We’ve established we are all correct almost all of the time. But what players, pools or otherwise, have you written off in the past as simply not good enough only to watch them then go on and have a half decent career?

For me Stevie Howard first time around. His career culminated in him scoring with his backside against Man U at old Trafford in the premier league I think. Steve Fletcher was another. He seemed to bulk up and grow 18 inches in 12 months after he scored a tap in at the Vic. Jermaine Easter also springs to mind. He didn’t get many opportunities when he was here but when he did he was lightweight and looked out of his depth.

I’ve been right with all the others though obviously. Anybody else had any rare lapses of judgement in the past?

Jermaine Easter Deffo.
Remember him coming on as sub and the whole crowd just groaned, no boos just a groan.
Got the ball beat a few players and passed the ball into touch..........another groan!
Poor bloke he must have felt shit.

Steve Fletcher doing so well after he left Pools was a definite surprise. A few others like Mark Venus did great after leaving Pools but I can hardly remember seeing him play for us so definitely didn't write him off!

One who did better than I'd ever have imagined was Phil Brown. Saw him play loads for Pools and liked him for his competitive attitude but thought the 4th Division was definitely his level. No surprise when he moved on to Halifax but he finished his career in the old 2nd Division with Bolton (after winning two promotions) then Blackpool.
650-odd games, 217 with Hartlepool. He might have been the orange whatsit as a manager but that's some playing career.

Venus only played 4 games for Pools when I believe he was a youth player. He then I understand was offered a contract which he turned down. Fletcher on the other hand was sold.
As for Easter I don’t think anybody was bothered when he left but obviously was a late developer. Let’s be honest all teams let players go who go on to be successful. The big teams can afford to give four year contracts on decent wages to young players (remember little Armstrong from Newcastle £5K a week) sadly Pools can not.

An easier complimentary question to answer is which players came to Pools with a great reputation but did not perform well at Pools? Horden has mentioned this in the past.
Fraser Kerr was rated one of the top defenders playing for Gateshead but at Pools? Where is he now?

Tony Barrass

He was a member of the team that got beat at home 6-0 by Doncaster in 1989.

Based on that performance I still don't know how he made a career in football

know that tony barrass was actually still playing football at some level a couple of years ago. had a good steady if not spectacular long league career. lee todd a junior at pools went to have a decent career at stockport, southampton {premier league} and others before injury finished him.

Scotty Harrison looked good early on but when down hill.
What causes these dips in form, the player or the clubs?

Anybody know what happened to him? It seems like he hasn't had a club since he was released by Spennymoor at the end of the 2018/19 season. Is he out of football altogether or playing abroad? Still only 27.

Was he not released by Falkirk after or was that before.

He might be at The Vic tomorrow. He signed for Torquay.

Before.

Does Brad Walker count?

hat Tommy Miller guy. I said he'd never make anything of himself.....................

James Coppinger 40 in January still scoring goals for Donny. Hard to believe he first came to Popls on loan in 1999, not sure but did we pass on a chance to sign him at the time?. 16 years at Doncaster, what a servant, opportunity missed by us.

Only up to ten (or twenty if he takes his socks off).

Absolute legend Coppinger. Sure to be a future manager for them.

Can imagine that.

Another one,

Toto Nsiala

David Linighan. I thought his older brother Andy was pure class when he was playing for Pools and it wasn't a surprise that he went on to have a great career. When David came into the side he looked a lot more limited as a footballer, albeit very good in the air. He did great at Ipswich though, captained their side that won the Second Division title and had 3 seasons in the new Premier League.

This post was who we have written off. The Linighans were never written off they were transferred for fees.

I was about to apologise, then I went to the top of the thread and saw what Double Figures, whose thread it is, actually wrote:
"We’ve established we are all correct almost all of the time. But what players, pools or otherwise, have you written off in the past as simply not good enough only to watch them then go on and have a half decent career?"

Would have been easy for you to do the same.

Fair comment FH.

Yeah, it's just an excuse for a bit of reminiscing about back in the day, when we were in the Football League. Since we've been in the NL, players let go who the fans didn't rate tend to disappear without trace

Went in two footed there Johnjo

I am surprised FH wrote Linighan off like, I thought most fans at the time were of the opinion both the Linighans would play at a higher level. Each to their own I suppose and shows that we all see things differently

I was struggling to remember the depths of the 1980’s when I remembered John Borthwick. Memories of re-elections and the news that we’d resigned John in the close season were difficult times in my formative years. 14 goals in six or seven seasons he got in 114 games. I recall him taking a lot of stick from the terraces and then he leaves to go to Darlow and becomes a legend in two seasons with back to back promotions (possibly as champions, I don’t follow them, from conference and Div3) top scorer in both seasons with about 1 goal in 3. What an achievement for him given the years he spent at Pools where realistically he was in a poor side. Really he was a probably a good servant to the club and on peanuts. Proved a lot of people wrong. Sorry John.