Moan the Glens
Harvey happy to hear complaints
Willie Harvey reckons he’s got a team of moaners on his hands – and he couldn’t be happier.
The Glencairn gaffer brought Tony Fraser back to New Southcroft this week, and he knows the rest of the squad better get used to hearing his voice.
Versatile Fraser was a star of the doublepromotion winning team of a few years ago, and scored the winning goal in the 2007 sectional League Cup final against Port Glasgow.
But as well as bringing footballing pedigree, Willie knows Tony will also bring a fierce desire to win.
He said: “Tony is a talker, a moaner and a greeter.
“We had that very discussion last night. I don’t want a team who are all pals with each other on the park, I want a team full of moaners, I want then to be on each other’s back, always getting the best out of each other.
“We’ve also got Paul Doyle, Adam Nisanci and Mark Batchelor, players who will let others know if they are not happy.”
Willie also moved this week to strengthen the goalkeeper position.
Robert Kerr has signed from Auchinleck Talbot after a lengthy chase for the stopper who played under Willie at Blantyre Vics.
While JC Hutchison established himself as the number one, Willie felt a lack of competition led to a drop in form towards the end of last season.
As a goalkeeper himself, Willie knows how important keeping your stoppers on their toes can be for a side.
He said: “We have always kept our eye on Robert and last year we noticed he was understudy at Auchinleck.
“He wanted to give it another year but told us if he didn’t get the jersey we would be in with a shout.
“He’s more than capable of getting the gloves, he’s not coming here to sit on the bench. He’s a very good goalkeeper. Even being understudy at Auchinleck, to the best junior ‘keeper in the country, you know you could be thrown into a Scottish Cup final.
“This isn’t a reflection on Hutchy. He will admit himself his standards slipped towards the end of last season, but that was because he was under no pressure.
“Now he knows he won’t always be first choice he needs to turn it on all the time.
“To be fair, he’s already done that, he’s come back to pre-season in better shape than last year, has lost a bit of weight and he’s looking good.
“It is difficult to keep goalkeepers happy.
“Sometimes you can bring a guy in who knows he’s going to be on the bench and he’s happy with that, but I don’t want that type of player.
“Coming towards the end of a season, your goalkeeper can be the difference between a 1-1 or a 1-0 win.”
Glens will get their pre- season schedule underway this Saturday when Hurlford make the trip from Ayrshire.
However, a problem with the Glens tractor means the game will now take place at the Toryglen Regional Football Centre with a 2pm kick-off.