Point Taken - More changes to come?

By Albatross
August 10 2005

Martin Scott made a couple of brave decisions last night, and was rewarded with a point at Bournemouth. It was a decent result, but Scott may need to make one or two more brave decisions before we get things spot on.

So we're off and running at least, and a point away to Bournemouth is not to be sniffed at. Lee Bullock is off the mark, with a great strike to boot; and all in all it looks like the side may be starting to settle a bit more.

Scott made some brave decisions with his selection last night; Boyd only being on the bench was the obvious one, but he also dropped Llewellyn, the only summer signing we have paid a fee for. Arguably things paid off; certainly Daly seems to have provided some presence up front, while Eifion ran his socks off as usual. Will Scotty have to make some more tough choices though?

We're still starting with attack-minded players throughout the midfield, and that as much as anything is one thing that does concern me. Bournemouth had their chances, and while Dimi was on form to earn us a draw I still feel that with a holding midfielder we might look a more solid outfit. That though means a change to 3-5-2, the conversion of Bullock or Sweeney into a more defensive player, or the dropping of one or the other.

Meanwhile Richie Humphreys is playing at Left Back; whether that will be his main role this season remains to be seen. Dropping Humphreys has seemed to be impossible for a succession of managers - about the only game he's missed for us since he arrived was the LDV game with Tranmere when we played the reserves. While the fans haven't always agreed, he's always been a regular - but now there's competition in every position from quality players and Scott has already shown that he's prepared to think what others have thought unthinkable. What will happen when Hugh Robertson is finally back and firing on all cylinders? Will Richie be tried in that holding midfield role?

There are one or two brief items of news to share on the playing front. Firstly, Jack Ross has as expected signed for his home-town side, Falkirk; and former York City midfielder Christian Fox is training with Pools as he looks to return to full-time football and was due to be playing for the reserves last night at Esh Winning. Fox suffered injury problems at York and left at the end of 2003/4; he spent last year at the likes of Harrogate Town and then Wakefield and Emley alongside numerous other former pros such as Robbie Painter and Dean Gorre. Now it seems he's trying to get back into shape for another crack at the pro ranks and Pools have allowed him to join in with training. Whether he will do enough to persuade Pools to offer him a contract remains to be seen.