The Poolie Bunker

In the team for next week

He surely wont keep Monkhouse out of the team.

As long as Wilson's problem is who to leave out and not who to put in, we're living in luxury.

Matty should stay in the team but Foley should be starting games ahead of Moore because he has actually scored some goals this season.....

Matty was a constant problem for Vale today, one of his best games for ages. I would say keep him in and Monky on the bench.

There was a nice quote on PoolsWorld today from Stephen Turnbull who said that Matty was one of those players who needs a hug rather than fans on his back. He's a confidence player who needs fans support. I agree that Richie deserves to hold onto the left back slot. He has really grown into that role over the past 12 months. I just don't know why he has to take the right wing corners.

Let's get the easy one out of the way: Richie should stay at left back. No doubts. Elliott's peformance against Donny wasn't great to be honest and Humphreys is a decent left back and has peformed well in that position for a year.

Now, onto the tricky one...

I no longer argue with the Matty haters as he gets lynched even when he plays well.

Everyone knows that the thing with Robson is that he is a confidence player. Against Donny he well for 75% until he made a mistake and his head went down. I'm glad that he scored today.

Still...it's a tough decision. Robson still comes under the Foley category. There both very raw (and I'd wish Robson would hurry up gain confidence and become experienced).

Monkhouse was hot-headed and got a long ban but he was still one of our top players.

I'm talking bollocks at the moment as I cannot decide. That's why I'm not the manager. But 2 good peformances vs. a season worth of pretty much good peformances (apart from one or two matches).

Hard to decide. But it would be harsh if Matty was dropped.

IT WAS JUST AS HARSH ON FOLEY
DID NOT STOP IT HAPPENING

I still think that Monkhouse is the best option attacking -wise on the left, but Robson should now be his only competitor for that shirt. That will focus both those players on what is expected of them, with no worries about dropping back to left back - at all.
In other words, the left back slot should be between Humphreys and Elliott.
If Monkhouse doesn't do the business, then his shirt should go straight to Robson (not either of the other two).
I genuinely believe that the left sided positions should be segregated for good now.
Humphreys or Elliott left back.
Monkhouse/Robson left midfield.
No interchanging of those two duels should take place from now on, unless in an emergency.

got to agree with the land lord

I don't doubt that Monkhouse is probably a more rounded player than Matty Robson, probably better in terms of ability too. But I'm a great believer in 'if it's not bust don't mend it,' and at present we're in a very nice groove. Monky isn't match fit and Matty is.

Our bench is looking fantastic though innit?? I can see there being no spare keeper for the next few games.

Imagine throwing on Porter, Foley and Monkhouse with 20 minutes left??

i really dont beleive what I am reading on this forum right now. There is no shadow of a doubt that Monky is a vastly superior player to Matty. Granted, Matty has done OK but come on, Monkhouse is in a different league.

I say let Matty start the next game and if he has one of his bad games bring Monkhouse on at half time.

and before anyone says it, I am not a Robson-hater, I just think you have to play your best team when available.

Chip you are correct to say that Monky should be on the bench due to lack of match fitness, as that will also be a spur to the left-sided player to keep up high standards, otherwise they'll be hauled off.
BUT - it will take some persuading me to change my opinion that Monkhouse should not get back in over Robson long-term, as well as Matty may have done recently. Matty's problem has always been consistency, Monkhouse gives us that. If, like I said, Robson plays the next 6 games and is consistent, and plays as well as Monkhouse could, then he would deserve the shirt.
The question is, can he and will he?? He holds the shirt for now, so it is up to him to prove us doubters wrong.
I would be delighted for the lad if he could. Time will tell, but everyone should remember that Monkhouse was an integral part of Rotherham's team which went from League Two to Championship, where they held their own for a couple of years before their financial problems started to hit. Monkhouse has pedigree, and he will show his class again.

its called strength in depth that

i honestly cant see why we signed robbie elliott, nothing against the lad and i hope he has a excellent season. but IMO we still dont have a left back at the club, agree with chip (for once ) richie was voted POTY by fellow professionals but he aint a left back and Matty is not a left back.

But i'd sooner signed a better left back, i seen elliott last yr when we played leeds preseason and i didnt rate him then and he has done nothing extra to change my mind.

For 7 against 4.

Must be doing summat right......