Mani O nailed on , if he stays fit just what we need at the back !

Got to be Manicini the way people are talking. I haven’t seen him play yet but heard good things.
Did we even have a player of the year last season? I can’t think who it could have been as they were all crap.

Watch the highlites on You Tube. Mancini is the feller with the beard. Apart from two well taken goals he shows some excellent close control on the touchline in the Pools half.

A whole season to go and all sorts can happen so maybe a bit early for such predictions.

This post must go into the Hall of Fame of optimistically hopeful message boards posts ever made.

wish p eople would keep quiet about the lad as it will not be gulls circling the vic in january but vultures. let him be pools best known secret.

I reckon Fergie as Captain will have a standout season - hes technically one of our best players.

Given the sudden resurgence of our new French CM - he maybe with some goals could be in for a shout.

but my head tells me a more experienced pro will shine for us this season - either in a Mani D or Cooke

[quote="Eiphos_3"]I reckon Fergie as Captain will have a standout season - hes technically one of our best players.

he will if he is allowed to play in his natural position with better players around him unlike last season where two managers did their utmost to ruin his career.

Joe Gray

No Chance! he can't stay injury free..........more's the pity.

Its a very difficult thing to predict considering we have 10 new players who need to settle in. Having said that I reckon we have uncovered a gem in Mancini only watched him play two games in total but thats enough to convince me this lad is going to be top player this season. Got a good engine lots of skill and is calm clever & confident. The second goal against Sunderland showed what this lad is all about. He is only 22 and will get even better under JA but already he is a quality player who will score double figures. Player of the season... Why not

Sylla.

he was last years.....

For Liverpool

If Gray n Crawford can stay injury free.
Will to a good job for us in this division 5 and surprise a few Doomies who dont rate them.
Reckon Featherstone wont be overly missed.
UTP.

think even the doomies would love to be proved wrong for the sake of the team. problem is both have not kicked on from the start at pools and surely its not all down to just injuries.

Probably get crticism for this but so be it. So, how does a young player "kick on". One important factor is a run of games in the first team. Gray has never done this because he keeps picking up injuries. Unless this can be sorted he will never "kick on" and will make the occasional contribution to the team before he goes out on loan and is finally binned. Crawford has had his share of injuries and is erratic even when fully fit so I cant see him "kicking on". My prediction is they'll both be gone come next season.

is Crawford still a 'young' player?--hes 24 now!

I am with you on this one Kev

I hope so on Crawford--there is a technical player in there and he's 6ft tall according to wikipedia (always thought he was shorter) so if he can add more physicality he will be good--feel like been waiting for that for years though.

If I'm honest, my expectations are higher for some of the new lads. I'm not sure if either Joe Grey or Tom Crawford has enough self-belief to fulfil their potential as footballers. They both play within themselves too much.

I'd like to see Joe going at defenders at every opportunity and Tom playing with confidence from the off, rather than taking his usual 20-30 minutes to feel his way into a game. JA won't hang about if they don't grab the chances they're offered with both hands.

The new Luke Armstrong/ Dan Kemp (identify currently unknown) that JA brings in part way through the season that scores two winners at Wembley, at both Finals!

its nothing to do with height or build, a lots to do with the size of a players heart. do not want to bang on about dogs but any dog owner knows what i mean.

It’s not the dog in the fight, it’s the fight in the dog.

What a great player we have in The Mancini Machine total quality with more to come

He looks like he just loves playing football Mancini, always looking to do something and be available

A couple of comments from Southend fans quote " no8 controlled the midfield " " their no8 is way above this level how did they get him " and he also got a standing ovation from the Southend fans.

A Southend fan said he was a like having a 'cheat code'. Good nickname.

Mancini nailed on for every accolade should he keep performing like he did at the weekend.

then a League one club will come in and snap him up for 800K - we need to protect him at all costs and also put a release clause in his contract that resembles something only the Saudis wouldnt bork at !

well we got him from a league one club who have a good record of finding rough diamonds to polish. he is like a real t breath of fresh air with us, but doubt he will be on the radar of league clubs as he is too much of an individual for a lot of them that prefer a full team of above average big athletic lads. just cannot see him in a team like mansfield or gillingham plus many others with the style of football they prefer.

Caveat that he did it for longer at a higher level in a worse team but Mancini (so far)
Compares favorably with Kemp who was a cut above for us last year

Kemp notched another 2 at the weekend - he really is a talent that lad also.

if teams can find places for these lads they do flourish - although they do need others around them so their style can be fully utlised.

Kemp wouldnt be as good down here - thankfully for Mancini hes the bigger lad and can ride a tackle.

but yeh certain teams wouldnt entertain some neat sub 6ft CM - Barry Bannan is one of those who doesnt fit the template yet is probably one of the best CM's outside of the Prem.

Can anyone tell me how long Mancini is on contract for? I heard today as he was on trial only signed till Christmas surely this can not be correct. If it is get him on a two year deal and make sure there is a sell on clause in any deal. On Saturdays showing the best midfield performance since Jan Ove Pederson.

Hopefully that isnt the case and they at least gave the lad a season especially on seeing how good he was.

but that being said... JA spoke about it in the Chandy interview where he stated he had signed lads up before and then a few games in realised it was a mistake etc... so who knows.

No doubt there will be an extension clause - maybe a games played one too...

have to hope they are giving him the full beans on a 2 year contract if he is only on till xmas - imagine loosing him for free in January

Hope nothing but the best for Kemp. Hot and cold but when he got going what a player.