Is apparently on trial at Wolves. Has been all week.

Thoughts?

What as.....?

He has obvious technical ability, wouldn't be massively surprised if it was true. He's maybe the type of lad that needs to move out of the area to make it in the game as something isn't working here at the minute and the most delightful section of our crowd seem to have turned on him, so it will be disappointing for them if he's looking for a move as they'll have to find someone else to pick on.

True story as well;

http://m.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/14 ... s/?ref=rss

Lets cross our fingers they take him.

I think people actually forget how young he is when they come out with daft comments like that.

I think people actually forget how dreadful he has been.

Nothing like Pools fans massively over rating players under the age of twenty is there?

I reckon with the right coaching and a better attitude he'll become a cracking player. I don't think that will be with us though.

If we could get ~300k and it get spent on the squad then I'd be well happy

Oh he's been poor, totally lost his way but he has obvious ability. The way he does most things on the pitch like strike or head a ball, it's all very natural. So that ability is there and I'd imagine people who know what they're watching can see that. Ability isn't all you need obviously so it's up to him whether he wants to make it in the game it in the game or not.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him leave Pools though then to go and have a very good career. He maybe just needs to grow up a bit and for the penny to drop. He's only 19 so it might not be that surprising that he's a bit immature and that the hype of that first season might have gone a little bit to his head. Wanting him to leave the club though is, being polite, incredibly short sighted, I'd much rather the penny dropped while he was still here and we saw the benefit of it.

At the moment, his touch isnt good enough, his passing isnt good enough, he is blowing out of his arse after 10 minutes and he is too slow.

I agree there is ability there somewhere but for me to get excited about a player he should have better basic control and passing at the age of 19.

I don't think the problem is his basic control and passing he has that naturally, and like I said he strikes a football as well as anyone at the club but the game isn't played in loads of space unless you run to create it. Since the start of last season I'd say it's been a complete lack of intensity/workrate/energy in his game. He seems to think (or he incapable of doing otherwise because he isn't fit enough) he can play in the centre of midfield at pre season friendly tempo in League Two. That isn't going to work, he's either barely involved or when he is he's not in enough space to able to do anything when the ball ends up in his direction. You probably are going to lose possession or misplace a pass if you haven't got yourself into enough space to receive the ball, he rarely seems to show for a pass.

I don't know whether this is all down to attitude or the fact that he has changed physically since that first season, he is a much bigger lad all round really now. Is he lacking athleticism naturally through no fault of his own simply down to a growth spurt or is he not working hard enough on his fitness? He's actually built more like a centre forward now, maybe he's worth a go in that position. It's definitely frustrating to watch as has been said he has clear ability.

Didnt you say he was the best young player we ever had pj?

I said potentially he is (which is very different to saying he is) during that first season, I think I said it after we'd beat Bristol Rovers 4-0 and during the first half he was on a different level to anyone else on the pitch. So he's still the best I've seen at the age of 17. Obviously since then he's not kicked on at all to say the least, I just think it's a daft to right off someone off, who has previously shown that level of ability, at the age of 19.

His game deteriorated when Walton and Monkhouse left.

I think that is a coincidence by fair.

He doesn't look fit enough to last more than half an hour in midfield playing League Two football because of two players who left two years ago one of those being an incredibly average show pony!?

I'd say the deteriation lies firmly at his door either physically, mentally or a bit of both.

No, I think at his age he needed better, more experienced players alongside him.

In the space of 1 season he went from being a kid with bags of potential to our main player in midfield, playing with weaker players around him.

Too much too soon.

So you don't think he's changed physically since that first season?

I do think you make a fair point about too much too soon but again that could come down to him believing in his own hype rather than the players around him.

Do you think he changed physically during the period Walton and Monkhouse were playing for us until the time they weren't?

It was the summer between the end of his first season and the start of the last one. If you couldn't see that you have pickled onions for eyes.

He grew quite a few inches in every direction and has looked a bit more cumbersome and awkward, he's a bit of lump now to be honest.

I have an idea to get him back into form, Naismith is already a similar player to Monkhouse all we need now is a wheely (brown to depict a suntan) bin to put in front of the back four with a tape recorder inside that screams random abuse in a Leeds accent at its team mates even though it's been to worst player on the pitch.

Brad will be back in the England squad in no time.

I think now is the time for "he just needs a fresh challenge" comments to start.

The comment made by people who massively overrate a player and use it rather than admitting they were wrong about said player.

Wrong about what!? It's a discussion about where it's gone wrong really because it clearly has. I'm just not writing him off completely, time will tell on that one.

Did you think he was shit during his first season? I doubt it you were probably too preoccupied with Flinders hatred to even notice.

Saying he was potentially a very good player two years ago is hardly wrong, if so the England u18 manager and now Kenny Jacket need to bow to your superior knowledge.

If we get a decent fee for him, everyone wins

If a mid-table Championship club are sniffing round a 19 year old who can't get in our team regularly they must think we're doing a shite job with him and that they can do better. Is there anybody at Wolves who has been involved with the England set up?

Young player in 'ive grown an inch and lost all my ability' shocker,

I had a few growth spurts through school and college and I was mint throughout. In fact getting bigger made me better I found.

I used to boss Jessie Road playground with my footy skills and pace till I suddenly started growing rapidly and became slow and sadly therefore got pushed into defence.

I only grew between the end of year 5 and start of year 7 though.

This.

There are plenty of reasons why young players hit a wall during their development, off-field as well as in terms of coaching and playing. A move could be just what Brad needs to kick on and not necessarily a reflection on Pools.

For whatever reason, his recent form for us has been dismal - even the few minutes he was on the field against Salford were long enough to show the game passing him by more than once.

How long is his current contract? Till the end of the season? I'd be surprised if the club made much money out of a transfer (a sell on clause would be ideal).

I actually thought he did ok when he came on in the Oxford, the times you've been able to say that this season are few and far between though.

He's okay for 10-15 minutes, one burst of pace though and he is knackered. Someone has hit the nail on the head about him playing at preseason pace in his games. Far too slow, no urgency, poor touch. He can shoot though. There's players in the premier league earning 5 figures a week who can do absolutely nothing but shoot. Fortunately for them though, they can run for 90 minutes.

Walker is the type of player who would stand out playing Conference North standard, all the skill and ability to pick passes, with no real pressure to do much else like track back. Any higher up the pyramid and he will be (and has been) found out. Certainly won't be able to play championship level.

Did his growth spurts coincide with his alleged drinking.
George Best and Boydy seemed to be good at both these talents

Seriously tho best for both player and club if he can get this move to the club with Ronald favouring loanies than using our young talent

Hawkins Smith etc:

Its a bit of an odd one really, a bit similar to Curtis Main who was released by Darlo and then went to Boro.

He has talent as we saw when he first came through and glimpses since but nothing consistently. I think he either needs to be playing regularly or something like this to boost his confidence again. If it happens it could probably the best thing for all parties involved.

most delightful sections of the crowd turning on him? Id say very few have turned on him. He has been poor but so have the rest. This myth that we have big sections of the crowd turning on players. We have some of the most patient fans in England. We had ten points at Xmas last year and there was hardly any boos protests nothing. If brad walker cant get in this team their is something amiss especially if featherstone gets in week week out.

Point to me where I said it was big section of the crowd?

They are a loud minority who've singled out countless players over the years. I don't think I imagined in the last game he started Walker getting slaughtered from almost the word go up to the point he was jeered from the field when he got subbed.

I suppose all clubs have them.

The abuse he has been receiving has been horrendous to witness. The season James got all the plaudits I thought walker looked more likely to move to a bigger club. His decline to me looks like he feels he doesn't have to put the work in. Big mistake. I agree with those who feel he needs to move on to fulfill any potential before it's is too late. I still find it hard to believe his decline has been so bad that he cannot oust Featherstone from the first team.

According to the Molineux Mix he has impressed with a view to a permanent deal.

Just look at Easter did not set this place alight but has had a few good seasons since leaving.We could name a few more.

Since Hutchison I can only think of two youngsters who came through pools and went on to higher club (apart from mentioned James) Boyd and Miller. That in my 26 years watching pools is a bad return.

Graeme Lee to Sheff Wed, Ian McGuikin to Fulham and Stephen Halliday to Motherwell too had good moves from Pools

I like the lad and I think it would be a shame if he left. He strikes a ball really well, in my opinion one of the best at the club, certainly out of our midfielders.

Has one of the oddest gaits I've ever seen though lol. One of his legs looks like it won't straighten fully.

He runs as though someone has put his legs in cast iron drain pipes, he appears to have two stiff inflexible legs when running, Why...?

I always think he looks like he has really tight hamstrings.

Were is Jonny Rowell now .watching that video .he certainly knows how to pass a ball.

I think Walker seems to run like he is trying not to touch the floor

The club are probably looking to bring a midfielder in with a bit more bite, so freeing up a wage may help. Coincidentally Boro's Adam Forshaw was on the radio yesterday saying he was desperate for some game time after being out injured for a lengthy period.

I don't think pools will get anyone decent on less than 400 a week because that's how much he is on

Seems a bit of a mystery. His wikipedia page says he's playing for Waasland-Beveren but he's not listed on their squad page. He's also deleted his Twitter at some point so no hints from that either.

Found a cached page of his Twitter and it looks like he left them in May. No idea if he's still playing somewhere but google has turned up nowt so far.

Quality cross for Mandron.
Surely a big money move to Wolves in January!

Clearly the lad has talent, was a lovely floated cross that he tricked the defender with, looked strong in midfield too last night...getting stuck in. Clearly he'll do well at Wolves as it'll be a little less physical, but i think he'll struggle with the pace further up the leagues. Pray we get a sell on clause and some other add ons to the deal

He was absolutely dire when he came on last night.

Getting caught on the ball by part time players in extra time because everything he's doing is just too slow. They should have sent him to work with the lad Lynch who played right back for them who was in at 6am this morning after putting every ounce of body into that game he could barely stand up by the end. He needs a rocket up his arse like a few others.

Think the coaching needs to be questioned though regarding walker. If wolves are willing to take him, but we can't get enough out of him to be in a struggling league 2 side, then there is something wrong.

It could be a kick up the arse he needs, it could be something to do with how he's grew cos he certainly can't walk properly, never mind run but there is talent in there. Ronnies screaming and shouting tactics and Collins coaching seems to be the issue to me here

Agree