LCFC to sign De Vries and Maybury!!

[MHS]

De Vries and Maybury in Foxes move

PAUL KIDDIE


HEARTS boss John Robertson today revealed that both Alan Maybury and Mark de Vries are to quit Tynecastle for Leicester City.

Yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Hibs at Easter Road was their last game for the Jambos, the pair having agreed deals to link up with former manager Craig Levein at the Walkers Stadium.

Maybury and De Vries saw their careers transformed under the guidance of Levein and the new Foxes manager made his move for the duo as soon as the transfer window opened on Saturday morning.

Fees believed to be in the region of £30,000 for each player have been thrashed out between the clubs and Robertson today wished the pair the best of luck with their new careers.

"Craig Levein made an approach for Alan Maybury and Mark de Vries and they look to be on their way to Leicester City," said Robertson.

"With the January transfer window now open it would make sense to move them on and we have negotiated fair deals for them both.

"Mark’s not been at his best in recent weeks and I think it has been obvious things have been preying on his mind.

"Alan, to his credit, has got stuck in there and never let us down.

"They have both done fantastically well for the club and everyone at Hearts wishes them well."

Dubliner Maybury was plucked from Leeds United reserves in October 2001 and went on to become a regular in the Republic of Ireland squad under Brian Kerr, while De Vries established himself as one of the SPL’s most feared front men after blasting four goals against Hibs on his Tynecastle debut in 2002.

"Alan did a great job after signing from Leeds and he now has the chance to go back to England with Craig, who knows him well from Tynecastle," added Robertson.

"Mark made a great impact in his first season here and also did well last season. But he is a fragile sort of character and and as I say things appear to have been preying on his mind recently."

The pair are among a dozen top team stars out of contract in the summer and Robertson acknowledged this month is going to prove tough as he battled to hold on to a number of the players without knowing just what budget he has with Vladimir Romanov’s takeover not due to be concluded until February 4.

Robertson has spoken to Plymouth star Stevie Crawford about a move back to Scotland but today he said: "Hopefully moving the players on will allow me some leeway to bring people in but I don’t really know what is happening as regards my budget," he said.

"We have spoken to Stevie and he is a player I desperately want at the club as he is a quality striker.

"The chief executive Chris Robinson has spoken to his agent Bill McMurdo. It is out of my hands and it is now up to Chris to deliver."

 

[Country Fox]

things are looking up - unbelievable that were getting them for 30k each or so even in the current transfer market

 

[Leigh]

From DubaiFox on Rivals:

I dont know if the game was on there yesterday but i saw it here.

De Vries looked awful. He had no control, looked uninterested in making any effort. Spent more time arguing and having a go at the ref than anything else. Unfortunately it looked as if he was playing his last game and couldnt be arsed or didnt want to get injured. Was substituted soon after half time. I certainly dont want him on that performance, we already have 10 other players like him! But I suppose it was just one game.

Maybury, did nothing much in the 1st half, neither did most of the Hearts team. For Hibs goal he didnt directly give the ball away, he passed it to a bloke called Hamilton who gave it away. But was a bit of a suicide ball to Hamilton. Second half I though he looked quality. Some great crosses, one of which a bloke missed a sitter. He ran down the left and more times than once got to the byline for crosses.

In my opinion, Maybury is a definate yes, De Vries - erm no thanks mate!

 

[highland fox]

Thats what you get for buying The Independent,never thought to look in The Scotsman while I was in The Newsagent.Great news I just hope both and in particulary De Vries are given a fair chance before people starting slating them.

 

[Country Fox]

well levein had 2 seasons working with de vries so i have some faith in his judgement - also remember the ipswich fans saying bent couldnt be arsed? he did pretty well for us. finally there are plenty of players who only seem to perform for the right sort of manager - maybe leveins just the sort of person who can get de vries committed and playing to the best of his ability - de vries obviously liked having him as a manager as hes followed him down south so quickly

 

[Graz]

De Vries would've known he was on his way out yesterday though, could've played a big factor.

Personally I think it's good. Levein's worked with both before so obviously knows what their like. I'll trust his judgement now.
£30,000 sounds for each sounds pretty good. A friend of mine who is Scottish said that both players are fairly good, certainly good enough for the Championship, but he's not sure how they would do in the Premiership.

 

[Country Fox]

2 very positive signings - 26 and 29 so a lot of years of football left in both, so much better than the 32-36 age bracket we've been used to recently. but we shouldnt get carried away like we did over the summer, lets give them time to settle in before we start shouting about kick starting our season, pushing for the play offs etc etc

 

[MHS]

If we do end up with De Vries, Maybury and Kirk, we should change our name to the Leicester Hearts, because we're going to end up with a team of ex-Hearts players

Lets hope we don't have a purple away kit though :roll:

 

[youngscot]

If we do end up with De Vries, Maybury and Kirk, we should change our name to the Leicester Hearts, because we're going to end up with a team of ex-Hearts players

Lets hope we don't have a purple away kit though :roll:

purple? PURPLE?? its feckin maroon!!

they should be good signings, altho for me the most telling quote from robertson re de vries is "But he is a fragile sort of character"
reminds me of heskey in that way....

ure totally rite, de vries has been a joke recently, no workrate, no commitment, hard to recognise as the same player. But im sure with no uncertainty over his future and a manager who believes in him he'll come good. as i've said about maybury before, we're gutted. As of now, ure right-back (or left-back, he can do both) position is gonna be solid solid solid. still cant believe this talk of andy kirk tho, amazing.....

(oh, and a better name would be Heart of Leicestershire )

 

[Graz]

Levein just said a bit of work still to do on the transfers, but they should both be here by the end of the week.

 

[mad biker]

And who are we to argue with the big boss man

 

[step]

To true MB, and would we dare to critise him? No chance.
Lets hope they bring a bags full of scots passion with some to spare for some of the other players.

 

[Steven]

To true MB, and would we dare to critise him? No chance.
Lets hope they bring a bags full of scots passion with some to spare for some of the other players.

One is Dutch and the other is Irish. Maybe scots passion is a disease and they can come and infect our squad because it needs it. :? :?