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McCarthy: Written Off Best Has Something to Prove
Friday, 9th Sep 2016 06:00

Boss Mick McCarthy believes new striker Leon Best has something to prove with Town, his career having stalled in recent seasons. The 29-year-old, who signed a one-year deal with an option for a further season having impressed while on trial, is likely to be among the subs as the Blues take on Reading in this evening’s live Sky game at the Madejski Stadium.

“In and around the club I think he is a confident lad, but being confident around the dressing room is one thing, doing it on the pitch and enjoying it, that’s where you get your real confidence from,” McCarthy said

“And he has done it, he’s had a good career. It’s stalled a bit, he’s 29, he’s 30 this month, that’s a really good age, particularly for somebody who’s got something to prove.”

Speaking to the media yesterday, Best said he was grateful to McCarthy for giving him his chance at Town.

“I hope I’m appreciative of me giving him the opportunity at the end of it,” the Blues manager said. “That’s the reciprocal agreement, isn’t it? I’ve given him the opportunity and he’s thankful for that.

“I’m hoping I’m just as thankful for doing it for the rest of the season. He’s a good player, technically good and I’m looking forward to working with him.

“I spoke to Neil Warnock, who was glowing in his praise for him for the job he did at Rotherham.

“Warney’s a bit like me, he doesn’t suffer fools gladly or easily and he expects people to work and run and work hard and do their jobs properly. It was good that he got a glowing reference from him.”

Asked whether he was disappointed not to have signed a replacement for Daryl Murphy in the days between the Irishman’s exit and the transfer window closing, after making made bids to Barnsley for Marley Watkins and to QPR for Conor Washington, McCarthy responded. “That is the replacement.

“You asked whether I was disappointed at not getting a replacement, but that is the replacement, so I’m not disappointed because I have got a player in.

“But I was looking and we bid for a number of other players that were knocked back for various reasons. It’s always very difficult if something happens near the end [of the transfer window].

“But Leon’s got the bug, he’s got the bit between his teeth because I think he’s been written off, and he’s a very good player.

“He might not be exactly the same as Murph, but I like players who have got something to prove, and he has.

“And I think Murph had as well four years ago, I can’t remember anybody dancing in the streets when I signed him. There was complete apathy towards that signing, I seem to remember.

“Four years on, he’s been our leading scorer, he’s scored for Ireland, all the things that he’s done and he’s achieved. He’s moved on, so good luck to him.

“Let’s hope we can get something like that out of Leon Best. But that’s down to him as well, he’s got to put the effort in like Murph did.”

McCarthy says Best isn’t an entirely different type of player to Murphy: “He’s got similar sorts of strengths. He’s a very good player, he’s just had his troubles with injuries, but he seems to be over them.

“And let’s hope we can reap the benefit of somebody that is a good player, he’s had injuries, he played I think 16 games on the bounce towards the end of last season for Rotherham, scored against us, played well against us.

“It is difficult when you’ve got those niggly injuries, you never get to your full potential, so let’s hope we get him there.”


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Tractorboy1985 added 07:43 - Sep 9
Warnsey 🙈🙈 just say Neil mick!
3

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 08:40 - Sep 9
Nice to see he dressed up for the occasion.
8

cats_whiskers added 08:53 - Sep 9
He's already looking a good in-VEST-ment
3

RaymondovicBlue added 10:06 - Sep 9
Personally I'm cautiously happy we didn't sign a like for like big number 9 ... instead we SHOULD be able to play much more football with the players we have brought in - and score lots more goals in the process? I say "cautiously" because if we try to make Best, Sears or Pitman into a "Murphy-esque number 9" and play the "bang it up to the big frontman game" we'll go downhill fast....

Also - Mick -
“Four years on, he's been our leading scorer, he's scored for Ireland, all the things that he's done and he's achieved. He's moved on, so good luck to him" .....


Yes, good luck to him, but .... am I right that Murph is still to break his duck for Ireland whereas you say he was scored for Ireland ?
0

TrueBlueFerret added 10:10 - Sep 9
Written On Best lINK........
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Garv added 10:26 - Sep 9
Apathy when we signed Murphy? Really?
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BackTheBlues added 10:37 - Sep 9
@Garv - yes mate - people are lying if they say they didn't want us to sign Murph!

I remember sitting in the stands with a good couple hundred people around me saying the permanent deal wasn't worth it!
He'd also been playing LW under the dark lord!

So - yeah I think Best has come in under similar mixed feelings!

The bloke is a player when he gets it right!
2

Superblue95 added 12:18 - Sep 9
Raymondovic blue- Murphy scored his first for Ireland the other night as a late equaliser against Serbia
2

battyblue added 12:26 - Sep 9
Scored for Ireland as a Newcastle player with new confidence.
-1

battyblue added 12:29 - Sep 9
He is the new Murphy replacement,knew it all along anyone as long as they are a cheap option thats the Ipswich way of late.
0

Seasider added 13:05 - Sep 9
Saw him play the other day against Millwall,as an overage player.

Did pretty well and scored before coming off at half time injured.

Think he does still give us an option of the long ball,which is ok on occasions;but looks quite mobile and should be a good addition to the squad if he can stay fit.

Would like to see Pitman given a start again today though;but of course it is up to Mick.

I don't want our Manager to be a 'Tinkerman'but feel that it would be nice if he didn't consider that Skuse and Chambers had to keep their places regardless of performance.

Seem to recall that it was a mix up between Cole and Gerks that gifted Readings 3rd goal in last years 5-1 defeat.As for our captain,is still getting stranded up the pitch too often,and doesn't seem to put too much effort in getting back to help Smithy.Too much finger pointing as well,although I know he is Captain.Bit different to Mick Mills.
1

wellhungphil added 14:01 - Sep 9
He looks like the love-child of Lionel Richie and Aaron Neville! Do a Grant Ward tonight and we'll adore you! Best of luck, Best!
0

happybeingblue added 17:30 - Sep 9
come on LEON !! give it your all and nick a few goals and you will have the backing of the blue army :)
0

hancockingoal added 22:56 - Sep 9
So lets keep on the bench, so frustrating
0


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