I've noticed a bit of a trend. Ritchie is only really appreciated when we are doing shite, the relegation season for example when he was rightfully named player of the year. When the chips are down Mr Humphreys always puts his hands up unlike some of the other fookers.

My observation is though is when we are playing better as a team Ritchie has received loads of bollox from some message board regulars (copywrite Darlo Pete). I remember reading earlier in the season how he wasn't good enough for league one and other tosh, when in fact his only crime is being very steady and consistent his performances rarely fluctuate that much whatever position he's asked to operate in and regardless of what's going on around him. So the next time you 'Humphreys bashers' fancy spouting more shite about Mr Hartlepool United DON'T!

i was just going to say that

spot on PJ and as for some that rubbished him as nothing more than a utility player need to look at the performances of those you say won't put their hands up
if they had the same passion about the club as he has that also includes the manager we would not be having this debate on relagation avoidance etc

but i will be rubbished as bias

I agree 100%, a true professional who never hides when the going gets tough

I do criticise him from time to time but I have to admit, he has been great of late (although this has not always been the case). He always gives 100% and is a true pro

grave, your avatar makes me piss my pants

I'm not his greatest fan but I have to put my hands up; If the rest of the team played with as much heart as he currently does we'd be a lot better off.

in triplicate please

It wasn't always thus but it certainly is at the moment, he's an example to the rest of the team. (teeth truly gritted)

OK ONE MORE COMPLMENT WILL DO
AND END IT WITH IAN ALWAYS TOLD ME SO

Ian always told me so

Ritchie is Mr Hartlepool. A fine player and a great character. I've criticised sometimes his performance at LB, but that's because I'm miffed that he's not doing the business in midfield, including scoring some cracking goals and he certainly gives it all in any position he plays. I can't quite make up my mind whether Danny thinks he should play at LB or whether he puts him there because of the dodginess of Robbie Elliott. I hope that the latter is true, and with some improvement in the form of Robbie, he'll leave Ritchie in midfield.

But we still need a new RB if McCunnie is not going to play there or at all. What is it about Scottish full backs going AWOL when you need them most?

If the other 10 players played with his passion I think we would be a lot further up the table at the murment.

I never criticise him me, I love him. End of.

He always gives 100% and has done so for yonks and that has earned him the right for me to turn a blind eye to his off days.

I posted after we played at the Vic that i couldn't understand how RH took so much stick on this board. He was the best player on view new years day like he is every time i've seen him play. You were unlucky to lose 4-2 but I suppose we took our chances at the right time. Best player behind RH was Liddle and I thought Nelson was solid unlike many on here. Your keeper was the problem as he seemed unable to communicate with his back four throughout the whole 90 mins. - Still think you'll be challenging for a playoff spot with ourselves - Good luck, you play an open and entertaining game - stay with it.

Spot on, our keeper has been the problem all season and Richie Humphreys never has a bad game, cos even when things don't go right for him, his effort and willingness gets him thru'.
It is no coincidence that he has been at the club throughout our most successful period ever

tosh

humphreys has one good game in 3 and he cant merit a place on the exploits of previous seasons

i can't agree hes been exelent this season, apart from one or two games

He must be doing something right, he's gone from sub not worthy of a place first game of the season, to team captain
He puts more effort in than any other player and if he or we wanted him to leave, I dare bet every other club in our division would want him, he is the model team player.

Even when he went out on loan last season, to a team at the top of the division above ours, he was star man.

I'd say the in the last three games he's been a contender for man of the match in every single one, and didn't he have blinder at home to Crewe? That's three out of four he's been excellent. He was probably steady away at Swindon but haven't spoken to anyone who was at the game.

You are suggesting Humphreys currently doesn't warrant a place yet you accuse others of tosh!!!!? Fooking hell people who knock Mr Humphreys want a head examination, what do you want from a Hartlepool United player!?

i need my head examing -

i hope to fook he has a turn around in form and plays 2 or even three out of three good games but the proof will be in the upcoming games

at times he appears overweight, one dimensional, slow, unable to pass,unable to challenge and has a right leg made from feathers

Yes i respect him and all that he has done during his time with the club and understand he has a great personality but and that he is liked by others but it doesnt mean i have to.

Overweight my sweaty barse

If he has 'one good game in three' its still more than a big percentage of the current squad are doing!

Overweight!!!?

He is arguably the fittest player in the football league, I doubt anyone looks after their body as much. He has been at Pools for seven years and not been injured once! When is he unavailable for selection due to this kite!? When is he not giving 100% for 90 minutes?

He has his limitations like any Pools player but nobody is saying he is Pele. What do you want from a Pools player that Humphreys hasn't given us? Come on enlighten me...

always been one of the fittest at the club
but never mind maybe katcha likes to be out of step
one thing for sure RH has proved a lot of people wrong
including DW

The bloke is an absolute legend and sweats blood for the team.

Can anyone answer this question. Which player has been more consistent this season or at any period of time that Ritchie has been at the club?

Answers on a postage stamp please.

Humphreys for the last four games has been head and shoulders about the rest of the team however; for huge numbers of games in recent seasons he has been selected when his selection was unmerited.

all i can say is his record speaks for itself adg is right legend in his own lifetime
considering the managers we have had in his time here
surely they all can't be wrong
it is a brit thing if anyone is successful they get knocked back

No i do believe YOU came out with the most single stupid sentence ever wrote did you not?

my line is valid

Accrington Stanley away - 1-2. One of the best goals since Jackie Honour's time and one of the most important in history. Ritchie is number 1, .... provided Danny lets him play in midfield.

a good goal

but LAST season....

number one (is he a better keeper than budtz now as well!)

Exactly right Mr I, he has been superb recently (longer than the 4 games you refer to IMO) but there have been spells where he has been poor and deserved to be dropped but never was. Some people just refuse to accept that.

the reason the managers have never dropped him is that they know he is capable of giving 100% when those around him can't or won't
one of the reasons dw sent him out on loan if he had done it to any other player the affect would not have been the same

No no TPP he's been dreadful apart from the last four games, I mean I reckon his fellow pro's only nominated him to be in the divisional team last year on past reputation

To be honest it says more about the other left backs in that division than it does about RH if he was the best left back between August and January last year.

Well the defence he was part of did alright on the clean sheet front, and his left foot contributed four match winning goals (3 last minute winners) so I'd say it was hardly an unreasonable piece of recognition.

Richie did OK last season, his match winning free kicks against Boston and Walsall are irrelevant in this case as the POTY thing is decided in January before those goals were scored. It just surprises me that his average performances got him in the team of the season; he is a memorable player though because of his name and physique so when players had to decide he would have been an easy choice for stupid footballers to make.

that is crap
because of his physique and his name

He's memorable as players at this level know his name and he is stocky so different to 95% of footballers at this level. It's the only possible reason why I can think anyone thought he merited to be in the team of the season as his performances up until the end of January were totally ordinary and surely you can't think otherwise?

if dibble had not awarded the title to someone else for the most stupidest sentance i would have nominated you
suppose you can't win them all

So how do you think he played between August and January? Crap, ordinary or excellent? 99% of Pools fans would go for ordinary I think so obviously you have to look for other reasons why he got selected.

all through our history we have had players who have come and gone some have left their mark
some like RH become legends
as for his performance between August and January how many of the players were exceptional or even good
and how many were played out of position as much as RH was
in my humble opinion he has proved a lot of people who were writing him off wrong he has proved wilson wrong too
and look who DW handed the arm band too when things are going so wrong
the one man who has out shone the rest of the squad by his fitness and application and commitment which he has had ever since he signed for the club
in my book non better that RH

Are you a politician? Try answering the question.

He's always still going flat out at the end of every game. To question his fitness is complete idiocy.

Now that fat, lazy, old other Richie who likes to miss sitters in the six yard box...

If you want my opinion, and you probably don't but you're getting it anyway, Ritchie Humphreys is one of the very few who qualifies for the soubriquet 'Mr Pools.' We have seldom had better servants at the club.

Fookin hell aren't we all a little possessive over ritchie?

At times he looks overweight, at times he looks disinterested, at times he looks as tho he couldn't tackle sleep, at times he is anonymous, at times he looks as though he can't pass the fookin ball.

For me he has one decent game in three - it's my opinion and i'm more than entitled to it.

Yes he may be the most photographed footballer in hartlepool, yes he may a canny fella - but that ain't going to change my opinion of him.

There's only him can change that.

There was a spell when he first joined when he was getting lambasted left right and centre for being poor and not scoring - with rumours abound that if he was fit he had to play whether he was in form or not. He has rec'd several canings off many other people on this board of misfits and heretics this season but I'm not going to dig out those comments to defend mine.

As someone who studies the game on most occasssions unhindered by pie and beer goggles and over enthusiasm for someone who has created himself practical royal status over past few seasons, I see things through an untainted unbiased eye - I cannot comment on his performances against carlisle and orient as i was working on both games - but from what I have seen this season he's not a left back at this level.

In fact he is not even a left back but if that's were he has to play if he wants a game then that's it. If we sign a fair left back and hold on to Monkhouse, will he get his game??

Well, yeah, granted, but it's your eye and other people see things different, as you already said.

That said, on your statistics he's played 100 great games for Pools. Who else has??

How the feck can he 'at times' look overweight?, you either ARE overweight or you arent, there isnt a middle ground, so that argument, my good man, is dogsh1te

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

i think he's not the player was and i dont like sat nav for fook sake!!!!!!!!!!

however in answer to your question

Steven Halliday