Darel Russell another run out in that stand-in striker role.
Omar Koroma is eligible to play having been given the green light by Tony Adams at Portsmouth, though the teenager has barely been seen over the last two months.
Or else Wes Hoolahan slips into that little in-the-hole role off Sibierski with Carl Cort joining the fray after an hour or so.
There is one final option – that City recall Jamie Cureton from Barnsley and slam him into their starting line-up.
Confidence restored after his two goals in two games, the Canaries have ruled him out of featuring in the Tykes own FA Cup clash against West Ham United.
“Norwich City have refused permission for Jamie to play on Saturday so he will not be available,” confirmed Barnsley boss Simon Davey today.
So he is still figuring in someone's thoughts; whether that then extends as far as a full and immediate recall is another matter.
And then again there is the small matter of Lita's own thoughts. Footballers the world over can say one thing and think another. One thing is certain – signing up for a half season long loan around here is going to be one, long, hard slog.
It'll be life in the relegation trenches between now and May. And does Lita really need that if he returns to Berkshire to find other offers on the table?
He wasn't wholly impressed with Saturday's efforts as Norwich gave away goals for fun.
“It was very disappointing – it was a poor performance by us. We didn't start off the best and once again we gave stupid goals away. You can't concede two goals every game and expect to win,” he said.
He did have one, last-gasp chance to level matters as Sibierski's pin-point cross found him heading goalwards – only for Lee Camp to pull off an excellent diving stop to his left.
“I've done everything I can, but the keeper has pulled off a great save – you've just got to hold your hand up and say: 'Good save!',” said Lita. “But all round wise wasn't good enough. Today we just weren't at it.”
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