Quote Originally Posted by blue lewj View Post
Murphy was the head scratcher. Not in that we signed him. He looked a good attacking player.
Just Warnock not playing him because he didn't track back and the like. Had we not seen him play before? Was that aspect of his game a surprise to us?

To a lesser extent, in that we paid nothing for him, Wintle this summer. It is as though we've signed him and are surprised by the fact he isn't the player we thought he was. I could understand signing a 19/20 year old and loaning him out in the hope he will feature in the future but he's 24.
He's only played one season at league one level, where he's done well - prior to that he was in league 2.

We've brought him into a side that is already accommodating a few other players who are getting upto speed at this level.
They've had a look at him in a couple of games and probably have felt that we can't afford to bring him through at the same time. So to get championship level game time somewhere is better than warming the bench for us.
I'm sure that would have preferred that he'd immediately claimed a starting spot but as that hasn't happened this is a good outcome. Far better than him going back on loan to league one.

I guess it is difficult to judge how players will make the step up - some are excellent at league one, but struggle to make an impact in the Championship (i.e. Gavin Whyte)