Now I don't want to sound negative...

[Reg Smeeton]

AF said at the outset, they wouldn't throw silly money at this.  Clearly the likes of Low is a player who comes within the budget.  If we are to progress then it will be by adding value to players who on the surface seem flawed.  We're not going to acquire quality by buying it.

  I happen to agree with  MM that big buggers is the way forward.....when we played Sarfend what struck, was that fellas like Mulgrew just imposed themselves physically on our lads.

  We need a bit of that for  away games.

[Peter Venkman]

I fully agree Reg, the only other thing I would like to see is an on-pitch leader, obviosuly someone like Ray McHale, Shaun Taylor, Paul Ince, Roy Keane would be wonderful but someone who can motivate players on pitch when things are going poorly is needed IMO.

Where we can get one of those from I dont know! but I would like to see one at the club, someone vocal who the players respect and that can pass orders down to the players on the pitch while playing, the only ones that could come close at the club already are Hasney and Peacs.

But getting back to previous points....big imposing players are a good addition to the squad, scare the life out of the opponents before you start.

[suttonred]

I remember Reading fans whinging about 10 years ago, after we won at elm park, that it wasn't fair and it wasn't footballas we had a team of 6 foot plus skinheads,, that muscled them off the park, so good move imo.

[Rich Pullen]

Haven't we learned anything from big name players?

I'd much rather Malpas assembles a squad that blends youth with players that have played at this level.

Brighton, Scunthorpe, Colchester have all gone up without a superstar name  in the past - all it takes in League 1 is for a striker to bang in 25 goals with 2 or 3 others helping out to have a promotion push - our last 3rd tier Play-Off squad wasn't amazing - put it had Parkin and Mooney.

[BANGKOK RED]

Because Malpas cannot attract anyone of any calibre.

Remember- he didnt tie up the Cox thing

Hang on Bart.

So if MM didn't tie up the "Cox thing" then how come Cox is with us now?

And all of this "He was a Sturrock/Byrne signing" is wearing a bit thin now, and the likes of Cox and McManatee knew full well that MM is manager when they signed and so the "Malpas cannot attract anyone of any calibre" argument is a non-goer.

Get a grip, and get a life.

[yeo]

Isn't this all rather tiresome.

[ronnie21]

Isn't this all rather tiresome.

:goodpost:

[Don Rogers Shop]

My only concern is that hearts,burnley and possibly others have shown intent yet malpas wanted to give him a trial at first :?

[Arriba]

dv,byrne targetted mcnamee and he would have joined anyway.and timlin was known to the club also.
agree about the last 6 games and hope he continues to get those results this season.
and maybe people remember the bad spell more, as we slid form  just outside the playoffs to just above relegation in a matter of weeks.

Sturrock was after McNamee when he was here, and obviously he brought Timlin & Cox here on loan deals, why Malpas get knocked about signings ill never know!
Just because a previous manager wanted 3 quality players (Cox Timlin McNamee) does that make Malpas shit? would u rather he didnt sign them and got 3 other players?

did i say malpas was shit?
i was pointing out that he wasn't responsible for the players signatures that's all.
i back him fully and hope he is the man for us.but i am a bit worried if truth be known and i'vesaid so before.
that is different to saying he is shit.
10 games in and i will have a cast iron opinion on the bloke

[DV]

i was pointing out that he wasn't responsible for the players signatures that's all.

Aside from the fact he actually was?

[Colin Todd]

i was pointing out that he wasn't responsible for the players signatures that's all.

Aside from the fact he actually was?

its true, he was.  Just because someone else identified the targets for him, dosnt mean he HAD to sign them, especially as 2 of them are for big money in STFC terms.

[DV]

Also, the fact is.....if these plays didnt want to play for Malpas they wouldnt have signed.

Simon Cox could have easily turned around and not signed because of the change in manager.

[Bogus Dave]

But dont let the facts get in the way of a good whinge

[RobertT]

don't most Managers get recommended players before signing them?  Isn't that why clubs have a scouting network in the first place (something established since Malpas joined)?

Who cares who recommends the players, it's the Manager who then decides to buy them or not.

[Arriba]

i was pointing out that he wasn't responsible for the players signatures that's all.

Aside from the fact he actually was?

as being pedantic seems the order of the day...

cox would have signed anyway,as would macnamee.the work had already been done to secure their signatures by byrne,and it had been run by fitton.
 the players could have said "no i dont want to play for malpas" so he must have been positive himself towards the lads.
so yes he was the boss who signed them, but it would have happend anywa ,if byrne and willaims got the job.malpas got the job and the deals were finalised.

this is not a pop at malpas it's just the way it was.credit due to him for taking byrnes advice i suppose.