It's been said time and time again, but it needs a poll methinks.

I can't think of anybody better than Nelson in terms of consistency and presence. Plus he likes a good banger now and then (like Walsall ). I also reckon he's used his head about 3 times more than his foot in his career at Pools.

If not him, who?

Contenders in my book are Nelson, Boydy, Humphreys and thats probably it. I would not include the likes of Gordon Watson - he wasn't here long enough.

to split those three is tough but I'd agree with Micky Nelson. His consistancy has been exceptional.

Humphreys, without doubt

and some of us seen it long before others

nelson
tinkler
and williams

three pivotal players whose efforts in every game they have played has epitomised the upsurge in the perfomance of the club in recent seasons.

We all saw how good nelson was when he played that game for bury at the vic - we had to have him and we got him. when one thinks that westy was class you just had to see them play together to suss out who was the master - the only problem was they were a fantastic pairing - better than clark and nelson maybe - at the start anyway. A God

Tinkler was just so solid for so long and although struggled with injury he scored some vital goals, and really made sweeney and miller into the players they are today - an underrated God

Williams - even more underrated in my eyes - played out of position often and carrying injuries for long spells - and out of favour at times it seems - a lithe chap and booted all over from day one he arrived here - in 98+ fooking years only been 18 or so players scored more than 50 or so goals for he the club and his figures prove his worth. Okay he may be slowing down a bit but is rejuvenated again back up front where he belongs and i am sure that the e in effion is taffy for effort - Easily the most important signing as even though he was cheapish it began the ball rolling with the if we want you and you aint greedy we're gonna get you policy of IOR. give him another 2 year contract go on.

Didn't realise Ben Clark has clocked up 100 games. Give that lad a few more years and he'll be a real contender as well. Does he have bad games?

Reckon you are right Phil - he will retire as a Pools player (as will Mickey Barron & Eiffion Williams)

lets hope so mr C Owboy

Still Richie for me, although Nelse is running a very close second

Find that one hard to swallow from all I've heard Chip, sorry mate

can you believe that ginger get ian clark played more than a hundred games for us

gotta go with Micky Nelson for best i've seen for Pools

As an aside, I think Ritchie's little trip to Port Vale did him a world of good - he DID seem a bit tired & jaded before he went, completely revitalised since he came back

Stay or go the man is still a Poolie legend (but I can't see him going anywhere)

Its between Nelson and Boydy for me.

Ying and Yang in football terms.

But which 2 players have had a bigger impact on a season (Nelson this season...Boydy 03/04 and 04/05)?

cowboy posted
he DID seem a bit tired & jaded before he went, completely revitalised since he came back

how can that work then when he played seven games in that loan period and did not come back jaded
we all know the reason for that trip
and it was not to do him any good it was for the benefit of the others

I would say Boyd, but before his loan spell at Boston, he was absolute gash. I certainly ate my harsh words on his return however - he certainly proved me wrong. Still not the best (or in contention) in my books, though - he just wasn't consistent enough. Unlucky with the injury, though.

I've heard that he's about 2 stone overweight at Luton now. He certainly isn't the player he was - probably the easiest £500,000 our club'll make.

I always rated Westwood; I think he was the single biggest loss (actually.... the single loss in general, transfer-wise) last season, obvious Boyd-and-Porter-injuries comments aside. It always seemed that when he was up the field, SOMEONE would score - a textbook example was our 1-0 away win at Kidderminster the season we went up.

Extra kudos to Humphreys, though. He'll die for the team. Switching roles voluntarily to help ease our left-side woes? Amazing. That just doesn't happen in football. He was criticised early, but as soon as he adapted he couldn't put a foot wrong.

I also agree with katcha - Eifion Williams is a wasted talent (like Strachan... that's another argument for another day though). He just isn't a midfielder, and he's been played out of position so much that he's starting to lose his edge. Possibly the squeakiest bum incident I had was when Wilson brought on Williams in midfield, and f*cking Bullock as a striker. Probably the only time I've doubted Wilson.

No qualms about that from me, if the ball goes towards Nelse I automatically look upfield to see what's on. You just know it's coming out and the way he sometimes sells a dummy to an onrushing attacker is utter class.

Nelson was a legend from the minute he spanked in that goal at Peterboro in our first game after promotion. Definitely our most consistent performer of recent years.

Though on sheer class it would have to be Boydy. He used to do stuff and you'd think 'did he really just do that?'... it'll be a real waste if he never gets a chance at the highest level. he could have been the next Bergkamp.

Boyd gets my vote, its very close tho and will probably switch to nelson [you know how easily my opinions change! ] eventually......

That day is definitely in Poolie folklore, the heat, the game, everything. Nelsons 60 yard screamer (it was 60 yards wasn't it? ) just rounded it off magnificently

God it's like ringing a bell isn't it???? Even when I'm nice but SLIGHTLY critical you have to jump to his defence?

In words of one syllable then.........

I think he benefited from the change of scene, some time away from Pools - not that he spent the loan period sat on his arse resting, yes there was an element of "pour encourager les autres", but I think the time away helped him too

Are you denying he has been a better player since he came back???????

I said yes, Although Boydy is damn close

When Boydys putting them in at one end of the pitch, Nelse is stopping them at the other

As a Centre Half meself, Nelse gets my vote, He's no nonsense and very rarely makes a mistake.. Hmm very rarely has a bad game (Cant remember his last bad game)

What I find amazing though is when he was injured we DIDNT miss him

Was the hottest day ever watching football, the only time I have wore a pair of shorts to watch a match, before Nelsons 80 yard screamer don't forget Strachans 40 yard free kick which swerved 3 times

bollox!! three times!! You don't half talk some rubbish. It swerved seven times including a mid-air right angle.

REMEMBER IT WELL PARMO WAS SWEATING LIKE A PIG ON A SPIT

WASN'T EXACTLY THE FASHION SHOW "SIZE ZERO'S" ON SHOW THAT DAY WHEN THE TOPS CAME OFF

MUST ADMIT THAT I THOUGHT BEN CLARK WASN'T QUITE THERE AS A PLAYER LAST SEASON, BUT HAS COME ON MASSIVELY THIS SEASON.

BUT NELSE IS THE MAIN MAN

GUFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Nelson for me by a long way.

Humphreys has been a superb asset for this football club, that's probably the biggest understatement you could make BUT he has had a number of patches where he hasn't performed well enough and made the team because he was RH and not on merit. Micky Nelson would be the first person on the teamsheet every week since he joined, no one has been remotely close to taking his place.

Boydy was at this football club a long time and only ever performed for 1 and a quarter seasons, he was frustrating at times but magnificient at others. That Sheff Wed night will never be forgotten though.

Eiffion is superb but never had the consistency for one reason or another.

All of them will be remembered for the great things they've achieved though!