My boss was in the Schooner last night and skippy was in the playing poker and they ended up having a chat and according to the boss Skippy reckons he has asked Danny Boy for a new contract 3 times as he wants to stay in the town.

I was talking to a mate the weekend who has been having a drink with Joel for a few weeks now and he said he is defo going the end of the season. He told him he can get 2 to 3 times what he is on here back home and his wife wants to go back

"There's only one Joel Porter"

but it doesn't quite sound like that

his history of knee injuries will scupper any chance of a move to a higher division now, I think. I don't blame him for wanting to make as much as he can out of football while he still has the opportunity to do so. He has shown the same loyalty to Pools as the club has shown to him in his 5 years or so here, and I don't think anyone would begrudge hime the chance to go home. I would love to see one more season from him at Pools, but what ever he chooses to do I certainly wish him all the best. A cracking footballer, and he has certainly played a big part in the most enjoyable period of supporting Pools in my lifetime.

Sorry, but the A-League teams don't pay great salaries. There is a salary cap which has been installed to help protect them from overspending on foreign 'stars' and to develop their home grown talent. I would suggest that his decision to return to Oz would be for personal reasons only.

It will be a shame if he does leave but we will move on, everything moves on regardless.

The word on the street is he wants to stay but wants more security than the one year he has left on his contract in the form of another couple years.

He's under contract for next season anyway so I say the ball is firmly in Pools court. He's done enough this season to warrant a new deal though surely? He has been fit and available for selection in all but six games all season in the league and cup.

What you have to consider is how we would or what it would cost to replace him with someone as good. In my opinion it would be impossible to do that without spending a fair whack.

Sign him up!

Why is it Joel has never seemed fully fit this season?

He has had a decent run in the team now but never seems to run from start to finish of a match. Its a shame really cause he is an awesome player, but only when he has the ball. He reminds me a bit of Willie Boland, however Willie is a bit older and accepts that he can't last and is almost always substituted.

If you compare him to the likes of Humphreys, Brown, Moore and Liddle - those blokes never seem to tire. There is no reason why Joel should not be as fit.

People might say 'its not his style' or whatever, but that is complete rubbish. James Brown is a much better and much more skillful player than Joel and he runs tirelessly off the ball.

Many times I have watched Joel this season when there was a chance to close a defender down, or make a challenge and he hasn't bothered. Dont get me wrong, there are times when he does get his finger out, but no where near as consistantly as other players in the team.

If Porter left it would not be the end of the world, he is an awesome player when on form, but there does appear to be something wrong with his attitude to fitness and grafting off the ball.

uh-oh

you're gonna be in bother when chip gets home

He has been fully fit this season. All this rubbish about him not putting effort in and not "grafting" is absolute rubbish. He always pressurises the defender and hassles.

Look at him at Bristol Rovers, he was up and down the pitch. He was helping the defence out one minute and trying to get up the other end the next.

The problem with is that he often works too hard and gets tired out. The reason why Porter doesn't last as long as Humphreys is because Porter runs FASTER and thus gets more tired.

What he is does not do is chase lost causes like Michael Proctor.

oh i think he'll be back in oz me like

Oh it's the guy who says the MyFC idea is great. Point proved.

Sorry, but Porter works too hard?!?!

Howay man!!!!!!!

Joel is a really skillful good player and could be amazingly good if he had a better attitude... imagine him with the attitude of say Brian Honour..... surely no one can say he wouldn't be better?

I'm being serious, I've been watching him.

Let's do some maths...if Player X covered 60 yards in 1 minute and Player Y covered 60 yards in ten seconds and then needs a breather, which player has worked harder.

For crying out loud, Porter was all over the pitch against Bristol.