McNulty Article (8 Viewers)

[Nick]

Marc McNulty blasts Reading as he discusses future

The Scotland cap is on loan at Tannadice ahead of becoming a free agent in the summer

www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk

Must have been a real shame to be given a bumper 4 year contract after forcing a move with the agent.

 

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[ps1948]

"It's a relief to be the one in charge of my future now"
Perhaps he should speak to his agent who persuaded him to sign for Reading, rather than accept the offer on the table from us.
His story (and Tom Bayliss) should be held up as a warning that the grass isn't always greener. However, he is obviously better off financially, which he doesn't mention.

 

[SBT]

The Reading move made sense for all parties at the time, and he’s entitled to wish it had gone better for him on the playing side. He did a fantastic job for us and made us a tidy profit, so I’m not sure why people want to get snarky about him now.

 

[fatso]

Typical "chip on the shoulder" footballer.
He never complained when he opened his pay packet. Reading have made him a wealthy young man, and if he was a championship quality player, he'd still be there.
As it happens he's hardly set the world on fire in Scotlands pub league.
He made his fortune based on a good half a season in league 2, playing alongside Biamou who did all the ruffhousing and took all the knocks for him.

 

[lord_garrincha]

However, he is obviously better off financially, which he doesn't mention.

Being paid more money & being better off financially are two completely different things!

 

[larry_david]

It's an interesting take, sounds like he's being held prisoner for 4 years but we all know he'll be on a decent wage. Reading will be just as delighted his contract is ending as well.

 

[Sick Boy]

In hindsight it turned out to be a fantastic piece of business for us. Can’t believe he is still contracted to Reading.

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Did he get cleared of spot fixing in the end?

 

[SkyblueDad]

"It's a relief to be the one in charge of my future now"
Perhaps he should speak to his agent who persuaded him to sign for Reading, rather than accept the offer on the table from us.
His story (and Tom Bayliss) should be held up as a warning that the grass isn't always greener. However, he is obviously better off financially, which he doesn't mention.

In a way you are correct but four years at possibly over a million a year not to be sniffed at

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

Poor little lamb I am sure if he had spoken to the bosses at Reading and asked for his contract to be torn up it would have been done before he left the seat.

 

[Liquid Gold]

The Reading move made sense for all parties at the time, and he’s entitled to wish it had gone better for him on the playing side. He did a fantastic job for us and made us a tidy profit, so I’m not sure why people want to get snarky about him now.

Normally everybody would agree but the bloke got his agent to tell Robins he'd go on strike if he didn't get the move so I'll withold my sympathy on this one.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

"It's a relief to be the one in charge of my future now"
Perhaps he should speak to his agent who persuaded him to sign for Reading, rather than accept the offer on the table from us.
His story (and Tom Bayliss) should be held up as a warning that the grass isn't always greener. However, he is obviously better off financially, which he doesn't mention.

Would he have been better financially had he stayed and carried on with us?

He took the first good offer that came his way.

 

[Liquid Gold]

Would he have been better financially had he stayed and carried on with us?

He took the first good offer that came his way.

There is a way to go about it though

 

[fernandopartridge]

Normally everybody would agree but the bloke got his agent to tell Robins he'd go on strike if he didn't get the move so I'll withold my sympathy on this one.

Did he really?

 

[Liquid Gold]

Did he really?

Yep

 

[fernandopartridge]

Yep

Fuck him then

 

[Ian1779]

The Reading move made sense for all parties at the time, and he’s entitled to wish it had gone better for him on the playing side. He did a fantastic job for us and made us a tidy profit, so I’m not sure why people want to get snarky about him now.

I don’t see people getting snarky - but equally it’s a sympathy piece in the paper by him which I’m not sure he needs?

It should be a lesson to other footballers about how making a move might be financially rewarding for you (and your agent) it doesn’t mean that will always give the same rewards career wise.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

In a way you are correct but four years at possibly over a million a year not to be sniffed at

And there's nothing to say he'd have done so well with us he'd have got a contract more than he has now at the end of it.

Looking objectively, some of the ones who've left:

• McNulty - would he *really* have got a contract with a Prem team if he'd stayed with us? (only way to beat his Reading one, I suspect);
• George Thomas is playing at our level, and probably on more money than he'd have got with us;
• Ben Stevenson is playing at the level we sold him, and he couldn't even get in our side at the end of his time with us, so he's probably earned more than he otherwise would for the privilege of his move to Wolves;
• Bayliss may be, objectively, a better player than Shipley, but his form at the tail end with us was on-off. He was arguably being played in not quite the right position, so that wasn't helping him look as good as he maybe could... but I'm not convinced he'd have been the answer to this division for us if he'd stayed. We see with the likes of Shipley that a move up a league can be a challenge for a player, even if they stick in comfortable surroundings. The only thing I would say is that Preston probably wasn't the right kind of team playing the right kind of style for Bayliss, so it's not the move up levels that's wrong as such, but more picking the right team for that move up a level.;
• Cian Harries had barely played for us, and is now playing at the level we sold him at. In the meantime, he's had a decent contract beyond what he'd have probably got with us.

Most of those are still of an age where they can get a decent move again if they excel, too.

There's little to say, really, that players moving from us stunt their careers particularly by doing so. And surely the appeal of better facilities, testing yourself in training against better players, and being able to put yourself in the shop window at a higher level than otherwise is one that, if you're at all confident in your ability as a player, you have to take?

 

[Joy Division]

Normally everybody would agree but the bloke got his agent to tell Robins he'd go on strike if he didn't get the move so I'll withold my sympathy on this one.

Where did you hear this from?

 

[Liquid Gold]

Where did you hear this from?

Publicly MR said "We have today accepted a bid for Marc, after he stated his desire to talk to Reading... I was never under any pressure to sell Marc, other than from the player's agent" and he never goes in on players or agents when moving.

Privately I heard that there were some harsh words said and threats about what would happen if the offer wasn't accepted.

 

[SBT]

Publicly MR said "We have today accepted a bid for Marc, after he stated his desire to talk to Reading... I was never under any pressure to sell Marc, other than from the player's agent" and he never goes in on players or agents when moving.

Privately I heard that there were some harsh words said and threats about what would happen if the offer wasn't accepted.

Sounds pretty standard to me, and we got a great deal out of it, but ok.

 

[Liquid Gold]

Sounds pretty standard to me, and we got a great deal out of it, but ok.

Go on then find me another sale we've made where MR public talks of agent interference if it's so standard.

 

[The Philosopher]

Normally everybody would agree but the bloke got his agent to tell Robins he'd go on strike if he didn't get the move so I'll withold my sympathy on this one.

The old and very valid saying is that when you leave a job, leave on good terms.

Some players play better for some managers and teams. MR got the best out of McNulty and I often thought that he’d dip back in for him - particularly with MG out (who to me plays a similar role). Can’t see MR jumping to get him back if he’s the type to threaten to down tools; there’s only one type of “striker” we need.

Sl***ing Reading seems like shooting your self in the foot. Why? What employer needs that? Who will give him a 3 year deal to take him to 32 if he goes around badmouthing?

Surely “it didn’t work out but we live and learn and am happy to be playing and the fans are great” is a standard response, no?

Mad.

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

The old and very valid saying is that when you leave a job, leave on good terms.

Some players play better for some managers and teams. MR got the best out of McNulty and I often thought that he’d dip back in for him - particularly with MG out (who to me plays a similar role). Can’t see MR jumping to get him back if he’s the type to threaten to down tools; there’s only one type of “striker” we need.

Sl***ing Reading seems like shooting your self in the foot. Why? What employer needs that? Who will give him a 3 year deal to take him to 32 if he goes around badmouthing?

Surely “it didn’t work out but we live and learn and am happy to be playing and the fans are great” is a standard response, no?

Mad.

There is no way he could come back here

 

[Earlsdon-Loyal-Blue]

Marc McNulty blasts Reading as he discusses future

The Scotland cap is on loan at Tannadice ahead of becoming a free agent in the summer

www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk

Must have been a real shame to be given a bumper 4 year contract after forcing a move with the agent.

Interesting article. I was gutted when McNulty left, as were most but he’s said himself on various podcasts he wanted the move, to step up to the championship and his agent acts on his behalf. McNulty moved on and so did we.

I honestly didn’t see how McNulty would fit into Reading’s system when they played a rigid one-man upfront and anybody could tell you McNulty needs a strike partner to succeed… 4 years later and we are in the top half of the Championship, well above Reading and in that time McNulty has played less than 20 games at Championship level! That’s the gamble you taking with moving clubs, especially when you’re not even proven in League 1 nevermind the Championship.

If he hadn’t have left, arguably McNulty could be in Godden’s position now but he did and Godden has taken his chance and excelled at League 1 and Championship level.

I would rather have players that see us as a long term home like Godden and O’Hare. Good luck to McNulty in his future career.

 

[Deleted member 9744]

There is no way he could come back here

Not unless we had a couple of relegations. Good League 2 goalscorer of course but I was never convinced he would have been much us to us in League 1 and certainly not in the Championship. We did very well out this deal.

 

[Liquid Gold]

Interesting article. I was gutted when McNulty left, as were most but he’s said himself on various podcasts he wanted the move, to step up to the championship and his agent acts on his behalf. McNulty moved on and so did we.

I honestly didn’t see how McNulty would fit into Reading’s system when they played a rigid one-man upfront and anybody could tell you McNulty needs a strike partner to succeed… 4 years later and we are in the top half of the Championship, well above Reading and in that time McNulty has played less than 20 games at Championship level! That’s the gamble you taking with moving clubs, especially when you’re not even proven in League 1 nevermind the Championship.

If he hadn’t have left, arguably McNulty could be in Godden’s position now but he did and Godden has taken his chance and excelled at League 1 and Championship level.

I would rather have players that see us as a long term home like Godden and O’Hare. Good luck to McNulty in his future career.

It's amazing to think that Godden was in L2 with Stevenage the same year we were with McNulty.

McNulty scored 23 and Godden 10 so it's entirely possibel he could be succeeding with us now.

 

[junglej13]

Honestly think he could have scored 15-20 goals in League 1 if he had stayed with us. Always thought Reading was a bizarre move for him as he had been a bit of a nomad before signing for us. His sale though along with the promotion and Maddison being sold to Leicester allowed the club to invest slightly in the playing squad for the first time which was the catalyst for some of the clubs decent recruitment in recent years in my opinion.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Superb business by the club, picked him up on a free, got the best season of his career out of him and moved him on. Looks like he is quite unprofessional and doesn't keep himself in good condition for a professional footballer

 

[hinckley cov]

We have moved on from mcnulty , he’s not good enough for the championship he has from his level in the Scottish pub league.

 

[chiefdave]

If players choose the money, and who can blame them, they can't really complain when it doesn't work out.

You have to be confident in your own abilities but we've all seen plenty of players leave knowing there was little chance of them getting minutes with the team they are joining. And of course I'm sure if a player was happy to rip up their high wage contract in order to drop back down and increase their chances of playing the club having to pay them to do nothing would be more than happy to oblige.

 

[Gibbo]

"It's a relief to be the one in charge of my future now"
Perhaps he should speak to his agent who persuaded him to sign for Reading, rather than accept the offer on the table from us.
His story (and Tom Bayliss) should be held up as a warning that the grass isn't always greener. However, he is obviously better off financially, which he doesn't mention.

Getting that money for McNulty was one of the best bits of business we've done in the last few years. Reading were clearly stupid, it was pretty obvious at the time he was not that standard. Lovely jubbly.

Beginning to look as though cash for Bayliss is also looking a good deal.

Good selling is as important as good acquisition.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Not disputing what you said @Liquid Gold but I'm sure I can recall Robins having talked of having conversations with McNulty post his move to Reading on friendly terms. Doesn't seem like the type of thing you'd do with somebody who threatened to go on strike.

 

[Joy Division]

Not disputing what you said @Liquid Gold but I'm sure I can recall Robins having talked of having conversations with McNulty post his move to Reading on friendly terms. Doesn't seem like the type of thing you'd do with somebody who threatened to go on strike.

Yes I think it was on the Nii Lamptey podcast when he was a guest, said he still regularly speaks to Robins and Adi. They get on fine and always have done.

 

[Liquid Gold]

Not disputing what you said @Liquid Gold but I'm sure I can recall Robins having talked of having conversations with McNulty post his move to Reading on friendly terms. Doesn't seem like the type of thing you'd do with somebody who threatened to go on strike.

They may have made up afterwards but the parting was sour