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Leader on and off the pitch.


thegaffer
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I think we need a leader on and off the pitch. I think the last great leader on the pitch was Jason Dodd and the last great leader off the pitch was WGS.

 

If we can get anywhere close to both of those two I will be very happy.

 

This is just my honest opinion.

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My pre-requisite's for any successful team are a leader and then someone who would die for the cause (may even be the same player).

 

I don't think we've had one/two in recent years so have to agree with you 100%.

 

Could Wotton fulfil one of those roles? Personally not sure, so i would be out on the hunt for someone.

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We've been sh*t ever since Chris Marsden left.

 

I know what you mean, but Marsden thrived under Strachan, but like many others I thought he was a poor acquisition when Dave Jones bought him in. He used to run a lot, but tw#t the other player when he got there rather than make a play for the ball.

 

Under Strachan he became a different player, so much so that our hopes of winning the FA Cup were in many people's eyes, dashed by the fact that he had been out injured and was rushed back in before he was fit enough.

 

Who can forget his goal against Ipswich, even with the scuffed finish.

 

Quashie was bought to fulfil that role, but it seems he was a sh!t stirrer and we stayed sh!t.

 

It's feasible that Wotton could fulfil that Marsden role, but I'm not sure about his fitness, as the Argyle fans felt he was past his best when we signed him, but then Luggy isn't a manager known for instilling discipline in his players.

 

If we had a manager who would make our players work harder in training, then maybe Wotton could still do a job for us.

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My pre-requisite's for any successful team are a leader and then someone who would die for the cause (may even be the same player).

 

If he were that committed we would ned to replace him with someone else willing to die for the cause every match.

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Murty would provide some much needed leadership on and off the pitch. We used to have a mutual friend and went out drinking in Winchester several times - we lived there but Murty liked it as no one recognized him. That was about 7 or 8 years ago and I used to take the **** as Reading were a lower league club then! I guess I'd have to eat some humble pie if I saw him again!

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My pre-requisite's for any successful team are a leader and then someone who would die for the cause (may even be the same player).

 

I don't think we've had one/two in recent years so have to agree with you 100%.

 

Could Wotton fulfil one of those roles? Personally not sure, so i would be out on the hunt for someone.

 

I agree. Sadly I don't think it's Wotton. He came from Plymouth with the reputation of having a powerful shot. If so and if he's a leader why didn't he step up and take that penalty in the key game at home to Burnley? He let the young lad take the pressure and we all know what happened.

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Murty would provide some much needed leadership on and off the pitch.

 

I'd agree wholeheartedly with that. If his form and fitness are up to scratch Murty would fit perfectly. Living in Reading I'd hear his radio interviews most weeks and he always struck me as a likeable, articulate, intelligent man with a healthy sense of reality. Just the man to lead our younger players by example. Decent fullback too.

 

Hi wife will be a good figurehead too, sensible woman and very active in the community and a good potential ambassador.

 

Funnily enough before I ready this thread I had thought that if we can make a success of Murts as a player over the next year or two he might be a good candidate for a step into coaching as he winds his playing career down

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I would disagree with both of those TBH. Kelvin is the quietest keeper, let alone captain, we have ever had and Wotton is a sulker and goes missing when things don't go right.
To lead you dont have to have a bit mouth, you have to inspire not only on the pitch but also in the dressing room.
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Murty will do that job perfectly

 

..especially if he can run a lot!

can't recall how many people slated Paul Telfer, but the guy had a double set of lungs. Remember stories of him getting back first from the cross country run in pre-season and was in and out of the showers whilst other were crawling back on hands and knees - asking for oxygen !

 

Much better than some untrained genius who runs out of breath before HT.

(Sorry Matt - present company excepted)!

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I think we need a leader on and off the pitch. I think the last great leader on the pitch was Jason Dodd and the last great leader off the pitch was WGS.

 

If we can get anywhere close to both of those two I will be very happy.

 

This is just my honest opinion.

 

+1 .

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To lead you dont have to have a bit mouth, you have to inspire not only on the pitch but also in the dressing room.

 

Didn't see much of that last season. Kelvin did a great job (his own job) but I didn't see him inspire any of the others. Notwithstanding a GK shouldn't be the captain IMO, barking instructions is part of the job. They need to instruct, organise, encourage, criticise, damn-right boll*ck at times, cajole and praise, in addition to inspire by their own performance, enthusiasm and professionalism.

 

This sort of player has been sadly lacking since Chris Marsden left and I believe there is no coincidence in our subsequent reverse of fortune.

Edited by krissyboy31
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I thought Wotton would be a leader, but I've kinda change my opinion now. Being in this league means we won't just need 1 arse-kicker, we'll need almost half a team full. As wrong as it sounds, if the young 'uns see the arse-kickers, ahum, leading by example, it'll benefit their game knowing if they get clattered, they'll have their team mates steaming in behind em...

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Wotton talks the talk, maybe he's found his level, let's remember at this time we need players to get us out of LgOne not to the Prem.

 

If he needs any motivation from within, when that final whistle went in the last game and we were relegated it must have been like a kick in the teeth for him.

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Who was the last player to want to "Die for the club"?

 

The last person I saw that had that in him was Prutton - but he lost it big time and I believe was very instrumental of getting us relegated with his ban!

 

The word I look for is not really a leader but an enforcer - Case was that, Hurlock too, and going back a few years the Bedlington Terrier. Not only are they not afraid to put their foot in where it hurts, but are respected by their colleagues. Not regressing to "Chopper" Harris or Norman "bites yer legs" Hunter - but we need some metal and backbone.

 

The kids are very skillful but are too lightweight - they need some muscle around them. Not big stomaches!

 

Trying to think of someone who fits the mould - Joey Barton?

 

Robbie Savage would be a good buy - he plays because he likes football. I'm sure he could do a job for us - just like Merson did for that lot down the road.

 

Youth alone will not win anything...we've been here before, but no we have some serious money let's get a couple of old has beens who like a fight and get on with it!

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My pre-requisite's for any successful team are a leader and then someone who would die for the cause (may even be the same player).

 

I don't think we've had one/two in recent years so have to agree with you 100%.

 

Could Wotton fulfil one of those roles? Personally not sure, so i would be out on the hunt for someone.

I think Wotton could fulfil one of those roldes, certainly prepared to get stuck in. In this lower league he might be worth his weight in gold. Certainly proved he'll bleed for the cause...

insuranceclaimMarch09008-1.jpg

 

As for the leader - we're lacking there. Murty has good leadership experience, so if we keep him I'd make him captain for now.

 

Would be nice to have a new Steve Williams or someone emerge over the next couple of years though.

Edited by SW11_Saint
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We need an influential player who can make the ball do the work MLT, Magiliton & some enforcers who will fly into 20-80 tackles in someone else's position to scare opp then run back into own position to kick another opp CMFG, Palmer

 

The captain must be the managers legs on the pitch as

Tony Adams Arsenal + England

Roy Keane Man Ure

Gerrard Liverpool

John Terry Chelski

Xabi Barca

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