Just saw the goals from yesterday, if he spent more time concentrating on the game and less time standing around appealing then we might not have been in such trouble yesterday. He blatantly just stopped for their 2nd goal and from someone with his experience thats not acceptable. We need 2 new full backs, would love us to get Tavernier from Newcastle on loan.

We've needed 2 new fullbacks for nearly 2 years. Same players, same sh*te!

f leave him alone mate..he's ex darlo .

Can someone lease clarify:

Is Austin officially the new target for abuse, or have we not decided yet?

I haven't seen anyone target Austin for abuse, just a few people saying he didn't play very well, is that a crime?

He had some right Dog shite games last season, Charlton at home he was terrible n kept his place.

It seems he's undroppable

Our squad is extremely thin and because of this far too many players are 'undroppable'. It's very annoying when you can see the problems but fuck all gets done about it. If Austin and horwood were 18/19 and performed shite regularly they would be dropped. Holden and maybe rowbotham/Richards would probably give anything for a chance, i just hope they get it sooner rather than later.

Who is an actual right back other than Austin???

Our squad is thin because it has to be in able to afford to be at this level. That pretty much means we rely on kids to fill in. I don't think we have any kids anywhere near Austins level at right back

Sweeney

Austins level?

Is he really that far ahead of everyone else? He gets the ball n just boots it, he rarely looks up or plays a simple pass.

I used to really rate him when he first arrived, very steady right back.

He's went backwards big time.

Yes, we really don't have anyone near his League 2 level.

How do we know this without giving them a chance??

It could work both ways as it would give both fullbacks a much needed wake up call

Would Baldwin not be a much better option? Not his preferred position of course, or his best, but he must be better than Austin.

Austin was culpable for both the goals against Boro, was poor in a lot of games last season which Cooper explained was due to him not having protection from a decent right winger, and after saturday Cooper must be now looking for an alternative

I thought it was a combo of collins and horwood for Boros second?

Surely the manager knows if there is a youth team right back who is capable of stepping up without the need to play them first?

Well apparently not, Holden is a big example of this

No it was Austin and Horwood mincing about

I do love some of the throwaway shite you read on at times, not even resembling the actual truth.

Austin and Horwood are the first two 'proper' fullbacks we've had for years. If you can't accept that at times at our level people will have bad games sometimes you need to start watching Man City on Sky.

You obviously have a short memory as I'd say we're better off in the full back area than when we actually did well at this level. Then we had Micky Barron who didn't really add anything going forward and could pass water at right back and Matty Robson or Humps at left back neither could tackle or defend. Then Hugh signed who again was only any good going forward and blamming free kicks. Later we've seen the likes of Jamie McCunnie, LeonMcSweeney, Peter Hartley and even Tony Sweeney play in unfamiliar full back roles.

Yeah I imagine both Orrstin and Horwood had nightmares along with a few others on Saturday but both lads are decent players who 've had far moregood games for Pools than bad. I'm aware that no Nish or Boyd leaves a gap for in the squad to be target of the window lickers t pent up vitriol though so crack on

Exactly right PJ.
There,s too many knee jerky buggers on here!!!

Jack Ross was the best right back we'd had for a long time - just a shame about his other problems. It seems difficult to get consistent full backs at this level.

Austin and Horwood have both probably had more good games than bad. Both players started their careers with Pools very promisingly indeed but last season both players suffered a dip in form. We appear to have a very good player in Holden waiting in the wings. When he has played he has been excellent so it is a tad frustrating that when Horwood is out of form Holden doesn't get much of a chance. Hopefully that will change this season...

How many times have you seen Holden play?

Because MadJohn who actually watches the reserves and youths has said Holden had a poor season last year and his game hasn't actually progressed. So much so he only has a 6 month contract. It's alright just saying a name of a young lad you've seen play a couple of times, would he stand up defensively away from home against a lively winger? The times I've seen him he's impressed me how he bombs forward not so sure what he's like going the other way.

The thing is though he seems to not do particularly well for the reserves (only based upon what you have just told me as I dont go) but when he comes into the first team he does well and takes his opportunity to impress. I guess the only real way of knowing if this is his stage, as for some players it takes a run in the first team for them to show what they can really do, is to give him an opportunity. I do understand though that we cannot afford to carry someone to give them a shot but if Horwoods poor form continues then what have we to lose by giving Holden a few games. Proabably a win win situation, he gets his chance to show why he should start and Horwood gets a kick up the backside and a chance to refocus.

I've seen him play about 6 or 7 times including reserve team games and friendlys . He sometimes makes the wrong decision but generally has the pace to get back. Do you think that reserve team football is the best avenue to develop young talent? Young players need starts for the first team.

If Holden came in and struggled then fair enough but when he has played for the first team he has done very well. As for coping with lively wingers - when was the last time Horwood defended well against one...?

A handfull of times then, well with go with you're opinion over Neale Cooper's then shall we? You know the bloke who sees him every day and who's job depends on picking the strongest team to win us games.

Cooper is not exactly shy in throwing a young lad in so if he thought Holden was a better option than Horwood he'd be playing.

You can go two ways after a result like Saturday who can make wholesale changes or you can see what the players are made of and get a response.

This is what worries me. How many of our players "go backwards". Players should improve until their fitness levels decline through age or injury. I fear its down to the standards of training at the club.

In recent years we have seen Monkhouse, Liddle, Austin, Horwood all deteriorate alarmingly. Sweeney doesnt seem to have improved in years but fortunately has the gift of chipping in with goals. Poole isnt looking the same player that we first saw play for us.

Even Luke James appeared much more attack minded when he broke into the team and at this point in time seems to have lost that 'something' which made him look an outstanding prospect. It could be injury related but it would be a travesty for such promising players to be hindered by poor coaching.

Austin never played hoofball when he was with us, made the occasional error but in general was a very good full back in league 2. The only gripe I had with him was that he was injury prone.

f Horwood performs poorly then I have no doubt that Holden will get his chance and it will be sooner rather than later. All I am saying is that based on his 1st team performances - he deserves one.

You would presume that managers and coaches know whats best but if this is the case why would you set up with Sweeney in a 4 man midfield ? This is clearly not going to work long term, and if Cooper doesn't know this his coaches should as they have been here long enough.

I was told when Sweeney was being chased by Huddersfield, that he signed a contract with us stating he has to start if fit.

Probably bollocks like.

Fully agree ,Monkhouse looked a different player last season. We seem to bit a thin of staff both on the field and off the field. Only Cooper, Ritchie and Barron acting as coaches. Unless somebody can prove me wrong?

a member of the ITB board who went to the game said compared to crewe we looked very unfit last saturday.

worry comment that.

To be fair its hard to judge when one team have wrapped the game up after 15 minutes. The team getting battered will always appear less fit as confidence/motivation etc is drained away.

Fair point, first game of the season tho, fitness shouldnt even be brought up.

Well dont then

In regards to the Holden horwood situation, if a player has had more good games than bad is really irrelevant, surely current form Is the only issue that matters. Horwood for me had a great 1st season then a poor 2nd. Form Definately dipped. Holden has came in a few times and played well. He also offers a great throw In similar to that of Rory delap. Some will laugh that comment off but we arnt creating enough chances, so if we have an option there an Howard now to get on the end of them why not try him as horwood isn't justifying his selection. That throw could be a secret weapon. He handled charlton away on the last day extremely well. We have all seen him perform so why dosnt he deserve a run in the side?? Wanting that certainly dosnt make anybody a window licker as pj says. There is no time for setimemt in football, if out of form, drop. Simple as that. If players arnt performing they should be replaced and I honestly can't see what's stopping Holden get a game. He could have been released but was kept presumably for a reason and that must be to play left back. Well Come on Neale you wernt shy with playing youngsters last time, let's see it because 5-0 humiliations don't go down well and defensively things have to change.

'Current form'

We've played one fucking game

It was poor at the end of last season.

Might as well all just not post anything because as we all know, PJ knows all.

He isn't a new signing

Unless your darlo, it's monopoly money invested there

Austin, a proper full back? Give over. The man's the slowest player on the pitch week in week out. Weak as piss and has to make crunching tackles to make up for his endless mistakes.

Over the past year, he's now became so slow he can no longer even make these crunching/last minute tackles.

I don't care what level you play at, if your full back doesn't support your winger, you won't get much joy in that area of the pitch. Don't think I've ever seen Austin ahead of our right winger.

Weak link.