I can understand why Cooper wants to bring Murray back but I do question whether we should play him at home. At home last season we had a terrible record because in my opinion we weren't attacking enough to break sides down. Performances were very dull and there was little to get excited about. I'd leave Murray out at home and include him for every away game!

I'd agree had I not seen the Swindon game. If we play 4-4-2 with Walton and Sweeney in the engine room we'll struggle.

Paul Murray is the best footballer at the club and should start every game home and away. Last season when Murray was getting subbed in home games we struggled even more when he went off because we had no one to get or control the ball.

He is a player that shows for the ball, breaks up play and takes responsibility. He generally tries to pick out a pass and simply must start at the moment to give us some form of control, hopefully one of the young players on the books can step up and fill his role in the long term.

Copy and Paste Jonny?

I only rabbit on about the same stuff when I believe I am right. I think the treatment of Paul Murray this pre-season and early season just goes to prove how clueless people picking the team can be...

I thougjt this was a tennis post

He was player of the year for a reason

Enough said......

I thougjt this was a tennis post

Totally and utterly spot on

It always amazes me there are few young players who try to build a career out of playing a role like Murray does.

Happy birthday muzza

DO ALL YOUR THREADS HAVE TO BE IN CAPITAL LETTERS

Theres certain people who will never admit it, but we're a much worse side when Paul Murray doesnt play.

Unfortunately Cooper was one of those people.

Well until recently.

We haven't crashed and burned yet. We've drawn one and lost one. Can youse buggers calm down??

Had Murray played instead of Walton or Sweeney in a 4-4-2 we'd be just as ineffective. He played in that system in the first half of last season under Wadsworth and was awful at times.

Murray is a holding midfielder, and still a very decent one. He's done great for Pools, an absolute bonus of a signing really. I doubt anyone had any expectation of a 34 year old who we told his legs had gone who'd just been released by Shrewsbury. Cooper played him for more minutes last season than Wadsworth used to, he can see his worth. I can see what he's trying to do, he's said from the start he likes to play 4-4-2 with wingers. He signed Franks, he signed Walton, it's been widely reported he wants a left winger as well and another forward. For whatever reason that hasn't happened yet. The problem is he's tried to implement his 4-4-2 without signing his other winger, and Walton hasn't played very well yet, but that's early days. He's also rather bizarrely played Franks and Monkhouse on the 'wrong wings' baffling when you have a big centre forward who's scored about 100 headed goals in his career. We've looked poor but it's early days. I think until he makes these signings we've got to back to basics of trying to be solid, working hard at a high tempo and packing the midfield. We're not good enough to boss games. This is were Murray comes in, to sit in front of the back four nick the ball off people and keep it simple.

So I can understand why Murray had started the season on the bench. The fact people rave about him as footballer on here says more about the limitations of our squad than Paul Murray. As does his player of the year award last year, he did play well in the second half of the season yes and deserved to win it but we haven't got a player in the squad who you can get excited about watching at the minute and we haven't for a while. No skills like a Porter or Boyd, no flair to speak of really.

I'll reiterate once again though because no doubt some of you see this as a dig at Paul Murray, I think he's done great for Pools and never let's us down.

Great post, Murray in the middle of a 2 man midfield just won't work and he'll be absolutly nackerd after half an hour aswell especially covering Sweeney's position aswell (who seems he just can't be dropped)

I agree with that, preferably someone with a bit of pace who can carry the ball.

I'm greedy though and would still like another striker!

L*** J****

Sweeney shouldn't be starting in the centre of midfield in a 442 - he isn't good enough to play there especially if the game plan is to get the ball wide and get balls in the box. To get the ball wide we need to be bossing the centre so that the ball is far enough on the pitch to bring the wingers into the game.

If we have to play wingers and 4-4-2 then I would start with getting the wingers on the right sides and probably give Murray and Walton a chance in the middle. I would persist with James Poole and Howard up top for now. I'm not convinced that 442 will be our most successful formation in getting results or that we really have the players to play it but if thats the way the coaching staff have their hearts set on then fair enough.

Also if players aren't performing in the first team then the young players should get a chance.

James isnt the same player he was when he burst onto the scene. Exciting as hell for first 4 games or so. But been as effective as James Poole since.

Wont be the first time we have had an exciting player with pace and skill and they seem to go backwards with us.

Is his back still causing him problems or just low on confidence?

I'm starting to have a concerned look in Peter Hartleys direction too. He seems to have been treading water for ages. All this talk of Baldwin taking over from Collins and the truth maybe that our other centre half is woefully out of form and has been for a long time.