I have made no secret of my dislike of Colin Larkin and a few of the other forwards we have at the club, but I would rather see effort from someone with little ability than someone like Adam Boyd who looked like he had never seen a professional game in his adult life for 60 or however many minutes. It upsets me more that Boyd picks up a wage from the club than Larkin being on the teamsheet for the rest of the season ever would.

We've all seen enough from Adam Boyd in the past to know that he has the ability to improve with a few consecutive first team games. Equally we've all seen enough in the past to know that Larkin hasn't.

I'd rather keep Boyd in the team for the next few games and see what happens, preferably with RH alongside him.

And I wouldnt. I can watch thick as mince blokes running round like headliess chickens at Grayfields for free. I pay to watch better than that.

And lets be honest now. We HAVE better than that.

Lets say you are right here. Do you honestly think its fair to critisise Boyd(and you must also critisise Brown if you do as both were equally poor) bearing in mind we had no pace in the side whatsoever? Get over your personal dislike of Boyd, do you think its fair to overly critisise in those circumstances.

I am sure Boyd and Brown would have loved Monky on the left and McSweeney on the right, with Sweeney surging through the middle.

Selective memory on your first point there Mr F. I was prepared to get behind Turner and give him a chance when he was managing the team rather than pillory him with every breath like some people were keen to do. To say that I wanted him managing the team isn't quite the same.

As for your second point I can only assume that you're referring to the fact I don't go to as many away games nowadays as I used to? You're right, I don't, so obviously I don't fall into your category of "Superfan", however it is within the last your or so that I saw "a run of consecutive pools matches" so even your cheapshot is factually incorrect.

The only way Boyd is going to find any sort of form is by building his match fitness with a run of games. However whatever anyone says apart from a couple of nice touches he was really poor on Saturday, he lack of mobility for a 28 year old lad of frightening given the player he once was. Mr Creosote, Brown had an average game as well that's why he got subbed.

He might start the next home game but I reckon the chances of him starting at Brighton are pretty low as we'll probably revert back to 4-5-1.

I don't rate Colin Larkin, you can't rate a forward who's scored once for the club in 18 months but I and a couple of others said during our half time pint that the game was crying out for pace and we'd either bring on McSweeney or Larkin. When he did come on he did very well, so credit to him for that. He helped change the game. I'm still actually surprised he had a shot when he was one on one with the keeper, surely a square ball was on to someone!?

Agree PJ. Aand I have said on numerous occasions that Larkin contributed to us winning in that last 20 minutes. What I am saying is that he isnt suddenly the messiah, and deserve to be first choice on the back of it. I am sure its not lost on anyone that he failed to score again.

OK, if I gave the impression of 'snidey replies', I'm sorry. But you do kind of invite it if, when asked to justify an opinion you give, not reasons, but the fact that you 'saw something with your own eyes'. Apparently, in this case we all saw something different 'with our own eyes', so some sort of further input is required. You are supposed to have had a university education.

Ms. G, like I said previously I saw Larkin do what Larkin does- run about a lot (quite fast) without ever really getting involved and then the odd occassion he does get the ball he wastes it, whether that is a bad pass or a pissweak attempt at goal. He did nothing on Saturday any different to what he ever does.

The chance he had he created by himself very well he was denied by a very good save, and his pace completely changed the game. All of a sudden a back four that had been quite comfortable were stretched. Most of the stuff he did he did well. I don't rate him as I've stated but the Humphreys/Larkin front two were more effective in the last half an hour than the Boyd/Brown had been for the previous hour which is a sad reflection on the way they played.

A debate on the bunker this thread has plenty of potential left in it. For the record I still think Larkin had a good game on Saturday along with MW and a fair few reporters!

Isnt that forgetting that Monkey also came on, and suddenly their right back was occupied. Giving Larkin and Humphreys a bit more freedom than afforded to Boyd and Brown?

Oh for godsake. For Larkin this was an excellent game - he actually had a shot. By Larkins standard.

But that doesnt mean he is suddenly better than he was this time last week or the past 18 months.

He wouldnt be here now if 99.9% of the fans could have released him during the window.

That alone is worthy of a street party.

Yes, but as I said to Mr Ripper earlier, if 2 or 3 subs come on and the game changes, it's by no means obvious which of the 3 was responsible. perhaps they all were, directly or indirectly...who knows? You certainly can't tell just by using you eyes...it needs analysing.

What Mr Ripper still doesn't get is that it's not a question of whether Larkin is the bees knees, but a question of who's the best option out of the strikers on present form. Again, not a question that can be settled by watching Larkin alone.

sadly, you may have unwittingly summed up the issue here Mr R. Despite always always trying to find positives with pools players, i have come to the opinion that adam boyd is unlikely to contribute much for the remaining times he is at the club. all the talent on the world and none of the drive, determination or heart to justify his place in the starting 11.

pools fans appreciate effort, even when ability is not always foremost; you only have to look at the other threads mentioning ian clark and darrell clarke. boyd's body language, and his overall demeanour, suggests he's not arsed, and all the bulling up on here just doesn't translate onto the pitch.

i'm not by any stretch saying larkin is the answer but if he keeps contributing like he did on saturday then he's handy to have in reserve.

I haven't said anywhere that it makes him better then he was this time 18months ago the thread started with larkin played well Saturday and my deserves another start soon.

Cant argue with that. And I know I have a blind spot with Larkin. I honestly believe he is a bluffer.

he always speaks very highly of you tho'

6 of our 7 strikers are bluffers, only one of them has any pace/workrate. Larkin should, and will, be released at the end of the season, but he's a better bet than most of the other 'strikers' on our books at this present time.

how can anyonee say that all boyd needs is a run of games, would his attitude of the last 10 years suddenly change because he started a couple of games. you cant pick somebody based on the player they were 5 years ago at the minute he offers nothing at all to the team except playing the few balls into his feet back to were they came from and being unable to run for any sort of return ball

Larkin deserves a run in the side more than Adam Boyd does.

I really dislike Larkin and most of the other players we have that are supposed to score goals, but on Saturdays performance Mackay would be on my teamsheet ahead of Boyd.

He may well be capable, but that is like using a 10 year old johnny over and over again because it worked once upon a time. It is a sad fact but the lad is finished based on Saturday.

...So you would drop Steve Haslam, who again came in and did nothing wrong, for a player who in my opinion is suffering from a distinct lack of form. A player who cost us the first goal at Notts County, failed to get the right side of his marker for the header which lead to Hughes' equaliser in the return at the Vic', and was nowhere near the first , third and fourth goals at Oldham which all came from the right back position (watch the highlights)....personally a spell on the bench might be in order.

So Bjornnson & McKay up front for the next game then

Given their current output none of the forwards in the squad are worth the shirt.

Not sure what the answer is given the lack of decent forwards.

Another loan signing perhaps before the window shuts in March.

I dont think anyone has said Larkin is the answer?? But he did well so will rightly be in contention to start our next game especially seeing as Brown and Boyd are too similar to play together imo. Defenders must love being up against them 2.

Pace is scary, defenders were shit scared of O donovan and ended up playing so deep that we got the ball forward very easily. No matter what your opinion of Larkin, it gives the defenders something different to deal with and think about. At the moment that can only be a good thing and will allow Larkins partner more space aswell.

People keep saying Brown isnt fit, err why not? Surely he must be by now? Also when did he last manage to score??

Saying that somebody isn't good enough is "venom" now?

What narked me in the past was the repeated calling of certain people at HUFC by things such as "c*nt" at every opportunity.

Do you not see a little bit of a difference?

I must admit to being genuinely amazed at how many fans Colin Larkin has acquired in the last couple of days like, these new fans being the same people who have questioned his ability so many times in the past after having to suffer watching him on the pitch for more than about quarter of an hour.

I am genuinely amazed that you are amazed that Larkin has acquired a fan club over the last few days.
He hasn't.
You couldn't list these new fans to which you refer could you????
I said he did ok on Sat...........that doesn't make me a fan, or does it. Other people have said they are not fans of his but gave him a bit of credit for his contribution on Saturday.
MW and MB asked him to do a job on Sat and have openly stated that he did what was asked of him.
That may warrant giving him more minutes, it's up to the coaches.
All people are doing is giving a bit of credit where they see it is due.
Day in and day out people on here are reminding us that MW has a job to do with a group of players he inherited. Larkin is one of those players.
We all know his record, we don't need you or your mate reminding us BUT we all saw on SATURDAY, or most of us did, that Larkin's pace unsettled the Colchester defence and during that spell we won the game. All we are doing is recognising this and hinting, like MW is doing, that it might work again.
I'll be amazed if Larkin is here next season but it is the here and now that I'm bothered about and any contribution to our survival is very welcome and, in my opinion, Larkin made a contribution on Saturday.

I am sure that on numerous occasions I have said Larkin contributed on saturday.

That said, I find it odd that two of us are critisised for not rating a player(with venom), yet in the same couple of threads Boydy(truly one of us) has been slaughtered(with real venom) Yet Muttley hasnt noticed that, or chooses to ignore it.

Funny owld world innit?

a) It's not double standards because
b) I've never jumped down anybody's throat for anything constructive, however I have tried to put forward a more positive argument where possible. In this instance I didn't see anything positive in missing a one on one chance due to a weak shot or wasting good possession by not being able to look up and pick a pass. I did however acknowledge that he ran a lot which is what others seemed to be getting all giddy about him doing
c) I've never "bailed out"

Apart from that though...

Mr Mutley.

It is not and cannot be double standards.

I have no standards.

And after reading all of that, I am searching around for your critisisim of those venomously slaughtering Boydy. Nope cant see it.

oh dooooo give over

boyd has all the ability in the world, but is pissing it up a wall and not even trying on the pitch.

larkin has a fraction of the ability of boyd, but gave a good account of himself through actually looking bothered when he came on.

spot the difference ?

good, and that's why people are posting what they're posting.

4 pages of Larkin slaughter is enough, I gonna call in the RSPCA, which of course is the royal society & prevention of cruelty to damned bounders!!

Regardless of who being discussed the simple fact is people should do as I do, judge a player on his performance in a game, if it bad say so, but at the next game that player deserves the support of each and every fan.

There are many on here(to many in my opinion) who take a dislike to a player and then regardless of what he does in the next game they still have a go.

What we appear to have on here are many people being slightly hypocritical. People who have "slated"/"slagged" Larkin off over many months now adopting "the biggest Larkin fan in the town" Now if everyone judged game by game then this wouldn't be a problem, but having said that this thread wouldn't be 4 pages long.

Whoever MW picks on Saturday support them its fairly simple really. It's not just Larkin who has been slagged off over the years ,there's to many to mention.

You could take this thread the other way there are people on here who are in "love" with some players, and even when they have 2/3/4 bad games in a row, wont say a bad word against them, then bring up the good games they've had and ignore the bad ones.Some on the other hand "hate" players never have a good word to say and when they have 2/3/4/ good games only bring up the bad ones.

I dont think anyone said Boyd is "shit" like you said about Larkin. Great help that.

Got to agree with Mutley, thats how it appears to me too.

i havent even read half this shit and i agree with mutley, whens the man ever wrong?

i'm afraid his choice of long red trousers instead of figure hugging short red shorts in the baths last sunday called his judgement severely into question for me like.

long way back from that mutters, loooonnnggg way back

Vodka & Milk

yeah he was wrong there like.

Fair one.

Who'd of thought it Larkin starts at Brighton!!!!

Yeh, who would have?

And who would have thought he would have been taken off at Half time without scoring? Again.

But there again, who would have thought we would pick such an ineffectual player to play upfront by himdelf, away to the best team in the league. Oh yes, you did.

Just shows. Even great managers make crass selections.

....have to agree with that.....with a full strength squad at home we can beat most teams in this division, and with 11 left at the Vic we should cross the line. Anyone with faint idea's of the play-offs should really wake up and smell the roses.