Purse on: Loovens, Koumas and Cox

Last updated : 14 December 2005 By Michael Morris
On Jason Koumas

"You've got to encourage him and tell him what a good player he can be.

"Not every player reacts well to constant rollickings. Some do, some don't - and Jason is not one of the players who do."

"A lot gets said about Jason but I played half-a-dozen games with him in West Brom's reserve side at the end of last season and his attitude was excellent.

"Some players might have said, 'I'm not interested in playing for the reserves' and not bothered.

"But Jason got his head down, did his bit and worked hard to try and get back in the team even though, like me, he probably knew there wasn't much chance."


On Glenn Loovens

'Glenn Loovens is a great player who just gets better with every game. Having partnered him for most of the season, I cannot recall too many people beating him either in the air or the ground.'

'This guy is only going to get better.

'The only advice, if any, I would give him is that he needs to improve on his talking around the other players.

'It's not the language barrier that is the problem because his English is better than mine, but sometimes he needs to be a bit more vocal around the other players.'


On Neil Cox

'I saw it with my own eyes, Neil Cox was magnificent,' (after his display at Leeds).

'It's going to be a major headache for the gaffer, but how can I have any complaints if he chooses Cox over me?

'He was superb against Leeds.

'To be fair, I think Cox would be gutted if I stepped in after that kind of performance and took his place.

'Of course, I wouldn't like being out of the side again. But how could I have any qualms with the boss if it happened!

'I'll just have to see what the gaffer does. It's a massive headache for him, but one I bet he's glad of having.

'I think whoever the boss has picked in that back four has done really well and that's exactly what the squad is all about.'


(Quotes taken from Western Mail and Echo. Click logo's to read the full stories).