Speaking highly of us on Fifa.com!!

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubf ... 25568.html

I would love to see him at the World Cup

He kept us up last season, pretty much on his own.

I think it would brilliant to see a player who you watched for 6 years at the World Cup. A bloke from the other side of the World who has said even now being interviewed back in Australia how he loves the town. Consider arsewipes like Ian Moore and Chris Llewellyn who couldn't embrace a move of a couple of hundred miles.

As Mr Yubep has already said without him we might be going to Accrington or Aldershot tomorrow, or worse Darlo.

It's doesn't upset me you say what you want, I do find your comments a bit strange like!

He was a good player for us, mainly at the Vic. He used to frustrate me to death away from home but he wasn't the only one.
In the article he spoke very kindly about the club, the town and the fans, credit to him for that.
He's gone now and, although I wish him well, I am indifferent about his current ambitions.
As for legendary status as a striker or provider, his actual goal tally is nothing exceptional. He was the single biggest influence on our survival last season, I must give him that.
I can definitely appreciate where Mr ADG is coming from.

Porter is actually a really decent guy too, always working in the community, always prepared to talk to fans over the town.

I'd love too see him at the world cup.

joel is probably my favourite ever player. Its not the amount of goals he scored... Its the amount of goals he created for other people..... Exactly what we are missing now.

I love him so much, that i am seriously considering naming my soon to be born son after him.

I hope joel porter gets in the national squad and wins australia the world cup single handedly.

What a guy.

Strongly, strongly disagree.

Porter isn't a natural goalscorer, he says himself that his real skill is making space and providing for others.

Despite this he has still managed 65 goals in 160 starts which is about 1 every 2.5 games or 20 every season if he played every game. Only Allon, Baker, Houchen and Ken Johnson have scored more in the last 50 years of the football club and they all played a lot more games.

Kept us up single handedly last season and his partnership with Boyd during the Cardiff season was as good as we will ever see. It made games worth going to just to see them two alone.

Always be a legend in my eyes and I hope everything works out for him in Australia and he can make the World Cup.

Totally agree with you. I was sad when he left and wish him well. Nelson on the other hand...

I don't know about legends or heroes (because can anyone really be one for kicking about a football?) but Joel is arguably the best player to ever play for Pools.

Legend purely in a footballing term. There are of course greater legends and heroes in the wider world but playing for Pools there is no-one that has come close to him since I've been following Pools. Except Robbie Elliott.

agree with that and hope he makes world cup

and Chris Westwood?

I could almost understand where you were coming from if he lived nearby but Australia is a fair trek to be away from. Do you know where it is on the map?

Well yes I suppose when you're talking Robbie Elliott it's hard to argue his legendary status at the club when you think of such memories like him getting sent off in our fine win against Doncater and that really good throw in he took at home to Bournemouth. I particularly loved the way he used to be able to sleep at night in the days preceding him receiving his wages.

well he was my hero, loved him to bits - from the off! [unlike many others who at the time thought he was worse than shiiit]

I still wish him well [unlike other star players who've left our club] and hope he makes the oz squad.

An excellent article on a great bloke and a 'Pools legend.

I still remember the first goal he scored for us, live on BBC on a Sunday afternoon against Burton Albion in the Cup, the first ever win on TV.

I hope he does manage to squeeze in to the Australian team for South Africa.

I just hope he doesn't score the goal that knocks England out.

None of us can say who the best ever Pools player has been. You might have an opinion on who the best player you have SEEN play for Pools.
Even then you are restricted to a man's position when making comparisons. I.E. comparing a striker to a defender or midfielder or goalkeeper.
What constitutes the best player anyway?
Joel Porter was a good player right enough, but to say he was Pools best ever player is OTT.

I don't think it is OTT, you only have to look at the clubs history we've only been out of the bottom tier for 10 seasons, 5 of Joels 6 seasons here and all of his best football was at a higher level than most of the other so called 'legends'. He also was player of the year the best ever season in our history which culminated in Cardiff. So he's been a brilliant player at the highest level we have played at.

Of course it is OTT. You use statistics to argue your point. Ritchie Humphreys and Michael Nelson were also in that six year period. Nelson got player of the year and away player of the year in that period and Humphreys got player of the decade ( in front of Porter) and player of the century. So what? Does that put them 2nd and 3rd in your list of best ever Pools players.
Joel porter may well be the best player YOU have seen wearing a Pools shirt in your opinion but how that makes him the best ever Pools player.............
For your information on team comparisons and respective league positions. The six seasons you refer to have seen us in the third tier in English football. We have been in the third tier more than ten times. The nearest we have been to automatic promotion to the second tier was when we finished runners up to Derby County in the fifties. In those days only the champions went up and there were no second chances with play offs.
Who is the best ever player, at any level, is a question that will never be answered. There are facts about appearances and goals scored, Joel porter doesn't feature in the top ten in either. What do they mean though? Not a lot in my opinion. Old timers tell us that people like Ken Johnson and Mooreare up there, mainly because of their continuity of performance level over a long period of time.
It's like asking who was the best ever England player? How long is a piece of string?

surely in that case then, you cant describe someones opinion as OTT?

I said he is arguably the best player to ever wear a Pools shirt.

The arguably bit means it is open to discussion, someone else (you for example) might beg to differ, theirs no need to shout at me

You can't say the season we finished 2nd to Derby was the closest we were the second tier either, in terms of actual league position maybe or unless Derby scored in the last 8 minutes to deny us the Championship the yes, but only a pedant would suggest being 2-1 up in the 82nd minute at Cardiff wasn't the closest!

I wouldn't even argue the case for anybody getting the accolade, PJ.
Simply because I haven't seen most of them.
On the closest, I am trying to compare like for like. The fifties side would have been in the play offs had there been such a thing then.
Also under current rules we would have been promoted automatically, so at the time of the play off final, had there been one, we would already be up.
The only true comparison we are able to make is league position .....2nd against 6th.
Don't mean to shout at you mate, the capitals where for emphasis. Love you really.

PS..at least we are proving that it is possible to debate a point without insults.

Would that be your opinion?

I did describe it as OTT, so obviously I can.

Why does it always turn into I know better than you??

We enjoyed Porter, no-one says we didn't...can't you just enjoy and move on, like Joel did.

You fookers tire me out.....

'Move on' from what exactly It's only a bit of a debate. I've seen far,far worse threads on here of late. What are we allowed to talk about?

Now you're looking for a row about 'stop rowing, please??'

Jeesus.....

Nobody at all is rowing in this thread, it's just some people had a different point of view to others.

I'm really confused where you are coming from here Mr Spender.

If we tire you out, does that mean we'll be left in peace?

That sounds promising. I've moved up a notch from my Leonard Cohen mood into the miserable section of Bert Jansch.

I don't think spender gets messageboards.

I, and loads of others, enjoy the debates, i like reading peoples different opinions, seeing how one person thinks one thing and another thinks a complete other, spender hates this, he also hates rumours too.

Rather than just ignoring the thread he will either tell people to stop or just post summit silly.

I like talking about Pools and football in general. There are some very knowledgable people on this board when it comes to football and the history of our club and its players.
Those are the people who I read most. Anything I am not interested in I just skip over it and let the people, who are interested, get on with it.
I could listen for hours when the old timers talk about half back lines and previous Pools teams.
Can't see what's wrong with that. Ah well!!!!

Quite simply a genius and a Hartlepool legend.
Hope he makes it to South Africa he deserves it.

That striker that used to play for us in the 70's/80's, that I'm not allowed to like, has been replaced as my all time favourite Pools player. I'm not saying Joel is the best player ever to play for us, or that he was the best footballer to represent our team, but he contributed hugely to a lot of very happy memories in his time with us. If only we could of held on to him for one more season!

I would hugely enjoy watching an adopted Poolie playing in the World Cup next year.

Good Luck Joel.

Joel Porter played in six different seasons for Pools.
He appeared in 173 league games.
He scored 51 league goals.
He averaged 28.83 league games per season.
He averaged 8.5 goals per season.
He score a league goal in every 3.39 league appearances.
He had two seasons in six where he reached double figures in league goals.
As far as rewards/honours/ player of this that and the other during his six seasons, he is way behind the likes of Humphreys and Nelson.
During the same period Humphreys was voted player of the decade, player of the century and northeast player of the year plus various other awards voted by supporters. Nelson was voted an award in every season he played for Pools plus a north east player of the year award.
Joel Porter was a good player for Pools but, according to the fans who bothered to vote and the north east sportswriters, he wasn't the most feted player in his time with Pools, let alone of all time.
Michael Nelson gets some stick nowadays but, during his time with Pools, received more accolades from the fans than Porter did.
The same applies to Humphreys.
When you consider the likes of Jack Howe, John McGovern, Ken Johnson. Watty Moore, Andy Linighan, Tommy Miller to name just a few home grown players and others like Les Green, Pederson, Rob McKinnon, Bryan Drysdale to name a few more, most of whom went on to play at a higher level to Porter it is really ludicrous to even suggest Porter as the best Pools player ever, especially when the statement is based on just two decent seasons. As I said earlier he didn't get the fans vote as player of this decade, never mind of all time. He was our best player last season, I am in no doubt about that.
I think some people are getting carried away.
The facts stated in this post are courtesy of MadJohn's excellent website.

What percentage of pools fans will have voted in these?

I'd say a very low amount.

I must be ludicrous then 'cos he's one of the best players i have ever seen at pools, and for me thats all that matters.

If i was picking an all time 11 or 16 that i'd ever seen play he would be in it.

I don't know what percentage voted, but whatever it was the majority didn't vote for JP.
I wouldn't argue he is one of the best players you have seen playing for Pools, my argument is that he is not the best ever and going by your statement of "one of the best" you agree with me.
You are not in a position to pick an all time best Pools eleven. You could however pick a best eleven based on your time as a watching fan. There is a huge difference.
As I said earlier, none of us are in a position to vote a best ever player, simply because we haven't seen them all play.

fantastic stats, where are the stats showing how many goals he set up? after all that is what people are suggesting.....that his main strength was creating chances for teammates. Why did Boyd get as many goals in THAT season, same with sweeney.

Out of Nelson, Humphreys & Porter, who would you rather have in the team right now?

What type of player are we desperate for right now?

Who (in theory) would command the biggest transfer fee?

Joel Porter is, in my mind, the greatest player of the last 20 years.

Better than Allon, Pedersen, Boyd, Humphreys, Dimi, Mckinnon, Robbie Elliott and any other name you could possibly throw at me.

However its all irrelevant as its each to their own, so to speak.

I don't think you can say that unless you're about 120 years old,he was exeptional in his time here, but to use the term best ever over a period most of us weren't even alive in is a bit over the top if you follow my point.

I agree entirely with the last sentence.
Personally I would rather have Porter than Nelse or Humps, but that doesn't make him the best ever Pools player, which is my point.
As for transfer fees, Porter would command the most, but that doesn't make him Pools best ever player either.
The player we are desperate for right now is a central midfielder, that also doesn't make JP our best ever player.
I am not saying Porter wasn't a good player. I am questioning whether anybody is sufficiently qualified to name Pools best ever player.
He may be the best player you have seen over the last twenty years, nobody is arguing about that, but Pools history started in 1908, not twenty years ago.

the goal at the end is just amazing

Fantastic clip.
Now show us a similar clip showing the goals of every striker who has ever played for Pools and then, and only then, will we be able to unravel the mystery of who is the best ever.

Would that be the season that Boydy scored 29 and Porter 16, 8 of which Boydy set up?

They were about as equal as when Intotheblue played the Bunker

Shouldn't be long before Boydy takes his rightful place above Porter in the Pools scoring charts. And he's started less games as well. Crazy or what?!

For those with your crap stats on player on the year votes, read Salty's post. The thinking fans always rated Porter. Then there were the rest of you who only saw his undouted excellence after the Cardiff season. I don't remember many disagreeing with Headlander when he said Joel was shite! Some still know nowt and question what he brought to the team.

I have, I'm 108 years old, never missed a match, home or away

Only kids look to total goals/games. Anyone who knows the game looks to much more than that.

Boydy is definitely the better goalscorer, I don't think anyone would argue that but neither could have survived without the other that season and Porters performances were better than Boyds on a game per game basis.

As for your second line....

I found Porter a little frustrating when he first signed, but that looked to be more down to fitness than anything else. Once he was up to speed, he proved to be a thorn in the side of most defences, and his persistence as much as anything was what made him such an asset for us - he would work hard for the team in a way that some other forwards wouldn't. With a finisher alongside him like Boyd in his hot streak, he proved his class.

Best ever? As others have pointed out, it's hard to say. He was a quality player, but I didn't ever think he'd get into a Premiership side, mainly as he would have needed more pace - an attribute that is steadily becoming more important. Compare this with say Pederson, who we had essentially trying to keep fit and force his way into the Norwegian World Cup squad and could have probably played for one of the lesser lights in the top division, or players like Tommy Miller who did get to play in the Premiership....

I think the whole Wellington Phoenix thing though made him somewhat damaged goods for last season. We pretty well knew for the whole season that he was heading off to the A-League, it was just a matter of when it was announced, and although he was undoubtedly a major player for us (and you could hardly say he was just going through the motions) it's bound to affect how he is viewed. Compare this with say Eifion Williams, who I think a large number of people were sad to see leave even though we knew he probably wouldn't be a major player for us back in League 1, but was a less talented footballer than Porter - when he left there seemed to be a lot of genuine warmth (and still is), it's the difference between "Well done thou good and faithful servant" and "I'm really sorry to see you go".....

So he got supporters player of the year? Well done.

You forgot to mention that Boydy got.....

Player of the Decade - 2000s (3rd Place) - Porter?
2004/05 Football League Player of the Year (Prince's Trust NE Football Awards) - Porter?
2004/05 Goal of the Season (v Sheff Wed), Prince's Trust North East Football Awards - Porter?
2004/05 Players` Player of the Year - Porter?

As for his career hitting a brick wall, he was top scorer every season he played for Orient and will be Pools top scorer this season

Let's face it, he's the best striker Pools have ever had. He's scored the most number of goals in the season we've achieved our highest ever position. His goals to games started ratio is better than Porters, he's scored more goals in a season than Porter ever has, he's set more goals up than Porter ever has and more importantly than all.....He's a Hartlepool United FAN who is currently playing and scoring for the team he supports.

While Porter is doing what exactly?

As for you, The Fat Man. When you come back under your real user-name i'll give you the benefit of my knowledge.

Porter was one of those very rare players (in any team ) that gave the crowd a buzz of excitement every time he got the ball. You always sensed something might happen.

Boydy was like this in his first spell. Browny had this before he got injured last season and Monky infrequently gets it when he is on blob. Pedersen had it every game but Porter has had this ability to raise the excitement and expectation level of the crowd for a longer, sustained period than any other player I've seen at Pools.

I'd love to see him in the world cup and would even cheer on the Aussies if he was in the squad.