I couldn't get to the Bury game and the thought did cross my mind,

Who will the gobshite elite have abused in the absence of Simon Walton?

Well, got part of the answer in this interview in the Fail with CC, talking about Brad Walker's latest call up to train with the England U-18 set up:

“He has no fear and wants to play but he is going to make mistakes.

“I heard rumblings around the ground [against Bury] and I’m thinking this boy is 17, give him a bit of credit.

“He does a lot more better things than he does bad things, all you want is for the fans to say ‘go on son, go and express yourself in the way you want to’.

“We absolutely recognise he will make cock-ups, we all do.

“I think as a 17-year-old if you give him a pat on the back, a bit of love, and just tell him to go and express himself he will alright, he will be fine.”

Seems nobody's safe from the loudmouthed arseholes who pollute the terraces at the Vic. In increasing numbers, do you reckon? I would say, as far as the Millhouse goes, definitely!

The same dick heads who have already decided Rodney isn't good enough.

Impotent mouthy not nice people.

shock horror we have some arsehole fans.

Not exactly news, bell end fans have and always will be a part of the club.

Hmm. It must be my memory playing tricks then, because I've been going to the Vic regularly since the early 70s and I doubt I'd have stuck it as long as I have if the gobshite elite had always been this vocal.

Oh well, time to bring the ipod to games.

The problem is the moaners want it both ways, they wanna see passing football but then they want it getting forward, they wanna see people being skilfull and trying stuff but people dont wanna see the mistakes if that doesnt come off.

You cant have it both ways, if you play young players then you have a learning curve, you want players to try and express themselves without fear of abuse.

I think this is another bit of very good management from Cooper to put this issue on the table and say, 'we're aware of you and I'm stood between you and Walker, so get off his back.'

I'll criticise players if they're shit but once the game is finished, and I'll admit to being prone to the odd grumble when a mistake costs us a goal or makes a clear chance a miss. But I can't see the sense in shouting anything other than encouragement directly at any player in a Pools shirt whether he is 17 or 37.

The thing is that Walker has already achieved more in his career than most of the vocal ones will in their lives and I'm glad Cooper has spoken out about it.

they all need work on the training ground but I've never been more convinced about a group of players who have made massive strides already, and in my opinion will all get even better........., so that in another year's time I believe this group of players will be top notch for a club in league 2

Some are more developed than others and some will need more time in reserve before they can challenge to be regular first team shirts

But under Cooper and Hignett and Collins they are becoming men and getting more accomplished all the time

I think this is being taken a little bit out of context, I don't think many of the crowd were directly abusing Brad Walker. I think anyone doing that would be quickly shouted down.

I remember the incident Cooper is on about we were 2-0 down had just conceded to two shit goals against an average team in a game most people turned up and expected us to win, and he overhit a pass that went out of play. The crowd did grumble audibly but I think it was just general frustration of how the game was is going. It was just unfortunate that it was a 17 year old that made the error. To be fair if it was a Walton or Rodney who did it we would have heard more than groans, definite grown men mooing like cows and dogs abuse!!

He is a great talent and I think the vast majority of Pools fans agree with that.

He's a fantastic talent, a decent interview with him on the club site too

http://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/ ... 78156.aspx

Brad has all the makings of a star.This squad does. I've never been as hopeful about the future for a long time