Well spotted Tree.

And yet another Bunker thread turns into a slanging match.

Jesus Holy Christ......

It's done, live with it or else throw your toys out and don't go any more.

I'm off to read 'Currently Watching This,' 'Listening To This,' and 'the everlasting "Word Association' thread.

im absolutely certain you dont get what messageboards are all about.

You always moan when people debate issues at the club, is that not what this place is for?

Humphreys has signed a new contract, no one talk about it, no one discuss it.

Dunno what the big deal is. We all knew Humphs had been offered a new deal.
Are we gonna have the same carry on when Liddle signs on the dotted line?

Is the Pope Catholic?

Does he shit in the woods?

Is Liddle signing like?? Well that's me saving meself £155.

Only £155?
Its gotta be worth a 2 year boycott if Liddle signs as well

JESUS !! How big are your hands ??

I'm not saying don't talk about it. I'm saying there's absolutely no need for 'you fucking tool' etc etc etc.

I don't moan at the debate I moan at the needless insults that swap hands when anyone says something that someone doesn't agree with. That's not debate, it's confrontation. Debate is reasoned. I don't want to read that. I already know how to insult people. I just don't bother because I'm quite well brought up.

Ritchie seems a nice guy but as a player I believe he was finished 2/3 years ago...

Just read his interview... This sentance isn't great "I think I've got a few more years to give....."

Based on fact he's 34 and Murray is 36 maybe he has. Does he say he has a few more years to give as a first team regular playing 35-40 games a season or are you just picking the bits that you dislike in his interview.

Going back a bit on what I previously posted......

Taking my original point that Humphreys is now part of the back room staff as opposed to a first choice team player.

Cooper must be happy with it.

Lets look back to his first appointment here he was told he could be manager but he had to have Scott as his number 2, he wasn't allowed to bring his own man in. IOR stuck by the man in position (Scott). He may have been given the same sort of proposition this time around he can become manager but Humphreys and Barron remain on the back room staff. If he was given that proposition he was happy to accept it. The alternative was to refuse the job as manager.

Now surely if IOR showed Scott loyalty back in 2003(and I can't remember anyone knocking it at the time) why now is it wrong to be showing others the same loyalty, as opposed to appointing a manager who brings in his own men. The fact Humphreys also has a playing contract is a little bonus. We don't know if he will stop youngsters progressing, thats all hypothetical. What he does offer is experience if it's needed because of injuries/suspensions when maybe a youngster isn't quite ready to step up. My opinion, for what it's worth is that he offers something which may be needed and I've said what it is experience. But I would be disappointed if he was a regular as I think that would be a negative step.

Fuckin hell bob are you like this in person?

You must be a hit at parties. You say 90 words when just 9 would do.

Just give up joe, the humphreys lovers are out in force.

Lost cause

Makes no sense to release Boyd n brown yet keel humphreys, very strange decision. My final word on it

Too much sentiment towards him because he has been here for so long, we have to look at things from a footballing view, he doesn't offer the team anything, he might be able to play a few positions but i'd rather see a youth player given a chance.

I know it was just a typing error, however to keel humps would be an option being on a coastline, rope anyone

Would you have kept Boyd who was in general was crap last season and the one before or do you think Boyd deserved another contract.

Boyd didn't deserve a contract and last time I looked he wasn't on the coaching staff either, but lets not use actual facts to get in the way of knocking someone you don't like. Humphreys is on the coaching staff, F*** me it would have been more of a shock if he'd been released.

I don't want to knock a club legend, but I see no gain in keeping humphreys in a playing role, what he's done in the past for us is great but we need to look and concentrate on the games of te future and I can see him having a positive impact on them next season, for much of last season when he played he was a liability. But il still be supporting the team from te stands no matter who's out there

Paul Murray has put in more outstanding performances in the last 2 seasons than what Humphreys has put in during the last 6-7 seasons. Sorry but he Ritchie hasn't cut it since he was part of a very good side in League Two under Danny Wilson. He had less decent games last season than some of the players that have been released. Humphreys may well have one or two decent playing years left in him but they aren't decent years at league one level based on the consistency (or lack of it) over the past 4-5 seasons.

Hopefully he will turn into a good coach but if he wants to play first team football he should have moved on.....

I was just about to say exactly the same thing. Im not convinced our players do any training looking at the fitness levels, set pieces and standard of football last season.

"That great servant of the club" should have gone years ago, sentiment or not, he offers nothing in a playing capacity and Im sure there are plenty of coaches about who wouldnt command any more wages than him.

Its bollocks, the same "best buddies" shit from the club each season.

Mr Grave- I agree with quite a lot of the stuff that you put with regards how the level of coaching is perceived when watching the team on a matchday and also some of the old boys club / "best buddies" stuff.

I don't think that there is any need for the "Bumphreys" stuff though, it sort of devalues your argument a bit and is unnecessary.

I noticed that as well, it's a shame really, seems a top bloke. But football fans are fickle and all the hard work/performances he's put in in the past will be wrote off by his poor performances over the last few seasons and likely next season as well

Point taken, I altered it accordingly.

Finally some sane voices, as always the kitch n chip double act working to deadly effect

For me it reinforces the old boys club completely. We all knew Humphreys would be retained and even his worshippers accept that he's not first team standard. Instead they talk of 'versatile' and 'a great servant' and give the mantra of 'coaching'. As a player he's not good enough so no matter how versatile he still isn't good enough. And why pray tell, would we employ an inexperienced, part qualified coach?

He's here not because he offers anything, he's here because its a job and he's head boy.

Oh and Mr Creosote, seven years of lies? bollocks and you know that - you were there too but choose to forget what was said by Humphreys. it wasn't an unsubstantiated rumour from the fat bloke down the pub but condemned by his own words.

If uncle Ken wants to pay someone to be cover for the squad while he learns the art of coaching, then that's up to him, it wouldn't be my personal choice, but some of the vitriol on here is laughable.

Uncle Ken can choose who he gives money too, trouble is so can a lot of fans.

There was once talk of this bus driving itself, however theres a seat on that bus being taken by someone without a valid ticket and is keeping a better player waiting at the bus stop.

I'm not seeing vitriol or an over the top response here. Just some people who fully expected the last contract Humphreys got to be his last (500 games, 10 years etc.).

The only anger I'm seeing is the way some people are reacting to those who dare to think Humphreys isn't good enough anymore.

Hes like the old bloke who has fell asleep and missed his stop

As usual, MadJohn sums it up with a well thought out and reasoned post.

So why do people think he's such a good coach? What evidence out there is their to suggest he is worth keeping as a coach?

What evidence is there to suggest he's not a good coach?

There is none Phil, but the bloke is learning, he might be good, might be shite, surely you give him a chance to develop?

I would of sooner kept boyd than humphries anyday of the week Boyd contributed this season, what the fook did mr hpool united do?

Really is beggars belief he,s got a new con tract when we've released two matchwinners all beit one is injured alot and the other is hit and miss. But can/could change a game as for humphries.

Oh and coaching

Do we actually have a "proper" coach at the club? Somebody experienced apart from Barron and Humphreys

We have a fitness coach, Dan something or other, blame him.

did people question Barron or Stephenson when they were given coaching roles?

I know what your thinking..Nah you aint got a chance Big ritchie runs the show around here

The fitness is the responsibility of every senior coach and player at the club. Like has been said many times on here we looked unfit compared to a lot of other teams in the league last year and there were certainly some senior (and some not so senior) members of the playing squad who weren't too keen to work on their conditioning and fitness last season.

Why is it ok to blame a fitness coach for a whole squads fitness but not cast doubts over one players performances on the pitch?

I think people are a little concerned about Ritchie flicking between coach and player - one of the lads one minute and then sort of semi-gaffer the next. Plus his performances as player have been average in the main for a while now....

you appear to be asking that as if i'm suggesting people shouldn't be casting doubts over Humphreys performances on the pitch? Am i reading that wrong, because it's my humble opinion that Humphreys has been past it for at least 3 years.

The standard of football, set-pieces and levels of fitness last season imo.

in that case we can ascertain that Wadsworth & Cooper are both poor coaches too. Also Martin Scott who was great, then was shite and has now become good again.

DAN OUT!! DAN OUT!!

If Dan's still there next season then I'm not going.

Apart from Luscombe and Solano how many players looked unfit last season?
Not sure where all this lack of fitness talk has come from.
Cooper openly criticised Nish and Poole when he thought they weren't putting the effort in.
That's 4 players we signed last season who cooper thought didn't have the work ethic he expects from a Pools team.
More of an attitude adjustment required than anything else.

Dan didn't look fit to me

Well humphreys didn't look anywhere near fit enough. I don't think it is as much a fitness issue last season but more work rate

The Stevenage game keeps cropping up,1 team and 1 game.
Did we look unfit against Sheff U? Carlisle? huddersfield? Notts county (home).
We lack creativity and pace yeah, but not fitness.