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Brown could leave, Bridges could replace him
By Clarence Rode May 20 2008
The close-season rumour mill is really kicking in now, and with Hartlepool fans just beginning to digest the "news" that James Brown could be on the way to Championship also-rans Norwich City, they've now been told that one of the Pools targets for the summer is former Premiership striker Michael Bridges.

There's nothing new in good players being linked with moves to other clubs and there's equally nothing new in players who used to be good being linked with a move to Pools.
But it remains to be seen whether either of these stories is true.
Brown (front)James Brown (left) has enough potential to earn a move to a bigger and better club than Norwich, if he moves at all.
Pools have shown in recent years that while every player has his price, that price has gone up significantly since the days when the club sold anybody as soon as a club with a few bob to spare came knocking on the door at the Vic.
So if Brown is to leave, we would hope that Pools are paid at least the £500,000 they got for Adam Boyd when he went to Luton, and it's doubtful if Norwich can afford such a fee or if they would be willing to risk it.
Meanwhile, the Hartley Poole Male tells us that a possible target for Danny Wilson during the summer is Michael Bridges, who is well out of favour with Hull City boss Phil Brown.
But while Bridges was a class act when he was at Sunderland and scored 19 premiership goals when he moved to Leeds for almost £5m, that was getting on for nine years ago.
Injury at Leeds set him back and he's had a few bad seasons since then to go with the few good ones early in his career. He's 31  30 in August and after costing Hull £350,000 from Carlisle, he won't be on peanuts.
Is he really the sort of player Pools need? The answer is yes if he can score goals as regularly as he did at Sunderland, Leeds and Carlisle.

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Championship also rans..... can't afford £500k
Posted by: Brisssol Canary (IP Logged)
Date: 20/05/2008 19:45

I can assure you that £500k is only part of the cash glenn roeder has to spend this summer

Regardless of whether we sign brown or not he clearly deserves a better club than yours if you are a typical fan

BTW I think you'll find our average attendance is just under 25,000 not bad for a championship also ran is it?

Re: Championship also rans..... can't afford £500k
Posted by: Diznazza (IP Logged)
Date: 20/05/2008 20:28

But our team is guff.

Re: Championship also rans..... can't afford £500k
Posted by: Manchester Canary (IP Logged)
Date: 21/05/2008 05:30

Dear all 'pools fans,

Yes it's true, Norwich, Sheff Wed, Coventry, Leeds, Forest, Leicester and Sothampton all finished down the leagues pecking order this season, however your writers dismissal of these clubs as small also rans is blinkered, it just merely highlights the gulf between those teams with prosperous owners and those without, of which pools are another and how competitive the championship is, (Just ask Colchester and Scunthorpe fans). Hopefully 'pools will get a chance in this league soon.

Re: Brown could leave, Bridges could replace him
Posted by: iain walpole (IP Logged)
Date: 21/05/2008 07:03

Very, very poor standard of writing. How have you got the front to say Norwich are a small club and also runs.

We have just sold 20,000 season tickets, have higher average gates than some Prem clubs and have the 8th highest average away attendence in the country.

Also, are you an inside at Carrow Road or do you have access to our bank statements if not I don't know how you know what money we have to spend.

Think before you insult others or go and work for The Sun they like this type of journalism

Re: Brown could leave, Bridges could replace him
Posted by: Laurie Cunningham (IP Logged)
Date: 21/05/2008 09:11

Two things regarding Michael Bridges:
1. He is 30 years of age in August not 31.
2. Michael made a big impression here in Australia whilst on a 3 month loan spell with Sydney 6 months ago. He has made no secret of the fact that he and his family would love to settle permanently here. He would have been back here on loan but for the fact that "Gold Coast Galaxy" could not meet FFA demands in seeking a franchise to field a team in this coming seasons A-League. Should Hull City make the Premier League and pay-out Michaels contract leaving him free to take up offers I doubt he would seek anything other than a one year contract. Michaels best friend, Harry Kewell, has already submitted an offer to sponsor a franchise for an Australian A-League Club in the 2009/10 season. Part of that submission regards a 'youth training' policy for which Michael would be tailor-made as he has secured (I believe) all the necessary training badges to take up a position as Youth Training Coach. Couple this with the fact that he would have at least another couple of seasons as a player at this level and Michael would have the brightest prospects of settling permanently in Australia and securing the future for himself and his family in a much more pleasant environment.

Re: Brown could leave, Bridges could replace him
Posted by: Rift House (IP Logged)
Date: 21/05/2008 11:54

HUFC is owned by an oil company ... my guess they have a few more bob than Delia Smith. 25,000 watching also-rans ... there can't be much to do in Norfolk.

Re: Brown could leave, Bridges could replace him
Posted by: Tim Claxton (IP Logged)
Date: 21/05/2008 18:02

You are so right. There is not a whole lot to do in Norfolk, which is why the football team is so important, and so well supported. Read it and weep.

Re: Brown could leave, Bridges could replace him
Posted by: Wagga Dot (IP Logged)
Date: 30/05/2008 11:45

Norwich were rubbish and in danger of being relegated until they got a Geordie in as motivational coach.

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