Showed some glimpses of what he can do last night.
Loved when he went past the highly rated Santon and got to the by-line.
Santon got back on his feet and looked at Luscombe and you could almost hear him thinking "what the Fook just happened there?"
I hope he gets his head down and get's a run of a few games as he's the only player on our books who could be classed as a creative midfielder and without one I think we'll end up relying on too many long balls up to Howard.

According to the player profiles on the official site Mr Luscombe is three clem ( all but a pound) LIGHTER than Humps.

He looks big but he's actually like an aero inside.

A mint one ????

I may have mentioned this in other areas but ritchie looked very lean last night, in great shape at the moment and if he keeps this up we'll get another 10 years easy.

Serious question like, did he look porky?? It looks like Cooper is trying to get him to his optimum weight and use his talent but does it look like he's responding to that?? Only subs so far, no starts but keeps showing him the first team place.

He does look Porky but it doesnt seem to affect him from what Ive seen. He makes plenty of runs and doesnt seem to tire but in the heat of battle in a propper league game would this be the case? I;m not certain.

Stick and carrot? On the one hand bollock him, hide the pies and make him do extra training but on the other let him know you rate him so he feels working hard on fitness will pay off.

He needs to realise what an opportunity he has here like you say. If he can become the model pro then there is no doubt in my mind that he would be playing at a much higher level. You would have to hope now that he's at an age where he can appreciate that maybe more so than a year or 2 ago.

Mebbees, aye. I haven't seen anything about him having no ability, just criticism of his fitness regime and naturally you want a 100 minute player, not someone who's blowing after an hour or less.

Maybe the first team squad is the place where the older lads will sort him out rather than with the young 'uns where they're less self-disciplined.

Here goes another 5 page Luscombe thread, on the basis of another 15 minute 'cameo.'

I'm more interested in the fact that Pools don't have much experience behind the first 11 and are carrying 2 professionals (Nish and Luscombe) who for different 'fitness' reasons don't look as if they will feature much in a 46 game campaign.

Ah, a glass half empty rather than half full. I'm just curious, I can't get there so I ask people who can.

Mine is on the basis of the full 90 at Bishop. I missed Tuesdays game.

It doesnt take much to read that I was talking about this pre season when talking about "never seems to tire", and it was followed by a comment about me doubting wheter it would be the same story in a fully fledged league one match.

Get your specs cleaned.

He has the ability but being a midfield player watcher the other thing he certainly lacks is the positional sense to play centre in a 4. This could come with experience but a football brain is pretty important for a centre mid anyway, the odd game time he has had Murray spent the whole time talking him in.

Point is he has a lot to learn as a player still in terms of game time on top of his fitness issues, so the idea he would become a world beater with fitness is also unfair on the lad. He does have glimpses of easy natural ability but being a professional footballer is so much more than that.

Yes made a huge impact last night......came on, ran about, missed a through ball from Franks, was greeted rather predictably with chants of YFB by the Toon Army Childrens Section in the Millhouse Terrace, then fell over in a tussle near the centre circle, during which he picked up a mysterious injury to the top of his head which required dabbing for 5 mins on the sidelines by one of the Pools medical staff with a bath towel........but he did try hard though.

If Richie is in his best shape ever as a hartlepool player then it means he was also overweight and could have trained harder? Regardless of the fact I think Richie only had a few great seasons and should have retired years ago, did anyone give him stick for being overweight?

Luscombe has got so much potential in this team and he undoubtedly has ability. I think we should all be supportive and stop being a constant negative influence.

Adam Boyd went out on loan to boston, came back a stone heavier but we can forgive him eh?

Correction on a point of order Mr Speaker....