Josh McPake.

[Cagey]

All over the media that Hearts have signed McPake on a PC.

Hearts manager says there are a few things to iron out. I assume that is whether he leaves in the window and if so what the deal would be.

When Josh joined us most of not all thought he was a dud but after the split he started to show what he could do and maybe then we should have extended his contract.

This season he has been different class and we will miss him if he does go before summer.

[slf]

We got Taylor Stephen 

[pezza70]

If he has signed already why would Hearts pay a fee now when they will get him on a feeebie in a few months time.

I hope this shows other players that we are a club that will help them progress higher if we are still in the championship next season.

[Saline Saint]

Watched Failkirk Hearts last night,plastic pitch and not great weather taken into  account but on his present form McPake would stroll it in either of those two teams,couple of decent goals from Hearts but other than that how are they top of the league?

[Wendy Saints]

I’d say he’ll be gone in the window ..Saints might get some dosh rather than get nothing if he just runs out his contract. Good luck to him ..I think this is just the way football is run these days.. I never thought he was a dud! I saw him in the pre season friendlies under Levein and thought Josh and Taylor Steven were two standouts! Although Steven is being played in the wrong position by Saints in my opinion .. as long as he doesn’t get a game when we play Hearts next season 😉

 

[mike_gain]

Hard to think of a more positive player turnaround in such a short time. Usually players drop down and dissappear.

McPake has screwed the nut and is getting the rewards.

Coaching staff can't be ignored here, huge plaudits to them. There will hopefully be some fringe, talented players (and coaches) at other clubs seeing us as an option to improve players.

Don't want McPske to leave but not grudging him his move, lot of positives to take from it.

[garydavidson]

If we are to sell him in January we could get some clauses in there? If form continues and he is at Hearts then surely there is a pathway to the Scotland team after the world cup? He is still relatively young.

It's a great story for the club and player either way. He was absolutely lost at Albion and continued that to an extent with us. Think fatherhood has also giving him a jolt.

[Phil D]

I was thinking at half time on Friday that I would be surprised if anyone would come in for McPake. A great first quarter of the season has been met with a very average second quarter of the season. But, by the end of the second half, Josh has 2 goals and an assist (of sorts!) and whilst he wasn't outstanding with the ball at his feet, he was in the right place at the right time to get the goals.

You can see why Hearts would want him - free (or relatively cheap to have now). I would imagine he won't be a big earner by their standards. He will help build their squad for next season with a likely European campaign. Josh will have a lot to prove and will get plenty of opportunities next season with the squad rotation needed to play in Europe too.

Well done to Josh for turning himself into a player. Well done to Simo and the coaching team for developing him and well done to Craig Levein for spotting something and taking a chance on him. Just a shame we didn't get him on a longer contract! Hindsight is a great thing!

I guess the question is - would we rather have (picking a figure out of the air - 50,000 for him now, or him play for the rest of the season and help get us promoted?

[pezza70]

Promoted first for me 

[BroganGoals]

Good luck to him. Wonder if there could be a swap deal with Alan Forrest. He can play on the right side and Kai Fotheringham can move to the left. On current form you’d keep McPake until end of the season.

[Linky]

Great for McPake. You have to wonder where that player has been for the previous 4 (?) years of his career.

[PSJ.84]

3 hours ago, Phil D said:

would we rather have (picking a figure out of the air - 50,000 for him now

We should laugh them out the building if they offer anything like that. 

[MySpazz]

Dear Santa, Please can he go in the window and we get some money, cheers

[IBEX1251]

STAY X

[MySpazz]

8 hours ago, PSJ.84 said:

We should laugh them out the building if they offer anything like that. 

200,000 seals the deal.

[Cagey]

8 hours ago, MySpazz said:

200,000 seals the deal.

£200 k might just about compensate for the loss of McPake for the rest of the season due to the loss of his goals and assists.

Simo will have to speak to him to see if he will get commitment "Liam Craig" for the rest of the season or if he wants to go in the window before we decide to take an offer as the loss of his goals and assists could cost us more than £200 k.

[Dooj]

No point taking the money unless you use it to get an adequate (or better) replacement on the pitch. I guess we will find out soon enough how good Simo and his team have been at scouting prospective signings and anticipating who might leave in January. Squad doesn't need a revamp but a few new faces in key areas.

[slf]

We got taylor Steven 

[Indicator]

Braw... 'Nailed on left back'. 😬

[Widge]

2 hours ago, Cagey said:

£200 k might just about compensate for the loss of McPake for the rest of the season due to the loss of his goals and assists.

Simo will have to speak to him to see if he will get commitment "Liam Craig" for the rest of the season or if he wants to go in the window before we decide to take an offer as the loss of his goals and assists could cost us more than £200 k.

Not to nit pick, but McPake only got his first assist of the season on Friday night from a mishit cross. Let’s not get things confused here, McPake is actually a very selfish player which is why he scores the goals he does, he’s arguably not very creative at all. I do agree though, he goes and we need to replace those goals even if we do have a fair number chipping in this season regularly. 

[McCarry One Nil]

1 hour ago, Indicator said:

Braw... 'Nailed on left back'. 😬

I suggest you watch highlights on You Tube against Partick and also hear how highly the Arbroath fans like him. Played wide right on Saturday and had a belter.

[Indicator]

18 minutes ago, McCarry One Nil said:

I suggest you watch highlights on You Tube against Partick and also hear how highly the Arbroath fans like him. Played wide right on Saturday and had a belter.

You got me wrong there I was being sarcastic as it seems Saints love to play him as far away from his preferred position as they can.

I've also read the Lichties reports re. their 2-1 win v Dunfermline on the 6th. where he also had a belter, particularly in the 1st half.

[Linky]

Always worry about what continuing with a player who is known to be leaving does for squad morale. Think a deal needs to be done for him to go now. Would be better for the deal not to have been announced.

[garydavidson]

16 minutes ago, Linky said:

Always worry about what continuing with a player who is known to be leaving does for squad morale. Think a deal needs to be done for him to go now. Would be better for the deal not to have been announced.

I found it strange that it was straight in the local press, never usually the case until the window is either open or towards the end of the season when contract talk steps up the press agenda.

[Linky]

2 hours ago, garydavidson said:

I found it strange that it was straight in the local press, never usually the case until the window is either open or towards the end of the season when contract talk steps up the press agenda.

Yes, was it leaked by us, Hearts or the player to try and force through an early move?