Thetownend.com

About to sign for us according to WDP.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/sport/Swindon-closing-Maher-deal/article-228173-detail/article.html

Topic covered over in transfer rumours

I never read that shit

Nor do I, so thanks for the info.

Certainly think a story like that deserves a separate thread, rather than be buried away amongst the latest schoolboy fantasy about Dean Windass.

He has a point, far too much bollocks on that thread to expect people to notice a "real rumour" hidden amongst the other stuff.

Yeah the transfer rumour thread is as much for fun speculative silly rumours. This seems to have a bit of substance to it now.

 Is this your way of saying Steve Lomas isn't signing?  :cry:

Gillingham is a massive club with a superb stadium (Twat!)

That's that one done then!

MAURICE Malpas says any deal for Kevin Maher is "dead in the water" after the midfielder failed to respond to a contract offer.

Town's boss offered a deal to the unattached star before the weekend and was due an answer this morning, but his mobile hasn't rung and he has therefore ended his pursuit of the former Southend man.

Malpas said: "I spoke to Kevin on Thursday and he sounded keen. He said he would get back to me by this morning but I haven't heard a thing. So as far as I'm concerned, it's dead in the water."

sounds a bit hasty to call it off

He could have forgot the number, or lost his mobile or anything... can he still join us if he buys Maurice some flowers and explains exactly where he has been all weekend long?

By my reckoning the morning only finished 55 minutes ago so MM seems a bit quick to says the deals dead!  Do you reckon he gave those comments at 12.01pm??

A deadline is a deadline. If he wanted to come here he should of been on the blower first thing.

Maher - Meh - Is he better than Easton and Timlin anyway? Perhaps he isn't coming because he'd be a bench warmer.

The lack of signings is becoming a bit of a nightmare (or should that be Night-Maher) for Maurice.

Loads of time yet, and the loan market to exploit too I suppose.

It actually said "by this morning" so sounds like MM was expecting the call last night.

<waiting by phone> <phone rings> "Kevin? is that you Kevin?"

"No Maurice, it's Michael. You know, Pook. Pooky. The Pookster. Pookmeister General. I was just wondering, has Kevin rang yet?"...

"No Michael, he hasn't"

"Great, I mean, oh - that's a shame..." <muffled> "Mum, clean my boots, i'm back!"

i love the malpas attitude, it's a great principle to manage with.
most wouldnt have the guts because it does mean you miss out on targets and lose good players (comminges) but to be honest i can live with that and find the whole system utterly commendable.

Just as long as there's not a genuine misunderstanding on timing.

The Gills boss has said that Maher will call him in the next 24 to 48 hours with his decision. Just hope that Maher didn't think he had longer than Malpas is giving him.

I like the Malpas way as well, even if it we lose out on some, they can't be that dedicated to Swindon.  Plus it means he can not waste anytime and get onto the next target.

if he was interested he would have phoned over the weekend.

agree malpas is playing it right by fucking them off if they don't phone back.
Even if he did forget his number surely a call to the club would have sorted it out.

It is a bit concerning that we seem to be struggling to attract players, but rather we sign players that want to come hear rather than treat us as a last resort, a deadline is a deadline.

I suspect it is down to the wife though deciding that Swindon isn't good for shopping - although if someone does not know the town and looked around and saw everywhere boarded up it would probably make them think twice about the sort of town it is ??!!

Malpas said post Pompey he was due a call over the weekend and expected a call on Saturday if it was a yes.

Not the end of the world.  He's a solid player on his day but doesn't have much left running on the clock and in a week or so I suspect there will be a few Maher types on the market that'll bite the hand off a contract

I'm not really bothered whether we sign Maher or not.

What I am worried about is that we are not signing anyone. So where are these players that will be around in a week or two? Are these the same ones that were going to be around after the playoffs, and then once teams were back in training, and then once pre-season friendlies started? Every player that comes here and then underperforms says that they did not have a decent pre-season, but next season, after they've had a proper preseason and are fully fit, will be fine. We need them on board NOW so that they are fully fit when the season starts in several weeks time. Its no good taking on whoever is left, and is desperate for a pay packet, in several weeks time, when they are not properly fit, and then expect them to perform like heroes.

I'm not sure either that I much like the macho "the deal is dead in the water" statements. They may show what a tough guy Malpas is and how he takes no crap, but I'm not sure who it impresses. All it does is attract attention to the fact that another one has turned us down.

Come on guys, lets get this sorted and get some decent players in NOW.

 I'd guess that the missus's shopping habits are not an issue if he's chosing Gillingham over STFC.  More likely he's settled in Southend....the extras we might pay wont offset the cost of moving.

The housing market problems shouldn't be underestimated when trying to attract players who probably wont be able to sell up, what we need to do is chase players that rent or still live at home!

 This is why we try and sign players from Bristhole...or Soton or even Cardiff. They don't need to move.

He didn't get back to us. Just like Jones. So fuck him.

Damn right - Under some of our former leaders we'd have signed 4 or 5 players by now. I'd rather we wait and sign someone who wants to play for us as opposed to panic recruiting.

what if all this means is we end up signing shit just for the sake of signing someone

Shhh :D

No i don't think it will. We'll look at loans if we have no one in by August 9th.

Maybe loan's with a view to a permanent signing are the way to go. We seem to be aiming for a certain caliber of player yet we aren't exactly the most glamorous club out there.

Maybe get a couple of quality loanee's in, see how they settle in and if they do well then make a bid and offer a contract.

I am using Cox as an example, would he have signed permanently before his loan spell here?

As long as we don't flood our squad with loanees like 2005/06.

Andy King styleeee.

what if it means we avoid signing big-time charlie's like gareth whalley and patrick collins who don't really want to be here but we're the best of a few options so sign after muchos fucking about... instead signing hungry, determined players who want to come here and fight for their shirt like timlin and corr etc.

I just shuddered at the thought of when that useless Cunt played for us.

Neale McDermott wasn't the best player by any stretch of the imagination but you got the feeling that he wanted to be at the club (supported by his comments in the Carlisle away programme - basically that he would have stayed at Swindon had it not been for poor guidance)... The goal against Bristol City encapsulated this for me.

Same with Bouazza as well.

McDermott did go a bit mental every time we scored....

Released by Carlisle and currently on trial at Dundee. FYI.

I think we can all agree that he wasn't the most gifted Footballer to don the Town shirt but what he lacked in technical ability he made up for in commitment and fight.

Like you said, his celebration when he scored against Bristol City showed that he just wanted to do well for us in a team struggling in the league.

I would like to see McDermott back here, hes still young and still has promise but I know his family roots are in Geordie land so he may not wish for a move so far south.

I want players commited to us, to our cause, Maher obviously was not that...so no loss IMO, he did fuck all at Gills to save them from relegation so hes not the messiah hes a very naughty boy :)

 McDermott was shit....classic example of a player who'd had it too easy because of family links and then kicking around Prem reserves.