The Poolie Bunker

you must be knackered obafemi what with all this jumping back and forth over the fence.

a couple of weeks ago you wrote :

Blame Danny Wilson - he picks the team. It was even obvious to Stevie Wonder several games ago that Budtz (and Lee-Barrett) were not good enough for the team and their confidence has dipped as their mistakes have flowed. Wilson should have made bringing in a loan keeper his numer one priority WEEKS ago. Ross Turnbull and Brad Jones aren't getting a game at Boro - if they are not available there must be somoene out there who can do a job. As I say, don't blame Budtz, the fact he is not good enough is not his fault. The manager picks the team and all he can do is go out there and try his best, which I think he does. Again, the mistakes he is making is down to his ability (or lack of it). He is not making these mistakes on purpose, he is simply not good enough. Wilson MUST take action now and drop Budtz and look to bring in a replacemnt NOW. If he doesn't, don't aim your boos at Budtz, aim them at Wilson. He has overall control of who runs out on that park, not Budtz or anyone else. Any half-decent manager would take action NOW.

and yet now the bloke finally picks the team most of us have been banging on at him to pick, you are hapy to be back in the pro wilson camp.

we have muffed our way out of the relegation zone despite wilson, thanks to having some decent players.

if alan thompson had been able to stay and barker had been fit, the line up today would have looked radically different.

lets just hope he has the sense to stop pissing about with the team now he has finally found a winning combination.

Took over a team runied by Martin Scott and converted it from a losing team to winning one in seven months, narrowly missing out on our first-ever trophy and putting together the most clean sheets ever and the best-ever unbeaten run. Then in League One, having to contend with injuries to his best players and massive amounts of bad luck during games (Leeds, Forest, etc). He finally gets back the likes of Monkouse, McCunnie etc and we win 4-0. Wilson out, what a c***. So we are in League One for another season. Bring back the likes of Mick Docherty, Keith Houchen, John MacPhail and Viv Busby. And get rid of IOR and bring back Gibson. FFS.

god alone knows what the real situation is with monkhouse. there were rumours again yesterday of another bust up with the manager. his goal celebration was strangely muted.

Had Barker been subbed after a performance and goal like that he would have got a blowjob at least.

my recollection of events is that wilson made the comment in reference to the home game with carlisle when mcunnie was caught out my a long diagonal ball from left to right that eluded him and danny graham got on the end of.

id rather have mcunnie playing there than gibb, nolan, and antwi. he at least gives you something going forward, but i do take mad johns point about his positional play.

however isnt this the issue with wilson. he seems pre-occupied with what the opposition might do, and hands them the initative. particularly away from home.

if he wants a good solid positional defender at right back, and i accept that he may need this against the better sides, then why did he opt to "retire " mickey barron whose positional sense was second to none ?

it is an open secret that monky and wilson have had a major falling out. i wasnt even at the game yesterday but have it on very good authority that during yesterdays game wilson berated monky for a misplaced pass and ther player shouted back at him " f off " which was heard by many in the cyril knowles stand.

my main gripe with wilson is that he has regularly sent out ugly looking sides, with too many players out of position.this has led to a series of inconsistent performances and a stop start season, where a good performance is almost invariably followed by a bad one.

ultimately it is about personal preferences. i dont really want to watch another season of aimless punts up to the willing but limited richard barker. i dont want to see another conveyor belt of average mercenary pros, going through the motions, appearing and disappearing.

there are belated signs of improvement but its too little too late for me.

if wilson stays i fear too many good players will leave, to be replaced by past their sell by footballers like thompson and elliott, and we will be left playing mid table football at best next season.