Hursty’s Best Signing(s)?

Quoted from Mighty_Mariner

To lighten the mood little.

I was reading a random article from 2019iah I think that listed the top 10 earners at Ipswich, and some familiar names were up there. It got me thinking about just who I think Hursty’s best signing for Town was/is?

Naturally there are far too many variables and categories in which fans rate players I.e. quality, longevity, impact on the team, impact on the club/commnity, goals, team successes, character, leadership etc etc… so here’s my 2p worth.

To make it slightly easier and a bit more fun I’ve done it per position!

Note, signing made whilst in joint control with Rob Scott are allowed.

Goalkeeper! For longevity and character it has to be Macca. But I was tempted to opt for Dean Henderson because he was exemplary. However, though signed by Hurst, think he might have only played him once? He shone under Bignot if I remember correctly.

Defender! Tough one this as there has been some immense defenders. Honorary mentions for Ian Miller, Carl Magnay, Shaun Pearson, Josh Gowling, Toto Nsiala, Richard Tate et al. My choice is Connor Townsend. Rolls Royce of a player

Midfield: Just has to be the ginger meastro, Craig Disley.

Forward: Again, very tough choice as there have been a few high quality ones! Think for goals and impact on the team I have to opt for Podge. Could easily have been Connell, Hearn or Bogle or McAtee though.

Who do you think are the best signings Paul has made across his two spells?

"Naturally there are far too many variables and categories in which fans rate players I.e. quality, longevity, impact on the team, impact on the club/commnity, goals, team successes, character, leadership etc etc"

I don't give a toss about most of that, I look to what a player does on the pitch.

Signing often go beyond simply, who plays the best.

Bringing Shaun Pearson back into the fold seems like a great move now, similar with Croudson.

Then, if you look at players, we’ve had some crackers, some a minority seemingly didn’t understand but ultimately were much much better than some give them credit for.

Crocombe
Henderson
Townsend
Hearn
Disley
Clay
Magnay
Toto
Arnold
Tait
Mcatee
Taylor
Macca
Miller
Bogle
Amond

I think in the early days Rob Scott was a big influence on the better players we signed - McKeown, Pearson, Disley and Hearn all arrived in the same summer. Before he and Hurst joined us, they had a reputation for winning by big margins at Boston, and we saw some of that while they were joint managers here (weren’t we top scorers at home in the whole of Europe at one point, when Hearn was scoring hat-tricks for fun?).

I remember us beating Stockport by 7, sticking 5 past Alfreton a few times, Barrow, Bath, Woking, etc.

When Hurst flew solo there were still big wins here and there (7 v Halifax & Alfreton, 6 v Gateshead, 5 v Dartford, Altrincham, Stevenage).

I just think he’s become more pragmatic and defensive over time. He’s signed some cracking signings - some who are still enjoying a vert good career at this level (Bogle, Cook) and the likes of Tait, Nolan, Townsend etc have gone to play in higher divisions.

I’m pro Hurst but even I admit that it seems like he’s lost that edge. He’s a well rounded manager but just can’t get that ruthless streak going.

Trouble is, he’s now put himself in a situation where he can’t afford many more defeats, especially as we’ve now won just twice in nine, and are out of two cups.

So to dig us out of this little hole, I’m probably expecting the football to become even more attritional because we don’t look like we have the confidence to enjoy ourselves when we get ahead.

At 2-0 up yesterday, a Hurst team of the past would have put that Crawley team to bed by 3 or 4. I think he’s signed good attacking players but they can’t stay fit and when they play he can’t get them going.

I'm too lazy to type out honorable mentions

Gk - Macca
Def - Townsend
Mid - Nolan just beats Disley because of the quality player he was over Disley
FW - Podge

I'd like him to sign at Shrewsbury

I think if you're talking of an impact, then it probably has to be Nolan for me. Right time of course, but without him (and the Braintree 'keeper having a nightmare) we don't go up that year.

But then there's someone like Giles Coke.  He didn't have the 'success' but when he first arrived he was exactly what we needed.  A leader on and off the field, Matete was something else but it was Coke who allowed him to bomb forward.  

Disley, Pearson, McKeown were all absolute stellar signings for their length of consistent service.  Danny Collins, a genuinely class above player.  Dean Henderson, the one who went onto be something much, much bigger. Conor Townsend, if I'm saying Nolan got us over the line then I think it's fair to say we would have already crossed the line at ease had he stayed for the whole season.

Goals win games.  Hearn, Amond, Bogle, even Andy Cook.

A near impossible question to answer as to who is 'best'.  But if you're asking my favourite Hurst signing, I'm probably going Shaun Pearson.  Did the business here once, brought back into help do it again.  Did it, no fuss. No dramas, stepped aside when he needed to.  Just class.

His own contract.

Quoted from diehardmariner

I think if you're talking of an impact, then it probably has to be Nolan for me. Right time of course, but without him (and the Braintree 'keeper having a nightmare) we don't go up that year.
.

Is the Nolan myth still getting meddled. Baffling. The stats of course tell a completely different story.

Nolan started 17 regular season National League ganes in 2015/16…

W 7 D 4 L 6 GF 23 GA 22 GD +1 Pts 25 PPG 1.47

The other 29 regular season National League games that season…

W 15 D 10 L 4 GF 59 GA 23 GD +36 Pts 55 PPG 1.90

But apparently Nolan made us better and without him we wouldn’t have gone up.

The truth: Monkhouse getting injured was the catalyst for our play-off success. Hurst brought workhorse Craig Clay in central midfield and shuffled Nolan out to the left wing where the flaws in his game were less exposed.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Is the Nolan myth still getting meddled. Baffling. The stats of course tell a completely different story.

Nolan started 17 regular season National League ganes in 2015/16…

W 7 D 4 L 6 GF 23 GA 22 GD +1 Pts 25 PPG 1.47

The other 29 regular season National League games that season…

W 15 D 10 L 4 GF 59 GA 23 GD +36 Pts 55 PPG 1.90

But apparently Nolan made us better and without him we wouldn’t have gone up.

The truth: Monkhouse getting injured was the catalyst for our play-off success. Hurst brought workhorse Craig Clay in central midfield and shuffled Nolan out to the left wing where the flaws in his game were less exposed.

Although can't argue with stats, I feel it is slightly harsh on Nolan, there could be any number of reasons why form dipped at that time, and its not forced to be solely Nolan who indivually was excellent, and is somebody who did well at a higher level also

Quoted from Davec

Although can't argue with stats, I feel it is slightly harsh on Nolan, who indivually was excellent, and is somebody who did well at a higher level also

Clearly. His best position isn’t central midfield in a 4-4-2. Hurst used him correctly at Shrewsbury where he was utilised in a 3 man central midfield in a 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 system.