CT will not only have a job trying to decide who plays in the starting 11 but he will geat headaches wondering who makes the subs bench these days!

A great situation to be in!

This may upset a few on here but Humphries on the bench will be superb for us.

A utility player who can come on in various positions, centre midfield, out left (possibly even right) an extra forward if need be, cant see him starting much and think it almost certain he wont be asked to play in defence as we have back up on bench in Clark and Austin at the moment.

Ritchie's contribution may be as an impact player from the bench, that's if he can get on the bench.
The squad is far superior to last year's, but we all knew that last year's squad was barely adequate.

As an aside, do we think we should be getting Mr Rowell out on loan, before he starts to stagnate and/or becomes disillusioned.
He has a lot of potential that lad, but it is now time for him to get a run of games at a higher level that Pools reserves imho.

To be honest Im not so sure about that. In previous seasons when sides had fewer substitutes it was vital to have a 'utility' player on the bench. Nowadays when you look at the players we have on the bench there is no real position where Ritchie is the strongest alternative. Austin - almost certainly a better left back than Ritchie, Fredrikkson - a left winger with pace and Boyd on the bench to play up front. we have Clark to play in midfield. There is no harm in having Ritchie on the bench, dont get me wrong, but I cant see him getting on the pitch at the minute. Obviously if we got a few injuries then this may change however.

completely agree derwent. A season in the conference playing regularly will do him the world of good

I think Rowell is better than Conference level, if we going to loan him out then it should be a League 2 team in my opinion. Darlo need help. But would being on a losing team every week affect his confidence.

You forgot Power!!

I just really can't see a place in this team for humphreys.

Why not just employ him as an ambassador for the club? Meet and greet in the boxes before games, photos at local schools in the mail, that type of thing.

Y'know what, you're spot on there, perfect role for the bloke.

Is anyone else wondering how were gonna keep this Icelandic bloke happy? At his age he will want regular first team football and im sure he expected it. But I simply cant see us dropping Behan or Brown for him. Boyd also, although he cant have any complaints, surely he knows he aint Browns standard and he will know Behan is instrumental.

I really think Turner is gonna have a job keeping them all happy but I guess it is a good thing really.

You're always gonna have a problem with a strong bench, the up-side is, that if the subs can't get into the first team, the first team is doing well. Nice problem to have.

Lets not go OTT, it's good but it's not that good. In the last twelve months only Clark has consistently proved himself at League 1 level. Oh and Jonny Rowell when he's been used, but Mr Turner doesn't like playing him.

Eh? where did I say it wasn't a decent squad. I just said that it couldn't challenge the current first team which I think you know is bollox.

Also, who is Powell? I like the sound of him, I might setup a fan club in his name.

I was merely stating it wasn't as good as the suggestion you made that it could give the first team a good game, which it couldn't.

Overall it is certainly one of the strongest squads we have had for a while, mainly as a result of IOR loving CT and giving him a significant amount of freedom in the transfer markets which other managers haven't had.

Boydie will be first name on the teamsheet up front by the end of January playing alongside Behan or the Icelandic gadgie, Browny's 20 goals by Christmas will see to that.

I'm hoping Brownie is still here by the end of the season, we'd get a significant more amount of money for him if he does the business all season rather than just the first four months.

I think I could take 20 goals by Christmas though!

i heard a whisper no one will buy him wont pass a strict medical

I'd love that to be true but it's not- it might have been in the summer when he wasn't fully recovered, but not now.

Will Brown be derided like Nelson when he moves to a bigger club?

a) He won't be anything like Nelson- Nelson was / is an overrated soft as muck pudding who didn't give 100% whereas Brown is pure class.
b) He probably won't run his contract down and bugger off for nowt.




Or to paraphrase, Nelson is an arsehole and Brown isn't.

physio at club told me he.s knees are shot he left the vic after norwich game with ice on left knee i asked if he was ok and he replied just swelling happens regular now

d) the bigger club he joins won't be in the same division as us

e) and he isn't a daft yakker (with apologies to they Poolie Yakker branch, who aren't daft, or not nice people)

Nelson is a bigger 'lovely lovely person' then the biggest 'lovely lovely person' I know (and that includes me)

[x] won't offer an opinion as my opinion is well known. Clue; I'm happy with the current make up of the first team and bench with the door open for Ben Clark.

[x] Naw bollocks! If Humphreys is back in the team it will be on sentiment from those who fell for all the badge kissing. He's Ian Clark after copious amounts of pies.

Clarky was not anywhere near the skill, effort, commitment, or ability of Humphries - I hope you are having a laff coz as a wind up it worked well . Clarky though was possibly as good as Freestone and his ilk.

Without Chrissy Fourstone and his 'ilk' (Gary Jones), we would of been relegated, FACT!

Wind up? Naw. By the way, I was talking about badge kissing skills not booting a ball skills. I would also question the effort levels too. Ian Clark for all his faults gave 100%. Humphreys is possibly the most over rated player in the history of Pools.

Respect is due to you Mr I, you are after all the gaffer here. But on this issue you are a mentalist. So entrenched in a bizarre indefensible position that you have to go on the offensive in ways i'm sure even you don't believe in. Chris Turner publicly describes Ritchie as a model pro and the man he routinely asks young pros to model themselves on. Whatever you think about his ability or achievements, his commitment and effort shine out on a scale not seen since darren knowles. I don't think you will find anyone else who thinks richie has ever given less than his best.

Humphreys has been poor at left back to say the least - but when Pools attack and the one touch stuff gets played he is as good as anyone around at playing the game like that, that's one thing I will say in defence of the bloke

I never blamed him for the third reich but it is true that he was instrument departure of Neale Cooper and that is my fundemental problem with him.

and kennedy, diana, Michael Jackson...

sorry but what does "playing the game to any standard" have to do with it. What is this mythical standard your refairing to as well, I used to play for Manor "m" block back when I was 15, I was crap and soon realised so sacked it off (I did do my ref's course as well in the corner flag though). I havent played cricket to a high standard either but still know that the one day team has a crap batting line up need to get rid of Shah as he is crap.

You comment on a lot of things that I am sure you havent done "to any standard" before but your opinion is still valed and should be dismissed because of this fact.

compo compo compo, the naivity of youth, when will you learn that on this board, you need to have played to a certain standard to make any comments on someones 'favourite player'

Humphreys was class back in the day, so based on sentiment he has to be picked now, he is player of the century for gods sake!!

Honestly speaking, I have nothing against Ritchie. What what I have heard he does not like playing left back but he just got on with it and did not sulk. I could not question his professionalism as I have not seen him train etc but im not aware of any managers questioning his attitude.
In terms of ability Ritchie, as parmo said above, when it comes to the one-touch stuff we played to get out of the 2nd division Ritchie was in the team on merit.
I do think however that there is a big gulf between league 1 and league 2 and unfortunately for Ritchie, he does not have the legs to shine in league 1. Sides rely much more on pace and as a left back you will inevitably come up against pacey, tricky right wingers at this level. It made Ritchie look like a poor footballer (which I feel sorry for him in a way as i think he technically is a good player but was played out of position). The managers we have had have not done him any favours in this respect.
Do I think Ritchie could play in midfield for us? Im not sure to be honest, I think we need more pace in the middle of the park and Ritchie is not the quickest. I cant see him making many appearances this season (even from the bench) and if I was Ritchie i woud be thinking of looking for a move elsewhere. A step down to league 2 (to play in midfield) would be ideal for him. While he is not 'past it' he is not getting any younger and it would be a shame for him to waste a season or two on the bench.

Thats it, your banned

I knew after about 2 posts on this thread that this would descend into this.....

Richie threads are shit, FACT!

That is extremely fair comment, sir.
I would like to remind people that full backs have always been given the runaround by pacy, tricky wingers and always will. Look what Lennon did to an extremely competent full back last night. Croatia are a top rated team, with excellent players. Sometimes you have to stand back and applaud the skill of the other player rather than slate the one being tormented.
Ritchie always gave of his best, you can't ask more than that.

You're a qualified ref?

And you also deny being a cnt?

Just did it to learn more about the game, ref'd for about 3 seasons during college and before uni, then couldnt be arsed so give it up.

Frank Reid ... ref ... wot Mr R said ...

Ritchie - Pooly Hero


End of!

Whether we're talking about Humphreys or anyone else, to label someone who kicks a ball about for money as a hero is way beyond pathetic.

a) It's not what I've heard, and I think the managers post match handshake between him and Martin Scott after we beat Gillingham the season after suggested who Coops had the beef with.

b)Surely the most instrumental person in the departure of Neale Cooper, was Neale Cooper? As he wasn't doing his job. I know we all loved him but we don't know what goes on day to day.

For the very last time, what put me off Humphreys wasn't hear say, I took a serious dislike when I personally heard him bragging how he, Barron and Tinkler had ousted Cooper.

But wouldn't that have been because Cooper wasn't doing his job? Not turning up and such like, as say we all liked him but the bloke had a few problems, clearly.

You say for the last time, but I've never heard that!

Mr I
Its not about being a hero relative to who ever you consider being a hero. Mother Therasa, Ghandi, Hitler who ever is your choice - its just a Pooly hero. Someone we consider has given a lot in this sphere, ie; footy.
Consumate professional, loves the club, gives his all - must mean something.
Blimey!
Whos done more for Pools Humphries or Cooper.
I like them both - you don't have to choose to dislike one or the other.

why like?