They're seldom as good as the first time round and, because you remember what they used to be able to do and are disappointed even if they are not total diddies. For us I can think of quite a few old boys who were great players in their day but did'nt cut it at the club second time round or were only average.

I hope Rovers fans are not too disappointed.

How many defenders in your squad have played in Europe, been in a world cup squad and won the SPL in the last two years?

I'm sure he will do a good enough job

My little Greenock friend, you need worry about us, as we have a huge list of ex players who come back and don't make the same impact.

*WB now goes into anorack mode*

Salva Capin, Scott Crabbe, Jason Dair, Shaun Dennis, Laurie Ellis, Andy Harrow, Karl Hawley, JP Javary, Mark Jones, Ray MacKinnon (but he was gash 1st time too), Dene Shields, Gordon Wallace, Keith Wright.

The only one I can remember who was as good, or better 2nd time was Colin Harris.

We can also add managers to the list
Jimmy Nicholl.

And ex players who have come back as managers
Peter Hetherston, Gordon Dalziel

Your post makes me think that one knackered Centre Half has bottoms twitching out west.

Hmmm.

Over-egging the pudding somewhat here i think.

Did he play in Europe or did McLeish not fancy him?

Did he play in the World Cup or was he just there to be the official witch doctor?

I'm sure he'll do an okay job, but the excitement of you younger Rovers fans would suggest that you haven't the wisdom to spot a huge banana skin when you see it.

Best of luck to the big semi-crippled homophobe

So McLeish signed him but didnt fancy him?

He would have played at the world cup if he had been fit.

And finally we shall see, Enjoy Dalziel's home coming btw

He's played in as many world cup's as I have, and I don't think McLeish used him in Europe. He's a decent no-nonsense defender but I wouldn't count on him to win you the league. With only 8 goals scored in 9 games so far, unless big Marv is playing up front, I suspect Raith will still struggle to get results

There's a fair bit of truth in that to be honest. Andrews has always been a player who made a little talent go a long way. I remember when he left Raith for Livi that many people felt he was only going to be there to help Livi get out of Division 1 and that he wasnt seen as a long term option for the SPL. He did fine though and somehow ended up at Rangers where again many people thought he wouldnt cut it..but he got away with it.

The guy isnt a world beater though and whilst he will be a good defender and a strong physical presence in this league (as long as his knee holds out) dont think he's going to suddenly make Raith a great team. From what I saw of them a fortnight back it was a complete lack of creative spark that they were really suffering from, and big Marv isnt going to solve that problem.

No harm in the Rovers fans getting a bit over excited though, theyve not had much to shout about in recent times.

Re players returning for a second spell our very own Robert Sloan is a great example. Absolutely briliant whilst on loan at the Recs in 2003 (8 goals in 16 games in Division 1) and looked like a star in the making. Since returning he has played some nice stuff but just not the same player as he was first time around (if he was then he would still be in the SPL).

The player that immediately springs to mind for Stirling Albion is Steven Nicholas. John Philliben would be another. I suppose Andy Gibson would count as well, albeit that he was on loan.

The theory that they don't do as well second time round certainly applies in our case!

Dixie Ingram did ok for us when he came back from Notts Forest.

(Yes, I really am old enough to remember! )

...and

: Neil Bennett - utter pish the 2nd time.
: Craig Taggart - a complete and utter w**ker off the field and gash with it.
: Brian Grant - was winding down his career a true Legend though.
: Alex Bone - still kept up a good scoring record on his return.

Marvin Andrews scored in Europe I'm sure.

I suspect a, slightly, nervous glance may be being cast north-eastwards from Cappielow way. Not least concerning other signings Rovers may have in the pipe-line.

Spot on waspie.


Rovers supporters on here and on fantalk are going a tad over the top regarding the signing.He`s only one player and a defender at that.Our problem lies in midfield,lack of a creative player/s.

He scored for Livvy against Graz, but I don't think he did for Rangers.

Rumours are that this will be rectified next week!

I don't think Morton should be all that worried yet!

DJD,

Aware of these rumours but keeping quiet till its official

Can't be 100% sure if he scored for them (I seem to vaguely remember seeing him score), but he sure did play for Rangers in Europe the last time they played the group stage of the UEFA Cup. And he played up front for them too (came on as a striker sub in Europe).

BTW, Craig Levein knows what he is doing. He has signed Big Marv to go 5 at the back, and will next be signing a midfield creative player to cause the 'spark'. You build a good team from the back. Marv will root out all the poofs from the Rovers team, especially as he dislikes them anyway.....

Aren't you Rovers Fans just a tad concerned that it was God who told him to sign on at Starks Park?

Just a tad early to start up the Band for dancing in the Streets of Raith?

Couldnt care less who told him to sign, the fact that he did is good enough for me

Alan Mahood - say no more.

other side of the coin - Paul McManus has been a hell of alot better second time round

to be fair though he didn't exactly leave to play at a higher level

The only worry is over his fitness.

Marv has held his own playing SPL football for two seasons and scored a couple of goals during that time too. Ivan Sproule doesn't play in this league so we should be ok.

Even if he's half fit he'll be good enough to look like a freaking superstar in the mediocrity that is the Scottish 2nd Division.

To be fair to Jason Dair I thought he did well for us when he rejoined us.

I cannot believe fans from other teams on this forum. Marvin Andrews was wanted by most teams outside the Old Firm in the SPL, he also turned down Reading and Derby.

What will he do for Raith, we will stop us conceeding goals, especially from set pieces, he will help set up goals and and will also score a few against weak 2nd division centre halfs.

Marv would easily walk into any team in the 2nd Div, even the mighty Morton, a team that can't remember what 1st Div football is.

Raith have the strikers at the club to score goals against any team, we now have a defence capable of not conceeding, and by all accounts our midfield will be improved.

With Marv and Campbell at the back we have probably the strongest centre half partnershp outside the SPL.

I doubt anybody can honeslty argue with that, behind them Brown must be one of the best keepers in the SFL, capable of keeping Raith in a game when we are playing badly and already won us a number of points (Two late saves to Brechin & Alloa)

Once we get the midfield sorted we will be at the top of end of the table without a doubt.

I take it by "at the top" you mean in the top 3.

I'm still not 100% sure that we'll overtake Morton, they don't look like they'll drop many points.

top 4 will do me.

I'm absolutely delighted that Big Marv has arrived, don't get me wrong. I'm not one of the pessimists who have worries about his injury. With God on your side, you don't ask questions.

However, as has been previously discussed, we have failed to score in 4 out of 9 league games, apart from the Stranraer game, we haven't scored more than once in any game. Marvin can't really do much about that.

Hopefully, the confidence that Marvin will spread will encourage the strikeforce, though.

If Morton's unbeaten run is halted, and they start to stutter a bit, and Ian Harty/Paul McManus/Armand One/Steven Manson find goalscoring form, then I see no reason why we can't win the league.

Didn't Big Marv score twice in one game last season? Get the big man up front. Imagine him and One up front!

I would be happy with the top 4 and promotion, it's not how you do it that counts but that you do it.

Sure Partick would agree after last season

Yeah, i'm happy Marvins back but i wouldn't go as extreme as that. Although, with Marv on our side you never know what could happen to us: preferably something involving us going up, Cowden failing in the playoffs and east end park getting destroyed

And Hjalmar Thorarinsson, all capable of getting into double figures with the right service.

Derek Lilley. Coming on to some good form at the moment. Hope he can keep it going.

Some amount of confidence coming from Kirkcaldy. A look at the league table would indicate that Raith are closer to a relegation play-off spot than a promotion one (albeit on goal difference).

The conditions which set about our collapse 3 yrs ago just aren't there this time around. Another factor was Airdrie signing Coyle and converting their massive amount of draws into wins.

Raith have the second best defensive record in the league, is Marv going to make that much of a difference?

Even if you had the signings who would convert every (what would previously have been a) draw into a win, and defeat into a draw you'd still not be keeping pace at the top let alone overhauling!

and don't forget that he also starred on the telly in the Peter Cook comedy sketch where Marvin auditioned for the part of Tarzan.

"you are deficient in the leg department to the tune of one"

It's a matter of time before he has to get the operation. God will tell him eventually no doubt!



Whilst everyone can follow whatever religious path they wish (it's one of the freedoms we enjoy in this country) you have to say that big Marv is a bit misguided in constantly proclaiming god told him this and god told him that.

Assylums are full of folk who talk to god. What's the difference?

5 at the back, exciting stuff

I thought Marvin signed for increased PR, and to help fullfill a community pledge we had made with the Recliam the Rovers.

I think a few Rovers fans need to put it back in their pants! Sure, the signing of Marvin Andrews is an exceptional coup for the club but we have still got a long way to go before we have a team capable of getting out of this league. We are seeing signs of improvement in the attitude and fitness of our squad, however we have a poor goalscoring record. Some say down to our inability to make chances for our McManus, Harty and One. There were plenty chances made v Ayr and we still scored zip.

Also, we have scored once at home this season (in the league) from open play, even then the goalie teed it up for Manson. If CL can rectify this we may have a shout at a play-off place but until then I wouldn't get too excited.

Talk of winning the league, I'm sorry but its Pie in the Sky at this stage!

I like the idea of Marv and Armand up front!

Dunc, you've let yourself down a bit with that one.....

Marvin is more likely to cause resentment on a higher wage than others and getting all the headlines! Football players can be petty little egomaniacs.

If you sign a creative midfielder and a striker that can hit the back of the net you'll finish top 4 no problem. But i still don't see how you or anyone else can catch Morton.

Exactly the league is in the bag for Morton.

Whilst most Morton fans are reasonably confident, given our experiences of the last three seasons, we will believe it when its an arithmetical certainty.

My God, I actually agree with Monster on something. When Micky Broon asked me what I thought of signing Marvin, I said, "I think you should go and ask for a new contract as this is the team that told you they were skint when you signed!". With Ian Harty in the squad, it won't take long for money jealousy to rear it's head.

Back on topic, the aforementioned Mr. Harty was a staggering disappointment when he came back last season, Paul Walker was OK in patches but injured too much. Can't think of too many people who have come back to Stranraer from a higher level off the top of my head, maybe only Darren Henderson stands out as a success and that's going back a while.

Oh, and Neil Watt was a good success when he came back to the club